News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: How the redistricting dominoes are falling

Friday, October 15, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: How the redistricting dominoes are falling

Oct 15, 2021

Presented by USA-IT

NEW: ELUGARDO PASSES ON SENATE, MIRANDA LIKELY TO RUN — State Rep. Nika Elugardo won't seek the Boston state Senate seat being vacated by Sonia Chang-Díaz. It's increasingly looking like her colleague, state Rep. Liz Miranda, will.

Elugardo confirmed she plans to run for reelection to the House next year.

Miranda said she's "taking a serious look" at the Senate seat and plans to announce her decision after the November municipal election.

Miranda is talking to community leaders about a potential Senate bid, according to a source familiar with her thinking who said it appears increasingly likely she'll make a run for the 2nd Suffolk seat.

Elugardo and Miranda both expressed interest in the seat after Chang-Díaz announced in June she was running for governor. Both are Black women who were first elected to the House in 2018.

Elugardo, a Jamaica Plain Democrat, will vie for a third term in a district that will likely look different than the one she's represented for the past three years. The proposed House redistricting map would consolidate her 15th Suffolk district within Boston and take her out of neighboring Brookline. Miranda's 5th Suffolk district, which covers parts of Roxbury and Dorchester, would look different as well.

Mapmakers also proposed changes to the 2nd Suffolk — shedding voters in Jamaica Plain and the South End, adding parts of Mattapan and Hyde Park — that they believe will better empower Black voters in the district to elect their candidate of choice.

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The political dominoes will continue to fall now that sitting lawmakers and potential office-seekers have an idea of what redistricting will bring.

There will be more announcements. State Rep. Paul Mark (D-Peru) is expected to say in coming days that he's running for the state Senate seat Adam Hinds (D-PIttsfield) is giving up to run for lieutenant governor, per a source familiar. In doing so, Mark will avoid a potential faceoff against state Rep. John Barrett III (D-North Adams) in a redrawn Berkshires House district.

Some might have to rethink their plans. State Rep. Andy Vargas (D-Haverhill) is running to succeed state Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen), who's vying for state auditor, in the 1st Essex district. But the proposed Senate map would put him in a new district rooted in neighboring Lawrence and Methuen instead.

Political newcomer Simon Cataldo believed he didn't "have the luxury of waiting" for the new maps when he launched his campaign for the 14th Middlesex seat that state Rep. Tami Gouveia's leaving open to run for LG. But Cataldo's Concord precinct is no longer in that district under the proposed House map. Instead the Democrat would be up against state Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury).

Jamie Belsito of Topsfield is running in the special election to succeed former state Rep. Brad Hill in the 4th Essex. But Topsfield wouldn't be part of that redrawn district come next year. If the House map holds, Belsito, a Democrat, looks to be in the same district as state Rep. Christina Minicucci (D-North Andover).

The Legislature's redistricting committee will hold a public hearing on the maps at 1 p.m. today, and will take comment through Monday.

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey, mayoral candidates City Councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George and other electeds attend the El Mundo Hispanic Heritage Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Park Plaza Hotel. Baker and administration officials, State Senate President Karen Spilka and state House Speaker Ron Mariano give remarks at the Association for Behavioral Healthcare's virtual Salute to Excellence at 11 a.m. Rep. Jim McGovern participates in The New England Council's Capitol Hill Report at 9 a.m. McGovern holds a roundtable on ARPA funding in Worcester at 10:30 a.m. Sen. Ed Markey talks Child Tax Credit payments in Randolph at 1 p.m.

THIS WEEKEND — Rep. Stephen Lynch discusses the infrastructure bills and the fallout from the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot on WBZ's "Keller at Large," 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Essaibi George is this week's guest on WCVB's "On the Record" at 11 a.m. Sunday. Markey and Wu host a canvass kickoff for her mayoral bid at 11 a.m. Sunday at Joe Moakley Park.

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

A message from USA-IT:

Illegal trade is $464-billion-a-year business that robs governments of much-needed revenue to provide essential services to Americans. Instead of helping taxpayers, that money is pocketed by dangerous criminal organizations. That's why we're bringing together experts from the private and public sectors, academia, as well as government & law enforcement agencies, combining our collective expertise to curb illegal trade for the benefit of our Massachusetts communities. Learn more.

THE MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE 2021 IS HERE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from one of the largest and most influential gatherings of experts reinventing finance, health, technology, philanthropy, industry and media. Don't miss a thing from the 24th annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, from Oct. 17 to 20. Can't make it? We've got you covered. Planning to attend? Enhance your #MIGlobal experience and subscribe today.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 1,560 new coronavirus cases, 14 deaths," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald.

– "There were 1,901 Massachusetts students, 337 school staffers with COVID in past week, pooled testing positivity rate below 1%," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.

– "Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts," by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Mass. Lawmakers Move To Eliminate 'Life Without Parole'," by Mike Deehan, GBH News: "Criminal justice reform advocates in the Legislature want to give prisoners sentenced to life without parole a chance at freedom. ... The bill, which is backed by the Legislature's Criminal Justice Reform Caucus, would allow for parole after 25 years in prison."

– "House Gives Roar of Approval to State Dino Bill," by Chris Van Buskirk, State House News Service (paywall): "Massachusetts is a step closer to becoming the land of the swift-footed lizard after the House passed legislation (H 3190) on Thursday naming the Podokesaurus holyokensis as the official state dinosaur."

– "Pacheco Passes On Auditor's Run," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service (paywall): "Saying the timing of a race 'simply does not work in light of my prevailing legislative commitments,' Sen. Marc Pacheco of Taunton announced Thursday morning that he will not run for auditor and instead backed Sen. Diana DiZoglio of Methuen, who is competing with fellow Democrat Chris Dempsey for the statewide post."

– "What does Massachusetts' lieutenant governor do? Former No. 2 Jane Swift weighs in," by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: "The last time a Berkshire County resident was elected lieutenant governor, she spent nearly half her term in the governor's role."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Guard uniforms give some Amherst school officials pause on pooled testing," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Members of the National Guard could be coming to public school campuses in Amherst to assist a private contractor in handling pooled testing for COVID-19, but school officials are expressing concerns that uniformed service members in the schools could be traumatic for some students in the district."

– "School masking policies likely to continue," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Gloucester Daily Times: "Schools will be allowed to ease COVID-19 masking requirements beginning next month if they can prove that at least 80% of students and staff are vaccinated. But superintendents and teachers union officials say the cumbersome process of verifying vaccinations — and the fact that elementary students can't get vaccines yet — means the face-covering policies are likely to remain in effect for several months in some communities."

– "Hundreds of Mass. state workers are seeking vaccine waivers, union says," by Callum Borchers, WBUR: "Hundreds of state workers are seeking exemptions from Governor Charlie Baker's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to [SEIU Local 509]. With Sunday's immunization deadline looming, the Baker administration is casting its vaccine requirement as a success ... But some unions have warned that some workers would rather quit or be fired than comply with the vaccine mandate... "

– "FDA panel unanimously recommends authorization of Moderna coronavirus booster," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald.

– "Berkshire Health Systems puts unvaccinated employees on leave, as system hits 98 percent vaccination rate," by Francesca Paris, Berkshire Eagle.

– "UMass Memorial Health employees who have not received COVID vaccine by December will lose their jobs, according to memo," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.

FROM THE HUB

– "Rats, roosters and sick Boston employees latest Methadone Mile misery," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Multiple city workers on Mass and Cass have ended up in the hospital in recent weeks with a nasty stomach bug as sanitary conditions on Methadone Mile reach an all-time low, the workers' union says as reports from the Mile include sick rats and live roosters."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Both Boston mayoral candidates want 'transit equity.' Here's where they differ on how to achieve it," by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: "Councilor Michelle Wu wants to take away traffic enforcement from the Boston Police Department's purview, while Councilor Annissa Essaibi George wants to keep police on traffic enforcement with expanded implicit bias training. Wu wants the T to be free for everyone, while Essaibi George wants the T to be free for the people who most need it to be, like students and seniors."

– "With Wu ahead in polls, Essaibi George gets more aggressive," by Milton J. Valencia and Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "[Annissa] Essaibi George's sharpened line of attack against [Michelle] Wu — whom she portrays as an out-of-touch visionary who hasn't done the necessary work to connect with city workers and residents — is a strategy her good friend, US Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh, also once used — to success in his own 2013 mayoral campaign."

