POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Wu shifts her agenda into overdrive

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY DRIVING THE DAY — Three MBTA bus routes that run through the heart of Boston’s lower-income neighborhoods will be fare-free for two years beginning March 1. It’s a major policy win for Mayor Michelle Wu after her $8 million plan hit a speed bump with the feds. She’ll roll out the details of the pilot program for bus routes 23, 28 and 29 at 9:30 a.m. in Dorchester. Wu is now poised to achieve one of her earliest goals as mayor during an increasingly hectic time for her fledgling administration. She's embarking on a superintendent search, on top of a police commissioner search, on top of hiring key positions for her still-forming Cabinet. She’s battling public safety unions in court and at the negotiating table over her vaccine mandate for city workers. And she’s holding fast to her mask and vaccine requirements for businesses even as the Omicron wave ebbs. “She has faced an unprecedented series of challenges,” Larry DiCara, a former city councilor and historian of city politics, told me. “I’m not sure anyone’s had this much thrown at them so early.” Wu chose to take on some of these challenges herself. While she inherited the police commissioner search, her transportation goals and vaccine rules — and the triumphs and tribulations that come with them — are of her own making. It all tracks with Wu’s pledge to do the “big and the small” as mayor. Now her effectiveness in doing so — keeping streets plowed while battling Covid-19 and working to fill two of the top jobs in the city — is about to come under more scrutiny as she nears 100 days in office. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.  Wu is far from the only mayor pushing a sweeping municipal agenda in an unprecedented and unpredictable time. Two years into managing a marathon public health crisis, mayors across the country are also worrying about housing, crime and maintaining basic city services. POLITICO surveyed 25 mayors, including New Bedford’s Jon Mitchell and Worcester’s Joe Petty, about their cities’ wants and needs, their relationships with state and federal officials and what keeps them up at night. Here are excerpts from their responses: — Worcester is facing a housing crisis, and when it comes to creating more affordable housing, Petty said the “responsibility needs to be shared in the wealthy surrounding communities who largely favor single family homes and exclusionary zoning process.” — Mitchell wants a “more sustained commitment to infrastructure funding” from the federal government, calling President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law a “long overdue infusion of cash.” — Petty has seen a “greater level of attention [from] and collaboration with the state administration” during the pandemic, but he said “the state delegation and legislature [have] largely been absent.” — Mitchell said New Bedford faced challenges in “getting our interests heard in Boston” during the pandemic and that “Greater Boston dominates the discussion of state policies, priorities and the allocation of state resources. The only antidote is to ensure that every region of Massachusetts is fairly represented in state government, which has not happened in a long time.” TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and education officials make a Covid-19 announcement at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. The Governor’s Council interviews state Rep. Sheila Harrington for Gardner District Court clerk magistrate at 10 a.m.; Polito presides over a Governor’s Council meeting at noon. MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak and Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge join Wu for her transit announcement at 9:30 a.m. Tips? Scoops? Email me:  lkashinsky@politico.com. Also, we’re aware that some links may be missing from Playbook when we publish. Our engineers are still working on it.   HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration’s climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE.     THE CLARK CAUCUS — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) are introducing a bill today that would ask colleges and universities to improve outreach to homeless and foster students and better connect them to financial aid and housing. The “Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act” would require homeless and foster students to be prioritized for on-campus housing and federal work-study programs, and provide in-state tuition rates for students without stable residency, among other aims. “For the homeless and foster youth who find education as a pathway to stability and success, we cannot allow policies and paperwork to get in their way,” Clark said in a statement, calling the bill a “common sense way for Congress to help” those students “attend college and continue building a better life.” THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Massachusetts reports 1,792 daily coronavirus cases, the lowest count since mid-November,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The 1,792 new cases reported on Tuesday was the lowest daily count since Nov. 10 before the holiday surge and omicron wave. … In the state’s weekly breakthrough report, the state Department of Public Health reported 12,262 breakthrough infections last week — a 55% drop from the 27,530 breakthrough cases during the prior week.” DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Mass. will pay $500 to a half million low-income workers next