News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CAMPBELL presses JANEY on POLICE — BAKER seeks EXTRA SHOTS

Friday, April 23, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CAMPBELL presses JANEY on POLICE — BAKER seeks EXTRA SHOTS — WALSH: TOM BRADY is INFRASTRUCTURE

Apr 23, 2021

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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF!

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE — Acting Mayor Kim Janey began the week by pledging to shine a light on old Boston Police Department records. But days later, she is under fire from her political opponents and the former police commissioner, for her handling of a scandal inside the department.

The fracas is caused by Patrick Rose, the former police union chief who stayed on the force and rose through union ranks even after being accused of sexually abusing a child. Janey released 13 pages of Rose's redacted internal affairs file on Tuesday, a step the previous mayoral administration had refused to take when asked for the documents.

But Janey's critics say she did not go far enough. It illustrates the challenge of being acting mayor — Janey is a month into the job, just launched a campaign for a full term, and is handling a situation that initially happened in the 1990s.

City Councilor Andrea Campbell took the most pointed shot at Janey, noting the "heavily redacted and incomplete internal affairs files were released within twenty minutes of the most anticipated national news of the week." City Hall released the documents in the same afternoon that former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of George Floyd's murder.

Campbell is calling on Janey to hand the Rose investigation over to the U.S. attorney, rather than go through Boston's relatively new Office of Police Accountability and Transparency. Janey said yesterday she'll keep the investigation within the city. And John Barros, another mayoral candidate, wants the city to release a report on the number of internal affairs investigations into police officers accused of sexual assault over the past 30 years. Former Police Commissioner Paul Evans, in defending his own time at the department, suggested the city should release the rest of Rose's file to the public.

In addition to being a key issue, pressing Janey on police reform offers a chance for her opponents to chip away at her incumbent advantage. Campbell, for example, has been running for over six months and raised nearly $1 million. But a recent poll shows Janey's popularity among voters has surged since she took over as acting mayor, overshadowing Campbell and others who have been in the mayoral race for some time.

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TODAY — Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey, Attorney General Maura Healey and Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins attend a Twelfth Baptist Church service of healing and call to action in response to the Derek Chauvin verdict. Rep. Richard Neal and Chicopee Mayor John Vieau hold a press conference on the American Rescue Plan. Ben Downing, Democratic candidate for governor, is a guest on Boston Black News.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "COVID hospitalizations, active infections in Mass. continue to fall as 32% of state now fully vaccinated," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Active COVID cases continued a week-long decline on Thursday, dipping from 32,134 on Wednesday to 31,215, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. State health officials confirmed another 1,431 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday."

– "These 48 Massachusetts communities are at high risk for COVID-19, a decrease from 59 last week," by Amanda Kaufman and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Charlie Baker expects to announce COVID-19 rule changes 'before the end of April,'" by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Connecticut and Rhode Island announced plans this week to phase out many of their COVID-19 restrictions over the course of May. Massachusetts may not be far behind. During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker hinted at plans to announce changes later this month, though he stressed that Bay Staters can't let their guard down quite yet."

– "As part of Earth Week, Governor Baker plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at Mass. facilities," by Sofia Saric, Boston Globe: "As part of Earth Week, Governor Charlie Baker announced a new effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost energy efficiency across state government, after the administration invested $1 billion in climate change a year ahead of schedule."

– "Massachusetts Senate to debate $600M bond bill for new Holyoke Soldiers' Home, statewide veterans services," by Stephanie Barry, MassLive.com: "A bond bill for a new Soldiers' Home in Holyoke making its way through the state Legislature picked up an additional $200 million in the Senate version, lawmakers announced Thursday.The House voted 160-0 to pass a $400 million bond bill primarily to build the new Soldiers' Home in the wake of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak where at least 77 veterans died."

– "Pharmacists blame middlemen for high drug costs," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Amid growing attention being paid in Massachusetts to the high cost of prescription drugs, independent pharmacists are pointing a finger at a little known culprit: the middlemen who mediate between drug manufacturers, insurers, and pharmacies."

– "Where's the puppy love? Massachusetts rep fights to fund service dogs for veterans," by Meghan Ottolini, Boston Herald: "As the state budget showdown looms on Beacon Hill, state Rep. Kimberly Ferguson is fighting to help fund NEADS — a nonprofit that places service dogs with veterans nationwide."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– VAX STAT: Massachusetts is tied with Hawaii for the lowest vaccine unwillingness rate in the country, according to Morning Consult. Only 11 percent of Massachusetts residents polled said they were unwilling to get a Covid-19 vaccine. Opposition to the shot is highest in Mississippi, Idaho and South Dakota.