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: 1199SEIU has endorsed David Halbert for Boston City Council at-large, per his campaign.

PARTY POLITICS

– "MassGOP chair knew of candidate's anti-Asian remarks but said nothing, committeewoman says," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "A Massachusetts Republican State committeewoman says she alerted party Chairman Jim Lyons of anti-Asian statements made by a Boston City Council candidate Lyons publicly supported this summer, but Lyons ignored her calls to publicly rescind his endorsement. Jaclyn Corriveau, the 2nd Essex District state committeewoman, told Boston.com she informed Lyons in late August of a social media post with disparaging and false statements made by Donnie Palmer — then a candidate in the Sept. 14 preliminary election — aimed at mayoral hopeful and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu."

MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER

– "Map Makers Use Light Touch On Leaders' Districts," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "The redistricting proposal Democrats rolled out on Tuesday would shift the median senator's constituency by about 20 percent, according to Redistricting Committee Co-chair Sen. William Brownsberger. But for [Senate President Karen] Spilka's district, the changes are far from the type of wholesale shifts that some of her colleagues are facing."

– The Lowell Sun's Jacob Vitali breaks down the proposed changes to state House and Senate districts in Greater Lowell, the Nashoba Valley and North Central Massachusetts.

– Western Mass. Politics & Insight's Matt Szafranski tackles the proposed changes to the state's western districts.

– Katherine Sabido of the Boston University Statehouse Program has a guide to what could be in store for the South Shore in the Patriot Ledger.

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: SEIU Local 509 has endorsed Will Mbah for mayor of Somerville, per his campaign.

– "Dennis Select Board Chair Chris Flanagan to run for House seat," by Asad Jung, Cape Cod Times: "Dennis Select Board Chair Chris Flanagan, a Democrat, has announced his candidacy for the 1st Barnstable District state representative seat. The seat is currently held by state Rep. Timothy Whelan, R-Brewster, who last week said he would run for Barnstable County Sheriff in the 2022 election and not run for reelection to a fifth term on Beacon Hill."

– "Holyoke mayoral candidate calls for audit in wake of police overtime revelations," by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Through a public records request, the Gazette obtained the Holyoke Police Department's internal spreadsheets tracking overtime hours. An analysis found that 15 Holyoke police officers filed between 507 and 1,234 overtime hours in fiscal year 2020. The officers included four of the department's five highest-paid officers that fiscal year, who earned hourly overtime rates ranging from $94 to $109 an hour. "

– "Most Boston voters say MBTA is safe, WBUR poll finds," by Darryl C. Murphy, WBUR: "The poll found 73% of likely Boston voters rated the MBTA at least somewhat safe. But just 19% called it 'very safe.'"

A message from USA-IT:

DAY IN COURT

– "Correctional officers union has day in court over vaccine mandate," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "Correctional officers, following the lead of State Police who unsuccessfully sued the Baker administration over his vaccine mandate, made their own case by seeking a preliminary injunction. The judge took the matter under advisement."

– "Hispanic/Black group, Worcester agree to settle lawsuit over electing school board," by Steven H. Foskett Jr., Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "The city and a diverse coalition of Hispanic and Black voters have settled a lawsuit alleging the city's at-large system of electing members to the School Committee diluted the vote of communities of color, according to the plaintiffs. In a joint filing Thursday, the plaintiffs and the city asked the federal judge overseeing the case to approve a settlement that would effectively end the legal battle and pave the way to replace the all at-large system."

– "Jasiel Correia wants to stay free while he appeals his conviction on fraud and extortion," by Dan Medeiros, Herald News: "Jasiel Correia isn't going anywhere — that's one argument his attorneys have made in an attempt to keep him out of prison while he appeals his conviction on wire fraud and extortion charges."

– "Mass. Medicaid fraud case settled for record $25 million, AG's office says," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "A private equity firm and two former top executives at a Massachusetts chain of mental health centers have agreed to pay $25 million in a whistleblower lawsuit brought by the attorney general's office, marking the largest MassHealth fraud settlement in state history, officials said Thursday."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Biden's Supreme Court reform study panel notes 'considerable' risks to court expansion," by John Kruzel and Morgan Chalfant, The Hill.