month,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts state officials said Tuesday they will begin sending $500 payments to hundreds of thousands of low-income workers next month. … Roughly 500,000 residents will receive a payment by the end of March under the state’s so-called Essential Employee Premium Pay program, state officials said. The checks, which are expected to total approximately $250 million, represent the first tranche from a $460 million initiative initially designed to reward low-income workers who worked in-person, particularly during the early throes of the pandemic. But under criteria released Tuesday, the Baker administration said it is not limiting the checks to only those who worked in person.” — "Massachusetts Legislature takes first crack at Charlie Baker’s last budget," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "The state Legislature had its first opportunity to hear from state elected officials in a Joint Committee on Ways and Means hearing to vet the governor’s final budget, which, among other things, includes almost $700 million in tax cuts. ... Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin expressed concern that he was 'dramatically underfunded' to run the statewide 2022 election." — “A&F Secretary Heffernan calls millionaire’s tax ‘dangerous’,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Raising taxes on income over $1 million would be a ‘dangerous policy,’ given how well the state is doing financially under the current tax system, Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan said Tuesday. … His comments reflect what is becoming a primary argument by opponents of the tax increase: The state is awash in cash, so more money is unnecessary.” — “Transparency Measures Disappear In Conference Darkness,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “The biennial bill-reporting deadline came and went last week, but an 11-month legislative disagreement means the public may never know how their representatives and senators voted in deliberations over whether proposals should advance or fall short. The House and Senate each supported some form of pulling back the curtain on how panels vote, but Democrats couldn't agree on a reform plan and existing legislative rules do not require joint committees to publish any breakdown of where members stand on bills they report.” — “As Massachusetts State House enters 700th day of being closed due to COVID, activists push for reopening,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “In a stinging rebuke of Tuesday’s milestone, the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance launched a campaign to bring the State House out of ‘lockdown mode’ and encourage constituents to put pressure on their elected leaders. … [Senate President Karen] Spilka, in a statement to MassLive on Tuesday, insisted that visitors will be welcomed back on Beacon Hill ‘sometime this month.’” — “Trooper’s Widow Urges Lawmakers To Revive Drugged Driving Bill,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall: “Blasting lawmakers for once again spiking Gov. Charlie Baker's proposal to give police new tools to detect drugged drivers, a Baker spokesperson on Tuesday said the decision ‘will only put more lives at risk.’ Baker's office and the widow of a State Police trooper killed after being struck by an impaired driver took aim at the Judiciary Committee, which sent Baker's legislation (H 4255) to a study that effectively dooms its chances of passage this year.”   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 our West Wing Playbook newsletter, 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.     VAX-ACHUSETTS — “42 Massachusetts Schools Now Allowed By State To Lift Mask Mandates,” by CBS Boston staff: “According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), 42 public schools have been given approval to lift their mask mandates as of Tuesday. … A DESE spokesperson told WBZ-TV it has received 68 requests to lift the mask mandate. Twenty-one are still being reviewed, three withdrew their request and two were denied.” — “Jan. 6 rioter moves on to organizing Mass. anti-vaccine mandate trucking convoy,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “One of six Massachusetts residents charged with crimes connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington, D.C., says she is now helping to organize Massachusetts participants in a planned nationwide truck convoy to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates. In Tuesday posts to a public group on the messaging app Telegram, Suzanne Ianni said she has been asked by national organizers to lend a hand in organizing local truckers. The effort started in Canada, where a group of truckers protested having to be vaccinated to cross the U.S.-Canadian border.” FROM THE HUB — “Big challenges confront Boston schools amid leadership shakeup: ‘We don’t want things to move backwards’,” by James Vaznis, Bianca Vázquez Toness and Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Mayor Michelle Wu and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius attempted to reassure the public Tuesday that school improvement efforts will move forward as Cassellius prepares to leave the job, but big questions remain about whether momentum will stall or if a new leader will shift priorities. The district is in the midst of a number of major endeavors that could skid off course.” — “Here's when Boston plans to lift its COVID vaccine requirement for certain indoor venues,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, WBUR: “[Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu told reporters