President of the League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area weighs in on voting rights

Suzanne Brock

Guest Columnist

Published Feb. 13, 2022 

The headline of the letter by William Skinner from Venice, Florida, “Voting rights bill a radical piece of legislation” (Feb. 7) certainly got our attention. Mr. Skinner refers to information he got from Imprimis, Hillsdale College newsletter (Oct. 2021, Vol. 50 No. 10). Unfortunately, Mr. Skinner only chose to use some of the information presented, which is what has been happening a lot lately when presenting arguments.

Sometimes what is left out is just as important as what is presented. For instance, Mr. Skinner underpins his argument in favor of Voter IDs with the findings of the 2005 Commission on Federal Election Reform. This commission came out with its recommendations after only two limited hearings and no call for public comment. Last year, members of this commission, Jimmy Carter among them, came out to disavow that commission’s work.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to the protection of voting rights. For democracy to work for all, access to fair, unrestricted voting for all citizens is imperative. Imposing burdensome and unnecessary voter identification requirements is a significant assault on voting rights, which disproportionately affect voters of color, young voters, voters with disabilities, as well as veterans serving outside of the US.

The LWV of the Cape Cod Area is especially appreciative that the state of Massachusetts is forward-thinking in its voter laws. Massachusetts only requires voter identification when you vote for the first time or have been an inactive voter.

The discussion encouraging increased voter identification has become more vociferous due to the excessive misinformation about voter fraud that surrounded the 2020 presidential election. Multiple studies and investigations have indicated that there was no significant fraud. The flagrant attempts to limit voting rights for huge segments of the national population suggest that legislation such as the VOTES Act is more necessary than ever.

The League celebrates that the Massachusetts State Legislature is now in the process of hammering out in conference committee the VOTES Act. The final bill will bring strong voting reforms to Massachusetts, including unrestricted voting by mail and expanded early voting. As recommended by our Secretary of the Commonwealth, the LWV is in favor of same-day voter registration, which passed the state Senate but not the House of Representatives. We urge citizens to contact their state representatives and ask them to support same-day voter registration in the conference committee version.

Suzanne Brock is the president of the League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area.

LINK

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The Wu Train arrives at city hall

