| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | SCOOP: HEALEY STAFFS UP — State Attorney General Maura Healey has hired veteran Democratic strategist Mindy Myers as a general consultant for her as-yet-to-be-announced 2022 campaign. Healey’s team confirmed Myers’ hiring when asked by POLITICO but declined to confirm if Healey is running for governor. “Maura is taking a number of steps to prepare for a run and hiring someone with Mindy’s experience and track record is a major step towards that,” a campaign source said. Myers managed Elizabeth Warren’s 2012 Senate campaign and served as the senator’s chief of staff. She was executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and served as an advisor to Kamala Harris during the vice-presidential selection process. She worked with Boston Turnout Project's IEPAC in support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's campaign and is a partner at MZL Media. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: CHANG-DÍAZ HIRES — State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz has added four senior staffers to her gubernatorial campaign. Angela Brooks, who served as director of the Children’s Justice Unit in Healey's AG office and as a Chang-Díaz Senate staffer, is now chief operating officer and senior advisor on Chang-Díaz's campaign. Anthony Collins joins as organizing director after a successful run as field director for Kendra Hicks’ Boston City Council campaign. Collins also worked on campaigns for Warren, Wu, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Sam Hyun, chair of the state’s AAPI Commission and a former legislative aide to former House Speaker Robert DeLeo, will be Chang-Díaz’s political director. Emily Neckes joins as finance director, the same position she held on Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell’s mayoral campaign. Neckes also worked on campaigns for Rep. Lori Trahan, congressional hopeful Jesse Mermell and state Sen. Becca Rausch. NEW: DRISCOLL EYES LG — Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll is “seriously considering” a run for lieutenant governor after receiving encouragement from her counterparts at a recent Massachusetts mayors meeting, according to a source familiar with her thinking. One of those cheerleaders is Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo . “Mayors are leaders of our communities but within the community of mayors, Kim has been a leader for all of us,” Arrigo told me. “I think she should be running for governor, but realistically she’s thinking about lieutenant governor.” Massachusetts mayors increasingly leaned on each other as their cities bore the brunt of the pandemic. Arrigo said “it’s going to be really important for the next governor and lieutenant governor to have that connection with local municipalities” similar to how Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, both former municipal officials, operate. Driscoll was the first woman elected mayor of Salem in 2005 and recently won reelection to a fifth term. The 55-year-old Democrat has a lengthy municipal career throughout the North Shore. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! Don't forget to send your tips and scoops to lkashinsky@politico.com. TODAY — Pressley and colleagues unveil legislation to address mass incarceration at 10:30 a.m. Chang-Díaz is on Bloomberg Baystate Business at 3:15 p.m. THIS WEEKEND — Rep. Jake Auchincloss hosts a town hall in Brookline at 2 p.m. Saturday. Babson College’s Peter Cohan talks inflation and economic recovery on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. House Speaker Ron Mariano is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. | |
| | JOIN TUESDAY 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. | | | | | |  | TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) |
| SENATE SHOWDOWN — ‘Tis the season for some holiday cheer, just not in Boston and Revere. The special election to succeed state Sen. Joe Boncore has turned into a knock-down, drag-out fight between progressive Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards and moderate Revere School Committee member Anthony D’Ambrosio that’s pitting city against city with Winthrop and a slice of Cambridge caught in between. D’Ambrosio’s sent out multiple mailers attacking Edwards, most recently claiming she tried to evict tenants from a home she once owned with her former husband, which Edwards denies. Edwards’ team claimed D’Ambrosio pulled out of one debate because he couldn’t “pick and choose” the questions. D’Ambrosio dismissed it as her campaign “getting desperate.” D’Ambrosio says his mailers are “not nasty” but are “setting the record straight.” Edwards says “you don’t spend [money] putting out someone else’s name in a negative way if you’re not scared of them.” Whew. To the casual observer, Edwards seems like the establishment candidate. She’s got endorsements from the Boston Globe and top Democrats including Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, state Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “It’s experience, not establishment,” Edwards, 40, told me. “I’m the most qualified person who has the strongest relationships” with other electeds from her days as an organizer successfully pushing for a domestic workers’ bill of rights, to her years as a city councilor. Edwards supporters dismiss her opponent as a kid who’s leveraging his family connections and Ivy-League pedigree to win the seat Edwards first ran for in a 2016 special election. Some of D’Ambrosio’s endorsers have cited their longstanding ties to his family, per the Boston Globe’s Matt Stout. But the Yale- and University of Cambridge-educated D’Ambrosio tends to push all that to the background and talks more about his family’s Italian-immigrant roots, his “organic” movement — he had an off-screen cheering section during a MassVOTE virtual forum Wednesday — and his desire to shake up Beacon Hill leaders he says are “asleep at the wheel” navigating the pandemic. Tuesday’s primary, with no Republican on the ballot, will effectively decide the district’s next senator. Dive deeper with CommonWealth Magazine’s Bruce Mohl and GBH News’ Adam Reilly. | | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases surge 5,472, hospitalizations increase for 14th straight day,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The daily count of 5,472 new virus cases was the highest daily case tally since Jan. 16’s tally of 5,657 infections. Thursday’s report is the fourth