News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: ALLEN goes for GOV — DUFF OUT of AUDITOR's race — WHALE of a TALE

Monday, June 14, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: ALLEN goes for GOV — DUFF OUT of AUDITOR's race — WHALE of a TALE — When will MASS STATEHOUSE reopen?

Jun 14, 2021

Presented by Save Boston's Waterfront

ALLEN GOES FOR GOV — Harvard professor and political theorist Danielle Allen will officially launch her campaign for governor on Tuesday, joining what's poised to become a crowded Democratic field for the corner office in 2022.

Her historic bid — Allen is the first Black woman to run for governor from a major party in Massachusetts — comes six months after she began exploring a campaign for the executive office. She'll take leave from Harvard, where she's director of the university's Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, on July 1, her campaign said.

Allen's making it official just in time to drum up support at the Democratic caucuses, which kick off Tuesday and run through the end of July. Delegates aren't directly in play this year — these caucuses are about the party platform — but candidates will be making the rounds to the virtual and in-person meetings to network with activists and try to lock up support ahead of next year's caucuses and ballot-deciding convention.

Allen and rival gubernatorial hopeful Ben Downing both plan to drop by the Boston Ward 20 Democrats' caucus on Tuesday. Downing, a former state senator who jumped into the race for governor in February, also plans to visit the West Springfield Democratic Committee's virtual caucus on Tuesday, as well as caucuses in Boston, Attleboro, Springfield, Lawrence and Brockton in coming weeks, his campaign said. Allen, Downing and state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, a Boston Democrat who's mulling a run for governor, have been calling around to different Democratic activists ahead of the caucuses, a Democratic source said, as have candidates for auditor.

Allen, 49, grew up a conservative Republican whose father served in the Reagan administration before beginning a move toward the progressive-Democrat end of the political spectrum in college. Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh called Allen "a combination of Deval Patrick and Elizabeth Warren: two people who ran for the top office — governor, U.S. senator — without ever running for anything beforehand and winning." The question, Marsh said, is whether Allen can "replicate the strategy of being a progressive outsider and bring change to the governor's office? And will Democrats support her?"

Allen had $283,279 banked at the start of the month — more than Downing's $111,399, though she's been fundraising for nearly two months longer than him, and Chang-Díaz's $203,165. State Attorney General Maura Healey, another potential Democratic contender, is sitting on a war chest of more than $3 million. Allen hosted a fundraiser featuring Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., in early May, pointing to her money network beyond Massachusetts.

Allen is continuing to grow her team. Allen Chen, an alum of Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)'s presidential campaign, is her campaign manager. And in a first-in-Playbook detail, Stephanie Garvey, a former finance director for Rep Ami Bera (D-Calif.), is Allen's new finance director. Former Disney star Bridgit Mendler continues to volunteer as digital director. Liberty Square Group's Scott Ferson and Stacey Monahan are senior advisers.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . The state's first mass vaccination site, Gillette Stadium, will administer its final doses this evening, after facilitating more than 610,000 shots-in-arms since January. More on the milestone from WBUR's Quincy Walters.

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

TODAY — City Councilor and Boston mayoral candidate Michelle Wu kicks off a week of events highlighting ways to tackle Boston's housing issues with a 10 a.m. press conference outside of the Egleston Square branch of the Boston Public Library, calling for the creation of new affordable housing on top of city assets like schools and libraries. Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey and more testify during the Legislature's Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. and co-chaired by state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz and state Rep. Bud Williams. Rep. Katherine Clark highlights the American Rescue Plan on a tour of the Watertown Middle School food nutrition program at 11:30 a.m. The Jewish Community Relations Council hosts a conversation with state Sen. Eric Lesser at noon . State Rep. Ruth Balser will be honored as an Alzheimer Association legislative champion for her advocacy during Covid-19 during a 5:30 p.m. advocacy event, at which state Senate President Karen Spilka and others are expected to speak.

A message from Save Boston's Waterfront:

Boston deserves a waterfront shaped by its residents and that upholds the public right to access, enjoy, and engage with the water as protected by the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act (Chapter 91). Stand up for an equitable, climate resilient, and accessible #DowntownWaterfrontForAll worthy of our world-class city: https://savebostonswaterfront.com/take-action/.