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY MAYOR WU’S MANDATE — Minutes after Michelle Wu was sworn in as the third person to lead Boston in less than a year, Sen. Ed Markey told reporters that she “is going to be a historic mayor because this is going to be the Green New Deal city for the United States and for the whole world. It’s going to be the model.” Rep. Ayanna Pressley called Wu the “mayor that will meet the moment." Sen. Elizabeth Warren hailed Wu’s “great vision.” No pressure. Wu vowed to tackle "the big and the small” in her first speech as mayor. Some of her initial priorities seem more granular than grandiose — hiring to fill the hundreds of open positions across city government, preparing for winter weather and continuing to tackle the public health and housing crises at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. She’s also giving herself some leeway after a rushed transition. Wu told reporters she’s not starting the counter on her first 100 days in office until January, when she’s planning a full inaugural fête with the incoming city council. Yet Wu remains ambitious. She said delivering both basic city services and generational change is not just possible, but "absolutely necessary." Her supporters, who lauded her campaign-trail calls to stabilize rent and expand access to public transit, know some of her "reach goals" will "take time and work to build support at other levels” of government, Boston Ward 4 Democratic Committee Chair Jonathan Cohn said. But they're looking forward to that collaboration. Wu’s starting out with a fairly friendly city council. That should continue once the newcomers (who each got a nod from Wu in her speech) take their seats. “Michelle has built some deep and strong and successful partnerships and relationships and friendships with all of us and the new councilors,” City Council President Pro Tempore Matt O’Malley told me. Rent control and fare-free MBTA service will face political headwinds on Beacon Hill, where GOP Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic legislative leaders have so far been cool toward Wu’s loftiest goals. But she’s got a key ally in House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz and a bevy of State House endorsers who are pushing policies that align with her aims. Wu isn’t as chummy with Baker as he was with Marty Walsh during the latter’s tenure as mayor. But inviting the governor to her swearing-in ceremony was a good overture. Wu didn't invite Walsh, with whom she's had a fraught relationship over the years, according to a source close to the labor secretary. Asked whether she'd extended an invitation, Wu replied: "I received a text message from him earlier [Tuesday], but I'm sure he was in D.C. working." Walsh was in Boston yesterday to receive a leadership award at the The Ireland Funds’ annual gala. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Here’s what Playbook readers said they want Wu to focus on in her first 100 days: South Boston resident Scott McCarty: “Ensuring that bus lines run on time and have capacity is important. I really would love to see how expanding the pilot program in other parts of the city … could help improve ridership and save us money in the long haul.” Roxbury resident Shaikh Hasib: “Analysis and expansion of youth employment and engagement opportunities, which includes strengthening and building public/private/non-profit partnerships.” Marinell Rousmaniere, CEO of EdVestors, part of the All Children Thrive Boston coalition: "ACT Boston urges Mayor Wu in the first 100 days to publicly publish a preK-12 'Education Vision' with objectives and outcomes, align the BPS budget with this [plan] and appoint a Cabinet-level education lead in City Hall to oversee [its] implementation." Youth For Michelle Wu, a group of young activists supporting the mayor, last night [and not in response to this prompt] tweeted a series of "policy solutions" for public health and protecting human rights in the "Mass and Cass" area. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker speaks at the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at 8:30 a.m. in Sutton and at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner at 6 p.m. in Danvers. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speaks at the MARPA/DLS conference at 9 a.m. and presides over a Governor's Council meeting at noon. Wu hosts a press availability at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall. Rep. Stephen Lynch holds a hearing on mental health among servicemembers and veterans at 10 a.m. Rep. Seth Moulton is on WBUR's "Radio Boston" at 3 p.m. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) speaks virtually at Tufts at 5:30 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@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.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts reports 1,848 new coronavirus cases, breakthrough case count on the rise,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “State health officials on Tuesday reported 1,848 new coronavirus cases, as total COVID hospitalizations in the Bay State rose again. The state Department of Public Health also reported 5,313 breakthrough cases from last week, which was up from the tally of 4,608 breakthrough infections during the previous week." DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Expanded voting by mail ends next month in Massachusetts, ramping up calls for a permanent law,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts’ temporary law allowing all voters to cast a ballot by mail is set to end next month without a permanent replacement on the books ... House Speaker Ronald Mariano said the chamber is not expected to take up sweeping election legislation before lawmakers on Wednesday conclude formal lawmaking for the year. It also was unclear whether the Legislature could seek to again extend a pandemic-era voting law that allows expanded voting by mail before it expires on Dec. 15." – “Mariano Plans to Seek Another Term as House Speaker,” by Sam Doran, State House News Service (paywall): “As candidates start to shift into campaign mode for 2022, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday that he intends to stick around for another term in one of the most powerful posts in state government. ‘I have every intention of doing that, yeah,’ Mariano told the News Service, regarding his plans to campaign for another term in the House next November, then another term as speaker in January 2023.” – “Progressive group slams House for lack of professionalism, transparency,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “A group of progressive