POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Wu builds out her team

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY THE WU WHISPERERS — Michelle Wu unveiled her “Mass and Cass” team yesterday, fulfilling a campaign pledge and offering a first look at the experts and advocates who will have the new mayor’s ear when she’s sworn in on Tuesday. Monica Bharel, the former state Department of Public Health commissioner, will lead the city’s response to the public health and housing crises at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard as a Cabinet-level senior advisor. Wu is also making Boston Public Health Commission Executive Director Bisola Ojikutu a Cabinet member and, in a widely applauded move, reappointing Sheila Dillon as the city’s housing chief. Wu’s rapid transition from candidate to mayor means she won’t have her full Cabinet in place next week. But her transition-team picks so far represent a mix of state and city government veterans, activists, union leaders and professors that in some ways emulate the teams of mayors before her and in other ways break the mold: THE POLITICIANS — One of Wu’s transition co-chairs, former state Rep. Charlotte Golar Richie, is a Menino administration alum who ran for mayor in 2013 and later served on then-mayor Marty Walsh’s transition team. Walsh tapped two other former mayoral rivals to help lead his transition. Wu named Acting Mayor Kim Janey as honorary chair of hers. THE ISSUE AREAS — Walsh had teams focused on specific issue areas ranging from arts and culture to economic development, education and public safety. Janey had subcommittees focused on public health, education, housing, justice, economic development, transportation and climate justice. Wu’s team doesn’t follow that structure — in no small part because she has a two-week transition instead of a two-month transition. Her picks reflect some of her priorities — there’s an urban and environmental policy and planning professor and a climate activist — but also show an effort to fulfill her pledge of “bringing City Hall to every block” by including a Fenway High School student, a Dorchester church pastor, and local Latino leader and WBUR radio host José Massó. THE LESS-TRADITIONAL PICKS — Walsh had restaurateur and Dropkick Murphys’ frontman Ken Casey on his economic development working group. Wu has tapped Ali Fong , a chef and co-founder of Bon Me, a food-truck and restaurant company that serves up Asian-inspired fare. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and administration officials attend a Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. at Faneuil Hall. Polito joins local officials for a noon ceremony at the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Worcester. State Sen. Eric Lesser hosts a special Veterans Day edition of his "Lunchtime Livestream" at noon. State Sen. John Velis delivers student letters to Holyoke Soldiers’ Home residents at 2:30 p.m. Rep. Seth Moulton hosts a virtual town hall for veterans at 7 p.m. Delegation members attend various Veterans' Day events. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com.   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.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts booster shots near 700,000 mark as state reports 1,745 new COVID cases,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Nearly 700,000 Massachusetts residents have received a coronavirus booster shot, according to Wednesday data from state health officials, as cases increased by 1,745 with 20 new deaths.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – BILLS ON THE MOVE: The Senate late last night unanimously passed a $3.82 billion spending bill that draws on American Rescue Plan Act funds and fiscal year 2021 surplus money, teeing up negotiations on a final bill with the House. Senators’ amendments bumped the bottom line up from the $3.67 billion proposal laid out by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski has more (paywall). – “Nero’s Law” is en route to the House after the Senate unanimously approved the bill that allows emergency medical personnel to treat and transport injured police dogs. The bill from state Sen. Mark Montigny is named after Nero, the K-9 who was severely injured during a 2018 incident that left its human partner, Yarmouth police Sgt. Sean Gannon, dead. – “Baker refiles marijuana-impaired driving bill,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday announced that he is taking another run at passing a bill to stop people from driving while impaired by marijuana. Baker said the bill will enhance public safety ‘by equalizing alcohol and marijuana and giving law enforcement more tools to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers.’ The bill is the same one Baker introduced in 2019, but this time he named it after Trooper Thomas Clardy, a Massachusetts state trooper who was fatally struck by a driver who had THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, in his blood.” – “Unemployment insurance deficit may have vanished,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The deficit in the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, expected by some to run into billions of dollars eventually, has apparently vanished, according to a state senator and documents filed with the federal government. The state issued a report for May indicating the trust fund was running a deficit of nearly $1.8 billion. Strangely, no other monthly reports have been issued by the Baker administration since then. But documents compiled by the US Treasury indicate the fund’s financial situation has dramatically improved, hitting $2.9 billion earlier this month – enough to pay off nearly $2.3 billion in loans from the federal government and still have money left over.” – “Sen. DiZoglio Calls For Plan To Reopen State House To Public,” by CBS Boston: “State Senator Diana DiZoglio is calling on State House leaders to get the building completely reopened more quickly. … DiZoglio (D-Methuen) said it’s unacceptable that the public is not allowed in the building.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Dozens of inmates test positive for COVID-19 at Dartmouth Jail,” by Daniel Ackerman, GBH News: “Twenty-nine inmates at the Bristol Country House of Correction in Dartmouth have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, according to Jonathan Darling, a spokesperson for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.” – “New COVID outbreak reported at Middleton Jail,” by Julie Manganis, Salem News: “There is a new COVID outbreak at the Middleton Jail, with 57 prisoners and eight employees testing positive for the virus in the past two days, a jail spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday. … While 75% of Essex County residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, the percentage of vaccinated prisoners is lower, at 68%, according to the jail’s spokeswoman, Gretchen Grosky. Among the employees who tested positive, just three of the eight had reported being vaccinated. Grosky said at least 60% of the jail’s 700 employees have reported being vaccinated.” FROM THE HUB – “Acting Mayor Kim Janey marks historic term with farewell address,” by Jeremy C. Fox and Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: “[Kim] Janey used the address to reflect on the historic nature of her tenure and the challenges of confronting the coronavirus pandemic and longstanding racial inequality. … Her voice quavered with emotion as she thanked the city’s 18,000 employees, and public officials across Massachusetts. Janey received a standing ovation from the crowd as she paused to regain her composure.” – WHAT’S NEXT: After a whirlwind eight months in which she juggled running a city and campaigning for a full term, Janey plans to “get some rest.” She told reporters after her speech that she’s “going to do some reflection, some writing, do a bit of travel” but will still be here to “support the new administration to make sure that everything runs smoothly. I want to be a resource to support Mayor-elect Wu when she takes over, but also give her the space that she needs.” Janey’s serving as Wu’s honorary transition chair. “Should there be some sort of formal role? You know, we will see.” WU TRAIN – “Boston Mayor-elect Wu to name former DPH chief to clean up Mass. and Cass,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Boston Mayor-elect Michelle Wu announced Wednesday that she will appoint the former chief of the state's department of public health, Dr. Monica Bharel, to a new cabinet-level position charged with cleaning up the public health and safety crisis in and around Mass. and Cass, driven by substance use and homelessness. Bharel, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, appeared before the public regularly to report on progress and setbacks. She is considered politically savvy and medically top notch.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “Holyoke Mayor-elect Joshua Garcia to take oath of office Monday; public invited to City Hall ceremony,” by Dennis Hohenberger, Springfield Republican: “Mayor-elect Joshua A. Garcia will take the oath of office Monday, Nov. 15, at 9:30 a.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. … Garcia will undergo a second swearing-in at City Hall on Jan. 3 . The Nov. 15 ceremony covers the remaining weeks left on former Mayor Alex B. Morse’s four-year term.” – “Incumbent Amherst councilor Ross getting recount of four-vote loss,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Town Councilor Evan Ross will get a recount of the unofficial results from the Nov. 2 town election that show him trailing Pamela Rooney by five votes for one of two seats in his district.” – “Springfield City Council candidate Jynai McDonald disputes loss to Ward 4 incumbent Malo Brown, alleging voter intimidation,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “Jynai McDonald, who lost by 101 votes to incumbent Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown on Election Day, is contesting the outcome and accusing Brown of voter intimidation. Brown denied the allegations on Wednesday … McDonald filed a notice of intent to contest Brown’s election with the city election office on Monday. She followed up with complaints to the state attorney general’s office Tuesday and the secretary of state’s office Wednesday.” FROM THE DELEGATION – WARREN TALKS