POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: To mask or not to mask

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY THE YOUNG AND THE MASKLESS — Students and teachers could soon be shedding their masks in schools. Gov. Charlie Baker hinted the state’s school mask requirement could lapse after Feb. 28, hours after the Democratic governors of New Jersey and Delaware said they will lift their school mask mandates on March 7 and 31, respectively. Massachusetts’ requirement will stay in effect through the end of the month, though students and staff can drop their masks now if they hit a vaccination rate of at least 80 percent in their school building. Baker said Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley will “have more to say” on the mandate at “some point in the not-too-distant future.” “Obviously every state is different,” Baker told reporters yesterday at the State House. But, he said, “I do think the dates that both Delaware and New Jersey are talking about are pretty consistent with [our] Feb. 28 date.” Baker’s been in touch with Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, both Democrats, as leaders in all three states review their school mask policies, a McKee spokesperson told WPRI’s Ted Nesi. Lamont wants to end Connecticut’s school mask mandate on Feb. 28 and leave decisions to local officials from there — a typical tactic of Baker’s. Both Republicans running to replace Baker, businessman Chris Doughty and former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, say they would lift the school mask mandate now. The three Democrats’ opinions are mixed. Harvard professor Danielle Allen says masks should be optional starting March 7, to leave time to track the aftereffects of school vacation week. She would also only drop the requirement in communities where vaccination rates are above 70 percent for people ages 50 and older. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz supports “continued masking in schools for the time being” and state Attorney General Maura Healey would decide based on data at the end of the month, per the candidates’ spokespeople. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo is running for Suffolk district attorney. Arroyo, a former public defender, will launch his campaign at 9:30 a.m. in Roslindale. He’ll then meet with local groups that provide addiction recovery services and support for families of homicide victims. Playbook first reported last month that Arroyo was considering a run for the seat. Interim Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden, Baker’s pick to succeed now-U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, recently told GBH News he’s “highly likely” to seek a full term. TO THE WEST: Longmeadow Democrat Sydney Levin-Epstein is launching her campaign today for the state Senate seat that Eric Lesser is vacating to run for lieutenant governor. She's centering her pitch around job creation and "West-East rail." Levin-Epstein is a Lesser and Sen. Ed Markey campaign alum who also worked for Markey and Rep. Richard Neal’s offices in Washington. She managed Anthony D’Ambrosio’s unsuccessful state Senate bid. Levin-Epstein is the second candidate to enter the race for what will be known as the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester district under the new redistricting map. She’s vying against first-term state Rep. Jake Oliveira, who jumped in last week. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito joins a RESPECTfully Program event at 10:20 a.m. in Worcester and joins a Local Government Advisory Commission meeting at 1 p.m. Healey, Secretary of State Bill Galvin, state Treasurer Deb Goldberg, state Auditor Suzanne Bump, A&F Secretary Michael Heffernan and others testify at a legislative budget hearing at 10 a.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson host a media availability outside Brighton High School at 10:15 a.m. Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark and House Democratic leaders host a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss makes a speech to honor Tom Brady’s retirement. State attorney general hopefuls Andrea Campbell, Quentin Palfrey and Shannon Liss-Riordan are on GBH’s “Greater Boston” at 7 p.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.     ON THE STUMP — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz has added three more people to her campaign for governor: Jane Rayburn, principal at EMC Research, joins as pollster and senior strategist; Annika Jensen , a state Sen. Becca Rausch and David Halbert for Boston City Council alum, joins as deputy organizing director; and Kaitlyn Solares joins as deputy communications director for digital strategy from the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts. — “James ‘Chip’ Harrington may run for Rep. Jake Oliveira’s seat after narrowly losing, filing recount petition in 2020,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “James ‘Chip’ Harrington is mulling over another potential campaign for the 7th Hampden district — a House seat he thought he had narrowly won, but ultimately lost, in November 2020 after a bungled vote tally in