News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The SUNUNU EFFECT on Mass. — Eviction moratorium EXPIRES

Monday, August 2, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The SUNUNU EFFECT on Mass. — Eviction moratorium EXPIRES — Masks ENCOURAGED, not REQUIRED

Aug 02, 2021

SIZING UP THE SUNUNU EFFECT: GOP New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu still hasn't said whether he's running for Senate next year. But incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan's weekend appearance on WCVB's "On the Record" offered a glimpse into how their potential matchup, which could decide the balance of power in the Senate, could also have ripple effects in Massachusetts.

Hassan played it cool on Sunday when asked what advice she'd give the GOP governor who's being courted by top national Republicans to challenge her in 2022.

"Governor Sununu will make his own decision. I've been pleased that we've been able to work constructively on issues like responding to the pandemic," Hassan said, adding that she'll continue to focus on the issues she believes matter to Granite Staters like "getting this bipartisan infrastructure deal done, making sure that we have a caregiving economy that works, getting money to the state for fighting the opioid epidemic, helping our small businesses" and more.

But her early foray into the Boston media market — which extends into Southern New Hampshire — offered a preview of how the candidates and outside groups in a Hassan-Sununu showdown could eventually crowd the Massachusetts airwaves, eating up ad slots and driving up costs for the growing number of Bay State candidates running in elections up through the governor's office in 2022.

Local attention on Sununu could also make things tricky for GOP Gov. Charlie Baker if he runs for reelection in Massachusetts. The two Republican governors have clashed over income taxes for border-crossing workers and diverged over former President Donald Trump, who said last week he'd like to see Sununu challenge Hassan. Their differences have already surfaced in at least one recent interview, and Baker, who typically shies away from national GOP politics, could end up forced into the fray if Sununu runs.

Bay State Democrats intent on helping maintain their party's control in Washington would probably be more willing participants in the backyard brawl. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in particular has a network of supporters from her presidential bid that she could marshal for Hassan in New Hampshire.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Let's get back to Bay State politics.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Democrat Simon Cataldo, a former federal prosecutor, is launching his campaign for the 14th Middlesex state representative seat today. The seat is held by Tami Gouveia, who's running for lieutenant governor.

Cataldo focused on public corruption as a prosecutor and was on the team that prosecuted former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was pardoned by Trump. Prior to that he was a special education teacher who founded Harlem Lacrosse, a school-based nonprofit that provides academic, emotional and athletic support to students in New York, Boston and beyond.

Cataldo's making his first foray into politics to combat the "cynicism" he says is clouding government. "At the same time we have all these really urgent issues that need to be dealt with — climate change, the vast inequalities that we have in education, economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. We're only going to be able to do that with an all-hands-on-deck approach," he said.

He joins Acton Democrat Vivian Birchall, who announced an exploratory committee for Gouveia's seat in June and told me she's planning to make a formal announcement in the fall.

The two are committing to their campaigns at a time when other would-be candidates across the commonwealth are holding off until they see the effects of redistricting. Cataldo told me that "as a first-time candidate, I don't think I have the luxury of waiting around to see exactly how the lines are drawn."

The newcomers aren't alone. Some current office holders have also told me they're waiting to see the new maps as they mull their next moves.

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

TODAY — is the second "VaxMillions" drawing. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, state Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Boston City Council President Pro Tempore Matt O'Malley and Councilors Annissa Essaibi George and Andrea Campbell join Paid Leave for All's bus tour stop in Boston at 2 p.m. in Copley Square. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey offers remarks at the launch of the Working on Womanhood Program at BPS, 10:30 a.m. at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. Boston mayoral candidates participate in a Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council forum at 6:30 p.m.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "New advice, but no mask mandates from the state," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "State health officials now recommend that vaccinated people wear masks indoors if they or a member of their household has a weakened immune system or underlying medical condition that puts them at risk of a severe case of COVID-19. In schools, unvaccinated students, educators, and staff should cover their faces, state officials said, as should all students in kindergarten through sixth grade, nearly all of whom are too young to be eligible for vaccines."

– More: "Charlie Baker defends new state masking guidance as delta variant takes root," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald; "Massachusetts Teachers Association calls state decision to encourage, but not require, masking in schools 'reckless,'" by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com.

– "Legislation could end controversial agreement between Plymouth sheriff and ICE," by Jeannette Hinkle and Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Patriot Ledger: "Neither the Plymouth nor Barnstable county sheriffs say they plan to put an end to programs that allow local police and sheriff departments to check the immigration status of people booked into local jails despite a proposed statewide moratorium."

– "Lawmakers on summer break as housing advocates plead for relief after eviction ban expires," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "The processing of nearly 19,000 Massachusetts eviction cases on pause amid the pandemic starts Monday and with lawmakers on summer break, one local senator says renters' best hope is local advocacy groups. … Dozens of bills that could make housing court easier for tenants to navigate are tied up in various committees but Democratic legislative leaders have shown little appetite for bringing back a state eviction moratorium that expired last October."

