| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | HERE WE ARE AGAIN — December 2021 is beginning to look a lot like December 2020 — and not because it’s almost Christmas. Covid-19 cases are surging. Hospitals are getting overwhelmed. Gov. Charlie Baker is restricting elective surgeries. A new variant is spreading. The state is starting to distribute 2.1 million rapid at-home tests to 102 communities. A high-volume booster clinic is now on deck at Fenway Park, one of last winter’s mass vaccination sites. Yet medical professionals, some lawmakers and even the Boston Globe’s Editorial Board are pushing for a statewide mask mandate. Without one, a patchwork of regulations is rising from cities and towns. Parents and school nurses rallied outside the State House yesterday calling for more proactive steps to curb Covid's spread in schools. They demonstrated hours after Boston said three young adults who were not fully vaccinated had tested positive for the Omicron variant. State Sen. Becca Rausch and 13 lawmakers sent a letter to Baker yesterday urging him to adopt a “Covid-19 Action Plan” from public health and medical experts that would align the state’s indoor and school mask policies with CDC recommendations. Baker said this week he has no plans for a statewide mask mandate, even as neighboring Rhode Island imposed new restrictions. “We’re not completely back to square one," because there are vaccines, Rausch told me. "But we are in another surge and this is not a moment to just refuse to listen to expert advice." In another sign of the pandemic times, the Legislature’s Covid-19 oversight committee will hold its first hearing in three months today, with public health leaders and medical experts teed up to talk hospital, vaccine and community needs at the 10 a.m. meeting. “I’m really concerned about the transmission over the last month,” state Rep. Bill Driscoll Jr., House chair of the oversight committee, told me. “Anything we do today to slow down Delta will pay off [with Omicron].” Three Baker administration officials — Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, interim Department of Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke, and Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management Director Kerin Milesky — were invited to testify. But Driscoll said they’re unable to make it. They're now working to find another date. ICYMI, my POLITICO colleagues took a deep dive into how well states have handled the pandemic. Here’s how Massachusetts fared. | 
POLITICO data analysis | GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz is giving one of her Democratic rivals, former state Sen. Ben Downing, a run for his money as the climate candidate in the governor’s race. Chang-Díaz is rolling out “A Green New Deal for Massachusetts," an 11-page climate plan that calls to transition the electric grid to 100 percent renewable, carbon-free energy sources by 2030; eliminate carbon emissions from new buildings by 2030 and all buildings by 2045; block future fossil fuel infrastructure projects; transition to fully electric — and fare-free — public transit systems and create a Cabinet of Climate and Resilience. Downing, who worked for a renewable energy company after leaving the Senate, has called for 100 percent clean electricity by 2030 and 100 percent clean energy (for heating, cooling and transportation) by 2040 as part of his climate plan. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Tomorrow is the last Playbook of the year! Massachusetts Playbook won’t publish from Monday, Dec. 20, through Friday, Dec. 31. I’ll be back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 3. Send all your tips and scoops to lkashinsky@politico.com. TODAY — Baker and First Lady Lauren Baker attend the Gold Star Families tree dedication at 1 p.m. at the State House, followed by a 2:30 p.m. reception with the Military Friends Foundation at the UMass Club. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito makes MassWorks grant announcements at 9 a.m. in Dartmouth, 10:30 a.m. in New Bedford, 12:30 p.m. in Brockton, and 2:30 p.m. with House Speaker Ron Mariano in Quincy. Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark hosts a tele-town hall to discuss the bipartisan infrastructure law at 7 p.m. State Attorney General Maura Healey attends two fundraisers; she still hasn’t said whether she’s running for governor. | |
| | JOIN TODAY FOR A WOMEN RULE 2021 REWIND AND A LOOK AHEAD AT 2022: Congress is sprinting to get through a lengthy and challenging legislative to-do list before the end of the year that has major implications for women’s rights. Join Women Rule editor Elizabeth Ralph and POLITICO journalists Laura Barrón-López, Eleanor Mueller, Elena Schneider and Elana Schor for a virtual roundtable that will explore the biggest legislative and policy shifts in 2021 affecting women and what lies ahead in 2022. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases surge 5,133, positive test rate keeps rising,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The Department of Public Health’s report of 5,133 cases is the sixth report of more than 5,000 daily infections since the start of December." | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – "Baker Takes Last Shot With 'Dangerousness' Bill," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "Warning that Bay Staters continue to face unaddressed public safety threats, Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito on Wednesday launched another bid to update how criminal suspects are declared dangerous and to prevent unauthorized sharing of sexually explicit material. ... More than 30 other states have taken similar steps to prevent the practice sometimes known as 'revenge pornography,' Baker said." – “Comerford’s ‘Charlie’s Law’ would ban video recording while driving,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A proposed law named for late Northampton musician Charlie Braun would ban drivers from recording or broadcasting video behind the wheel in Massachusetts. State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said ‘Charlie’s Law’ is named in honor of the guitarist, music teacher and grandfather who was hit by a car and killed near Northampton High School on Oct. 6.” – “Lawmakers urged to strengthen lemon law,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “A bill backed by Attorney General Maura Healey and several Democratic lawmakers, which was heard by the Legislature’s Transportation Committee on Monday, would increase the timeframe for returning a defective vehicle after it fails a state inspection and expand warranty coverage to higher mileage used cars.” – “Proponents seek to expand expungement law,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Salem News: “A proposal filed by Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, which went before the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, would expand the the list of offenses that could be expunged from a juvenile record and prohibit law-enforcement from sending juvenile criminal records to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Omicron is spreading faster than labs’ ability to track it,” by Felice J. Freyer and Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “...researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, which does the lion’s share of COVID testing in the state, told the Globe they have reported about 15 Omicron cases to Massachusetts and federal public health agencies. But the Baker administration has so far reported only a single Omicron infection in the state, and declined to answer questions from the Globe about cases linked to the new variant.” – “Fenway Park to reopen as mass vaccination site for coronavirus boosters,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “A mass vaccination clinic will reopen at Fenway Park as soon as January in an effort to increase access to coronavirus booster shots as cases surge in Massachusetts, a state official has confirmed. … Currently, about 30,000 boosters are making their way into Massachusetts arms every day, according to state health data.” – “Here’s how many rapid COVID tests Massachusetts cities, town will get this week; for some, it’s not enough,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Some municipalities will be short thousands of test kits to help their residents navigate the pandemic during this latest surge with Christmas fast approaching, according to a MassLive analysis. For example, Lowell, Malden, Brockton, Salem and Revere will receive just a fraction of the supply to cover all residents.” – “HHS forecast shows Omicron stretching U.S. Covid testing supply,” by David Lim and Adam Cancryn, POLITICO: “Internal modeling developed by the Health and Human Services Department’s Testing and Diagnostic Working Group projects that the nation's supply could be stretched by the need to conduct 3 to 5 million tests per day by late January or early February — a sharp increase from current daily levels of more than 1.6 million." | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Tents to be cleared from Mass. and Cass by Jan. 12, Wu announces,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “Boston intends to clear out the Mass. and Cass tent encampment by Jan. 12, and Mayor Michelle Wu said the city has identified more than 150 new housing units that will offer medical services, drug counseling, and mental health programming to help people make the transition from living on the streets. ‘There will not be any tents returning to that area,’ Wu said Wednesday.” – The Boston Herald’s Amy Sokolow breaks down new survey data the city collected from the population at Mass and Cass. – “With major turnover on the horizon, some Boston councilors say goodbye,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Wednesday represented a swan song for a handful of outgoing Boston city councilors, who marked the last meeting of their tenure on the city’s legislative body. There were emotional speeches from Councilors Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi George, Kim Janey, and Matt O’Malley, who are all leaving." – “Boston's huge vote for an elected school committee puts Mayor Wu at odds with majority opinion,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “In November, nearly 80% of Boston's voters — more than the 64% who sent [Michelle] Wu to the mayor's office — supported a return to an elected school committee. Throughout her campaign, Wu consistently championed a hybrid committee.” | | WU TRAIN |
| – "‘Everybody should be represented’: Michelle Wu wants to build a Boston for all," by Shirley Leung, Boston Globe: "Just weeks into her nascent administration, we are getting a glimpse of [Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu’s vision for Boston, where the center of attention isn’t trained on Newbury Street or Seaport Boulevard; where City Hall meets everyone where they are and leaders look like the multicultural metropolis the city has become." – "Michelle Wu: Cities Must Lead for the Green New Deal," by John Nichols, The Nation. | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “These 4 newly elected officials are reshaping politics in Boston and Worcester,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “In Massachusetts’ two biggest cities, local government marked some historic firsts this year, with voters electing [Etel Haxhiaj, Tania Fernandes Anderson, Thu Nguyen, and Ruthzee Louijeune], people from backgrounds that have never been represented in those venues before." – “Lydia Edwards likely Massachusetts Senate victory shakes out first candidate to take her Boston City Council seat,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The domino effect of Lydia Edwards declaring victory in state Democratic Senate primary is already in play, as the first candidate for her soon-to-be vacant city council seat, [Tania Del Rio], has emerged." | | FEELING '22 |
| – CLOSE TO THE VEST: Former U.S. attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling is playing coy about whether he’ll run for governor. Lelling told WBUR’s “Radio Boston” yesterday that Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito are “leaving a big gap” in the Republican field where conservative former state Rep. Geoff Diehl stands as the sole major candidate. “Beyond that, I don’t want to comment right now on whether I am, or am not, thinking about running for [the governor’s office],” Lelling said. | | BALLOT BATTLES |
| "Ahead of gig worker ballot question, a new survey ignites debate," by Lucia Maffei, Boston Business Journal: "A majority of Americans say ride-hailing drivers should be considered independent contractors, according to a new national survey." | | THE OPINION PAGES |
