News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: MAYORAL RACE zeroes in on MASS AND CASS — COURT sides with JANEY

Friday, May 28, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: MAYORAL RACE zeroes in on MASS AND CASS — COURT sides with JANEY — SCHOOLS to left Covid RESTRICTIONS

May 28, 2021

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ALL EYES ON MASS & CASS — The addiction crisis that's long plagued the Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard area is rapidly emerging as a key issue in the Boston mayoral race — and it could become a telling test for the acting mayor who's looking to make her job permanent.

Three candidates — City Councilor Andrea Campbell, state Rep. Jon Santiago and former Boston economic development chief John Barros — have visited the area in the past two weeks, and City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George is expected to head down there this coming Thursday.

The six major candidates spent nearly a fifth of their Suffolk County Sheriff's Department forum Wednesday discussing and debating their plans to tackle the violence, drug issues and homelessness in the troubled area sometimes disparagingly called "Methadone Mile."

Advocates are looking to the mayoral candidates for ideas, but they also don't want to wait until the next mayor is seated in January for action.

"We need an action plan, and we need it like yesterday," Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, whose headquarters is in the area, told me.

That puts Acting Mayor Kim Janey in a unique position. Her rivals have plans — Campbell wants a city "chief" and designated first responder unit for the area; Santiago, an ER doc, wants to regionalize the neighborhood's social and public health services and create a "Mass and Cass" police sub-district; Barros wants a 24-hour street outreach team; Essaibi George wants a "Mass and Cass Czar" in the city's health commission; City Councilor Michelle Wu is calling for immediate work on supportive housing.

But Janey is the one who can actually act now. "I have my administration treating this the same way we did with Covid," she said at the forum, adding that she's creating an "external working group" that includes people in the recovery community. The city also recently reopened a "comfort station" with restrooms, outreach services and tents.

Janey has the opportunity now to establish herself as a leader in turning "Mass and Cass" around, and some of her rivals are essentially giving her the opening by challenging her to do more in the area.

Focusing on the issue could also provide a path for Janey to move on from the Boston Police commissioner scandal that's been hanging over her head for weeks now. A judge's ruling Thursday finally allows Janey to go forward with trying to fire suspended Commissioner Dennis White.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Nearly all of the state's remaining Covid-19 restrictions lift tomorrow.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Monday, May 31. I'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday, June 1.

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

TODAY — Rep. Lori Trahan and Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez visit Lawrence General Hospital's mobile vaccination clinic at 10 a.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, state Reps. Marjorie Decker and Jay Livingstone, Boston City Councilors Kenzie Bok and Andrea Campbell, and Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui visit a pop-up vaccine clinic for those ages 12 and up run by CIC Health and the state at the Museum of Science at 11 a.m.

THIS WEEKEND — Rep. Jake Auchincloss will attend several local Memorial Day ceremonies from Saturday to Monday. Rep. Seth Moulton attends Memorial Day events on Monday in his district.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "There are now fewer than 8,000 active COVID infections in Massachusetts; 59% of state has received at least one vaccine dose," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Active COVID cases continued to decline in Massachusetts on Thursday, according to the latest Department of Public Health data. Officials reported that there are now 7,843 active infections, down from 8,416 on Wednesday, data shows. State health officials also confirmed another 215 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday."

– From 229 to one: "Number of Mass. communities considered high-risk for coronavirus drops to 1," by Frank O'Laughlin, WHDH: "Just one community now falls in the Department of Public Health's highest-risk category for COVID-19 transmission under the state's guidelines, down from the two that were reported last week. The lone high-risk community is Tisbury."

– "New COVID cases reported among 229 Massachusetts students, 21 school staff members," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: "New cases of COVID-19 identified in Massachusetts schools continue to sharply decline. From May 20 to 26, schools reported new infections among 229 students and 21 staff members, according to a weekly report from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted in Mass. schools this fall, in-person learning to be required, state says," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "All coronavirus-related protocols, including social distancing, will be lifted at schools for the start of the 2021-22 academic year, and every school will be required to be back fully in person, state education officials told superintendents on Thursday."

– "In The Year After George Floyd's Murder, Beacon Hill Confronts Structural Racism," by Mike Deehan, GBH News: "In the year after George Floyd's murder, Beacon Hill put in place a new police oversight law and committed to a closer focus on racial issues, but the biggest change many see in the state capital has been a willingness across government to openly address structural racism."

– "Revenue Markup, Film Tax Credit and Rideshare Fees Bound for Conference Talks," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): "The Senate unanimously passed a $47.7 billion budget for next year after three days of debate over how best to invest state resources as Massachusetts looks to recover from the hardships of the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic. … The vote sets the stage for negotiations with the House over a range of issues, from the film tax credit to fees on Uber and Lyft rides, but perhaps most consequential will be the decision the two branches will have to make about revenues."

– "Baker administration embarks on $2M campaign to promote restaurant industry," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "State officials are launching a $1.9 million ad campaign to encourage consumers to eat out at their local restaurants, timed to coincide with the outdoor dining season and the lifting of pandemic-related occupancy restrictions this weekend."

– "Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel stepping down," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel is stepping down next month after six years in the role, the longest serving commissioner since 1997, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced."

– "State legislators hope to expedite changes at Holyoke Soldiers' Home," by Jodi Reed, WWLP: "The legislature has filed 14 recommendations in just one week. Senate President Karen Spilka released a statement Thursday saying that these recommendations will be filed very soon and she hopes the legislature will approve them with expediency."

– "Business groups lobby state to use stimulus cash to offset big unemployment fee increase," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Employers may have won a reprieve from a shocking surge in unemployment insurance costs this spring, but they'll need to pay up eventually. So businesses are clamoring for a portion of the $5.3 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds that Massachusetts received this month, to reduce the big burden on them."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Going to the Cape this summer? You might need your vaccine card," by Anissa Gardizy, Boston Globe: "A beach towel, sunscreen, flip flops — and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine card? Senator Julian Cyr of Truro said Thursday that those looking to visit Cape Cod this summer should bring proof of vaccination with them, anticipating some businesses will require it as a way to ensure employees and guests are safe."

"'Like The End Of Prohibition': Massachusetts Bars And Nightclubs Excited For Saturday Reopening," by Rachel Holt, WBZ: "On Saturday, Royale will open its doors again for "The Royale Return: Memorial Day Weekend Party" and things will look much different there and at other bars and clubs in Massachusetts as remaining COVID-19 restrictions are lifted."

FROM THE HUB

– "Appeals court judge sides with Boston against Dennis White," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "An appeals court judge has rejected embattled Police Commissioner Dennis White's argument, paving the way for the city to move ahead with firing him."

– "Domestic violence within the ranks: How recent allegations are shaking faith in BPD," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Domestic violence is a daily challenge for the Boston Police Department, which responded to an average of 34 calls a day from households in crisis last year, according to department data. Now, with revelations about officers engaged in the same cycle of violence, advocates are calling for a new era of accountability within the department and for sharpened policies against abuse."

– "Boston schools superintendent Cassellius expands investigation into unlicensed counseling sessions," by Laura Crimaldi, Naomi Martin and James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced Thursday afternoon that she is expanding the district's investigation into the use of an unorthodox brand of group therapy by an outside contractor who supervised the prestigious Boston Student Advisory Council, citing 'deeply painful stories' detailed in a new Globe report."

– "Boston Police cruiser on guard when Marty Walsh circles back home," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "John Kerry and Martin Walsh have a lot in common. … They're longtime Democratic Party stalwarts and they both qualify for a Boston Police cruiser outside their city pads when they are working from home."

– "Boston officials say they're targeting individuals who are 'driving' violent crime," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "Boston authorities say they're addressing violence in the city head-on this summer, particularly through a focused, proactive approach on apprehending individuals they say are responsible for violent crime."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Michelle Wu urges change on Allston Multimodal Project," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Mayoral candidate Michelle Wu is urging the state to keep the 'throat' portion of the Allston Multimodal project at grade in what she says would be the type of advocacy the city of Boston needs to do more of."

– "How do we make Boston's public schools stronger? Mayoral candidates share their ideas," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "As Boston Public Schools wind down a year of unprecedented academic challenges, the six candidates running for mayor hold many similar views on how to make the schools stronger than before the COVID-19 pandemic."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Check out the MBTA's renderings of the proposed Red-Blue connector," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "With Massachusetts General Hospital planning a nearly $2 billion expansion of its downtown Boston campus, the long-discussed proposal of directly linking the MBTA's Red and Blue lines has been thrust back to the forefront. And now, we even have a few preliminary draw ups of what the so-called Red-Blue connector might look like."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Rep. Richard Neal touts American Rescue Plan in Westfield as infrastructure fight looms in Washington," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal on Thursday announced Westfield's share of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan: $9.3 million for the city government, $11.5 million for its schools and $12.8 million for Westfield State University. … The Biden administration plans to follow up the American Rescue Plan with other ambitious spending packages: the $1.7 trillion American Jobs Plan for infrastructure and a separate $1.8 trillion American Families Plan. But there is Republican opposition."

– The national take: "Senate Democrats pile on GOP infrastructure counteroffer," by Marianne Levine, POLITICO: "Senate Democrats panned the Republicans' latest counteroffer on infrastructure Thursday, signaling a bipartisan agreement remains far out of reach. ... Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) told reporters on a call with Invest in America Action that 'no meaningful climate action means no deal with the Democrats.'"

– "Bill would make athletes at public colleges employees, allow them to collectively bargain," by Steve Berkowitz, USA TODAY: "Two members of the U.S. Senate and three members of the House are introducing legislation Thursday that would make college athletes at public schools employees of the schools and give them the right to collectively bargain. … The new bill is being led in the Senate by Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a longtime critic of the NCAA, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. The House sponsors are Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y.; Andy Levin, D-Mich.; and Lori Trahan, D-Mass."

DATELINE D.C.

– "Labor Secretary Walsh Discusses The Dueling Infrastructure Bills," by Ailsa Chang, NPR: "NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh about the dueling infrastructure bills presented by Republicans and Democrat leaderships, along with the current health of the labor force" and suspended Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White.

FROM THE 413

– "Leading light: Friends, authors remember Eric Carle as funny, generous, creative," by Steve Pfarrer, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "...friends of Eric Carle, who died in Northampton on Sunday at age 91, also remember him as a witty and thoughtful man who remained creative right up until the end, someone who never lost his love of creating books for children, in particular fashioning inventive collage art that would appeal to their love of color and sense of wonder."

– "A 'jewel of the Air National Guard': Barnes Regional Airport celebrates $4.7 million taxiway and ramp project while angling for F-35 fighter jets," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "Gov. Charlie Baker, U.S. Rep Richard E. Neal and a squadron of state and local officials welcomed Thursday a $4.7 million taxiway and ramp project at Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. The celebration of Taxiway Sierra comes just weeks before an Air Force team is to visit Barnes June 21-25 and evaluate the base for upgrades either to the next-generation F-35 fighter jets — which would cement Barnes' role in the Air Force's plans for decades — or newer versions of the F-15s it has now."

– "Food Bank of Western Massachusetts unveils plans for $22 million headquarters in Chicopee," by Jeannette DeForge, Springfield Republican: "During the coronavirus pandemic the need for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts grew dramatically, but there are days when new donations of food, especially produce that needs to be kept cold, cannot be accepted. … That problem should end when a new home for the food bank is completed in Chicopee by the summer of 2023."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "How A Mass. Brewer's Call For Harassment Stories Led To A Reckoning In The Beer Industry," by Cristela Guerra, WBUR: "The stories run through her mind as Brienne Allan drives to work at Notch Brewing in Salem. They occupy her thoughts before bed. For the last two weeks, they've accumulated in her Instagram inbox and her social media account has become a vessel, holding space for anonymous reports of abuse in the brewing industry." More from the Boston Globe's Janelle Nanos.

– "Is Somerville the latest 'next Kendall Square'?" by Rowan Walrath and Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: "...with massive new lease for Flagship Pioneering–backed companies at Boynton Yards, Somerville may soon lay claim to being Kendall Square's next big challenger."

– "U.S., Massachusetts Jobless Claims Continue To Fall To New Pandemic Lows," by WBUR: "The number of people filing first-time unemployment claims dropped again last week, both in Massachusetts and across the country, to new pandemic lows."

– "How New Bedford boosted its graduation rate," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine. "With abysmal achievement scores, a graduation rate hovering a little above 60 percent, and a feeling among students that school leaders were indifferent to it all, New Bedford was being eyed as a potential target for a state takeover. Eight years later, the district still faces considerable challenges, but it has notched a significant victory when it comes to getting students to make it to graduation day. New Bedford High School has seen a nearly 30-point increase in its graduation rate."

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

– "Windham audit finds no fraud or evidence voting machines were tampered with," by Kevin Landrigan, New Hampshire Union Leader: "A forensic audit of automated vote counting machines in Windham revealed no evidence of fraud or tampering with those devices, officials said Thursday. … Earlier, former President Donald Trump seized on the folded-ballots issue to repeat his claims of widespread election fraud."

– "Shaheen, NH reps vow to keep up telecommuter tax fight," by Dan Alexander, Seacoast Current: "Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is criticizing the call by President Joe Biden's acting Solicitor General for the U.S. Supreme Court to not hear the state of New Hampshire's case against Massachusetts for taxing its residents."

CONGRATS — to state Sen. Adam Hinds and his wife, Alicia Mireles Christoff, on welcoming their baby boy, Rafael Fernando Hinds. The family is doing great.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Alan Khazei and Rich Thuma. Happy belated to Melissa Ludtke and Brian Choquet and Jeff Santos.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to state Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, former Senate candidate and attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, Charles River Esplanade Executive Director Michael Nichols and GBH's Matt Baskin, who celebrate Saturday; to Sunday birthday-ers CNN's Eric Levenson, Senate Ways & Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues, and Wes Ritchie; and to Monday birthday-ers WPRI's Ted Nesi and Gena Mangiaratti.

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