| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Annissa Essaibi George is going up on the airwaves with the first television ad of her mayoral campaign. The 30-second spot, titled “Together,” dips into Essaibi George’s backstory as a “proud daughter of immigrant parents” who became a teacher, small business owner, mom and three-term at-large Boston city councilor. “Now I’m running for mayor to fight for the city I call home,” Essaibi George says in the ad. “Because together, we will build a better Boston.” The $200,000 buy will run for two weeks on broadcast, cable, streaming services and digital platforms, according to Essaibi George’s campaign. Essaibi George is technically the second candidate in the Boston mayor’s race to go up on air, following state Rep. Jon Santiago, who ended his campaign last month. A super PAC backing City Councilor Andrea Campbell has put up two ads supporting her, but Campbell hasn’t yet put out an ad of her own. The new ad comes on the heels of a rough week for Essaibi George, in which a Boston Globe report claimed she “appears to have improperly used her position on the City Council to benefit” one of her developer husband’s building projects. GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Marty Walsh picked up Boston City Council President Pro Tempore Matt O’Malley’s baby girl, turned to the cameras, and smiled. “I’m announcing my candidacy for mayor of Boston,” he joked. In another timeline, Walsh would’ve been in the midst of a reelection campaign. He was, after all, gearing up to run for a third term as mayor of Boston before he got the call to serve as President Joe Biden’s Labor secretary. Instead, Walsh was making his first public appearance in Boston since March to promote the national “Paid Leave for All” campaign — and answer questions from his hometown press about the lingering controversies from his tenure as mayor. “The one situation that I feel bad about is the Dennis White situation. I made it very clear I wanted to resolve that situation before I left,” Walsh said of the now ex-Boston police commissioner. “But [Acting Mayor Kim Janey] took action, I watched what she did, and now there’s a search for a commissioner, and that’s the right way to go.” Walsh also brushed off criticism over that situation from Rachael Rollins, the Suffolk district attorney who’s been nominated as the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. “Politics is politics,” Walsh said. “She’s my friend and I wish her well in the process moving forward.” Walsh has been traveling the country promoting Biden’s infrastructure plan, but said he still misses the “day-to-day action” of being mayor (and coffee from Doughboy). He said he's planning to vote in the city’s mayoral race, but won’t be endorsing any of the candidates vying to succeed him. “I work for President Biden now. I’m in the Cabinet,” he said. “I shouldn’t be giving my opinion on local politics.” TODAY — The Joint Committee on the Judiciary hosts a hearing on 50 bills related to property, land and tenancy at 10 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan testifies virtually before the state Legislature’s PFAS Interagency Task Force at 10 a.m. Boston mayoral candidate John Barros hosts a vaccine clinic at “Mass & Cass” at 10 a.m. State Sens. Jo Comerford and Rebecca Rausch deliver a letter signed by 74 state legislators asking Congress to pass the “For the People Act” and an updated “Voting Rights Act” during a noon rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Janey delivers remarks at the Boston Police Department’s 38th Annual National Night Out Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. and attends the North End Neighborhood Block Party at 5:30 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases spike 2,054 over the weekend, Boston-area COVID wastewater tracker shows surge,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts health officials reported a spike of 2,054 new coronavirus cases over the weekend, and the Boston-area COVID wastewater tracker shows a virus surge as the more highly contagious delta variant takes hold. … The daily average of cases in the state is now 572, which is nearly nine times the 64 daily cases in late June.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Backlash mounts against Charlie Baker’s new Massachusetts mask guidelines,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The state’s largest teachers union is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to impose a mandatory mask mandate for schools as backlash mounts over his decision not to align with CDC masking recommendations. ‘The Massachusetts Teachers Association’s Board of Directors unanimously voted on Aug. 1 to support the mandatory use of face coverings in public schools from PreK through higher education as part of a multipronged strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19,’ the MTA announced Monday.” – “Lawmaker Proposes Universal Mask Mandate In All Massachusetts Schools,” by CBS Boston: “The measure, filed by State Sen. Becca Rausch, would require all students and staff in K-12 schools to wear a mask during the upcoming school year.” – “Mass. gubernatorial candidate Ben Downing presses Charlie Baker for mask mandate that ‘mirrors’ CDC guidelines,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Amid concerns about the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration released new face covering guidelines for both the general public and schools last Friday. … Ben Downing, a former state senator and 2022 gubernatorial candidate, is urging Baker to impose a ‘mask mandate that mirrors’ the recently updated Center for Disease Control and Prevention face covering guidelines.” – “Baker Confident State Won't See Eviction Wave Now That Moratorium Has Expired,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday the Massachusetts government is ready to help renters deal with evictions through a well-funded diversion program now that the federal moratorium on evictions has come to an end.” – “Senate leaders cite ‘wisdom in waiting’ to spend ARPA money,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Senate President Karen Spilka believes there is ‘wisdom in waiting’ to spend federal COVID-19 recovery money. … As Gov. Charlie Baker pressures lawmakers to act quickly to begin spending part of the $5.3 billion state government received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues both said they would rather wait a bit.” | |