activists, including three former state representatives, released a 52-page report on Tuesday slamming state House leaders for perpetuating a structure that centralizes power in the speaker and limits the power of rank-and-file lawmakers. The report says a lack of professionalism in the House – where some lawmakers have only a single staffer and staff receive little training – compounds the problem.” – “House move to save local hospitals sets up potential health care overhaul from Beacon Hill,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “The House is set to debate and pass a bill Wednesday that would toughen state health care watchdogs and fortify obstacles faced by hospital chains trying to expand with facilities in areas that are already serviced by struggling local hospitals.” – “Senate to take up mental health access bill,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “The state Senate on Wednesday will take up a major proposal aimed at improving access to mental health services, and lawmakers are calling for more changes to reduce wait times, improve coverage and reduce suicide deaths.” – “Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition to testify before state committee about management changes,” by Amy Phillips, WWLP: “The legislation before the committee would replace the Boards of Trustees at the two veterans’ homes and replace them with a powerless statewide advisory council. The Coalition will voice their opposition to this move at a virtual meeting being held on Friday.” – “Genocide Education Bill Gaining Momentum,” by Chris Van Buskirk, State House News Service (paywall): “Arguing that the world's worst mass atrocities are at risk of being forgotten by younger generations, the House passed a bill Tuesday requiring public schools to teach the history of genocides and setting up a fund to help support the new curriculum.” – “Baker eyes next spring to get some infrastructure money out the door,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald. – “Baker: $500m for unemployment insurance fund not debatable,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine. – "Brookline Rep. Tommy Vitolo Announces Reelection Bid," by Annie Sandoli, Patch. WU TRAIN Michelle Wu is sworn in as mayor of Boston | Charles Krupa/AP Photo | (Charles Krupa/AP Photo) – “‘We have so much work to do.’ Michelle Wu sworn in as mayor of Boston,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “In perhaps the most significant transfer of power in the city’s modern history, Michelle Wu on Tuesday was sworn in as Boston’s first woman, first person of color, and first Asian American mayor popularly elected to office. … ‘The first time I set foot in City Hall, I felt invisible, but today I see what’s possible in this building,’ Wu told those gathered. … Her speech served as a political victory lap of sorts for Wu, who recalled her past successes on the council, including helping deliver paid parental leave, housing protections, and language access.” – The Boston Herald's Sean Philip Cotter has more on the power transfer: “Tuesday afternoon was the first time since late March that Boston has had a fully empowered mayor. Acting mayors as Kim Janey was in the interim, despite her aversion to that first word, have more limited powers — relegated only to matters “not admitting of delay,” and no permanent appointments.” – Mayoral math from GBH News’ Saraya Wintersmith: “Wu, who formed an alliance with the city's acting Mayor Kim Janey shortly after the September preliminary election, declined to acknowledge her number in Boston's line of mayoral succession in remarks to reporters after the event, leaving space for Janey to continue to define herself as the city's 55th mayor, and — by implication — the Boston's first Black chief executive, a point of importance among some voters." – “Wu campaign manager, former Healey aide tapped for top City Hall posts,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: “Mary Lou Akai-Ferguson, who served as Michelle Wu’s mayoral campaign manager, has signed on as interim chief of staff for the nascent administration. The Wu transition team also announced that Attorney General Maura Healey's former chief of staff [Mike Firestone] will also enter City Hall as chief of policy and strategic planning.” – Firestone was director of the Coalition to Protect Workers' Rights, the group opposing a proposed 2022 ballot question to classify app-based drivers as independent contractors. AFL-CIO chief of staff Chrissy Lynch is now the coalition's acting director, the group confirmed. FROM THE HUB – “Shattuck hospital would provide temporary housing for people at Mass. and Cass under state plan,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “State officials are planning to house several dozen of the people living in the homeless encampment around Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard in a ‘temporary cottage community’ on the grounds of the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital campus in Jamaica Plain.” – “‘We’re backed into a corner’: New homeless encampment rises near Mass. and Cass,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “A new encampment of tents, tarps and makeshift homes has emerged in Newmarket Square, just around the corner from the now-empty corridor near Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard where hundreds of people had lived just weeks ago." – “Boston Medical Center launches new plan to address racial disparities in health care,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “Boston Medical Center, the safety-net hospital where the majority of patients identify as people of color, is launching a broad new effort to pinpoint racial inequities in health care and work to eliminate those disparities for Black and brown people.” – “Clinical trial for Alzheimer’s vaccine to begin at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “A first-of-its-kind clinical trial that will test a nasal vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease is actively recruiting participants at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in what could be a game-changing treatment." BALLOT BATTLES – “App-Based Driver Campaign Claims Signature Success,” by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service (paywall): “The coalition, called the Massachusetts Coalition For Independent Work, announced Tuesday that it has submitted 260,000 signatures to town and city clerks, with about 130,000 signatures submitted for each version of the question. At least 80,239 certified signatures must be turned into Secretary of State William Galvin's office by Dec. 1 to keep initiative