News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: GIG ECONOMY fight REVS UP — TRAFFIC is BACK

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: GIG ECONOMY fight REVS UP — TRAFFIC is BACK — Green Line Extension DELAYED

Jun 22, 2021

GIG ECONOMY FIGHT REVS UP — Gig-economy giants pumped more than $200 million into a campaign last year to persuade California voters to allow companies like Uber and Lyft to keep their drivers as independent contractors and exempt them from certain employee benefits.

Now a new group of app-based Massachusetts drivers, labor unions and civil rights groups — the Coalition to Protect Workers' Rights — is looking to get a jumpstart on fighting what they expect could be a similarly pricey ballot brawl here.

At issue is whether drivers for apps like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash should be classified as employees or independent contractors — a designation that carries major differences for workers' pay and benefits.

Rideshare companies and other major gig-economy players associated with the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work have been pushing a bill on Beacon Hill that would keep their drivers as independent contractors and provide a "portable benefits account" that companies would pay into and drivers would draw from to pay for things like retirement or independent health insurance.

Workers' rights advocates are confident they could defeat the bill , which they argue would remove employee protections and benefits, and particularly harm Black, brown and immigrant workers. But they're also anticipating the big-tech companies will turn to a ballot initiative in 2022 similar to California's — and are proactively gearing up to fight it ahead of the Bay State's Aug. 4 petition-filing deadline.

"We care about workers' rights in Massachusetts — hard-earned, extremely important rights — and we're not going to let these companies come in from elsewhere and just decide to buy the law here," said labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, who will be at the coalition's launch today.

State Attorney General Maura Healey is already suing Uber and Lyft for allegedly denying workers certain benefits and protections by misclassifying them as independent contractors rather than employees, in violation of state law. The workers' rights coalition also has a poll showing the majority of Massachusetts voters oppose the industry-backed legislation.

But the industry coalition maintains drivers want flexibility — and has a poll of app-based drivers that shows 64% prefer to be independent contractors, compared to just 23% who want to be classified as employees, to back it up.

"App-based drivers in Massachusetts have made it abundantly clear that they want to maintain the flexibility they value as independent contractors while gaining access to new benefits and protections," the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work said in a statement. "We hope that all Massachusetts leaders will stand with workers."

The two sides will fire their opening salvos today, as gig-workers themselves remain split on the issue. The Coalition to Protect Workers' Rights — which includes ACLU Massachusetts, Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the NAACP, New England Area Conference and is being led by former Healey chief of staff Mike Firestone — will hold a 10 a.m. press conference at the State House. The Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work will hold a virtual press conference at 1 p.m.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . The mass vaccination site at the Hynes Convention Center will administer its last Covid-19 shots today, after getting more than 330,000 shots into arms since March 22. It's the second of seven mass vax sites to wind down operations as the Bay State inches closer to 4.1 million fully vaccinated people.

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

TODAY — Boston mayoral candidate John Barros hosts a press conference on his affordable housing plan at 9:45 a.m. at the Dennis Street Park. Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Andrea Campbell hosts a press conference on the city budget at 10:30 a.m. in Nubian Square. Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey gives remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a West 2nd Park and community garden in South Boston at 11:30 a.m. The Downtown Neighborhoods Boston Mayoral Candidates Forum is at 6 p.m.

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 22-23.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "There are now just 100 COVID patients in Massachusetts hospitals, as vaccination rates plateau," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "The number of active COVID-19 infections in Massachusetts continued to decrease on Monday, now down to 1,876 from the 1,898 reported the day before. Massachusetts health officials reported 48 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. Officials also reported another 5 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic up to 17,612."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker proposes $5.4B temporary budget to keep state running into July," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts likely won't see a finalized state budget by the start of the fiscal year in 10 days. Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday filed a $5.4 billion interim budget to keep the state running until July 30. Unlike the federal government, the state cannot operate under a deficit and thus must be running under a new budget at the start of the fiscal year, July 1."

– "Buyouts for Massachusetts State troopers confirm police shedding ranks," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "A 'tsunami' of buyouts among State Police leaving the force amid an onslaught of criticism has union officials sounding the alarm as an overtime scandal and dishonorable discharges also hound the agency. "

– "Massachusetts has issued 53,638 hands-free driving citations since February 2020," by Cassie McGrath, MassLive.com: "The Registry of Motor Vehicles has recorded 53,638 motor vehicle citations, including 40,181 warnings for distracted driving since February, 2020 when the Baker-Polito Administration's 'hands-free' law took effect."

– "Business groups seek more teen workers," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: "Businesses hope tweaking child labor laws can ease a post-pandemic hiring crunch. Under state law, children under 16 are only allowed to work from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Labor Day until July 1, when evening hours are extended to 9 p.m. Business leaders point out that the July 1 date is one the latest in the nation, and prevents employers from hiring teens who finish school in mid-June."

