News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The governor’s race waiting game

Monday, September 27, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The governor’s race waiting game

Sep 27, 2021

ALL EYES ON HEALEY — State Attorney General Maura Healey still hasn't decided whether she'll run for governor, but she seemed to be testing out her stump speech at Saturday's MassDems Platform Convention.

Healey used Gov. Charlie Baker's recent dismissal of same-day voter registration as a launching pad to address the "bigger problem."

Massachusetts is in "a moment of great challenge, a moment that demands greater urgency" given rising food insecurity, racial wealth gaps and "systemic racism and misogyny," Healey said via video. "My work has been taking on these injustices."

Healey acknowledged the elephant in the room — that everyone's waiting to see what she'll do in 2022 — before closing out her speech with a lengthy list of what she believes Massachusetts needs in a governor. That list includes someone who will fight to cancel student loan debt, who supports a millionaires tax, who won't support Maine Sen. Susan Collins (as Baker did) and who will support abortion rights here and across the country. And, of course, someone who's a Democrat.

One of the Democrats already in the race for governor, Harvard professor Danielle Allen, urged party activists not to waste time waiting around for Healey.

"Please don't delay considering your options," Allen, who jumped into the race in June after a six-month exploratory committee, said. "The single most precious resource we have for beating the Baker-Polito administration is time. I'm not waiting."

Baker hasn't said whether he's running for a third term. But all three Democratic hopefuls laid out their cases against him — and against the Beacon Hill establishment — to varying degrees.

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz blasted the Republican governor who she said "looked the other way on our broken and racist criminal legal system" and who was slow to get behind the movement for education funding reform. Now, she said, "we're building a movement to take on Charlie Baker himself."

Former state Sen. Ben Downing slammed leaders from both parties who "waste our time. I'm tired of watching a governor with all the popularity and a legislature with all the power refuse to use either to fight for us" while rents rise and childcare gets harder to find.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. As Acting Mayor Kim Janey endorsed City Councilor Michelle Wu in the Boston mayor's race on Saturday, nearly six dozen of Boston's Black and Latino leaders were huddling to discuss the key issues they want the city's next leader to address.

The meeting, organized by state Rep. Russell Holmes, included two former mayoral candidates — state Rep. Jon Santiago and former city councilor Tito Jackson, who'd both endorsed Janey — state Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley, faith leaders and community leaders including former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, NAACP Boston Branch President Tanisha Sullivan, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts President Segun Idowu and former Urban League president and CEO Darnell Williams.

The group plans to finalize its goals in coming days. Then "we'll go and meet with the candidates and get some quantifiable data, measure some real metrics as to whether they've done what they said they were going to do on housing, economic development and education," Holmes told me.

Some of the organizations involved, like the NAACP, won't endorse in the mayor's race. But Holmes said it's important for their members to be part of the conversation as Black and Latino leaders work to ensure the city's next leader — and its first non-white elected mayor — delivers on promises made to Black and Brown communities.

The group's goals will also factor into "report cards" the NAACP plans to issue at the middle and end of the next mayor's term, similar to the one issued during Labor Secretary Marty Walsh's tenure as mayor, in order to promote ongoing accountability, Sullivan said.

TODAY — Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka hold their weekly leadership meeting at 2 p.m., media availability to follow. Former Boston mayoral candidate City Councilor Andrea Campbell is on WBUR's "Radio Boston" at 3 p.m. The Legislature's joint Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Recovery Committee holds hearings on decriminalization and safe consumption sites beginning at 9 a.m. Boston's Board of Election Commissioners hosts a 10 a.m. public meeting to provide updates on reprecincting ahead of 2022.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Governor Baker wants more housing. A fight in his backyard shows how hard that will be," by Zoe Greenberg, Boston Globe: "Almost everyone in this idyllic seaside town of 15,000 can agree that Swampscott, like many places in Eastern Massachusetts, needs more housing that regular people can afford. Governor Charlie Baker, himself a resident of Swampscott and former town selectman, has been pushing communities across the state to build more housing near public transit. But a battle over a proposed apartment building half a mile from the governor's home — one that ticks his development boxes and could directly benefit people like Esquilin — illustrates the enormous challenges the state faces in actually increasing the supply of such housing."

– "In tweet, Baker urges St. Vincent Hospital brass, nurses to 'reach consensus'; both sides respond," by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Gov. Charlie Baker weighed in on the nurses strike at St. Vincent Hospital on Friday afternoon, urging striking nurses and hospital owners to return to the negotiating table 'and reach consensus.'"

– "Student nutrition bill, barring 'meal-shaming,' on the move," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "After three years of advocacy, Massachusetts lawmakers are on the verge of adopting new policies that would provide free lunch to more children while ending the practice of 'meal shaming,' placing restrictions on children whose families owe money for meals."

– "Jack Lewis' bill to name an official state dinosaur continues legislative path," by Haley Chi-Sing, Boston University Statehouse Program/Metrowest Daily News.

