| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | FROM THE HUB — Michelle Wu has been mayor of Boston for almost a month now. In that time she’s made progress toward expanding the city’s fare-free bus pilot program, divesting Boston from fossil fuels and building out her Cabinet. Playbook sat down with Wu to talk about the resurgent pandemic, her plans for tackling the public health crisis at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard and other issues. She also showed off how she's started rearranging her office, including the mom-mayor's plans for a special corner — with a piano! — for her two youngsters. Our interview has been edited for length. You got your Covid-19 booster last week. Is there any update on vaccine mandates for businesses? We had the first meeting of our Covid-19 advisory group [Thursday] and heard a presentation from folks in New York about how their [Key to NYC proof-of-vaccination] program had been developed and was working. … Everything is still on the table. What are some of the drawbacks of a vaccine passport or mandate for businesses and restaurants? Our small businesses have weathered so much throughout the pandemic and we need to make sure that any policies that are taken come with supports and the public health infrastructure to back up implementation. … Our policies need to really minimize any additional burden. What’s your response to stakeholders frustrated by your plan to use the Roundhouse Hotel near Mass and Cass for a variety of housing and medical services? What we’ve been doing hasn’t been working and we don’t have great choices in this moment of emergency heading into the winter. … We’re in daily conversations with the state about how to continue sharing resources. There will be chances coming up to have those conversations with mayors. How has your relationship been with Gov. Charlie Baker so far? We’ve been at many events together. We’ve just had that one sit-down meeting. But from time to time he’ll send a text message and share some thoughts. Our teams are talking daily on a number of different fronts. What do you think of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh maybe running for governor? [The wide-open field is] a huge opportunity for our commonwealth and our neighborhoods to really push for issues to be on the table. Any candidate should put forward a vision and plans that really show how we can move with urgency. He certainly knows the issues very well. We’ll see who throws their hat in the ring. Is there anything you can do about rent control at the city level, before it would rise to needing Beacon Hill buy-in? Even though we don't have “rent control” today, there are many, many rent stabilized and pegged units in Boston. Often those are when city government and the public sector help finance a project [like redeveloping the old YWCA building ] … Every unit that is kept affordable because of our policies, because of subsidies or funding that's available, is one more family that can stay in our city. Do people talk to you on the MBTA yet? I was riding [Friday] morning and no one did again! Just [MBTA General Manager] Steve Poftak . Sometimes people will on their way out of the train say hello. But we’ve got to change the culture of riding the T. It is a civic space for community conversations, but everyone’s always really quiet on there. Maybe I’m still a Midwesterner at heart. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. State Attorney General Maura Healey still hasn't said whether she's running for governor. But she was helping Maggie Hassan fundraise for the New Hampshire senator's 2022 reelection bid last night. TODAY — Baker must act on the Legislature's $4 billion ARPA/state surplus spending bill today. Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and HHS Sec. Marylou Sudders make a Covid-19 testing announcement at 10 a.m. at the State House. Wu hosts a press conference at 9 a.m. at the Boston Public Works Yard on winter-weather preparations. Walsh talks infrastructure with Rep. Richard Neal at 11:15 a.m. at Springfield’s Union Station. Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins, the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, is on Bloomberg Baystate Business at 4:12 p.m. | |
| | 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. | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Ron Mariano defends decision to keep Massachusetts State House closed to the public amid coronavirus pandemic,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The State House has been closed to the public for 629 days and it’s unlikely that will change anytime soon, a decision Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano defended again this weekend. ‘The building is still closed because we’re concerned about the safety of about 600 folks who work there,’ Mariano said during a Sunday appearance on WCVB’s ‘On the Record.’ … Mariano also addressed the notion of rebuilding the Long Island Bridge as a way of addressing the homelessness and opioid crises at Mass and Cass, and he said he isn’t picking sides.” – Mariano also addressed the pandemic-era mail-in voting provisions that are set to expire on Wednesday, saying on “On the Record” that the House voted to make voting by mail permanent in a supplemental spending bill earlier this year and that the Senate “chose not to take it up because they wanted to expand the bill with other things.” Senators passed their own voting-reforms bill in October. – “State taking back $500K in COVID hazard pay 'bonuses' issued to Methuen city employees; $150K in restaurant relief,” by Allison Corneau, Eagle-Tribune: “[T]he city must return $150,000 that went to restaurants and $500,000 in COVID-19 hazard pay issued to essential employees shortly before the holidays last year. … Hazard pay stipends must be returned because they amount to ‘impermissible bonuses’ for workers who did not face a ‘physical hardship’ related to their employment, according to the state. The restaurant money, given to owners to reimburse licensing fees, is owed back because it was not deemed an eligible expense.” – “Only half of foster children graduated on time last year,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “In 2020, as COVID closed schools for the last three months of the year, only half of students in the custody of the Department of Children and