– "Battle of Massachusetts millionaires' tax pits grassroots organizing against blitz of opposition reports," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "For the supporters of a so-called millionaires' tax, the road to success is all about pitting grassroots passion against a blitz of 'fear-mongering' reports from right-leaning think tanks and lobbyists who oppose the measure."

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

– "Nearly 18,000 Mass. Residents Died Of COVID. Most Of Their Families Have Yet to Receive Help," by Jenny Kornreich, WBUR: "In Massachusetts, nearly 18,000 people have died from COVID. But only about 4,500 have applied for aid. And of those, the government has approved just 757. That's an approval rate of 17%. In a statement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said most of the pending applications are incomplete."

FROM THE HUB

– "MBTA police pension fund overpaid retirees by hundreds of thousands of dollars over more than a decade," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Officials at the MBTA Transit Police pension fund overpaid retirees by nearly $500,000 at the same time it was receiving millions in money from the transit agency, according to a state investigation, which found officials mishandled the benefits of dozens of former Transit Police staff."

– "How a Facebook group is working to help people living at Mass. and Cass and their worried loved ones," by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: "A year ago, James Bradley was looking for childhood friends he believed were living on the streets of Boston. It was a scorching day. Searching the area around Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard, which city officials call 'Mass. & Cass,' the 36-year-old from Braintree was struck by the conditions being experienced by individuals struggling with addiction and living unsheltered in the South End and Roxbury. … Bradley, who is in recovery from heroin addiction and now serves as operations director at the Greater Boston Addiction Centers, decided to act. He knew that if he put a call out for donations, the recovery community would respond."

– "Officials step up patrols on South Boston beaches after complaints about liquor deliveries to patrons," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Last summer it was maskless crowds amid the pandemic. This summer, it's alcohol deliveries. App-aided booze runs to popular South Boston beaches, including M Street and Carson, have prompted recent complaints from residents and a robust law enforcement response, in the latest brouhaha pitting younger transplants against neighborhood long-timers."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: At-large Boston City Council candidate Ruthzee Louijeune has been endorsed by state Rep. Liz Miranda, who represents parts of Dorchester and Roxbury. "We both know what it is like to be Black women in Boston, come from immigrant communities, and work our way through public schools. Ruthzee will use that experience to be a strong advocate for the people of Boston on the city council," Miranda said in a statement through Louijeune's campaign.

– The main attraction is to the south today, as New York City voters head to the polls to choose their next mayor. The stakes are that high in the heavily Democratic city's primary — but the winner may not be known for weeks as the Big Apple navigates ranked-choice voting for the first time. Keep your eyes on the POLITICO homepage for results and check out the POLITICO New York team.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– Big sigh: "Traffic Back To 2019 Levels On Massachusetts Roads, Highway Administrator Says," by CBSBoston.com. "This is one aspect of 'normal' that nobody around Boston missed: Traffic is back to pre-pandemic levels in Massachusetts, a MassDOT official confirmed Monday."

– "MBTA says opening of the Green Line Extension will be delayed by several months," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "The years-long wait for the Green Line Extension just got a bit longer. MBTA officials said Monday that full service on the 4.7-mile project extending the Green Line to Somerville and Medford won't begin until next spring, five months after the extension's previously scheduled opening, primarily due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

– "Members of T control board say goodbye," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The members of the MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board bid a final farewell on Monday as lawmakers on Beacon Hill continued to trade proposals about what a successor board should look like and how it should operate."

DAY IN COURT

– "Massachusetts woman accused of embezzling more than $1.4 million from nonprofits wrote to President Joe Biden requesting pardon," by Scott Croteau, MassLive.com: "A Massachusetts woman accused of embezzling more than $1.4 million from two nonprofits sought a pardon from President Joe Biden, according to court records filed ahead of her sentencing in federal court. Nicole Lescarbeau, also known by her maiden name, Nicole Coulibaly, of Canton, is scheduled to be sentenced in a Boston federal court on Thursday on several counts of wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identify [sic] theft."

– "Witness intimidation trial of Blake Rubin, former DA candidate, underway in Worcester," by Brad Petrishen, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "The criminal trial against Blake Rubin, the city defense attorney and former district attorney candidate, began Monday with a grant of immunity to the client with whom he allegedly conspired to intimidate a witness."

– "Brookfield residents sue Planning Board for allegedly illegally rigging vote in favor of fuel company," by Craig S. Semon, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "A group of concerned citizens is suing the town's Planning Board for giving a Southbridge oil and propane company the OK to install two large propane tanks within 400 feet of the Brookfield Elementary School and within 100 feet of residences occupied by elderly citizens. After failing twice, the suit alleges that the third vote was illegally rigged in favor of the fuel company. "

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "'Happy' or 'deeply disappointed': Boston's top elected officials are split on reinstating the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Most of the Boston area's top elected officials want to abolish the use of the death penalty as a punishment in the United States. However, fewer feel that way when it comes to the case of Dhzokhar Tsarnaev."

– "Child Tax Credit expected to raise 8,300 children out of poverty in US Rep. Richard Neal's district," by Elizabeth Román, Springfield Republican: "In [Rep. Richard Neal's] 1st Congressional District, made up of 87 cities and towns, 85.8% of children will receive the tax credit, with the average benefit for qualifying households totaling $2,800 over six months. The credit is expected to lift 8,300 children in central and Western Massachusetts out of poverty. The monthly payments will begin arriving for eligible families in July, Neal said."

FROM THE 413

– "Western Mass. residents, officials weigh in on how to redraw district maps," by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: "Locals and elected officials widely agree that all of Berkshire County should be kept in the same congressional district, and they're mostly asking that Statehouse districts change as little change as possible."

– "Attorneys say DA's letter about judge was political strategy with reelection looming," by Heather Bellow and Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle: "An editorial in a trade publication for attorneys across the state joined a chorus of rebuke against District Attorney Andrea Harrington for asking the Trial Court leadership last month to stop a district court judge from hearing criminal cases, saying Harrington's attempt appears to have been politically motivated."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Northeastern University begins formal talks to combine with Oakland's Mills College," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "Northeastern University announced that it will begin formal talks to combine with Mills College, a liberal arts school of just under 1,000 students in Oakland, Calif."

– "Last-minute vote by councilor saves $475 million pension bond in Quincy," by Mary Whitfill, Patriot Ledger: "A city councilor is accusing a colleague and the mayor's administration of 'unscrupulous' politics surrounding the council's decision to approve a $475 million, 30-year bond to pay down the city's pension obligation. … Councilors Monday night approved borrowing the money by a vote of 6 to 3 — exactly how many votes were needed for the measure to pass. At a meeting of the finance committee earlier this week, the vote on the measure was 5 to 3. Councilor Chuck Phelan did not participate in the discussion out of worry over a conflict of interest, and thus became the deciding vote Monday night. "

– "Environmental, social justice groups to hold rally Saturday against proposed Cape Cod gun range," by Beth Treffeisen, Cape Cod Times: "A rally and press conference to try to stop the proposed multi-purpose gun range at Joint Base Cape Cod is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Sponsored by 350 Cape Cod and allied organizations, the rally will take place at the Forestdale Elementary School…"

– "Two years after 7 die in New Hampshire motorcycle crash, 'The Fallen Seven' are remembered," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "'The Fallen Seven' motorcyclists killed in a horrific New Hampshire crash in 2019 are being remembered with a memorial two years after their deaths."

THE NATIONAL TAKE

– "Bishops Move To 'Weaponize' Communion Against One Of America's Most Prominent Catholics: Joe Biden," by Zoe Mathews, GBH News/Boston Public Radio: "The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States have voted in support of drafting new guidance on who can receive the Holy Communion, in a conservative push to exclude Catholics who support abortion rights — like President Joe Biden. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III joined Boston Public Radio on Monday to discuss the move, which the bishops made despite an explicit warning from the Vatican and is seen as yet another example of American Catholicism diverging from Rome."

– "White House: Biden's Catholic faith is not 'political'," by Quint Forgey, POLITICO: "White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that President Joe Biden did not interpret his Catholic faith 'through a political prism,' declining to comment on a recent decision by U.S. Catholic bishops that could result in a rebuke of the president for his views on abortion."

– "America is ready to return to normal. Biden's CDC chief isn't so sure," by Erin Banco, POLITICO: "The newly installed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had one big request for agency employees at an all-hands meeting in March: Don't talk to the press without permission. Rochelle Walensky's remarks caught many CDC scientists and officials off guard. Her boss, President Joe Biden, had campaigned on a promise to take control of the pandemic by letting science lead — a pledge that hinged almost entirely on allowing the nation's top health experts, including those at the CDC, to speak publicly."

MEDIA MATTERS

– "When the Local Paper Shrank, These Journalists Started an Alternative," by Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times: "[New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell] wanted his administration to be held accountable. Beyond that, he said that a trusted news source could restore something vital that he felt New Bedford had lost: 'a sense of place,' by which he meant an ongoing narrative of daily life in this multicultural blue-collar city of 95,000 residents. … The mayor's vision of a trusted news source was similar to what the group of journalists had in mind when they created The New Bedford Light. With its newsroom still under construction, in a refurbished textile mill, the publication went online June 7."

TRANSITIONS – Daniel S. Guenther joins Boston law firm Sherin and Lodgen LLP as an associate in the firm's litigation department. Pranshu Verma joins the Boston Globe as a tech reporter. Tweet. Christina Gregg is now deputy campaign manager for former state Sen. Ben Downing's gubernatorial bid. Tweet.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is 72, Matt Sheaff, senior communications adviser to Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, and Brendan Concannon.

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