News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CHANG-DIAZ goes for GUV — Boston BUDGET BATTLE

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CHANG-DIAZ goes for GUV — Boston BUDGET BATTLE — HIT and MISS on VACCINE GOALS

Jun 23, 2021

NEW THIS MORNING: CHANG-DIAZ GOES FOR GUV — Sonia Chang-Díaz made history in 2008 when she became the first Latina elected to the state Senate. Now she's setting her sights on becoming the first Latina elected governor of Massachusetts.

The Boston Democrat is formally launching her 2022 campaign for the corner office today, nearly three months after first declaring she was "seriously considering" a run and about a month after a group of young, progressive activists started a petition to draft her into the race.

"Too many leaders are more interested in keeping power than doing something with it. I'm running for governor to change that," the 43-year-old Jamaica Plain resident says in her launch video. "Every day it gets harder for working families to live here. Health care and housing costs get higher, Black and brown kids face yawning opportunity gaps. If we don't act now, we'll be having the same conversation about the same problems in another 10 years."

A former public school teacher who's the daughter of a social worker and America's first Latino astronaut, Chang-Díaz is currently the only woman of color in the state Senate. Her push for education funding was enshrined in the landmark 2019 Student Opportunity Act. She was instrumental in last year's policing reform law and co-chairs the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion. She was a major proponent of more equity in the state's coronavirus vaccine rollout. And in her announcement video, she championed a so-called millionaire's tax and called to "green our infrastructure and close the racial wealth divide."

Chang-Díaz joins her former state Senate colleague Ben Downing and Harvard professor Danielle Allen in the growing Democratic gubernatorial field. State Attorney General Maura Healey, another potential contender, has yet to announce her intentions for 2022. Neither have GOP Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito — but Chang-Díaz still took digs at Baker's record on climate change and more in her launch video.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: BREAKING BARRIERS — Chang-Díaz and Allen are vying to become the first elected woman governor of Massachusetts at a time when there are record numbers of women serving in public office, but the stereotypical image of a governor remains "stubbornly male," according to new research released today by the Barbara Lee Family Foundation and shared first with POLITICO.

"We're in a moment where we've seen women take center stage as mayors and governors for the past year and a half around the Covid-19 crises," BLFF Executive Director Amanda Hunter told me. Yet the foundation's "Staying Power" memo shows "there's still an imagination barrier when it comes to seeing women in executive office, because when voters picture a governor, they still see a man in most cases."

Most likely 2022 voters nationwide surveyed for the study expressed no difference in their preferences for a male or female governor — but those who did leaned toward a man. And voters thought their friends and neighbors would prefer a male governor by a 20-point margin, showing how pervasive the gender stereotype remains.

Women also have to do more to prove that they're qualified for executive office than men — even when they're an incumbent, the research shows.

"Women realize pretty quickly in politics that if they don't actively bring up their accomplishments and they don't show voters — rather than tell — they're not going to be successful," Hunter said.

The four women in the Boston mayoral race are all touting their accomplishments in office — as councilors and, for acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey, as the city's first female top executive. They're also leading the two men in the field in recent polling. That, Hunter said, could all help "chip away at some of those stereotypes" facing women in politics and push Massachusetts toward finally electing a woman governor.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . As ranked-choice voting draws out the results of the New York City mayoral race, lawmakers here will consider legislation that would pave the way for municipalities to use ranked-choice voting in local elections. The bill from state Sen. Rebecca Rausch is one of 37 slated for today's 10 a.m. Joint Committee on Election Laws hearing, chaired by state Sen. Barry Finegold and state Rep. Daniel Ryan.

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

TODAY — State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz kicks off her gubernatorial campaign by meeting with state Sen. Adam Gomez and leaders of color in Springfield at 8:30 a.m., a small business tour with state Rep. Mary Keefe in Worcester at 1 p.m., and a formal campaign launch at 4:30 p.m. at English High School in Jamaica Plain. Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey gives remarks at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Forum at 10 a.m. and at the Annual Pride Luncheon for LGBT Seniors, Friends, Allies and Supporters at 3 p.m. Boston mayoral candidate state Rep. Jon Santiago hosts a virtual press conference at 10:30 a.m. to tout his endorsement by VoteVets and to release a plan to support city veterans and their families. State Sen. Diana DiZoglio attends a fundraiser for her state auditor campaign hosted by state Sen. Adam Gomez, state Reps. Jake Oliveira and Orlando Ramos, former state Rep. Sean Cahillane and other local leaders at 6 p.m. in West Springfield.