WEED: Sen. Elizabeth Warren is calling on President Joe Biden to “make good on his campaign platform that no one should be in jail for cannabis-related crimes by pardoning all non-violent federal cannabis offenders,” POLITICO cannabis reporter Natalie Fertig scooped. Warren sent a letter to the president asking him to use his pardon power to honor the campaign promise. “Our country’s cannabis policies must be completely overhauled, but you have the power to act now,” she wrote in the letter, which was also signed by Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). – HELP FOR HAITIANS: The entire congressional delegation signed onto a letter calling for more federal assistance for Haitian refugees arriving in Massachusetts. “We encourage you to do all you can to ensure that the process of resettling Haitians in Massachusetts proceeds smoothly,” the delegation wrote in the letter to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement asking for information on the number of Haitians expected to arrive in the state, a timeline for their arrival and clarification on whether they’re eligible for ORR benefits. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “Could infrastructure bill put East-West rail on track?” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “The legislation includes $66 billion for Amtrak to fund upgrades to current routes and stations – chief among them the Boston to Washington Northeast corridor, by far the system’s busiest line – but also for building out new routes. That’s why [state Sen. Eric] Lesser, the lead champion of a East-West rail line connection between Boston and Springfield, is so excited. The infrastructure bill is ‘a game-changer,’ he said, creating an opportunity similar to the Big Dig to tap federal dollars for the bulk of a big transportation project in the state.” DAY IN COURT – “Truck driver’s trial delayed in crash that killed 7 bikers,” by Kathy McCormack, Associated Press: “Days before jury selection was scheduled to start for a truck driver charged with causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire in 2019, a judge on Wednesday granted a defense request to continue the trial to March over concerns about a crash reconstruction expert’s prior job history with the Massachusetts State Police. Coos County Superior Court Judge Peter Bornstein did not set a new date for the trial of Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 25, of West Springfield, Massachusetts.” FROM THE 413 – “He was hired to probe a single complaint at Monterey Town Hall. He quit when he saw the true scale of the rancor,” by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: “A private investigator hired to probe a complaint by one town employee against another quit Tuesday, after the number of complaints lodged in Town Hall ballooned in recent days to 19.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Before Veterans Day, Boston’s own Tuskegee Airman reflects on long journey,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Enoch Woodhouse showed up to his Army assignment a day late and covered in soot, literally and figuratively held back by the color of his skin. But that’s just the start of his story, a long and rich one that’s led one of the few surviving Tuskegee Airmen through the Ivy League, a law practice and back to his hometown of Boston, where on Wednesday he got a hug from the first Black chief executive of the city, and on Thursday, Veterans Day, he’ll attend multiple ceremonies as an honored guest. Lt. Col. Woodhouse, first of the Army and then, when it was created, the Air Force, was part of the Airmen, the legendary all-Black combat unit in World War II, several years before the military integrated.” – “1,613 people have died in opioid overdoses in Mass. this year,” by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: “Opioid overdoses continued to claim the lives of hundreds of Massachusetts residents in 2021. In the first nine months of this year 1,613 residents have died, a 1 percent increase over the same period in 2020, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health. The semiannual report suggests the crisis may be stabilizing after a 5 percent spike in deaths in 2020, when the effects of the pandemic erased the state’s progress in combating illicit opioid use. The annual number of opioid-related deaths peaked at 2,110 in 2016, declined slightly over the next three years, and rose to 2,106 in 2020.” – “Only 5% of Mass. school superintendents are people of color, report finds,” by Stephannie Joseph, GBH News: “People of color are underrepresented in public school leadership across Massachusetts, holding just 5% of superintendent posts, according to a new report from the Eos Foundation and Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy. … The report found that in 2020, Massachusetts districts employed 14 superintendents of color, eight women and six men.” – “Keith Hovan, Southcoast Health President-CEO, charged with domestic assault and battery,” by Frank Mulligan, Wicked Local: “Southcoast Health President and CEO Keith Hovan was arrested Saturday night at his Rochester home by Rochester Police on a charge of domestic assault and battery, and