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "'Dozens' of Massachusetts troopers line up to quit over COVID vaccine mandate," by Joe Dwinell and Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "'Dozens' of state troopers fed up with the governor's vaccine mandate are filing paperwork to quit the force as a Superior Court judge has denied any delay in the mandate that kicks in Oct. 17. 'Many of these troopers are going to be returning to their previous municipal police departments within the state that allow for regular testing and masks,' said union boss Michael Cherven."

– "Nursing homes ramp up vaccinations ahead of mandates," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: "Gov. Charlie Baker announced in August that the state will require staff at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospice programs to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 10 or face disciplinary action, including termination, unless they've been granted a medical or religious exemption."

– "Massachusetts makes COVID-19 vaccine booster available at 460 locations," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com.

– "DCU Center not requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test for most events," by Anoushka Dalmia, Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– NEW THIS MORNING: Rep. Ayanna Pressley has endorsed David Halbert, Ruthzee Louijeune, Carla Monteiro and incumbent City Councilor Julia Mejia in the Boston City Council at-large race. Pressley also endorsed Kendra Hicks for District 6. "Each of these candidates has shown their deep commitment to the Boston community and to advancing policies reflective of the real and pressing challenges people face," Pressley, the first woman of color elected to the city council, said in a statement. No word if she's endorsing in the mayoral.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Assistant House Majority Leader Mike Moran has endorsed Erin Murphy for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign.

– "Boston District 7 recount finalizes ballots for November election," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "Perennial candidate Roy Owens Sr. actually had slightly extended the lead in his preliminary-election success over community organizer Angie Camacho in Boston's District 7 by the time city elections workers wrapped up the recount on Saturday, with Owens' advantage rising from 28 to 37 votes."

– "In an unprecedented moment, Kim Janey endorses Michelle Wu for Boston mayor," by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: "In an unprecedented moment in Boston politics, Acting Mayor Kim Janey on Saturday endorsed City Councilor Michelle Wu for mayor during a jubilant gathering in Nubian Square, where the first woman and first Black person to lead the city shared the spotlight with a candidate who could become the first woman and first person of color to attain the top job through a win at the polls. … While campaigning Saturday, [rival Annissa] Essaibi George put Janey's endorsement aside. 'I got work to do,' she said."

– More from GBH News' Saraya Wintersmith: "'Janey said she chose to endorse Wu based on a belief that she is best qualified to address racial and systemic inequities that have plagued the city."

– From the Boston Globe opinion pages: "How will mayoral candidates address inequities and empower Black Bostonians?" by Andrea Campbell: "My challenge to Essaibi George and Wu is to tell our communities — not merely in private meetings or phone calls with me or stakeholders, but publicly and directly to residents — what specific, tangible plans they have to deliver racial equity in our health, housing, schools, public safety, and economic systems. … My endorsement will go to the candidate who makes the most credible case and who inspires the most confidence that she will meet these challenges."

– "Be prepared for a weird series of electoral events in Boston," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Acting Mayor Kim Janey's administration announced that the next elected mayor of Boston will be sworn in on Nov. 16, two weeks after the Nov. 2 general election between City Councilors Annissa Essaibi-George and Michelle Wu. … One consequence of the early swearing-in is that it will, no matter what, create a vacancy in an at-large council seat for about a month and a half."

ON THE STUMP

– Essaibi George is launching a "Listen & Learn" conversation tour today to "inform her official Equity, Inclusion and Justice Agenda," according to her campaign.

The tour will focus on prioritizing access to and representation in city government, ensuring the city is "intentional in rooting out inequity and dismantling racism in our city and systems" and forming community partnerships to "find solutions to the city's most pressing problems through a lens of equity and justice," per her campaign. Essaibi George will kick things off with a coffee and conversation on equity at Dudley Cafe in Roxbury at 7 a.m., followed by other stops.

– WATCH: "Annissa Essaibi George: Any Suggestions Of Ties To Donald Trump Are 'Gross Statement'," by Jon Keller, WBZ: She also talked about how to tackle Mass and Cass and education reform.

FROM THE HUB

– "Sheriff Proposes Committing People Living At Mass And Cass To A Re-Purposed Detention Center," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins wants to move people living in tents near 'Mass and Cass' to a former detention center in the South Bay House of Correction. … Tompkins says up to 100 people could be involuntarily committed to receive drug treatment and mental health counseling there."

– WATCH: "OTR: Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards weighs in on Mass & Cass crisis," by Ed Harding and Janet Wu, WCVB.

– "Secrecy around exam school admission data prompts lawsuit," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "The Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence filed the lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court on Thursday, accusing the school department and the city's legal department of failing to provide data, text messages, and other documents related to exam school admission changes, which increased the odds of Black and Latino applicants getting in while decreasing the chances of white and Asian applicants."

– "Protesters gather in Boston to oppose treatment of Haitians at the border," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald.