Families graduated on time – the lowest figure in nearly a decade, according to a new DCF report.” – “Acosta says bond money needed for UI trust fund,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Baker administration on Friday gave lawmakers its most detailed accounting yet of the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, and said it is preparing to issue bonds to put the fund on sound financial footing. … Subtracting the $2.3 billion in federal loans and the $400 million in over-assessments from the $2.9 billion balance, the fund would appear to have a remaining balance of $200 million.” – "Mass. receives mixed grades on freedom; NH at No. 1 in report," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: "The Cato Institute’s “Freedom in the 50 States” report, released last week, measures states against each other using 230 metrics of how their policies promote freedom in fiscal, regulatory and economic realms. Massachusetts was ranked 30th in the nation for overall freedom by the self-described Libertarian think-tank, dropping from a 16th place spot in 2017." | | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| – “Battling COVID surge and staffing shortages, Mass. hospitals ordered to limit elective procedures even more,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, said hospitals need to ‘reduce certain non-essential, elective services and procedures’ by 50%. That compares to the 30% reduction he had ordered on Nov. 23, as Massachusetts officials and health experts sounded the alarm on severe hospital staffing crunches.” – “Mass. hospitals see significant number of COVID breakthrough cases,” by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: “At major hospitals around the state, anywhere from 25% to 43% of patients tested positive this week for the coronavirus, according to daily numbers provided by the hospitals.” – “Without statewide mask mandate against COVID-19, Mass. will ‘fight this war with one arm tied behind our backs’,” by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: “As numbers of coronavirus cases climb in Massachusetts, a growing chorus of local, state, and federal officials is sounding the call for mask mandates in indoor public places to stanch the spread of the pandemic this winter.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Mass and Cass businesses, community groups organize against Michelle Wu’s Roundhouse hotel plan,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “[N]eighboring businesses say they’re in fear that plans to incorporate the vacant 200-room Roundhouse hotel into the Mass and Cass plan will cause a wave of problems in the area right around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard." – “Boston placed 23 city workers on leave for missing Oct. vaccine deadline, not 812 as it previously said,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “The City of Boston on Friday issued a correction for the number of employees placed on unpaid leave after they missed an October deadline for getting vaccinated or agreeing to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, saying only 23 employees were suspended instead of 812, as officials first reported." – “A downtown full of delivery warehouses? ‘Dark stores’ are coming to Boston,” by Janelle Nanos and Anissa Gardizy, Boston Globe: “Promising to shuttle bananas or ice cream to your apartment in 15 minutes, these companies are renting storefronts and turning them into packing centers, then employing couriers on e-bike or scooter to make deliveries within a mile or two." | | FEELING '22 |
| – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Twenty-two current and former electeds have endorsed former state Sen. Ben Downing’s bid for governor: State Sen. Michael Rodrigues, former state Sen. Robert O’Leary, state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Smitty Pignatelli, Paul Mark and John Barrett III; former state Rep. Dan Bosley; Chelsea City Councilors Damali Vidot and Enio Lopez; Beverly City Councilor Kathleen Feldman; Holyoke City Councilor-elect Will Puello; Newton City Councilor Josh Krintzman; North Adams City Councilor Benjamin Lamb; Wakefield Town Councilor Julie Smith-Galvin; Pittsfield City Councilors Pete White and Yuki Cohen; former Pittsfield council president Kevin Sherman; former Brockton councilor Jean Bradley Derenoncourt; Joe McGuirk, Tanya Lobo, Patrick Beaudry and María Belén Power. – “Sonia Chang-Díaz: Trust over balance on Beacon Hill,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Now that Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito have dropped out of the 2022 governor’s race, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, D-Boston, sees herself as the trustworthy candidate Bay State voters want." – "Where the Fight for Number 2 Stands," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: "Acton Representative Tami Gouveia, Carlisle businessman Bret Bero and Pittsfield Senator Adam Hinds have announced bids to be the next Democratic governor’s second-in-command. ... The looming threat for the candidates as they prepare for the caucuses—which elect convention delegates—is new entrants." – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Methuen Democratic City Committee has unanimously endorsed state Sen. Diana DiZoglio's (D-Methuen) bid for state auditor. | | TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) |
| – "Battle of the ‘outsiders:’ Lydia Edwards and Anthony D’Ambrosio face off in state Senate election Tuesday," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "Boston City Councilor [Lydia] Edwards is the Black daughter of a working-class single mother, and Revere School Committee member [Anthony] D’Ambrosio is the child of Italian immigrants without a Rolodex of Beacon Hill endorsements." | | BALLOT BATTLES |
