POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Wu nabs a big endorsement

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: WU NABS 1199SEIU — City Councilor Michelle Wu has been endorsed by 1199SEIU in the Boston mayor’s race. The healthcare workers union notably sat out the preliminary election, and is now notably wading into the general election shortly after another major union, IBEW Local 103, endorsed Wu’s rival, City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George. “Never before have the issues of healthcare, childcare and pay and benefits for essential workers been more important,” 1199SEIU Executive Vice President Tim Foley said in a statement through Wu’s campaign. “We are at a crossroads and we need a mayor who will center the lives of caregivers in our recovery. We believe Michelle Wu is the candidate who will not only recognize our work and sacrifice as caregivers, but will help bring meaningful change to the city of Boston for everyone.” 1199SEIU has nearly 10,000 members in Boston and plans to put "significant financial and grassroots support" behind Wu. The union has a political action committee that’s sitting on $3.2 million, according to its latest campaign finance filing. 1199SEIU sat out the last open-seat mayoral preliminary in 2013 before endorsing Marty Walsh, who went on to become mayor. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. When second gentleman Doug Emhoff passed out lunches to youngsters at Mother Hubbard Preschool in Milford on Monday, Rep. Jake Auchincloss was there to lend a hand. When Emhoff talked to staffers about the pandemic’s impact on the preschool, Auchincloss was at his side, bolstering Emhoff’s talking points about how the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan and Build Back Better agenda could help. And when Emhoff was asked by a reporter about the criticism his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, has received over immigration issues at the southern border, Auchincloss came to his aid, saying the Biden administration “inherited a catastrophe at the border and implemented a series of humane policies to deal with the immigration inflow” rather than perpetuating the “negligence” of the Trump administration. It’s increasingly familiar territory for Auchincloss, who emerged as one of Biden’s staunchest defenders during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last month. The first-term congressman appeared with Emhoff in Milford, on the edge of his 4th Congressional District, not even two weeks after welcoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark for the kickoff event for his new leadership PAC, deepening his ties to both the White House and House leadership as he looks to fend off potential primary challenges in 2022. Emhoff is the latest Biden administration official to swing through Massachusetts, after Rep. Lori Trahan hosted Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Rep. Ayanna Pressley hosted Boston native and White House National Climate advisor Gina McCarthy in August. But one surrogate in particular seems underutilized in and around Boston — the city’s own mayor-turned-Labor Secretary Walsh. Walsh has made only one public appearance in Massachusetts in his official capacity as a Biden Cabinet member — an event promoting paid parental leave in early August. That’s out of a schedule that included visits to some 43 cities in 24 states to tout the Build Back Better agenda and the bipartisan infrastructure bill, according to his office. It’s curious, given that Walsh regularly returns to Dorchester and could easily get in front of some cameras here if needed. But a heavily Democratic city in a Democratic stronghold state isn’t a major focal point for the Biden administration and its surrogates ahead of the midterms. And opening Walsh up to his hometown press would likely invite more questions about the local issues and politics he left behind then about the Biden administration’s agenda. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ronald Amidon make a park land, open spaces and land conservation grant announcement in Lowell at 10 a.m. Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy tour small businesses in Worcester at 2:30 p.m. House Speaker Ron Mariano and representatives join the Environmental League of Massachusetts to tour Block Island’s offshore wind farm at 9:30 a.m. State Sen. Eric Lesser and state Rep. Josh Cutler co-chair the third Future of Work Commission meeting at MIT at 11 a.m. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Cori Bush unveil the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 in a noon press conference. State Attorney General Maura Healey participates in her “Ask the AG” segment on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 1 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com.   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.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases rise 4,364 over the weekend, hospitalizations drop,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The three-day total of 4,364 cases — a daily average of 1,455 infections — was a lower daily rate than last weekend’s daily average of 1,584 cases.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “House Reopening Plan Features Vaccine Verification, Masks,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “State representatives and House employees would be required to prove they are vaccinated by Nov. 1 to work in-person at the State House under a legislative panel's new proposal, which also calls for reopening the building on a phased but undated timetable and continuing to livestream all public hearings. … Senate President Karen Spilka told all senators and staff on Aug. 24 that they must prove their full vaccination status by Oct. 15, and Gov. Charlie Baker mandated vaccines for about 42,000 state employees.” – A dozen lawmakers, mostly Republicans, support legislation that would prohibit restricting access to public spaces and some businesses based on vaccination status. State Rep. Peter Durant, (R-Spencer), who filed the bill, told me he’s now reviewing the House recommendations against “case law surrounding areas such as HIPAA” and provisions in the state’s constitution. “Where the principles of the constitution and the rules of the House collide we need to stand with the constitution regardless of how one might like to bypass it,” Durant said. – House Speaker Ron Mariano said Monday he expects the majority of representatives to approve the vaccine policy when it comes up for a vote. He said those who don’t comply