– "DiZoglio wants raises for legislative staff," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: "Legislative staffers received a 6% pay raise and other perks this year when House and Senate leaders agreed to a bump in salaries, but at least one lawmaker is pushing to give them more money. Sen. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, has filed several proposals to boost the base salary of a legislative staffer to $55,000; provide cost-of-living increases annually, instead of every two years; and offer them state health insurance when they are hired, eliminating the current 60-day waiting period."

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VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Younger and unvaccinated: The new face of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Massachusetts," by Kay Lazar and Ivy Scott, Boston Globe: "Doctors, nurses, and their army of colleagues in Massachusetts hospitals are worried and exhausted. The trickle of COVID-19 patients arriving at their doors a month ago has grown to a steadier stream — up 78 percent over the last three weeks. The faces of those infected are changing, too. No longer is the typical patient a gray-haired 70-year-old with multiple health conditions, they say. Instead, they are seeing many 40- and 50-year-olds, some even younger, who had been healthy before becoming infected. Many are people of color. And 80 percent of them are not fully vaccinated."

– "Provincetown Data Suggests Vaccines Protect Against Complications, But Not Delta Transmission," by Angus Chen, WBUR: "An epidemiological investigation of the outbreak released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Public Health shows that the vast majority of cases from that outbreak were in fully vaccinated individuals. Only a few of those cases led to hospitalization, showing that the vaccine is still exceedingly effective at preventing serious illness."

– "In Provincetown, Covid Hits 14 Friends in Show of Delta's Might," by Carey Goldberg and Nic Querolo, Bloomberg: "Danny Barefoot and 23 friends traveled to Provincetown, Massachusetts, to dine, hit the beach and party, secure in the knowledge they were all fully vaccinated. Fourteen left as potential vectors. They tested positive for Covid-19 after a week-long Independence Day getaway — none badly ill, but all shocked by how the virus ambushed them, according to interviews with four who got sick."

– "Boston, Cambridge restaurants tell patrons to mask up or vax up in lieu of mandates," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "A small but growing number of restaurant and bar owners around Boston, Cambridge and Provincetown are asking patrons to mask up or provide proof of vaccination as the delta variant rages and cases rise across the state."

– "State Treasurer And Auditor Mandate Vaccines Or COVID Tests For Employees," by Mike Deehan, GBH News: "State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and Auditor Suzanne Bump will require all state employees under their authority to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be subject to weekly virus testing, becoming the first statewide elected leaders to implement stricter vaccination rules for state employees as they return to the office."

FROM THE HUB

– "Boston Methadone Mile hotel plan on ropes after 'clear community opposition'," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The controversial plans to house homeless in a Methadone Mile hotel are on the ropes after a rocky closed-door meeting, with the main proponent saying she's thinking twice in the face of 'clear community opposition.'"

– "Rollins received severance agreement from Massport," by Colman M. Herman, CommonWealth Magazine: "Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, who was nominated last week by President Biden to become the next US attorney for the District of Massachusetts, has a very strong resume, but it doesn't tell the full story about one of her past jobs. … her stint at Massport came with a puzzling coda. Information obtained under the state's public records law and from Massport officials indicates she left with a $175,000 severance agreement plus a $45,000 educational benefit."

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THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Another progressive coalition endorses Janey for full-term mayor," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "A coalition of community advocates that helped secure election victories for former mayor Martin J. Walsh and Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins is throwing its grass-roots muscle behind Boston's Acting Mayor Kim Janey for a full term, members announced Saturday. ... [Right to the City VOTE!] which has a super PAC, pointed to her record both as a city councilor and as the city's interim chief executive, taking note of her personal background and accomplishments thus far in office."

– "SuperPACs emerge in Boston's mayoral race, with little objection so far," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "...despite the potential for lavish superPAC fund-raising and spending this election season, Ken Cosgrove, a political science professor at Suffolk University, was skeptical about superPACs' ability to strongly influence a campaign's success. … Cosgrove cited Markeyverse, the network of young, online and social media-savvy supporters of US Senator Ed Markey that contributed to the Malden Democrat's win over Joseph P. Kennedy III in last year's closely watched primary. Such a grass-roots movement can overcome the well-financed initiatives of a superPAC, he said."

– "Boston mayoral candidate Michelle Wu is on an island alone with rent control," by Milton J. Valencia and Jasper Goodman, Boston Globe: "In the competitive race for mayor of Boston, all of the major candidates have called attention to the city's affordable housing crisis and made pitches for new investments in development and increasing first-time homeownership. Reviving rent control, or rent stabilization, as it's also called, is off the table — except for Councilor Michelle Wu, who has endorsed it."

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Liz Miranda has endorsed Tania Anderson for Boston City Council District 7, per Anderson's campaign. "Tania has been leading in our community for decades, embodying what it means to leverage personal, lived experience as a catalyst for transformative change. I know Tania will lead innovative policy ideas at City Hall, build coalitions to deliver change, and provide strong constituent services to our community," Miranda said in a statement.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Four NTSB investigators continue probe in Boston Sunday following Friday's Comm. Ave. Green Line crash," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "The National Transportation Safety Board Sunday continued investigating what caused a Green Line trolley to collide with another one Friday evening along Commonwealth Avenue and is expected to release a preliminary report on the crash in a few weeks, according to an NTSB spokeswoman. The collision left 25 people with non-life-threatening injuries, and a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority subway operator was placed on paid administrative leave due to developments in the investigation, officials said Saturday."