Belchertown.” THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Massachusetts reports 6,725 new coronavirus cases over the weekend, hospitalizations continue falling,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The 6,725 infection total was significantly down from 12,127 cases last weekend — a 45% drop. … The positive test average has been coming down. The average is now 4.78% — a major drop from 23% in early January. The positive test rate for Monday’s report was 3.87%.” DATELINE BEACON HILL — EYEING THE EXITS: State Reps. Claire Cronin and Lori Ehrlich have already left for Biden administration posts. State Rep. Maria Robinson , who was nominated in September to be assistant secretary for the Energy Department’s Office of Electricity, has her U.S. Senate confirmation hearing today. State Rep. Sheila Harrington has a Governor's Council hearing Wednesday for her nomination as clerk magistrate of Gardner District Court. And state Rep. Carolyn Dykema is set to leave Friday for a job at renewable energy company Nexamp. Holding special elections to replace them is “not as simple” as it seems, House Speaker Ron Mariano told reporters yesterday. Cronin and Robinson’s seats were effectively erased in last year’s redistricting process, and “we don’t want to elect someone who’s going to serve for five months and then not be eligible to run for reelection,” Mariano said. He also plans to name a majority leader to replace Cronin “shortly.” — NO LONGER ACTING: Margret Cooke is now the state’s Department of Public Health commissioner after serving in an acting capacity for the past seven months; DPH chief of staff Jennifer Barrelle is now deputy commissioner; Estevan Garcia is chief medical officer and Yves Singletary is senior advisor to the commissioner. — “Baker seeking major changes in building code,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Baker administration is preparing to unveil proposed revisions to the state building code that would ratchet up energy conservation across the state and allow individual communities to opt-in to a ‘specialized stretch code’ that would require new construction to be much more energy self-sufficient.” — “Study Order Snuffs Out Baker’s Drugged Driving Bill,” by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): “Gov. Charlie Baker last fall impressed on lawmakers the importance of acting to prevent driving under the influence of marijuana, but for the second straight session the Legislature has snuffed out legislation that would have empowered law enforcement to use field sobriety tests and other measures to determine if a driver was under the influence of pot.” — “Baker plans to sign bill to protect K9 first responders,” by Jodi Reed, WWLP: “The legislature has sent Governor Baker a bill to protect four legged first responders across Massachusetts. … [W]hen 22News asked the governor Monday if he was going to sign [Nero’s Law], he said yes and that his office hopes to release the logistics around the signing very soon.” — “Baker pushes for approval of $5B bond,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: “As he prepares to leave office next year, Gov. Charlie Baker wants lawmakers to authorize the state to borrow billions of dollars to modernize public buildings, upgrade cybersecurity and electrify the state’s vehicle fleet. — “Mass. legislators may soon take up ‘revenge porn’ bill,” by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: “Legislators in Massachusetts, one of only two states in the nation that does not have legislation addressing the non-consensual distribution of lewd images, may soon take up the issue, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday.” — “House Prepping Soldiers Home Bill For Vote,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): “Legislation overhauling oversight and governance of state-run veterans homes in Holyoke and Chelsea is on deck for a House session on Thursday, Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday.” — “Data find ‘no support for patterns of racial disparity’ in traffic stops, state says,” by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: “A 10-month study of traffic stops in Massachusetts found no evidence of racial disparity in which drivers police pulled over but determined that non-white drivers were more likely to be subjected to a ‘non-inventory, discretionary search’ and had a higher chance of receiving a criminal citation than white drivers, according to a new report.” VAX-ACHUSETTS — “Worcester health officials vote to drop the city’s indoor mask mandate,” by Victoria Price, WHDH: “Beginning February 18, masks will be encouraged, but not required in most of Worcester’s indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status. … Though the mandate will not go into effect for more than a week, the Board of Health agreed to immediately drop the mandate for colleges or workplaces with at least a 90 percent vaccination rate.” — "Survey: Widespread need for mental health care during pandemic," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "More than one-quarter of Massachusetts adults say they needed behavioral health care over the first year of the pandemic – but many of them never got it. They couldn’t get an appointment, or they couldn’t afford it, or they felt the stigma of needing mental health care, according to survey data."   