| | |  | 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.
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| | 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.”
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| | 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? 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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