News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Sizing up SOMERVILLE'S ELECTIONS — MIXED MASK MESSAGES

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Sizing up SOMERVILLE'S ELECTIONS — MIXED MASK MESSAGES — Gig-economy ballot battle REVS UP

Aug 18, 2021

SIZING UP SOMERVILLE'S ELECTIONS — Boston's not the only city with big-ticket municipal races this fall. Somerville is preparing to elect its first new mayor in nearly two decades after Mayor Joseph Curtatone announced he wouldn't seek reelection, and democratic socialists are eyeing a takeover of the city council.

In some ways, the races reflect a city in transition. While Somerville remains majority-white, the city continues to diversify, and voters could end a long line of white mayors by electing Will Mbah, a Cameroon native who studied in Sweden before moving to Massachusetts.

Then there's the potential for an ideological shift. Mbah was part of the slate of Our Revolution Somerville-backed candidates that swept onto the Somerville City Council in 2017. Four years later, the growing democratic socialist movement here is hoping to replicate that effort with a Boston Democratic Socialists of America-backed slate of council hopefuls and incumbents that includes some of the same candidates ORS helped usher into office in 2017. If all seven Boston DSA-supported candidates win, it would result in a majority-socialist council in Somerville, perhaps the only one in the country . And the three at-large candidates backed by the Boston DSA just announced a joint campaign effort, "Somerville For All," to help get them there.

Boston DSA isn't endorsing in the Somerville mayor's race, but some of the group's candidates are supporting Mbah. ORS remains a factor, though potentially a diminished one. The group was forced to pause its endorsement process after four first-time council candidates of color called out ORS over transparency and inclusivity "shortcomings," for which the organization ultimately apologized. The group endorsed Mbah for mayor, but not before his Democratic rivals withdrew themselves from consideration, as did several council candidates.

Mbah's running against City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne, a past council president who was born and orphaned in Greece before moving to the U.S. with her adoptive family and settling in Somerville in 1993; and Mary Cassesso, a lifelong Somerville resident and Dukakis and Patrick administration alum who held a leadership role at Cambridge Health Alliance during the pandemic. Both have the backing of influential community members, including state Rep. Christine Barber for Ballantyne and former state Rep. Denise Provost for Cassesso.

All three Democrats are running as progressives, while a fourth candidate, William "Billy" Tauro, is in a lane of his own as a self-described Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent who supported former President Donald Trump in 2016 and is largely dismissed by activists here, even as his lawn signs proliferate ahead of the Sept. 14 preliminary from which two candidates will emerge.

With little ideological daylight between the Democrats, the differences are in the policy details.

Take the candidates' plans for creating more affordable housing in an increasingly unaffordable city, which they shared at the Somerville Democratic City Committee forum I moderated earlier this week: Mbah wants to bring back rent control and increase the affordable housing percentage required for large development projects. Ballantyne wants to expand a program that buys existing properties and converts them into affordable rental housing. Cassesso wants to increase the use of rental vouchers. [ GBH's Adam Reilly recently dove into this and more in his look at the mayor's race.]

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. This just in — Rep. Ayanna Pressley is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to issue a vaccine mandate in high-risk settings such as hospitals, schools and prisons, implement a statewide school mask mandate and resume more thorough demographic data reporting as the Delta variant pushes cases and hospitalizations upward.

Pressley sent Baker a letter on Tuesday, which her office released this morning, urging him to "take the necessary, commonsense steps that will reduce the spread of the coronavirus in our public schools and congregate settings and save lives."

"In this moment, Massachusetts requires leadership that is guided by science and centers the communities most impacted," Pressley wrote. The Boston Globe's Felicia Gans has more.

TODAY — Baker is a guest on GBH's "Boston Public Radio" at 11 a.m. Boston mayoral candidate John Barros hosts a press conference in Mattapan to announce a plan for new funding for early childhood education at 9 a.m. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey hosts a Neighborhood Coffee Hour at Medal of Honor Park in South Boston at 10:30 a.m.; delivers remarks at a senior event at the Lawn on D at noon and attends the Salvation Army of Massachusetts and Garden Neighborhood Charities' 10th annual Back to School Distribution at 1:15 p.m. in Dorchester. Boston city councilors and mayoral hopefuls participate in city council hopeful Alex Gray's blindfold challenge at 10:30 a.m. on City Hall Plaza to raise awareness about the challenges facing Boston's disabled community; Gray would be the first blind city councilor in Boston's history. Boston and Cambridge city councilors host a press conference on creating a Boston-Cambridge Tourism Marketing District at 11 a.m. at City Hall. The four female Boston mayoral candidates attend a virtual Boston Women of Color Mayoral Candidate Forum at 6:30 p.m.; Pressley is a speaker. Gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen joins the Lynnfield Democratic Town Committee at 7 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 coronavirus cases rise 1,254, hospitalizations continue climb," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The daily average of Bay State infections is now 891 cases, which is about 14 times the 64 daily cases in June. The daily average for the testing percent positivity is now 2.82% — nine-fold the 0.31% in June."