"THE WOMEN REOPENING AMERICA" – A THURSDAY CONVERSATION: With more than 100 million people vaccinated against Covid-19, a strengthening economy and relaxed Covid restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, America is on a path to fully reopening. What policies and systemic changes can help women recover from the disproportionate impact of the pandemic? Join Thursday for a "Women Rule" conversation with leading women who are playing a pivotal role in determining what normal will look like for business, politics, schools and the workplace. REGISTER HERE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts hits vaccination goal of 4.1 million fully vaccinated," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts health officials on Tuesday reported that more than 4.1 million people are now fully vaccinated, as the state hit its vaccination goal on the same day the Hynes Convention Center mass vax site gave its final shots. The state on Tuesday also reported one more COVID death and 33 new virus cases, which ties for the lowest single-day infection tally since the pandemic started last March."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "House rejects Gov. Charlie Baker's amendment on how Massachusetts will spend American Rescue Plan aid," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "House lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously rejected Gov. Charlie Baker's amendments on how Massachusetts will spend the remaining $5.1 billion in federal aid. Instead, the House approved a proposal that would transfer most of the federal funding to the Legislature, leaving $200 million for the Baker administration to spend as it sees fit."

– "Mass. poised to be 'ground zero' for high-stakes gig economy battle as potential ballot question looms," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "A fight that became the most expensive ballot measure in California's history has arrived in full force in Massachusetts, setting the stage for a potentially costly campaign that could reshape the state's labor law and how hundreds of thousands of workers operate under it." More details from Boston.com's Nik DeCosta-Klipa.

– "Mail-in voting for Boston's fall election could be at risk if Mass. lawmakers don't act soon, Secretary of State Galvin warns," by Emma Platoff and Sahar Fatima, Boston Globe: "Voting by mail could be at risk for several Massachusetts communities holding elections this year — including Boston — if state lawmakers can't reach an agreement to extend provisions soon, Secretary of State William F. Galvin warned in a letter sent Tuesday to state legislative leaders."

– "State ed board approves vocational school admission changes," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "Over the objections of advocates who said the changes did not go far enough, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved new regulations Tuesday morning aimed at creating more equity in admissions to vocational high schools."

– "Retailers oppose online Lottery sales," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: "Lottery officials say online sales are crucial to keeping a much-needed source of money flowing to communities, which are the Lottery's main beneficiaries. But retailers say the changes would hurt package and convenience stores that rely on in-person Lottery sales to lure customers, adding to a list of financial pressures that have hammered their bottom lines in the past year."

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

– "Nearly all recent COVID hospitalizations at UMass Medical Center, other Massachusetts hospitals are unvaccinated, data shows," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: " The coronavirus pandemic has for months been receding in Massachusetts, but people continue to be diagnosed and treated for COVID-19 in state hospitals, even after becoming fully vaccinated, according to data shared by several Massachusetts hospitals. But the vast majority of new hospitalizations involving COVID-positive patients are among unvaccinated patients, according to the data."

– "Biden administration likely to miss July 4 vaccine target as new Covid strain surges," by Adam Cancryn and David Lim, POLITICO: "The Biden administration is likely to miss its goal of providing at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose to 70 percent of adults by July Fourth, White House and federal health officials confirmed on Tuesday."

FROM THE HUB

– "Boston budget faces tough slog as councilors critical," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The city's budget faces a slog to get it over the finish line by the deadline next week, with multiple councilors expressing reservations about Acting Mayor Kim Janey's proposal. … [Andrea Campbell] was the only one of the 12 active councilors to come out with a firm position for or against the $3.76 billion amended budget that Janey submitted this week and is due to be introduced Wednesday. But several voiced concerns about the budget, which could be in hot water given that a quarter of the council is running for mayor and thus is disincentivized from voting with Janey — and the fact that Janey hasn't done the normal glad-handing."

– "State education head Riley says he is 'extremely concerned' about the Boston School Committee shakeup," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said Tuesday he is 'extremely concerned' about the recent resignations on the Boston School Committee and is considering 'temporarily freezing' some federal funding the district is slated to receive."

– "Almost 40 percent of remote workers in Mass. won't be back in the office until January, at the earliest," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Returning to the office is taking longer than many people initially imagined, and the number of colleagues who come in every day will likely be changed for good. That's the word from the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership's latest survey..."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Development coalition hits airwaves in Boston mayoral race," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A coalition of unions and developers is hitting the TV and radio airwaves with a half-million-dollar ad-buy to push the crop of mayoral candidates to follow their agenda. The advertisements come from the Responsible Development Coalition, a new 501(c)(4) political advocacy committee that includes the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters union and various local developers and contractors ... The ads highlight a 'pledge' they say all the candidates took that includes supporting unions and job-training initiatives and focusing on building more affordable housing."

– "Nearly all mayoral candidates commit to reforming Boston's development process," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Christopher Gavin, and Julia Taliesin, Boston.com: "Boston's mayoral candidates are committed to empowering resident voices in the development process and establishing robust planning to streamline that process."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Massachusetts has some of the worst traffic, most structurally deficient bridges in the nation, report says," by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: "According to the TRIP report, 7% percent of Massachusetts' interstate bridges are rated in poor or structurally deficient condition, the fourth-highest state in the U.S. in the category."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– First they put pressure on President Joe Biden. Now Assistant House Speaker Rep. Katherine Clark and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are calling on the top four leaders in Congress to include $700 billion in direct child care spending in the upcoming infrastructure funding package as lawmakers struggle to reach a deal.