DON'T MISS THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT: POLITICO will feature a special edition of our Future Pulse newsletter at the 2021 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of global health industry leaders and innovators who are turning lessons learned from the past year into a healthier, more resilient and more equitable future. Covid-19 threatened our health and well-being, while simultaneously leading to extraordinary coordination to improve pandemic preparedness, disease prevention, diversity in clinical trials, mental health resources, food access and more. SUBSCRIBE TODAY to receive exclusive coverage from June 22-24.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports zero new coronavirus deaths and lowest ever single-day case count since last March," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts health officials on Sunday reported zero coronavirus deaths and 33 new virus cases, which is the Bay State's lowest ever single-day case count since last March at the start of the pandemic."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "As restrictions lapse, lawmakers still meet remotely," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Salem News: "As statehouses begin to re-open, Massachusetts is becoming an outlier with government that remains closed to the public and a Legislature that continues to conduct much of its official business remotely."

– "State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz defends proposed change in Massachusetts redistricting procedure," by WCVB: "On Thursday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to advance a bill that would allow the state legislature to redraw state and federal districts before cities and towns adjust their precincts. … 'The reason why we're having to do this is because of COVID and because the census was so delayed, and the timelines got changed,' Michlewitz said."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Massachusetts is rolling out a vaccination train…" by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker's administration announced Friday that one of its private partners in the vaccine rollout, CIC Health, is taking over an MBTA commuter rail train next week and making stops in communities with lagging vaccination rates to offer walk-up shots."

– "Million dollar COVID vaccine lotteries grab attention, but cheaper, targeted approaches may be just as successful," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "As the rate of COVID vaccinations declines sharply across the country, community and state leaders are offering sometimes lavish incentives to lure holdouts to roll up their sleeves in the drive to vaccinate 70 percent of American adults by the Fourth of July. But for Carlos Acosta, it came down to something more simple: convenience."

FROM THE HUB

– "Janey Did 'The Only Thing She Could Do' In Firing Dennis White, Former BPD Commissioner Ed Davis Says," by Jon Keller, WBZ: "Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said he believes Acting Mayor Kim Janey did 'the only thing she could do' when she fired embattled Police Commissioner Dennis White."

– "Kim Janey on filling Boston School Committee vacancies: 'We certainly hope to move fast'," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Acting Mayor Kim Janey says she's 'very committed to filling' the two openings on the Boston School Committee following the recent resignations of two members who insulted West Roxbury during a text exchange. … [Janey is] forbidden by the city's governing charter from making permanent appointments, but can name people to serve for the duration of her term, which runs through November."

– "Thousands Rally In Boston For Black And Brown Trans Rights," by Phillip Martin, GBH News: "Thousands of LGBTQ people and their allies descended on Franklin Park Saturday for the second annual Trans-Resistance march and rally to honor trans women and men, and recognize the disproportionate discrimination and violence they face. … Saturday's event was also intended to serve as a rebuke to Boston Pride."

– "Woman admitted to New England Aquarium with great aunt's 38-year-old ticket," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "In November 1983, Catherine Cappiello took a trip from New Jersey with her partner to sightsee around Boston. The pair stopped briefly at the New England Aquarium, but because it was the end of the day, they received a 'Late Gate Ticket,' which allowed them to return 'at anytime in the future.' On Thursday — now nearly 38 years later — the 85-year-old's grand-niece, Rachel Carle, took them up on that offer."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Boston Emergency Medical Services union is endorsing at-large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George in the Boston mayoral race, per her campaign. "Our city is home to a world-class EMS team," Essaibi George said in a statement. "This past year and a half has been especially hard for those on the frontlines fighting this pandemic. I want them to know that they are seen and heard and always will be throughout an Essaibi George administration."

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: At-large Boston City Council candidate Alex Gray has been endorsed by former Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, former Democratic nominee for governor Jay Gonzalez, community activist Alkia Powell, attorney and disability activist Carol Steinberg, and disability advocate and community organizer Leslie Templeton, per his campaign.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Boston Teachers Union is endorsing at-large Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia in her reelection bid. "We know she will continue to fight for education equity and continue to advocate for all students to have access to a quality education, particularly students of color and those who have historically been most marginalized," BTU President Jessica Tang said in a statement via Mejia's campaign.