– "Mass. reports 2,672 new breakthrough cases for the week," by Julia Taliesin, Boston.com: "As of Aug. 14, there have been 12,641 breakthrough cases, an increase of 2,672 since the last report on Aug. 7. In Massachusetts, 4,415,396 people were vaccinated as of Aug. 14, so 0.29% are reporting a breakthrough case of COVID-19. The rate has increased only slightly from 0.23% reported on Aug. 7."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Charlie Baker knocks Afghanistan withdrawal 'mismanagement'," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "While the Republican governor did not specifically name who his criticism was directed at, [Gov. Charlie] Baker tweeted Tuesday that the 'mismanagement that led to the catastrophe unfolding in Afghanistan has needlessly endangered Americans and our allies.' … Baker, who once opposed allowing entry to Syrian refugees in the midst of their own respective civil war, added that 'Massachusetts is ready to assist Afghan refugees seeking safety and peace in America.'"

– "MA lawmakers call on Washington to evacuate allies out of Afghanistan," by Nancy Asiamah and Jodi Reed, WWLP: "A letter signed by at least 60 Massachusetts lawmakers on Monday urged lawmakers in Washington to ensure the safe evacuation of U.S. allies in Afghanistan."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Massachusetts Medical Society calls for Baker to require masks in schools," by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: "Dr. Carole Allen, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and Dr. Julie Johnston, president of the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians, issued a statement Tuesday urging Baker to require 'all who learn in, work in, or visit schools' to wear masks..."

– "In Kingston, dueling policies over masks," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Kingston Board of Health voted to require masks in schools last week and the following day the Kingston School Committee voted not to. ... Gov. Charlie Baker's decision not to mandate masks in schools but to leave the decision to individual districts pushed this year's most contentious debate to the local level. But sometimes 'leave it to the locals' is not so simple, if local boards cannot agree."

– "Largest teachers union in Mass. calls for vaccine mandate for teachers and eligible students," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "The motion, approved by the Massachusetts Teachers Association's board of directors by a 46 to 4 vote, states the group supports required vaccinations or regular COVID-19 testing for those who are not vaccinated. Districts should negotiate the specifics of vaccine requirements with their local teachers unions, the group said."

– "'Stay tuned' on COVID booster shots, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra says on a visit to Mass.," by Camille Caldera, Boston Globe: "Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, addressing reports that US officials will soon recommend that everyone receive a third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, said Tuesday that 'the federal government is exploring everything we must do to keep Americans safe, including the possibility of boosters.' … Marylou Sudders, the state's secretary of Health and Human Services, said Massachusetts officials are prepared to distribute third shots but don't plan to reopen mass vaccination sites."

– More from the Lowell Sun's Alana Melanson: "As the debate over whether masks should be required in schools continues and Gov. Charlie Baker has indicated no plans to impose a mask mandate as the risk of coronavirus transmission rises, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said during a visit to Lowell General Hospital Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance is clear. 'There is no doubt what the guidance says when it comes to protecting children, especially those who are under 12 who can't get vaccinated,' Becerra said in response to a question from a Sun reporter."

FROM THE HUB

– "Massachusetts gives Boston Schools superintendent her license back — for now," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "State education officials gave Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius her license back — for now. Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeff Riley sent the district a letter on Tuesday saying that at the district's request, he'd 'reconsidered' the expiration of Cassellius' license, and that she could continue to work on a temporary license for another month, when she'll get back the results of her final exam."

– "Child-care providers are facing a staffing crisis, forcing some to close with little notice to parents," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Welcome to the next phase of the child-care crisis: Even if a center has space for your child, it may not have a teacher to care for her. Despite loosened pandemic restrictions and heightened demand from parents eager to return to the workplace, child-care directors say they can't find enough certified employees to fully staff their centers, part of a hiring shortage felt across the US economy."

– "Boston Mass and Cass task force cancels second meeting amid discontent; Janey vows 'revamping'," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The city has canceled the Mass and Cass task force for the second month in a row — a move that comes as conditions worsen on the Methadone Mile and Acting Mayor Kim Janey says she plans on 'revamping' the troubled group."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Boston councilors frustrated with 3 neighborhoods left out of early voting," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The City Council is poised to move on early-voting rules — but two councilors say the neighborhoods left off the list of polling spots is a problem. The council may vote Wednesday on signing off on the administration's proposal for the Sept. 14 preliminary and Nov. 2 general election, which would largely keep the same early-voting spots as last year, with various spots around the city open for voters starting Sept. 4. But not among these is any spot in Roslindale, the Seaport or Chinatown."

– "John Barros wants Madison Park to break away from Boston Public Schools," by Boston.com staff: "John Barros wants to make Madison Park, the only vocational school in Boston, the 'crown jewel' of the city's education system. In order to do that, he says the school should be broken out from under the Boston Public Schools system umbrella. As part of a plan released Tuesday to reform Madison Park, Barros is proposing to give the vocational school a separate budget and a separate school board."

– WBUR's Lisa Creamer has a handy voter guide: "Everything To Know About Boston's Preliminary Mayoral Race."

