There's another fight brewing over COVID policies and mandates. This time it's centered around Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's new order requiring proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, theatres, sports venues, and gyms that kicks in next month. The mandate extends to city workers, who will need to have at least one jab by Jan. 15 and two doses by Feb. 15. The requirement will likely draw legal challenges, with Boston Herald's Erin Tiernan reporting that unions for city employees are in talks with attorneys and reviewing legal options. An organizer for Boston First Responders was blunter, saying the organization is ready to "take this to court if we have to." The legal question is interesting and we'll be watching closely for any action in court. It is important to note here that there is an already ongoing legal battle at the federal level with President Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 employees or more. A ruling in November had blocked the mandate but a federal appeals court in Cincinnati reinstated the measure last week. There are already calls from Republicans and businesses across the nation asking the United States Supreme Court to halt the order. Even here in Massachusetts, a challenge from a State Police union to Gov. Charlie Baker's vaccine mandate for executive employees was dismissed by the Department of Labor Relations earlier this month. As to how much precedent all of that sets for any potential legal challenges here in Massachusetts, we'll have to wait and see. But what we do know is that requiring proof of vaccination to enter establishments isn't a new tactic. New York City put one in place months ago and released a proof-of-vaccination app where residents could virtually store their vaccination card and ID. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker even teased a digital COVID-19 vaccine passport his administration is developing in conjunction with a dozen states. Digital infrastructure is crucial when pushing out a policy like this. Will there be a Boston app like the one in New York? If so, will the city have the capacity to develop one in a timely manner that lines up with the start of the mandate? And will that app have the bandwidth to support at least a good majority of the city? State House News Service's Katie Lannan reports that the Wu administration plans to develop a proof-of-vaccination app like the one in New York. Officials from Boston have been in touch with counterparts in New York to help move the process along. As we wait for more details, we're reminded of the orange octopus that plagued so many peoples' computers as the state rolled out their VaxFinder website. | 
