News : Where the MV migrants are now

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Where the MV migrants are now

Oct 05, 2022

MOVE-OUT DAY(S) — GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sparked a political firestorm when he chartered two planes to bring migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. Three weeks later, the migrants are moving on.

Fourteen have already left Joint Base Cape Cod, where the primarily Venezuelan migrants were given temporary shelter by the state. The remaining 35, including families, are expected to follow by the end of the weekend as their case managers finalize longer-term housing plans, the Baker administration said Tuesday. At least two have left for New York City, while others plan to stay in Massachusetts, people working with the migrants tell Playbook.

Their arrival in September caught Martha's Vineyard — and Massachusetts — off guard. But the migrants are now leaving the military base with financial support from a fund coordinated by the nonprofit Martha's Vineyard Community Services. And they have lawyers who've volunteered to help them navigate a labyrinthine immigration system, from mandated check-ins to work authorizations that could take years to secure.

And a new development — The New York Times' identification of "Perla," the mystery woman who solicited the migrants in San Antonio, as former combat medic Perla Huerta — could be key to both the federal class action lawsuit Lawyers for Civil Rights filed on behalf of the migrants and in helping them qualify for a specific visa for victims of crimes.

Lawyers for Civil Rights Executive Director Iván Espinoza-Madrigal said Tuesday evening that his group has yet to independently verify the woman's identity. But if and when they do, they could name her in their lawsuit and depose her for information on whether DeSantis and his administration were involved in the alleged deception of the migrants.

"She could provide that crucial link to DeSantis," Susan Church, an attorney working with the migrants pro bono, told Playbook. "Putting someone on a plane voluntarily is not a crime. Lying to someone is."

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. That the military-base departures are happening so quietly speaks both to efforts to protect the migrants and to Gov. Charlie Baker's reticence to engage in what he's described as a political fight among would-be presidential candidates.

Baker has declined to criticize DeSantis — who is considered a frontrunner among potential Republican presidential candidates for 2024 — and instead called for immigration reform. With the migrants moving on and DeSantis' attention diverted by Hurricane Ian, Baker will likely be able to continue that play-it-safe tactic at a time when he's looking to both preserve his legacy and plot his next steps.

TODAY — Rep. Ayanna Pressley announces federal funding for the Dimock Center in Roxbury at 11 a.m.

Tips? Scoops? Think Tom and Gisele will get divorced? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "Millionaires tax proceeds are supposed to bolster education and transportation. Lawmakers would decide if they actually do," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "One television advertisement touts a proposed surtax on wealthy residents as a cure for the state's 'teacher shortage.' The initiative would mean better roads, another spot says. Nearly every single ad from proponents says it would raise $2 billion a year. It ultimately may. But should voters embrace Question 1 and create a new 4 percent surtax on annual earnings above $1 million, the decision about where the money ultimately goes — and who benefits — would rest with lawmakers on Beacon Hill, who face no obligation to use the revenue exactly as proponents are pitching.

"In interviews and statements, legislative leaders offered few assurances about where they, let alone future legislators, would funnel the proceeds from the so-called millionaires tax, often citing a laundry list of needs or competing interests. … Representative Aaron Michlewitz, the House's budget chairman, said that if the initiative passes, lawmakers 'should be directing money to those items' to fulfill the will of the voters. 'We'll certainly try to uphold this end of the bargain. But you can never guarantee anything,' said the North End Democrat, who voted to put the question before voters."

— "Advocates say Baker trying to gut prison mental health law," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Massachusetts prison system has long faced criticism for its inability to provide adequate mental health treatment to incarcerated people. A mental health bill that Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law this summer aimed to improve the situation by giving inmates in crisis the opportunity to transfer to a mental health treatment facility. However, advocates for prisoners say Baker is now trying to 'gut' that process through a new bill, and they are urging lawmakers to reject his proposal. … The governor, however, maintains that he is simply making the law consistent with existing laws related to involuntary confinement and ensuring there is a clinical assessment by a medical professional before someone is committed."

