News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WHAT the NYC mayor’s race means for BOSTON — Advocates BLAST House rules

Thursday, July 8, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WHAT the NYC mayor’s race means for BOSTON — Advocates BLAST House rules — BAKER to decide ‘SOON’ on GUV RACE

Jul 08, 2021

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — It's hard to look at Eric Adams' Democratic primary win in the New York City mayoral race and not draw parallels with Annissa Essaibi George.

Adams, a former police captain, rose above his competitors by striking a balance between public safety and cop accountability at a time when violent crime is on the rise in the streets and in voters' minds.

Essaibi George isn't a police officer, but she is the "cops' candidate" in the Boston mayoral race who's locked up key public-safety endorsements in part by pitching police reform without the budget cuts some of her competitors have called for.

While Boston's mayoral election is nonpartisan, Essaibi George, like Adams, has emerged as a more moderate candidate in a progressive-heavy field. She generally polls third in public and internal surveys, but could leapfrog into one of the top two spots to advance from the September preliminary if progressives split the vote — a scenario that's played out in several open-seat Massachusetts primaries in recent years.

Right now, the two top-polling candidates, City Councilor Michelle Wu and Acting Mayor Kim Janey, both progressives, still enjoy wider name recognition in a smaller city where politics is still very much about familiarity. And the crime spike that propelled Adams to victory in New York is not as prevalent in Boston, where the police department is also being roiled by controversies that are bolstering calls for reform.

If New York is any guide, the state of the race here could change a lot in the final two months. At this point in the New York City Democratic primary, Andrew Yang was still topping polls as he rode a wave of name recognition similar to Wu and Janey. But he tumbled as others surged late in the game. While that was in part due to allegations of sexual misconduct against one candidate, a shakeup could very well happen here if Andrea Campbell, a district councilor who's still introducing herself to the city at large, and lower-tier candidates state Rep. Jon Santiago and former city economic development chief John Barros find ways to really stand out from the pack.

"If we all went by polls, Ayanna Pressley would not have been the congressperson. A lot can change in 70 days or so," Santiago told me.

And yet, Boston's not New York, as several candidates were quick to point out yesterday. The dynamics of this race — where there's an effective incumbent, four city councilors in the mix and candidates who have run and won citywide before — are different, as are the issues, as is the structure of the election itself.

"New York obviously has New York voters. Boston has Boston voters," Campbell said.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. A small group of progressive Democrats pushing for greater transparency on committee votes, more time to review legislation and to reinstate term limits for the House speaker found themselves on the same side as most Republicans — and at odds with the majority of their own party — when it came time to vote on House rules months into the Legislative session.

The House ultimately approved modest changes — publishing only the names of lawmakers who vote against bills in committee, continuing to broadcast meetings online — that were skewered by activists on both sides of the aisle for not going far enough when it comes to accountability.

"The roll calls today made it extremely clear which Representatives were willing to stand up for their constituents, and which deferred to the power of the Speaker," said Ella McDonald of the progressive group Act on Mass, which was pushing the transparency measures.

Paul Craney of the conservative Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance accused House Speaker Ronald Mariano of trying to "derail transparency and embrace opaqueness."

TODAY — Janey attends a press conference hosted by Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston, and Facing History and Ourselves to announce the New England Holocaust Memorial's new interactive, mobile tour experience and virtual tour at 10 a.m. at the memorial site. Rep. Katherine Clark joins the opening of Frequency Therapeutics' new Lexington headquarters at 10:30 a.m. Sen. Ed Markey and Reps. Jake Auchincloss and Bill Keating tour the future site of Bristol Community College's National Offshore Wind Institute in New Bedford at 11 a.m. followed by a press conference. Auchincloss also makes district stops, hosts an Instagram Live at 5:30 p.m. with teen mental health advocate Carson Domey and participates in the Greater Boston Food Bank "Data Informed Investments" forum with state Sen. Michael Rodrigues at 7 p.m. Senate President Karen Spilka and state Sens. John Velis and Mike Rush will be joined by Secretary of Veterans' Services Cheryl Lussier Poppe for a tour of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home at 2 p.m., which is closed to press per state policy. Essaibi George hosts a veterans virtual town hall at 6 p.m.

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

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 3 new coronavirus deaths and 61 cases, new COVID patients reach new low," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts health officials on Wednesday reported three new coronavirus deaths and 61 COVID cases, as key virus metrics stay at record lows. The state Department of Public Health reported that six new COVID patients were admitted to the hospital on Monday, which is the state's lowest single-day hospitalization admission count since last March."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

SCOOP: Several sources say State Sen. Joe Boncore (D-Winthrop) is calling around to colleagues and associates saying he plans to leave the State House for a job at MassBio. Boncore did not respond to a request for comment overnight.

His possible departure is already generating interest in his Senate seat, including from Revere School Committee member Anthony D'Ambrosio and former state representative candidate Juan Jaramillo, who's also from Revere. Boncore's district covers Revere, Winthrop and parts of Boston and Cambridge.

– "House rejects efforts to disclose committee votes," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Massachusetts House on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected efforts to publicly disclose how representatives vote on bills at the committee level. In approving a new set of operating rules for the chamber, the House backed a provision that would hide how most lawmakers vote on bills coming before them in committees. Under the provision, the House would give an aggregate vote tally for those voting yes, those not voting, and those reserving their rights. Those who vote no, however, would be identified by name."

– "How the Baker administration wants to use COVID-19 relief funds to close the racial homeownership gap," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Massachusetts has one of the largest racial homeownership gaps in the country. And in the midst of the ongoing debate with State House leaders over who gets to spend roughly $5 billion in recent direct federal COVID-19 relief funds to the state, Gov. Charlie Baker is pushing to immediately use some of the money to address that gap in the hopes of closing one of the root causes of the racial wealth divide. He even has some State House leaders on his side."

– "Back Stroke: State Reverses Open Water Swim Ban At Walden Pond," by Paul Singer, GBH News: "The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation reversed course Wednesday, abandoning a ban on open water swimming at Walden Pond that it imposed Friday, July 2 without warning. … swimmers and several dozen state legislators complained that the Walden swimming ban had been issued without any kind of public process and would do little to improve public safety."

– "District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, Sheriff Nick Cocchi support driver's licenses for immigrants without legal status," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "State Sen. Adam Gomez of Springfield was joined by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and Sheriff Nick Cocchi recently in testifying in support of legislation that would allow people living in the country [without] authorization to obtain driver's licenses. All Democrats, the three said the bill will promote public safety through having more licensed drivers on the streets, and will also increase state revenues."

FROM THE HUB

– "City of Boston nixes proposal for vast surveillance network," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Acting Mayor Kim Janey's administration has scrapped a proposal that sought bids for a company to assemble a surveillance network that would link more than 1,000 cameras in nine Greater Boston communities. Last month, Janey hit pause on the plan amid a chorus of advocates calling on her to drop the proposal, citing privacy and civil liberties concerns."

– "Boston Public Schools denies it wrongfully withheld text messages in exam school admission case, saying there was no coverup," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "In new legal filings, Boston school officials strongly denied they committed any wrongdoing in withholding racially charged text messages during an exam school admission case in federal court, saying 'there was no direct or indirect cover up of those text messages.'"

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Andrea Campbell criticizes Kim Janey administration over lack of planning on schools aid as feds release cash," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Boston officials have known for a couple of months that the city's school district would be in line for about $400 million in new aid from the various relief packages passed during the pandemic. The city organized a process aimed at getting public input for where the money should go, and that remains ongoing. But City Councilor Andrea Campbell, who's one of the candidates running against Acting Mayor Kim Janey for mayor this year, said the administration needs to get a move on — particularly with putting cash toward getting air conditioning in schools and fixing other Boston Public Schools infrastructure."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Congresswomen join Biden Economic Adviser to tout American Families Plan child care changes," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Making the case that child care is critical infrastructure, President Biden's top economist joined three Massachusetts congresswomen Wednesday in advocating for an infusion of public funds through the president's $1.8 trillion American Families Plan. The event was part of a national road show put on by the Biden administration and Democratic allies, that also featured Biden touting the plan in Illinois on Wednesday. In Cambridge, the Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Cecilia Rouse, joined Representatives Katherine Clark, Ayanna Pressley, and Lori Trahan at a local child care center that remains understaffed post-pandemic, and unable to meet its licensed capacity of children, despite a lengthy wait list."

FEELING '22

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Gubernatorial candidate Ben Downing is calling for universal early education and child care in a child care policy plan he's rolling out today. The proposal draws heavily on a bill by the Common Start Coalition that would establish such a program over five years, change the funding model for providers, raise pay for workers, enact a 7% household income cap on childcare costs for families, and prioritize free access for those who are lower-income.

"We may tell ourselves we're first in the nation on education, but Massachusetts has the highest childcare costs in the country — making it unaffordable for a staggering 95% of Massachusetts families," Downing writes in his proposal, a copy of which was reviewed by POLITICO. Downing will roll out his proposal, the third policy plan of his campaign, at 9:15 a.m. on Instagram Live.

– "Gov. Charlie Baker Still Mulling Whether To Run For Third Term," by Steve Brown, WBUR: "Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday he still hasn't decided whether to run for reelection next year, even after fellow Republican Geoff Diehl announced plans over the weekend to run for governor. Baker said Wednesday morning that he and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito are still discussing future plans with their respective families, with Baker adding he'll make his mind up 'soon.'"

– "State Sen. Chang-Díaz Says She'll Lean On Years Of Legislative 'Coalition-Building' To Fuel Bid For Governor," by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: "Massachusetts State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, a Democratic candidate for governor, told Boston Public Radio on Wednesday that she will use her experience building coalitions in the state legislature to propel her into the governor's seat next fall. … Baker has not announced if he will run for another term, but Chang-Díaz says she's running on a sense of urgency that Baker has not provided."

DAY IN COURT

– "Court decision allows Canton school to continue using electric shocks on residents with intellectual disabilities," by Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: "A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., this week overturned the US Food and Drug Administration's ban on shock devices created and used by a Canton residential school for children and adults who are intellectually disabled. The 2-1 decision issued Tuesday allows the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center to continue using the controversial devices on residents. The center is now the sole facility in the country that uses electric shocks to modify behavior in patients with disabilities, according to court records."

– "'Racism is healthy and natural': A closer look at Nathan Allen's disturbing journal entries made just days before killings," by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: "Law enforcement officials found journals written by Nathan Allen after searching his home that reveal troubling details about the man who gunned down Air Force veteran Ramona Cooper and retired Massachusetts State Trooper David Green. In one of the notebooks, Allen had written that 'men need to kill things.' Another read, 'the white race is superior.'"

– "Rise of the Moors members again reject authority of Massachusetts court; 'John Doe 2' ordered to provide court name by Friday, held without bail," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "A pair of Rise of the Moors members on Wednesday insisted Malden District Court had no jurisdiction over them and that Massachusetts state laws did not apply to them as they were arraigned on weapons charges that a judge has warned could lead to a decade in prison."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– "Holyoke candidates decry racist messages on campaign signs," by Dusty Christensen: "Two Latino candidates for elected office are speaking out after racist messages were found written on the back of their campaign signs at a busy city intersection. Israel Rivera, who is running for an at-large City Council seat, and Joshua Garcia, a mayoral candidate, came forward earlier this week to decry the vandalized signs, which were discovered a week before. In interviews, both candidates said they debated whether to draw attention to the incident. Ultimately, they said they decided to publicly condemn the racism directed at them and their communities."

– "'A guy with a vision': Fall River City Council President Cliff Ponte announces run for mayor," by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: "Local businessman and three-term City Councilor Cliff Ponte announced on Wednesday his bid for mayor in the upcoming November citywide election. Ponte, 32, the Council president, is challenging first-term incumbent Mayor Paul Coogan, 68, who also returned his nomination papers Wednesday."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "'I have never seen a Black superintendent retire ... There's a systemic problem'," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "...at a time of national racial awareness, education advocates and students are pressing for more educators of color in positions of leadership. They say it is critical for Black, Latino, and Asian students to see themselves reflected in their teachers and school leaders. Research also shows that students of color have better academic outcomes when taught by at least some teachers of color, and that racial diversity helps break down negative perceptions in their classrooms."

– "The money could transform their lives. But thousands of eligible kids may not get the new child tax credit," by Zoe Greenberg, Boston Globe: "Both the IRS and local community groups are warning that a significant number of families who most need the relief risk falling through the cracks because they are not known to the IRS. In Massachusetts, roughly 58,000 children who are eligible for the money may not receive it, according to a ZIP code level analysis by the IRS."

– "Local Haitians Grieve For The Nation — But Not Necessarily For The Assassinated President," by Phillip Martin, GBH News: "Local Haitian immigrants interviewed by GBH News Wednesday agreed: no matter where you stand on the factionalized, contentious and often violent politics of Haiti, the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse was a major blow, further destabilizing a country that has yet to recover from the devastating earthquake of 2010 and Hurricane Matthew five years later."

– "St. Vincent nurses on strike deliver message to Tenet at Dallas HQ: 'No more!'," by Isable Sami, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Four nurses, one hospital cleaner and two unionized flight attendants spoke outside Tenet Wednesday, at the event the nurses' union called a press conference but really felt like a rally. The dozens of people in the crowd cheered on the nurses as they told stories of neglect by Tenet that led to unsafe conditions for both nurses and patients, and the crowd booed at any mention of St. Vincent CEO Carolyn Jackson."

– "Aly Raisman offers reward for her missing dog Mylo: 'The unknown is just really horrific'," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Olympic gold gymnast Aly Raisman, working around the clock to find her missing dog Mylo in Boston — even going out in the middle of the night to try to find him — is now offering a reward for the lost dog's safe return."

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

– "How Rhode Island became the first state to approve supervised drug-injection centers," by Ian Donnis, The Public's Radio: "Rhode Island is the first state in the nation to authorize a supervised drug-injection center, under a pilot program approved by the legislature and signed into law this week by Gov. Dan McKee. Supporters say so-called harm reduction centers can save lives."

THE NATIONAL TAKE

– "The Adams effect: Will a former cop's winning message in NYC resonate for Democrats nationwide?" by Erin Durkin, Lisa Kashinsky and Tina Nguyen, POLITICO: "To hear Eric Adams tell it, his win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary should send a message that resonates across the country."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Amy Sennett, Samuel Weinstock, Andy Flick, William LaRose and Maddie James.

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