| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | MAYOR WU’S MANDATE — Minutes after Michelle Wu was sworn in as the third person to lead Boston in less than a year, Sen. Ed Markey told reporters that she “is going to be a historic mayor because this is going to be the Green New Deal city for the United States and for the whole world. It’s going to be the model.” Rep. Ayanna Pressley called Wu the “mayor that will meet the moment." Sen. Elizabeth Warren hailed Wu’s “great vision.” No pressure. Wu vowed to tackle "the big and the small” in her first speech as mayor. Some of her initial priorities seem more granular than grandiose — hiring to fill the hundreds of open positions across city government, preparing for winter weather and continuing to tackle the public health and housing crises at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. She’s also giving herself some leeway after a rushed transition. Wu told reporters she’s not starting the counter on her first 100 days in office until January, when she’s planning a full inaugural fête with the incoming city council. Yet Wu remains ambitious. She said delivering both basic city services and generational change is not just possible, but "absolutely necessary." Her supporters, who lauded her campaign-trail calls to stabilize rent and expand access to public transit, know some of her "reach goals" will "take time and work to build support at other levels” of government, Boston Ward 4 Democratic Committee Chair Jonathan Cohn said. But they're looking forward to that collaboration. Wu’s starting out with a fairly friendly city council. That should continue once the newcomers (who each got a nod from Wu in her speech) take their seats. “Michelle has built some deep and strong and successful partnerships and relationships and friendships with all of us and the new councilors,” City Council President Pro Tempore Matt O’Malley told me. Rent control and fare-free MBTA service will face political headwinds on Beacon Hill, where GOP Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic legislative leaders have so far been cool toward Wu’s loftiest goals. But she’s got a key ally in House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz and a bevy of State House endorsers who are pushing policies that align with her aims. Wu isn’t as chummy with Baker as he was with Marty Walsh during the latter’s tenure as mayor. But inviting the governor to her swearing-in ceremony was a good overture. Wu didn't invite Walsh, with whom she's had a fraught relationship over the years, according to a source close to the labor secretary. Asked whether she'd extended an invitation, Wu replied: "I received a text message from him earlier [Tuesday], but I'm sure he was in D.C. working." Walsh was in Boston yesterday to receive a leadership award at the The Ireland Funds’ annual gala. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Here’s what Playbook readers said they want Wu to focus on in her first 100 days: South Boston resident Scott McCarty: “Ensuring that bus lines run on time and have capacity is important. I really would love to see how expanding the pilot program in other parts of the city … could help improve ridership and save us money in the long haul.” Roxbury resident Shaikh Hasib: “Analysis and expansion of youth employment and engagement opportunities, which includes strengthening and building public/private/non-profit partnerships.” Marinell Rousmaniere, CEO of EdVestors, part of the All Children Thrive Boston coalition: "ACT Boston urges Mayor Wu in the first 100 days to publicly publish a preK-12 'Education Vision' with objectives and outcomes, align the BPS budget with this [plan] and appoint a Cabinet-level education lead in City Hall to oversee [its] implementation." Youth For Michelle Wu, a group of young activists supporting the mayor, last night [and not in response to this prompt] tweeted a series of "policy solutions" for public health and protecting human rights in the "Mass and Cass" area. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker speaks at the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at 8:30 a.m. in Sutton and at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner at 6 p.m. in Danvers. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speaks at the MARPA/DLS conference at 9 a.m. and presides over a Governor's Council meeting at noon. Wu hosts a press availability at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall. Rep. Stephen Lynch holds a hearing on mental health among servicemembers and veterans at 10 a.m. Rep. Seth Moulton is on WBUR's "Radio Boston" at 3 p.m. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) speaks virtually at Tufts 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. | |
| | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts reports 1,848 new coronavirus cases, breakthrough case count on the rise,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “State health officials on Tuesday reported 1,848 new coronavirus cases, as total COVID hospitalizations in the Bay State rose again. The state Department of Public Health also reported 5,313 breakthrough cases from last week, which was up from the tally of 4,608 breakthrough infections during the previous week." | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Expanded voting by mail ends next month in Massachusetts, ramping up calls for a permanent law,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts’ temporary law allowing all voters to cast a ballot by mail is set to end next month without a permanent replacement on the books ... House Speaker Ronald Mariano said the chamber is not expected to take up sweeping election legislation before lawmakers on Wednesday conclude formal lawmaking for the year. It also was unclear whether the Legislature could seek to again extend a pandemic-era voting law that allows expanded voting by mail before it expires on Dec. 15." – “Mariano Plans to Seek Another Term as House Speaker,” by Sam Doran, State House News Service (paywall): “As candidates start to shift into campaign mode for 2022, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday that he intends to stick around for another term in one of the most powerful posts in state government. ‘I have every intention of doing that, yeah,’ Mariano told the News Service, regarding his plans to campaign for another term in the House next November, then another term as speaker in January 2023.” – “Progressive group slams House for lack of professionalism, transparency,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “A group of progressive activists, including three former state representatives, released a 52-page report on Tuesday slamming state House leaders for perpetuating a structure that centralizes power in the speaker and limits the power of rank-and-file lawmakers. The report says a lack of professionalism in the House – where some lawmakers have only a single staffer and staff receive little training – compounds the problem.” – “House move to save local hospitals sets up potential health care overhaul from Beacon Hill,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “The House is set to debate and pass a bill Wednesday that would toughen state health care watchdogs and fortify obstacles faced by hospital chains trying to expand with facilities in areas that are already serviced by struggling local hospitals.” – “Senate to take up mental health access bill,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “The state Senate on Wednesday will take up a major proposal aimed at improving access to mental health services, and lawmakers are calling for more changes to reduce wait times, improve coverage and reduce suicide deaths.” – “Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition to testify before state committee about management changes,” by Amy Phillips, WWLP: “The legislation before the committee would replace the Boards of Trustees at the two veterans’ homes and replace them with a powerless statewide advisory council. The Coalition will voice their opposition to this move at a virtual meeting being held on Friday.” – “Genocide Education Bill Gaining Momentum,” by Chris Van Buskirk, State House News Service (paywall): “Arguing that the world's worst mass atrocities are at risk of being forgotten by younger generations, the House passed a bill Tuesday requiring public schools to teach the history of genocides and setting up a fund to help support the new curriculum.” – “Baker eyes next spring to get some infrastructure money out the door,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald. – “Baker: $500m for unemployment insurance fund not debatable,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine. – "Brookline Rep. Tommy Vitolo Announces Reelection Bid," by Annie Sandoli, Patch. | | WU TRAIN |
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Michelle Wu is sworn in as mayor of Boston | Charles Krupa/AP Photo | (Charles Krupa/AP Photo) | – “‘We have so much work to do.’ Michelle Wu sworn in as mayor of Boston,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “In perhaps the most significant transfer of power in the city’s modern history, Michelle Wu on Tuesday was sworn in as Boston’s first woman, first person of color, and first Asian American mayor popularly elected to office. … ‘The first time I set foot in City Hall, I felt invisible, but today I see what’s possible in this building,’ Wu told those gathered. … Her speech served as a political victory lap of sorts for Wu, who recalled her past successes on the council, including helping deliver paid parental leave, housing protections, and language access.” – The Boston Herald's Sean Philip Cotter has more on the power transfer: “Tuesday afternoon was the first time since late March that Boston has had a fully empowered mayor. Acting mayors as Kim Janey was in the interim, despite her aversion to that first word, have more limited powers — relegated only to matters “not admitting of delay,” and no permanent appointments.” – Mayoral math from GBH News’ Saraya Wintersmith: “Wu, who formed an alliance with the city's acting Mayor Kim Janey shortly after the September preliminary election, declined to acknowledge her number in Boston's line of mayoral succession in remarks to reporters after the event, leaving space for Janey to continue to define herself as the city's 55th mayor, and — by implication — the Boston's first Black chief executive, a point of importance among some voters." – “Wu campaign manager, former Healey aide tapped for top City Hall posts,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: “Mary Lou Akai-Ferguson, who served as Michelle Wu’s mayoral campaign manager, has signed on as interim chief of staff for the nascent administration. The Wu transition team also announced that Attorney General Maura Healey's former chief of staff [Mike Firestone] will also enter City Hall as chief of policy and strategic planning.” – Firestone was director of the Coalition to Protect Workers' Rights, the group opposing a proposed 2022 ballot question to classify app-based drivers as independent contractors. AFL-CIO chief of staff Chrissy Lynch is now the coalition's acting director, the group confirmed. | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Shattuck hospital would provide temporary housing for people at Mass. and Cass under state plan,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “State officials are planning to house several dozen of the people living in the homeless encampment around Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard in a ‘temporary cottage community’ on the grounds of the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital campus in Jamaica Plain.” – “‘We’re backed into a corner’: New homeless encampment rises near Mass. and Cass,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “A new encampment of tents, tarps and makeshift homes has emerged in Newmarket Square, just around the corner from the now-empty corridor near Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard where hundreds of people had lived just weeks ago." – “Boston Medical Center launches new plan to address racial disparities in health care,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “Boston Medical Center, the safety-net hospital where the majority of patients identify as people of color, is launching a broad new effort to pinpoint racial inequities in health care and work to eliminate those disparities for Black and brown people.” – “Clinical trial for Alzheimer’s vaccine to begin at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “A first-of-its-kind clinical trial that will test a nasal vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease is actively recruiting participants at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in what could be a game-changing treatment." | | BALLOT BATTLES |
