News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: POLL: WU, JANEY lead WIDE-OPEN MAYOR’S RACE — CDC presses PAUSE on JOHNSON and JOHNSON

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: POLL: WU, JANEY lead WIDE-OPEN MAYOR’S RACE — CDC presses PAUSE on JOHNSON and JOHNSON — BUDGET DAY

Apr 14, 2021

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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's a busy news day on Beacon Hill and at City Hall, so buckle up.

HEALTH OFFICIALS PRESS PAUSE — When Gov. Charlie Baker said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was a big deal a month ago, he didn't mean quite like this. A week before all Massachusetts residents over 16 become eligible to book vaccine appointments, the federal government is pausing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to rare side effects.

It's not clear how long the hiatus will be, but federal officials say it could last weeks. Massachusetts was expecting a smaller shipment of the one-shot vaccines already, but yesterday's announcement upended vaccine appointments all over the state. While Baker has pitched the J&J vaccine as an avenue to vaccinate people more quickly — compared to its two-shot counterparts — this pause could stretch the state's in-demand vaccine supply even further, as more people try to book their shots. Plus, experts worry it could erode public trust in the vaccine.

BOSTON MAYOR'S RACE LEADERBOARD — Nearly half of voters haven't made up their minds in the race for Boston's next mayor, according to a new poll released this morning. It's a sign the race is wide open, even with an incumbent mayor in the mix.

Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu leads the field with 19 percent of support, according to the WBUR, Dorchester Reporter and The Boston Foundation poll, which was conducted by the MassINC Polling Group. Acting Mayor Kim Janey is close behind with 18 percent of the vote, followed by City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George at 6 percent. City Councilor Andrea Campbell has 4 percent of support, while state Rep. Jon Santiago and John Barros each have 3 percent.

It's still pretty early. There are 160 days until the preliminary election in September. Mayoral candidates only began pulling papers to run for office yesterday, and much of the campaigning has been online so far because of the pandemic.

The survey does give a sense of which candidates have name recognition, or are gaining traction in the early stages of the race. But 46 percent of voters being undecided means there's lots of room for the numbers to change over the next several months. The poll surveyed 552 registered voters in Boston from April 7 to April 11, and the margin of error is about 5 percent.

FEELING (FISCAL) '22 — The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to release its budget proposal today for the coming fiscal year. Gov. Charlie Baker proposed his $45.6 billion version of the budget in January. It's been an unprecedented and unpredictable financial time because of the pandemic. At one point, Massachusetts had the highest unemployment rate in the country. But there are bright spots: The state is getting a cash infusion from the federal American Rescue Plan, and tax revenues keep exceeding the state's projections.

Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey is releasing her budget proposal, too. The $3.75 billion operating budget would reduce spending on police overtime and add police officers to the force, according to City Hall. The budget will head next to the City Council, where three of Janey's opponents in the mayoral race serve as councilors.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.

TODAY — Rep. Lori Trahan testifies before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to call for upgrading the state's wastewater systems.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Active COVID infections see first dip in more than a week as Mass. reports 1,401 new cases," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Active COVID infections in Massachusetts declined to 35,857 on Tuesday, down from 36,775 on Monday, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. It was the first dip down in more than a week of rising infections ."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "State child welfare agency also investigated Patrick Rose decades ago. It too believed the union chief had abused a child," by Andrew Ryan, Boston Globe: "State child welfare investigators believed in 1995 that there was evidence that a child had been abused by Boston police Officer Patrick M. Rose Sr., raising more questions about how the future union chief was able to keep his badge for another two decades. After a year on the force, Rose was charged criminally in 1995 with sexually abusing a child, an accusation that triggered a police internal affairs probe and an investigation by the state Department of Social Services, authorities say."

– "Redistricting slowed by census delay," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "The routine redrawing of the state's political map is being delayed by a lack of data from the federal government. The U.S. Census Bureau announced in March that due to the pandemic and other delays, it will not be able to deliver detailed data from last year's count that states need for redistricting until Sept. 30, instead of March 31."

– "In race between vaccines and variants, Massachusetts may be seeing an 'uncoupling' of COVID-19 cases and deaths," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Three highly infectious COVID-19 variants are now estimated to account for more than half of all infections in Massachusetts, expert witnesses said during a state legislative hearing Tuesday."