Markey and his House colleagues who are pushing to add four seats to SCOTUS said in a joint statement that the draft "misses the mark. … The GOP's rigged bench is contorting our laws and issuing decisions that do not reflect, understand, or serve the people the Court is meant to represent."

– "As opioid crisis worsens, Ed Markey pitches 2 bills to help inmates get treatment," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "[Sen. Ed] Markey on Thursday said he's reintroducing a bill to ensure people in the justice system have access to opioid-use disorder treatment. Another bill would let people in custody awaiting trial to keep their federal health benefits."

– "Rep. Pressley makes case for affordable, accessible child care," by Sharman Sacchetti, WCVB.

DATELINE D.C.

– "Four local residents arrested in climate change protest in D.C.," by Bera Dunau, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Four local activists chose to get themselves arrested in Washington on Wednesday as part of an effort to push President Joe Biden to take action on climate change."

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "The state asked for a blueprint of a gas-free future. Why are the utilities writing the first draft?" by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: "For the first phase of the process, which began earlier this year, the Department of Public Utilities asked the gas companies to create several scenarios for how the state can reach net zero and still provide reliable, affordable heat to residents and business owners. Other interested parties, including state and local governments, and labor, business, and environmental groups, are invited to take part in monthly meetings, but, according to an order from the DPU, it's the gas companies that lead this part of the process."

FROM THE 413

– "UMass Amherst student government proposes putting resident assistants in fraternity houses as solution to sexual assault claims," by Will Katcher, MassLive: "On the heels of repeated complaints of sexual assaults at fraternity parties, the student government at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is discussing placing resident assistants in off-campus Greek Life houses as a means of oversight."

– "East Longmeadow Town Council weighs 'etiquette' policy after manager resigns, citing 'toxic environment'," by Patrick Johnson, MassLive.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Harvard endowment grows to $53.2 billion, helping offset COVID-related revenue dip," by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: "Harvard University ended its last school year with a $283 million surplus, a dramatic improvement over the $10 million deficit it saw the previous year. In its financial report, released Thursday, for the fiscal year that ended June 30, Harvard also reported that its endowment, already the largest college fund in the world, had a 33.6 percent return on its investments and now sits at $53.2 billion."

– "Graduate Students Union Sets Oct. 27 Negotiation Deadline, Plans Three-Day Strike," by Jasper G. Goodman and Kelsey J. Griffin, Harvard Crimson.

– "Teachers' union blames Lawrence High 'crisis' on decade of state, local mismanagement," by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: "The city's teachers' union filed a petition blaming Lawrence High School's recent 'crisis' of violent behavior on a decade of poor state and local management along with a 'tone deaf' response to student needs during the COVID-19 pandemic."

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

– "New Hampshire Executive Council rejects $27M in federal vaccination funding in party-line vote," by Adam Sexton and Ray Brewer, WMUR: "All four Republicans on the council voted against the funds, despite Republican Gov. Chris Sununu urging them to accept them."

– "In New Hampshire, protests over COVID mandates roil state, local governments," by Brian MacQuarrie, Boston Globe.

NEW ON THE HORSE RACE: WHAT HAPPENS IN MASS. IF ROE V. WADE FALLS — Hosts Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky talk with NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts Executive Director Rebecca Hart Holder about the broader ramifications of the Texas abortion law. Haverhill state Rep. Andy Vargas of the Legislature's redistricting committee joins to discuss the mapmaking process. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Alexis Krieg of the Omidyar Network, Stat's Rick Berke, Darby Bukowski and Jim St. George.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to state Rep. David Linsky, Steve Roche, Daily Hampshire Gazette alum Mike Connors, Andrew Zimbalist and Ron Jordan, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers retired Amherst state Rep. Ellen Story and Marcus Gadson.

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.

A message from USA-IT:

Illegal trade is a $464-billion-a-year business, and it's growing. Criminals get rich from illegal trade by peddling fake and stolen goods, ultimately robbing governments of much-needed revenue to provide essential services to Americans. Instead of helping taxpayers, that money is pocketed by crooks who traffic in illegal narcotics, apparel, counterfeit medications, tobacco, weapons, wildlife, and even people. That's why we're bringing together experts from the private and public sectors, academia, as well as government & law enforcement agencies, combining our collective expertise to curb illegal trade for the benefit of our Massachusetts communities. Learn more.

BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now.