— "DPU not the right 'watchdog' for MBTA, state lawmaker says," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: "A state senator is calling for a new safety oversight authority of the MBTA days before he chairs a legislative hearing looking into whether the Department of Public Utilities should continue in that role. 'I like the model of the semi-autonomous state commission,' said Mike Barrett, Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy. 'I think of the Office of Campaign & Political Finance or the inspector general's office or the Ethics Commission.'"

BALLOT BATTLES

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: More state lawmakers are lining up in support of ballot Question 2, which would require dental insurers to spend at least 83 percent of the premiums they collect on dental expenses and quality improvements, not administrative costs. The new endorsers include state Sens. Paul Feeney, Barry Finegold and Walter Timilty, and state Reps. James Arciero, Rob Consalvo, Brandy Fluker Oakley, Jessica Giannino, Michael Kushmerek, Tram Nguyen, Steve Owens, Ted Philips, Steve Ultrino and Jeffrey Turco.

— SHOT: "The packie versus food store fight returns, with a twist," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Where the heck is the opposition? That's what package store owners across the state are wondering. It's hard to blame them. For years, they dueled with food retailers over who gets to sell alcohol to customers. They fought with supermarket chains in 2006, for example, and recently battled Cumberland Farms. Now comes Question 3, the latest chapter in the saga over the strict Massachusetts limits on where shoppers can buy alcohol. This time, it's the Massachusetts Package Stores Association behind the ballot question, which could double the number of locations where a company can sell beer or wine. And this time, the packies' erstwhile opponents say they're taking a pass."

— CHASER: "Report: Ballot question unlikely to end booze battle," by Christian M. Wade, Salem News: "A referendum that goes before Massachusetts voters in November's elections is unlikely resolve a decades-old fight over retail beer and wine sales in the state, according to a new report. The report by Tuft's University's Center for State Policy Analysis found that the impact of Question 3 on alcohol sales, consumption and consumer convenience would likely be limited, given that the changes would only [affect] retail chains, not bars or restaurants, and would still allow local control of beer and wine licenses."

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— ENDORSEMENT ALERT: Attorney General Maura Healey is endorsing Rep. Ayanna Pressley for reelection, per Pressley's campaign. Healey has endorsed a slew of legislative and county candidates since winning the Democratic nomination for governor. Some, like Pressley, are on a glidepath to election or reelection. Others, like Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux, the Democratic nominee for Bristol County sheriff, and Brendan Roche, the Democratic nominee in the First Bristol House District, are trying to unseat Republican incumbents.

— "AG candidate Andrea Campbell vows to uphold Mass. abortion access," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "Andrea Campbell, the Democratic nominee for Massachusetts attorney general, vowed Tuesday to defend reproductive freedom and deftly coordinate the office's resources should she win the November general election over Republican opponent Jay McMahon. Campbell, speaking in Boston Tuesday morning at the launch of a new research center at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said the next attorney general must wrestle with the 'unique opportunity' to counteract recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court that have undermined constitutional protections."

ROE FALLOUT

— "Defending abortion access, Planned Parenthood opens new research center in Mass.," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "Seeking to rally hope in a 'terrifying' post-Roe era that's dramatically restricted abortion access and education across the country, Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak — the director and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts — celebrated the launch of a new research hub Tuesday designed to solidify the commonwealth's status as a safe haven for reproductive health services."

— "Biden wants to use Medicaid to address abortion 'crisis.' States aren't biting," by Megan Messerly, POLITICO: "In the two months since President Joe Biden signed an executive order encouraging states to use the health insurance program to expand abortion access, no state has applied to do so. POLITICO contacted 24 state Medicaid agencies where abortion is legal and its status is not in jeopardy. Health officials in 10 of those states said they are reviewing the federal government's proposal and haven't decided whether to apply. Massachusetts and Minnesota are waiting on additional federal guidance. North Carolina is not pursuing the policy and 11 states did not respond to requests for comment."

FROM THE HUB

— "Northeastern employee faked package explosion, penned anti-Zuckerberg rant, feds say," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A Northeastern University employee completely invented the alleged bombing at the college last month, the feds say, claiming the lab manager made up the explosion he said injured him and authored the anti-Facebook screed he purported to have found there."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "Commuter rail making comeback with riders," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The MBTA's commuter rail trains, which ran nearly empty during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, are starting to fill up. Ridership isn't back to prepandemic levels, but it has returned to around 76 percent of what it was before COVID."

