News: To mask or not to mask

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

To mask or not to mask

Feb 08, 2022

THE YOUNG AND THE MASKLESS — Students and teachers could soon be shedding their masks in schools.

Gov. Charlie Baker hinted the state's school mask requirement could lapse after Feb. 28, hours after the Democratic governors of New Jersey and Delaware said they will lift their school mask mandates on March 7 and 31, respectively. Massachusetts' requirement will stay in effect through the end of the month, though students and staff can drop their masks now if they hit a vaccination rate of at least 80 percent in their school building. Baker said Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley will "have more to say" on the mandate at "some point in the not-too-distant future."

"Obviously every state is different," Baker told reporters yesterday at the State House. But, he said, "I do think the dates that both Delaware and New Jersey are talking about are pretty consistent with [our] Feb. 28 date."

Baker's been in touch with Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, both Democrats, as leaders in all three states review their school mask policies, a McKee spokesperson told WPRI's Ted Nesi. Lamont wants to end Connecticut's school mask mandate on Feb. 28 and leave decisions to local officials from there — a typical tactic of Baker's.

Both Republicans running to replace Baker, businessman Chris Doughty and former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, say they would lift the school mask mandate now.

The three Democrats' opinions are mixed. Harvard professor Danielle Allen says masks should be optional starting March 7, to leave time to track the aftereffects of school vacation week. She would also only drop the requirement in communities where vaccination rates are above 70 percent for people ages 50 and older.

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz supports "continued masking in schools for the time being" and state Attorney General Maura Healey would decide based on data at the end of the month, per the candidates' spokespeople.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo is running for Suffolk district attorney.

Arroyo, a former public defender, will launch his campaign at 9:30 a.m. in Roslindale. He'll then meet with local groups that provide addiction recovery services and support for families of homicide victims. Playbook first reported last month that Arroyo was considering a run for the seat.

Interim Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden, Baker's pick to succeed now-U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, recently told GBH News he's "highly likely" to seek a full term.

TO THE WEST: Longmeadow Democrat Sydney Levin-Epstein is launching her campaign today for the state Senate seat that Eric Lesser is vacating to run for lieutenant governor. She's centering her pitch around job creation and "West-East rail."

Levin-Epstein is a Lesser and Sen. Ed Markey campaign alum who also worked for Markey and Rep. Richard Neal's offices in Washington. She managed Anthony D'Ambrosio's unsuccessful state Senate bid.

Levin-Epstein is the second candidate to enter the race for what will be known as the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester district under the new redistricting map. She's vying against first-term state Rep. Jake Oliveira, who jumped in last week.

TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito joins a RESPECTfully Program event at 10:20 a.m. in Worcester and joins a Local Government Advisory Commission meeting at 1 p.m. Healey, Secretary of State Bill Galvin, state Treasurer Deb Goldberg, state Auditor Suzanne Bump, A&F Secretary Michael Heffernan and others testify at a legislative budget hearing at 10 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson host a media availability outside Brighton High School at 10:15 a.m.

Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark and House Democratic leaders host a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss makes a speech to honor Tom Brady's retirement. State attorney general hopefuls Andrea Campbell, Quentin Palfrey and Shannon Liss-Riordan are on GBH's "Greater Boston" at 7 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com. Also, we're aware that some links may be missing from Playbook when we publish. Our engineers are still working on it.

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ON THE STUMP

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz has added three more people to her campaign for governor: Jane Rayburn, principal at EMC Research, joins as pollster and senior strategist; Annika Jensen , a state Sen. Becca Rausch and David Halbert for Boston City Council alum, joins as deputy organizing director; and Kaitlyn Solares joins as deputy communications director for digital strategy from the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts.

— "James 'Chip' Harrington may run for Rep. Jake Oliveira's seat after narrowly losing, filing recount petition in 2020," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "James 'Chip' Harrington is mulling over another potential campaign for the 7th Hampden district — a House seat he thought he had narrowly won, but ultimately lost, in November 2020 after a bungled vote tally in Belchertown."

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— "Massachusetts reports 6,725 new coronavirus cases over the weekend, hospitalizations continue falling," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The 6,725 infection total was significantly down from 12,127 cases last weekend — a 45% drop. … The positive test average has been coming down. The average is now 4.78% — a major drop from 23% in early January. The positive test rate for Monday's report was 3.87%."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— EYEING THE EXITS: State Reps. Claire Cronin and Lori Ehrlich have already left for Biden administration posts. State Rep. Maria Robinson , who was nominated in September to be assistant secretary for the Energy Department's Office of Electricity, has her U.S. Senate confirmation hearing today. State Rep. Sheila Harrington has a Governor's Council hearing Wednesday for her nomination as clerk magistrate of Gardner District Court. And state Rep. Carolyn Dykema is set to leave Friday for a job at renewable energy company Nexamp.

