News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: ‘The stupidest-looking district I’ve ever seen’: Advocates float big changes to legislative map

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: ‘The stupidest-looking district I’ve ever seen’: Advocates float big changes to legislative map

Sep 29, 2021

MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER — As lawmakers dive into the redistricting process, a coalition of voter-rights groups is calling for an increase in the number of majority-minority districts in the state House and Senate.

The Drawing Democracy Coalition — which includes MassVOTE, the MIRA Coalition and the ACLU of Massachusetts — put out maps yesterday that would increase the number of majority-minority House districts based on total population to 29 from 20, including five majority-Latino districts and six that are majority-Black. The number of majority-minority Senate districts would grow to seven from three, including a majority-Black Senate district in Boston that advocates and some lawmakers are calling for.

The new districts would reflect the state's growing diversity, "ensuring that these individuals are justly represented on Beacon Hill," MassVote Executive Director Cheryl Clyburn Crawford said.

Assistant House Majority Leader Mike Moran, who co-chairs the redistricting committee, said the advocacy groups are "going to see their fingerprints on our maps."

Some caveats: While advocates and lawmakers have both expressed a desire to maximize the number of majority-minority districts, that doesn't automatically mean candidates of color will run, or win. Despite past efforts the legislature remains whiter than the state's population.

The advocates' maps would pit some incumbents against each other. The Senate map would split the 1st Suffolk & Middlesex District, where there's currently a special election to replace former state Sen. Joe Boncore, and potentially leave the winner in the same district as state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn). The House map would pit state Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere) against state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), and state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli (D-Lenox) against state Rep. Paul Mark (D-Peru).

"That's the stupidest-looking district I've ever seen in my life," Pignatelli told me of the proposed redraw of his Berkshires district, which would stretch from Connecticut to Vermont.

Pignatelli's no stranger to serving a large district — his district is geographically the largest in the House. But Drawing Democracy's proposal is too far-flung to be manageable, Pignatelli said, and it carves up the Berkshires at a time when keeping those communities together "is really paramount" as the region's population shrinks.

Moran also told me he doesn't think "it's fair to pit members against each other simply for the sake of having an incumbent-free district," citing such a situation in Newton years ago that he doesn't want to repeat.

Lawmakers aim to finalize their maps by early November, because House candidates have to live in their districts for at least a full year before the November 2022 general election. Draft maps could be released in coming weeks. Dive deeper with the Boston Globe's Emma Platoff.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. A new report from UC Berkeley is pumping the brakes on claims that Uber and Lyft drivers could earn at least $18 per hour in 2023 should a ballot question that would classify them as independent contractors get passed in Massachusetts.

UC Berkeley researchers cited "multiple loopholes" in the Massachusetts ballot proposition that they say could leave the majority of the rideshare drivers earning "as little as the equivalent of a $4.82 wage" when factoring in items like unpaid driver wait times between passengers and "under-reimbursed" expenses like mileage. The researchers also said the "minority of drivers" who would qualify for the health-care stipends offered in the ballot proposal would earn the equivalent of $6.75 per hour.

"The companies , in short, want to obtain legal permission to pay their drivers a subminimum wage," the researchers wrote.

Conor Yunits, a spokesperson for the Uber-and-Lyft-backed Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work that's proposing the ballot question, slammed the Berkeley report as "another ludicrous attempt to silence the voices of workers and voters across Massachusetts" and said the coalition remains focused on "elevating the voices of drivers and finding a solution that protects their flexibility while extending benefits and protections."

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Education Secretary James Peyser and Senate President Karen Spilka attend the MassBay Community College Health Science Center groundbreaking at 10:30 a.m. Polito presides over the Governor's Council meeting at noon. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh at 9 a.m. helps virtually launch the newly created Massachusetts Building Trades Recovery Council. Boston mayoral hopeful City Councilor Michelle Wu hosts a press availability with environmental groups at 10 a.m. at the Ipswich Street Bridge and Charlesgate East. Sen. Ed Markey virtually joins the Alliance for Business Leadership to discuss federal legislative climate change efforts at 1 p.m. Mayoral hopeful City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George hosts a roundtable with members of the Latino community at 5:30 p.m. in East Boston. The MassGOP holds a state committee meeting at 7 p.m. in Marlborough.