that the city plans to repeal the requirement once Boston's hospitalization and COVID rates are below three weekly metrics: less than 95% of adult ICU beds occupied, less than 200 daily COVID hospitalizations and less than a 5% citywide test positivity rate (excluding testing on college campuses, which would skew the numbers downward). Boston is already below one of the metrics, with 91.3% of ICU beds occupied.” — Massachusetts Restaurant Association President Bob Luz told the Boston Globe that Wu’s vaccine requirement has led to a drop-off in business at restaurants and that it’s in their “best interest” to “have the mandate rescinded as soon as possible.” ON THE STUMP — REWIND: The Democrats running for state attorney general — former Boston city councilor Andrea Campbell, former lieutenant governor nominee Quentin Palfrey and labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan — made their pitches on GBH’s “Greater Boston” last night. They differ over qualified immunity. Campbell and Palfrey both called to get rid of qualified immunity for police officers and other public employees. Liss-Riordan didn’t denounce it, saying that the legal doctrine needs to be revisited because there are not enough “written decisions which would establish what the law in the area is.” The Boston Globe’s Samantha J. Gross has more. — “City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo to run for Suffolk district attorney,” by Danny McDonald and Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: “City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, a former public defender who is known as a police reform stalwart on Boston’s legislative body, announced his run for Suffolk district attorney Tuesday morning. … Flanked by city councilors, past and present, as well as pastors and community organizers, Arroyo pledged to build off of [former Suffolk DA Rachael] Rollins’s progressive reforms.” — “Prisoner advocacy group endorses Attleboro's Heroux in contest for Bristol County sheriff,” by David Linton, Sun Chronicle: “Bristol County for Correctional Justice, a group that has been regular critics of Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, praised [Attleboro Mayor Paul] Heroux for his criminal justice background and record of public service.” — “Former Ludlow Selectman Aaron Saunders weighing bid for Rep. Jake Oliveira’s seat,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Aaron Saunders, a former Ludlow selectman and chief of staff to former state Sen. Gale Candaras, confirmed to MassLive Tuesday evening that he’s considering a bid for state Rep. Jake Oliveira’s seat. Saunders, now the senior vice president of Boston-based public affairs firm Benchmark Strategies, has fielded multiple encouraging calls to seek the 7th Hampden district seat.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “New study touts pilot-to-permanent bus programs in Everett, Cambridge/Watertown, Everett,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “A new study from the local think tank the Pioneer Institute found that improved bus infrastructure proved popular for bus riders and municipalities alike after three pilot programs. … The study looked at three pilot programs using Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT features, including a dedicated bus-only lane in the center of the roadway, off-board fare collection, changes in traffic flow at intersections to prioritize buses, and boarding level with the curb.” DAY IN COURT — "3 graduate students file sexual harassment suit against prominent Harvard anthropology professor," by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: "Three Harvard University graduate students sued the university on Tuesday, alleging it ignored nearly a decade of sexual harassment and retaliation by a prominent anthropology professor and permitted a system that protects powerful faculty — and the university’s reputation — at students’ expense." — “District settles lawsuit over groups for students of color,” by Philip Marcelo, Associated Press: “A Massachusetts school district has settled a federal lawsuit challenging its creation of affinity groups for Black, Latinx, Asian and other students of color. Parents Defending Education has agreed to drop its suit while Wellesley Public Schools will make it clear that the groups are open to any and all students, according to an agreement filed in Boston federal court on Monday.” DATELINE D.C. — “Robinson Sees Grid Reliability As Top Concern,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): “Reliability of the electric grid will be a top concern for Rep. Maria Robinson if she is confirmed to a post in the U.S. Department of Energy, the Framingham Democrat told a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday." — "Black Lawmakers Urge DOJ To Take 'Aggressive' Action Against Voter Restrictions," by Sarah Ruiz-Grossman, HuffPost: "The letter — led by Democratic Reps. Jim Clyburn (S.C.