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.     FROM THE HUB — “For Wu, Cassellius departure is a challenge and an opportunity,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “The departure of Brenda Cassellius as superintendent of Boston Public Schools comes as Mayor Michelle Wu hunts for a new commissioner of the police department, leaving her administration to hire two of the city’s most important leaders simultaneously. … In an interview on Monday, Boston School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson outlined an ‘expedited process’ for the search, saying the city’s goal is to not appoint an interim, and to put a permanent leader in place for the beginning of the next school year.” — “U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins calls for inclusion of neo-Nazis in gang database,” by Rebecca Tauber, GBH News: “In the wake of neo-Nazis targeting anti-racist doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at the end of January, Massachusetts’ new U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said she would like to see neo-Nazis included in gang databases.” — Rollins also told GBH that if Attorney General Merrick Garland chooses to seek the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, her office would have to follow suit. — “Ten immigrant families allege poor treatment at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “A group of ten Central American families, several of whose members are undocumented, are alleging poor medical treatment by East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.” — “After two decades at HUD, the Rev. Miniard Culpepper retires,” by Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: “Most Bostonians know the Rev. Miniard Culpepper as senior pastor at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Dorchester and a prominent voice in civic life. … Fewer may know Culpepper as HUD’s regional counsel, overseeing the agency’s attorneys and legal matters as they work to enforce fair housing policies in New England. Now he’s retiring from that post after a 27-year career with the department — and hinting that he might consider running for public office.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “COVID spurred bike lane construction. Will the Boston area keep up the momentum?” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “Nearly two years after the coronavirus hit, many streets in Greater Boston have been transformed to accommodate safer biking. … But as the new normal solidifies, there’s been backlash: from some business owners and drivers who say that the changes, made for a minority of commuters, have been too sweeping and swift — and from bikers, that the process to build connected, protected bike lanes is moving too slowly.” DATELINE D.C. — “Biden’s top science adviser, Eric Lander, resigns amid reports of bullying,” by Alex Thompson, POLITICO: “President Joe Biden’s top science adviser, Eric Lander [who was the president and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard], resigned on Monday evening following reports of his bullying and mistreatment of subordinates. … POLITICO was first to report that the White House had launched a two-month investigation into Lander that found 'credible evidence' that he bullied his then-general counsel, Rachel Wallace.” — “Labor Secretary Martin Walsh offers to help end Major League Baseball lockout,” by Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe: “Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh said Monday that he’s ready to step up to the plate and help end Major League Baseball’s two-month old lockout. Walsh, the former Boston mayor and longtime Red Sox fan, said he had spoken with representatives of the owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association about the ongoing negotiations and that he encouraged both sides ‘to continue engagement.’” — "Biden taps new director for EPA in New England," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "After more than a year without a permanent director of the Environmental Protection Agency in New England, President Biden on Monday appointed David Cash, former commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, as regional administrator." TRUMPACHUSETTS — “Corey Lewandowski Compares ‘Trump World' to ‘Game of Thrones',” by Alison King, NBC10 Boston: “[Lewandowski said] ‘I don’t think you’re ever really out of the Trump world. There are peaks and valleys, of course. And I think I’m one of those guys, probably a very small few, that have had staying power inside the Trump world for a long time.’” FROM THE 413 — “In push for ‘west-east’ rail, Berkshire County lawmakers press for track upgrades west of Springfield,” by Danny Jin, Berkshire Eagle: “The Baker administration identified ‘service improvements between Springfield and Worcester’ in a news release Thursday as ‘an initial step to expand service between Boston and Albany.’ But, what about improvements between Springfield and Pittsfield? That’s the question Berkshire County leaders are asking.” — “COVID outbreaks slam elderly, staff at Linda Manor, lead to 4 deaths,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Two separate outbreaks of COVID-19 at [Northampton] Linda Manor’s nursing home and assisted living programs infected 86 seniors in the past two months — causing four deaths — and 88 staff members, some of whom remain out of work while they continue to recover.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Massachusetts nurses call for independent Presidential Federal COVID-19 Committee,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The Massachusetts Nurses Association is joining national calls for the creation of an independent Presidential Federal COVID-19 Committee to replace the task force disbanded at the end of the Trump administration.” — “Mass. business confidence slumps as employers struggle,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Newburyport Daily News: “Business confidence among Massachusetts employers slumped last month amid lingering concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation. That’s according to the latest Business Confidence Index from the pro-business group Associated Industries of Massachusetts, which shows overall enthusiasm among employers declined 0.8 points to 55.9 in January. That’s the lowest level since January 2021, the report’s authors noted.” — “Lawrence councilors OK tax exemption for city's Gold Star parents,” by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: “City councilors unanimously approved full property tax exemptions for Gold Star parents or guardians living in the city.” — IN MEMORIAM: “Charles Vert Willie, 94, Dies; Studied, and Defended, Racial Diversity,” by Clay Risen, New York Times: “He devised a plan to desegregate Boston’s public schools. He also stood up against sexism in the Episcopal Church.” TRANSITIONS — Marty Martinez, Boston’s former health chief, will take over as chief executive as national nonprofit Reach Out and Read, the Boston Globe’s Jon Chesto reports. Ivy Scott is the Boston Globe’s new criminal justice reporter. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Attorney General Maura Healey. 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: Wu builds out her team

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY THE WU WHISPERERS — Michelle Wu unveiled her “Mass and Cass” team yesterday, fulfilling a campaign pledge and offering a first look at the experts and advocates who will have the new mayor’s ear when she’s sworn in on Tuesday. Monica Bharel, the former state Department of Public Health commissioner, will lead the city’s response to the public health and housing crises at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard as a Cabinet-level senior advisor. Wu is also making Boston Public Health Commission Executive Director Bisola Ojikutu a Cabinet member and, in a widely applauded move, reappointing Sheila Dillon as the city’s housing chief. Wu’s rapid transition from candidate to mayor means she won’t have her full Cabinet in place next week. But her transition-team picks so far represent a mix of state and city government veterans, activists, union leaders and professors that in some ways emulate the teams of mayors before her and in other ways break the mold: THE POLITICIANS — One of Wu’s transition co-chairs, former state Rep. Charlotte Golar Richie, is a Menino administration alum who ran for mayor in 2013 and later served on then-mayor Marty Walsh’s transition team. Walsh tapped two other former mayoral rivals to help lead his transition. Wu named Acting Mayor Kim Janey as honorary chair of hers. THE ISSUE AREAS — Walsh had teams focused on specific issue areas ranging from arts and culture to economic development, education and public safety. Janey had subcommittees focused on public health, education, housing, justice, economic development, transportation and climate justice. Wu’s team doesn’t follow that structure — in no small part because she has a two-week transition instead of a two-month transition. Her picks reflect some of her priorities — there’s an urban and environmental policy and planning professor and a climate activist — but also show an effort to fulfill her pledge of “bringing City Hall to every block” by including a Fenway High School student, a Dorchester church pastor, and local Latino leader and WBUR radio host José Massó. THE LESS-TRADITIONAL PICKS — Walsh had restaurateur and Dropkick Murphys’ frontman Ken Casey on his economic development working group. Wu has tapped Ali Fong , a chef and co-founder of Bon Me, a food-truck and restaurant company that serves up Asian-inspired fare. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and administration officials attend a Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. at Faneuil Hall. Polito joins local officials for a noon ceremony at the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Worcester. State Sen. Eric Lesser hosts a special Veterans Day edition of his "Lunchtime Livestream" at noon. State Sen. John Velis delivers student letters to Holyoke Soldiers’ Home residents at 2:30 p.m. Rep. Seth Moulton hosts a virtual town hall for veterans at 7 p.m. Delegation members attend various Veterans' Day events. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com.   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT: Join POLITICO's Sustainability Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and hear leading voices from Washington, state houses, city halls, civil society and corporate America discuss the most viable policy and political solutions that balance economic, environmental and social interests. REGISTER HERE.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts booster shots near 700,000 mark as state reports 1,745 new COVID cases,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Nearly 700,000 Massachusetts residents have received a coronavirus booster shot, according to Wednesday data from state health officials, as cases increased by 1,745 with 20 new deaths.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – BILLS ON THE MOVE: The Senate late last night unanimously passed a $3.82 billion spending bill that draws on American Rescue Plan Act funds and fiscal year 2021 surplus money, teeing up negotiations on a final bill with the House. Senators’ amendments bumped the bottom line up from the $3.67 billion proposal laid out by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski has more (paywall). – “Nero’s Law” is en route to the House after the Senate unanimously approved the bill that allows emergency medical personnel to treat and transport injured police dogs. The bill from state Sen. Mark Montigny is named after Nero, the K-9 who was severely injured during a 2018 incident that left its human partner, Yarmouth police Sgt. Sean Gannon, dead. – “Baker refiles marijuana-impaired driving bill,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday announced that he is taking another run at passing a bill to stop people from driving while impaired by marijuana. Baker said the bill will enhance public safety ‘by equalizing alcohol and marijuana and giving law enforcement more tools to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers.’ The bill is the same one Baker introduced in 2019, but this time he named it after Trooper Thomas Clardy, a Massachusetts state trooper who was fatally struck by a driver who had THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, in his blood.” – “Unemployment insurance deficit may have vanished,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The deficit in the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, expected by some to run into billions of dollars eventually, has apparently vanished, according to a state senator and documents filed with the federal government. The state issued a report for May indicating the trust fund was running a deficit of nearly $1.8 billion. Strangely, no other monthly reports have been issued by the Baker administration since then. But documents compiled by the US Treasury indicate the fund’s financial situation has dramatically improved, hitting $2.9 billion earlier this month – enough to pay off nearly $2.3 billion in loans from the federal government and still have money left over.” – “Sen. DiZoglio Calls For Plan To Reopen State House To Public,” by CBS Boston: “State Senator Diana DiZoglio is calling on State House leaders to get the building completely reopened more quickly. … DiZoglio (D-Methuen) said it’s unacceptable that the public is not allowed in the building.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Dozens of inmates test positive for COVID-19 at Dartmouth Jail,” by Daniel Ackerman, GBH News: “Twenty-nine inmates at the Bristol Country House of Correction in Dartmouth have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, according to Jonathan Darling, a spokesperson for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.” – “New COVID outbreak reported at Middleton Jail,” by Julie Manganis, Salem News: “There is a new COVID outbreak at the Middleton Jail, with 57 prisoners and eight employees testing positive for the virus in the past two days, a jail spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday. … While 75% of Essex County residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, the percentage of vaccinated prisoners is lower, at 68%, according to the jail’s spokeswoman, Gretchen Grosky. Among the employees who tested positive, just three of the eight had reported being vaccinated. Grosky said at least 60% of the jail’s 700 employees have reported being vaccinated.” FROM THE HUB – “Acting Mayor Kim Janey marks historic term with farewell address,” by Jeremy C. Fox and Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: “[Kim] Janey used the address to reflect on the historic nature of her tenure and the challenges of confronting the coronavirus pandemic and longstanding racial inequality. … Her voice quavered with emotion as she thanked the city’s 18,000 employees, and public officials across Massachusetts. Janey received a standing ovation from the crowd as she paused to regain her composure.” – WHAT’S NEXT: After a whirlwind eight months in which she juggled running a city and campaigning for a full term, Janey plans to “get some rest.” She told reporters after her speech that she’s “going to do some reflection, some