petitions on track and put them before the Legislature for potential consideration in 2022." DAY IN COURT – “Use of breath tests again suspended,” by Julie Manganis, Salem News: “A Salem judge who has been overseeing litigation over the breath alcohol test devices used by police in Massachusetts has ordered another statewide suspension of their use pending a hearing into new complaints about their reliability." MARKEYCHUSETTS – “Ed Markey channels Taylor Swift in push for climate action in Biden’s Build Back Better bill,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, the septuagenarian Massachusetts senator invoked the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s re-recorded hit ‘All Too Well’ in his continued push for President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan, along with a photo-shopped frame from the short film that accompanied the extended, 10-minute song.” THE CLARK CAUCUS – "Rep. Katherine Clark on wins for MA in infrastructure bill," by Kerry Kavanaugh, Boston 25 News: "This bill is going to create over 2 million jobs a year for the next 10 years. That is going to be a direct benefit to people at home in Massachusetts." IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Lamont puts TCI on hold in Connecticut,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday said he is putting on hold his pursuit of the Transportation Climate Initiative, leaving Massachusetts in a precarious, go-it-alone position as the regional cap-and-trade gasoline initiative is scheduled to begin practice runs next year and launch formally in 2023.” FROM THE 413 – “Springfield sets aside $5M to settle police misconduct cases,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “The City Council has set aside $5 million to settle police misconduct cases in Springfield, occurring as the city continues to negotiate major police reforms with the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at improving conduct and reducing future citizen complaints.” – “Hand recount in District 4 council race set for Nov. 23,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: " The recount comes following a request from Evan Ross, an incumbent [Amherst] councilor, who, based on unofficial results released by the town clerk’s office on election night, narrowly lost his reelection bid to challenger Pamela Rooney.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – "Poll finds parents bullish on return to in-person learning," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "After a year and a half of unprecedented disruption of daily life, parents of K-12 students in Massachusetts are very optimistic about what the return to in-person classes will bring, with more than a third saying they expect their child to finish the current school year academically ahead of grade level. ... The results come from a poll [by the MassINC Polling Group]." – “COVID outbreak shuts down police academy,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “A small coronavirus outbreak has halted instruction at one of the state's police academies. Three student officers tested positive at Northern Essex Community College's academy.” – “Danvers school officials say they 'fell short' in informing public,” by Paul Leighton and Jill Harmacinski, Salem News: “School officials acknowledged Tuesday night they ‘fell short’ in informing the public about the seriousness of alleged racist and homophobic misconduct in the high school boys’ hockey program and promised to do better in the future.” – “A growing push to eliminate Native American mascots in Massachusetts schools,” by Julia Carlin, Boston Globe: "[A] bill would require about two dozen schools to abandon their current nicknames, bar the sale and distribution of materials with Native American symbols, and halt construction or renovation of team logo displays." – “'Failure to elect.' Recount results in tie for Framingham's District 3 council seat,” by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: “City Clerk Lisa Ferguson said that a ‘failure to elect’ had occurred. … One or both sides could now bring the matter to [Superior Court].” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE – "Biden returns to New Hampshire for first time since his primary loss to tout his new infrastructure law," by Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe: "The state was the first stop in a series of nationwide events by [President Joe] Biden and top administration officials to promote the bipartisan infrastructure law — and in the process try to rebuild the popularity of his presidency..." SPOTTED — at Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's swearing-in ceremony: Gov. Charlie Baker, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Secretary of State Bill Galvin (wearing a vote mask); Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins; Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins; state Sens. Julian Cyr and Sal DiDomenico; state Reps. Aaron Michlewitz, Adrian Madaro, Liz Miranda, Jay Livingstone, Nika Elugardo, Mike Moran, Kevin Honan, Liz Malia, Jon Santiago, Chynah Tyler, Tommy Vitolo and Maria Robinson; City Council President Kim Janey; Councilors Matt O'Malley, Annissa Essaibi George, Lydia Edwards, Liz Breadon, Ricardo Arroyo, Julia Mejia, Frank Baker, Kenzie Bok, Andrea Campbell, Ed Flynn and Michael Flaherty; Councilors-elect Tania Anderson, Kendra Hicks, Ruthzee Louijeune, Erin Murphy and Brian Worrell; Councilor to-be Alejandra St. Guillen , former state Rep. Byron Rushing, former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and former city councilor Tito Jackson. ALSO SPOTTED — Victoria Reggie Kennedy being sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Austria (h/t Christine Heenan and Ted Nesi). HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Ann Murphy, partner at Seven Letter; Aidan Golub, Alexandra Goodwin, Sophia Wang, policy director for Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn; and Laurie Norton Moffatt, director/CEO at Norman Rockwell Museum. Happy belated to Josh Gee, who celebrated Tuesday. 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.   WOMEN RULE: JOIN US TODAY FOR A TALK ABOUT THE NEW WORLD OF WORK: The way women work, including what is expected and demanded from their workplaces, has been upended. How should businesses, governments, and workers take advantage of this opportunity to rethink what wasn’t working and strengthen working environments for women moving forward? Join the Women Rule community to discuss with leading women and explore how they are seizing the moment. REGISTER HERE.       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

