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Showing posts with label MOORS. Show all posts

Friday, July 9, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WARREN: Time ‘RUNNING OUT’ to CANCEL student loans — Diehl’s 1ST TEST — PURDUE SETTLEMENT

 


 
Massachusetts Playbook logo

BY LISA KASHINSKY

THE WARREN REPORT — Elizabeth Warren is in her element. The senator's back on the town hall circuit (with her constituents, not in the early presidential states), resurrecting her popular “selfie line," taking Republicans to task over voting restrictions and holding the Biden administration’s feet to the fire on issues ranging from child care to student loan forgiveness.

Warren wants more investment in child care, more money for clean energy initiatives and a $6 trillion reconciliation package — paid for in part by her “two-cent wealth tax” — alongside Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure deal to make it all happen.

I caught up with Warren earlier this week to talk about infrastructure, her push to cancel up to $50,000 in federal student loan debt per borrower and more. Our conversation has been edited for length:

What is the latest on your push for student loan debt forgiveness?

It's clear that the president has the power to cancel student loan debt. It's clear that a majority of the American people want to see him do that. And it's clear that we're running out of time. The pause on student loan debt payments will expire Sept. 30. And neither the people wrestling with student loan debt nor our economy can take the hit of restarting those payments without warning. So I think this is the moment we've got literally millions of people across the country who have urged the president to do this. [Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)] and I are going to continue to push as hard as we can for this.

There’s a back-and-forth between the legislature and the governor right now about who should have the say in how that federal aid is spent … who do you think should have the decision?

I'm glad to see the legislature step up. They represent people all around the state, they know what the needs are. I want to see them spend on the kind of big projects that take big money, because this kind of help from the federal government is not likely to come around again in our lifetimes.

What do you think of the state GOP’s new campaign for a 2022 ballot question on requiring voter identification at the ballot box?

I don’t support Republican efforts to strip away the vote by putting a voter ID law on the 2022 ballot. At a time when more than 400 voter suppression laws have been introduced across this nation, it is time for the federal government to step up by passing S.1, the For the People Act.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. State Sen. Joe Boncore could become the second Winthrop Democrat to leave the legislature in a year, a move that would open an unexpected political door just months after voters sent Jeffrey Turco to the House of Representatives to succeed former Speaker Robert DeLeo.

Boncore’s 1st Suffolk and Middlesex District spans Winthrop, Revere, and parts of Cambridge and Boston. It covers a much larger area than the representative seat Turco won earlier this year, which only includes Winthrop and part of Revere. And that could mean a much larger pool of potential candidates for what could be another special election.

Names already being floated include Revere School Committee member Anthony D'Ambrosio and former Boncore aide Juan Jaramillo of Revere, who also ran in the special election to replace DeLeo.

State Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston is calling around, sources say. He didn’t respond to a call for comment yesterday. Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards of East Boston ran for the seat in the 2016 special election that Boncore won and could be a contender this time around. Edwards, who’s currently running for council reelection, is also being floated for state attorney general, should the seat open up.

Here are a few people who say they’re not looking at Boncore’s seat: Revere Mayor Brian ArrigoBoston City Councilor Kenzie Bok and state Rep. Jay Livingstone, who ran in the 2016 special for the seat. Boncore and his office didn’t respond to requests for comment yesterday.

TODAY — Warren hosts a meet-and-greet outside her Springfield office at noon, doors open at 11 a.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss is a guest on GBH’s Morning Edition at 8:20 a.m. Auchincloss also hosts community office hours at the Fall River Government Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey offers remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of Mabruuk Fashion at 11 a.m. and remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the New England Dental Group at 2:30 p.m.

THIS WEEKEND - Janey opens her Jamaica Plain mayoral campaign office at 10 a.m. Saturday, 405 Centre St. Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George hosts meet-and-greets with City Council at-large candidates Kelly Bates at 5 p.m., Erin Murphy at 6 p.m. and Jon Spillane at 7:15 p.m. at her home in Dorchester.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com.

 

SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.

