| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | LET THE JOCKEYING BEGIN — State Attorney General Maura Healey has a commanding 36-point lead over her Democratic rivals in a new poll of the governor’s race that also shows wide-open contests down the ballot. BY THE NUMBERS — Healey got 48 percent support in the MassINC Polling Group survey of 310 likely Democratic primary voters. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz received 12 percent and Harvard political theorist Danielle Allen got 3 percent in the survey sponsored by Policy for Progress. In the lieutenant governor’s race, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll received 10 percent support, while state Rep. Tami Gouveia and state Sens. Eric Lesser and Adam Hinds each got 5 percent. MassINC didn’t ask about Bret Bero, which the pollsters said was an oversight. Name recognition is a big factor in these early numbers, including in the state attorney general results released last week. More than half of likely voters in the Democratic gubernatorial primary had never heard of Chang-Díaz, and more than 70 percent had never heard of Allen. Large groups of undecided voters — 64 percent in the Democratic primaries for LG and state auditor; 30 percent in the governor’s race — also show there’s room for candidates to grow. BAKER LOOMS LARGE — Half of the likely Democratic primary voters surveyed are more likely to support a candidate that has GOP Gov. Charlie Baker’s blessing. And 51 percent say the next governor should be ideologically similar to the moderate Republican. That puts some data behind Healey’s moderate overtures and her refusal to follow her rivals in hitting Baker, who has a higher favorability rating in this poll than anyone running to replace him. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The Baker administration is telling colleges and universities to "transition the Covid-19 pandemic into an endemic.” Citing the “twindemic” of Covid-19 and social isolation, Education Secretary James Peyser and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders told higher education presidents in a letter last Friday to start “transitioning back to ‘near normal.’” The state officials dismissed “overly strict protocols” — remote learning, “overly aggressive” surveillance testing and “mask type” requirements — as counterproductive. And they called for colleges to increase their investments in mental health services. The missive follows Baker’s recent rebuke of “over the top” Covid restrictions at colleges, where he cited a Boston Globe editorial from UMass Amherst and Lowell professors calling the ongoing protocols “overkill.” UMass officials did not respond to a request for comment on the administration’s letter. Some Democratic state lawmakers and education activists sounded alarm at the letter. But it tracks, in a broader sense, with the message governors, including Baker, delivered to President Joe Biden at the White House yesterday about wanting to move toward “a more endemic status.” And students, educators, and politicians up through the president are all pushing for more mental health resources for schools.
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Govs. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), left, Roy Cooper (R-N.C.), Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), Phil Murphy (D-N.J.), Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.), listen as President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the National Governors Association in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 31 in Washington. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo | TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu makes an announcement about expanding food access at 11:30 a.m. in Roxbury. Healey gives the keynote address at a Woodwell Climate Research Center event at 1 p.m. BILL TRACKER — Which bills do you think will fly under the radar this Joint Rule 10 week? Email me at 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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| | 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. | | | | | |  | ON THE STUMP |
| — GETTING IN: Democratic civil rights lawyer Rahsaan Hall will launch his campaign for Plymouth County district attorney at noon in Brockton. Hall, a former Suffolk assistant district attorney, is challenging Republican incumbent Timothy Cruz. — “‘We need to change this system’: ACLU’s Rahsaan Hall to announce for Plymouth County district attorney,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “Hall, who left his job as director of the ACLU of Massachusetts’ racial justice program at the end of last year, says his campaign will focus on increasing transparency about racial and demographic trends in the work of the DA’s office and in the county’s jails and prisons.” — ENDORSEMENT RECAP: DMFI PAC, which backs pro-Israel Democrats, has endorsed Rep. Jake Auchincloss in its first slate of midterm endorsements. “Each of these 15 endorsed candidates is committed to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, supports U.S. military assistance to Israel without additional conditions,” the PAC said in a statement. — State Sen. Becca Rausch has been endorsed for reelection by nearly 50 state and local government officials, including Senate President Karen Spilka, Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, President Emerita Harriette Chandler and Majority Leader Cindy Creem. — ABOUT THE AUDITOR RACE: State Sen. Diana DiZoglio got 13 percent support in the MassINC poll, while her Democratic primary rival Chris Dempsey got 12 percent. — THE MATCHUP THAT WASN’T: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh isn’t running for governor. But he’d start in a dead heat with state Attorney General Maura Healey if he was, with 32 percent support in the Democratic primary to her 31 percent, per the MassINC poll. — ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM: The broader MassINC survey of 504 registered voters found 51 percent hadn’t heard of former GOP state Rep. Geoff Diehl, and 73 percent hadn't heard of Chris Doughty . Diehl had a 14 percent favorable/16 percent unfavorable rating. Doughty, who wasn’t in the governor’s race when the poll was conducted, had a 3 percent favorable/4 percent unfavorable rating. The poll’s overall margin of error is 4.4 percent.
| | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| — POLLING RENT CONTROL: The MassINC survey also found 42 percent of voters and 53 percent of likely Democratic primary voters support rent control policies being considered on Beacon Hill. The pollsters said past surveys have shown support for rent control is “heavily dependent on wording.” State Rep. Mike Connolly, one of the lawmakers pushing legislation to bring back local-option rent stabilization, said he expects the bills to get an extension order as Wednesday’s deadline for joint committees to give bills up-or-down reports looms. — “Tarr seeks panel to guide pandemic recovery,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Gloucester Daily Times: “Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, is the sponsor of a proposal to create a ‘recovery council’ that would oversee the state’s recovery efforts. … The 21-member council would include lawmakers, members of the executive branch, representatives from the restaurant and hospitality industries, retailers and the manufacturing industry, as well as nonprofit groups representing consumers.” — “With Mariano’s backing, Mass. Legislature advances marijuana reforms,” by Dan Adams, Boston Globe: “While the sweeping legislation is unlikely to have any immediate impact on marijuana consumers and medical patients, it would reshape the industry in many ways, such as fixing a glitch in the current law that has prevented cities and towns from volunteering to host ‘social consumption’ facilities, or cannabis cafes. It would also crack down on municipalities collecting excessive ‘impact fees’ from local cannabis companies.” — “Dykema Joining Caravan of Departing Reps,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “Seven-term Rep. Carolyn Dykema plans to resign from her office next week for a job in the solar energy industry, adding to a growing list of vacancies in the House and opening up a top job on the Legislature’s Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee. Dykema announced Monday that she had accepted a position as northeast policy director at Nexamp.” — "Charlie Baker wants to slash Massachusetts State Police overtime by hiring retirees for details," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "State Police overtime cost taxpayers $51.5 million in 2021 and Gov. Charlie Baker is looking to slash those costs by bringing recent retirees back on the job to work details. The proposal, which is tucked deep within the $48.5 billion budget proposal released last week, would empower the State Police colonel to hire retired troopers in good standing as special police officers to perform police details."
| | VAX-ACHUSETTS |
| — “Vaccine mandate prompts exit of 1,013 state workers,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “There are 1,013 employees who left a state job, either because they were fired or because they chose to resign rather than comply. That number, which represents 2.4 percent of the executive branch, includes 160 part-time contractors working for the Municipal Police Training Committee. A small number of employees — 115 — are still going through the process. This could mean they are awaiting a decision on an exemption, just had an exemption denied, are in the suspension period due to non-compliance, or are awaiting their second dose.” — “After much fanfare, other cities balk at following Boston’s proof-of-vaccination mandate,” by Anissa Gardizy, Boston Globe: “When Mayor Michelle Wu announced in December that she would put in place a proof-of-vaccination mandate for Boston restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, officials from several other Massachusetts cities stood with her in a show of support. ... Some of the leaders in attendance that day did not gain the backing from local officials or public health boards that they needed to carry out a proof-of-vaccination requirement. Salem and Brookline have moved forward with a mandate, but Arlington, Cambridge, Medford, and Somerville ― all of which originally voiced support for Boston’s effort ― have not.” — “Boston University researchers discover how placenta may block COVID-19 virus transmission to babies,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Boston University researchers, looking at the very low rates of COVID-19 spread from pregnant mother to baby, have discovered how the placenta may be blocking virus transmission to babies during pregnancy.”