will be dealt with “almost on a one-by-one basis” but didn’t offer specifics. – “Education advocates rail against MCAS, call for changes,” by Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: “One day prior to the release of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS, statewide results, education advocates called on lawmakers to revamp the mandated exams, or scrap them altogether.” – “Reprecincting Bill Pops, But No Timeline On New Maps,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): “The state Legislature will try to get the decennial redistricting process ‘done as soon as we can’ and could send Gov. Charlie Baker a bill involving the timeline for drawing local precincts on Thursday, Senate President Karen Spilka said. … The conference committee's bill will allow the Legislature to go first, and then give municipalities 30 days to complete their work after new maps for state and federal offices are finalized, as long as they finish by Dec. 15.” – "Patriots captain Devin McCourty joins calls to commute life sentence of Brockton's William Allen," by WCVB: "New England Patriots captain Devin McCourty on Monday joined a chorus of people asking Gov. Charlie Baker to commute the sentence of a man who has been in prison for 27 years. ... Baker said Monday that he is still waiting for the parole board to give him the information he needs to make that decision." VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Mass. State Troopers' Union Sues Over Vaccine Mandate,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “In a lawsuit filed Friday in Suffolk Superior Court, the State Police Association of Massachusetts asked a judge to put the mandate on hold. Baker's order requires state employees under the governor's control, including state troopers, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or claim a medical or religious exemption by Oct. 17.” – “‘This literally scares the hell out of me’: Parents call on state officials to make remote learning options available,” by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: “Parents and organizers with the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, a statewide coalition with the mission of protecting and promoting public education, shared their concerns with attendees over Zoom, detailing how the decision by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to require in-person instruction and not allow districts the option of remote learning has impacted their households.” – Asked Monday about bringing back a remote learning option, Baker said “one thing we all learned last year was that remote learning for many, many kids here in the Commonwealth did not work … at this point in time our primary focus is going to be to do everything we can to keep kids in school.” – “Kim Janey rejects Boston gym owners’ request for exemption from city’s mask mandate,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Arguing that mask mandates hit their industry harder than any other, some Boston gym owners have been asking Acting Mayor Kim Janey to allow them to stray from the city’s rules and allow vaccinated customers to exercise without a face covering. … Janey’s office signaled Monday that she has no plans to give gyms a carveout.” – “All Massachusetts community college students, faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID by January,” by Cassie McGrath, MassLive.com. THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – Acting Mayor Kim Janey is "doing well" after her fourth-place finish in last week's preliminary and has already instructed her team to get started on the transition to her successor. She told WBUR on Monday she hopes the next mayor will continue her citywide eviction moratorium through "the end of the calendar year, for sure." City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, one of the two remaining mayoral contenders, doesn't support the moratorium. – Essaibi George nabbed IBEW Local 103’s endorsement — and their giant billboard off Interstate 93 — on Monday, adding the union’s roughly 10,000 Boston-area electricians and technicians to her campaign network. “We need a mayor who will pick right up on all the great work that our dear friend [former mayor] Marty Walsh has already set in place. … We need a mayor who knows the key to addressing a housing shortage is building more housing, not adding to more restrictions to responsible developers,” IBEW Local 103 business manager Lou Antonellis said as he introduced Essaibi George at a formal endorsement event Monday afternoon. “Annissa understands the issues working people face everyday and has fought her entire career to make sure workers have a seat at the table.” – Boston City Council District 7 candidate Angelina “Angie” Camacho’s campaign has turned in the signatures necessary to petition for a recount after coming in just 28 votes behind second-place finisher Roy Owens, according to the city’s unofficial results. “Given such a small margin, we owe it to our supporters, friends, and the community to make sure that every ballot is counted and every voice has been heard,” she said in a statement. More from GBH News’ Saraya Wintersmith. – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Council at-large candidate David Halbert has been endorsed by state Rep. Jay Livingstone and District 8 City Councilor Kenzie Bok, per his campaign. Halbert finished sixth in last week’s preliminary and is now one of eight candidates vying for four seats. THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP – Eleven more cities are holding preliminary elections today. Here are a few to watch: Lawrence — Kendrys Vasquez, who took over earlier this year when former mayor Dan Rivera left to lead MassDevelopment, is vying for a full four-year term against former city councilor Brian DePena, nonprofit and city health leader Vilma Martinez-Dominguez, Doris Rodriguez and William Lantigua, the former mayor and state representative who’s spent years trying to stage a political comeback in the city. Everett — Gerly Adrien, who became the first Black woman elected to the Everett City Council in 2019, has since faced criticism from her colleagues and sparred with the mayor she’s running to unseat, Carlo DeMaria. City Councilor Fred Capone is also in the mix. GBH News’ Adam Reilly has a preliminary primer. Holyoke — This western Massachusetts city is poised to elect its first new mayor in a decade out of a field of seven hopefuls. There’s been some drama — mayoral candidate and Blandford Town Administrator Joshua A. Garcia and council hopeful Israel Rivera, both of whom are Latino, publicly