POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: MOULTON FALLOUT — Who HASN'T ENDORSED in the Boston mayor's race — Masks MANDATED in SCHOOLS

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY WHO HASN’T ENDORSED IN THE BOSTON MAYOR’S RACE — Former city councilor and council president Charles Yancey is endorsing Acting Mayor Kim Janey today. But many prominent Boston politicians and labor unions have yet to endorse in the mayor’s race, leaving significant political power and organizing might on the table with less than three weeks until the preliminary election. Some plan to endorse soon. Others are hoping to see more public polling to help push them in one direction or the other. Still more are staying out entirely — or at least until after the Sept. 14 preliminary whittles the field to down to two candidates. Let’s take a closer look: BOSTON CITY COUNCILORS — Of the 13 city councilors, four are running for mayor — Janey (who, as acting mayor, is an inactive councilor), Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell and Annissa Essaibi George — and three have endorsed: Ricardo Arroyo is with Janey, while Lydia Edwards and Liz Breadon are with Wu. President Pro Tempore Matt O’Malley and the rest have kept their powder dry so far. That’s not surprising, given the circumstances. But it does leave potential resources untapped across neighborhoods from South Boston to Back Bay, where district councilors and council veterans have yet to endorse. BOSTON DELEGATION MEMBERS — Several of Boston’s state representatives and senators initially lined up behind state Rep. Jon Santiago before he dropped out of the race in July. House Assistant Majority Leader Mike Moran and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico (whose district includes part of Boston but doesn’t live in the city) have since gone to Wu, while representatives like the North End's Aaron Michlewitz, West Roxbury’s Edward F. Coppinger, Allston’s Kevin Honan and Charlestown’s Dan Ryan have yet to publicly make moves. Santiago also hasn't endorsed, though he told me earlier this week he still plans to “sometime in this campaign” and is actively meeting with the candidates. From the non-Santiago set: State Rep. Nika Elugardo is with Janey, and Reps. Chynah Tyler and Liz Malia are with Campbell. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, who’s running for governor, hasn’t endorsed. Neither has the Southie contingent of Rep. David Biele and Sen. Nick Collins, Mattapan Rep. Russell Holmes, or Roxbury-Dorchester Rep. Liz Miranda, to name a few. UNIONS — Several heavyweight unions remain on the table, including IBEW Local 103, the Boston Teachers Union and Boston Carmen's Union, Local 589. Healthcare workers union 1199 SEIU told the Dorchester Reporter it would sit out the preliminary. Mayor-turned-Labor-secretary Marty Walsh hasn’t endorsed. Neither has Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, who’s now the nominee for U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. From the congressional delegation, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is backing Wu, but others, including Rep. Stephen Lynch of South Boston, have stayed quiet. Rep. Ayanna Pressley has instead issued "policy pledge" distinctions to like-minded candidates, a tactic also taken by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins told me he’s “very close” to choosing a candidate. But Tompkins, like many of the folks listed above, noted the difficulty of trying to choose between five people he’s worked with for years and considers friends. And Tompkins, like others, is “perplexed” by the lack of public polling that’s left many would-be endorsers and voters without a clear indicator of where the field currently stands. This list isn’t comprehensive — it doesn’t account for every major player in Boston or every reason why they haven't backed a candidate yet. But it does point to the challenges politicians, unions and voters are facing in trying to choose a candidate in a historic field where the five major contenders are all people of color and each one brings years of city government experience to the table. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . I’d like to hear which two mayoral candidates you think will advance from the preliminary election? Send your predictions to lkashinsky@politico.com. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook is taking a previously scheduled end-of-summer hiatus next week. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday, Sept. 7. But never fear, I’ll still be tweeting. Follow me for updates on the Boston mayor’s race and more here. TODAY — Rep. Jim McGovern continues his district farm tour beginning at 8:45 a.m. at Growing Places in Leominster. Janey hosts a Neighborhood Coffee Hour at Mozart Street Playground at 10:30 a.m., hosts a press conference at 2 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the Municipal Harbor Plan, and is a guest on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 3 p.m. Janey speaks at the Boston Uncornered Photo Project Exhibit: The Mayoral Edition at Sea Green Park at noon; Barros also attends. Suffrage100MA and Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators Co-Chairs state Rep. Pat Haddad and state Sen. Joan Lovely commemorate Women’s Equality Day at noon at the Boston Public Garden. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a “Climate Action Conversation” at the New England Aquarium with aquarium CEO Vikki Spruill at 1 p.m. Wu hosts her annual block party from 5 to 8 p.m. at Poplar Street and Augustus Avenue in Roslindale.   INTRODUCING OTTAWA PLAYBOOK : Join the growing community of Politicos — from lawmakers and leaders to pollsters, staffers, strategists and lobbyists — working to shape Canada’s future. Every day, our reporting team pulls back the curtain to shed light on what’s really driving the agenda on Parliament Hill, the true players who are shaping politics and policy across Canada, and the impact it all has on the world. Don’t miss out on your daily look inside Canadian politics and power. Subscribe to Ottawa Playbook today.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – "Massachusetts coronavirus cases rise 1,400, hospitalizations decline for first time in 12 days," Rick Sobey, Boston Herald. DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Candidates Knock Baker Pandemic Management From Left, Right,” by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): “With his administration pursuing mask and vaccine mandates on two fronts, Gov. Charlie Baker has found himself in recent days a target of both conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats who see the incumbent as guilty of either government overreach or being too passive in the face of a COVID-19 resurgence.” – More from Murphy: "Rep. Tami Gouveia sent a letter last week to Gov. Charlie Baker urging him to use federal and state funding to make rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 free and accessible to residents.” – “Galvin Working On Vaccination Guidance,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): “Secretary of State William Galvin plans to soon communicate updated guidance and requirements around COVID-19 vaccines to his employees, a spokesperson said Wednesday.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Mass. public school students and staff are now required to wear masks indoors until at least Oct. 1,” by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts public school students and staff are required to wear masks inside school buildings effective immediately, regardless of vaccination status, according to a mandate issued Wednesday by Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley. Under the requirement, most people will be required to wear masks until at least Oct. 1, with just a handful of exceptions. After that date, schools that have 80 percent or more of their students and staff fully vaccinated will be allowed to drop the mandate for vaccinated people only; unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks.” – More: “Archdiocese of Boston implements mask mandate in schools through Oct. 1 after originally choosing not to mandate masks for return to school,” by Heather Morrison, MassLive.com; “Anti-mask activists lobby Lowell School Committee to disregard mandate,” by Alana Melanson, Lowell Sun. – “Mass. Contact Tracing Staff Will Nearly Quadruple From July,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “The state-run COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) is increasing its staff, almost tripling in size as the delta variant spreads. Its ‘frontline workforce’ has increased from a total of 170 full-time employees in July to 480 now, according to a collaborative press officer. The program, run through a contract with Boston-based nonprofit Partners in Health in conjunction with the Department of Public Health, will eventually have 500 contact tracers, 100 COVID-19 case investigators and 75 COVID care resource coordinators working remotely, according to a job listing posted this week.” – “Boston-area coronavirus wastewater tracker: Plunging data is ‘encouraging’ after recent spikes,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The north of Boston virus samples had been exploding, with the daily average for the northern communities hovering around the late January levels during the winter surge. But in the last week, the story has completely flipped — with the daily average dropping by almost 40%. The south of Boston COVID sewage samples, which had also been rising but not at the rapid pace of the north, have declined by nearly 30% in the last two weeks.” – “Missed call: Potential VaxMillions winner failed to respond, claim prize before deadline,” by WCVB. FROM THE HUB – “Superintendent Brenda Cassellius isn’t the only Boston school administrator working without a proper license,” by Andrea Estes and James Vaznis, Boston Globe: “More than 15 Boston Public School administrators — including key lieutenants of Superintendent Brenda Cassellius — have been working without the proper state licenses, some of them for years, a Globe review has found, underscoring widespread lapses in verifying the credentials of top school leaders." – “Boston residency compliance