 
 
THE LATEST NUMBERS

– “Massachusetts hits record low for coronavirus patients who are currently intubated,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts health officials on Thursday reported that just nine coronavirus patients are currently intubated in hospitals across the state — the first time the Bay State reported less than 10 COVID patients on ventilators since last March. … Meanwhile, state health officials on Thursday reported three more COVID deaths and 99 new cases.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– “House, Senate Negotiators Agree to $48.1 Billion Budget,” by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): “A deal to raise tax collection estimates by more than $4.2 billion and spend nearly $48.1 billion in fiscal year 2022 came together Thursday with House and Senate lawmakers filing a compromise budget that would also make the state's controversial film tax credit permanent."

– More: “Mariano scores big victory on film tax credit,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “House Speaker Ron Mariano won a major victory in budget negotiations with the Senate as the January 2023 sunset date for the state’s film tax credit was eliminated and all the major financial incentives associated with the credit were retained. The one concession the House made to the Senate was acceptance of a provision requiring film and TV production crews to spend 75 percent of either their budget or their filming days in Massachusetts, up from 50 percent in the current law.

– “Three Biz Groups Take Sides in Debate Over App-Based Drivers, Benefits,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “The Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, One SouthCoast Chamber and the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce, together representing more than 2,300 members, on Wednesday joined the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work fighting to keep ride-hailing and delivery drivers designated as independent contractors. With the addition of the three chambers, the coalition funded by Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart now counts a total of 15 members including other statewide business groups such as the Massachusetts High Technology Council and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

– "Data-sharing with immigration authorities prompt legislators, advocates to tweak Massachusetts driver’s license bill," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Some of the 16 states with laws allowing immigrants without legal status to obtain driver’s licenses promised to block federal agencies from getting ahold of those drivers’ personal information — only to learn the federal government gained access anyway. Now advocates and lawmakers pushing for a similar driving bill in Massachusetts are refining the proposal in hopes of avoiding those loopholes, which led to civil immigration arrests in other states."

– “Mariano: Complete State House Reopening Not Expected by Oct. 1,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “The State House will not have a ‘complete reopening’ before the start of October, Speaker Ronald Mariano said Wednesday, adding that he is hopeful that the building will be at least more populated at that point as legislative leaders target some time in autumn to welcome the public back to Beacon Hill.

– “Massachusetts sees fewer new unemployment claims after late June spike,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “There were 8,943 new unemployment claims filed in Massachusetts during the week of July 3, according to the federal Labor Department. That’s good news because the number of new claims in Massachusetts shot up by 2,994 the week of June 26 to 10,899. The state blamed that increase on the end of the school year and seasonal layoffs for workers.

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– “The Vax Express Keeps Rolling But Vaccine Inequity Remains,” by Aaron Schachter, GBH News: “At Union Station in Worcester Thursday, the mood was jubilant, the tunes from a local DJ were hits of the ’80s and ’90s and Massachusetts’ lieutenant governor couldn’t have been more excited about what the state's ‘Vax Express’ is trying to do: get needles in the arms of people who might otherwise not get a vaccine. … While [Carlene Pavlos] and other advocates for low-income communities appreciate the state’s efforts, they question why communities hardest hit by the pandemic are being treated as an afterthought with what they see as a kind of second tier urgency.

FROM THE HUB

– “$8: The Complicated Story Behind One Of The Most Repeated Statistics About Boston,” by Simón Rios, WBUR: “A 2015 study found the median net worth for white households in Greater Boston was a quarter million dollars. For Black families, it was just $8. Yet few people know the figure comes with important caveats — or the full story of how it became so well known.

 “Organization calls Boston students sharing their unlicensed counseling experiences an ‘attack’,” by Laura Crimaldi, Naomi Martin and James Vaznis, Boston Globe: “The international organization that promotes Re-evaluation Counseling, an unorthodox brand of peer counseling, is dismissing criticism by Boston students who said they were pressured to participate in traumatizing sessions, calling it an ‘attack’ on what they consider a powerful form of therapy."

– “100% tiered exam school admissions policy back on the table, per Boston Public Schools,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Boston education advocates are pushing for an exam school admissions policy that ranks students by socioeconomic tiers, a plan that is now back up for consideration after a task force had abruptly abandoned it last week.

– “BUREAUCRATIC DYSFUNCTION & PHYSICAL RESTRAINT IN BPS,” by Daniel DeFraia, Dig Boston/Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism: “In BPS, the larger story of physical student restraint … remains incomplete, concealed behind a dysfunctional bureaucracy that hides trouble spots and curbs accountability, increasing risk of student mistreatment.

