News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Decision day in Boston and beyond

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Decision day in Boston and beyond

Sep 14, 2021

DECISION DAY — Boston voters will whittle their historically diverse mayoral field down to two candidates today, the next step in what's poised to be a barrier-breaking election.

That significance wasn't lost on the candidates as they made their final pitches to voters across the city over the past few days.

City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George spoke wistfully of her late father, a Tunisian immigrant, as she pledged to "fulfill the promise that Boston has made to my family" and others. City Councilor Michelle Wu paid tribute to Chinatown, "the neighborhood that first welcomed and rooted me in Boston," as she spoke of building a "platform for activism across all our communities." Acting Mayor Kim Janey and City Councilor Andrea Campbell spoke of the myriad challenges they faced as young Bostonians and vowed to do more to lift up the city.

"I lived almost every inequity you can think about growing up in the city of Boston and that matters. We need more stories and lived experiences that are different in government," Campbell told supporters at an election-eve rally in the South End. "But I say I'm more than a story. I've done the work."

In the end, the candidates' closing arguments focused less on the historic nature of the election and more on the most pressing issues facing the city — affordable housing, a pandemic and other public health crises, and education and economic opportunity gaps.

"I got our city open. We're investing in small businesses. We've got people vaccinated; over 70% of Boston residents have at least one shot in their arm. We've got our kids back to school. We're getting crime down and we're keeping people in their homes," Janey said in East Boston on Saturday. "We can't stop. We've got more work to do. We can't go back to the way things were."

Wu pledged housing justice and a Boston Green New Deal. Essaibi George pitched herself as a coalition-builder. John Barros, the city's former economic development chief, leaned into his experience in that arena and "how we can turn that into new results."

Today will show how well those messages have resonated — particularly among the still-sizable chunk of undecided voters.

Turnout isn't expected to be heavy. Secretary of State Bill Galvin predicted it will fall between 100,000 and 110,000 — slightly less than the last open-seat preliminary election in 2013. If that holds, roughly 25% of voters have already cast their ballots, more than 5,600 through early voting and more than 20,000 by mail, according to the city.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . I asked, you answered. The matchups Playbook readers believe are most likely to come out of tonight's preliminary mayoral election are Wu versus Campbell, or Wu versus Essaibi George.

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker delivers remarks at a New England Council virtual breakfast at 8 a.m. Galvin casts his vote at 9 a.m. in Brighton. Lawmakers, labor leaders and rideshare drivers host a press conference at 9 a.m. outside the State House in support of legislation that would allow collective bargaining for rideshare drivers. Gretchen Carlson, Julie Roginsky and state Sen. Diana DiZoglio testify at 10:30 a.m. before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight in support of banning NDAs from government entities and schools; state Auditor Suzanne Bump testifies on legislation on government accountability.

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THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "What Boston's Undecided Voters Are Thinking," by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "Jessica Burke barely recognized the acting mayor when she passed her on an East Boston sidewalk over the weekend. If not for her dog stopping to sniff Kim Janey and her entourage — security, union supporters, translators and press — Burke may have missed the mayor completely. … Burke, 32, is one of the many Boston voters who has been preoccupied with the daily hurdles of life in a pandemic and remains undecided before Tuesday's preliminary election. In Burke's case, a move and a job search kept her from following the race more closely."

– "Massachusetts secretary of state: It's too late to mail your ballots – vote in person for Boston mayor," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "...there's not a grace period for ballots to come in after election day — either it's there by 8 p.m. when polls close or your vote doesn't count."

– Boston.com's Nik DeCosta-Klipa has more in his handy voter guide.

– "Boston mayor's race offers master class in women's political competition," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Boston's down-to-the-wire preliminary election for mayor features a phenomenon still rare in American politics but eagerly anticipated: A fierce contest among multiple women candidates."

– "Boston's new mayor will be sworn in mid-November, not January," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "...this race that has been unlike any other also will feature another unusual twist: Whoever emerges from this year's mayoral race will be sworn in sometime in mid-November, rather than the usual January, according to city officials. … In short, that means whoever is elected as mayor will be sworn in after the election certification process, which is expected to be between 10 days and two weeks after Election Day, officials have said."

– "A more diverse Boston prepares for a true changing of the guard," by Douglas Moser, Washington Post: "Many community leaders see Boston's politics finally catching up with its demographics and moving it further beyond other aspects of its past — particularly, in the 1970s and 1980s, the city being the center of some of the country's nastiest battles over the desegregation of schools and public housing."

– "Ex-BPD chief Gross hits trail, touts super PAC's ad for Essaibi George," by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter.

– "Boston's mayoral race was about many things. But here are 3 topics that surprisingly didn't break through," by James Pindell, Boston Globe.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Liz Malia has endorsed Angelina "Angie" Camacho for Boston City Council District 7, per her campaign.

