POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The sharpest and scrappiest debate

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY SO MUCH FOR ‘SISTERS IN SERVICE’ — Boston mayoral rivals and City Council colleagues Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George saved their sharpest and scrappiest debate for last. They clashed on climate and affordable housing — and that was before the knives really came out over how best to tackle the worsening public health crisis at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. For those still trying to make up their minds on who to vote for, the surface-level differences between the candidates were clear. Wu wants rent control; Essaibi George doesn’t. Wu wants ferry service to Long Island as the city looks to reestablish a recovery campus there to help with Mass and Cass; Essaibi George wants to rebuild the demolished bridge to the island — and said Wu “doesn’t truly understand the crisis that is Mass and Cass” because she rejected the bridge as a near-term option. City Councilor Andrea Campbell , the third-place finisher in the preliminary election who’s yet to endorse in the general, told me she came away from the third and final debate still wanting more specifics about both candidates’ plans. While the lengthy back-and-forth over Mass and Cass provided Campbell some key insights — Campbell, for instance, wants ferry service to help reactivate Long Island — she said she’s yet to see the candidates adequately address her concerns with the Boston Public Schools, from equity in school assignments to closing achievement gaps. And policing reform, one of her signature issues, didn’t feature in last night’s debate. “These are the things that everyone should be asking the candidates for substance on, because I find if you don’t really get that beforehand, it’s really difficult to then hold someone accountable when they get into the office,” Campbell said. Campbell’s had “several conversations” with Wu and Essaibi George (she still serves on the City Council with them) and acknowledges that the chasm between herself and Essaibi George on policing reform isn’t likely to close. Campbell was “happy to hear” Wu say at a recent forum that one of her first hires would be a “Mass and Cass chief," but she’s still looking for more specifics on Wu’s short-term plans for the troubled area. Campbell’s not alone — both in not endorsing yet, and in wanting more substance from the candidates. Time’s running out for Wu and particularly Essaibi George, who’s down by at least two dozen points in recent polls, to sway those still on the sidelines with early voting underway and Election Day now just a week away. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Stay dry! TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker appears on GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio” at 12:30 p.m. and participates in MassBioEd’s 6th Annual Champions of Biotechnology Education Awards Reception at 6:15 p.m. at the UMass Club. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and administration officials make affordable housing tour stops in Attleboro and Taunton beginning at 10:30 a.m. Rep. Jim McGovern holds a 2:30 p.m. D.C. press conference on a bill that would convene the first White House conference nutrition and hunger in over 50 years. State Attorney General Maura Healey and local activists host “Addressing Hate in Our Communities” at 3:30 p.m. Wu holds a press conference at 12:30 p.m. at her Jamaica Plain campaign office. Wu and Essaibi George appear on NBC10 Boston for a “Final Word” mayoral forum at 7 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 West Wing Playbook, 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 reports 3,173 coronavirus cases over the weekend, positive test rate stays lower,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The three-day total of 3,173 cases — a daily average of 1,058 infections — was similar to last weekend’s daily average of 938 cases when there was a significant reporting delay in the data. The previous weekend’s daily average was 1,117 cases.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Mass. House leaders propose up to $2,000 for low-income workers who showed up in person during pandemic state of emergency,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Top Massachusetts lawmakers on Monday offered a sweeping plan for spending $3.65 billion in federal stimulus money and state surplus funds, including to set aside a half-billion dollars for bonuses to essential workers, funnel hundreds of millions of dollars toward struggling hospitals, and commit $600 million to help spur more housing. The proposal unveiled by House leaders uses, for now, about $2.5 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and another $1.15 billion from a state surplus to buttress an array of programs affected and priorities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.” – The House bill splits spending into six categories, with more than $750 million apiece for health and human services, workforce training and economic development, $600 million for housing, $350 million for environment and climate change mitigation, and $265 million on education. Within that, there’s a $500 million program to pay bonuses between $500 and $2,000 to low-income workers who toiled in person through the pandemic, CommonWealth Magazine’s Shira Schoenberg reports. In the interest of equity and accountability, the Inspector General’s office would also get $5 million to create a public website to track where the money is being spent and the number of projects being awarded to minority-owned businesses and organizations. Gov. Charlie Baker said he’s “pleased” to see lawmakers get moving on a spending bill, but that the “clock’s going to be ticking between now and the end of the formal session" to get it done. House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Aaron Michlewitz told reporters he and his Senate counterpart will “try to get something done as quickly as possible.” Legislative leaders previously set a pre-Thanksgiving target to get a spending bill to Baker’s desk. – “Baker signs bill prohibiting ‘meal-shaming’ in schools,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “The practice of ‘meal-shaming,’ drawing attention to a student whose family owes money for school meals, is a thing of the past, after Gov. Charlie Baker signed a law prohibiting the practice in Massachusetts.” – “Lawmakers ride buses to promote bill allowing access to medical abortion on campus,” by Aidan Poole, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Three state representatives and college students rode public buses around the state Monday in support of a bill to make medical abortions available at public universities in Massachusetts. … Since many students don’t have a car on campus, [state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa] explained, these round-trip bus rides can last hours and make students miss classes.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Massachusetts state troopers union warns of ‘public safety crisis’ fueled by understaffing,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “State troopers took to social media to warn of a growing ‘public safety crisis’ fueled by a chronic ‘shortage’ of police available to staff shifts — something Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration flatly denied.” – "New research shows how and when COVID-19 first spread to Massachusetts," by Jonathan Saltzman, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts had the third-highest rate of COVID-19 infections in the United States by July of last year, according to a Northeastern University study that modeled how the coronavirus emerged on the nation’s coasts but spread most rapidly in the Northeast in the first wave." FROM THE HUB – “Boston begins clearing homeless camp at Mass and Cass ahead of strong nor’easter that could blow over tents,” by Meghan Ottolini and Matt Stone, Boston Herald: “City officials clad in yellow raincoats began going tent to tent Monday morning at Mass and Cass, handing out storage bins and preparing to clear out the sprawling homeless encampment that has grown into an open-air drug market. … Lynn resident Tasha Moncrief on Monday drove down to Southampton Street to help her 28-year-old son, Anthony Morris, move off the Mile. ‘I feel like it’s an emergency. I felt like, if I didn’t come down here, I was going to have a dead child,’ she said.” – The Boston Globe’s Tonya Alanez and Danny McDonald report that the “Southampton Street block targeted for cleanup Monday abutted a food distribution company scheduled to get new lighting,” according to city officials. – More from the Herald’s Erin Tiernan: “Charlie Baker: ‘No one thing’ will fix crisis at Mass. and Cass.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “In Final Debate, Boston Mayoral Candidates Wu And Essaibi George Clash Over Mass And Cass,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “At least 3,300 early votes had already been cast when Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George faced off in a final intense debate Monday night. Boston’s two mayoral candidates entered the last week of the campaign sparring over the city's ballooning tent city in and around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, or Mass and Cass, where crises of homelessness and substance abuse collide.” – “Former commissioner Gross didn’t vote in mayoral prelim,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: “William Gross, the former Boston police commissioner backing Annissa Essaibi George’s mayoral campaign with an endorsement and his own super PAC, took to television in the days leading up to the September preliminary. Looking at the camera and wearing a light hat and a dark suit, a smiling Gross said, ‘On Tuesday, September 14, I'm voting for Annissa Essaibi George for mayor of Boston.’ But elections department records show Gross did not vote in the preliminary [ due to an address issue on his driver’s license].” – “Black Bostonians Fled To Atlanta To Escape Racism. They’re Not Coming Back, No Matter Who’s Elected Mayor,” by Phillip Martin, GBH News: “Boston’s unwelcoming racial climate figured to some extent in the decision of five former residents who repaired to Atlanta, based on their interviews with GBH News in October. With Boston about to elect its first mayor of color, the Black former Bostonians were asked if that historic development has changed their minds about the city they left behind. Not much or at all, they replied.” – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former BPD commissioner William Gross has endorsed Bridget Nee-Walsh for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign. – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Council at-large candidate Erin Murphy has been endorsed by the Ward 6, 7 and 16 Democratic committees, per her campaign. – EYES EMOJI from the opinion pages: “Michelle Wu so confident heading into final week she requests transition office space,” by Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald: “Boston mayoral candidate Michelle Wu, riding high in the polls, is so confident of her victory next week that her campaign has requested transition office space and police details for after Election Day, sources say. Wu’s campaign and representatives did not respond to requests for comment.” DAY IN COURT – “Gender bias trial targeting BPD captain, city to begin in federal court,” by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “Unfolding as the city prepares to elect its first female mayor on Nov. 2, the gender discrimination trial will examine the work experience of a high-ranking female officer in Boston’s male-dominated police force. The trial before US District