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– “Where District 4 Candidates stand on issues,” by Rebeca Pereira, Dorchester Reporter: “Nine candidates for city council have launched bids to represent District 4, an area that primarily includes parts of Dorchester and Mattapan, including Codman Square, Franklin Field, Four Corners, Fields Corner and Bowdoin-Geneva. The seat also includes parts of Roslindale and Jamaica Plain. It is currently represented by Councillor Andrea Campbell, whose run for mayor clears a path for both veteran campaigners and emerging political organizers.

FEELING '22

– “Diehl’s first test: Can he force Baker to make a decision earlier than he wants?” by James Pindell, Boston Globe: “Ideally, Baker would like to wait as long as possible to announce whether he is a candidate. There is, in fact, no incentive for him to become a declared candidate until late in the game. … There is only one catch though: If Diehl starts to draw support from Republicans and forces Baker to respond by announcing his own plans.

DAY IN COURT

– “Purdue Pharma to pay $4.3b settlement — $90m to Mass.,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Members of the Sackler family who own Purdue Pharma will pay $4.3 billion to settle a lawsuit over Purdue’s role in perpetuating the opioid addiction epidemic, a lawsuit first initiated by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in 2018. The company will have to disband or be sold by 2024, and the Sacklers will be permanently banned from selling opioid pain medication. Attorney General Maura Healey said this is the highest settlement ever paid out in a law enforcement action.” More from GBH News’ Mike Deehan and the Boston Globe’s Priyanka Dayal McCluskey.

– “Rise of the Moors member sued Danvers police, then sought to pay filing fees with a silver coin,” by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: “A self-identified member of the group Rise of the Moors sued Danvers police after a traffic stop in November 2019. The federal case didn’t go far. The member, Mooreno Bey, also known as Lesley Malave, refused to pay filing fees in US dollars, instead offering a single silver coin as payment, court records show. … Several members of the Rhode Island-based group, jailed since an armed standoff on Interstate 95 over the holiday weekend, echoed Malave’s legalese during their arraignments this week, reading from crumpled notes balled in their cuffed hands.

– “Civil-rights, hate-crime charge for man accused of stabbing Brighton rabbi,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The man charged with stabbing a rabbi multiple times in Brighton now faces civil-rights and hate-crime charges as he’s shuffled off to a mental hospital for further evaluation and is under an ICE detainer.

FROM THE DELEGATION

– “Elizabeth Warren and Ayanna Pressley urge Baker administration to reconsider change to COVID-19 hospitalization data reporting,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley are urging Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration to reconsider the state’s recent move to stop reporting demographic data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, calling the metric a critical part of ensuring an equitable recovery from the pandemic.

DATELINE D.C.

– From POLITICO'S Morning Shift: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh’s chief of staff, Dan Koh, owns as much as $250,000 in Amazon stock, according to his personal financial disclosures, Motherboard’s Lauren Kaori Gurley tweeted Thursday . DOL enforces workplace health and safety laws, as well as wage theft laws — which, Gurley writes, Amazon has been caught violating. DOL did not respond to Morning Shift's request for comment.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– SHOT: “'A one-stop shop': Officials tout New Bedford's future offshore wind training facility,” by Anastasia E. Lennon, Standard-Times: “As early as next spring, a facility that once manufactured seafood packaging will house classrooms, obstacle courses and a deepwater pool to train workers for the offshore wind industry, which is scheduled to start delivering energy to Massachusetts in 2023. The National Offshore Wind Institute training facility in New Bedford, which has yet to be built, will offer hands-on safety training and classroom technical training.

– CHASER: “Maine Prohibits Offshore Wind Projects In State Waters,” by Fred Bever, Maine Public Radio: “Maine Gov. Janet Mills has signed compromise legislation to permanently bar future development of offshore wind projects in state waters. At the same time, momentum is building behind her plan to develop, for research purposes, a 16-square mile wind farm in federal waters.