– "Charlie Baker wants the federal government to reallocate vaccine doses from states with excess supply to Massachusetts," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "To the states currently dealing with surplus vaccine supply: Charlie Baker wants your doses. During a press conference Thursday afternoon in Pittsfield, the Massachusetts governor said he had spoken to President Joe Biden's administration 'on several occasions' about diverting vaccine doses from states where supply has overtaken demand."

– "Vaccine availability concerns on Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard as some go off-island for shots," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Stuck on a vaccine waitlist on Nantucket, a sandwich shop employee is hopping on a ferry to the mainland to seek out a shot. Matthew Fee, who owns the sandwich shop Something Natural on Nantucket, said one of his workers is traveling off-island — and all the way to Worcester — to ensure he gets his coronavirus vaccine in a timely manner."

– "Unions say more flexibility needed for front-line workers struggling to find vaccines," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "One local union is bringing vaccines directly to the grocery baggers, food workers and others with pop-up clinics, accusing Gov. Charlie Baker of leaving behind the front-line workers he 'lauded as heroes.'"

– "Mass. Colleges Rush To Vaccinate Students Before Semester Ends," by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: "At least a dozen colleges and universities in Massachusetts are rushing to set up COVID-19 vaccination clinics before the semester ends and students head home for summer vacation."

FROM THE HUB

– "MGH pushes ahead with nearly $2 billion expansion," by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey and Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts General Hospital is pushing forward with a massive $1.9 billion project to build hundreds of private patient rooms and reinforce its focus on treating the sickest patients at its downtown campus, while also remaking a critical corner of Boston and potentially boosting public transit to boot."

– "While most Boston schools remained closed, McKinley opened its doors. Yet almost no one came," by Bianca Vázquez Toness, Boston Globe: "On a frigid late winter afternoon, three lone students exited the William McKinley Preparatory High School at the end of the school day. Each climbed into one of three waiting yellow school buses — which he occupied entirely on his own."

– "A New England company is fighting Zoom Video's plans to trademark 'ZOOM,'" by Lucia Maffei, Boston Business Journal: "Zoom Video Communications Inc., the San Jose, Calif.-based video conferencing company whose popularity spiked during the pandemic, is eager to trademark what it might say is essential to its business: several words and logos that include the word 'ZOOM.' The only problem with that? The New England cable modem maker that owns the trademark for the word 'ZOOM' in typed form has no intention of letting it go."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "In Boston's mayoral race, BPD scandal becomes central theme," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "One Boston mayoral candidate is calling for the city to disclose all internal investigations into accusations of sexual assault by Boston police officers over the past 30 years, while another candidate said that federal prosecutors should review the department's handling of abuse allegations against a former patrolman."

WARREN REPORT

– "Warren joins push for more housing help from DC, seeking nearly $500 billion for 3 million new homes," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Add Senator Elizabeth Warren to the growing list of Washington Democrats urging federal help to tackle a housing crunch that's affecting Greater Boston and many other places across the United States. The Massachusetts Democrat on Thursday proposed a nearly $500 billion package of legislation that she said would help fund 3 million new homes nationwide, new supply that could help reduce rents for lower- and middle-class families by 10 percent."

– "Abigail Disney will testify on Elizabeth Warren's wealth tax after billionaire Leon Cooperman rejected invite," by Ayelet Sheffey and Juliana Kaplan, Insider: "After billionaire Leon Cooperman rejected Sen. Elizabeth Warren's invitation to testify on her proposed wealth tax, philanthropist Abigail Disney accepted the opportunity to speak about the tax system."

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PARTY POLITICS

– "Asian Republicans Charge Massachusetts GOP With Discrimination," by Mike Deehan, GBH News: "A battle over control of the state Republican party has led to claims that its leader has discriminated against Asian American voters trying to fill a vacant political position."

DATELINE D.C.

– WALSH'S SNAPCHAT DEBUT: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is featured on Snapchat's "Good Luck America" today to talk about the American Jobs Plan. In true Biden administration style, the former Boston mayor also declares that Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is infrastructure. Link.

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "WHERE'S THE PUPPY LOVE?" — Globe: "Welcomed back, students still stay away," "VIrus data raise hope in Mass. and R.I.," "MGH AIMING HIGHER."

