News: Munis mull cease-fire calls

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Munis mull cease-fire calls

Feb 21, 2024

MUNICIPAL MESSAGING — The war in Gaza is raging on, and cities and towns in Massachusetts are battling over whether and how to weigh in.

At least a half dozen communities have contemplated or passed resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza as Israel’s offensive — which began following Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on the country — continues to devastate the region. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died, according to the enclave’s Hamas-controlled health ministry, along with roughly 1,400 Israelis.

Somerville, Cambridge and Medford are among the growing number of cities across the nation that have passed resolutions in support of a cease-fire. But efforts to pass similar proposals in Boston have been punted or pulled back amid opposition — despite the city’s liberal reputation and the frequent war-related protests that continue to play out within it.

A resolution proposed by Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson in October was sent for a hearing and never reemerged. Last week, Councilor Ben Weber withdrew a new petition calling for a cease-fire in Gaza to avoid inflaming old tensions.

“I didn't want to put something forward just so I could say I put it forward, and in the end make things worse,” Weber told Playbook after pulling his resolution.

Some wonder why municipalities are weighing in at all. Local officials have no power over international affairs. And Weber acknowledged that taking stances on foreign wars isn't part of a city councilor's job.

“We were elected to deal with Boston-specific issues and to make sure the potholes are getting filled and people have access to affordable housing … and this doesn't address that,” Weber said. Still, he added, “the pain and suffering and the tragedy we've seen in Gaza — as well as the pain and suffering of people here in Boston having to watch it — is so great that we can't just ignore it.”

Local legislators playing in national politics is a long-standing tradition, Jesse Rhodes, a political science professor at UMass Amherst, told Playbook. Boston city councilors, for instance, passed a measure in 2007 denouncing the Iraq War.

And coming from councils, that message may pack more of a punch.

“If you’re a member of Congress from a district in which a lot of the municipalities are enacting these resolutions, that is telling you something as an elected official about where your constituents stand in a way that is in some ways more powerful than just receiving letters from individuals,” Rhodes said.

Local politicians are in some cases acting under pressure themselves. Protesters pressing for a cease-fire in Gaza repeatedly disrupted council meetings in Cambridge until members passed a resolution calling for one.

Activists are now calling on Greenfield’s city council to do the same. Amherst’s town council could vote on a resolution that would call for an end to the fighting and the release of all hostages and detainees as soon as Monday. And in Easthampton, councilors voted to send a version of such a resolution to the body’s rules committee for further study.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Happen to be in South Carolina for the GOP primary? Say hi to Lisa! Otherwise, email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey introduces her latest SJC nominee, Appeals Court Judge Gabrielle Wolohojian, at a Governor’s Council confirmation hearing at 10:30 a.m. in the Gardner Auditorium at the State House; Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll presides.

Sen. Ed Markey speaks at a Black History Month event at 10 a.m. at Roxbury Community College. Rep. Stephen Lynch holds press conferences after touring Norwood Hospital at 11:30 a.m. and Good Samaritan Medical Center at 1 p.m. Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune attends a Black History Month event at noon at City Hall. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends the Children's Winter Festival at 1:30 p.m.

THURSDAY — POLITICO’s Governors Summit convenes at Washington’s The Wharf, featuring exclusive live conversations with the leaders of six key states — including New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Register to join or watch live here.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

A NOTE OF CAUTION — The state isn’t suing Milton for breaking the MBTA Communities law … yet.

Housing Secretary Ed Augustus has sent a letter to Milton town officials laying out the repercussions the town is facing for failing to approve a zoning plan that would have allowed for more multifamily housing.

The town is now ineligible for a number of housing grant programs and will be “at a competitive disadvantage” for the 13 discretionary grant programs under the state’s housing office, Augustus said. Milton also won’t receive the $140,800 Seaport Economic Council grant the Healey administration awarded the town late last month.

Augustus plans to meet with town officials, as well as members of both the “Yes” and “No” campaigns, according to the letter.

“While we are deeply disappointed that Milton’s zoning plan was rejected by a referendum vote, we are hopeful that we can continue to work with the town to ensure that Milton can achieve compliance,” he wrote.

TIMELY REQUEST — Comptroller William McNamara urged the Legislature to make “timely completion of the annual budget cycle a top priority” in an annual report on the state’s finances he issued nearly four months late because of legislative budget bickering.

While the state’s fiscal “soundness” has “provided some insulation from the potential negative perceptions caused by late reporting,” McNamara wrote, “we should recognize that late budget processes” could lead to consequences.

ROLLING THE DICE — Gov. Maura Healey is searching for someone to lead the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, with Chair Cathy Judd-Stein planning to retire next month.