Holding special elections to replace them is "not as simple" as it seems, House Speaker Ron Mariano told reporters yesterday. Cronin and Robinson's seats were effectively erased in last year's redistricting process, and "we don't want to elect someone who's going to serve for five months and then not be eligible to run for reelection," Mariano said. He also plans to name a majority leader to replace Cronin "shortly."

— NO LONGER ACTING: Margret Cooke is now the state's Department of Public Health commissioner after serving in an acting capacity for the past seven months; DPH chief of staff Jennifer Barrelle is now deputy commissioner; Estevan Garcia is chief medical officer and Yves Singletary is senior advisor to the commissioner.

— "Baker seeking major changes in building code," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Baker administration is preparing to unveil proposed revisions to the state building code that would ratchet up energy conservation across the state and allow individual communities to opt-in to a 'specialized stretch code' that would require new construction to be much more energy self-sufficient."

— "Study Order Snuffs Out Baker's Drugged Driving Bill," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): "Gov. Charlie Baker last fall impressed on lawmakers the importance of acting to prevent driving under the influence of marijuana, but for the second straight session the Legislature has snuffed out legislation that would have empowered law enforcement to use field sobriety tests and other measures to determine if a driver was under the influence of pot."

— "Baker plans to sign bill to protect K9 first responders," by Jodi Reed, WWLP: "The legislature has sent Governor Baker a bill to protect four legged first responders across Massachusetts. … [W]hen 22News asked the governor Monday if he was going to sign [Nero's Law], he said yes and that his office hopes to release the logistics around the signing very soon."

— "Baker pushes for approval of $5B bond," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: "As he prepares to leave office next year, Gov. Charlie Baker wants lawmakers to authorize the state to borrow billions of dollars to modernize public buildings, upgrade cybersecurity and electrify the state's vehicle fleet.

— "Mass. legislators may soon take up 'revenge porn' bill," by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: "Legislators in Massachusetts, one of only two states in the nation that does not have legislation addressing the non-consensual distribution of lewd images, may soon take up the issue, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday."

— "House Prepping Soldiers Home Bill For Vote," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): "Legislation overhauling oversight and governance of state-run veterans homes in Holyoke and Chelsea is on deck for a House session on Thursday, Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday."

— "Data find 'no support for patterns of racial disparity' in traffic stops, state says," by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: "A 10-month study of traffic stops in Massachusetts found no evidence of racial disparity in which drivers police pulled over but determined that non-white drivers were more likely to be subjected to a 'non-inventory, discretionary search' and had a higher chance of receiving a criminal citation than white drivers, according to a new report."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

— "Worcester health officials vote to drop the city's indoor mask mandate," by Victoria Price, WHDH: "Beginning February 18, masks will be encouraged, but not required in most of Worcester's indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status. … Though the mandate will not go into effect for more than a week, the Board of Health agreed to immediately drop the mandate for colleges or workplaces with at least a 90 percent vaccination rate."

— "Survey: Widespread need for mental health care during pandemic," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "More than one-quarter of Massachusetts adults say they needed behavioral health care over the first year of the pandemic – but many of them never got it. They couldn't get an appointment, or they couldn't afford it, or they felt the stigma of needing mental health care, according to survey data."

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

FROM THE HUB

— "For Wu, Cassellius departure is a challenge and an opportunity," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "The departure of Brenda Cassellius as superintendent of Boston Public Schools comes as Mayor Michelle Wu hunts for a new commissioner of the police department, leaving her administration to hire two of the city's most important leaders simultaneously. … In an interview on Monday, Boston School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson outlined an 'expedited process' for the search, saying the city's goal is to not appoint an interim, and to put a permanent leader in place for the beginning of the next school year."

— "U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins calls for inclusion of neo-Nazis in gang database," by Rebecca Tauber, GBH News: "In the wake of neo-Nazis targeting anti-racist doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital at the end of January, Massachusetts' new U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said she would like to see neo-Nazis included in gang databases."