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Mondaire Jones (N.Y.) — was meant to communicate to the DOJ that the agency needs to 'be more aggressive in its work to protect voting rights,' according to a news release from Pressley’s office." — "Warren and Daines team up on bipartisan stock ban," by Sophia Cai, Axios: "Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) are teaming up to file a stock-ban bill, a bipartisan pairing that's part of a building movement to act on a potential conflict of interest." THE LOCAL ANGLE — "Pervasive mold plagues state hospital for mentally ill detainees," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Pervasive mold and the potential for exposure to asbestos are endangering the health of individuals confined at Bridgewater State Hospital, according to a new report, leading to renewed calls to close the institution." — “Massachusetts State Police Unresolved Case Unit sending unsolved playing cards to state prisons,” by Bob Ward, Boston 25 News: “This week, 7,000 decks of playing cards, each card containing the image of a missing persons case or an unsolved homicide, will be sent into the state prison system. The idea is to generate leads from inmates.” — "South Coast charter school proposal withdrawn," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "A group proposing to open a charter school serving New Bedford and Fall River with a focus on 'early college' programs has withdrawn the application, citing 'political complexities' that the plan has faced." — “Woburn case among most egregious in Open Meeting Law report,” by Colman M. Herman, CommonWealth Magazine: “[State Attorney General Maura] Healey ruled in July that six members of the Woburn Public Library Board of Trustees held two illegal secret meetings during October the prior year where they hired a public relations firm and legal counsel to represent them in a messy fight over library staff layoffs." MEDIA MATTERS — “Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy sues over sexual assault claims in articles,” by Jeremy Barr, Washington Post. TRANSITIONS — William Pratt is now a policy adviser for the Treasury Department. He previously was a legislative aide for Sen. Elizabeth Warren. SPOTTED — on Gabriela Coletta’s virtual campaign kickoff for Boston City Council District 1 campaign: State Reps. Adrian Madaro; Dan Ryan and Tram Nguyen; Boston City Councilors Kenzie Bok and Ricardo Arroyo; and Coletta’s former boss, Boston City Councilor and state Sen. Lydia Edwards, per an attendee. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Audrey Scagnelli, Jessica Ross, New Hampshire congressional candidate Gail Huff Brown and Geoff Young. 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.   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Patrick dabbles in 2022 races

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY DOLLAR SIGNS — There’s been a flurry of political activity up and down the ballot this week. But here’s something that flew under the radar: Former Gov. Deval Patrick is quietly making donations to some candidates for statewide office. The Democrat contributed $500 to Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll’s bid for lieutenant governor this month. And he gave the maximum donation, $1,000, to Chris Dempsey’s campaign for auditor, per state campaign finance filings. Patrick has longstanding relationships with both Dempsey and Driscoll.  Dempsey worked on Patrick’s 2006 campaign and then served as his assistant secretary of transportation. He called the former governor a “role model” and said he’s been “generous and kind with his advice and encouragement” as Dempsey vies for auditor. Driscoll and Patrick have kept up their relationship since working together as governor and mayor. “She is honored to have whatever support and advice he can provide,” her campaign said in a statement. Patrick’s money moves send a message to Dempsey and Driscoll’s rivals about whom he’s supporting in their primaries. It also sends a signal to Democrats and activists in the former governor’s orbit heading into the state party’s caucuses, where candidates will work to win over delegates for the June convention. Patrick started making donations in local races again last year. A campaign finance search shows $250 contributions to Ruthzee Louijeune and David Halbert in last year’s at-large Boston City Council race (Louijeune won a seat; Halbert, a former Patrick aide who the former governor endorsed, did not). Patrick also donated varying amounts to each of the five Boston mayoral hopefuls and endorsed Michelle Wu ahead of the general election. But Dempsey, in the auditor’s race, has been Patrick’s only max contribution of the bunch. The donations coincide with the news that Patrick is joining Harvard Kennedy School next month. A spokesperson for Patrick declined comment. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Speaking of governors, Charlie Baker  is in Washington, D.C., to attend the annual National Governors Association meeting. But his office says he plans to return home before the impending snowmageddon if necessary. The approaching storm is a bit of déjà-vu for Baker, who took office right before the winter wallop of 2015 began. “I just can’t even,”  Baker laughed on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” yesterday. “I guess what goes around comes around.” TODAY — Wu gives a storm-preparedness update at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall, gives remarks at the 2022 Boston Tax Help Coalition launch at 11 a.m. and tours the city’s 311 Call Center on Instagram Live at 2:30 p.m. Driscoll and state House and Senate leaders and members tour a future offshore wind marshalling facility in Salem at 1:15 p.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss hosts a constituent services roundtable on Facebook Live at 12:30 p.m. THIS WEEKEND — State Attorney General Maura Healey is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday and on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. BONUS — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and the governors of Illinois, Utah, Louisiana and Hawaii are chatting with my POLITICO colleagues today for “The Fifty: America’s Governors,” an annual summit focused on state leaders. Virtual programming begins at 10 a.m. Register here — it’s free. Tips? Scoops? Email me:  lkashinsky@politico.com. Also, we're aware that some links may be missing from Playbook when we publish. Our engineers are working on it.   