– ICYMI: At-large Boston City Council candidate Erin Murphy was endorsed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, per her campaign.

– "City Council candidate participated in controversial counseling sessions for Boston students," by Laura Crimaldi and Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: "Since the 1990s, Kelly Bates, a lawyer and civic leader from Hyde Park, has been a steady presence in local political and nonprofit circles, building a resume she hopes will convince voters to send her to the City Council as an at-large member in November. But for years, she has also played a role in the use of an unorthodox brand of group therapy known as Re-evaluation Counseling, or RC, with high schoolers on the Boston Student Advisory Council, a prestigious group that advises Boston Public Schools leaders on education policy."

– "Boston police union endorsements, once prized, shunned by some mayoral candidates," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Police union endorsements once were among the most prized endorsements in the city, but now less than half of the candidates will say they actually are seeking them — though the largest union's boss says that should be done at their own political peril."

– "How Gen Z Is Taking over Boston Politics," by Tom McGrath, Boston Magazine: "We gave them climate change, Donald Trump, and social media. Now Generation Z is scared, angry, hyperconnected—and ready to take over Boston politics before they're even old enough to vote."

FEELING '22

– Governor's Councilor Eileen Duff made an abrupt exit from the state auditor's race on Friday, a little more than two weeks after she became the first candidate in the running to succeed state Auditor Suzanne Bump. "It is with great regret that, due to a family health situation, I cannot justify the time commitment of a statewide run for office at this time and will be withdrawing from the race," Duff said in a statement.

– "Harvard professor Danielle Allen to launch historic bid for governor," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "Harvard professor Danielle Allen will launch a historic campaign for governor on Tuesday, entering the Democratic field as the first Black woman to run for the executive office as part of a major party in Massachusetts at a time when women and people of color are breaking barriers in city and state government."

PARTY POLITICS

– "Mass. Republican Party explored whether it can use its own money to pay for a candidate's legal fees," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Republican Party, which has struggled mightily to raise cash in recent years, asked state campaign finance regulators last month if it can use its own money to pay attorney fees for a Republican candidate facing 'legal actions' brought by a state agency, according to documents made public late last week."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Rep. Katherine Clark: Democrats In Congress Need To Be Bolder," by GBH's Greater Boston: "Assistant House Speaker Rep. Katherine Clark joined Jim Braude to talk about the Democrats' push for universal pre-K and voting rights protections, and whether those bills will get past Republicans — and Democrat Joe Manchin — in the Senate."

– "On 97th day of strike, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congressman James McGovern promise to stand with Saint Vincent Hospital nurses," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: "Nurses from Saint Vincent Hospital rallied Saturday, promising they won't give up on their quest to ensure safe patient staffing at the Worcester hospital. Saturday marked the 97th day of the nurses' strike, making it what officials called the longest strike nationally by nurses in more than a decade."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "DCR unwilling to ease I-90 Allston space crunch," by Lily Robinson and Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "On a press call on Friday announcing a new master plan for improving Greater Boston parkways, DCR officials said they would not favor freeing up space by narrowing the width of the lanes on Soldiers Field Road."

– "Seeking to improve accessibility and safety, DCR unveils plan for parkways," by Kate Lusignan, Boston Globe: "The Department of Conservation and Recreation released a $200 million Parkways Master Plan on Friday that outlines proposals to improve the utility of its roads in Greater Boston."

FROM THE 413

– "Legislative involvement key for Western Massachusetts to get fair share of federal aid, lawmakers say," by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: "For Western Massachusetts to get its fair share, lawmakers say they need a voice in how the state spends the more than $5 billion it has received in the latest round of unrestricted federal aid."