FROM THE 413

– “Springfield councilors, police commissioner Cheryl Clapprood agree to work more closely on reform,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “City councilors who met with police commissioner Cheryl Clapprood on Thursday said they were pleased to hear of progress in reform efforts in the aftermath of a highly critical U.S. Department of Justice report and council recommendations for change a year ago.More from the Republican: “Springfield police announce new use-of-force policy; chokeholds by police prohibited in most cases” and “Springfield police create firearms investigation unit to crack down on gun violence, eliminate narcotics unit”

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– “Jennifer Macksey enters race for North Adams mayor,” by Berkshire Eagle staff: “Jennifer Macksey took out papers Thursday to run for the position, the city clerk's office confirmed. She enters a race that includes Lynette Bond, Joshua Vallieres, Rachel Branch and Aprilyn Carsno. Mayor Tom Bernard is not seeking reelection this fall.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– “Andrew Yang’s Loss Fits a Pattern. Why Do Asian Americans Struggle in Mayoral Races?” by Joel Lau, POLITICO: “What explains the dearth of Asian American mayors, and can it change? To gain insight on the unique challenges Asian American candidates face in mayoral elections, POLITICO Magazine spoke with Sam Yoon, the first Asian American to run for mayor of Boston, in 2009. As the city’s first Asian councilor, Yoon, a Democrat who is Korean American, garnered support during his run for mayor from Asians across America, in states like California and New York. But he ultimately finished third in the preliminary election."

– “‘Boo Boo,' Bear Spotted in Several Mass. Towns, Was Killed in Marion Van Crash,” by Kaitlin McKinley Becker, NBC 10 Boston: “According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the bear — [affectionately] dubbed ‘Boo Boo’ — died from its injuries after it was struck by a van on Route 195 in Marion two weeks ago.

– IN MEMORIUM: “An 'unimaginable' absence: Mahaiwe founder Lola Jaffe dies at 95,” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: “Lola Jaffe, the force behind the reawakening of one of the Berkshires’ most beloved cultural institutions, died Wednesday, at the age of 95."

TRANSITIONS – Gena Frank joins SEIU 509 as deputy legislative director. Frank is an alum of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts and state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli's office.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Rachel Dec, Ryan Boehm, 60 Minutes+/CBS News correspondent and Boston Globe alum Wesley Lowery, George-Alexander Attia and MassGOP operations director Madeleine Cammarano.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Edie Mead Holway, Andy Flic and Samuel Weinstock, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sen. Ed Markey, who turns 75, WBUR’s Jack Lepiarz, Maximos Nikitas and Chris Maloney, partner at the Black Rock Group and a Mitt Romney alum, who celebrate 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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Thursday, July 8, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WHAT the NYC mayor’s race means for BOSTON — Advocates BLAST House rules — BAKER to decide ‘SOON’ on GUV RACE

 



 
Massachusetts Playbook logo

BY LISA KASHINSKY

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — It’s hard to look at Eric Adams’ Democratic primary win in the New York City mayoral race and not draw parallels with Annissa Essaibi George.

Adams, a former police captain, rose above his competitors by striking a balance between public safety and cop accountability at a time when violent crime is on the rise in the streets and in voters’ minds.

Essaibi George isn’t a police officer, but she is the “cops’ candidate” in the Boston mayoral race who’s locked up key public-safety endorsements in part by pitching police reform without the budget cuts some of her competitors have called for.

While Boston’s mayoral election is nonpartisan, Essaibi George, like Adams, has emerged as a more moderate candidate in a progressive-heavy field. She generally polls third in public and internal surveys, but could leapfrog into one of the top two spots to advance from the September preliminary if progressives split the vote — a scenario that’s played out in several open-seat Massachusetts primaries in recent years.

Right now, the two top-polling candidates, City Councilor Michelle Wu and Acting Mayor Kim Janey, both progressives, still enjoy wider name recognition in a smaller city where politics is still very much about familiarity. And the crime spike that propelled Adams to victory in New York is not as prevalent in Boston, where the police department is also being roiled by controversies that are bolstering calls for reform.

If New York is any guidethe state of the race here could change a lot in the final two months. At this point in the New York City Democratic primary, Andrew Yang was still topping polls as he rode a wave of name recognition similar to Wu and Janey. But he tumbled as others surged late in the game. While that was in part due to allegations of sexual misconduct against one candidate, a shakeup could very well happen here if Andrea Campbell, a district councilor who’s still introducing herself to the city at large, and lower-tier candidates state Rep. Jon Santiago and former city economic development chief John Barros find ways to really stand out from the pack.

“If we all went by polls, Ayanna Pressley would not have been the congressperson. A lot can change in 70 days or so,” Santiago told me.