writing, do a bit of travel” but will still be here to “support the new administration to make sure that everything runs smoothly. I want to be a resource to support Mayor-elect Wu when she takes over, but also give her the space that she needs.” Janey’s serving as Wu’s honorary transition chair. “Should there be some sort of formal role? You know, we will see.” WU TRAIN – “Boston Mayor-elect Wu to name former DPH chief to clean up Mass. and Cass,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Boston Mayor-elect Michelle Wu announced Wednesday that she will appoint the former chief of the state's department of public health, Dr. Monica Bharel, to a new cabinet-level position charged with cleaning up the public health and safety crisis in and around Mass. and Cass, driven by substance use and homelessness. Bharel, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, appeared before the public regularly to report on progress and setbacks. She is considered politically savvy and medically top notch.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “Holyoke Mayor-elect Joshua Garcia to take oath of office Monday; public invited to City Hall ceremony,” by Dennis Hohenberger, Springfield Republican: “Mayor-elect Joshua A. Garcia will take the oath of office Monday, Nov. 15, at 9:30 a.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. … Garcia will undergo a second swearing-in at City Hall on Jan. 3 . The Nov. 15 ceremony covers the remaining weeks left on former Mayor Alex B. Morse’s four-year term.” – “Incumbent Amherst councilor Ross getting recount of four-vote loss,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Town Councilor Evan Ross will get a recount of the unofficial results from the Nov. 2 town election that show him trailing Pamela Rooney by five votes for one of two seats in his district.” – “Springfield City Council candidate Jynai McDonald disputes loss to Ward 4 incumbent Malo Brown, alleging voter intimidation,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “Jynai McDonald, who lost by 101 votes to incumbent Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown on Election Day, is contesting the outcome and accusing Brown of voter intimidation. Brown denied the allegations on Wednesday … McDonald filed a notice of intent to contest Brown’s election with the city election office on Monday. She followed up with complaints to the state attorney general’s office Tuesday and the secretary of state’s office Wednesday.” FROM THE DELEGATION – WARREN TALKS WEED: Sen. Elizabeth Warren is calling on President Joe Biden to “make good on his campaign platform that no one should be in jail for cannabis-related crimes by pardoning all non-violent federal cannabis offenders,” POLITICO cannabis reporter Natalie Fertig scooped. Warren sent a letter to the president asking him to use his pardon power to honor the campaign promise. “Our country’s cannabis policies must be completely overhauled, but you have the power to act now,” she wrote in the letter, which was also signed by Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). – HELP FOR HAITIANS: The entire congressional delegation signed onto a letter calling for more federal assistance for Haitian refugees arriving in Massachusetts. “We encourage you to do all you can to ensure that the process of resettling Haitians in Massachusetts proceeds smoothly,” the delegation wrote in the letter to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement asking for information on the number of Haitians expected to arrive in the state, a timeline for their arrival and clarification on whether they’re eligible for ORR benefits. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “Could infrastructure bill put East-West rail on track?” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “The legislation includes $66 billion for Amtrak to fund upgrades to current routes and stations – chief among them the Boston to Washington Northeast corridor, by far the system’s busiest line – but also for building out new routes. That’s why [state Sen. Eric] Lesser, the lead champion of a East-West rail line connection between Boston and Springfield, is so excited. The infrastructure bill is ‘a game-changer,’ he said, creating an opportunity similar to the Big Dig to tap federal dollars for the bulk of a big transportation project in the state.” DAY IN COURT – “Truck driver’s trial delayed in crash that killed 7 bikers,” by Kathy McCormack, Associated Press: “Days before jury selection was scheduled to start for a truck driver charged with causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire in 2019, a judge on Wednesday granted a defense request to continue the trial to March over concerns about a crash reconstruction expert’s prior job history with the Massachusetts State Police. Coos County Superior Court Judge Peter Bornstein did not set a new date for the trial of Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 25, of West Springfield, Massachusetts.” FROM THE 413 – “He was hired to probe a single complaint at Monterey Town Hall. He quit when he saw the true scale of the rancor,” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: “A private investigator hired to probe a complaint by one town employee against another quit Tuesday, after the number of complaints lodged in Town Hall ballooned in recent days to 19.