decried racism after their campaign signs were vandalized over the summer. The Springfield Republican didn’t endorse, simply urging in an editorial that people vote. Western Mass Politics & Insight’s Matt Szafranski has candidate profiles. North Adams — Four women are running for two spots to advance to the Nov. 2 general election, meaning that no matter who wins tonight, the city is all but guaranteed its first female mayor. The Berkshire Eagle’s Greta Jochem has more. – “Newburyport mayoral candidates gear up for Tuesday's preliminary election,” by Dave Rogers, Newburyport Daily News. FROM THE HUB – “Boston 'can’t withdraw' downtown waterfront plan, Baker says,” by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: “Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday indicated the state would not accept Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s request to withdraw the city’s downtown waterfront municipal harbor plan — at least not without an alternative in its place." – “Amid bus driver shortage, Boston students ride party bus with stripper poles and neon lights on field trip,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “Students in Boston rode a party bus, complete with a stripper pole and neon lights, on a field trip due to the ongoing national school bus driver shortage. Eleventh grade AP Language & Composition teacher at the Brooke Charter School in Boston, Jim Mayers tweeted about the experience on Sept. 17.” The tweet has since been deleted, but see Mayers’ comments here. – From the opinion pages: “‘You can have empathy, but to ignore the situation, the lawlessness, it’s not a solution’: Businesses near ‘Mass. and Cass’ pay a steep price,” by Shirley Leung, Boston Globe. OFFICIAL BUSINESS – “Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tours Milford preschool to highlight Biden administration’s push to invest in early childhood education,” by Will Katcher, MassLive.com: “Emhoff highlighted the American Rescue Plan and pushed the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better Agenda, which the president hopes will invest significantly in early childhood education and cut costs of child care for parents. … Emhoff, joined by Rep. Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), was introduced to the preschool by Dorothy Vecchiolla, who founded it in 1961 when she could not find child care for her own kids, and Pamelia White, the school’s director of 40 years.” More from NBC10 Boston's Alison King. DAY IN COURT – “Ex-Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia to be acquitted on 8 wire, tax fraud counts related to SnoOwl,” by Dan Medeiros, Linda Murphy, Jo C. Goode and Lynne Sullivan, Herald News: “Former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia II went to court Monday expecting to be sentenced, but the judge instead said he will grant a stunning acquittal on eight of the wire and tax fraud counts related to misuse of funds intended for his tech startup, SnoOwl — overturning much of the jury’s guilty verdict against him. Still, Judge Douglas P. Woodlock made it clear there would be no acquittal on the extortion counts related to Correia shaking down marijuana vendors looking to do business in the city.” – “Sudders added as defendant in veterans’ lawsuit against Holyoke Soldiers’ Home officials,” by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: “Lawyers for veterans who died of COVID-19 at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home on Monday added Massachusetts’ Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders as a defendant in their lawsuit against officials of the state-run facility, alleging she long neglected severe leadership problems at the home.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “Still no MBTA board as Baker moves slower than expected on appointments,” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “Seven weeks have passed since [Gov. Charlie] Baker, a Republican, said he’d probably announce his appointments to the new board ‘in the next four to six weeks.’ The Legislature and the governor created the seven-person panel to oversee the MBTA on July 29. But Baker aides signaled Monday that the wait might be coming to an end.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Mass. is creating a Commission on Clean Heat, a major step toward achieving climate goals,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “The Commission on Clean Heat, created by Governor Charlie Baker in an executive order, will set targets for buildings across the state, including homes, and be a ‘critical tool in the effort to reduce emissions from heating fuels,’ the state said.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Massachusetts State Police trooper fired over ‘cleavage,’ ‘D cup’ and penis messages,” by Joe Dwinell and Howie Carr, Boston Herald: “An investigation by an unnamed DA’s Special Victim’s Unit and the Massachusetts State Police over the alleged tawdry texts ended in [Nidu] Andrade’s dismissal. He is one of the 14 state troopers dishonorably discharged — or who quit while under investigation — in the past year.” – “Worcester mayor depicted with Hitler-like moustache on police union Facebook page,” by Kim Ring, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “A social media post on the police union's Facebook page depicting Mayor Joseph M. Petty sporting a Hitler-style moustache left the mayor feeling disheartened and troubled that such a photo would be circulated during the Jewish holidays. " MEDIA MATTERS – “Globe employees protest their boss while she's being interviewed at WBUR,” by Adam Gaffin, Universal Hub; “Boston Globe Workers Appeal to Gloria Steinem in Labor Dispute,” by Molly Osberg, Jezebel. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Samantha Power, Mark Steffen, Cass Sunstein and Deborah Weinberger. 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.   JOIN THURSDAY FOR A WOMEN RULE CONVERSATION ON ENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY: Sexual assault in the military has been an issue for years, and political leaders are taking steps to address it. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) proposed bipartisan legislation to overhaul military sexual assault policies, but still face opposition. Join Women Rule for a virtual interview featuring Sens. Ernst and Gillibrand, who will discuss their legislative push and what it will take to end sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military. REGISTER HERE.       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

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