– GBH News' Saraya Wintersmith, POLITICO's Brakkton Booker and I discuss the dynamics at play in the campaign to be Boston's first non-white mayor — and the potential fallout for the candidates who don't nab one of the top two spots — in this afternoon's edition of POLITICO's Recast newsletter. Sign up before 1 p.m.

ON THE STUMP

– Janey rolled out a significant endorsement on election eve — Mel King, a former state representative and the first Black person and first person of color to advance to a Boston general mayoral election. As the Boston Herald's Sean Philip Cotter notes, King has been credited with helping propel former mayor Marty Walsh to victory in 2013. But the last-minute endorsement of Janey, which hit inboxes around 9 p.m. yesterday, might not have the same impact with tens of thousands of people having already voted.

– Polls have shown Wu in prime position heading into the preliminary election, but she's not taking it for granted. "I just want to remind everyone we've seen some nice headlines, but I don't believe any numbers until the polls close on Tuesday night," Wu told supporters over the weekend.

– Campbell, who surveys show is locked in a tight race for second place with Janey and Essaibi George, believes the polls are finally capturing the momentum she feels on the ground. "Boston is ready for change. We feel it. We're hearing it on the doors, we're seeing it in the polls and I'm thinking 'they're finally catching up to something we already knew,'" she told the crowd at her election-eve rally.

– The candidates are fanning out across polling locations today. Here's where they'll be when the results come in tonight: Barros is at Restaurante Cesaria in Dorchester, Wu is at Distraction Brewing in Roslindale, Campbell is at Prince Hall Grand Lodge in Grove Hall, Janey is at the SoWa Power Station, and Essaibi George is at Venezia in Dorchester.

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– Preliminary elections are being held in 14 other cities and towns today. Here are a few I'm keeping my eye on:

Somerville — City Councilors Katjana Ballantyne and Will Mbah, Dukakis and Patrick administration alum Mary Cassesso, and William "Billy" Tauro are on the ballot in the first open mayor's race in nearly 20 years after Mayor Joe Curtatone decided not to seek another term. Somerville could elect its first Black mayor in Mbah, or its second female mayor in Ballantyne or Cassesso, depending on which two candidates make it through preliminary. And a slate of democratic socialist candidates are hoping to advance in the city's council elections.

Framingham — Yvonne Spicer , the city's first mayor and the first popularly elected Black female mayor in Massachusetts, hasn't had the easiest first term between the pandemic and a contentious relationship with some city councilors. She's being challenged by Charlie Sisitsky, a longtime former selectman and public servant who told MetroWest Daily News last month he'd "create good working relationships" with the council, and Carlos Valadares , CEO and founder of Brazilian Immigrants Family of America.

Lynn — Lynn also has an open-seat mayor's race after Mayor Thomas McGee opted not to seek reelection. Michael Satterwhite and Jared Nicholson , both members of the school committee, and City Council President Darren Cyr, are vying to replace him. Improving school facilities and creating more affordable housing have emerged as key issues, according to the Lynn Item.

– "After 18 years, Somerville is electing a new mayor — and the choices are distinctly different," by Nik DeCosta Klipa and Julia Taliesin, Boston.com: "According to [outgoing Mayor Joe] Curtatone, the position of Somerville mayor is no longer just about passing budgets or improving the city's bond rating. Rather, as the leader of a city where 90 percent of residents voted against Trump last year, he says his successor must continue to be an outspoken voice for progressive values in the Boston area and beyond."

– "Driscoll surges ahead on campaign donations, spending," by Dustin Luca, Salem News: "Throughout 2021, [Mayor Kim] Driscoll has pulled in nearly five times as much in donations as Ward 7 City Councilor Steve Dibble, who is joined by Frank Perley in a three-way mayoral preliminary election on Tuesday, Sept. 14."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– The special election to succeed former state Sen. Joe Boncore will stretch into next year. The Senate set Jan. 11, 2022, for the special election, and primaries are set for Dec. 14, according to the secretary of state's office.

In a surprising turn of events, state Rep. Adrian Madaro won't be running for the seat after all. "Last week, while on a family trip with limited cell phone reception, I unplugged for the first time in over two months and was holding my son Matteo when it hit me. I hadn't spent any real time with him in the weeks I was considering the run for state senate," Madaro said in a statement last night. "I was all in for this race, and that meant not being present for my son in the way that I wanted to be." Thread.

– "Baker: National Guard to assist with school transportation," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Beginning with training on Tuesday, 90 Guard members will prepare for service in Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, and Lynn, the governor's announcement said. … Baker said the state offered services to Boston. 'Boston said that at this time they didn't want it now, but they were going to think about it,' Baker said."

– "Vaccine Status Causing Stir In Mass. House," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "Taking aim at an unnamed group of representatives, House Speaker Ronald Mariano aired frustrations Monday about lawmakers who he said have bristled at COVID-19 vaccine requirements and said the resistance complicates decisions about bringing the Legislature back into the State House. … In recent weeks, some lawmakers have signed onto legislation that would effectively prohibit government officials, businesses and other organizations from limiting access to some public and private spaces based on vaccination status."