| – "Stan Politics, Ed Markey, and Palestine," by Calla Walsh, Mondoweiss: "When I was a sophomore in high school, I helped build a youth movement and online cult of personality around Senator Ed Markey, winning record youth vote turnout and becoming the first campaign to ever defeat a Kennedy in Massachusetts in September 2020. Now, two years later, I’ve learned that stan politics may be an effective tool for winning elections, but they actively obstruct accountability and grassroots change. If we actually want a shot at a livable future, young people must abandon stan politics — because politicians are not our friends." | | WARREN REPORT |
| – WARREN'S SCOTUS OPINION: Sen. Ed Markey has a new ally in his push to expand the U.S. Supreme Court — Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “I don’t come to this conclusion lightly or because I disagree with a particular decision; I come to this conclusion because I believe the current court threatens the democratic foundations of our nation,” Warren wrote in a Boston Globe op-ed, arguing that more seats would help “restore America’s faith in an independent judiciary" that Republicans have "hijacked" over the years. Markey cheered Warren's new support, saying in a statement that "our momentum for court expansion continues to grow." Warren joins Rep. Ayanna Pressley in cosponsoring legislation Markey and several House members have introduced to add four seats to the bench. Rep. Bill Keating told Playbook he thinks "there are other options such as staggering terms that we should be looking at first." Spokespeople for other delegation members did not respond to requests for comment. | | DATELINE D.C. |
| – PRESSURE ON PAYPAL: Rep. Jake Auchincloss led nearly 20 congressional Democrats in firing off a letter to PayPal accusing the company of playing “a role in financing vaccine disinformation spreaders” and calling on it to consider banning people who disseminate Covid-19 falsehoods from transacting on its platform, my colleagues at POLITICO's Morning Tech scooped. – “Biden Taps Michelle Kwan and Caroline Kennedy for Ambassador Posts,” by Jim Tankersley, New York Times. – “New JFK files bring more frustration than enlightenment,” by Bryan Bender and Claire Rafford, POLITICO. | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “Massachusetts' taxi business sees hope after the pandemic shifts power in transportation,” by Bob Seay, GBH News: “When the first ride-sharing companies arrived on the scene almost a decade ago, many thought they would spell the end of the traditional taxi industry. Then, the pandemic struck, and there was little hope that taxis would even survive. But it is now clear to drivers and owners that the pandemic actually provided an opportunity for taxis to adapt and potentially thrive.” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “Maine judge to rule quickly on transmission line injunction,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Maine District Court Judge Michael Duddy said on Wednesday that he would rule in the next two days on whether to grant a preliminary injunction putting on hold a law passed overwhelmingly by the state’s voters blocking construction of a Massachusetts-financed transmission line bringing hydroelectricity into the region from Quebec.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “District Attorney Andrea Harrington is staffing up a campaign. If she runs, she'll have competition,” by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle: “As the district attorney’s election nears, the field of candidates appears to be in the early stages of taking shape — and the incumbent, Andrea Harrington, is staffing up. … Defense attorney and former prosecutor Robert Sullivan said he is running for the office, and plans to formalize his campaign with the OCPF by the end of the week. … Defense attorney Judith Knight said Wednesday that she, too, is considering a run for district attorney.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “There is no playbook as restaurants head into a second pandemic winter,” by Kara Baskin, Boston Globe: “Heading into a second pandemic winter, restaurants are grappling with a host of challenges: lack of funds, the new Omicron variant, temperamental guests ready to get back to normal life, supply chain issues, and an eerily quiet downtown. There is no playbook. Risk tolerance varies widely. Restaurants make their own vaccine policies for customers and employees.” – “Perry says he 'didn't have to' consult council on bonuses,” by Allison Corneau, Eagle-Tribune: “Whether it’s called hazard pay or a bonus, one thing is clear: $500,000 spent by the city of Methuen on COVID-19 stipends for essential workers must come back to the state. That’s an order by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. City councilors continue to search for answers as to why the money was issued — in prorated single payments of up to $1,500 to 346 employees ranging from a junior accountant to the director of public works — without their prior knowledge. Mayor Neil Perry, however, stands firm as to why he didn’t approach the council for approval.” – “Some Mass. college degrees pay off – but many others don’t,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Massachusetts’ private universities that are not well-ranked nationally are less likely than both public universities or nationally-ranked private universities to give graduates the skills they need to earn back the cost of their degree.” NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE PUSH TO UNIONIZE NEWSROOMS — Host Jennifer Smith talks to state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa about the Daily Hampshire Gazette writers' strike, and to WBUR's Ally Jarmanning and Boston.com's Kevin Slane about the general state of newsroom unions. Smith and host Lisa Kashinsky run through the week in politics. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. TRANSITIONS – MassLive's Scott Croteau will join the Worcester DA's office in January. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to the Boston Globe’s Liz Goodwin, Ryan McCollum, Susan Estrich, Beth Fairservis and Charlotte DuHamel. 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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