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Before Veterans Day, Boston’s own Tuskegee Airman reflects on long journey,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Enoch Woodhouse showed up to his Army assignment a day late and covered in soot, literally and figuratively held back by the color of his skin. But that’s just the start of his story, a long and rich one that’s led one of the few surviving Tuskegee Airmen through the Ivy League, a law practice and back to his hometown of Boston, where on Wednesday he got a hug from the first Black chief executive of the city, and on Thursday, Veterans Day, he’ll attend multiple ceremonies as an honored guest. Lt. Col. Woodhouse, first of the Army and then, when it was created, the Air Force, was part of the Airmen, the legendary all-Black combat unit in World War II, several years before the military integrated.” – “1,613 people have died in opioid overdoses in Mass. this year,” by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: “Opioid overdoses continued to claim the lives of hundreds of Massachusetts residents in 2021. In the first nine months of this year 1,613 residents have died, a 1 percent increase over the same period in 2020, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health. The semiannual report suggests the crisis may be stabilizing after a 5 percent spike in deaths in 2020, when the effects of the pandemic erased the state’s progress in combating illicit opioid use. The annual number of opioid-related deaths peaked at 2,110 in 2016, declined slightly over the next three years, and rose to 2,106 in 2020.” – “Only 5% of Mass. school superintendents are people of color, report finds,” by Stephannie Joseph, GBH News: “People of color are underrepresented in public school leadership across Massachusetts, holding just 5% of superintendent posts, according to a new report from the Eos Foundation and Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy. … The report found that in 2020, Massachusetts districts employed 14 superintendents of color, eight women and six men.” – “Keith Hovan, Southcoast Health President-CEO, charged with domestic assault and battery,” by Frank Mulligan, Wicked Local: “Southcoast Health President and CEO Keith Hovan was arrested Saturday night at his Rochester home by Rochester Police on a charge of domestic assault and battery, and was arraigned on the charge in Wareham District Court Monday.” – “How this Fall River agency is using a grant from the AG to aid Latinx addiction recovery,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “River to Recovery received a $44,000 grant from [state AG Maura] Healey’s office to fund a Spanish-speaking recovery coach. … ‘Any money that I recover from the drug makers, drug distributors, Purdue and the Sacklers, all of that is going directly to treatment and programming. I wanted to come down with my team to see a site in action,’ said Healey.” – “Worcester Regional Airport celebrates veterans, return of commercial service,” by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “Worcester Regional Airport celebrated the return of commercial service in a ceremony Wednesday and, in recognition of Veterans Day, announced charitable donations to local nonprofit Veterans Inc.” – “Framingham Mayor-elect Charlie Sisitsky recovered, directing transition work,” by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: “Mayor-elect Charlie Sisitsky has recovered and is directing the government's transition, after a brief hospitalization last week.” SPOTTED – at Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s farewell address at Roxbury’s Hibernian Hall: Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Mayor-elect Michelle Wu, state Reps. Nika Elugardo, Liz Miranda and Jon Santiago; City Councilors Kenzie Bok, Ed Flynn, Ricardo Arroyo and Julia Mejia, councilors-elect Ruthzee Louijeune and Tania Fernandes Anderson; Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, former city councilor Tito Jackson, and BECMA President and CEO Segun Idowu. TRANSITIONS – Michael Falcone, most recently the chief of government affairs and advocacy at the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, is now senior director at MacDougall Advisors Inc. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Alec MacGillis, Will Boscow, Jesse Adams, Shelly Tsirulik and The New York Times’ Eric Athas, a UMass Amherst alum. Happy belated to YWCA Cambridge Executive Director Tania Del Rio, who celebrated Saturday. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE SENATE'S REVOLUTIONARY MENTAL HEALTH BILL — State Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) joins hosts Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky to discuss the Senate's new bill treat mental health like physical health. Kashinsky breaks down the South Coast congressional redistricting schism. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now.       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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