Judge Leo T. Sorokin is expected to last three to four weeks.” – “West Springfield trucking company president to plead guilty to falsifying safety documents following deaths of seven bikers in New Hampshire,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “The president of a West Springfield trucking company implicated in the 2019 crash that took the lives of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire will plead guilty Tuesday to falsifying safety records.” – “The head nurse at a Pittsfield nursing home was fired amid a COVID-19 outbreak. She says it was retaliation for highlighting staffing gaps,” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: “The former head nurse at Springside Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center claims she was fired after blowing the whistle on inadequate staffing during a COVID-19 outbreak last winter that prompted the state to send in the National Guard.” FROM THE DELEGATION – “‘Political momentum has been developing’: US Rep. Richard Neal sees President Joe Biden getting spending plans in place before climate summit,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “President Joe Biden should have his long-sought deal on a comprehensive budget package before he leaves at the end of the week for a climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, said U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield.” DATELINE D.C. – “Vote fight draws Kennedy, MLK kin,” by Stef W. Kight, Axios: “Martin Luther King III, Joe Kennedy III and other prominent figures have raised more than $1 million from small, daily donations to fight voting restrictions in a handful of Republican-controlled states.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Methane emissions in eastern Mass. are 6 times higher than state estimates, study says,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “A new study finds that emissions of methane — a potent greenhouse gas — from natural gas infrastructure in eastern Massachusetts are about six times higher than state estimates. The study also reports that methane emissions have not decreased over the past eight years, despite state efforts to fix leaks.” THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Senate candidate Lydia Edwards, a Boston city councilor, has been endorsed by Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon, former mayor and Councilor Denise Simmons, former mayor and Councilor Marc McGovern, Councilor Patricia Nolan and Councilor Dennis Carlon, per her campaign. – NEW: Sen. Ed Markey has endorsed Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn in her reelection bid, per her campaign. FROM THE 413 – “Amid town hall turnover, Clarksburg's Select Board has one member left,” by Greta Jochem, Berkshire Eagle: “The board of one won’t be in a position to fill other town staff positions, including that of the recently departed town administrator, until at least December. That’s when it is set to gain a member, according to Danielle Luchi, the lone official on the town’s top board. … ‘I’m crossing my fingers that nothing happens between now and then,’ Luchi said. ‘I don’t want to be the only person making decisions.’” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Melrose Schools Ditching Halloween, Spooking Parents Across City,” by Mike Carraggi, Patch: “In a letter Friday to the school community, Superintendent Julie Kukenberger confirmed the rumors that had been bubbling like witch's brew: The district will no longer be celebrating Halloween. ‘Over the past several years, MPS has worked to deemphasize Halloween and shift our focus toward community building through fall celebrations,’ Kukenberger wrote.” – "Concord-Carlisle High School teacher placed on leave for allegedly using racial slur," by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: "Laurie Hunter, superintendent of Concord Public Schools and the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District, said Sunday that school officials learned that the faculty member, while coaching in another school district, allegedly 'used the N-word while addressing student-athletes on Friday night following a game.'” 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.   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. 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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Baker's not in the stratosphere anymore

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work REPUBLICANS BUCK BAKER — It’s no secret GOP Gov. Charlie Baker is more popular with Democrats and independents in Massachusetts than he is among his own party. A new poll reinforces that idea. Fifty-four percent of respondents to a Public Policy Polling survey of likely 2022 Republican primary voters said they had an unfavorable opinion of Baker, compared to 30 percent who view him favorably. Baker trailed former Republican state Rep. Geoff Diehl in a hypothetical gubernatorial primary 29-50, with 21 percent of respondents undecided, according to results shared first with POLITICO. Don’t get carried away. Public Policy Polling is a Democratic-oriented firm, and the automated survey of Republicans and independents was conducted for the Democratic Governors Association, which obviously has a stake in retaking the Massachusetts governor’s office in 2022. Still, Baker’s typically sky-high approval ratings haven’t reached those heights recently. Baker saw 56 percent favorability among likely Boston voters in last week’s poll from MassINC Polling Group, which pollster Steve Koczela said on last week’s episode of The Horse Race is “a pretty darn good number” for a Republican in a blue city, “it’s just as not as stratospheric as what we’re used to seeing for Charlie Baker.” The latest Covid States Project survey showed 64 percent of respondents approved of Baker’s handling of the pandemic, the second-highest rating for any governor but still down from the 80 percent approval he had in April 2020. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Take a seat. Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George delivered their sharpest and most substantive debate yet while sitting just feet apart from each other on a podium-less stage last night. Here are some takeaways: WU FINALLY GETS THE FRONTRUNNER TREATMENT — Wu’s been considered the leading candidate since before last month’s preliminary election. But she’s escaped major scrutiny until now. Wu was pressed last night on when she’d make the MBTA free — she’ll expand the free bus pilot in her first year as mayor, but didn’t commit to an overall date — and the lack of appetite for such a move on Beacon HIll. That was just by NBC10’s Alison King. Essaibi George, trying to claw her way back from two polls that’ve shown her at a 32-point deficit, piled on. She hammered Wu’s policies as unachievable, accused her of “taking credit” for some of her work on the council (Wu said that’s false), and even dumped some oppo along the way. “The city of Boston deserves better,” Wu said, linking Essaibi George’s “negative attacks” to former President Donald Trump. IS IT TOO LATE FOR ESSAIBI GEORGE? — Last week’s debate didn’t move the needle in the polls, and a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe/NBC10 Boston survey showed only 7 percent of respondents were undecided, so it’s unclear whether the second will make a dent in Wu’s lofty lead. Essaibi George made her sharpest case yet against Wu, but with early voting starting Saturday she’s running out of time to close a yawning gap. TRIPPED UP ON TAXES — Both candidates fumbled a question about their household incomes. Wu said she and her husband brought in over $200,000, but uncharacteristically struggled when it came to answering whether that puts her in Boston’s upper class. Essaibi George said she and her husband are part of the upper crust, but worked to separate her $100,000-plus council earnings from those of her developer husband, which she declined to share on air. There was also some confusion over whether Essaibi George had released her 2020 federal tax return. Her individual filing, shared with POLITICO, showed a total income of $76,823. Wu released her federal tax return months ago, showing a combined total income of $221,761 for her and her husband. Neither candidate has their tax return available on her website. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker participates in the virtual Providers’ Council Annual Convention and Expo at 9:30 a.m. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends the LIFT HARBOR Program Legislative Breakfast at 8:45 a.m. in Worcester and participates in several events related to STEM week culminating with the New England Patriots Hall of Fame Family STEM Night at 6 p.m. State Sen. Becca Rausch and public health experts host a virtual briefing on vaccine safety, hesitancy and misinformation at 10 a.m. Wu hosts a media availability at 11 a.m. at City Hall Plaza and a virtual phonebank with Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 6:30 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. And say it with me — GO SOX!   A message from the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work: It's clear: Massachusetts app-based drivers want to maintain their flexibility while gaining access to new benefits and protections. 83% support legislation like H.1234 that would do just that — offering them flexibility, independence, protections against discrimination, a portable benefits fund and more. Learn more.     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 West Wing Playbook, 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 increase by 1,888 with breakthrough cases dropping,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts health officials on Tuesday reported 1,888 new coronavirus cases and 3,431 breakthrough cases, which is a dip from the previous week.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Cabinet Proposed to Better Coordinate Children’s Services,” by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “[State Rep. Kay Khan, a] longtime chairwoman of the Legislature's committee most focused on the welfare of children in Massachusetts proposed Tuesday that lawmakers require the governor to convene a ‘children's Cabinet’ to make sure the different parts of state government that affect the lives of kids leave no one behind.” – “Springfield state Rep. Orlando Ramos will file legislation requiring Eversource pay property taxes in full,” by Elizabeth Román, Springfield Republican: “As cities and towns across the state demand that Eversource pay the full amount of property taxes it owes [state Rep. Orlando Ramos] is looking to file an amendment to the law that would require them to pay." – “Legislative leaders hear from local organizations on pandemic-related changes to tourism,” by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: “Leaders of local culture and tourism organizations say they have begun to see younger visitors, more year-round traffic, more digital guests and more interest in outdoor recreation." VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Massachusetts to decide ‘by early next week’ on future of school mask mandate,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “The top official in charge of K-12 public schools in Massachusetts hinted Tuesday that his decision on extending the statewide school mask mandate is coming soon. ‘By early next week, a decision will be made whether or not as to continue masks,’ Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said during a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting Tuesday morning.” FROM THE HUB – “Boston to crack down on tent encampments on Methadone Mile,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The city of Boston will begin to look to get people