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

HAPPENING TODAY - DON'T MISS THIS PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH REP. GOTTHEIMER AS THE HOUSE PREPARES TO VOTE : President Biden's domestic agenda is on the line, with a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill slated for a House vote on Thursday. However, moderate and progressive Democrats remain at odds over a larger, multitrillion-dollar spending package — with the left even threatening to tank Thursday's vote. Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade for a virtual conversation featuring Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), the leader of the centrists urging his colleagues to take the win Thursday and continue working on the second package in the coming days. REGISTER HERE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts coronavirus cases increase by 1,380, hospitalizations jump," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts health officials on Tuesday reported 1,380 new coronavirus cases, as total COVID hospitalizations in the Bay State jumped and the positive test rate rose."

– "Breakthrough COVID cases in Massachusetts decreased last week along with total cases," by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive.com: "...the state saw 4,378 positive COVID cases among vaccinated individuals in a seven-day period ending Sept. 25. Total cases reported during that period were 11,137."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "'Clock ticking' on $4.9B in ARPA funding as Massachusetts spending lags," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts is in the bottom 20 when it comes to doling out the federal relief dollars, a Herald review has found. … Seven states — California, Indiana, Maine, Montana, Oregon, New York and Connecticut — have already allocated more than 90% of the fund they received."

– "Here's how advocates want to modernize the statewide Bottle Bill," by Julia Taliesin, Boston.com: "An update to Massachusetts's 1982 container deposit law, or 'Bottle Bill,' will make a few key changes to the law, including increasing the deposit return from $0.05 to $0.10. The campaign behind the Better Bottle Bill launched Tuesday at an event hosted by MASSPIRG and bill sponsors Rep. Marjorie Decker and Sen. Cynthia Creem."

– "Massachusetts lawmakers, advocates press for statewide Indigenous People's Day to celebrate indigenous communities, recognize 'original sin in American history'," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts lawmakers and Native American advocates on Tuesday pressed again to follow a handful of states and dozens of municipalities to establish a statewide Indigenous People's Day, calling for leaders to celebrate indigenous communities and cast out the romanticized myth of Christopher Columbus' 'discovery' of the Americas."

– "Union representing more than 500 Saint Vincent Hospital employees calls on elected officials to intervene to resolve nurse's strike in Worcester," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "The head of [UFCW Local 1445] representing more than 500 employees at Saint Vincent Hospital sent a letter to state legislators on Tuesday calling on politicians to intervene in the nurses' strike and find a resolution between the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Tenet Healthcare."

– "Tourism industry pushes for more relief," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: "On Tuesday, regional tourism officials told a legislative committee they need more marketing funding to attract visitors and buoy the industry."

– ENDORSEMENT ROUNDUP: State Rep. Nika Elugardo is backing Lydia Edwards in the special election to replace former state Sen. Joe Boncore, saying the Boston city councilor is the best choice to ensure the district's "BIPOC and working-class communities get their fair share of resources." Edwards has also recently been backed by former Boncore aide Juan Jaramillo, who had been eyeing the seat himself. Edwards is running against Anthony D'Ambrosio of Revere, who's been endorsed by state Reps. Jessica Giannino and Jeffrey Turco, Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo and former Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo.

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "State representative urges Mass. leaders to deploy National Guard for school COVID-19 testing," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "Facing complaints from some school districts about the delayed implementation of COVID-19 pooled testing, a Massachusetts representative is urging state leaders to consider deploying the National Guard to get the testing programs up and running. State Representative Mindy Domb said Tuesday that many districts applied to participate in the state's testing programs before the start of the school year, but still haven't received the services."

– "COVID-19 cases expected to rise in Mass., but high vaccination rate likely to keep hospitals manageable," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "The coronavirus will continue to spread across Massachusetts in the coming weeks, according to projections by academic models, as the virus attacks the unvaccinated, people gather inside in cooler weather, and immunity wanes among those who were vaccinated months ago. But the predicted rise in COVID-19 infections is not expected to translate into hospitals in Massachusetts being overwhelmed, as in other parts of the country."