And yet, Boston’s not New York, as several candidates were quick to point out yesterday. The dynamics of this race — where there’s an effective incumbent, four city councilors in the mix and candidates who have run and won citywide before — are different, as are the issues, as is the structure of the election itself.

“New York obviously has New York voters. Boston has Boston voters,” Campbell said.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. A small group of progressive Democrats pushing for greater transparency on committee votes, more time to review legislation and to reinstate term limits for the House speaker found themselves on the same side as most Republicans — and at odds with the majority of their own party — when it came time to vote on House rules months into the Legislative session.

The House ultimately approved modest changes — publishing only the names of lawmakers who vote against bills in committee, continuing to broadcast meetings online — that were skewered by activists on both sides of the aisle for not going far enough when it comes to accountability.

“The roll calls today made it extremely clear which Representatives were willing to stand up for their constituents, and which deferred to the power of the Speaker,” said Ella McDonald of the progressive group Act on Mass, which was pushing the transparency measures.

Paul Craney of the conservative Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance accused House Speaker Ronald Mariano of trying to “derail transparency and embrace opaqueness.”

TODAY — Janey attends a press conference hosted by Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston, and Facing History and Ourselves to announce the New England Holocaust Memorial’s new interactive, mobile tour experience and virtual tour at 10 a.m. at the memorial site. Rep. Katherine Clark joins the opening of Frequency Therapeutics’ new Lexington headquarters at 10:30 a.m. Sen. Ed Markey and Reps. Jake Auchincloss and Bill Keating tour the future site of Bristol Community College’s National Offshore Wind Institute in New Bedford at 11 a.m. followed by a press conference. Auchincloss also makes district stops, hosts an Instagram Live at 5:30 p.m. with teen mental health advocate Carson Domey and participates in the Greater Boston Food Bank “Data Informed Investments” forum with state Sen. Michael Rodrigues at 7 p.m. Senate President Karen Spilka and state Sens. John Velis and Mike Rush will be joined by Secretary of Veterans’ Services Cheryl Lussier Poppe for a tour of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home at 2 p.m., which is closed to press per state policy. Essaibi George hosts a veterans virtual town hall at 6 p.m.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com.

 

SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.

 
 
THE LATEST NUMBERS

– “Massachusetts reports 3 new coronavirus deaths and 61 cases, new COVID patients reach new low,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts health officials on Wednesday reported three new coronavirus deaths and 61 COVID cases, as key virus metrics stay at record lows. The state Department of Public Health reported that six new COVID patients were admitted to the hospital on Monday, which is the state’s lowest single-day hospitalization admission count since last March.

DATELINE BEACON HILL


SCOOP: Several sources say State Sen. Joe Boncore (D-Winthrop) is calling around to colleagues and associates saying he plans to leave the State House for a job at MassBio. Boncore did not respond to a request for comment overnight.

His possible departure is already generating interest in his Senate seat, including from Revere School Committee member Anthony D'Ambrosio and former state representative candidate Juan Jaramillo, who's also from Revere. Boncore's district covers Revere, Winthrop and parts of Boston and Cambridge.

– “House rejects efforts to disclose committee votes,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Massachusetts House on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected efforts to publicly disclose how representatives vote on bills at the committee level. In approving a new set of operating rules for the chamber, the House backed a provision that would hide how most lawmakers vote on bills coming before them in committees. Under the provision, the House would give an aggregate vote tally for those voting yes, those not voting, and those reserving their rights. Those who vote no, however, would be identified by name.

– “How the Baker administration wants to use COVID-19 relief funds to close the racial homeownership gap,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Massachusetts has one of the largest racial homeownership gaps in the country. And in the midst of the ongoing debate with State House leaders over who gets to spend roughly $5 billion in recent direct federal COVID-19 relief funds to the state, Gov. Charlie Baker is pushing to immediately use some of the money to address that gap in the hopes of closing one of the root causes of the racial wealth divide. He even has some State House leaders on his side.

– “Back Stroke: State Reverses Open Water Swim Ban At Walden Pond,” by Paul Singer, GBH News: “The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation reversed course Wednesday, abandoning a ban on open water swimming at Walden Pond that it imposed Friday, July 2 without warning. … swimmers and several dozen state legislators complained that the Walden swimming ban had been issued without any kind of public process and would do little to improve public safety.

