| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | NEW: LISS-RIORDAN’S NEXT MOVE — Labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan is taking another step toward running for state attorney general. But she’s only in the race if the current officeholder, Maura Healey, is out. Liss-Riordan is forming a campaign committee so she can begin fundraising for a potential bid should Healey not seek reelection, according to a person familiar with her planning. She filed the requisite paperwork with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance last night, per a copy obtained by POLITICO. Six days after Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito bowed out, Liss-Riordan is far from the only statewide office-seeker staring down a murky path as Democrats continue to wait for Healey’s decision on the 2022 governor’s race. And speculation about Healey’s plans continues to suck up oxygen from the three Democrats actually in the race for governor — state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, former state Sen. Ben Downing and Harvard professor Danielle Allen. Allen said in a weekend fundraising email that Baker’s exit “propelled our campaign to the next level.” But for now, most eyes remain trained on Healey and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, though a source familiar with his thinking said the former Boston mayor is unlikely to run for governor if Healey does. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. There's more movement further down the ballot. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Raul Fernandez, vice chair of the Brookline Select Board, is challenging state Rep. Tommy Vitolo next year. The Democrats will square off in Brookline’s 15th Norfolk District. Fernandez became the first Latino elected to the Brookline Select Board in 2019. The New York City native and Boston University professor counts Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) among his friends, and is working with Rivera Consulting on his state representative bid. “I’ve seen what Brookline can accomplish when we put racial and economic justice at the top of our agenda.” Fernandez said in a statement. “But I’m not seeing the same urgency from local leadership in our state government.” SENATE SCRAMBLE — State Rep. Nika Elugardo will run for the 2nd Suffolk state Senate seat being vacated by Chang-Díaz. Elugardo said in October that she was seeking reelection to her House seat . But the Jamaica Plain progressive told me last night that she reversed course after hearing from “the voices I was trying to lift up by staying out of the race” that not running “didn’t seem to be what many of them wanted.” Elugardo will likely face state Rep. Liz Miranda, who is expected to announce her Senate campaign imminently and has already brought on Rivera Consulting to help. Former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who held the seat before Chang-Díaz, told the Dorchester Reporter that she’s weighing a bid for her former job. Are you running for office? Still blown away by last night's Patriots game? Let's chat: lkashinsky@politico.com. TODAY — Polito makes a MassWorks grant announcement in Revere at 10:30 a.m. Sen. Elizabeth Warren chairs a subcommittee hearing on "Promoting Competition, Growth, and Privacy Protection in the Technology Sector” at 9:30 a.m. Rep. Stephen Lynch chairs a subcommittee hearing on U.S. counterterrorism policy at 9:30 a.m. Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark hosts a press conference on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at 12:30 p.m. at the MWRA in Winthrop. | |
| | 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 more than 11,000 coronavirus cases over the weekend, hospitalizations keep spiking,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The 11,199 infection tally was more than double last weekend’s count of 5,497 cases. … After the 11,199 new virus cases, the seven-day daily average of cases is now 3,615. That’s more than triple the daily average of 1,129 infections about a month ago.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Geoff Diehl demands Charlie Baker veto coronavirus spending bill over inadequate unemployment funding,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The sole major Republican candidate for governor in next year’s election [former state Rep. Geoff Diehl] is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to veto a $4 billion coronavirus relief spending bill he says saddles billions of dollars of unemployment debt on the backs of businesses.” – “Strapped public health departments in Massachusetts poised for massive boost,” by Mike Beaudet, WCVB: “The state's local and regional public health system is on the verge of receiving a huge infusion of cash if Gov. Charlie Baker signs the Legislature's plan to spend $4 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and surplus state tax revenue. The plan includes a $200 million investment in local and regional public health, where inequities have become apparent under the stress of the pandemic. … State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said a massive public health investment from the state is long overdue.” – “Final Mass. ARPA bill lowers funding for job-training,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “Massachusetts lawmakers have passed a $107.5 million job-training package as part of a multibillion-dollar American Rescue Plan Act bill — a significantly lower amount than what Beacon Hill leaders had proposed earlier this year." – “Mental health beds cut amid staffing shortages,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “More than 350 beds in psychiatric facilities have been eliminated amid staffing shortages in the state’s behavioral health system, according to a new report. The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association’s latest survey of hospitals found that while the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a sharp uptick in people needing behavioral health services, hospitals have been forced to reduce the number of inpatient beds available to treat those patients.” | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – "'A false sense of security': Critics question the state’s COVID testing program in schools," by Gabrielle Emanuel, WBUR: "Rising COVID numbers in Massachusetts — and the arrival of the new omicron variant — have