Biden's plan called for a $225 billion investment in affordable and high-quality child care. But Clark, Warren and 130 of their colleagues want to bump that up to $700 billion over 10 years.

"As the pandemic has made clear, child care is essential infrastructure that makes all other work in our country possible," the lawmakers wrote in their letter. "We believe that this is a generational opportunity to invest in affordable, quality care for all children who need it, and we urge you not to let it go to waste."

– "Warren holds up confirmation of a Biden pick at Education Department," by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is impeding the confirmation of James Kvaal, President Biden's pick to head higher-education policy at the Education Department, to secure commitments on student loan reforms, according to people familiar with the matter."

PARTY POLITICS

– "Amid internal battle in Massachusetts GOP, another national Republican figure will skip fund-raising event," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Wyoming Republican, had been scheduled to attend a June 24 'chairman's circle' fund-raising event."

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "Medline in Uxbridge to install the largest rooftop solar array in Massachusetts," by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: "Medline's 800,000 square foot Uxbridge Distribution Center will house nearly 16,000 solar panels on its extensive roof, generating renewable energy with environmental benefits equivalent to planting 93,000 trees or powering more than 800 homes annually according to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– "Sixth candidate, Marc Warner, joins Northampton mayoral race," by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Marc G. Warner, a transportation analyst who has served on numerous city committees for more than a decade, has announced plans to run for mayor. Warner, 62, is the sixth candidate seeking to replace outgoing Mayor David Narkewicz in November's election ."

– "Fifth challenger enters Lawrence mayoral race," by Allison Corneau, Eagle-Tribune: "Voters will have another choice when it comes to electing a new city leader during September's mayoral primary now that Doris Rodriguez has entered the race. … Rodriguez last ran for office in 2014 when she faced off against Pavel Payano, currently a Lawrence city councilor, and Barbara L'Italien, in the state Senate Democratic primary."

– "Amesbury mayor returns papers to run for reelection," by Jim Sullivan, Newburyport Daily News: "Mayor Kassandra Gove has returned her nomination papers in a bid for reelection. … State Rep. Jim Kelcourse also took out nomination papers for a run for mayor Wednesday but the Republican lawmaker has yet to return his signed forms. Former Selectman Jim Thieverge has pulled papers to run for mayor as well but has not returned them."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "A government-sanctioned place to inject illicit drugs? It may come first to Somerville," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "Undeterred by the pandemic and legal uncertainties, the City of Somerville has been forging ahead with its proposal to open a center where people can consume illicit drugs with medical supervision, an audacious and possibly precedent-setting move to prevent overdose deaths. Some of those involved believe Somerville will become the first city in the country to open a 'supervised consumption site' — and that it could happen within a year or so — even as attempts have faltered in bigger cities like New York and Philadelphia."

– "Boston Marathon returning to Patriot's Day next year, officials hope for 'more traditional field size'," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Boston Marathon runners will line up at the traditional start in Hopkinton on the third Monday in April next year, a return to normal after two straight years of races derailed and delayed by the coronavirus pandemic."

– "Investigator says no evidence mayor violated law," by Taylor Ann Bradford, Gloucester Daily Times: "An outside investigator hired by the city to review complaints filed against the mayor in recent months found that Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken did not violate any laws, but has violated multiple city rules and standards of conduct. … That review concluded that evidence did not support claims of legal violations by the mayor, but that she did violate the City's Standards for Professional Communication in the Workplace by using profane language."

– "General manager: Steamship Authority did not pay ransom in cyberattack," by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: "The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority did not pay the ransom requested in the June 2 cyberattack, General Manager Robert Davis said Tuesday in a statement. While the ransomware attack is still under investigation, the Authority wanted to let customers and the public know that it did not pay a ransom nor engage with the cybercriminals…"

MEDIA MATTERS

– "Jonathan Levine, founder of Pittsfield Gazette, dies of cancer at age 54; paper to cease publication," by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: "...[Jonathan Levine] decided to practice his craft at home, in Pittsfield. Using a modest inheritance from a grandparent, he founded, championed and sustained the Pittsfield Gazette almost single-handedly for decades. Until he died June 11 of lymphoma, at age 54, Levine was the Pittsfield Gazette, and vice versa, producing some 1,500 weekly issues."

ENGAGED – Benjamin Case, a recent graduate of Boston College Law School, recently proposed to Sara Harris, director of partnerships at Upstream USA. He proposed on an island in the salt marshes of the North Shore on her birthday. The couple plans to marry next year, either in D.C. or Baltimore. Pic ... Another pic

SPOTTED – Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Tex.) at a Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance event in Boston on Monday. A Massachusetts GOP fundraiser Crenshaw was slated to headline on Sunday was canceled after the congressman dropped out over recent intraparty drama.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Samuel O. Thier. Happy belated to state Reps. Kay Khan and Tram Nguyen, who celebrated Tuesday.

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