| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | | Presented by |  | | | ON TRACK — The MBTA is leaving slow zones in 2024. For the most part. The last of the speed restrictions, which last fall covered more than a third of all MBTA tracks, are set to lift Friday after the MBTA wraps up fixes on the Green Line this week. It’s a major milestone for MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, who’s coming in with days to spare on the promise he made last November to eliminate slow zones by the end of this year. But the T is still the T. Don’t expect the soon-to-be-completed work to mean that’s the end of slow downs entirely, Eng warned during an interview on WCVB’s “On the Record” that aired yesterday. "I do want to say: Even new systems, old systems – speed restrictions from time to time will pop up," Eng said. "But I want to make this commitment to the public: Speed restrictions are temporary. They're not going to be long-term." Case in point: Days after T officials celebrated the Red Line becoming slow-zone free for the first time in two decades, a new one popped up. “We fixed it the same day,” Eng said, pointing to the quick fix as an example of what riders can expect of future speed restrictions. “If it’s something that takes longer, then perhaps maybe we need early access, or maybe we need a weekend… We’ll schedule it properly and timely and we’ll tackle them right away.” The end of speed restrictions is good news for Eng and for riders, but it’s just one piece in the multi-billion-dollar backlog of repairs the T needs. And more challenges lie ahead. Budget writers for the long-struggling transit system are staring down a roughly $700 million shortfall next fiscal year, and, more immediately, transit leaders will face a test of whether or not the recent track work can weather a New England winter. Eng repeatedly said he’s “optimistic” about the state’s ability to plug the system's budget hole, but didn’t offer many specifics Sunday. “Fares alone cannot solve this issue,” he said. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. We’ve reached the last week of Playbooks for the year! Send those tips and scoops you’ve been holding onto: kgarrity@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll host a fundraiser at 6 p.m. in downtown Boston, according to the invitation.
| | | | A message from Vineyard Offshore: Offshore wind is revitalizing port communities from New Bedford to Salem, delivering local jobs, and establishing the Commonwealth as a leader in building a clean energy economy that benefits everyone. With Vineyard Wind 2, we can add nearly 3,800 more jobs and $2.3 billion in direct economic benefits – while delivering enough clean electricity to power 650,000 homes. Read all about it at vineyardoffshore.com/vineyardwind2. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Divorce records raise questions about House lawmaker’s relationship with top Beacon Hill lobbyist,” by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: “Representative Jeff Roy, who disclosed his relationship with a top lobbyist last year, said it had started only recently, after the two Bates College graduates met through the school’s alumni council. But a divorce filing, submitted by his wife a day after he disclosed the relationship in a letter quietly filed to the state House clerk, suggests the romance may have been going on far longer.” SPOTLIGHT ON STEWARD — A bombshell report from the the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team published Friday revealed how Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre and other hospital executives had for years “benefited from insufficient scrutiny from elected officials and regulators until the company foundered and it was too late.” All while elected officials benefited from donations from Steward employees. Gov. Maura Healey raised more than $63,200 from “a handful of Steward executives, board members, and their spouses over the last decade,” per the report, while former Gov. Charlie Baker raised at least $28,400. Some other excerpts from the investigation: — The state’s health and human services secretary, Kate Walsh, made a call to de la Torre asking him to rehire a nurse (whose husband works as health official in Healey’s administration) who was fired following the death of a patient. The nurse, Holly Zachos, was quickly rehired. “Walsh made it clear the request came from Healey’s office, that Zachos had ties to the administration, and that Steward should retrain Zachos after rehiring her, according to two people briefed on the matter,” per the report. — “Then-Attorney General Healey’s office, which had