It’s the second high-profile hire that Healey will have an opportunity to exert influence over in the coming months, after Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said he plans to step down in mid-March.

— “Healey demands financial documents from Steward, says company should get out of Mass. hospital market,” by Jason Laughlin, Jon Chesto and Jessica Bartlett, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey raised the possibility Tuesday that troubled Steward Health Care may have broken the law in its business dealings, and in a scathing letter demanded the company get out of the hospital business in Massachusetts by transferring its facilities to other medical operators.”

DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE.

WARREN REPORT

OPENING SALVOS — Elizabeth Warren is already fundraising off John Deaton, the cryptocurrency advocate and attorney who just launched a Republican campaign for her U.S. Senate seat.

“Apparently, the MAGA Republican machine couldn’t find a single Republican in Massachusetts to run against me — so they brought in someone from Rhode Island who will have the backing of the GOP and special interest groups,” the Democratic senator wrote in a donation-solicitation email and shared in a post on X.

Deaton responded with a post of his own: “Senator, no one recruited me and I’m looking forward to a substantive discussion on the issues that are important to the good people of Massachusetts, like income inequality, inflation, housing costs, illegal immigration, the debt crisis, and veterans’ services.”

But even as the two trade barbs, their pitches aren’t that different. Both emphasize the personal and financial struggles they overcame in their younger years. In his launch video, Deaton says, “I fought for the little guy. I took on the greedy corporations and the heartless insurance companies. And I won.” Sound familiar?

Deaton’s even been a registered Democrat. And he’s donated to Democratic candidates and the party’s congressional fundraising arm.

But he’s still winning Republican support. Among his early backers: Anthony Scaramucci, the short-lived former Trump White House communications director, who called Deaton “Charlie Baker with worse hair” in a post on X and predicted the political newcomer “will beat Elizabeth Warren in November.”

Meanwhile, WPRI’s Ted Nesi reports that Deaton has only voted three times in the two decades since he registered in Rhode Island, where state records list him as unaffiliated with a major political party.

MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “Dedham divided by migrant hotel catering proposal,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “No evidence Fiandaca did any work during transition,” by Colman M. Herman, CommonWealth Beacon: “Gina Fiandaca abruptly stepped down as Gov. Maura Healey’s secretary of transportation in September 2023, but was kept on for an additional four months and paid $55,915 to ‘provide assistance, advice, and counsel’ during the transition to her successor. There’s no evidence, however, that Fiandaca did anything to earn the money.”

PARTY POLITICS

OOPS — The MassGOP is facing another fine, this time from the Federal Election Commission. The party owes $6,450 to resolve “reporting errors” under former Chair Jim Lyons’ tenure, according to a settlement agreement obtained by Playbook. The party said the issues, which were during the 2021-2022 election cycle, were due to “internal miscommunications.”

Don’t sleep on it. Get breaking New York policy from POLITICO Pro—the platform that never sleeps—and use our Legislative Tracker to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more.

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

PLAYING FOR PACHECO’S SEAT — Taunton City Councilor Kelly Dooner, a Republican, is launching her campaign for outgoing Democratic state Sen. Marc Pacheco’s seat on March 14 at the National Charter 957, she told Playbook. The Boston Herald first reported her plans.

The Taunton Daily Gazette surveyed a whole host of local pols to see who’s interested and reports that Raynham Selectman Joseph Pacheco (no relation) is planning to run as a Democrat for the seat.

HALEY’S COMING — Fresh off a speech in which she pledged to stay in the presidential race past Saturday’s South Carolina primary that she's expected to lose, Nikki Haley is planning a swing through Super Tuesday states that ends in Massachusetts. She’s slated for an event at the Sheraton in Needham the night of March 2.

DAY IN COURT

— “Newton Teachers To Pay $625K In Fines, Class-Action Lawsuit Dismissed,” by Scott Souza, Patch: “The Newton Teachers Association will have to pay up to the city and state for its 15-day strike that concluded earlier this month — which was illegal under state law — but will not face an additional class-action lawsuit seeking additional penalties after a Middlesex County Superior Court judge denied a motion to intervene on behalf of the parents and declared ‘the case is over.’”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Brookline ban on fossil fuels in new buildings becomes official, 5 years after initial vote,” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News: “New developments and major renovations in Brookline may no longer use fossil fuels for heating or cooking under a town ordinance that took effect on Tuesday. The change is a long time coming for Brookline, which first voted on a fossil fuels ban in 2019 but was prevented by the state from enacting that plan.”

— “Classrooms roughly half-full for Newton's first day of makeup classes, officials say,” by Carrie Jung, WBUR.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Julianne Lima is now comms director for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance. She was a reporter for Boston 25 News.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Jay S. Schaefer.

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