| – “App-Based Driver Campaign Claims Signature Success,” by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service (paywall): “The coalition, called the Massachusetts Coalition For Independent Work, announced Tuesday that it has submitted 260,000 signatures to town and city clerks, with about 130,000 signatures submitted for each version of the question. At least 80,239 certified signatures must be turned into Secretary of State William Galvin's office by Dec. 1 to keep initiative petitions on track and put them before the Legislature for potential consideration in 2022." | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Use of breath tests again suspended,” by Julie Manganis, Salem News: “A Salem judge who has been overseeing litigation over the breath alcohol test devices used by police in Massachusetts has ordered another statewide suspension of their use pending a hearing into new complaints about their reliability." | | MARKEYCHUSETTS |
| – “Ed Markey channels Taylor Swift in push for climate action in Biden’s Build Back Better bill,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, the septuagenarian Massachusetts senator invoked the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s re-recorded hit ‘All Too Well’ in his continued push for President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan, along with a photo-shopped frame from the short film that accompanied the extended, 10-minute song.” | | THE CLARK CAUCUS |
| – "Rep. Katherine Clark on wins for MA in infrastructure bill," by Kerry Kavanaugh, Boston 25 News: "This bill is going to create over 2 million jobs a year for the next 10 years. That is going to be a direct benefit to people at home in Massachusetts." | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “Lamont puts TCI on hold in Connecticut,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday said he is putting on hold his pursuit of the Transportation Climate Initiative, leaving Massachusetts in a precarious, go-it-alone position as the regional cap-and-trade gasoline initiative is scheduled to begin practice runs next year and launch formally in 2023.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Springfield sets aside $5M to settle police misconduct cases,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “The City Council has set aside $5 million to settle police misconduct cases in Springfield, occurring as the city continues to negotiate major police reforms with the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at improving conduct and reducing future citizen complaints.” – “Hand recount in District 4 council race set for Nov. 23,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: " The recount comes following a request from Evan Ross, an incumbent [Amherst] councilor, who, based on unofficial results released by the town clerk’s office on election night, narrowly lost his reelection bid to challenger Pamela Rooney.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – "Poll finds parents bullish on return to in-person learning," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "After a year and a half of unprecedented disruption of daily life, parents of K-12 students in Massachusetts are very optimistic about what the return to in-person classes will bring, with more than a third saying they expect their child to finish the current school year academically ahead of grade level. ... The results come from a poll [by the MassINC Polling Group]." – “COVID outbreak shuts down police academy,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “A small coronavirus outbreak has halted instruction at one of the state's police academies. Three student officers tested positive at Northern Essex Community College's academy.” – “Danvers school officials say they 'fell short' in informing public,” by Paul Leighton and Jill Harmacinski, Salem News: “School officials acknowledged Tuesday night they ‘fell short’ in informing the public about the seriousness of alleged racist and homophobic misconduct in the high school boys’ hockey program and promised to do better in the future.” – “A growing push to eliminate Native American mascots in Massachusetts schools,” by Julia Carlin, Boston Globe: "[A] bill would require about two dozen schools to abandon their current nicknames, bar the sale and distribution of materials with Native American symbols, and halt construction or renovation of team logo displays." – “'Failure to elect.' Recount results in tie for Framingham's District 3 council seat,” by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: “City Clerk Lisa Ferguson said that a ‘failure to elect’ had occurred. … One or both sides could now bring the matter to [Superior Court].” | | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| – "Biden returns to New Hampshire for first time since his primary loss to tout his new infrastructure law," by Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe: "The state was the first stop in a series of nationwide events by [President Joe] Biden and top administration officials to promote the bipartisan infrastructure law — and in the process try to rebuild the popularity of his presidency..." SPOTTED — at Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's swearing-in ceremony: Gov. Charlie Baker, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Secretary of State Bill Galvin (wearing a vote mask); Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins; Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins; state Sens. Julian Cyr and Sal DiDomenico; state Reps. Aaron Michlewitz, Adrian Madaro, Liz Miranda, Jay Livingstone, Nika Elugardo, Mike Moran, Kevin Honan, Liz Malia, Jon Santiago, Chynah Tyler, Tommy Vitolo and Maria Robinson; City Council President Kim Janey; Councilors Matt O'Malley, Annissa Essaibi George, Lydia Edwards, Liz Breadon, Ricardo Arroyo, Julia Mejia, Frank Baker, Kenzie Bok, Andrea Campbell, Ed Flynn and Michael Flaherty; Councilors-elect Tania Anderson, Kendra Hicks, Ruthzee Louijeune, Erin Murphy and Brian Worrell; Councilor to-be Alejandra St. Guillen , former state Rep. Byron Rushing, former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and former city councilor Tito Jackson. ALSO SPOTTED — Victoria Reggie Kennedy being sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Austria (h/t Christine Heenan and Ted Nesi). HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Ann Murphy, partner at Seven Letter; Aidan Golub, Alexandra Goodwin, Sophia Wang, policy director for Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn; and Laurie Norton Moffatt, director/CEO at Norman Rockwell Museum. Happy belated to Josh Gee, who celebrated Tuesday. 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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