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: United Auto Workers Region 9A has endorsed Carla B. Monteiro for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign. Beverley Brakeman, UAW Region 9A regional director, said in a statement: "Carla's life story makes her a perfect advocate for the many families across this city that are struggling to make a living, provide for their families, and retain safe housing."

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Council at-large candidate Jon Spillane has been endorsed by the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, and Plumbers & Gasfitters UA Local 12, per his campaign.

BALLOT BATTLES

– "Opponents Call for Healey to Strike Driver Ballot Question," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "Opponents of a ballot question that would overhaul worker status and benefits for app-based drivers have urged Attorney General Maura Healey to declare the proposal invalid, while supporters on Tuesday filed a new complaint with campaign finance regulators. … The Coalition to Protect Workers' Rights, which is fighting the ballot question, published a memorandum on Tuesday that it sent to Healey calling on her to deem the proposal unconstitutional, alleging it improperly mixes multiple topics in an argument that the petition's backers called 'outlandish.' … the Coalition for Independent Work submitted a formal complaint to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, asking the regulatory agency to investigate ballot question opponents over allegations that they received contributions and made expenditures on their campaign before officially forming a political finance committee."

CENSUS CHRONICLES

– "'Encouraging' census results as Berkshire County grows more diverse, population loss slows," by Francesca Paris, Berkshire Eagle: "Over the past 10 years, the non-Hispanic white population in Berkshire County fell, while the region gained Black, Asian, Hispanic and multiracial residents. ... Also, the county recorded the largest population decline in the state over the past decade, a loss of about 2,000 residents, or 1.7 percent of the population. … The population loss is significantly below the decline of 5,000 to 10,000 residents local and federal predictions had shown, says Jonathan Butler, president and chief executive officer at 1Berkshire."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Quincy Mayor Tom Koch tapped for new MBTA board," by Joe Difazio, Patriot Ledger: "Mayor Thomas Koch was chosen to be on the new MBTA board of directors, tasked with overseeing the transit agency. Koch, the first person picked for the oversight committee, was chosen by the MBTA Advisory Board, which he has chaired since 2011. The Advisory Board is an independent group that represents the interests of the 176 cities and towns that help pay for the T."

MOULTON MATTERS

– "'Utter BS': Seth Moulton rebukes Biden's claim that some Afghans 'did not want to leave earlier'," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa: "Rep. Seth Moulton says he was convinced by President Joe Biden's speech Monday defending the decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, even as the Taliban surged back to take control of the country over the weekend. However, the Massachusetts Democrat took exception Tuesday to Biden's argument that the chaotic evacuation of Afghan civilians fleeing their country this week was because some 'did not want to leave earlier.'"

THE PRESSLEY PARTY

– "Ayanna Pressley claimed up to $15,000 in rental income last year," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and her husband earned up to $15,000 in rental income last year, records show, as she fought to cancel rent during the pandemic. … Pressley could not be reached for comment after multiple attempts by the Herald Tuesday."

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "Billionaire Kraft's paper mill causes pollution crisis in South Carolina," by Tim Mclaughlin, Reuters: "A South Carolina paper mill, whose foul smell has triggered more than 30,000 complaints, has become one of the dirtiest polluters in the United States since being acquired by an investment group led by Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots football team."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "Advertising Restrictions Lead Cannabis Companies to Get Creative," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): "More than 150 marijuana retailers have now been approved to open in Massachusetts, and operators are walking a fine line as they try to make themselves appealing to potential customers in an increasingly competitive market without running afoul of the state's restrictive advertising regulations. The industry-specific restrictions and the costs of advertising have led to a broad array of strategies for cannabis companies here, from the more traditional billboard and digital media advertising to approaches that look more like political campaigns."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– "Blandford town administrator Joshua Garcia criticized for using town office in Holyoke mayoral campaign video," Dennis Hohenberger, MassLive.com: "A resident is crying foul over a campaign video filmed in a publicly funded office, but the candidate says it was shot outside work hours, and the chair of the Selectboard says he had her blessing. Joshua A. Garcia, Blandford's town administrator since October 2018, is one of seven candidates running for mayor in Holyoke. A 30-second campaign video shows Garcia campaigning door to door, spending time with his family and shooting baskets in a Holyoke park. In one brief shot, Garcia is seen looking at paperwork while sitting at his desk in Blandford Town Hall."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "'She was killed because of the thumbs-up emoji': Worcester to re-launch Eyes Up, Phones Down campaign, pause distracted driving tickets for 30 days," by Tom Matthews, MassLive.com: "...as COVID restrictions have loosened up across the state, and more drivers have returned to the road, instances of distracted driving and distracted walking have increased drastically, officials say."

TRANSITIONS – Davis Malm has launched its Divorce & Family Law practice with Carolyn "CiCi" Van Tine and Kristine Ann Cummings. Chris Maciejczak is joining JLL's Life Sciences Project & Development Services group as a managing director.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Jason Furman, professor at Harvard Kennedy School, and Oscar Hallig.

HAPPY BELATED – to Kate Norton and Bob Massie, who celebrated Tuesday.

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