— Rollins also told GBH that if Attorney General Merrick Garland chooses to seek the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, her office would have to follow suit.

— "Ten immigrant families allege poor treatment at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center," by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: "A group of ten Central American families, several of whose members are undocumented, are alleging poor medical treatment by East Boston Neighborhood Health Center."

— "After two decades at HUD, the Rev. Miniard Culpepper retires," by Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: "Most Bostonians know the Rev. Miniard Culpepper as senior pastor at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Dorchester and a prominent voice in civic life. … Fewer may know Culpepper as HUD's regional counsel, overseeing the agency's attorneys and legal matters as they work to enforce fair housing policies in New England. Now he's retiring from that post after a 27-year career with the department — and hinting that he might consider running for public office."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "COVID spurred bike lane construction. Will the Boston area keep up the momentum?" by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: "Nearly two years after the coronavirus hit, many streets in Greater Boston have been transformed to accommodate safer biking. … But as the new normal solidifies, there's been backlash: from some business owners and drivers who say that the changes, made for a minority of commuters, have been too sweeping and swift — and from bikers, that the process to build connected, protected bike lanes is moving too slowly."

DATELINE D.C.

— "Biden's top science adviser, Eric Lander, resigns amid reports of bullying," by Alex Thompson, POLITICO: "President Joe Biden's top science adviser, Eric Lander [who was the president and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard], resigned on Monday evening following reports of his bullying and mistreatment of subordinates. … POLITICO was first to report that the White House had launched a two-month investigation into Lander that found 'credible evidence' that he bullied his then-general counsel, Rachel Wallace."

— "Labor Secretary Martin Walsh offers to help end Major League Baseball lockout," by Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe: "Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh said Monday that he's ready to step up to the plate and help end Major League Baseball's two-month old lockout. Walsh, the former Boston mayor and longtime Red Sox fan, said he had spoken with representatives of the owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association about the ongoing negotiations and that he encouraged both sides 'to continue engagement.'"

— "Biden taps new director for EPA in New England," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "After more than a year without a permanent director of the Environmental Protection Agency in New England, President Biden on Monday appointed David Cash, former commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, as regional administrator."

TRUMPACHUSETTS

— "Corey Lewandowski Compares 'Trump World' to 'Game of Thrones'," by Alison King, NBC10 Boston: "[Lewandowski said] 'I don't think you're ever really out of the Trump world. There are peaks and valleys, of course. And I think I'm one of those guys, probably a very small few, that have had staying power inside the Trump world for a long time.'"

FROM THE 413

— "In push for 'west-east' rail, Berkshire County lawmakers press for track upgrades west of Springfield," by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: "The Baker administration identified 'service improvements between Springfield and Worcester' in a news release Thursday as 'an initial step to expand service between Boston and Albany.' But, what about improvements between Springfield and Pittsfield? That's the question Berkshire County leaders are asking."

— "COVID outbreaks slam elderly, staff at Linda Manor, lead to 4 deaths," by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Two separate outbreaks of COVID-19 at [Northampton] Linda Manor's nursing home and assisted living programs infected 86 seniors in the past two months — causing four deaths — and 88 staff members, some of whom remain out of work while they continue to recover."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "Massachusetts nurses call for independent Presidential Federal COVID-19 Committee," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The Massachusetts Nurses Association is joining national calls for the creation of an independent Presidential Federal COVID-19 Committee to replace the task force disbanded at the end of the Trump administration."

— "Mass. business confidence slumps as employers struggle," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: "Business confidence among Massachusetts employers slumped last month amid lingering concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation. That's according to the latest Business Confidence Index from the pro-business group Associated Industries of Massachusetts, which shows overall enthusiasm among employers declined 0.8 points to 55.9 in January. That's the lowest level since January 2021, the report's authors noted."

— "Lawrence councilors OK tax exemption for city's Gold Star parents," by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: "City councilors unanimously approved full property tax exemptions for Gold Star parents or guardians living in the city."

— IN MEMORIAM: "Charles Vert Willie, 94, Dies; Studied, and Defended, Racial Diversity," by Clay Risen, New York Times: "He devised a plan to desegregate Boston's public schools. He also stood up against sexism in the Episcopal Church."

TRANSITIONS — Marty Martinez, Boston's former health chief, will take over as chief executive as national nonprofit Reach Out and Read, the Boston Globe's Jon Chesto reports. Ivy Scott is the Boston Globe's new criminal justice reporter.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Attorney General Maura Healey.

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