FEELING '22

– "Geoff Diehl takes center stage at anti-vaccine, mask mandate rally," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "A State House rally against Gov. Charlie Baker's 'forced' vaccine and mask mandates doubled as a campaign rally for Republican candidate for governor Geoff Diehl, who took shots at Baker over everything from mail-in voting to free choice."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Oversight of potential safety risks at MBTA stations under question after BU professor died in fall from staircase," by Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe: "Outside the MBTA's Fenway Station, an aging three-story staircase rusts under a corrugated metal awning. In Alewife, it's a deteriorating pedestrian bridge. At the Red Line's Milton stop, stairs have sprouted cracks that expose rebar underneath, while years-old signs perpetually declare the steps closed. ... They're among dozens of state public spaces that straddle administrative borders of different state agencies, putting them in a bureaucratic vortex where oversight can be lax and ownership uncertain."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "State cannabis chief questions impact fees after city claims $1.3 million in costs," by Mike LaBella, Eagle-Tribune: "A state official said Friday he has concerns about the relevance of impact fees being charged to retail marijuana shops by communities across the state, including in Haverhill."

– There's always a Massachusetts connection: "Some cannabis firms see 'disaster' in federal legalization," by Natalie Fertig, POLITICO.

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– NEW THIS MORNING: Former state Rep. Denise Provost and Somerville City Councilor Bill White have endorsed City Councilor Will Mbah for mayor of Somerville, per Mbah's campaign. Provost previously endorsed Mary Cassesso, who finished third in this month's preliminary election and did not advance.

– Northampton: "Mayoral, council hopefuls make last pitches to survive ballot cut," by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "After a decade in office, Mayor David Narkewicz is not seeking reelection. Five mayoral candidates will appear on the ballot: City Council President Gina-Louise Sciarra, retired resident Roy Martin, social worker Shanna Fishel, transportation analyst Marc Warner, and Rosechana Gordon, who dropped out of the race after the ballots were printed."

– "'Embarrassing' low turnout mars Beverly election," by Paul Leighton, Salem News: "The 7.1% turnout was astonishingly low — the lowest in recent history for the city, and maybe ever."

FROM THE 413

– "UMass IT staff, police investigating racist messages," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Racist email messages delivered to Black student organizations on the University of Massachusetts campus, and a recent incident in which a driver yelled an epithet at Black students, are being investigated by campus police and information technology staff, according to a letter sent to the campus community Thursday."

– "UMass students pack chancellor's office, continuing week of protests over fraternity sexual assaults claims," by Wil Katcher, MassLive.com: "Students filled the offices of University of Massachusetts Amherst administrators Friday afternoon, demanding a meeting with school leaders and continuing a week of protests over claims of sexual assault at UMass fraternities."

– More: "Fraternity's national leader calls on UMass chancellor to stand by chapter," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

– "Few abuse survivors were involved in task force report on Springfield diocesan reforms," by Anne-Gerard Flynn, Springfield Republican: "A total of 11 abuse survivors participated in three, 90-minute focus groups held online this winter, a form of response selected by the task force. In contrast, an online survey asking lay people for feedback drew 492 respondents, while a phone survey of clergy involved 83 priests."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Boycott targets college admissions boost given to children of alumni at Harvard, other elite schools," by Rebecca Ostriker, Boston Globe: "Now a grad student at the Harvard Kennedy School, [Viet] Nguyen is leading a national grass-roots campaign to end admissions preferences for alumni children at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, and many other selective schools, including elite New England liberal arts colleges such as Amherst, Williams, and Bowdoin."

– "Mass. Locked Up People With Mental Illness For Decades. Now Advocates Want Their Stories Told," by Steve Brown, WBUR: "For many years, people with disabilities and mental illness in Massachusetts were locked away in state institutions to be kept separate from the rest of society. Now some advocates and families are pushing to create a commission to reckon with the way patients were treated and the abuses they endured."

– "'A complex problem': Could changes be coming to flight paths over Milton, Hull?" by Fred Hanson, Patriot Ledger: "A study done for Massport and the Federal Aviation Administration recommends no changes to the flight path over Milton and a slight change for one near the tip of Hull. The study also does not recommend dispersing aircraft headed into and out of Logan Airport, a solution sought by residents and officials of communities hardest hit by airplane noise."

– "Pembroke selectman compares diversity committee interview questions to Nazi Germany," by Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Patriot Ledger: "A Pembroke selectman is under fire from his fellow board members, the public and the Anti-Defamation League after he compared interview questions for diversity committee candidates to Nazi Germany."

"As first Afghan families arrive in Mass. this weekend, state faces historic humanitarian challenge," by John Hilliard and Nick Stoico, Boston Globe.

MEDIA MATTERS

– "Senators say they pulled out of a Boston Globe conference to back a union," by Marc Tracy, New York Times: "Senators Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Democrats from Massachusetts, said Friday that they had backed out of a virtual conference hosted by The Boston Globe earlier in the week in solidarity with the journalists' union there, which is in a yearslong dispute over a new labor contract."

CONGRATS – to Lauren Goldman Moran, Fair Labor Division chief at the state AG's office, and Matthew Moran, assistant secretary and chief engagement officer at the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, who recently welcomed their second daughter, Hannah Maeve Moran.

A FOND FAREWELL – to Chris Lovett of Boston Neighborhood News Network, who's called it a wrap after 34 years. Tweet.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Jack Eccles, Robert Cohen, Francisco Urena, Misha Hyman and Abby Curran.

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