– "Massachusetts businesses push back against ballooning unemployment taxes following COVID-related claims," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "A growing number of Massachusetts business owners — who took solace in the passage of a bill promoting an unemployment tax rate freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic — are sounding the alarm after seeing massive increases in their employee contribution rate on their state tax notices."

– "Spilka pushes for intergenerational care centers to alleviate 'caregiving crisis,'" by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: "Millions of women were forced out of the U.S. labor pool to focus on caregiving amid the Covid-19 pandemic, driving women's participation to levels not seen since 1988 — a fact Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka on Tuesday said is 'more than sad and disappointing.'"

– "State proposes sweeping change to vocational school admissions," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "Four years after elected officials and advocates began calling for changes to state regulations governing admission to vocational-technical high schools, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley is proposing a sweeping update."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Feds recommend pausing J&J vaccine over blood clotting concerns," by Lauren Morello, POLITICO: "Federal health agencies on Tuesday recommended an immediate pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine after six people developed a rare and severe type of blood clot after receiving the shot. All those affected were women between the ages of 18 and 48, and their symptoms developed 6-13 days after vaccination, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a joint statement."

– "You Can't Scallop Over Zoom: New Bedford Works to Vaccinate Seafood and Fishing Communities," by Arun Rath and Amanda Beland, GBH News: "New Bedford is the country's largest commercial shipping port and has the largest collection of seafood processing plants in the United States. But these two accolades also create some unusual circumstances for the city when it comes to reaching and vaccinating those communities."

FROM THE HUB

– "Janey: City Will Release Files On Retired Cop Accused Of Child Molestation," by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: "Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey says the internal affairs records of a retired city police officer accused of child rape will be released by the end of the week. Janey ordered an immediate review of former officer Patrick Rose's files. He was accused of sexual assault in the 1990s, but allowed to remain on the force."

– "Boston Public Schools fundraising data reveals major differences between schools," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "An analysis of fundraising data across 125 Boston Public Schools shows major differences between individual schools, a huge divide that's often tied to the schools' racial demographics, a BPS parent group revealed on Tuesday."

– "Families Brace For Evictions As End Of Federal Moratorium Nears," by Arun Rath and Amanda Beland, GBH News: "At the end of June, the federal moratorium on evictions will expire, putting thousands of families in Massachusetts at risk for eviction. Andrea Park is a housing and homelessness staff attorney with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. She says the federal moratorium doesn't protect all tenants and the ones receiving that protection are only saved from the final step of the process, the eviction itself."

– "In a surprise, Bunker Hill guestbooks from Civil War emerge in auction," by Brian MacQuarrie, Boston Globe: "Mary Todd Lincoln, the president's wife, signed the guestbook during the Civil War. So did Dr. Mary Walker, a Union physician who was the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. George Arth, a Marine Corps bass player who was in the orchestra at Ford's Theater the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, also signed."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "RMV Extends Inspection Sticker Grace Period Until End Of May," The Associated Press: "People who have been unable to get their vehicles inspected because of a computer problem with the system will now have until the end of May to get a valid inspection sticker, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles said Tuesday."

WARREN REPORT

– "Elizabeth Warren says the government should fire student loan servicer Navient, which should fire its CEO," by Ayelet Sheffey, Insider: "Navient CEO John Remondi was at Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts' first hearing on student debt relief. Warren told Remondi that he should be fired for misleading student loan borrowers, but that wasn't all."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Rep. McGovern, immigrant leaders join coalition's virtual roundtable 'No Recovery Without Immigrants,'" by Nicole Shih, Telegram & Gazette: "U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern said in a virtual roundtable event that, 'none of us could have survived the pandemic without the essential work and services provided to each of us in our families by the immigrant community .'"

– "Rep. Auchincloss raises over $460,000 during first 3 months in DC," by Ted Nesi, WPRI: "Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss raised over $460,000 during his first three months on Capitol Hill, as the first-term Democrat seeks to scare off potential challengers when he runs for re-election next year. Auchincloss, who succeeded Joe Kennedy III in January, finished the quarter with about $850,000 in cash on hand, his spokesperson Matt Corridoni told 12 News."