day of more than 5,000 daily cases in the last eight days.” – “Massachusetts schools report new COVID cases among 6,879 students, 1,105 staff members in last week,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive. – “Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts,” by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe. | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Baker derides ‘red tape’ in $4 billion bill, potentially complicating when state will issue bonuses to essential workers,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday bemoaned what he called ‘a lot of red tape’ in a $4 billion spending package currently on his desk, raising questions about the state’s ability to quickly distribute bonus checks to front-line workers that are being promised by March. … In the package is a $460 million program that would send one-time ‘premium pay’ bonuses to low-income workers who make up to 300 percent above the federal poverty limit and worked in person during the 16 months of the state’s COVID-19 state of emergency. … But other details — from the criteria for who is eligible to how the bonuses are paid — would be left to Baker, whose administration would have to consult with a 28-person advisory panel made up of appointees from 15 different entities or organizations.” – “Earmark process in ARPA bill undermines racial equity goals,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “The [$4 billion spending bill] includes $135 million to help the arts community recover from the COVID pandemic, with explicit instructions that the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the state arts agency, ‘shall consider racial, geographic and programmatic diversity and equity’ when distributing funds. But those diversity and equity goals collided with lawmakers’ penchant for using budget negotiations to fund pet projects in their districts. The result: The bulk of arts funding in the huge spending bill is tied up in local earmarks, only a small percentage of which are geared toward organizations led by or primarily serving people of color.” | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “COVID field hospitals not needed in Massachusetts for now to handle holiday surge, Gov. Charlie Baker says,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “There are no plans for now to erect field hospitals in Massachusetts to bolster capacity as the state grapples with a surge in coronavirus-related hospitalizations and severe staffing shortages, Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday.” – “Protesters reportedly told kids the COVID-19 vaccine could kill them at a Gardner clinic,” by Arianna MacNeill, Boston.com: “Protesters stood outside a Gardner COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children Tuesday night, reportedly telling some of the young children that the vaccine could kill them. Gardner Superintendent Mark Pellegrino said police were called twice to the clinic…” – “Omicron could take over as dominant variant in coming weeks, Harvard expert says,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Scientists are still racing to learn more about the new omicron variant as it spreads to dozens of countries, and one Harvard expert said it could push delta aside as the dominant variant in the coming weeks.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Methodone Mile Roundhouse Hotel plan would involve housing, medical triage, supervised intoxication sites,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Mayor Michelle Wu is planning to use the Roundhouse Hotel at Mass and Cass for a variety of new services, including housing for 60 homeless individuals, a medical ‘triage’ area and a site where people can ride out their highs under medical supervision, according to frustrated community members told about the plans.” – “In Greater Boston, women earn 70 cents for every dollar men earn,” by Yasmin Amer, WBUR: “New numbers from the Boston Women's Workforce Council (BWWC) show a 30 cent gap, on average, between men and women in Greater Boston. Researchers analyzed compensation data for 14% of the region's full-time employees. For Black and Hispanic women, the wage gap is more than 50 cents per dollar earned by a white man.” – “As Omicron looms, Mayor Wu turns City Hall into a mass vaccination site,” by Milton J. Valencia and Julia Carlin, Boston Globe: “City Hall opened its doors Thursday to offer residents COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster shots, in a first-of-its-kind clinic to help combat a spike in cases and fears of the new, possibly more transmissible Omicron variant. … ‘Boston needs to lead the way in closing vaccination gaps, in getting people boosted,’ Mayor Michelle Wu said Thursday, moments after receiving a booster dose of the Moderna vaccine in her left arm. Wu acknowledged a few wrinkles with the rollout of the clinic: Far more people rushed to schedule appointments than originally expected, leaving walk-in patients wondering if they would ever get a turn in the chair. Many did, and by the end of the day more than 500 patients had received a vaccination.” | | WU TRAIN |
| – “The MBTA is scaling back service due to a worker shortage. Mayor Wu made an offer to help fix it,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “MBTA riders are slated to face another wave of service cuts as the agency combats a shortage of bus and train operators. And one of the T’s most prominent passengers wants to do what she can to help stave off the disruptions. Mayor Michelle Wu on Thursday told a Boston.com reporter she has offered to partner with the transit agency to host job fairs aimed at beefing up staffing. … Her offer was made directly to Steve Poftak, the MBTA’s general manager, who, as Wu told her followers on social media, she happened to bump into on an Orange Line train mid-commute that morning.” | | ROLLINS REPORT |
| – “Charlie Baker waiting to hear from Rachael Rollins to confirm new DA,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Gov. Charlie Baker remains mum on his next move to replace Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, who is heading across town to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. ‘On or about the time I get a letter or communication from the District Attorney about her move into any position in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we’ll make an appointment,’ Baker said at a Thursday press conference.” | | HEALEY WATCH |