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| | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Support for COVID-19 vaccine mandate higher in Mass. than anywhere in U.S., survey finds,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “Would you approve of the government requiring people to get the COVID-19 vaccine? Apparently in Massachusetts, most people would answer, yes. A new survey found that 81.1 percent of respondents in Massachusetts would approve of such a mandate — a higher percentage of people than anywhere else in the United States.” – “CDC now recommends masks indoors in 9 Massachusetts counties,” by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive.com: “Counties at high risk for transmission of the virus include Nantucket and Barnstable counties. Last week’s CDC data showed Bristol and Suffolk counties at substantial risk, while this week Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex and Plymouth counties were added.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “As Janey considers vaccine and testing mandate, Boston does not track vaccination status for all city employees,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “How many of the City of Boston’s 18,000 workers are vaccinated against COVID-19? Authorities said Monday that they do not know.” – “Marty Walsh feels ‘bad’ about leaving Kim Janey to inherit Boston scandals,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “U.S. Labor Secretary Martin Walsh says he feels 'bad' about leaving Acting Mayor Kim Janey to inherit a slew of scandals from the Boston Police Department to the school committee, where four members have resigned in less than a year.” – “Marty Walsh Returns to Boston, Touts Paid Leave for All,” by Alison King, NBC 10 Boston: “Walsh gave remarks in front of the Boston Public Library as part of the "Paid Leave for All" campaign, a cross-country bus tour calling on lawmakers to pass a national paid leave policy. As mayor of Boston, he spearheaded paid leave for city workers. 'This issue is gender equity, this issue is racial equity,' Walsh said.” | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – NEW THIS MORNING: City Councilor Andrea Campbell’s mayoral campaign is hosting a fundraiser on Martha’s Vineyard tonight featuring Valerie Jarrett, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama. Suggested contributions range from $500 to $1,000 for the fundraiser that kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at an undisclosed location, per an invite reviewed by POLITICO. The host committee includes Katherine Bradley, Jacqui and Wayne Budd, Clemmie and James Cash, Deb Enos, Julie Fay, Brent Henry and Minnie Baylor Henry, Kay Kendall and Jack Davies, Edward Miller and Monina von Opel, Betsy Pattullo, Ron Rappaport, and Bennie and Flash Wiley. – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz and state Reps. Nika Elugardo and Russell Holmes are endorsing Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia in her reelection bid. “Julia brings those who have not been included to the table to make sure that #AllMeansAll of us are included in decision-making,” Holmes said in a statement. Mejia was also endorsed by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women, per her campaign. – “Teenage community activism helped shape Boston mayoral candidate John Barros into a ‘bridge-builder’,” by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: “[John] Barros, a married father of four — John Jr., 9, Jeremiah, 7, Casey, 5, and Olivia, 3 — is facing the biggest test of his public life. His rise from student leader, community activist, youth minister, and nonprofit executive to government official and now two-time mayoral candidate offers a window into how he has led and where he plans to take the city should he win the race.” – “Michelle Wu: The Boston.com interview,” by Christopher Gavin, Nik DeCosta-Klipa, and Zipporah Osei, Boston.com: “Asked what the average voter doesn’t know or understand about her that she wants them to, [City Councilor Michelle] Wu acknowledges there’s often ‘a gap’ between what constituents see in press releases and policy proposals and what she has already been able to accomplish.” – “Amid Anti-Asian Hate, AAPI Candidates Aim To Smash Stereotypes And Lead Their Cities,” by Daniel Lam, NPR: “If she wins, [City Councilor Michelle] Wu will break a political ‘bamboo ceiling’ and become the first AAPI mayor of Boston. But AAPI advocates say that Wu's candidacy harbors a greater significance: combating anti-Asian hate.” | | FEELING '22 |
| – Rep. Jake Auchincloss is headlining a Harvard Business School Association of Boston event tonight about bringing more life sciences manufacturing to Massachusetts. Here’s why it’s drawing criticism from some progressives: Auchincloss will be appearing with David Lucchino, the CEO of Frequency Therapeutics, who donated $3,800 to his 4th Congressional District campaign last year, per Federal Election Commission filings. Progressives gearing up to potentially challenge Auchincloss next year have been hammering the first-term congressman over his donations from Big Pharma and those linked to it. And some in the media are taking notice. Auchincloss’s detractors have also seized on the fact that tonight’s discussion centers around attracting life sciences manufacturing to Kendall Square in Cambridge — which is in Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s district, not Auchincloss’s. Auchincloss’s campaign bushed off the criticism. “The Congressman is both a Harvard alumnus and Marine veteran. He's proud to join a conversation about how Massachusetts can continue to lead the work in curing disease, including helping veterans regain hearing,” a spokesman said in a nod to research Frequency Therapeutics has done to help restore hearing lost as a result of military service-related injuries. | |
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| | BALLOT BATTLES |