commissioners question health commission official’s living in Hawaii,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Local activists and members of the city’s Residency Compliance Commission want to know how the Boston Public Health Commission’s medical director continues to do her work from sunny Hawaii.” – “Janey mulls pulling back downtown Boston waterfront plan,” by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: “Boston’s downtown municipal harbor plan, which outlines development guidelines along the city’s 42-acre waterfront, has been embattled since its city approval in 2017 and state approval a year later.” – “An experiment on the edge of the Seaport: City launches climate defense fund,” by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: “This week’s close shave with Tropical Storm Henri and this month’s United Nations report showing the planet warming faster than expected highlight the urgency of finding a solution, advocates say, especially for low-lying areas of the city’s shoreline, such as the Seaport’s Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park. That’s where city officials are experimenting with a new approach to funding climate improvements, asking developers eager to build in the park to help finance a sea wall and other defenses that will protect not just their glimmering new towers of lab space but also the remnants of maritime industry that still operate there.” – “Allston-Brighton politicians look to press pause on Western Avenue Harvard development,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald. – “Michelle Wu says Boston is ‘rationing’ its Slow Streets program ,” by Boston.com staff. – “Andrea Campbell: Most BPS families have ‘no idea’ what reopening plan is, 2 weeks before classes begin,” by Boston.com staff. THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “Boston mayoral candidate John Barros finally gets invitation to TV show ‘On The Record’,” by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: “The local political news show ‘On the Record’ has finally extended an invitation to Boston mayoral candidate John Barros to appear on the program next month, after initially excluding him, the Barros campaign said.” – “Mayoral candidates featured in Boston Uncornered exhibit,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “The candidates competing to be the next mayor of Boston are used to sharing their uncommonly compelling narratives and personal challenges as they try to connect with everyday voters on the campaign trail. Now, they’re telling their stories in the Boston Uncornered Photo Project, an exhibit that aims to shift the public mindset by displaying larger-than-life portraits of successful public figures alongside those of former gang members. Each photo subject shares a story of a time they felt ‘cornered’ but found a way to free themselves from a negative narrative.” – “The Environment: Boston's Mayoral Candidates Agree On The Problems. They Differ On The Solutions,” by Sarah Betancourt and Craig LeMoult, GBH News. – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: United Auto Workers Region 9A has endorsed Tania Anderson for Boston City Council District 7, per her campaign. “Tania will bring a much-needed focus on important issues like mental health, addiction recovery, racial health equity, affordable housing…” UAW Region 9A regional director Beverley Brakeman said in a statement. – Boston District 9 City Councilor Liz Breadon has endorsed Ruthzee Louijeune, Kelly Bates and Alex Gray for city council at-large. MOULTON MATTERS – Rep. Seth Moulton is defending his surprise trip with Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) to Kabul airport amid backlash from the Biden administration, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats. “The scoldings mean nothing when we’re saving a few lives,” he told the Boston Globe from Qatar yesterday, adding that he “got several not just families but groups through the gates.” Moulton’s no stranger to criticism from his fellow Democrats. But while the Pentagon issued its scolding and House leaders warned other members of Congress not to jet off to Kabul, Moulton was being skewered across the Massachusetts media. WBZ’s Jon Keller called the excursion an “especially clueless publicity stunt.” National security expert Juliette Kayyem told GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio “this is frat behavior,” adding, “if someone primaried him, I would definitely be on board for that.’” But some, like the Boston Globe’s James Pindell and the Boston Herald’s Joe Battenfeld , posited that the episode would likely have few political consequences for Moulton given the Democrats’ slim hold on the House and state Republicans’ difficulty fielding successful congressional challengers. And on CNN, retired Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt actually defended Moulton, saying "I don’t know what the histrionics are all about ... Congress does have an oversight responsibility, you’ve got two people on the ground who understand based on their ex-military service ... I think there’s some benefit to this." – More: “2 U.S. Representatives Try to Explain Unauthorized Visit to Kabul,” by Catie Edmondson, New York Times. FROM THE DELEGATION – “Pelosi will headline new Auchincloss committee's first event,” by Ted Nesi, WPRI: “Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss has landed a big-name guest to headline the kickoff event for his new political action committee. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will travel to Massachusetts on Sept. 9 to be the ‘special guest’ at a morning fundraiser in Newton that will raise money to benefit MA 4 Dems PAC, a new leadership PAC that Auchincloss created earlier this month.” – “McGovern pursues end to hunger through local farm tours,” by Brian Steele and Chris Larabee, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “[Rep. Jim McGovern] said his goal is to build a nationwide movement calling for a White House conference that would develop a comprehensive plan to end hunger in America. Such a conference was last held in 1969.” DATELINE D.C. – “Restaurants call for Revitalization Fund refill amid delta variant scare,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Restaurants are still struggling to stay afloat amid the pandemic, and they’re calling on Congress to provide them with $60 billion in emergency relief through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund as the delta variant grips the nation." DAY IN COURT – “Is it Cape Wind all over again? Nantucket residents file suit to block Vineyard Wind,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Two Nantucket residents, backed by a network of think tanks and beachfront property owners along the East Coast, set in motion what appears to be a Cape Wind strategy for derailing the nation’s first industrial-size offshore wind farm and others that are lining up behind it.” – “UMass Lowell and UMass Boston to ask federal judge to dismiss lawsuit over COVID vaccine mandates,” by Will Katcher, MassLive.com: “Lawyers for UMass Lowell and UMass Boston will ask a federal judge Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit brought in U.S. District Court by two students who claim the schools’ COVID vaccine mandates violate their rights.” – “Victims of domestic violence or abuse about to start a job can get time off to protect themselves, SJC says,” by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: “The 5-2 ruling was the first time the state’s highest court reviewed the Domestic Violence and Abuse Leave act since its enactment in 2014.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Utilities makes plans to charge up more electric cars,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Salem News: “Both National Grid and Eversource, two of the state's largest electric utilities, have submitted plans to the state Department of Public Utilities seeking to supply more electric vehicles and set rates for their drivers.” – “Hi-tech meters could hike electric bills,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Salem News: “Massachusetts electricity consumers, who already pay some of the highest rates in the nation, could be digging deeper into their pockets in coming years to cover upgrades to the regional power grid.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Worcester Police Officer Manny Familia’s widow speaks about the heartbreaking tragedy, family announces foundation to help prevent drownings,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The widow of the late Worcester police officer who drowned while trying to save a boy is speaking out for the first time about the heartbreaking tragedy, as the family announces a foundation to help prevent drownings in the future. ‘It’s been a bad dream that I just want to wake up from,’ Jennifer Familia said in a newly released video about the loss of her husband, Enmanuel ‘Manny’ Familia.” – “'Trying To Keep That Hope Afloat': Afghan Woman Educated At UMass Flees To U.S.,” by Lisa Mullins and Lynn Jolicoeur, WBUR: “Nadima Sahar was minister of technical and vocational education in the Afghan government until the Taliban took over the country last week.” – “Bridgewater photographer, social worker documents seniors' isolation during COVID pandemic,” by Mina Corpuz, Brockton Enterprise. TRANSITIONS – Ørsted Offshore North America has named Tory Mazzola as its new head of communications and public affairs. Mazzola joins Ørsted from Keolis. Drew O’Brien, former senior advisor to John Kerry and Tom Menino, has been named as the new president of Direct Impact. O’Brien will also continue in his role as northeast market leader for BCW. ENGAGED – Marlena Baldacci, national media relations manager at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and a CNN alum, on Saturday got engaged to Dan Abdinoor, senior machine learning engineering manager at Spotify. He proposed at home on their two year anniversary. Pics HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Hampshire County Register of Deeds Mary Olberding, Eric Fehrnstrom and Francis Morris. 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.   SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.       Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA