POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Transition teams, assemble

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY TRANSITION TACTICIANS — Either Michelle Wu or Annissa Essaibi George will take over as Boston’s next mayor in mid-November. That makes their transition teams — the aides and confidants who will help guide their first days and weeks in office — even more important to nail down now. One campaign is being more open than the other. Both Wu and Essaibi George named their transition leaders in September, when they met with Acting Mayor Kim Janey to settle on Nov. 16 as the changeover between mayors. Wu tapped Mariel Novas, an education advocate and community organizer, while Essaibi George enlisted Jessica Rodriguez, her chief of staff who’s currently on leave from her city gig. Essaibi George’s transition team also now includes former chief of staff Alana Olsen Westwater and attorney Pat Ryan, according to her campaign. Rodriguez, Ryan and Olsen Westwater prominently list their co-director titles on their LinkedIn pages. Wu’s team has been tougher to pin down . The only other name that’s been publicly released is former Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jay Gonzalez — and that came from Boston Herald columnist Joe Battenfeld, not from the campaign itself. Wu — the longtime frontrunner who’s up by 25 to 32 points in recent public polls — has repeatedly declined to answer questions in recent days about who else is part of her transition team. “I’m not going to name specific names at this point,” Wu told reporters earlier this week. “There will be more conversations that we’re having, but our transition director is leading those conversations while I and our campaign are focused on making sure we’re turning out the vote.” The transition is already underway, per the Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter. Wu said designees from each campaign have been meeting with Janey’s administration on the basic “mechanics” of the changeover while they wait for the votes to be tallied on Nov. 2. And the compressed timetable — because of the acting mayor situation — means the next mayor will have only days instead of weeks to get up to speed on running a city with some 18,000 employees and over 675,000 residents. Who the next mayor chooses to surround herself with at the outset will help set the tone and goals of her first term. And both candidates have pledged some pretty big swings for their first few days in office — starting the search for a new police commissioner and tackling the public health crisis at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard among them. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and administration officials attend the Lynn Vocational Advanced Manufacturing Training Facility ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m. Baker attends the Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association virtual dinner at 7 p.m. Polito makes MassWorks grant announcements at 10 a.m. in Marlborough and 3 p.m. in Wakefield. Essaibi George receives the Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589 endorsement at 2:45 p.m. at the Ruggles MBTA station and is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 3 p.m. Essaibi George and Wu participate in a Boston While Black forum at 5 p.m. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone hosts a community conversation at 6 p.m. at East Somerville Community School.   INTRODUCING CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO’s new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. GET A FIRST LOOK AT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases increase by 1,274, hospitalizations decline,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The single-day average of daily COVID-19 cases is now 879, compared to 1,896 cases a month ago.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Battle over qualified immunity protections continues in Massachusetts despite Supreme Court duck,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The conversation around qualified immunity for police has reignited after the U.S. Supreme Court last week sided with police in two separate rulings upholding the doctrine. ‘This decision makes it all the more clear how important it is that we get good policy passed at the state level so that we are not at the mercy of the federal courts when it comes to protection of civil liberties of our residents,’ state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz said of the court’s ruling.” – "Small Biz Backers Disappointed In House ARPA Bill," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): "Members of a coalition that's been advocating for the use of federal relief dollars to support small businesses -- particularly those that are minority- or women-owned or have not benefited from earlier grant programs -- voiced disappointment Wednesday with a House plan to spend American Rescue Plan Act funds and outlined details of an amendment they said would improve it." MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER – “Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “The Senate on Wednesday approved its newly redrawn map amid small pockets of dissent from Democrats. It then passed a proposed map for the House six days after it overwhelmingly cleared that chamber. The moves set up procedural votes, expected by week’s end, to move the proposals to Governor Charlie Baker’s desk. … The Senate faced more drama Wednesday in its 36-3 vote. All three dissenting votes came from Democrats, who criticized leaders for not giving them more time to debate the map or what they considered a lack of communication from Brownsberger before their districts changed.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – "COVID vaccine waivers were given to some Massachusetts prison guards, then they were told it was ‘in error’," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "'We are writing to inform you that your recent approval was issued in error,' an unsigned letter from the Department of Correction states. 'We apologize for this error and must inform you that a Secretariat level panel has made the determination to rescind the exemption as your request does not meet the standard of a sincerely held religious belief.'” – "Massachusetts has disposed of at least 13,235 COVID vaccines since start of pandemic, mostly due to expirations," by Heather Morrison, MassLive. FROM THE HUB – “Activists push to leave tents up in Mass and Cass,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “A contingent of activists and public officials rallied in the middle of Methadone Mile to insist that the homeless be allowed to stay in their tents and that the proposals to use nearby jail buildings as houses and an ad hoc courtroom stop.” – “New court could be operating in Suffolk County jail as early as next week,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR: “The controversial plan to set up a new court inside the Suffolk County jail appears to be on a fast track, with the Massachusetts Trial Court saying judges could start hearing cases there as early as next week. But the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the state public defender agency, said it opposes the plan. It would likely represent many of the people expected to be brought to the court from a large tent encampment near the jail.” – “Boston police knock city’s vaccine verification system,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Boston’s largest police union says there’s a lag in the city’s coronavirus vaccine verification system — and the cops say no one should miss any pay over it as they approach 100% compliance. ‘When the city moves to punish police officers who have paperwork showing and proving compliance with the mandate, clearly, there’s a problem somewhere in the system,’ Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone said Wednesday.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: City Councilor Michelle Wu has been endorsed by a dozen Black business leaders including Scott Baker, J. Kevin Bynoe, Herby Duverné, Nia Grace, Gregory Janey, Glynn Lloyd, Colette Phillips, Ricardo Pierre-Louis, Anthony Samuels, Darryl Settles, Chandra Smart and Teri Williams. – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins has endorsed Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia for reelection and Kendra Hicks for Boston City Council District 6. – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Tami Gouveia has endorsed Ruthzee Louijeune for Boston City Council at-large. – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Dan Hunt has endorsed Bridget Nee-Walsh for Boston City Council at-large. – “Outside groups pour millions into Boston’s mayoral race,” by Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe: “In just the past two weeks, outside special interest groups have poured more than a million dollars into the race, funding a barrage of television and radio ads according to the latest state campaign finance data. Hundreds of thousands of dollars has also gone to fund mailers and voter outreach.” – “Wu Says Vaccine Mandate For Indoor Recreation Should Be Citywide Policy,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Boston mayoral candidate Michelle Wu told GBH's Boston Public Radio Wednesday the city's restaurants and performance venues should all have the same proof-of-vaccination requirements — as mandated in New York City and other places — ‘to ensure that those going into high risk indoor settings are able to be protected.’ … In a separate appearance on the show, candidate Annissa Essaibi George told GBH News that she now is open to Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins' plan to move some of people out of Boston's tent city near the intersection of Mass. Ave and Melnea Cass Blvd. to a renovated portion of the South Bay House of Corrections.” – “African and Muslim community members say they feel snubbed by Michelle Wu Zooming into Boston mayoral forum from car,” by Sahar Fatima, Boston Globe: “Members of Boston’s African immigrant and Muslim communities were hoping to hear from both mayoral candidates on a host of important issues during a forum in Roxbury on Saturday. Instead, many now say they feel snubbed after Michelle Wu did not attend the event in person, appearing via Zoom from a car and leaving halfway through the forum.” – “Boston Council Race Pits Trailblazer Against Perennial Candidate,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “[Tania Fernandes] Anderson, a Sunni Muslim, has taken on a historic task. She’s running to become the first Muslim and African immigrant on the Boston City Council, hoping to take Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey’s District 7 Council seat, which encompasses parts of Roxbury, Dorchester and the South End. Anderson’s competition, Roy Owens, is a perennial candidate who has spent a decade running for everything from City Council At-Large to state Senate to Congress.” – “As two women compete for Boston mayor in historic race, it’s purple vs. pink,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “The hues — Benjamin Moore’s 'Hot Lips' pink for Annissa Essaibi George, a warm purple for front-runner Michelle Wu — are an instant visual reminder that a city that has always elected white men to City Hall is about to make history. And they position Essaibi George and Wu within a growing tradition of women politicians and candidates of color who are rejecting traditional political styling in favor of punchy, bright logos that reflect their personalities.” DAY IN COURT – “Satanists want to force Michelle Wu to go to Salem on Election Day to answer questions about invocations at city-council meetings,” by Adam Gaffin, Universal Hub: “The questions would be related to the Satanic Temple's a federal suit against the council in January, alleging that the fact the council has never invited any Satanists to give an invocation is a violation of the First Amendment's Establishment clause. City attorneys today asked US District Court Judge Angel Kelley, who is hearing the case, to block the move to force Wu to travel to Salem on Election Day, charging the group's subpoena to Wu, is harassment of a political candidate.” – “Subaru dodges ‘right to repair’ law in Mass. as AG Healey seeks new hearing,” by Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe: “A federal judge is set to rule as soon as next week on the fate of the Massachusetts ‘right to repair’ law enacted by referendum last November, which is intended to give car owners access to their vehicles’ digital data. But the ruling may be delayed as Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey seeks to introduce new evidence showing that automaker Subaru is deactivating the wireless data systems of its new cars sold in Massachusetts, as a way to comply with the new law.” – “Boston man who shot at police during George Floyd protests sentenced to jail,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “A Boston man who shot 11 rounds at police as the George Floyd protests turned violent last spring in downtown has been sentenced to five years in prison.” – “Can sheriffs collect lucrative commissions from inmate phone calls?” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “On Monday, the Supreme Judicial Court will hear a case involving [Bristol County Sheriff Tom] Hodgson’s office, which could limit county sheriffs’ ability to profit from telephone calls from jail by eliminating their authority to collect commissions from telephone companies handling inmate calls.” – “Massachusetts Chief Justice Kimberly Budd prioritizes combating racial inequities,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “New MBTA board holds first meeting,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The new permanent MBTA board of directors met for the first time on Wednesday, and adopted a more decentralized approach to overseeing the transit authority." TRUMPACHUSETTS – Donald Trump is continuing his crusade against GOP Gov. Charlie Baker. The former president, through his Save America PAC, blasted out a link to a Boston Herald story in which the state police union skewers Baker over his vaccine mandate (though he sent his followers to an MSN repost of the article rather than the actual Herald website). Trump-backed Republican gubernatorial hopeful Geoff Diehl’s already been hammering Baker over his vaccine requirement, so this adds some fuel to the fire. DATELINE D.C. – “DNC picks up top Warren aide,” by Alex Thompson, POLITICO: “The Democratic National Committee will bring on a senior adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to be its new communications director at the beginning of next year, the committee told POLITICO. She will be the latest Warren aide to join the upper echelons of the Biden administration and the national party. Kristen Orthman, Warren’s current deputy chief of staff and the communications director for her presidential campaign, will replace Adrienne Watson, who is joining the White House’s National Security Council (NSC) next month.” – “Democrats Clash on Billionaire Tax as Neal Rejects Senate Plan,” by Laura Davidson and Laura Litvan, Bloomberg: “Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal said Wednesday that there isn’t support for the billionaire tax to get it through Congress. He said the House is discussing with the Senate instead inclusion of a 3% surtax, on top of the top income rate, for those earning more than $10 million. … But the author of the billionaires’ tax proposal, Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden, insisted that the plan isn’t dead…” – “A Q&A with Representative Katherine Clark on where negotiations stand on child care measures in the social spending bill,” by Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe: “As debate continues on what stays and what goes, the Globe caught up Tuesday with Massachusetts Representative Katherine Clark, the assistant speaker of the House, to discuss where a number of the proposed child care initiatives stand.” – “Senate confirms Victoria Kennedy to be ambassador to Austria,” by Neya Thanikachalam, Boston Globe: “The Senate has confirmed Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the widow of the late senator Edward M. Kennedy, to be the US ambassador to Austria, sending her to Vienna to continue a Kennedy family diplomatic tradition.” WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING – "Former US Rep. Joseph Kennedy III endorses Joshua Garcia in Holyoke mayoral race," by Dennis Hohenberger, Springfield Republican. – "State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz earns big endorsement in Mass. gubernatorial race," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive. – Damage for days: “Nor’easter pummels Massachusetts with hurricane-force winds, power outage restoration could take days,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The ‘bomb cyclone’ brought 90-plus mph wind gusts to the coast, and most of its severe impact was concentrated on the South Shore and Cape Cod — where residents might not have power for days.” Nearly half a million customers lost power, hurricane-force winds downed trees into homes and even tossed around a small plane, power outages closed schools and prompted long lines for gas, and Brockton declared a state of emergency. Some schools remain closed today. – “‘Appalled and outraged’: Harvard graduate students plan to strike during parents weekend,” by Julia Carlin, Boston Globe: “A heated union strike looms over Harvard’s upcoming freshman parents’ weekend as the Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers plan to picket for three days in an attempt to press the university to meet their contract demands.” – “It's The Second Winter Of The Pandemic. Restaurants Know What To Do This Time Around,” by Mark Herz, GBH News: “Massachusetts restaurants are taking last year’s lessons about outdoor dining and takeout to get ready for a second pandemic winter. Even as they continue to be plagued with staffing and supply chain shortages, some restauranteurs feel optimistic, hoping that the state’s high vaccination rate and manageable case counts will keep people comfortable with indoor dining.” – “Fluffernutter is added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary,” by Todd Wallack, WBUR: “Though the term has long been used in New England, a Merriam-Webster spokeswoman said it finally decided to add the word to its dictionary after it gained wider usage.” THIS WEEK on the (HEADLESS) HORSE RACE – Hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith, and Lisa Kashinsky unpack the latest clashes in the Boston mayor's race. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz joins to discuss the House's new ARPA spending bill and the racial equity scorecard she helped create to add accountability to the spending. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to the Washington Post’s Taylor Telford and Alex J. Harris. Want to make an impact? 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