– “District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, Sheriff Nick Cocchi support driver’s licenses for immigrants without legal status,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “State Sen. Adam Gomez of Springfield was joined by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and Sheriff Nick Cocchi recently in testifying in support of legislation that would allow people living in the country [without] authorization to obtain driver’s licenses. All Democrats, the three said the bill will promote public safety through having more licensed drivers on the streets, and will also increase state revenues.

FROM THE HUB

 “City of Boston nixes proposal for vast surveillance network,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s administration has scrapped a proposal that sought bids for a company to assemble a surveillance network that would link more than 1,000 cameras in nine Greater Boston communities. Last month, Janey hit pause on the plan amid a chorus of advocates calling on her to drop the proposal, citing privacy and civil liberties concerns.

– “Boston Public Schools denies it wrongfully withheld text messages in exam school admission case, saying there was no coverup,” by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: “In new legal filings, Boston school officials strongly denied they committed any wrongdoing in withholding racially charged text messages during an exam school admission case in federal court, saying ‘there was no direct or indirect cover up of those text messages.’

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– “Andrea Campbell criticizes Kim Janey administration over lack of planning on schools aid as feds release cash,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Boston officials have known for a couple of months that the city’s school district would be in line for about $400 million in new aid from the various relief packages passed during the pandemic. The city organized a process aimed at getting public input for where the money should go, and that remains ongoing. But City Councilor Andrea Campbell, who’s one of the candidates running against Acting Mayor Kim Janey for mayor this year, said the administration needs to get a move on — particularly with putting cash toward getting air conditioning in schools and fixing other Boston Public Schools infrastructure.

FROM THE DELEGATION

– “Congresswomen join Biden Economic Adviser to tout American Families Plan child care changes,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “Making the case that child care is critical infrastructure, President Biden’s top economist joined three Massachusetts congresswomen Wednesday in advocating for an infusion of public funds through the president’s $1.8 trillion American Families Plan. The event was part of a national road show put on by the Biden administration and Democratic allies, that also featured Biden touting the plan in Illinois on Wednesday. In Cambridge, the Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Cecilia Rouse, joined Representatives Katherine Clark, Ayanna Pressley, and Lori Trahan at a local child care center that remains understaffed post-pandemic, and unable to meet its licensed capacity of children, despite a lengthy wait list.

FEELING '22

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Gubernatorial candidate Ben Downing is calling for universal early education and child care in a child care policy plan he’s rolling out today. The proposal draws heavily on a bill by the Common Start Coalition that would establish such a program over five years, change the funding model for providers, raise pay for workers, enact a 7% household income cap on childcare costs for families, and prioritize free access for those who are lower-income.

“We may tell ourselves we’re first in the nation on education, but Massachusetts has the highest childcare costs in the country — making it unaffordable for a staggering 95% of Massachusetts families,” Downing writes in his proposal, a copy of which was reviewed by POLITICO. Downing will roll out his proposal, the third policy plan of his campaign, at 9:15 a.m. on Instagram Live.

– “Gov. Charlie Baker Still Mulling Whether To Run For Third Term,” by Steve Brown, WBUR: “Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday he still hasn't decided whether to run for reelection next year, even after fellow Republican Geoff Diehl announced plans over the weekend to run for governor. Baker said Wednesday morning that he and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito are still discussing future plans with their respective families, with Baker adding he'll make his mind up ‘soon.’”

– “State Sen. Chang-Díaz Says She’ll Lean On Years Of Legislative 'Coalition-Building' To Fuel Bid For Governor,” by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: “Massachusetts State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, a Democratic candidate for governor, told Boston Public Radio on Wednesday that she will use her experience building coalitions in the state legislature to propel her into the governor's seat next fall. … Baker has not announced if he will run for another term, but Chang-Díaz says she's running on a sense of urgency that Baker has not provided.

DAY IN COURT

– “Court decision allows Canton school to continue using electric shocks on residents with intellectual disabilities,” by Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: “A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., this week overturned the US Food and Drug Administration’s ban on shock devices created and used by a Canton residential school for children and adults who are intellectually disabled. The 2-1 decision issued Tuesday allows the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center to continue using the controversial devices on residents. The center is now the sole facility in the country that uses electric shocks to modify behavior in patients with disabilities, according to court records.