– "Governing Paradise: Noho's Recovery Would be Sciarra's Biggest Campaign Yet," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: "In addition to the First Churches campaign, [Gina-Louise Sciarra] ran now-retiring-colleague Bill Dwight's Council campaign. When Pamela Schwartz vacated Ward 4's Council seat in 2013, Sciarra ran for it. An at-large seat opened in 2019 and Sciarra went citywide. She became Council President in 2020."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Milton rallies around gay couple after years of harassment," by Brian MacQuarrie, Boston Globe: "The harassment began arriving by mail five years ago, a mysterious string of 30 magazine subscriptions ordered under fake, homophobic names that were delivered to a gay married couple in Milton who had never asked for them."

– "Out of class: Black students disproportionately suspended at schools in Quincy, Weymouth, Plymouth," by Jessica Trufant, Patriot Ledger: "On the South Shore, Weymouth High School, Quincy's South West Middle School, Plymouth as a district, both Plymouth high schools, and Rockland High School have been identified by the state and placed into a program for schools that suspend students of color or students with disabilities at a disproportionate rate."

– Whale of a tale: "Cape Cod fisherman OK after whale gulps him down, spits him out," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A Cape Cod fisherman is recovering after miraculously emerging without serious injuries from spending nearly a minute in the maw of a humpback whale who mistook him for a snack."

– The show will go on: "Boston Pops' Fourth Of July Concert Will Go On — Not In Boston, But At Tanglewood," by Andrea Shea, WBUR: "Keith Lockhart and the musicians will strike up their band to play an array of favorites including 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home in Lenox. … A fireworks finale will be set off at the Boston Common."

– "Hundreds March Through Dedham Neighborhood Demanding Answers in Teen's Drowning Death," by Kathryn Sotnik, Kaitlin McKinley Becker and Eli Rosenberg, NBC 10 Boston: "The family of a Massachusetts teenager who died after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool following a graduation party is calling for answers in his death."

– "Widow of Worcester Police Officer Manny Familia says request for three city councilors not to attend funeral 'came directly from me'," by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive.com: "The widow of Worcester Police Officer Enmanuel 'Manny' Familia says a decision to ask three Worcester city councilors not to attend the funeral services for her husband came from her and was consistent with her husband's wishes."

– "23 attorneys general show support for CDC eviction moratorium," by Jeff Martin, WWLP.com: "Twenty-three attorneys general, including Massachusetts AG Maura Healey are showing their support for the CDC's eviction moratorium by taking it to the Supreme Court."

MAZEL! – to Michael Clark , a Longmeadow native and New England progressive outreach director for AIPAC, and Madison Condon, a PhD student studying molecular biology at Johns Hopkins University, who wed on June 5 in Connecticut. The couple met while Madison began her studies at the University of Connecticut and Michael was working as senior adviser to state Sen. Eric Lesser. Former Lesser communications director Ryan Migeed officiated, and Joel McAuliffe, Lesser's deputy chief of staff, was a groomsman. Pic.

CONGRATS – to Evan Allen, Laura Crimaldi, Vernal Coleman, Matt Rocheleau, Brendan McCarthy and Steven Wilmsen of the Boston Globe on winning a Pulitzer Prize for their "Blind Spot" investigation. Link.

CHEERS – to WHDH's Byron Barnett on his retirement. Tweet.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Hannah Rehm of Rep. Jake Auchincloss's campaign and congressional teams, and Danny Gaynor . Happy belated to Brianna Millor, Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu's civic engagement director, who celebrated Saturday.

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A message from Save Boston's Waterfront:

Resiliency, accessibility, and equity should be the priorities for the Downtown Waterfront. With a shift in Mayoral leadership and a growing recognition that Boston's waterfront must be both accessible and equitable, now is the time to rethink the vision for the Downtown Waterfront. Addressing climate change and sea level rise also offers the opportunity to remedy longstanding inequalities and advance environmental justice. Investments in climate resilience should be district-wide and maximize public accessibility and community benefits.

The recent Superior Court ruling on the Downtown Waterfront Municipal Harbor Plan found fatal flaws in the process that authorized massive development at the expense of the public interest and offers a rare second chance to get it right along this special civic space that abuts Boston Harbor and The Greenway. Let's not miss the mark: state regulators need to hear from you that we must advance a welcoming, vibrant, and resilient #DowntownWaterfrontForAll: https://savebostonswaterfront.com/take-action/.

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