JOIN TODAY TO HEAR FROM GOVERNORS ACROSS AMERICA : As we head into the third year of the pandemic, state governors are taking varying approaches to public health measures including vaccine and mask mandates. "The Fifty: America's Governors" is a series of live conversations featuring various governors on the unique challenges they face as they take the lead and command the national spotlight in historic ways. Learn what is working and what is not from the governors on the front lines, REGISTER HERE.     ON THE STUMP — GETTING IN: Dean Tran, a former Republican state senator accused of using public staff for campaign work, is challenging Rep. Lori Trahan in MA-03. Tran will formally launch his campaign with a fundraiser Wednesday evening in Fitchburg, per an email sent to supporters that proclaims “I WILL win this seat.” Trahan “looks forward to making the case" for her reelection, a spokesperson said. “The last thing families need is a representative focused on joining [Reps.] Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene to block common-sense legislation." — Jenny Armini, former Lt. Gov. Jane Swift’s speechwriter and co-founder of the local political action group Elect Blue, tells me she’s “seriously considering” a fall run for the seat state Rep. Lori Ehrlich is vacating. Armini, of Marblehead, said “this is a dynamic, historic district that deserves a representative who will bring people together and work tirelessly every single day. I would be that person.” — Worcester Mayor Joe Petty is eyeing retiring Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler's seat and is expected to announce his intentions in the next couple of weeks, per a person familiar with Petty’s thinking. — RETAIL POLITICKING: Newly minted GOP gubernatorial hopeful Chris Doughty held a hors d'oeuvres hour ahead of last night’s Republican State Committee meeting, per people in attendance. Republican former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, who’s on the state committee, is currently in D.C. — DECISION TIME: Democrats eyeing one of the six constitutional offices have until the end of the day to tell the state party of their intent to run, or they have to gather 500 delegate signatures by a later date. Former lieutenant governor nominee Quentin Palfrey told the state party he plans to run for attorney general, per a person familiar with his planning. Former Boston city councilor and mayoral hopeful Andrea Campbell is still mulling her own AG bid. — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, who was also considering a run for AG, is staying put. "I’m honored by the calls I’ve received about this opportunity, but I believe that my focus must remain on New Bedford," he said in a statement. — “Marian Ryan to run for reelection as Middlesex district attorney; will not seek attorney general’s seat,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Marian T. Ryan, the veteran prosecutor who’s built a progressive profile in Massachusetts’ most populous county, said Thursday she will seek reelection to a third full term as Middlesex County’s district attorney.” — “Healey wants to be ‘absolutely number one’ on climate as governor,” by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: “[State Attorney General Maura] Healey first praised [Gov. Charlie] Baker for his ‘pragmatic approach’ and his willingness to partner with other elected officials on initiatives like fighting the opioid epidemic. But she then pivoted to the future, indicating that we are ‘moving into a different time, hopefully.'" — “Gubernatorial hopefuls Sonia Chang-Díaz, Danielle Allen must pivot with AG Maura Healey as frontrunner, political analysts say,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Now the fundraising — and political survival — race is on for Harvard political theorist Danielle Allen and state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, the two Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls who have been competing for the state’s top elected post since last June.” DATELINE BEACON HILL — “House Approves Permanent Extension Of Voting Reforms,” by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): “The House voted 124-34 to pass a new version of the VOTES Act that establishes rules for voting-by-mail in all future state and presidential elections and expands early in-person voting opportunities. … [L]awmakers voted 93-64 in favor of an amendment that would direct Secretary of State William Galvin, who supports same-day registration, to conduct a comprehensive study — without a deadline — of what it would take for clerks to implement same-day registration and how much it would cost the state and municipalities. That amendment offered by [Assistant Majority Leader Mike] Moran superseded a vote on same-day registration, and a different amendment offered by Rep. Nika Elugardo of Boston as a ‘solid compromise’ that would have only allowed voters to register and vote at the same time on Election Day.” House leadership split on the vote. State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, who’d filed an amendment for same-day voter registration, told me the overall tally showed House Democrats are “deeply divided on the issue but that support has grown significantly from last session to this one." Elugardo told me “the trend lines are looking great for working together to honor