| | | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky | Presented by Uber Driver Stories | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! WHAT TO MAKE OF BAKER'S FUNDRAISING — The Democratic Governors Association called GOP Gov. Charlie Baker's fundraising "anemic" when he collected $25,457 in March. Then he raised just under $9,430 in April. It marked the fourth consecutive month that Baker's fundraising declined, raising questions about whether the Republican will seek a third term. He ended April with about $520,100 in his bank account, according to Office of Campaign and Political Finance reports. Let's go back in time to put that amount in context. Baker had 10 times more money banked at this point in his first term, and was raking in a lot more cash, too — he raised $271,381 in April 2017. His account swelled to more than $7 million by the end of November 2017, when he announced his intention to run for reelection. Now, rewind to when Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick was gearing up to run for a second term. Patrick raised $110,402 in April 2009 and ended the month with $488,004 in his account. He didn't bank $1 million until April 2010 — at which point Baker, who ultimately lost the 2010 election, was closing in on $2.3 million. The takeaway? Baker isn't raising nearly enough to suggest he's gearing up for a third run. But at the same time, the amount of cash he's currently sitting on is enough for him to be competitive if he suddenly ramps up his fundraising. Multiple people tell me his donors are ready to go for it if he is. "If he wanted to oil his machine and get it moving, it's there for him," former Massachusetts GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour said. One thing to keep in mind: The Covid effect. Bay State pols on both sides of the aisle largely backed off fundraising in 2020 as the pandemic raged. Baker collected $8,637 last June, $4,480 last September and just $885 last November . Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito's fundraising has also dropped off. But she's out-paced Baker each month since last October and closed out April with more than $2 million. State Attorney General Maura Healey, a potential Democratic contender for governor, has an even bigger war chest, with $3.1 million stashed away. We've reached the end of our first week together. Drop me a line at lkashinsky@politico.com and let me know what you liked (or didn't), what you want to see more (or less) of and any other comments re: Playbook! Tips, scoops, birthdays and transitions are always welcome. TODAY — Sen. Ed Markey, state Sen. Eric Lesser, state Rep. Joseph Wagner, Chicopee Mayor John Vieau, and Steve Huntley, executive director of the Valley Opportunity Council, talk childcare at the council's Chicopee center at 11:30 a.m. Lesser hosts Mary Kay Wydra, Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau president, and Martha Sheridan, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO, on his Lunchtime Livestream at 10 a.m. THIS WEEKEND — State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Boston mayoral candidates state Rep. Jon Santiago, Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and former Boston economic development chief John Barros will attend Volunteers of America of Massachusetts' 26th annual "I Remember Mama" fundraiser at 10 a.m. Saturday, Shiloh House, Jamaica Plain. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey, First Lady Lauren Baker, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Kinney, author of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series and WCVB's Rhondella Richardson participate in Friends of the Public Garden's 2021 Virtual Duckling Day at noon Sunday. | | A message from Uber Driver Stories: Meet Jesus. A US Army veteran and single father, Jesus's number one priority will always be his 14-year-old daughter. Having the flexibility to work his own hours allows Jesus to be the dad he wants to be. Watch his story in his own words below. | | | | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS | | – "Statewide COVID hospitalizations drop to 469 as Massachusetts reports 53% of the state with at least one dose of vaccine," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Active COVID cases in Massachusetts continue a sustained decline on Thursday as roughly 53% of the state has received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. … State health officials confirmed another 1,004 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday." – "13 Massachusetts cities and towns at high risk for coronavirus as transmission slows," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "The number of cities and towns at high risk for COVID-19 transmission dropped by half this week, declining for the fourth straight week as transmission slows and vaccines become more widely available." | | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | – "In Feel-Good COVID