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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. | | | | | | | FROM THE HUB |
| — “For Wu, major snowstorm poses trial by fire,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “[B]y many accounts, the Wu administration’s response to Saturday’s storm, which dumped about 2 feet of snow in a day, tying a record — was a success, even as the mayor acknowledged some shortcomings. Roads were mostly cleared, and the sidewalks shoveled. The timing of the storm on a weekend was fortuitous, allowing most people to stay home. But by Monday, schools opened bright and early, along with community centers and libraries. Trash pickup remained as scheduled.” — “Hayden eschews labels, vows to ‘do the right thing’ as DA,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “Hayden, a Democrat who grew up in Newton and now lives in Roslindale, has not formally announced that he plans to run for the DA’s post this fall when the current term expires, but it was clear in the interview that he will be looking to win a full, four-year term. ‘An announcement will be coming soon,’ he said, before adding that ‘taking a job for nine months is not where my focus was when I took the appointment.’” — “Wu seeks new fee on property sales over $2 million,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “City officials have tried and failed to make similar proposals a reality, but the new mayor has made implementation of the transfer fee one of her top housing priorities.” — BIG SPENDERS: Independent expenditure PACs and other outside entities poured $6.2 million into municipal races last year, according to an OCPF analysis released yesterday. Nearly $1.9 million went toward supporting Annissa Essaibi George’s mayoral bid. Spending in support of Andrea Campbell, who’s now mulling a run for attorney general, wasn’t far behind at $1.6 million. Groups spent $1.3 million in support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| — “The Item directs traffic after MBTA bus gets stuck in downtown Lynn,” by Adam Bass, Daily Item: “After an MBTA bus got stuck on Exchange Street Monday afternoon, The Item’s Circulation Manager Lisa Mahmoud helped direct bewildered motorists around the bus and a large snowbank.”
| | WARREN REPORT |
| — “Biden’s FDA pick makes major ethics pledges to win over Elizabeth Warren,” by Laura Barrón-López and Adam Cancryn, POLITICO: “President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration is making major ethics concessions to Sen. Elizabeth Warren as he tries to lock down critical confirmation votes. Robert Califf, who was first nominated more than two months ago, is agreeing to not seek employment or compensation from any pharmaceutical or medical device company that he interacts with ‘for four years’ following his time in government, according to a letter he sent to the Massachusetts Democrat and obtained by POLITICO.”
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| — "Lawsuit challenges Vineyard Wind approval," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "A lawsuit challenging the federal approval of the nation’s first industrial-scale offshore wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts raises questions about the haste with which the project was approved and the fallout it will have on endangered right whales and the fishing industry. ... The lawsuit is one of a handful challenging the project on the grounds that several environmental statutes were violated in the Biden administration’s rush to kickstart the offshore wind industry."
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “State campaign finance office hits former Easthampton mayoral candidates with fines,” by Emily Thurlow, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The state office issued a civil penalty notice to Keith Routhier on Friday, Jan. 21, indicating that he had missed the Jan. 20 deadline to file a campaign finance disclosure report and would be fined $25 per day for each day the report is late.” — “Baystate using life-support machine to aid most severe COVID-19 patients,” by Mary Byrne, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A machine typically used for a few hours up to a few days for patients with life-threatening, heart-related conditions has been used recently for far greater lengths of time to support the recovery of COVID-19 patients.”
| | EX-PATS |
| — UM, OK: “Tom Brady speaks on retirement rumors, possible decision timeline,” by Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald: “During an appearance on his ‘Let’s Go!’ podcast, Brady said he has not made a decision, and did not offer a timeline for when he’ll announce his retirement or decide to return for a 23rd season.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “Historic Cape Cod house on stilts still teetering on the edge,” by Carlos R. Muñoz, Boston Globe: “The house on stilts that has been wobbling ever so close to disaster is still standing after this weekend’s blizzard. The former US Coast Guard building at 133 South Pamet Road on Truro’s Ballston Beach has been there since 1850, back when the Coast Guard was still called the US Lifesaving Service. It once sat on turf overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Now it stands on pilings above the ocean surf, which is agonizingly clawing away at the sand beneath it.” — IN MEMORIAM: “Avram Goldberg, former chairman and chief executive of Stop & Shop, dies at 92,” by Bryan Marquard, Boston Globe: “Avram Goldberg, who had served as president and then chairman of the Stop & Shop Cos., died Sunday. He was 92 and his death was announced by the office of his daughter, state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg.”
| | MEDIA MATTERS |
| — “Rachel Maddow to temporarily step back from MSNBC nightly show, reports say,” by Brittany Bowker, Boston Globe. TRANSITIONS — Former state Rep. Lori Ehrlich was sworn in yesterday as FEMA’s new Region 1 administrator. — Anna Fletcher rejoins Rep. Jake Auchincloss’ team as campaign manager. Fletcher was Auchincloss’ finance director and events coordinator last cycle. More recently, she led the finance teams of Seth Moulton for Congress and Serve America PAC. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to ABC’s Ali Dukakis, former Gov. Deval Patrick photog Eric Haynes, former Boston city councilor Tim McCarthy, Kerry Akashian, Alexa Kissinger and Patricia LeBoeuf.
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