DATELINE D.C.

– Members of the Massachusetts delegation are at the forefront of the push to extend the federal eviction moratorium that expired over the weekend. Rep. Ayanna Pressley slept outside the U.S. Capitol building Friday night with Reps. Ilhan Omar and Cori Bush, who's been evicted three times before. Pressley was among the progressives who sent a letter to Joe Biden urging the president and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to "leverage every authority available to extend the eviction moratorium." Sen. Elizabeth Warren stopped by to show support and spoke on the Senate floor Saturday morning about the need to continue "this life-saving protection." Rep. Jim McGovern said he'd reconvene the House Rules Committee he chairs as soon as Democrats have the votes needed to pass an extension.

– More: "Pelosi turns tables on White House, urges eviction ban extension," by Katy O'Donnell, POLITICO: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team on Sunday urged President Joe Biden to immediately renew and extend the eviction moratorium until Oct. 18 after House Democrats failed to marshal the votes to prevent its lapse this weekend. Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) issued a joint statement Sunday night putting the ball back in the Biden administration's court, after the White House on Thursday said it could not extend the eviction ban and urged Congress to do it."

– "Senate negotiators finalize bipartisan infrastructure bill," by Marianne Levine, POLITICO: "Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday evening took the next procedural step to move the legislation forward, predicting it would pass the chamber in a 'matter of days.' But first it will need to go through an arduous amendment process."

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "Proposed biomass limits restrict new plants in 90 percent of state," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The rules promulgated by the Department of Energy Resources in April say new biomass plants located in or within five miles of an environmental justice community will not qualify as a renewable energy source under a state program, the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, or RPS, that requires energy producers to obtain a certain amount of energy from renewable sources. Financially, that would likely make it impossible for a company to locate a plant there."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "SJC urges Legislature to update marijuana laws," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Supreme Judicial Court on Friday urged the Legislature to update the state's marijuana law to provide 'much-needed clarity' on issues surrounding the agreements between marijuana shops and their host communities. But the SJC stopped short of mandating any changes. "

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "'It has to be known what was done to us': Natick couple harassed by eBay tell their story for the first time," by Aaron Pressman, Boston Globe: "[David Steiner], who with his wife, Ina, publishes a news website about the e-commerce industry from their home, thought his neighbor must be joking — who would be graffitiing his new white vinyl fence on their quiet, tree-lined street? It was June of 2019, and he had no clue that the vandalism was just the start of a bizarre harassment campaign directed by senior executives at one of the country's leading Internet companies, eBay. Ultimately, the events would shatter the Steiners' peaceful suburban life, result in criminal charges against six eBay employees and a contractor, five of whom have pleaded guilty, and contribute to the departure of eBay's chief executive."

– "Striking St. Vincent nurses, hospital management set to resume talks Monday," by Marco Cartolano, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Talks between striking St. Vincent Hospital nurses and hospital leaders will resume 10 a.m. Monday, and if necessary, Tuesday, in hopes of ending the longest such strike nationally in over a decade."

– More: "Supporters march through Worcester in solidarity with striking Saint Vincent Hospital nurses," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com.

– "Obama to reportedly host celeb-studded birthday bash on Martha's Vineyard," by Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times: "With the big 6-0 coming up on the birthday odometer, former President Barack Obama is reportedly hosting a bash at his swanky Edgartown manse on Martha's Vineyard, and celebrity pals may add glitz to the candle-snuffing."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– "It's official: These four candidates are running for mayor of Fall River," by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: "This week two newcomers — Jonathan James Albernaz and Michael Vandal — filed their needed paperwork with the City Clerk's office. That now puts four candidates on the Sept. 21 preliminary ballot. Mayor Paul Coogan and challenger City Council President Cliff Ponte have already filed their papers."

ENGAGED – Maya Serkin, a client success manager at Indigov, recently got engaged to Mike Jones, who works at Jump Trading. Mike proposed at Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts over a private picnic and stunning view of the Stockbridge Bowl. Pic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Eileen O'Connor, Corporate Accountability's Gigi Kellett, Will Campo and Caitlin Teeley.

HAPPY BELATED – to a lot of Playbookers:

July 29: former state Rep. Byron Rushing, Shelby Ashline, Hayley Fleming and Hirak Shah.

July 30: Brendan Roche.

July 31: former Gov. Bill Weld, who is 76; former Gov. Deval Patrick, who is 65; Boston state Rep. Nika Elugardo, Westfield Mayor Donald Humason Jr., author Dave Wedge, Amy Inglis and Robert C. Merton.

Aug 1: Boston City Council at-large candidate Ruthzee Louijene, Jehuda Reinharz and Asher Perez.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.

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