| – “With ballot question, tech companies could put the future of the gig economy in voters’ hands,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “A coalition of tech giants is officially setting its sights on Massachusetts as the latest battleground in the fight over the status of gig economy workers. They plan to file on Wednesday a ballot question that would allow them to continue classifying Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers and deliverers as independent contractors, not employees while granting the workers some new benefits.” – “Package Stores Aim For Alcohol License Compromise With Food Stores,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “Package stores in Massachusetts are offering a compromise ballot question that would increase the number of licenses available to food stores, but leave a license cap in place.” | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “Elizabeth Warren Talks Voting Rights, Abortion Access, and Ending the Filibuster,” by Lauren Young, Teen Vogue: “Elizabeth Warren is worried. About access to the ballot box, about access to abortion, about ‘the fundamental freedoms in this country.’ Since ending her presidential campaign over a year ago, Warren has maintained her place as a leading progressive voice in the Senate, speaking out against the Supreme Court nomination of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and cosponsoring legislative reforms like the For the People Act, The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and the Women’s Health Protection Act, federal legislation that would protect a pregnant person’s right to an abortion.” | | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| – “Democratic Reps. Lori Trahan, Kathy Castor, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz appear to have violated a federal transparency law,” by Dave Levinthal, Warren Rojas and Camila DeChalus, Insider: “Three Democratic members of Congress appear to have violated a federal transparency law by disclosing their stock trades weeks or months late. Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts and Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kathy Castor of Florida all signaled their tardiness on thousands of dollars' worth of financial transactions via their own recently filed congressional records. In Trahan's case, she sold up to $15,000 in the software company Stella Connect. Trahan failed to properly disclose this transaction that took place on September 10, according to an Insider analysis of her recent filing.” | | TRUMPACHUSETTS |
| – “Trump merchandise store in Somerset calling it quits this Sunday,” by Charles Winokoor, Herald News: “Keith Lambert knows there will be mixed emotions when his Donald Trump merchandise store on Route 6 closes for good at the end of the business day on Sunday. ‘There are going to be a lot of sad people and a lot of happy people,’ he said.” | | DATELINE D.C. |
| – “Biden’s bipartisan win leaves progressives thirsting for more,” by Tanya Snyder, POLITICO. – “Biden leans on governors and mayors to deflect heat over evictions,” by Katy O’Donnell and Laura Barrón-López, POLITICO. | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Mass. Supreme Judicial Court to decide if Springfield mayor must restore citizen Police Commission,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “The state Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to consider an appeal filed by Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who is fighting against a 2018 city ordinance that calls for resurrection of a five-member citizen Police Commission to oversee the Police Department.” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “Activists protest Eversource substation; block entrance to Energy and Environmental Affairs office,” by Kate Lusignan, Boston Globe: “Protesters barricaded the entrance to the state’s Energy and Environmental Affairs office in downtown Boston with a pink bathtub Monday, holding signs that read ‘Pull the Plug on Eversource’ in opposition to the power company’s proposed electrical substation in East Boston.” | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “Green Line trolley was going 30 mph in 10 mph zone when it hit second train Friday,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “A Green Line trolley was hurtling along the tracks at about 30 miles per hour Friday when it crashed into the trolley ahead of it, injuring 25 people, according to a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Lanesborough officer fired over improper use of criminal records database,” by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: “It’s not your personal Google. That’s what Lanesborough Police Officer Brennan J. Polidoro was told after the town’s chief determined that he violated state law by looking up women on a criminal justice database without a valid police purpose.” – “Home where youth worker was killed saw recent rise in assaults,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Springfield home for court-involved juveniles where youth worker James Hillman was fatally assaulted on June 30 was no stranger to violent altercations – and in fact, the number of assaults by youth in the home had risen in the six months leading up to his death.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Striking St. Vincent nurses end Monday's negotiations saying hospital presented ‘disappointing’ proposal,” by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “St. Vincent Hospital cut back on its services Monday, implementing a ‘very difficult decision.’ … Meanwhile, a negotiating session with nurses Monday ended without a resolution.” – “Former Hull school superintendent sues for $5 million, claims anti-gay discrimination,” by Wheeler Cowperthwaite and Joe Difazio, Patriot Ledger: “The former superintendent of Hull public schools is suing his former employer, alleging the town and school officials discriminated against him for being gay and made it impossible for him to work in education after he was fired for texting a 21-year-old former student living in Florida.” – With nominating deadlines past, see who’s running for mayor in open-seat races in Newburyport and Lawrence, as well as in Amesbury, where state Rep. Jim Kelcourse is challenging incumbent Mayor Kassandra Gove. BELATED CONGRATS – to Joe and Nicole Caiazzo, who welcomed baby Antonette "Annie" Emilia last week. Pic. TRANSITIONS – Sarah Betancourt joins GBH News as an interim reporter. Tweet. Rachel Armany joins GBH News as an associate producer for "Morning Edition"; she was previously a writer at WBZ NewsRadio. Tweet. Kathleen McNerney departed WBUR, where she was editor of education, last week. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Andrea Battle, WBZ NewsRadio's Nichole Davis and former Patriots/current Bucs QB Tom Brady, who is 44. 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.
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