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook : Setting the pre-Thanksgiving political table

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY IT’S CRUNCH TIME — Beacon Hill has a full legislative plate ahead of Thanksgiving, with lawmakers racing to wrap up a massive spending bill. And some cities are also getting new mayors ahead of the holiday. So let’s look at the week ahead: DEAL OR NO DEAL — The legislature’s self-imposed deadline for getting an American Rescue Plan Act spending bill to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk will come to pass on Wednesday. Both chambers unanimously approved roughly $3.82 billion packages. Now the House and Senate Ways and Means chairs, who pre-negotiated some shared investment priorities, are leading the post-vote negotiations over funding differences and local earmarks. A conference committee could be named as soon as today. It’s a tight timeline, but lawmakers have some flexibility. The bill doesn't die when formal session ends Wednesday night; it can still be taken up in informal session or it can carry over into the new year (one legislator described the latter as a “worst-case scenario”). BALLOT WATCH — Groups hoping to get their ballot questions before voters in 2022 have until Wednesday to submit at least 80,239 signatures to local election officials for certification. It’s the first big test for the Uber-and-Lyft-backed push to classify app-based drivers as independent contractors, and for MassGOP-backed initiatives including voter identification, since 16 ballot petitions cleared the state attorney general’s certification process in September. IN WITH THE NEW — Joshua Garcia will be sworn in as Holyoke’s new mayor today and Michelle Wu will take her oath of office on Tuesday. They’ll join newly minted Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, who took over the reins from his city’s acting mayor on Friday. As for early priorities: Garcia told CommonWealth Magazine’s Shira Schoenberg that he plans to tackle the city’s $2 million budget deficit. Wu told the Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter that there’s a “tremendous need” for City Hall to hire more staff as more than 400 positions sit open. THE BATTLE FOR FALL RIVER — There's no imminent deadline, but there is some push to get the congressional and Governor's Council redistricting maps approved before lawmakers effectively break until next year. Watch in coming days whether mapmakers change their plan to fully split Fall River from New Bedford amid cries from some electeds and activists to have the South Coast cities in the same congressional district. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. For our Boston-based readers, what do you think Mayor-elect Michelle Wu’s priorities should be for her first 100 days? Drop me your answer at lkashinsky@politico.com for a chance to be featured in Playbook this week! TODAY — Rep. Jake Auchincloss hosts a “Strong Towns Town Hall” with local leaders at 9:30 a.m. at the Black Box Theatre in Franklin. Auchincloss, Rep. Lori Trahan and state Senate President Karen Spilka are among the lawmakers joining President Joe Biden for the signing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at 3 p.m. at the White House.   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.     DATELINE BEACON HILL – “After 600 days, the Massachusetts State House remains closed to the public. It appears to be the only state capitol still shut on this continent,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Nearly every other state has taken more steps to let people back into the ‘people’s house’ since the onset of COVID-19, according to a Globe review of official statements, news reports, and responses from government officials. And while Hawaii is the only other state whose capitol the Globe found is still closed to the general public, it does allow those with appointments to enter." – “Elephants and giraffes and monkeys, oh my! Massachusetts bill takes aim at traveling animal shows,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “A pair of parallel bills, filed by state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, in the Senate and Reps. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, and Brad Jones, R-North Reading, in the House, would ban lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, mountain lions, primates, bears and giraffes from participating in traveling animal acts. The bills, which will be heard on Friday, would implement fines of $500 to $10,000 per animal.” – “Baker administration unsure of balance in unemployment insurance fund,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “A top aide to Gov. Charlie Baker said on Friday that the administration is still trying to determine the current balance in the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. … US Treasury data indicate the fund has a current balance of $2.9 billion and owes the federal government $2.3 billion in