– "Jake Auchincloss is introducing his first bill as a member of Congress," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Exactly 100 days into his career in Congress, freshman Rep. Jake Auchincloss is slated to file his first bill Tuesday evening. According to his office, the Massachusetts congressman is introducing the Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act, which would curtail the ability of third-party debt collectors to contact individuals going through foreclosure in states, like Massachusetts, where foreclosures are not required to go through the judicial process."

ON THE STUMP

– "Baker, Sununu targeted by EMILY's List as 2022 governor races loom," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "EMILY's List, a group that works to elect Democratic women supporting abortion rights, has set Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in its crosshairs for 2022. The political action committee put Baker and fellow New England GOP Govs. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire and Phil Scott of Vermont ' on notice' on Tuesday as it unveiled its first round of 'targets' for the 2022 election cycle."

BIDEN TIME

– "One-on-one with Secretary Walsh: 'I've left the city in a really strong position,'" by Bill Forry, Dorchester Reporter: "US Labor Secretary Marty Walsh spoke to the Reporter this week for his first one-on-one interview with Boston media since he resigned as mayor on March 22. Now three weeks into his tenure as a cabinet member, he talked about his new (hybrid) commute, the conflict he felt about leaving City Hall, and his hopes for what comes next for his successor(s)."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "Jennifer Flanagan announces she's stepping down from Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, ending 25-year career of public service," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: "Jennifer Flanagan on Tuesday announced she is stepping down from her seat on the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission this month, ending a 25-year career of public service in the state ."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "WALKING BACK THE VAX," — Globe: "J&J shots suspended over blood clots," "CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER HONORED," "Biden plans to pull US troops out of Afghanistan."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "The National Guard wants to clear 170 acres of woods on Cape Cod for a new machine gun range," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "Military officials have proposed clearing 170 acres of dense forest to build a new range on the 15,000-acre base on the Upper Cape, one of only a few in the state where soldiers can drill with their weapons. But the controversial proposal — likely to receive a key approval in the coming days — has been vehemently opposed by local lawmakers and environmental groups."

– "Angry Somerset residents elect ally to select board," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Somerset voters, angry about noisy and dirty businesses operating out of an industrial site that was supposed to be a staging ground for the state's offshore wind industry, elected an ally to the Board of Selectmen on Monday."

– "Worcester sued over voting rights in talks that may change school election system," by Scott O'Connell, Telegram & Gazette: "City officials and the plaintiffs in a voting rights lawsuit filed against the city have told a judge they are willing to resolve the matter outside of court. Any agreement with the city would likely hinge on a commitment from officials to implement some sort of change to the election system, said Brian Alosco, a lawyer from Brown Rudnick LLP representing the plaintiffs in the case."

– "Methuen piloting COVID-19 tracing through smartphones," by Breanna Edelstein, Eagle-Tribune: "Methuen is one of two communities in Massachusetts working with state public health officials on MassNotify, a new tool intended to help stop the spread of COVID-19 with smartphone notifications. According to city officials, the program sends 'exposure alerts' to anyone in close contact with someone who anonymously shared with MassNotify that they tested positive for the virus."

– "Natick Town Meeting resolution aims to condemn those linked to Capitol riot," by Henry Schwan, MetroWest Daily News: "A Town Meeting member plans to introduce a resolution that condemns the actions of those who took part in the Jan. 6 riot inside the U.S. Capitol."

– "Provincetown summer events will be back, but what will they look like?" by Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll, Cape Cod Times: "Carnival, Pride and other theme weeks are back on the town's calendar for summer. The possible size and scope of the LGBTQ-friendly gatherings, though, is being gauged on an almost day-to-day basis."

TRANSITIONS – Audrey Coulter is leaving her role as deputy press secretary at Boston City Hall and will join Deloitte's government and public services consulting practice at the end of the month.

– Demi Kouzounas is the Republican National Committee's new regional co-chair for the northeast.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former Rep. Chester Atkins, and Joe Rospars, founder and CEO of Blue State and an Elizabeth Warren alum.

NEW EPISODE: BORN TO BE DIALED – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray speak with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Downing about his campaign. The hosts discuss a recent Supreme Court decision that will change the way pollsters do business. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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