| – “Maura Healey’s longtime residence, campaign main address sells for $2.8 million,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The address of Attorney General Maura Healey’s former campaign main address, a home owned by her longtime partner, sold in late November for $2.8 million — a tidy increase from the $1.42 million the home sold for in 2010, records show. The four-bedroom Charlestown rowhouse sold on Nov. 23, according to documents filed with the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds for nearly double the purchase price. … As with other inquiries, the Healey campaign spokesman did not respond to questions about Healey’s involvement in the Winthrop Street home.” – “AG Healey Secures $51 Million Settlement With E-Cigarette Retailer,” by WBZ NewsRadio. – "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sues Aspen Dental, which has offices in Springfield and Pittsfield, for deceptive advertising," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive. | | FEELING '22 |
| – “Rep. Mark set for Senate run,” by Bera Dunau, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “State Rep. Paul Mark, who brings a small-town perspective to state politics, is running for the Senate both to increase his impact on legislation and because of redistricting realities. … Mark said he has no ambitions toward higher office beyond state senator, and that he’s committed to getting western Massachusetts its fair share and ensuring that it is not overlooked.” | | NOT FEELING '22 |
| – "With Baker and Polito out, what happens to the campaign cash they raised?" by Steve Brown, WBUR: "[Baker campaign advisor] Jim Conroy said they are happy to provide refunds to any donors who ask. Baker and Polito still have a small staff that must be paid ... But that could still leave them with a substantial sum to spend. One option would be to throw picnics, cocktail parties and other gatherings to thank supporters." | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Final parent in Varsity Blues college admissions cheating scandal pleads guilty,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The final parent in the bombshell Varsity Blues college admissions cheating scandal has agreed to plead guilty, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.” | | THE PRESSLEY PARTY |
| – "House Democrats are introducing a bill to overhaul the clemency process," by Juana Summers, NPR: "A group of House lawmakers [led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley] on Friday are set to unveil new legislation that would remove the federal clemency process from the Justice Department and instead create an independent clemency board for people who have been convicted of federal crimes." | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “Democrats urge federal investigations into whether Facebook misled advertisers,” by Rebecca Klar, The Hill: “Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Maria Cantwell (Wash.) are urging federal agencies to investigate whether Facebook misled advertisers by misrepresenting the reach of ads.” – “‘This is wrong’: Warren criticizes Raimondo’s response to EU efforts to regulate US technology companies,” by Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday criticized the Commerce Department’s response to the European Union’s efforts to regulate US technology companies, saying [former Rhode Island governor] Secretary Gina Raimondo should ‘stop defending these monopolists from scrutiny.’” | | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| – “US Rep. Jim McGovern has cancerous cells removed from face, says due to early detection there’s no cause for concern,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive: “U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern said on Wednesday he recently had cancerous basal cells removed from the area near his nose. … McGovern said the cancerous cells were spotted during a routine skin screening. While the cells were positive for basal cell cancer, he said the fact doctors caught it early means there is no need for concern.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “A Worcester firefighter who posted anti-Semitic Holocaust image is now under investigation,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “A Worcester firefighter posted anti-Semitic imagery on a now-deleted Instagram account, using an edited photo of President Joe Biden that makes him look like Adolf Hitler, as he stands behind a podium with a swastika.” – “Lesley University students protest for ‘basic human needs,’ including safe-to-eat food and clean water in dorms,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “A group of around 100 Lesley University students and a handful of faculty members gathered on the Cambridge campus Thursday to protest what they describe as the ‘university administration’s refusal to meet our basic needs,’ including clean water, heat in student housing, working laundry machines, transportation, security on campus and food that is both available and safe to eat.” – “Coach says he was unaware of players' inappropriate behavior,” by Paul Leighton, Salem News: “Peabody High School football coach Mark Bettencourt said he was unaware of the sexual, racial and homophobic behavior of some of his players until he was sent a video a week later. … Superintendent Josh Vadala announced Thursday that an investigation by school officials found that high school football players simulated sexual activity while clothed in a locker room following practice Nov. 18, and that one player used racial and homophobic slurs.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to David Todisco, Jessica Enes, Susan Milligan and Jasper Craven. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Jossie Valentín and Kat Cline, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Boston City Councilor Annissa
George, Alex Reimer, Jeffrey Goldstein, a director at Fidelity and former deputy chief of staff at the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama, and John Lippmann. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: WHAT'S IN THE ARPA SPENDING BILL? — State House News Service's Katie Lannan and CommonWealth Magazine's Shira Schoenberg join host Jennifer Smith to run down what's in the Legislature's $4 billion ARPA/state surplus spending bill. Smith and host Lisa Kashinsky talk about the wild week in #mapoli. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. 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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