connection with previous borrowings to keep the fund solvent.” – “Lawmakers seek to revitalize local health departments,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “...medical experts say city and town health departments have been underfunded and understaffed for decades, and will need more money and resources to ensure they can respond to the next pandemic. On Beacon Hill, lawmakers are planning to direct a windfall of funding to health boards as part of a plan to spend billions of dollars in federal pandemic relief money and surplus revenues.” – “Massachusetts lawmakers must act to extend vote-by-mail, Secretary of Commonwealth Bill Galvin warns,” by WCVB: “Both chambers of the Massachusetts Legislature previously voted to temporarily extend vote-by-mail and early voting options through Dec. 15, 2021.” – “Critics say TCI could further burden drivers as Massachusetts gas prices rise,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The Baker administration has said its plan would only pump prices up about 5 to 9 cents per gallon. But opponents of the plan aren’t buying it.” MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER – “Attorney says new Randolph district maps are racially drawn, threatens lawsuit,” by Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Patriot Ledger: “A Boston attorney is threatening to sue the state over what he says are racially gerrymandered house districts that dilute Randolph's diverse voting power. Attorney Paul DeRensis said he wants Randolph to be in one house district. Before the new maps were signed into law last week, Randolph's voting power was split into three districts. Now, it's in two districts, dividing the vote of Black and other minority voters. He said he is representing Randolph voters.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Broad Institute researcher wants to fade into obscurity, but first she hopes her COVID book is a bestseller,” by Jonathan Saltzman, Boston Globe: “Eighteen months ago, Alina Chan co-wrote an explosive paper that said scientists should investigate the possibility that a virus from a laboratory in China caused the pandemic. Buffeted by a firestorm of criticism, the Cambridge researcher now says she plans to change her name. But only after her book on the origins of COVID-19 is published.” – “Some of Massachusetts’ larger cities remain below 60% COVID vaccination rate; search your town’s rate here,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: “At least 16 communities with more than 20,000 people, about the size of the average Massachusetts town, have yet to cross the 60% vaccinated threshold, data from the state Department of Public Health shows." – “COVID-19 cases increase among Mass. students, staff statewide,” by Jenna Russell, Boston Globe: “State education leaders released their latest tally of COVID-19 cases Friday, as student cases reported statewide increased to 2,640 and staff cases grew to 381 for the one-week period that ended Wednesday." – “Number of Massachusetts schools with state approval to lift COVID mask mandate rises to 13; DESE has received 23 total requests,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive. FROM THE HUB – HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIDE: Annissa Essaibi George says she’s dried her “healthy dose” of post-election tears and is ready to embark on an “active recovery” from her mayoral-race loss. According to an email to her supporters on Friday that means finishing out her city council term, getting back out in Boston’s neighborhoods and encouraging her supporters to carry out acts of kindness and shop local. “After all that we’ll see what comes next,” she wrote. “I promise I am not done.” – "Janey made history as mayor of Boston, but there's more to her legacy," by Callum Borchers, WBUR: "Buttercream frosting may not be the first thing most people associate with Kim Janey's eight-month stint as Boston's acting mayor. But it's top of mind for Lisa Mackin, who recently launched a baking business through the residential kitchen program created under Janey's administration." – “Boston’s Curley School will continue with 10-day closure — against the wishes of state education commissioner,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “The Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain will continue its 10-day closure in the face of a coronavirus outbreak, Boston officials say, going against the wishes of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley, who’d asked that students and staff return earlier.” – “Boston honors former state representative and mayoral candidate Mel King,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “In addition to his roles as husband, father and friend, Mel King has been many things over the course of his 92 years: educator, activist, community organizer. ... before King, his family and a crowd of more than a hundred well-wishers at Columbus Avenue and Yarmouth Street, the mayor unveiled a sign naming the