substantial sway over health care companies, reworked a 2015 report about Steward to downplay its perilous financial condition — to the surprise of one of the report’s lead authors.” — Steward “aggressively pushed its employees to donate” to top politicians. “At headquarters, handwritten notes were placed on desks requesting donations — often for specific dollar amounts — for Healey, [former Attorney General Martha] Coakley, Baker, and others, former employees told the Globe.” Read the report from the Globe’s Chris Serres, Liz Kowalczyk, Elizabeth Koh, and Brendan McCarthy. RELATED — “‘A huge failure’: A year of fretting over private equity ends with another private equity health care buyout,” by Robert Weisman, The Boston Globe: “Lawmakers spent much of 2024 bemoaning the role of financial giants in health care as hospital chain Steward Health Care, long bankrolled by a private equity firm, collapsed into bankruptcy, putting thousands of jobs and the care of tens of thousands of patients in jeopardy. … Yet as the grim Steward saga ended this fall, those bills bogged down both in Congress and on Beacon Hill, while regulators approved the sale of Steward’s national physicians group — which includes about 2,500 doctors in Massachusetts — to another private equity firm.” — “Massachusetts pols advancing bill eliminating religious vaccination exemption for school kids,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Beacon Hill lawmakers were in the process of advancing legislation Friday that would eliminate religious vaccination exemptions for children entering public, private, or charter K-12 schools. The measure was among six bills the Legislature’s Public Health Committee was in line to stamp its approval on and ship to the House for consideration during a stretch of time when legislators typically do not take up controversial legislation, according to an email sent to committee members that was obtained by the Herald.” — “Many young people face harsh penalties in the adult justice system. Lawmakers weren’t able to change that,” by Anjali Huynh, The Boston Globe: “The wide-ranging economic development package passed last month was one of the last opportunities this year for bills idling on Beacon Hill to become law, and legislators attached everything from language clearing the way for a new soccer stadium in Everett to a long-sought measure to let candidates spend campaign funds on childcare. Left behind was legislation that would allow 18-year-olds to be tried and sentenced as juveniles instead of adults for certain crimes, despite enjoying the strong support of one of the Legislature’s most powerful figures.” — “Senate President Karen Spilka reflects on legislative session, MetroWest initiatives,” by Emilia Wisniewski, MetroWest Daily News. — "Power in speaking out: Methuen upbringing gives state auditor her voice,” by Teddy Tauscher, The Eagle-Tribune.
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston helped hundreds of families accomplish the seemingly impossible this year: buying a home in the city,” by Erin Douglas, The Boston Globe. — “Boston Unveils New Rodent Proof Trash Containers In North End,” via WBZ NewsRadio. — “One year after reforming police details, Boston inching toward hiring civilian flaggers,” Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “One year after inking a reformed police contract, Boston is still working to make a path for civilian flaggers to pick up traffic detail shifts as the new terms permit. According to city officials familiar with the work, the Boston Police Department was previously arranging traffic detail assignments through an old-fashioned system: a pen, paper and a couple dozen people who knew the ins and outs. … Now, the city is accepting bids to develop a modern system, likely an app or website, to manage and distribute the newly tiered traffic detail shifts.”
| | | | Billions in spending. Critical foreign aid. Immigration reform. The final weeks of 2024 could bring major policy changes. Inside Congress provides daily insights into how Congressional leaders are navigating these high-stakes issues. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — “Gas tax third rail haunts transportation funding debates,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: “As more electric vehicles hit the roads in Massachusetts – urged on by state policymakers – the future of the gas tax has become something of a transportation funding elephant in the room. … Moving to more electric vehicles is a key part of meeting the state’s climate goals, but the gas tax has been a substantial source of revenue that’s used to subsidize public transportation.”