reignited debate over the state’s program for coronavirus testing in public schools. Critics question whether enough students are participating to make the results useful, and whether the benefits that do exist are being felt evenly across the state." | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Wu announces free COVID tests, masks, and vaccination clinics to confront Boston’s ‘urgent situation’,” by Felice J. Freyer and Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: “Boston health officials will distribute 20,000 free rapid antigen home tests and free masks to neighborhoods with the highest rates of COVID-19, Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration announced Monday. The city will also expand access to vaccinations, including at new high-volume clinics and city schools.” – “Boston sees COVID surge with 5.2% positivity rate, Wu says,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Monday the city is now solidly in an ‘anticipated’ winter COVID-19 surge, with the city's positivity rate at 5.2% — just above the 5% ‘threshold of concern’ which indicates active spread of sickness. The announcement came as Wu unveiled a new 18-member advisory committee to help guide Boston's pandemic response.” – “Michelle Wu has no timeline for clearing tents from Mass and Cass, city searching for 200 homeless beds,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Mayor Michelle Wu said she has no timeline for tearing down the tent cities that have sprung up at Mass and Cass, where opioid use and homelessness have hit crisis levels. … Wu said city officials are searching for up to 200 beds to house people living in tents around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard … adding potential locations still included the Roundhouse.” – “‘We have a mandate’: Boston leaders hear arguments for elected School Committee after voters backed it in November,” by Bianca Vázquez Toness, Boston Globe: “Boston city leaders must return residents’ right to elect the School Committee after voters handed down that directive last month, several city councilors and advocates for the change argued Monday evening at the city’s first public hearing on the issue.” – “Marty Martinez, who has guided Boston’s pandemic response, is leaving his Cabinet post,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Marty Martinez, Boston’s health and human services chief who has spearheaded the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year-and-a-half, is leaving his Cabinet post this week. … Martinez, who served as the city’s health chief for four years, is the latest City Hall departure in what has been a year of upheaval and transition under three different mayors: Martin J. Walsh, Kim Janey, and now Michelle Wu.” | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “Were the votes cast for Mary Kate Feeney? Judge reviews 2 ballots in tied Framingham race,” by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: “A Superior Court judge said he will make a decision regarding the deadlocked race for a [Framingham] City Council seat on Tuesday. District 3 incumbent Adam Steiner and challenger Mary Kate Feeney are currently tied for the seat. Unofficial election results from the Nov. 2 municipal election had Steiner leading, 997-995, but Feeney picked up two votes during a Nov. 16 recount, resulting in the tie.” – "Springfield City Council candidate Jynai McDonald asks court to ‘void’ her election loss to Malo Brown in Ward 4," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "[Springfield] Ward 4 City Council candidate Jynai McDonald last week filed a complaint in Hampden Superior Court seeking to void her election loss to Malo Brown based on allegations of a flawed absentee ballot system, election violations and voter intimidation." | | TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) |
| – "Senate showdown pits family roots against Boston councilor," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "Anthony D'Ambrosio says he's the 'anti-establishment' candidate for state Senate, calling out the failures of Beacon Hill leadership to which he says his opponent, Lydia Edwards, is tied. Edwards scoffs at the suggestion that she’s the insider, ticking off ways she has challenged the status quo and charging that D’Ambrosio, with little experience to tout, is largely hoping to trade on his family ties in the district, which includes East Boston, Revere, and Winthrop, along with the North End, Beacon Hill, Chinatown, and a slice of Cambridge. " | | FEELING '22 |
| – “Wilkerson weighs campaign to return to state Senate,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: “With state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz running for governor in 2022, her former rival Dianne Wilkerson is considering a campaign for the seat Chang-Diaz is giving up. ‘I haven’t made a decision,’ Wilkerson, who previously held the state Senate seat, told the Reporter. ‘That’s my answer.’ Wilkerson, 66, expects to make a decision about another Senate run in January or February.” – “Bourne school board member will remain if also elected to state senate,” by Paul Gately, Cape Cod Times: “School committee member Kari MacRae, with Republican Party support, is setting her political sights on Beacon Hill via a 2022 race against Democratic state Sen. Susan Moran. … MacRae, of Bournedale, also said she will remain on the Bourne school board if elected to the state senate. … In September, the Bourne teachers union and other members of the Bourne community sought MacRae's resignation from the school board after a TikTok video emerged of MacRae making comments about gender identification and racism education. MacRae refused to resign.” | | NOT FEELING '22 |