FROM THE 413

– "Dalton man gets year in jail for torching hay bale display in Dalton last October," by Amanda Burke, The Berkshire Eagle: "Last month, a year in jail sounded like too much to Lonnie Durfee, the man who set fire last fall to a Dalton farm's campaign endorsement, a crime covered around the world. On Thursday, he accepted it. Durfee, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of burning personal property during a Central Berkshire District Court hearing, accepting legal responsibility for pouring gasoline on a farm's Biden-Harris hay bale display during last fall's divisive presidential election."

– "UMass Amherst will require COVID vaccines for students, plans to return to normal operations for fall semester," by Will Katcher, MassLive.com: "The University of Massachusetts will largely return its Amherst campus to pre-COVID operations for the fall semester but will require students to be vaccinated prior to arrival, the school announced Thursday."

– "Fifth candidate joins Holyoke mayor's race," by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "A fifth candidate for city mayor has officially announced his campaign. Holyoke's Joshua Garcia, a graduate of the city's public schools and the current town administrator in Blandford, announced Thursday that he will add his name to the list of candidates seeking to occupy room 1 in City Hall."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Brand-new Polar Park is ready to go, but will it be a good deal for Worcester?" by Michael Silverman, Boston Globe: "Behind its industrial-warehouse facade of leisure-blue corrugated steel, brand-new Polar Park, with its deep-blue seating bowl and emerald playing field built into a Canal District hillside, is essentially ready for its May 11 Opening Day. But there's more than a baseball-stadium construction tale to be told about the Red Sox Triple A affiliate's move to Worcester after 51 seasons in Pawtucket, R.I."

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– "Officials confident Worcester can 'beat back the tide' with COVID numbers plateauing as vaccinations increase," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "For the last 14 months, Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh has selected specific hats to coincide with his portion of the weekly COVID-19 briefing. On Thursday, officials announced it represented the final in-person briefing at City Hall and Hirsh selected a cap with a prominent 'W' that he received at the start of the pandemic."

– "Fall River officer who shared Facebook post critical of George Floyd reassigned to have no contact with public," by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: "The Fall River police officer who shared a post criticizing George Floyd to the department's Facebook page on Wednesday is being reassigned as an independent investigation into the incident continues."

– "Methuen City Council to go back to in-person meetings May 3," by Bill Kirk, Eagle-Tribune: The City Council voted this week to join several other deliberative bodies in the area and return to in-person meetings. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the council has been conducting its meetings over Zoom, a software program that allows for video meetings."

– "Pandemic brings hundreds of tons more trash to South Shore curbs, open space," by Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger: "Every cleaning product, bottle of hand sanitizer and package of masks ordered online for the last 13 months has come with packing material, cardboard boxes and more work for local trash collectors. Since the start of the pandemic, hundreds of tons of additional household waste has hit the curb on pickup day, and South Shore officials say they don't see it stopping anytime soon."

– "Worcester schools prepare to administer MCAS next month," by Scott O'Connell, Telegram & Gazette: "Not without some reluctance, the city schools are preparing to begin administering the MCAS next month, just as schools are scheduled to reopen for full-time in-person learning."

– "New Bedford Police Department, union shed doubt on new report alleging racial profiling," by Anastasia E. Lennon, Standard-Times: "The city's police department and union, the mayor and some city councilors have voiced doubt, disagreement with and anger over a report recently published by a Boston-based youth advocacy group on policing and racial profiling in New Bedford."

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — State Sen. Eric Lesser, an Obama White House alum, and Alison Silber, an attorney in private practice, welcomed David Wesley Lesser on April 5. He came in at 9 lbs, 0.3 oz and 20 inches, and joins big sisters Rose and Nora. Pic.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to state Rep. Brian Ashe, 90 West founder and CEO Alex Goldstein, Taylor Pederson, NAIOP's vice president of programs & education; Terrence Clark, Kerry Talbot, former GOP candidate for Senate Geoff Diehl and former Massport Police Chief Joe Lawless.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to Saturday birthday-ers to MassLive's Matt Vautour, Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur, Romney alum Charlie Pearce, Chris Wayland, and Mass. Sierra Club Deputy Director Jacob Stern. And to Sunday birthday-ers to state Rep. Paul Frost, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, MassTech Collaborative's Garrett Quinn, Tom Springer, Mariah Philips, and Dimara Coulouras.

NEW EPISODE: RECOUNTING THE DAYS – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray discuss the race for mayor of Boston, and the Boston Globe's Matt Stout breaks down a legal battle involving the secretary of state, the city of Boston and the MassGOP. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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