Presser, Baker's Tone Sharpens When Talk Turns To Housing," by Adam Reilly, GBH News: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signaled Thursday that as the state emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the aggressive creation of new housing is likely to become his administration's top priority." – "Massachusetts still requires kids to wear masks during outdoor sports and recess. Some parents want that to change," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Massachusetts may have relaxed its outdoor mask mandate last week, but some parents say the state's face covering rules remain unfairly restrictive on its youngest residents — and they're pressing Gov. Charlie Baker to provide some air." – "Massachusetts nurses rally against 'violent' healthcare workplaces," by Meghan Ottolini, Boston Herald: "Nurses are lobbying lawmakers on Beacon Hill to pass a series of bills they say would offer them better protection in their 'dangerous' workplaces, and improve patient care." – "Chicopee Rep. Joe Wagner will lead conference committee to consider $600 million Holyoke Soldiers' Home bond bill," by Stephanie Barry, The Republican: "State Rep. Joseph Wagner will lead a six-member committee tasked with resolving a $600 million bond bill to finance a new Soldiers' Home in Holyoke and additional veterans' services across the state." – "Could Massachusetts Reopen Sooner Than Planned? Here's What Gov. Baker Said," by NBC10 Boston: "With northeast states like New York and New Jersey set to fully lift COVID-19 restrictions later this month, Gov. Charlie Baker was asked Thursday if there's any chance Massachusetts will accelerate its reopening plans.'We're gonna play this game based on our data and our information,' he said." | | VAX-ACHUSETTS | | – "'Vaxed And Relaxed' Cruise To Set Sail In Boston," by Rachel Holt, WBZ: "It's meant to be a place where guests can kick back, relax, and unmask." – "These New England colleges are requiring students to get vaccinated for COVID-19 before coming to campus in the fall," by Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe: "After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted college life, New England universities are hoping the upcoming year offers its students a bit more normalcy." | | FROM THE HUB | | – "Northeastern's plan for a 25-story dorm on the edge of Roxbury poses a test for Janey, by Tim Logan and Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "When Northeastern University filed plans in 2019 to build a massive dormitory at Columbus Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, Kim Janey was not a fan of the proposal. Janey, then a city councilor, sent a letter to the Boston Planning & Development Agency expressing her 'deep concern' about the project and Northeastern's relationship with its neighbors in her Roxbury district. Now Janey runs the city as acting mayor, and the school's plans for its dorm are about to land on her desk."
| | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL | | – "Acting Mayor Kim Janey's campaign hired signature collectors," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Acting Mayor Kim Janey has hired people to collect signatures to get her on the ballot, an unusual move in the Boston mayoral race." – "Mayoral hopefuls face off on racial justice before NAACP," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "In vivid and moving personal anecdotes, the six candidates for mayor, all of whom identify as people of color, described how their lived experiences informed their work to date, and shaped their motivations to run the city of Boston." | | | |   | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | – "Planners promise payback from Hartford-Springfield-Boston rail line," by Jim Kinney, The Republican: "The Springfield/Hartford area has missed out on 130,000 new jobs since 1990, jobs that could have come here if the region had the commuter rail service enjoyed by other East Coast cities." | | DAY IN COURT | | – "Healey sues global advertising firm for marketing addictive opioids," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Attorney General Maura Healey, who has been one of the country's strongest legal crusaders against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, has now filed a lawsuit against marketing firm Publicis Health for its role helping Purdue market addictive opioid pain medication." – "DCF sued in connection with Patrick Rose case," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A Boston family has sued the Department of Children and Families, alleging that the agency compounded the nightmare of their abuse by now-disgraced cop Patrick Rose." | | WARREN REPORT | | – Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she's "much happier with Donald Trump off the airs, off Facebook" after the social media company's quasi-independent oversight board decided to keep the former president blocked — at least for now. Warren said he should be