– "ARPA Spending Bill In Works For The Fall," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Passing a bill to spend some of the federal funding allocated to Massachusetts through the American Rescue Plan Act before the Thanksgiving holiday is a 'reasonable' goal, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday. … [Gov. Charlie] Baker said Monday that he and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito 'are confident that the Legislature appreciates the urgency associated with this' and that they respect lawmakers' interest in opening the conversation up to the public. "

BALLOT BATTLES

– "Galvin Opposes Voter ID Initiative Petition," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "Questioning claims of fraud and warning that older voters could be disenfranchised, Secretary of State William Galvin is voicing his opposition to a planned ballot question requiring Massachusetts voters to present identification at polling places, describing it as 'a solution that is in search of a problem.'"

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts coronavirus cases jump 4,752 over the weekend, hospitalizations climb," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The three-day total of 4,752 cases — a daily average of 1,584 infections — was a higher daily rate than last weekend's daily average of 1,371 cases."

FROM THE HUB

– "'The void he leaves behind is unspeakable.' BU professor killed in fall through rusted staircase near Dorchester T stop," by Travis Andersen and John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: "A Boston University professor was killed after falling through a large gap in a badly rusted, state-owned staircase in Dorchester that had been closed to pedestrians since last year, officials said Monday, a mysterious death that stunned his family and colleagues and raised questions about how he happened to reach the dangerous area."

– "Boston parking spot listed for $375,000," by Meghan Ottolini, Boston Herald.

– "Dunkin' opens first digital-only store in Boston," by Erin Kuschner, Boston.com.

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Democrats Hope To Undo Many Trump Tax Cuts To Fund Biden's $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan," by Kelsey Snell, NPR: "House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., released details Monday of a plan that includes increasing the top corporate tax rate to 26.5%, up from the current rate of 21%, and restoring the top rate to 39.6% for individuals earning more than $400,000 and married couples earning over $450,000."

– "Springfield rally urges Rep. Neal to 'go big' on climate, care investments in Democrats' $3.5 trillion bill," by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle.

DAY IN COURT

– "Jasiel Correia's defense says good deeds deserve a lighter sentence," by Dan Medeiros, Herald News: "In a pre-sentencing memo filed Monday, Correia's defense attorneys William Fick and Daniel Marx argue that '36 months is a very substantial period of incarceration for a non-violent first offense, particularly for a man as young as Mr. Correia.'"

– "Varsity Blues college admissions scandal trial gets underway in Boston," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "The first trial in the sweeping college admissions scandal got underway with defense attorneys attempting to portray the two fathers accused of buying their kids' way into elite universities as victims of an 'extremely skilled con man.'"

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "A 2nd lawsuit in works against Vineyard Wind," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, a coalition of fishing industry associations and companies, signaled on Monday its intent to sue the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management by filing a petition with the First Circuit US Court of Appeals seeking clarification on which court is the most appropriate to hear the challenge."

– "'Greener alternative': Cape businesses support plastic water bottle ban, seek substitutes," by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: "Ten towns on the Cape have voted to ban single-use plastic water bottles."

FROM THE 413

– "At UMass Amherst, Casey Affleck and PETA protest animal testing that the university says is humane," by Will Katcher, MassLive.com: "... Casey Affleck — the Oscar-wining, Massachusetts-born actor — and members and supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals told onlooking students that the school they attended performed experiments that mistreated and killed animals. But that is not the case, the university and the lead researcher targeted by PETA say."

– "Springfield Public Schools add permanent virtual school as interest in remote learning continues to increase in Massachusetts amid COVID pandemic," by Heather Morrison, MassLive.com.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "'Wish he was here': Lawrence community gathers to remember teenager killed in Merrimack Valley gas explosions," by Justin Bourke, 7 News: "The series of explosions on Sept. 13, 2018, left more than 130 properties damaged, two dozen people injured, and 18-year-old Leonel Rondon dead. Lucianny Rondon struggled to find the words on the anniversary of her brother's death as the community gathered to keep his name alive."

– More: "3 Years After Gas Explosions, Many Lawrence Residents Await Settlement Checks," by Betsy Badell, Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra: "... [Columbia Gas] also settled a class action lawsuit for $143 million. But while 11,000 residents have received checks from that settlement, Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra has learned that many are still waiting for them."

MEDIA MATTERS

– "Boston 25 News cuts staff, cancels newscasts, sources say," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: "WFXT Boston 25 laid off more than a dozen news staffers, canceled several weekly newscasts and replaced the general manager in early September, according to multiple insiders at the Dedham-headquartered television station."

TRANSITIONS – Pat Malloy has joined New Balance Athletics as senior counsel for trade and policy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Ted Gup, Julia Murray and Alex Pratt.

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