| – “With Gov. Charlie Baker out in 2022, Springfield fundraiser will be held as holiday party instead with Western Mass. supporters,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito are still headed to the Student Prince in Springfield next week to meet with Western Massachusetts supporters. But the event, initially slated as an optimistic fundraiser promising ‘FOUR MORE YEARS’ for the Baker administration, will instead be repurposed as a holiday party — after the pair announced last Wednesday they will not seek a third term in office.” | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Shelley Joseph’s appeal goes before First Circuit court,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: “Suspended Newton Judge Shelley Joseph’s case finally went before the First Circuit appeals panel with justices questioning why she let an illegal immigrant escape from ICE agents in her court. The panel questioned the intent behind Joseph’s actions, according to the National Law Journal. ‘Judicial immunity’ was front and center at the hearing Monday.” – “Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court weighs who has control over Springfield Police Department,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “The decision on whether the governance of the Police Department will remain in the control of a single person or be returned to a five-member commission is now in the hands of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.” | | DATELINE D.C. |
| – “Boston 25′s exclusive look inside White House holiday preparations with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden,” by Kerry Kavanaugh, Boston 25 News: “Because of the pandemic, the White House remains closed to public tours. But Boston 25′s Kerry Kavanaugh was invited inside to see the holiday decorations and speak one-on-one with the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. The First Lady said those decorations and displays are a thank you to the American people. The official theme this year is ‘gifts from the heart.’” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “A waiting game for offshore wind jobs,” by Anastasia Lennon, New Bedford Light: “[This summer] Vineyard Wind CEO Lars T. Pedersen and Southeastern Massachusetts Building Trades Council President David Araujo signed a ‘historic’ project labor agreement to a resounding applause. It guarantees at least 500 union jobs for the project’s construction and installation, according to the signatories. Wanting to be among those 500, select tradespeople have committed time to train for one of the future offshore jobs with the hope (but no guarantee) that they’ll be tapped to participate, some starting so long ago that they’ll need to get recertified. They’re ready and waiting, but amid project delays and limited positions for some trades, they say they’re not relying on the job.” – “Boston handpicked in ARPA bill for offshore-wind dollars,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “From the outset, state officials have viewed ARPA as a way to boost the Massachusetts offshore wind industry beyond New Bedford. The final bill makes sure that Boston, in particular, gets a piece of that pie.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “This is why your troubled teen — or you — may wait six months to see a counselor in Berkshire County,” by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: “Before the pandemic, if you called the Brien Center as an outpatient and said you or a child wanted help coping with a problem, you might have waited for an appointment. But not for three months. And you would not have been asked to wait six months, as can be the case today.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Grid operator nervous about energy constraints,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The head of the New England power grid said on Monday that energy supply constraints in the region continue to make him nervous, and he said the situation has been aggravated by passage of a law by Maine voters blocking a Massachusetts-financed power line importing hydroelectricity from Quebec.” – “Employees at three Somerville coffee shops move to unionize,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “Employees at three Somerville coffee shops began steps to form a union on Monday, joining a growing labor movement of cafe workers across the Greater Boston area. An organizing committee of 11 employees at Diesel Café, Bloc Café and Forge Baking Company — which all share the same management team — requested voluntary recognition of their organizing effort with the New England Joint Board UNITE HERE union in a letter sent to management Monday morning.” – “This is Boston’s most popular dog name. It may sound familiar,” by Peter Chianca, Boston.com: “The people at Rover.com clearly spend an awful lot of time thinking about dogs. … So we can probably trust them when they tell us that the most popular dog name in Boston is one we’re used to hearing a lot around these parts, especially if you’re the political sort. That’s right, there are an awful lot of Charlies running around out there — even if the state’s favorite Charlie, Baker, isn’t running for governor again.” – “Cambridge considers appointing rat liaison to address rodent surge,” by WCVB: “The rat situation in Cambridge has gotten so bad that councilors voted to have the city manager designate a point person to serve as a rodent liaison for the public and city officials. They're also considering adding a full-time rat liaison position.” | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| – “Amid an ongoing contract dispute, Daily Hampshire Gazette’s guest columnists withhold future articles in solidarity with staff’s union,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “For nearly three years, [Kyle] Grabowski and other staff of the Daily Hampshire Gazette have been embroiled in a contract dispute with the paper’s ownership as they seek outsourcing protections and pay increases that keep up with inflation. On Thursday, the Pioneer Valley News Guild, the staff’s union, returns to the negotiating table with Newspapers of New England, the Gazette’s owner. But on Monday, Grabowski gathered with other writers, photographers, employees and supporters outside the paper’s Conz Street office in Northampton as a group of guest columnists announced they were pulling their articles from the Gazette until the contract was resolved.” TRANSITIONS – Collin Mothupi is the new board chair of Watertown-based global women’s health organization Pathfinder International. Catherine L. Falvey has joined Tenax Strategies as a senior account executive to their client servicing team. Brittany Ling has joined Sherin and Lodgen LLP’s real estate department. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Candy Glazer, chair emeritus of the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee and a longtime activist; Jerry Berger and Chris Moran. Happy belated to Matt Chilliak. 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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