– “‘Racism is healthy and natural’: A closer look at Nathan Allen’s disturbing journal entries made just days before killings,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “Law enforcement officials found journals written by Nathan Allen after searching his home that reveal troubling details about the man who gunned down Air Force veteran Ramona Cooper and retired Massachusetts State Trooper David Green. In one of the notebooks, Allen had written that ‘men need to kill things.’ Another read, ‘the white race is superior.’

– “Rise of the Moors members again reject authority of Massachusetts court; ‘John Doe 2’ ordered to provide court name by Friday, held without bail,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “A pair of Rise of the Moors members on Wednesday insisted Malden District Court had no jurisdiction over them and that Massachusetts state laws did not apply to them as they were arraigned on weapons charges that a judge has warned could lead to a decade in prison.

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– “Holyoke candidates decry racist messages on campaign signs,” by Dusty Christensen: “Two Latino candidates for elected office are speaking out after racist messages were found written on the back of their campaign signs at a busy city intersection. Israel Rivera, who is running for an at-large City Council seat, and Joshua Garcia, a mayoral candidate, came forward earlier this week to decry the vandalized signs, which were discovered a week before. In interviews, both candidates said they debated whether to draw attention to the incident. Ultimately, they said they decided to publicly condemn the racism directed at them and their communities.

– “'A guy with a vision': Fall River City Council President Cliff Ponte announces run for mayor,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “Local businessman and three-term City Councilor Cliff Ponte announced on Wednesday his bid for mayor in the upcoming November citywide election. Ponte, 32, the Council president, is challenging first-term incumbent Mayor Paul Coogan, 68, who also returned his nomination papers Wednesday.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– “‘I have never seen a Black superintendent retire ... There’s a systemic problem’,” by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: “...at a time of national racial awareness, education advocates and students are pressing for more educators of color in positions of leadership. They say it is critical for Black, Latino, and Asian students to see themselves reflected in their teachers and school leaders. Research also shows that students of color have better academic outcomes when taught by at least some teachers of color, and that racial diversity helps break down negative perceptions in their classrooms.

– “The money could transform their lives. But thousands of eligible kids may not get the new child tax credit,” by Zoe Greenberg, Boston Globe: “Both the IRS and local community groups are warning that a significant number of families who most need the relief risk falling through the cracks because they are not known to the IRS. In Massachusetts, roughly 58,000 children who are eligible for the money may not receive it, according to a ZIP code level analysis by the IRS.

– “Local Haitians Grieve For The Nation — But Not Necessarily For The Assassinated President,” by Phillip Martin, GBH News: “Local Haitian immigrants interviewed by GBH News Wednesday agreed: no matter where you stand on the factionalized, contentious and often violent politics of Haiti, the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse was a major blow, further destabilizing a country that has yet to recover from the devastating earthquake of 2010 and Hurricane Matthew five years later.

– “St. Vincent nurses on strike deliver message to Tenet at Dallas HQ: 'No more!',” by Isable Sami, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “Four nurses, one hospital cleaner and two unionized flight attendants spoke outside Tenet Wednesday, at the event the nurses' union called a press conference but really felt like a rally. The dozens of people in the crowd cheered on the nurses as they told stories of neglect by Tenet that led to unsafe conditions for both nurses and patients, and the crowd booed at any mention of St. Vincent CEO Carolyn Jackson.

– “Aly Raisman offers reward for her missing dog Mylo: ‘The unknown is just really horrific’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Olympic gold gymnast Aly Raisman, working around the clock to find her missing dog Mylo in Boston — even going out in the middle of the night to try to find him — is now offering a reward for the lost dog’s safe return.

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

 “How Rhode Island became the first state to approve supervised drug-injection centers,” by Ian Donnis, The Public’s Radio: “Rhode Island is the first state in the nation to authorize a supervised drug-injection center, under a pilot program approved by the legislature and signed into law this week by Gov. Dan McKee. Supporters say so-called harm reduction centers can save lives.

THE NATIONAL TAKE

– "The Adams effect: Will a former cop's winning message in NYC resonate for Democrats nationwide?" by Erin Durkin, Lisa Kashinsky and Tina Nguyen, POLITICO: "To hear Eric Adams tell it, his win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary should send a message that resonates across the country."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Amy Sennett, Samuel Weinstock, Andy Flick, William LaRose and Maddie James.

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