intersection Melvin H. ‘Mel’ King Square and proclaimed Saturday as ‘Mel King Day’ to enthusiastic applause.” – WATCH: Boston City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Julia Mejia discuss on GBH News whether an elected school committee will become a reality under Mayor-elect Michelle Wu’s watch. WU TRAIN – “Millennial. Mom. Mayor. Another way Michelle Wu reflects a changing Boston,” by Janelle Nanos, Boston Globe: “...at 36, [Michelle Wu] will be the youngest mayor to helm one of the 25 largest cities in the United States. That’s just four years older than the typical resident of the city she will lead — the median age of Bostonians is 32 — giving many in what is easily the city’s largest generational group hope that their perspective will ring out from City Hall.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “MBTA uses ads, Dunkin’ gift cards to beg riders back to the T,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “The in-house [ad] campaign, which cost about $69,000 in radio and gas pump ads and an additional $14,470 for ads in the city’s two newspapers, is slated to run through the end of the month. It uses several mediums to attract riders, including MBTA-owned billboards plastered with images of gridlocked cars with messages like, ‘Bottlenecks. Take the T’.” FEELING '22 – “Shannon Liss-Riordan, labor attorney and former US Senate candidate, weighing run for attorney general,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Shannon Liss-Riordan, a Brookline labor attorney and one-time US Senate candidate, has told associates she is weighing a bid for attorney general should Maura Healey not seek reelection to the seat next year, according to two people with knowledge of her plans.” WARREN REPORT – “McCarthy, Warren meet to discuss green jobs, infrastructure legislation,” by Hannah Chanatry, WBUR: “White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined state and local leaders Friday to discuss the influx of money coming to the state as a result of the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill. Massachusetts is expected to receive more than $9 billion.” – “Elizabeth Warren says vote on second infrastructure bill ‘unlikely’ before Thanksgiving,” by Erin Tiernan Boston Herald. Watch more from Warren’s “On the Record” interview on WCVB. IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – Sen. Ed Markey said the climate deal that emerged from Glasgow “was a good first step, but it’s far, far short of what has to happen.” He called for Massachusetts to be a leader in tackling climate change and for his colleagues in Washington to pass the reconciliation package that includes $555 billion to help mitigate climate change. “We have no time to waste,” Markey told Democratic electeds and activists on a Zoom Sunday organized by dozens of Democratic city and town committees and activist groups. State Rep. Nika Elugardo moderated the climate-focused event. Democratic governor hopefuls Danielle Allen and former state Sen. Ben Downing; LG hopefuls state Sen. Adam Hinds, state Rep. Tami Gouveia and Bret Bero; state auditor candidate Chris Dempsey ; state Sens. Marc Pacecho and William Brownsberger, and state Reps. Sean Garballey, Steven Owens and Carmine Gentile were among the attendees. DATELINE D.C. – "Biden-successor chatter grows and Harris isn’t scaring off anyone," by Eugene Daniels and Alex Thompson, POLITICO: "Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is the point person on implementing much of the popular bipartisan infrastructure deal. This fall, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) boosted the mayor of Manchester, N.H., during her recent reelection campaign and is keeping in touch with allies in the critical primary state, according to people familiar with the calls. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is on a book tour and campaigned in Virginia for Terry McAuliffe. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) endorsed left-wing and progressive candidates outside of Massachusetts this past year. The spokespeople for that quartet either declined to comment or stressed that the moves were unrelated to future electoral ambitions." FROM THE 413 – “‘About time’: Latinos reflect on historic Holyoke mayoral win by Joshua Garcia,” by Elizabeth Román and Damaris Pérez-Pizarro, Springfield Republican: “When voters elected Joshua A. Garcia to be Holyoke’s first Latino mayor, it was the realization of a dream for generations of Puerto Rican men and women who arrived here looking for opportunities and a better life. … According to the 2020 U.S. census, 53.9% of Holyoke’s 38,238 residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, with the majority being of Puerto Rican descent.” – “Northampton reforms reach ‘critical mass’: As Mayor-elect Gina-Louise Sciarra prepares for office, the city sees a confluence of major changes,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “From pushing to decriminalize psychedelics to