was arraigned on the charge in Wareham District Court Monday.” – “How this Fall River agency is using a grant from the AG to aid Latinx addiction recovery,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “River to Recovery received a $44,000 grant from [state AG Maura] Healey’s office to fund a Spanish-speaking recovery coach. … ‘Any money that I recover from the drug makers, drug distributors, Purdue and the Sacklers, all of that is going directly to treatment and programming. I wanted to come down with my team to see a site in action,’ said Healey.” – “Worcester Regional Airport celebrates veterans, return of commercial service,” by Cyrus Moulton, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “Worcester Regional Airport celebrated the return of commercial service in a ceremony Wednesday and, in recognition of Veterans Day, announced charitable donations to local nonprofit Veterans Inc.” – “Framingham Mayor-elect Charlie Sisitsky recovered, directing transition work,” by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: “Mayor-elect Charlie Sisitsky has recovered and is directing the government's transition, after a brief hospitalization last week.” SPOTTED – at Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s farewell address at Roxbury’s Hibernian Hall: Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Mayor-elect Michelle Wu, state Reps. Nika Elugardo, Liz Miranda and Jon Santiago; City Councilors Kenzie Bok, Ed Flynn, Ricardo Arroyo and Julia Mejia, councilors-elect Ruthzee Louijeune and Tania Fernandes Anderson; Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, former city councilor Tito Jackson, and BECMA President and CEO Segun Idowu. TRANSITIONS – Michael Falcone, most recently the chief of government affairs and advocacy at the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, is now senior director at MacDougall Advisors Inc. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Alec MacGillis, Will Boscow, Jesse Adams, Shelly Tsirulik and The New York Times’ Eric Athas, a UMass Amherst alum. Happy belated to YWCA Cambridge Executive Director Tania Del Rio, who celebrated Saturday. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE SENATE'S REVOLUTIONARY MENTAL HEALTH BILL — State Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) joins hosts Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky to discuss the Senate's new bill treat mental health like physical health. Kashinsky breaks down the South Coast congressional redistricting schism. 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.   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.       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

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Inside the South Coast schism

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER/SO HAPPY TOGETHER — After five hours of arguments for and against a redistricting map that would split Fall River and New Bedford into two different congressional districts, Assistant House Majority Leader Mike Moran paused and shook his head. “I didn’t think this was going to be a big deal,” the House redistricting chair said, sounding equal parts exhausted and bewildered. Boy was he wrong. To recap: Fall River is currently split roughly in half between Rep. Jake Auchincloss’s 4th District and Rep. Bill Keating’s 9th District; New Bedford is completely in the 9th. The proposed redistricting map would put all of Fall River in the 4th, while New Bedford would remain in the 9th. Discord over the disunion came to a head at yesterday's public hearing. One side argued that the proposed map would empower Fall River by making it the most populous city in the 4th District. The other claimed breaking up Fall River and New Bedford would weaken the entire region’s federal advocacy efforts. But this is about more than money. It’s a battle over a decade’s worth of political clout. Keating lives in Bourne , keeping the 9th District’s seat of power closer to Cape Cod. Coupling Fall River and New Bedford in the 9th District could shift that center of gravity and help send someone to Congress from either Gateway City — ending a nearly century-long drought that New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell called an “ongoing travesty.” Others contend that Fall River’s population could make it a much bigger player in the 4th District, even when lumped in with wealthier enclaves like Newton and Brookline. Auchincloss, who lives in Newton, said in his testimony that Fall River would be the district’s “flagship city.” But his predecessor, former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, questioned that claim given that Fall River’s voter turnout is much lower than in the pricier Boston suburbs. Putting Fall River fully in the 4th benefits Auchincloss politically, as would other proposed changes to his district that would lop off a few towns Jesse Mermell won in last year’s Democratic primary. Mermell, who’s mulling a rematch, told me mapmakers need to unite Fall River and New Bedford so they can “fully flex their muscle” for immigrants, communities of color and working families “that have too long been under-served.” On the flip side, Republican Julie Hall of Attleboro, who's challenging Auchincloss again, said yesterday she’s “pretty satisfied” lawmakers added “a little bit more of the conservative areas” to the 4th District. Mapmakers will decide “in coming days” whether they’ll be making any changes to the congressional and Governor’s Council maps, Moran said. GOOD WEDNESDAY 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 and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attend the opening of new MassMutual offices in Fall River at 11 a.m. and make a public safety announcement at 2:30 p.m. at Worcester District Court. Polito presides over a Governor’s Council meeting at noon and joins Rep. Jim McGovern at Worcester Regional Airport at 4 p.m. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey delivers her farewell address at Roxbury’s Hibernian Hall at 4 p.m. Mayor-elect Michelle Wu makes a Mass & Cass-related announcement at 11 a.m. THE DELEGATION’S BACK IN TOWN — Rep. Lori Trahan visits a Methuen childcare center at 9:30 a.m. Auchincloss, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Seth Moulton attend the MITRE BlueTech Lab groundbreaking at 10:15 a.m. in Bedford. Auchincloss joins the JCRC for a virtual conversation at noon. Rep. Richard Neal and Secretary of State Bill Galvin attend the Eagle Mill redevelopment groundbreaking at 11 a.m. in Lee. Neal visits the Berkshire Family YMCA - Pittsfield at 1 p.m. Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley tour East Boston Social Centers’ childcare center at 11:45 a.m. McGovern announces a new resolution on nutrition education at 1:30 p.m.   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.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts coronavirus cases up by 1,397 with 24 new deaths as key trends plateau,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “After the new 1,397 virus cases, the seven-day daily average of cases is now 1,154, which is down from 1,898 infections several weeks ago. The rate has stayed in the range of 1,300 since early October.” – “Breakthrough COVID cases in Massachusetts rose last week as overall new cases also go up,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive: “Massachusetts public health officials reported 4,608 new breakthrough COVID-19 cases of vaccinated residents over the week ending Nov. 6, an increase of about 1,400 cases compared to the week prior.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Senate unveils major mental health bill,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Leaders in the Massachusetts Senate on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive mental health bill, which would set a floor for the rates insurers must pay for mental health services, address the emergency department boarding crisis, and require insurers to cover more mental health services, including an annual wellness exam. … Many of the same provisions were included in a mental health bill that the Senate passed in February 2020, but which was waylaid by the pandemic and never became law. The Senate plans to debate the bill next week, before lawmakers break for the rest of the year. The earliest the House could take it up would be next year.” – “Massachusetts senators to debate ARPA spending bill for coronavirus relief,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “State senators are slated to debate a massive coronavirus relief spending bill. … Senate lawmakers — like their cohorts in the House — have loaded the relief bill up with 722 amendments totaling more than $5.5 billion in additional spending. While the majority of the amendments — which run the gamut of investments in schools, public safety, economic development, local projects and more — are likely to get spiked, watchdogs say it’s indicative of the attitudes on Beacon Hill.” – “Bills filed in state House, Senate would legalize medical marijuana insurance coverage,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “A bill filed by state Rep. David LeBoeuf, D-Worcester, in the House and Sens. Julian Cyr, D-Truro and Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, would legalize health insurance coverage for medical marijuana products and related clinical visits.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Bad medicine for business? Vaccine mandate for Central Mass. companies of 100 a 'recipe for disaster',” by Henry Schwan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “Some of the largest companies in the city and Central Massachusetts aren't happy about COVID-19 vaccination mandates spelled out by the White House last week. A ‘recipe for disaster’ is how Chris Crowley of Polar Beverages on Southbridge Street described an order that requires all private businesses with a minimum of 100 workers to get their staff vaccinated against COVID-19.” FROM THE HUB – “Boston school bus drivers protest city proposals on pay and working conditions,” by Jenna Russell, Boston Globe: “Demanding respect from city leadership — and threatening to strike if they find no other route to a fair contract — more than 200 Boston school bus drivers and union supporters rallied Tuesday morning at the office of the company that manages school transportation. Leaders of the school bus