HEALEY WATCH

— NOT QUITE WORKING: Attorney General Maura Healey greenlit Fenway Park's cashless payment system this spring amid questions over whether it violated the state's law requiring retailers to accept "legal tender." But Colman Herman reports for Dig Boston that the workarounds designed to help fans without a credit or debit card get their concessions and souvenirs aren't fully working, and raises more questions about the program's legality that he says the AG's office didn't answer.

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.

WARREN REPORT

— WARREN TARGETS BROOKINGS: Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants to know how the Brookings Institution think tank ensures intellectual independence after receiving foreign funds, my POLITICO colleagues report for National Security Daily.

"I remain concerned that these foreign governments — as well as the many private sector corporations and wealthy individuals that are listed as Brookings contributors — can use Brookings and other think tanks to covertly peddle their influence before Congress and the administration," Warren wrote in a letter.

Warren first wrote Brookings in July after reports that its former president was under FBI investigation for violating lobbying laws by advocating for Qatar — a charge he firmly denies. Think tanks maintain that foreign funding influences the kind of projects they work on, but not the conclusions they draw.

FROM THE DELEGATION

— "Federal money to replace Cape Cod bridges has yet to arrive, but lawmakers maintain confidence," by Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe: "When President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law last fall, Massachusetts members of Congress said it would finance one of the biggest public works projects in the state: replacement of the two aging bridges over the Cape Cod Canal. … But the legislation didn't earmark money for specific projects, so each one has to qualify on its own in a highly competitive process. And now it's become clear the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges is no slam dunk after the project failed to receive any funding in the first round of grants awarded in September by the US Department of Transportation. The shutout in the first of multiple rounds of funding shows the potential trouble ahead for lawmakers and Biden administration officials, who sold the legislation as a game changer for the nation's aging infrastructure but now must grapple with which projects make the cut."

FROM THE 413

— "Holyoke City Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota returns to duties after judge issues injunction," by Dennis Hohenberger, Springfield Republican: "Ward 2 Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota returned to the council chambers Tuesday night, days after a judge issued an injunction reversing an August decision declaring the ward seat vacant. Puello-Mota, who spoke before Tuesday's regular session, faces child pornography and other charges in Rhode Island. He served 90 days in a lockup after violating bail conditions."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "Garland is asked to probe threats to children's hospitals," by The Associated Press: "Three major medical associations have asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate and prosecute people who are threatening violence against children's hospitals and physicians that provide gender-affirming health care."

— "Jail suicide sparks renewed criticism of Bristol County sheriff's care of inmates," by David Linton, The Sun Chronicle: "The suicide of a troubled Cape Cod man accused of killing his mother and burning her body has renewed criticism of the care of inmates by Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson's office. Adam T. Howe, 34, of Truro, stuffed wet toilet paper down his airway and suffered a medical emergency Sunday afternoon at a New Bedford jail before being pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford about a half hour later, authorities said. Howe was alone in his cell in an isolated unit at the time of the incident and was found unresponsive during a random 15-minute security check, according to the authorities."

— More: "Sheriff Hodgson defends treatment of suicidal suspect accused of killing his mother," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "The Bristol sheriff's office bailed out 'law enforcement partners' who were scrambling to find someone to oversee a suicidal man accused of killing his mother and setting her on fire outside their Cape Cod home. That's what Sheriff Thomas Hodgson told the Herald Tuesday after authorities said the state's mental institution rejected Adam Howe, 34, of Truro. State Police then dropped Howe off at the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford."

— "After years of increases, Massachusetts health insurance rates set to rise another 7.6 percent," by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Globe: "Nearly 86,000 people who purchase largely unsubsidized health insurance on the Massachusetts Health Connector will face a 7.6 percent premium increase next year, on top of increases totaling at least 31 percent since 2015."

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Blake Major has joined American Equity as senior government relations partner. He most recently was director of grassroots and communications at MassMutual and is an AIG alum.

— Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the U.S. representative on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Teresa Heinz Kerry.

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