out of tents on Mass and Cass and into beds, Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s administration is announcing as conditions in the troubled area continue to worsen. … The Boston Public Health Commission also on Tuesday moved to declare that unsheltered homelessness and substance abuse are a public health crisis, which gives the BPHC more authority to act. The administration will create a ‘central command structure’ led by the city and state Departments of Health & Humans Services to coordinate the response, tracking shelter and treatment options.” – “Boston's Homeless Services See New Reach Under Pandemic-Induced Changes,” by Hannah Reale, GBH News: “Shelter providers and the city expanded options for Boston’s homeless population to stem the spread of COVID — and that brought an added bonus of better connecting people with housing and treatment.” – “Violence In Boston director arrested by the feds on pandemic fraud charges,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “A director for the Violence In Boston nonprofit has been arrested by the feds on pandemic unemployment and mortgage fraud charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Clark Grant, 38, of Taunton, is accused of collecting more than $67,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits while at the same time working and taking home a full-time salary of close to $70,000 a year, according to federal court documents. He is the husband of Monica Cannon-Grant, president and founder of Violence In Boston and an outspoken community activist.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – The Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter, GBH News’ Saraya Wintersmith and a three-reporter team at the Boston Globe have your second debate blow-by-blows. – “With campaign donations, city workers have staked out their preferred mayoral candidate,” by Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe: “More educators are backing Michelle Wu, and public safety workers are pushing for Annissa Essaibi George. … Essaibi George has pulled more than $150,000 from hundreds of police officers and firefighters in Boston — a total roughly 50 times that of Wu, who has been a critic of the city’s police department. … Meanwhile, Wu has garnered donations from three times as many Boston public school employees than her rival, though on a much smaller scale than the public safety sector’s support for Essaibi George.” – “Boston City Council candidates answer six big questions facing the city,” by Boston Globe staff: “The Globe asked all 23 candidates six questions about major issues facing Boston today.” – Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and City Councilor Michelle Wu are hosting a fundraiser for Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey to help her “in closing her campaign,” per an email sent to supporters yesterday. Tickets for the virtual event for Janey, who didn’t make it through the preliminary election and has since endorsed Wu, run from $100 to $1,000. Janey’s campaign didn’t respond to questions about why she needs the money or if her campaign is in debt. It wasn’t at the end of September, per her last campaign finance report. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – SHOT: “Wu’s fare-free T: Fanciful notion or strategic thinking?” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Beacon Hill leaders are showing little interest in one of Boston mayoral candidate Michelle Wu’s campaign priorities – making the MBTA fare free. At a State House press conference on Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Ron Mariano, and Senate President Karen Spilka were asked whether they support Wu’s call for the elimination of fares on the T. Baker said no, Mariano indicated he had other priorities for the T, and Spilka didn’t answer the question." – CHASER: “Fare-free Worcester buses called bright spot in transit recovery,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The bus system in Worcester, which went fare free in March 2020, has built back its ridership during COVID faster than any other transit system in Massachusetts, according to a new report.”   A message from the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work:     MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER – Mapmakers who took heat from advocates for not drawing a majority-minority Senate district that combined Brockton and Randolph have put forward a new district that puts Brockton with nearly half of Randolph and Avon, and sheds Hanover and Plympton from its bounds. It’s not exactly what advocates asked for, but it would double the number of majority-minority districts in the Senate from three to six. After pushback from labor unions Senate mapmakers will also keep all of Dorchester’s Ward 16 precincts in Boston rather than splitting some into a suburban district, state Sen. William Brownsberger, who leads the Senate redistricting effort, said. Haverhill will remain split despite advocates' pleas, but Brownsberger said the new map would be “very modestly different” in terms of which precincts are being combined with Lawrence and Methuen to create a Latino-centric district. Brownsberger expects the Senate to vote on the map next week. The House plans to vote on its redistricting plan on Thursday, which includes some minor tweaks, according to the Boston Globe’s Matt Stout and Emma Platoff. – “Redrawn Amherst districts give more power to BIPOC voters,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “More clout for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities in local elections will come if Amherst’s voting maps are redrawn as recommended by an advisory committee. ... two councilors said they are concerned about attempting to keep University of Massachusetts students, and other college students, out of municipal decision-making.” DATELINE D.C. – State Rep. Claire Cronin, the House majority leader, is one step closer to being the next U.S. ambassador to Ireland after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced her nomination to the full Senate yesterday. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , also saw her nomination to serve as ambassador to Austria advance. MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS – “These 5 experts have been appointed to the Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board, including former NETA president Amanda Rositano and Laury Lucien of Major Bloom,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: “The new appointees and reappointments are Amanda Rositano, Laury C. Lucien, Alan Balsam, Marion McNabb and Michael Dundas.” THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Gerly Adrien has endorsed Fred Capone for mayor of Everett against incumbent Mayor Carlo DeMaria , per Capone’s campaign. Adrien, Everett’s first Black city councilor, finished third in last month’s preliminary mayoral election with 24 percent of the vote. Capone finished second with 31 percent, while DeMaria earned 45 percent. “My candidacy for Mayor of Everett was inspired by the many, everyday people who feel that City Hall, and the business that takes place there, is not for them,” Adrien said in a statement, adding, “we have the opportunity to seize this historic moment and answer the voters’ mandate for change by electing Fred Capone.” – “Driscoll, Dibble offer different visions for Salem in debate,” by Dustin Luca, Salem News: “Mayor Kim Driscoll and her challenger Steve Dibble shared a debate stage for the first time Monday night and touched on everything from the climate crisis to launching a Witch City-themed cryptocurrency.” FROM THE 413 – “Holyoke Soldiers’ Home trustees joust over future governance,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Trustees were split on whether the soldiers’ home and its counterpart in Chelsea should remain under the authority of the state Department of Veterans’ Services or shift to the Department of Public Health, which oversees every other long-term care and medical facility in the commonwealth. The change was among the recommendations of a legislative panel that investigated a COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke home last year in which nearly 80 veterans lost their lives. The panel also recommended abolishing the local boards of trustees.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Senator Ted Cruz wants to create immigration ports of entry in Rhode Island and Massachusetts,” by Alexa Gagosz and Carlos R. Muñoz, Boston Globe: “Senator Ted Cruz on Tuesday touted his little-known ‘Stop the SURGE Act,’ which calls for new ports of entry to be established in deeply Democratic parts of New England — and requires that people trying to enter the U.S. through the southern border be relocated from sectors in Texas to these newly created ports for ‘processing.’” – “CNN anchor John King reveals he has multiple sclerosis and emphasizes the importance of vaccines,” by Julia Taliesin, Boston.com: “CNN anchor John King surprised viewers Tuesday when he shared — live on air — that he has multiple sclerosis, while making a point about the importance of vaccines to protect the immunocompromised.” – “After 10 years, Lawrence wants to take back control of its schools. But Commissioner Riley is showing no signs of letting go of state receivership,” by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: “State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley [the former superintendent/receiver of Lawrence schools] on Tuesday gave no indication that he would give up control of the Lawrence school district, one day after the School Committee voted to ask him to end the state’s 10-year receivership of the struggling school system.” – “Concord’s Middlesex School invited Nikole Hannah-Jones to speak during Black History Month. Then canceled it,” by Amanda Kaufman and John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: “Nikole Hannah-Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist who conceived The 1619 Project, said Tuesday that she was recently disinvited from speaking at Middlesex School, a private boarding school in Concord, during Black History Month." – “Worcester urged to prosecute those responsible for vandalizing Columbus statue,” by Anoushka Dalmia, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “The Italian-American Alliance is calling on the city to identify and prosecute the people responsible for vandalizing the statue of Christopher Columbus outside Union Station last week.” – “The case of the Martha’s Vineyard heiress and the Florida psychic who took her for millions,” by Alexander Huls, Boston Globe: “Nobody is quite sure when Vera Pratt began to believe that demons had entered her body and lodged near her right shoulder blade. But when they did, Pratt couldn’t help but wonder what part of her life they wouldn’t hurt.” – “Massachusetts 2021 high school graduates had best ACT scores in the nation, education officials say,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: “Massachusetts high school students who graduated in 2021 had the highest composite score in the nation on the ACT test, education officials announced Tuesday." – Meanwhile, in Wellesley: "National Conservative group files lawsuit against Wellesley Public Schools," by Diti Kohli, Boston Globe; "In Wellesley, an attack spurs outrage, protest over school bullying," by Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe. – IN MEMORIAM: “Former Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan dies at 94,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Deputy British Consul General Tom Nickalls and Michael Clark, former senior advisor to state Sen. Eric Lesser and current New England progressive outreach director for AIPAC. Want to make an impact? 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