drivers’ union said they are deeply frustrated after seven months of negotiations that have gone nowhere, and company proposals they described as unfair.” – “3 Boston police officers shot, suspect killed during standoff,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Three officers were wounded when a man who’d engaged police in an armed standoff for hours opened fire on them, leading the cops to fire back, killing him, according to the department — which has now seen two significant attacks on officers in the past few days. The three officers shot on Tuesday are in the hospital and all are expected to survive, though some of the injuries are serious, Superintendent-in-Chief Greg Long told reporters as night fell over the Dorchester scene.” WU TRAIN – “Mayor-elect Michelle Wu meets with transition team,” by Andrew Brinker, Boston Globe: “Mayor-elect Michelle Wu met Tuesday morning in City Hall with several members of her newly announced transition team and later told reporters that the group is preparing for a ‘speedy transition’ after she takes office next week. … She said she has had daily check-in calls with Acting Mayor Kim Janey ‘ just so we are on the same page.’” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “How a crowdsourced spreadsheet helped predict Boston's mayoral election in minutes,” by Lucia Maffei, Boston Business Journal: “The Rivera Consulting General Election Night Spreadsheet tracked election results that evening faster than the city's own numbers became available, becoming a resource for Boston-area residents and onlookers the night of Nov. 2. ” – “Boston mayoral race one of the most expensive in city history,” by Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe: “With a few receipts still to be counted, this year’s race for Boston mayor appears to be one of the priciest elections in city history, with campaign spending topping $8.8 million, according to new campaign finance data. The final tally, which won’t be available for weeks, is likely to come close to, or even surpass, the $9.4 million spent in the city’s last open election for mayor, a hotly contested race in 2013.” FEELING '22 – “Sunu-no: Top GOP recruit won't run for Senate," by Stephanie Murray, POLITICO: "New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said Tuesday he won't run for Senate — spurning national Republicans who clamored for him to challenge Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan. Instead, Sununu will run for reelection, he said." – Attention pivoted to former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who Hassan narrowly defeated in 2016, but sources close to Ayotte told WMUR she was out. A source close to former ambassador and Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown , who moved to New Hampshire for an unsuccessful challenge to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in 2014, told me that while Brown “has said he has one more rodeo left” he’s focused right now on supporting his wife, Gail Huff Brown, in her congressional campaign. – More: “Sununu announcement act rubs top Republicans the wrong way,” by Natalie Allison, POLITICO: “Mitch McConnell and Rick Scott found out the same way everyone else did that their top recruit to help secure the Senate majority was a no-go: They saw it on a local television livestream.” – SCOOPLET: Gov. Charlie Baker still hasn’t announced his 2022 intentions, but he does have another fundraiser on the books. And this one’s just him — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito isn’t listed as a guest on the invitation obtained by POLITICO (though attendees are instructed to donate to the Polito Committee if they’ve maxed out to Baker’s). Tickets run from $250 to $1,000 for the 6:30 p.m. fundraiser today at the Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton that’s co-chaired by Ron Mastrogiovanni and Al Minahan. MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER – “Joe Kennedy III, advocates testify against Beacon Hill plan to split Fall River and New Bedford in different Congressional districts,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Legislative leaders crafting Massachusetts’ congressional map pushed back on Tuesday against criticisms of their decision to split the South Coast’s two major cities into separate districts, punctuating hours of deeply divided — and sometimes parochial — testimony over how best to draw boundaries through the region.” WARREN REPORT – “Vermont Publisher Chelsea Green Sues Sen. Warren for 'Suppressing' Book,” by Chelsea Edgar, Seven Days: “Vermont publisher Chelsea Green has filed a federal civil lawsuit claiming that U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) stifled free speech when she called on Amazon to curb the spread of COVID-19 misinformation and cited one of Chelsea Green's books as a source of ‘dangerous conspiracies.’" FROM THE DELEGATION – “Big bucks headed from DC to fix sewer systems,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “A $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature, includes major federal investments in roadways, bridges, railways and broadband internet. But the massive spending bill also carves out $1.4 billion