– "Galvin Requiring Vaccination Among Employees," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall).

FROM THE HUB

– "Pressley criticizes Tompkins plan for Mass. and Cass treatment center," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "[Rep. Ayanna] Pressley, in a statement, was critical of [Suffolk County Sheriff Steve] Tompkins's proposed 'criminalization' of drug users through 'involuntary commitment to repurposed prison facilities' — several empty floors where immigration detainees were previously held in a building adjacent to the South Bay House of Correction."

Tompkins responded by urging Pressley to "get the Feds and the state to continuously come forth with the dollars to address the mental health, substance abuse and homelessness situation."

– "So far, Boston students see few signs of federal recovery money," by Bianca Vázquez Toness, Boston Globe: "The Lowell School District has used its federal pandemic aid to hire dozens of additional tutors and educators to work directly with students and added afterschool programming. … But in Boston, much of the more than $430 million in federal coronavirus relief funds is being spent on air conditioning, air purifiers, and air quality monitors — something school leaders say is necessary to keep students learning safely."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Laborers' International Union of North America Local 223 has endorsed City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George for mayor of Boston. Local 223 is the largest Laborers' local in Boston, representing about 1,700 members, according to Essaibi George's campaign. "She's the leader for working residents and the partner we need in City Hall," Local 223 business manager Marty Walsh said in a statement.

Yes, that's Labor Secretary Marty Walsh's cousin, which means Essaibi George now has two Walsh family members in her corner after the former mayor's mom voted for Essaibi George in the preliminary election. The union previously backed state Rep. Jon Santiago.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Jay Livingstone has endorsed City Councilor Michelle Wu for mayor of Boston, per her campaign. Livingstone's district includes Back Bay, Beacon Hill and parts of Fenway and the West End. "She has a proven record of working across all levels of government to get things done and fighting on the issues that matter," Livingstone said in a statement.

– "Arroyos endorse Michelle Wu for Boston mayor," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Michelle Wu has picked up significant — if complicated — endorsements from the Arroyo family as the mayoral candidates continue to make outreach to communities of color. 'We have a real opportunity here to make sure that the city reflects what it should reflect — the ideals and the promises that have long been dormant,' City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo said at an event Tuesday at which he and his father, Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix D. Arroyo, endorsed Wu for mayor. This is an important endorsement, as the Arroyos are easily the city's most well-known Latino family and have had three members sit on the city council."

– "Boston Mayoral Candidates Michelle Wu And Annissa Essaibi George To Meet In First Debate October 13 On WBZ-TV," by CBS Boston staff: "The final candidates to become Boston's next mayor will meet for their first one-on-one debate on Wednesday, October 13. Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu will debate at 7 p.m. from the WBZ-TV studios. "

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Newton City Council President Susan Albright and Vice President Rick Lipof have endorsed incumbent Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in her reelection bid, per her campaign. "In this complicated time of Covid which has produced unique financial constraints and also opportunity, continuity in the executive branch is essential," Lipof said in a statement.

– "Sciarra, Warner to face off for mayor in Northampton," by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Voters in Tuesday's preliminary mayoral election chose Gina-Louise Sciarra and Marc Warner to go head-to-head in the general election on Nov. 2. … Sciarra, a city councilor for 8 years and the council president since 2019, and Warner, founder of Warner Transportation Consulting and a regular member of local government committees, will compete to replace Mayor David Narkewicz, who did not seek reelection."

– "Asians Are Underrepresented In Mass. Politics, But Wu and Chang-Diaz Are Trying To Change That," by Simón Rios, WBUR: "[Boston mayoral hopeful Michelle] Wu and [governor hopeful Sonia] Chang-Diaz are among a small but growing list of Asian politicians in Massachusetts. Nine out of 200 state lawmakers now identify as Asian American, tracing their ancestries back to China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Cambodia. And more Asian Americans are running for local office — from school committee to mayor — says Paul Watanabe, of the Institute for Asian-American Studies at UMass Boston."