| – “Companies promise new benefits for drivers under Mass. ballot proposal. Labor advocates see attempt to skirt wage laws,” by Laney Ruckstuhl, WBUR: “There are two versions of the ballot proposal; the core difference between them is one includes mandatory safety training for drivers." | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “T board chair doubtful on cutting or eliminating fares,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “With MBTA officials projecting steadily rising budget deficits over the next five years, the chair of the transit authority’s board on Thursday put a damper on talk of reducing or eliminating fares and raised the prospect of increasing them." – “Northern tier east-west rail study begins amid renewed push for Springfield-Boston trains,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “A long-awaited study into the feasibility of renewed east-west passenger rail along the Route 2 corridor — from North Adams through Greenfield and on to Boston — begins next week just as plans for passenger rail on a more southerly route through Springfield pick up steam.” | | WARREN REPORT |
| – "Democrats Are Solidly Behind Biden. There’s No Consensus About a Plan B," by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns, New York Times: "Two Democrats who ran for president in the last election said they fully anticipated [President Joe] Biden would run again, but they notably did not rule out running themselves if he declined to do so. 'He’s running, I expect to support him and help him get re-elected,' Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. 'I’m sticking with that story.'” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – "John Kerry calls for investing ‘trillions’ to get big emitters to quit polluting," by Karl Mathiesen, POLITICO: "If the world is to 'avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis,' said [Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John] Kerry, the challenge boils down to changing economic policy in a small group of large countries that he said were not doing enough to lower their greenhouse gas emissions." | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Suffolk jury awards $1.7M to Black teacher after finding Boston schools retaliated against him for discrimination complaints,” by James Vaznis, Boston Globe. – “A Boston lawyer accused of rape by as many as a dozen women has avoided conviction since 1996. Now, prosecutors are trying a different tack,” by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe. | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Monterey's election recall law hits snag after state lawmakers say to hold off on filing legislation,” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: “An attempt by some residents to oust a Select Board member through a vote for an election recall law hit a snag Wednesday when two Berkshire County lawmakers said they would delay filing that legislation until they can confirm that the vote is valid.” – “Great Barrington health officials say no to mandating COVID shots for schoolchildren. Concerned about vaccine unknowns, they want to 'wait and see',” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle. – “Seven employees of District Court in Pittsfield test positive for COVID-19; more virtual hearings expected,” by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle. | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Massachusetts communities were given millions in ARPA funds, but actually distributing it has become a slow, deliberate process for local officials,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “Towns and cities want to make sure they don’t fund an area the state will cover in its ARPA plan, and so are waiting on the State Legislature’s spending bill to be finalized. Communities are unsure of the federal guidelines for what can be spent on and want to avoid having to return the money if they later find they’ve broken the rules." – “‘They have a ‘fight’ mentality’: Haitians seek safety and stability in Boston, with the help of volunteers,” by Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe: “[There are] 600 Haitian families who have arrived in Massachusetts since March as political, economic, and social conditions in Haiti have continued to deteriorate. The humanitarian crisis has been acutely felt in the state, home to roughly 46,000 Haitians and Haitian Americans, many concentrated in the Boston area — the third-largest Haitian diaspora population in the country behind Brooklyn, N.Y., and Miami.” – “Robert Kennedy’s children speak out against possible parole of his assassin,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “Now, a California parole board has decided that [Sirhan] Sirhan is no longer a threat to society and has recommended his release. His fate now rests in the hands of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.” – “Newton school principals receive racist messages over student discussions of Rittenhouse and Arbery cases,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Two Black principals in the Newton Public Schools have received ‘racist and confrontational’ messages in response to their approach in helping students process the verdicts in the trials of Kyle Rittenhouse and the men convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery, Superintendent David Fleishman said Friday.” – “Services this week for jail officer who died of COVID-19,” by Julie Manganis, Gloucester Daily Times: “The funeral service for a correctional officer at the Middleton Jail who died from complications of COVID-19 will be Tuesday. Anthony J. Pasquarello, 37, of Saugus, a 15-year employee of the department, died Thursday … Pasquarello was not vaccinated — a fact his grieving parents wanted the public to know in hopes that their son’s death would convince others to get the vaccine, the sheriff said Friday afternoon.” – “Another key position in Fall River opens up as director of finance Mary Sahady departs,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “For the second time in a week, a key administrator under Mayor Paul Coogan is jumping ship. This time it’s the city’s chief financial officer, Mary Sahady.” – "Kentucky deadly tornadoes: Massachusetts first responders on the way to help with recovery efforts," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Saturday said the Bay State is ready to help with the response and recovery efforts." TRANSITIONS – Boston Herald reporter Alexi Cohan is joining GBH News. The Boston Globe's Felicia Gans Sobey joins the Philadelphia Inquirer as a digital editor. Davis Malm has added Zoë Martin to its divorce and family law practice. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards and Nancy Jane Fitzpatrick. Happy belated to Eric Maskin, who celebrated Sunday. 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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