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | — “Beverly city councilor eyes run for Mass. House seat held by Rep. Jerald Parisella,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “A Beverly at-large city councilor filed paperwork to run for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Jerald Parisella, a Democrat who was nominated last month to serve as an associate justice of the District Court.”
| | | | A message from Vineyard Offshore:   | | | | | DAY IN COURT | | — “Every Massachusetts court to have Wi-Fi by next summer, court admin says,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “Some much needed technological improvement should be coming to every courthouse in Massachusetts very soon — including public Wi-Fi, court document accessibility from home and more remote hearings. That’s according to Thomas Ambrosino, the state’s Trial Court administrator.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Somerville library staff members have resigned. They say over city’s handling of misconduct allegations,” by Spencer Buell, The Boston Globe: “Libraries in Somerville are anything but quiet lately, as staffers are again at odds with city officials over working conditions and safety concerns. At least four library employees have resigned in recent weeks, which current and former staff said came in response to the way the city handled allegations of misconduct against a fellow staff member who was accused of harassing colleagues. Two people who resigned, and a third who still works at the library, said in interviews they were dismayed the colleague returned to the library last week after a months-long investigation and a suspension for inappropriate conduct.” — “'Deny, deny, deny': Some advocates worry Worcester leaders not serious about police reform,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “Longtime advocates for police reform in Worcester registered little surprise at the findings of unconstitutional policing released by the U.S. Department of Justice this week, as well as the city’s response to those findings. … In the five days since the Justice Department alleged city police have a pattern or practice of violating constitutional rights, city institutions and politicians have sent varying messages, with some expressing shock and vowing reform, and others, including police, demanding backup and asserting skepticism.” — “Billerica Town Meeting approves MBTA Communities zoning,” by Peter Currier, The Lowell Sun: “Town Meeting representatives approved Billerica’s proposed zoning to comply with the MBTA Communities law ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline and with legal cases still pending in other communities.” — “Concern rises as drone sightings are reported in Massachusetts and New Hampshire,” by Mary Markos, NBC10 Boston: “Authorities in New England say they are aware of sightings of drones being reported from Cape Cod to the Granite State. State authorities say they are aware and monitoring the situation, but that is not exactly comforting to people who have seen these drones hovering over their homes.” — “How New Bedford officials plan to fix city’s aging school buildings,” by Frank Mulligan, The Standard-Times. — “Migrant community embraces SRTA free transportation program,” by Gerardo Beltran Salinas, The New Bedford Light.
| | | | Write your own chapter in the new Washington. From the Lame Duck Congress Series to New Administration insights, POLITICO Pro delivers intelligence across 22+ policy areas to help you anticipate and navigate change. Discover how a Pro subscription empowers you. Learn more today. | | | | | | | MEDIA MATTERS | | — “WBUR to cancel Radio Boston, invest in morning, afternoon shows,” by Todd Wallack, WBUR: “WBUR announced plans Friday to cancel its midday talk show, Radio Boston, and to shift more resources to its flagship morning and late afternoon news programs, which draw the station's largest number of listeners. … WBUR managers said no jobs will be lost in the move. But the Radio Boston decision follows cost cuts at the public radio station earlier this year that included cutting staff by more than 13%. Since then, management has had to make strategic choices about how to best serve listeners and readers with a leaner staff.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Colleen Fitzgerald Frank has been promoted to vice president of public relations at Benchmark Strategies. She most recently served as the firm’s assistant vice president of public relations. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Boston Globe alum and The Washington Post’s Liz Goodwin, Ryan McCollum, Susan Estrich, Beth Fairservis and Charlotte DuHamel.
| | | | A message from Vineyard Offshore: With a track record of working with local communities and building trusted partnerships, Vineyard Offshore is committed to a community-first approach to offshore wind development.
Our next project, Vineyard Wind 2, will continue to grow the economic engine of offshore wind, generating over 3,000 job-years of employment and more than $1.6 billion in direct economic benefits for the Commonwealth. It will also supply enough clean electricity to power 650,000 New England homes and reduce carbon pollution by 2.1 million tons per year – the equivalent to taking 414,000 cars off the road.
With this commitment, Massachusetts is set to lead the nation in harnessing the impact of offshore wind. Learn more at vineyardoffshore.com/vineyardwind2. | | | 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. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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