specifically for dealing with combined sewer overflows along the nation’s rivers and streams. Rep. Lori Trahan, a Westford Democrat who pushed to divert more federal resources to dealing with the sewage discharges, said the influx of money will provide ‘robust investments’ to address chronic sewage overflows.” DAY IN COURT – “Prosecutors file an appeal in the Jasiel Correia case, seeking 10 more fraud convictions,” by Dan Medeiros, Herald News: “While former mayor Jasiel F. Correia II appeals his conviction on 11 fraud and extortion charges, his prosecutors have filed an appeal of their own: they want the jury's 21 convictions to stand. On Monday, the U.S. government filed notice with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that it is appealing a decision by Judge Douglas Woodlock to acquit Correia of 10 other counts of wire fraud and tax fraud.” – “Attorneys in Zhukovskyy case spar over evidence as trial date nears,” by Amy Coveno, WMUR: “Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 25, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, is facing charges of negligent homicide, manslaughter, driving under the influence and reckless conduct in connection with a June 21, 2019, crash in which seven motorcyclists were killed. … Zhukovskyy's defense team objected to the state's slate of witnesses who claim they saw him driving erratically before the crash. The defense also worked to exclude testimony about Zhukovskyy's drug use on the day of the crash and revealed plans to argue that the lead motorcycle had a role in the crash.” FROM THE 413 – “Questions raised about Springfield mail-in voting,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “City Councilor Justin Hurst said Tuesday that he believes some voters who requested mail-in ballots this year received them too close to Election Day, while the city clerk disputed his description and said the program was a success, with more than 2,000 ballots returned. In a statement, Hurst said he wants to meet with Mayor Domenic Sarno and city clerk Gladys Oyola-Lopez, who oversees the election office, to discuss his concerns.” – “Northampton election breaks mold,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Two women will serve at large on the City Council for what could be the first time in Northampton’s history after voters chose Jamila Gore and Marissa Elkins in last week’s election.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “GE to split into three companies by 2024,” by Greg Ryan and Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: “General Electric announced Tuesday morning that it plans to split into three publicly traded companies over the next three years. … Asked about the future of GE's Boston headquarters, a spokesperson said only that the region will remain an important hub for the company, considering it will want to hold onto corporate talent as it undergoes its transformation. GE currently has about 3,300 employees in Massachusetts, most of them at the aviation facility in Lynn.” – "Mass. abortion rights group going it alone," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, one of the organizations that successfully pushed for the state law that expanded abortion rights last year, is being renamed Reproductive Equity Now after a break with its national organization. Reproductive Equity Now intends to continue its state-level advocacy in Massachusetts and offer grassroots support in places like neighboring New Hampshire, which recently enacted strict new limits on abortion ." (More background on the split from Playbook in July). – “New allegations of racism, antisemitism surface in Danvers after graffiti is discovered at middle school,” by Bob Hohler, Boston Globe: “Racist, homophobic, and antisemitic graffiti was found in a student bathroom at a Danvers middle school, town officials disclosed Tuesday. The discovery marked the latest in a series of disturbing incidents in the North Shore community.” – “Worcester community activist on being first openly nonbinary person elected in Mass.” by Rupa Shenoy and Dan Guzman, WBUR: “ A Worcester community activist will make history this winter when they become the first openly nonbinary person to take office in Massachusetts. Thu Nguyen won an at-large seat on the Worcester City Council last week and will take on the new role in January. Nguyen says they ran for office not as ‘the nonbinary candidate,’ but rather as ‘a candidate who happens to be nonbinary.’ They are also the first Southeast Asian American elected to office in Worcester.” TRANSITIONS – Tim Biba is moving on from his role as Rep. Seth Moulton’s communications director for a new opportunity with a public relations firm. Aisha Miller and Tanisha Arena have been appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter has been appointed chair of the Harvard Institute of Politics’ Senior Advisory Committee. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to MassINC’s Steve Koczela, Shawn Duhamel and Alex Bausch. 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.   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.       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

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