PARTY POLITICS

– "Democratic platform demands more legislative transparency," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The platform says, in a section on ethics and transparency, that Democrats will fight for the following principle: 'All Committee votes in the Legislature to be made public by providing a list of those legislators voting yes and those legislators voting no.' … Beacon Hill Democrats have long faced criticism for ignoring the Democratic Party platform, which has become more of an ideological stance voted on by Democratic activists than a practical agenda adopted by Beacon Hill power brokers."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "A troubling Green Line crash, a bloody Back Bay escalator malfunction, and now a Red Line derailment," by Taylor Dolven, Emily Sweeney and Andrew Brinker, Boston Globe: "Advocates used the episodes to press Governor Charlie Baker to announce his five appointments for the new MBTA board of directors created by Baker and the state Legislature in July. … TransitMatters called on the governor to announce his five appointments to the new board of directors and for more investment in transportation infrastructure."

DAY IN COURT

– "SJC Says Sheriffs' Pandemic Responses Are Constitutional," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "The high court rejected two main arguments in the suit filed by the state public defender agency, the Committee for Public Counsel Services. The agency alleged that it was unconstitutional for the sheriffs not to provide routine widespread COVID testing and make efforts to reduce jail populations during the pandemic."

– "Judge gives Jasiel Correia a prison date, and orders he repay SnoOwl investors $310,000," by Dan Medeiros, Herald News: "Disgraced former mayor Jasiel Correia II has a prison report date: Friday, Dec. 3, about a week before his 30th birthday."

– "Massachusetts Trial Court Officer Academy temporarily shut down due to investigation into alleged misconduct," by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com.

WARREN REPORT

– "Calling him 'dangerous,' Warren says she opposes Powell's renomination," by Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe: "Senator Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday that she would oppose the renomination of Jerome Powell for another term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, calling him 'a dangerous man' because of what she described as serious shortcomings in his oversight of financial regulations."

– "How Elizabeth Warren Goes Local in the Commonwealth," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight.

THE CLARK CAUCUS

– LISTEN: "Rep. Katherine Clark On A Possible Government Shutdown And The Fight Over Infrastructure," by Tiziana Dearing and Cynthia Betubiza, WBUR.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "Climate protesters arrested after blocking Charlie Baker's driveway with pink boat," by Todd Prussman, Amy Sokolow and Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Climate activists chained themselves to a pink sailboat parked at the end of Gov. Charlie Baker's driveway Tuesday morning, placing the state's chief executive under a so-called 'house arrest' until protesters were cuffed."

FROM THE 413

– "Should Great Barrington control how homeowners rent their property? Early bylaw talks stir resistance," by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: "Preliminary talks about restricting short-term rentals in an effort to address rental housing scarcity again are meeting resistance from homeowners and others who make a living through renting."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Gamble heirs resign from board of Watertown nonprofit, cut financial ties," by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: "A feud between the leadership of Pathfinder International and the family of the founder of the Watertown nonprofit spilled into the public this week with the abrupt resignation of two board members and their vow to cut off all future financial support."

– "New sexual assault allegations filed against former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband," by Malcolm Gay, Boston Globe: "A second area dancer has come forward as part of an expanded lawsuit against a former star dancer with the Boston Ballet and her husband, alleging the couple raped her while she was still a minor."

– "Advocates say rapes in college towns 'underreported' in FBI crime data," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "The FBI data also shows many communities in Massachusetts — especially college towns — are reporting double-digit numbers of rapes."

– "Tufts, Bates, Others Awarded $500 Million To Enroll More Low-Income, Undocumented Students," by Kirk Carapezza, GBH News.

TRANSITIONS – Marcella Alvarez Morgan and Stella T. Oyalabu have joined Sherin and Lodgen LLP as associates in the firm's litigation department.

GOOD LUCK – to Benchmark Strategies' Joe Rull, who's running the London Marathon this weekend in support of the Herren Project.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to state Rep. Tommy Vitolo, Cassie Moreno, Tyler O'Day, David Nather, Greig Fields, Aron Chilewich and British Consul General Peter Abbott.

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