and lift up the voice and power of disenfranchised people.” Among the other amendments: one from state Reps. Liz Miranda and Chynah Tyler that would strengthen jail-based voting passed 153-5. Differences between the House and Senate bills mean the legislation is likely headed for conference committee. — “Baker hears frustrated calls over scrutiny of state's unemployment benefit,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Appearing on GBH's Boston Public Radio Thursday, Gov. Charlie Baker spoke with small business owners and gig economy workers who have been asked to give back coronavirus pandemic unemployment relief funds they received and, in most cases, already spent. Baker said the state is only looking to document recipients of the relief dollars to adhere to federal law, and that his administration isn't pursuing a ‘clawback’ tactic against workers who were deemed ineligible for funds after they received and spent the money.” — “Marijuana industry ‘fixes’ moving in the Legislature,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy is polling out two bills — one related to criminal record expungements and another related to host community agreements and funding for social equity entrepreneurs — with committee members required to vote by Friday. The legislation could also pave the way for regulators to start licensing marijuana cafes.”   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 our West Wing Playbook newsletter, 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 — “Boston-area coronavirus wastewater data keeps sinking, Massachusetts reports 8,616 new COVID cases,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Both the south and north of Boston COVID wastewater data have now plummeted by 86% since the omicron peak in early January. … Thursday’s daily count of 8,616 new virus cases in Massachusetts was significantly down from last Thursday’s report of 14,384 infections.” — “21,686 new coronavirus cases reported in Massachusetts schools in past week,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The total of 21,686 staff and students testing positive is a 34% drop from 32,909 positive K-12 tests in the previous week.” — “Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts,” by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe. FROM THE HUB — “Boston vaccine mandate halted by court; Wu vows to press on,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “An appellate judge has temporarily frozen Mayor Michelle Wu’s coronavirus vaccine mandate, leading the city to suspend enforcement as it gets ready to respond in court. … The unions held a victory-lap press conference a couple of hours after the Thursday stay of the mandate.” — “Union fight with Wu over COVID-19 vaccination is dominating her early tenure,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Tom McKeever, president of SEIU Local 888, which represents about 2,000 city workers, defined the relationship between the Wu administration and municipal unions as ‘strained, absolutely strained.’” — “Continued concerns about Mass. and Cass aired at community meeting,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “The health care workers who plan to run a clinic and acute overdose care center at the Roundhouse hotel said Thursday that they may open in a matter of weeks, triggering strong opposition from neighborhood leaders who say the city is still struggling to manage vagrancy and open-air drug dealing in the Mass. and Cass area following the recent cleanup of nearby tent encampments.” — "Mayor Wu appoints new members to two Boston police oversight boards," by Tonya Alanez and Sahar Fatima, Boston Globe: "The appointments of 14 diverse community organizers and youth advocates include a judge, a public school teacher, a criminal defense attorney, and a social worker." — “Opponents appeal East Boston substation’s waterfront license,” by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “Environmental advocacy groups and East Boston residents are making a renewed attempt to stop construction of an Eversource electrical substation in the neighborhood.” BALLOT BATTLES — “Millionaire’s tax opponents sue over ballot language,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Opponents of the so-called ‘millionaires tax’ filed a lawsuit Thursday asking the Supreme Judicial Court to change the summary of the constitutional amendment that will appear on the November 2022 ballot. Their lawsuit calls attention to what has been a controversial issue – whether the money raised from the income surtax will actually go toward increased spending on transportation and education, as advocates of the measure have claimed. … Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of unions, clergy, and liberal organizing groups that is leading the campaign in favor of the constitutional amendment, responded that the opponents are ‘playing word games in the courts to confuse voters.’” PARTY POLITICS — MASSGOP MACHINATIONS: Several Republican State Committee members walked out of their meeting last night after tensions rose over who should occupy a Boston-based committee seat. It’s the latest chapter in a legal and political saga that’s left Nicaela Chinnaswamy, now the certified winner of the 2020 election for the post, fighting to take her place from Eleanor Greene , who’s been occupying the seat while the battle drags on. And it's the second time in as many meetings that state committee members have staged some sort of protest against Chair Jim Lyons, who couldn’t be reached for comment last night. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “MBTA ridership down sharply over last month,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “MBTA ridership across all modes took a sharp tumble in January, reversing gains made slowly over the last 10 months. MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak called the decline significant, and attributed it to a fairly typical holiday downturn in traffic and the Omicron COVID-19 surge.” — "Elected officials from 15 municipalities want the MBTA’s help to eliminate bus fares," by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: "Thirty elected representatives from Cambridge, Amesbury, Boston, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newburyport, Newton, Rowley, Somerville, Wakefield, Watertown, Winchester, and Worcester sent a letter to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Steve Poftak Thursday calling on the agency to make it easier for them to create fare-free bus lines." DAY IN COURT — “Survivor files lawsuit against Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles over 2019 NH crash,” by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “A nurse who was seriously injured in a New Hampshire crash that killed seven motorcyclists in 2019 has filed a civil lawsuit against the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, alleging the agency acted recklessly by failing to process out-of-state notifications about license suspensions for tens of thousands of drivers, including the commercial truck driver from West Springfield who is accused of causing the collision.” — “Review of Harmony Montgomery case ordered by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in response to questions from New Hampshire governor,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ordered a review of the case of Harmony Montgomery, a 7-year-old New Hampshire missing since late 2019, who that year was placed in the custody of her father now facing charges connected to her disappearance.” — “Trial Court settles woman’s sex harassment case against Northampton judge for $425K,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The Massachusetts Trial Court has settled a lawsuit brought by a licensed clinical social worker who alleged that Thomas Estes, the former presiding judge of Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, sexually harassed her and ‘made her’ perform oral sex in his chambers and at her home.” — “Convicted former mayor Correia’s prison date delayed again,” by Tim White and Steph Machado, WPRI: “For a third time, a federal judge has delayed when former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia must report to prison." FROM THE DELEGATION — WATCH: “Alison King Sits Down With Sen. Elizabeth Warren,” by Alison King, NBC 10 Boston. FROM THE 413 — “North Adams still has a curfew for minors under the age of 16. A new city councilor hopes to repeal it,” by Greta Jochem, Berkshire Eagle: “On Tuesday, [Ashley] Shade asked that the city council repeal the ‘antiquated’ ordinance that she feels is not enforceable. ‘It should never be against the law for any human being to walk down a street or exist outside,’ Shade wrote in a letter to the council.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — "Corrections officers at Souza-Baranowski to get body cameras for the first time," by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe: "Officers at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center will be equipped with body-mounted cameras for the first time as soon as this summer, in a $1 million pilot program announced Thursday by the state’s top public safety agency. ... The announcement comes as leaders at the Department of Correction face two federal lawsuits alleging excessive force against prisoners at Souza-Baranowski." — "Mass General Brigham fights back against criticisms of expansion," by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Globe: "Mass General Brigham defended plans on Thursday to undertake a $2.3 billion expansion, writing to state regulators that concerns about the project’s effects on health care spending were overstated and that a state agency criticizing the projects had overstepped its authority." — “After nearly 40 years, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones call it quits,” by Christopher Muther, Boston Globe. TRANSITIONS — Sam Lawrence, an alum of Cory Booker’s presidential bid and state Rep. Jon Santiago’s mayoral campaign, heads home to manage LAUSD School Board member Nick Melvoin’s reelection campaign. — Annalisa Quinn is starting as an editor at the Boston Globe Magazine. She most recently was reporting in Germany. — Laura Giordano, a Rep. Jim McGovern and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) alum, has joined Melwood Global as an account executive. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Antonio Caban, deputy communications director to Senate President Karen Spilka; former Rep. Peter Blute, Chrissy Raymond, former Rep. Peter Torkildsen, Christina Knowles, and Katie Holzman. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Provincetown Town Manager Alex Morse, Dr. Natalia Linos, Mass. Playbook alum and Bloomberg’s Lauren Dezenski and Rich Rubino, who celebrate Saturday; and to Ed Murray, who celebrates Sunday. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: WU ON WHAT'S AHEAD FOR BOSTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky to discuss vaccine mandates, Mass and Cass and the BPDA. Koczela brings early polling on the AG race. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. Want to make an impact? 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