| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO — There’s a battle brewing over a plan to separate Fall River and New Bedford into two congressional districts, one that’s pitting congressman against congressman, state legislator against state legislator and potentially even mayor against mayor. Fall River is currently split roughly in half between Rep. Jake Auchincloss’s 4th District and Rep. Bill Keating’s 9th District. New Bedford is completely in the 9th. Under the redistricting map introduced this week, Fall River would be reunited in Auchincloss’s district. New Bedford, just 15 miles away, would remain in Keating’s district. “What’s being proposed is plain and simple an act of gerrymandering,” New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell told me. “It comes to the detriment, frankly, of the interests of New Bedford and southeastern Massachusetts.” But state Rep. Carole Fiola , a Fall River lawmaker who’s on the redistricting committee, called the map a win-win for her city. “We finally had an opportunity to be whole,” Fiola told me. “The proposed map shows we’re the largest city or town in the district. That’s a great thing for Fall River. We are now not going to be overshadowed by anything.” Here’s how the battle lines are being drawn: One on side there’s Mitchell, Keating, former 4th District Rep. Joe Kennedy III; state Sens. Mark Montigny of New Bedford, Michael Rodrigues, whose Senate district includes Fall River, and Julian Cyr, who’s on the redistricting committee; state Rep. Alan Silvia of Fall River, and advocates including the Drawing Democracy Coalition and NAACP New Bedford. They’ve expressed concerns about further dividing two working-class cities with significant immigrant communities that have shared interests from the fishing industry to offshore wind. Keating told me it’s “outrageous” to split the region’s two Gateway City anchors. “The voices of these communities should be amplified as much as possible,” he said, calling the idea of separating them so “shocking … I don’t think anyone even contemplated it would be done.” But Fiola said Fall River has its own priorities to fight for. Auchincloss said in a statement earlier this week he’s “thrilled” to have Fall River fully in his district (it certainly helps him politically). Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan said in a July redistricting committee hearing that having two congressional representatives “is not a negative thing” and that he doesn’t want to “lose” Auchincloss. Keeping the status quo has some appeal. “I just don’t see the downfall to having two congressmen” represent Fall River, state Rep. Christopher Markey, whose district includes New Bedford, told me. “Having a congressman who has a connection to both [cities] is helpful.” This all makes for a potentially contentious public hearing Tuesday on the proposed redraw. Assistant House Majority Leader Mike Moran, who co-leads the redistricting effort, believes “this was the most fair” map given the region’s geography and census numbers. Still, he said, “we’ll see what happens." GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Don't forget to set your clocks back this weekend! TODAY — State Sen. Eric Lesser hosts a noon “Lunchtime Livestream” with state Auditor Suzanne Bump to discuss her public infrastructure report on western Massachusetts. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey provides an update on the city’s Covid-19 response at 12:15 p.m. at City Hall. THIS WEEKEND — Auchincloss hosts a veterans’ town hall with state Rep. Brian Murray at 1 p.m. in Milford. Outgoing Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone talks municipal elections and his 18 years in office on WBZ’s “Keller at Large,” 8:30 a.m., Sunday. Gov. Charlie Baker is this week’s guest on WCVB’s “On the Record,” 11 a.m., Sunday. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. | |
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| GREENING GLASGOW — Sen. Ed Markey is heading to Glasgow to promote President Joe Biden’s climate agenda at the United Nations’ COP26 summit. I caught up with him before the trip. Here are some of the highlights: What are your goals in Glasgow? To assure all of the global leaders who are there that we will pass the legislation which leads to a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by the year 2030. … The world should not be concerned when they look back at our political system that the $555 billion for climate [and clean-energy investments in Biden’s Build Back Better plan] may fail. It will not fail, we will get that job done. There have been some big goals already announced at the summit, like ending deforestation by 2030. Are these goals achievable? These goals are achievable, but only if the United States and Europe lead, and that we invent the technologies and show that we are going to reduce our emissions in those critical areas. You’re selling Biden’s climate goals to the world. How do you also sell them to Americans? It’s going to create millions of new jobs in the United States and it will make it possible for us to begin to be the leader in this sector, and not just allow China to continue to be the dominant producer of all of these technologies. – “Kerry Spouts Optimism About Global Action From UN Climate Change Summit,” by Greater Boston staff, GBH News: “Former Secretary of State Kerry spoke enthusiastically about the market shifts that are greening the global economy and commitments from countries that previously haven't been ‘at the table.’ But Dr. Vanessa Kerry, director of the Global Public Policy and Social Change program at Harvard Medical School as well as Sec. Kerry’s daughter, pointed out that global health — which is threatened by the changing climate through its impact on food, water, sanitation and shelter — has been largely left off of the agenda.” – “Baker on Hydro Corridor: 'I Don’t See It As Dead',” by Chris Lisinski and Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “Two days after Maine voters dealt a blow to the future of transmission lines that could deliver nearly a fifth of the electricity demand in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker said he does not believe the project is outright doomed but signaled his team is still determining how to proceed.” | | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases increase by 1,586 as vax rate hits 71%,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald. – “Massachusetts schools report 1,879 students, 339 staffers with COVID over two week period,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive. – "Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts," by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe. | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Speaker Mariano Wants To Save Local Hospitals. Stronger Oversight Over Health Care Chains’ Expansion Is How He Wants To Do It,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Later this month, [House Speaker Ron] Mariano plans to bring a bill to the House floor that would require the Department of Public Health to consider the cost and market impact of any medical provider expansion that requires new state licensing. By limiting unchecked growth of hospital chains and provider networks opening outpatient facilities and ‘ambulatory surgery centers,’ Mariano believes that community hospitals will be better suited to survive in the changing health care market.” – Move over, state dinosaur: “Students work to make salamander state amphibian,” by Madeline Hughes, Eagle-Tribune: “First, members of the Andover Animal Advocates Destination Imagination team identified all of the endangered species in Andover. Then they spread the word about the 29 species. Now, they’re trying to protect one of those animals, working with state Rep. Tram Nguyen, D-Andover, on a law to make the blue-spotted salamander Massachusetts’ state amphibian.” | | MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER |
| – “As Guv OKs New Districts, Galvin Warns of Chaos,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “New political boundaries for the Massachusetts House and Senate became official Thursday as Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law the Legislature's redistricting proposals, much to the dismay of the state's top elections official, who voiced concerns about ‘chaos’ in split precincts. Shortly before Baker's office confirmed that he signed bills ... Secretary of State William Galvin said he was ‘extremely disappointed’ the governor approved the legislation.” | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Where — and how — to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for kids 5-11 in Massachusetts,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration announced Thursday that parents can now make vaccination appointments for children aged 5-11 at over 500 locations in Massachusetts. The options range from pediatricians’ offices to pharmacies to community health centers to hospitals to local state-sponsored clinics.” – “Sec. Walsh on new federal vaccine rules and penalties for non-compliant businesses,” by Amna Nawaz and Courtney Norris, PBS: “The Biden administration on Wednesday spelled out how it will require private businesses to ensure employees get vaccinated against COVID-19, or submit to regular testing. The rule, which would go into effect Jan. 4, impacts some 84 million private sector workers.” | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “How Michelle Wu won the Boston mayoral election: Five takeaways from the precinct-level results,” by Christina Prignano and Andrew Ryan, Boston Globe: “Wu won every single precinct that in September’s preliminary election had been carried by Acting Mayor Kim Janey, City Councilor Andrea Campbell, and the city’s former economic chief, John Barros. Wu even won 10 precincts in which Essaibi George had placed first in September. That growth gave Wu the highest vote total of any mayoral candidate in nearly 40 years.” – “Wu replicates the Menino margin and map,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “In unofficial results from Tuesday’s election, [Michelle] Wu captured 64 percent of the vote to Annissa Essaibi George’s 36 percent. That’s exactly the same margin by which [Tom] Menino beat Dorchester state rep Jim Brett in the 1993 race. What’s more, Wu dominated the city geographically in a way nearly identical to Menino." – WALSH WEIGHS IN: Marty Walsh outed Wu’s mayoral bid some 400-plus days ago and was known to butt heads with the city councilor during his time as mayor. But the current labor secretary lauded the mayor-elect for her “brilliant campaign” during an appearance on CNN last night. “I talked to her yesterday and I offered my support to her. … It’s a great city to be mayor of and I wish Michelle all the luck in the world.” – From the opinion pages: “Is Boston more progressive or more apathetic?” by Kevin Cullen, Boston Globe: “...for all the talk of the most transformational election in the city’s history, less than a third of eligible voters turned up. Cheryl Crawford, executive director of MassVOTE, a nonpartisan group that works to increase voter participation, was disappointed that the turnout wasn’t as historic as the result. … While Bill Galvin, the Massachusetts secretary of state, shares Crawford’s frustration over turnout, he also saw some evidence suggesting Wu inspired more voters to get off their duffs and get to the polls or mail in a ballot.” | | WU TRAIN |
| – “Wu cites priorities, reflects on new reality in first sit-down since Tuesday’s win,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “Mayor-elect Michelle Wu said Thursday that the appointment of a Cabinet chief to oversee the opioid epidemic at Mass. and Cass will be one of her first priorities, and that she will roll up her sleeves to fix Boston public schools, as she reflected on her new reality as the city’s chief executive. … Wu said she expects to name leaders of her transition team in the coming days. And on Thursday, she launched an official transition website, AllAboardBoston.com, recruiting residents to be part of her administration.” – “Wu Raises Concerns About Mass. And Cass Evictions Process, But Makes No Policy Promises,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “Boston Mayor-elect Michelle Wu acknowledged concerns Thursday about the city's process for evicting people from tents around Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue, saying ‘from what I can tell, there are changes and improvements that are needed in terms of how we could better connect every individual to services and housing.’ But she said she is not ready to commit yet to any specific policy changes. ” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Boston Public Schools principal unconscious for ‘at least’ 4 minutes after beating: police report,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Alexi Cohan and Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “A Dorchester school remains closed after the principal was pummeled in a shocking beating that left her unconscious for ‘at least’ 4 minutes in what’s being called an ‘unacceptable’ attack during a rise of violence against educators.” – “Police in schools? Michelle Wu’s still a ‘no’ after attack on Boston principal,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The brutal assault on a Boston Public Schools principal hasn’t changed Mayor-elect Michelle Wu’s mind: She still doesn’t want police in schools.” | | TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) |
| – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Attorney General Maura Healey and UNITE HERE Local 26 are endorsing Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards in her state Senate bid. Healey and Local 26 will join Edwards for a canvass kickoff at 10 a.m. Saturday at LoPresti Park in East Boston. | | FEELING '22 |
| – “‘The elephant in the room’: Everyone is still waiting to hear Charlie Baker’s reelection decision,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Donors and activists gathered with Governor Charlie Baker for a fund-raiser last week at a Millbury eatery, dining on risotto balls and other Italian appetizers. But they were also looking for bread crumbs. Does Baker, who’s now served longer than any of his modern Republican predecessors, intend to seek a third term? When will he decide?” | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “Columbus Avenue bus routes have first center-running lane in New England,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Riders of the 22, 29 and 44 buses, some of the most well-traveled bus routes on the MBTA, will shave up to 7 minutes off their daily commutes due to the first center-running bus lanes in New England.” | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet's Next Target: ‘Zombie’ Campaigns,” by Roger Sollenberger, Daily Beast: “Two Democrats Senators, Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), are introducing legislation this Thursday that would outlaw so-called ‘zombie’ campaign accounts for any politician who does not file for the next election six months after they leave office—and would require any former politician who wishes to register as a lobbyist to shut down their campaign account immediately.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Activists protest Eversource’s planned Springfield pipeline,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The pipeline would be a significant expansion of the region’s fossil fuel infrastructure after state lawmakers passed a climate law earlier this year that requires the state to halve its carbon emissions by the end of the decade and become carbon neutral by 2050.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “He resigned as a teacher in Braintree after being photographed at the Capitol riot. Now he’s on the school committee,” by Arianna MacNeill, Boston.com: “Matthew Lynch was a teacher in Braintree schools until he resigned after photos surfaced of him at the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt by supporters of former President Donald Trump at the Capitol. Now, Lynch has been elected to the city’s school committee. Of the three people elected to the Braintree school board, Matthew Lynch was the second highest vote getter, garnering 2,319 votes.” – “Snowplow drivers wanted in Mass. this winter; some towns offering up to $155 per hour,” by Travis Andersen and Angela Yang, Boston Globe: “Got a backhoe and a hankering to plow Worcester streets this winter? You could rake in $145 an hour, a rate that’ll spike by $10 if the snow’s cleared before Dec. 1 or after April 1. … Even as they up wages in hopes of attracting willing plowers, Massachusetts towns are feeling anxious about the winter. Jim Stanford, North Andover’s director of public works, said this year’s hiring challenges are probably the worst he’s seen in more than 30 years of working in the field.” – “Elderly landlord says top Holbrook official used COVID eviction ban to avoid paying rent,” by Kathy Curran and Jon Wells, WCVB: “A man without a soul. That’s what an elderly landlord is calling one town's top elected official. They wonder why that man, the chair of the select board in Holbrook, and his wife, also a town employee, have not paid almost thousands of dollars in rent to them and question their now-former tenants’ use of COVID-19 eviction moratorium protections last year.” – “WPI students urge action in wake of recent campus deaths, 2 by suicide,” by Anoushka Dalmia, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “The atmosphere at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has been somber, sad, confused and angry after another student death occurred earlier this week, the fourth one this year, at least two of whom died by suicide. ‘A lot of people are very angry with the current administration, and how things are being run,’ said senior Jackson Baker.” | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| – “Why Boston TV anchor Latoyia Edwards now wears braids on the morning news,” by Latoyia Edwards for the Boston Globe: “For years, I had straightened my hair as a news anchor at NBC10 Boston and other television stations, an arduous process I believed was an unwritten necessity for Black, female news anchors. This year, I decided it was time — beyond time — to wear my hair the way it feels right to me.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to James Melcher, Jeremy Ravinsky, Steven Bachner, Richard Parker, Alyssa Stone and Meryl Holt Silverman. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Joe Tutino and Cindy Rowe, who celebrate Sunday. HORSE RACE ALERT: ELECTION RODEO — Hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith, and Lisa Kashinsky dive in to Boston’s municipal election results and round up mayor's races from across the state. MassINC's Rich Parr joins to talk about the notable elections in western Massachusetts. 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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