banned for good, but she also told the Washington Post that the decision, made by Facebook's "Supreme Court," serves as a reminder of the "amount of power that Facebook has" and why "we need to break up big tech." More from Warren's Washington Post Live interview. | | THE PRESSLEY PARTY | | – "Pressley Favors Combining Biden's Spending Proposals," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): "With Democrats clinging to a slim majority in Congress, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley said Thursday the next recovery package should be big and inclusive of everything from roads and bridges to housing, child care and paid family leave, warning Democrats against breaking up the White House's massive relief proposals to get something done." | | THE CLARK CAUCUS | | – "Congresswoman Katherine Clark meets with small business owners about relief funds," by Janelle Nanos, Boston Globe: "Just over a year ago, Henry Manice and Naveen Pawar of Mighty Squirrel brewery were feeling giddy. Having recently opened their massive taproom in Waltham, they were putting the finishing touches on the space — in particular, plans for a function room — when the pandemic stopped them in their tracks. Today, they've hit a new stride." | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | – "'My bright and shining star' Mikayla Miller's mother tells crowd at Hopkinton rally," by Alison Bosma and Cesareo Contreras, MetroWest Daily News: "Tears soaked through the mask worn by Allison McMullen, a 17-year-old Hopkinton High School student. 'I was friends with her,' she said. 'She was amazing. She was so bright. So beautiful.'" – "'Fitting' tribute for late Holy Cross rower Grace Rett as athletics center breaks ground in Uxbridge, by Jennifer Toland, Telegram & Gazette: "Christopher, Mary Jo and Brianne Rett live right down the street from Our Lady of the Valley Regional School, where Brianne and her older sister, Grace, were all-around student-athletes from kindergarten through eighth grade. They pass by, regularly, the area near OLV's main building that has recently been cleared and staked, and where the Grace Rett Athletic Complex and Education (G.R.A.C.E.) Center will soon stand and honor the precious memory of their daughter and sister." – "Committee: Milton lacks 'commitment to diversity'" by Fred Hanson, Patriot Ledger: "In their initial report to the select board, members of the Milton Equity and Justice for All advisory committee said the town lacks a commitment to diversity. The 13-member committee was appointed in September during the national re-examination of race issues following the death of Black man George Floyd, who died while in police custody."
| | MEDIA MATTERS | | – "GBH News Wins Six Regional Murrow Awards, Including Inaugural Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Prize," by GBH News: "GBH News has been honored with six Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including the awards for overall excellence and excellence in diversity, equity and inclusion." TRANSITIONS – Boston law firm Sherin and Lodgen adds business law and commercial real estate attorney Jonathan F.X. O'Brien as a partner in the firm's business law and real estate departments. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Emma Riley, Nancy White, Chris Lindahl, M.J. Tidwell, Nicholas Harrer and Brian Dunn. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to Saturday celebrators Francy Wade, Dana Sprole, Janis Lippman, Tom McCuin, Dave Lam, David Brade and Kelley Greenman, and to Sunday birthday-ers Drew Sullivan (h/t Laura Picard), Cory Bisbee, David Gergen and Ben Herman. NEW EPISODE: THANKS FOR THE MEM-MURRAYS – On this week's Horse Race podcast, co-host and soon-to-be POLITICO Morning Score author Stephanie Murray says goodbye to the pod and reflects on her time on the #mapoli beat with fellow hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela. With the future of workplaces post-pandemic still uncertain, Miles Howard discusses his Boston Globe article making the case for turning vacant offices into affordable housing. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and SoundCloud. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | | A message from Uber Driver Stories: After 9 years in the Army, and missing the birth of his daughter because he was stationed overseas, Jesus decided to make changes in his life.
Jesus chooses the flexibility of Uber because it lets him be there for his daughter—which has become even more important now that she's in distance learning due to the pandemic.
"It's tough being a single parent," Jesus says. "Without Uber, I wouldn't have been able to bond with my daughter because I wasn't able to spend time with her."
"Flexibility is important to me because I'm able to spend those magical moments with my daughter. Those moments are irreplaceable."
To see more stories like Jesus's, click here.
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