reimagining policing, there is usually some big, exciting, new idea arriving in Northampton. But for there to be a half-dozen big, exciting — and in some cases, groundbreaking — new ideas converging on the community at once is a bit more unusual, Mayor-elect Gina-Louise Sciarra said.” – “With Tennessee coming to woo Smith & Wesson workers, Massachusetts industry offers opportunities, too,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “The Blount Partnership — the Tennessee economic development agency that put together a $9 million-plus incentive package for Smith & Wesson to partially relocate there — is coming to Springfield next week to woo the gun manufacturer’s employees. … U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said the situation points to a larger need to align the workforce with employer needs and to train workers for their next opportunity.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Suffolk, Middlesex prosecutors crack some of the state’s oldest crimes,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Renewed efforts by the Middlesex and Suffolk DA’s to solve some of the state’s most stubborn crimes have led to breakthroughs in a half-dozen decades-old cold cases in the past two years.” – “AG wants more info on Danvers hockey hazing, sexual assault allegations,” by Jill Harmacinski, Salem News: “Stopping short of calling it an investigation, a spokesperson for Attorney General Maura Healey said her office has requested ‘more information’ from both the Danvers schools and Police Department in light of allegations of sexual and physical abuse, racism and other unacceptable behavior among varsity hockey players." – “Mass General Brigham resists the lead of hospitals banning or limiting trustee investments in its startups,” by Liz Kowalczyk and Sarah L. Ryley, Boston Globe: “Last month, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston adopted tough new rules to ensure that its trustees don’t profit personally from their prestigious volunteer role. … The sudden change came as the Globe Spotlight Team found that at least seven trustees had personally invested in Dana-Farber startups … But officials at Mass General Brigham ... are not planning to ban trustee investments or create an ethics policy that specifically addresses such investments.” – “Politics and the City: Money not only factor in campaign success,” by Steven H. Foskett Jr., Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “District 1 candidate Richard Cipro raised $43,773 this year, which was more than any other City Council candidate. Add in the nearly $4,500 that the Massachusetts Majority political action committee independently shelled out in support of the city police sergeant, and that's close to $50,000. Cipro lost to incumbent Sean Rose by 407 votes.” – “Lowell PD’s co-response clinicians bring positive results,” by Aaron Curtis, Lowell Sun: “The first few months of the Police Department’s Jail Diversion Program — highlighted by this summer’s hire of co-response clinicians — have attained its goals. The program diverted 19 people from arrest or emergency department visits from July to September." – “St. Vincent Hospital CEO quells scuttlebutt of deal reached with striking nurses,” by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “In a memo to staff on Friday afternoon, St. Vincent Hospital CEO Carolyn Jackson denied rumors of a deal to end the eight-month nurses strike, writing ‘there is no agreement and no deal to announce.’” – “‘It’s a huge honor’: Harvard Crimson names its first Latinx president in almost 150-year run,” by Shannon Larson, Boston Globe. – “Keith Hovan, Southcoast CEO, taking leave of absence as he faces criminal charges,” by Frank Mulligan, Wicked Local. – "Ralph's Tavern says Worcester Monopoly was 'pay-to-play' and bar plans to blow boards to pieces," by Dave Nordman, Worcester Telegram & Gazette. SPOTTED – Former ambassador and Sen. Scott Brown at yesterday’s Patriots game (Brown’s tweet). TRANSITIONS – Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel will take over as co-hosts of GBH News’ “Morning Edition” in 2022. Alston rejoins GBH from WBUR. Siegel is a POLITICO alum. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to MassLive’s Melissa Hanson, Gail Gitcho, Emily Schlichting, Alexandra Lippman and Micah Rosen. Happy belated to Nikki Blank. 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.   WOMEN RULE: JOIN US WEDNESDAY FOR A TALK ABOUT THE NEW WORLD OF WORK: The way women work, including what is expected and demanded from their workplaces, has been upended. How should businesses, governments, and workers take advantage of this opportunity to rethink what wasn’t working and strengthen working environments for women moving forward? Join the Women Rule community to discuss with leading women and explore how they are seizing the moment. REGISTER HERE.       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

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA