Politico Massachusetts Playbook: Baker to Mass: STAY AT HOME — KENNEDY’s online blitz — CROWDED commute for BRIGHAM nurses

Baker to Mass: STAY AT HOME — KENNEDY’s online blitz — CROWDED commute for BRIGHAM nurses

By Stephanie Murray GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. NEW: KENNEDY'S ONLINE BLITZ — Rep. Joe Kennedy III has raised more than $20,000 for charities and nonprofits working on coronavirus relief efforts, his campaign reported last night. Kennedy is using his campaign email list to direct donations to groups including Project Bread, Pine Street Inn and the One Fair Wage Fund, among others, and he collects the donations via the Democratic donation platform ActBlue. The push is part of a broader shift for the Kennedy campaign, which announced it would suspend normal campaign activity on March 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Kennedy is running a Democratic primary campaign to unseat Sen. Ed Markey, but he's using his digital presence "exclusively" to share information and updates about COVID-19 for the time being. While Kennedy isn't technically campaigning, he's getting a lot of attention on his campaign channels. The Kennedy campaign says it has generated 2 million views on his frequent Facebook live streams, which have featured health experts and his two young children. The coronavirus pandemic has put an unexpected twist into the already tense primary battle between Kennedy and Markey. Campaigning in a pandemic puts both candidates in a tricky position, but if the outbreak goes on for months, it's going to become inevitable. A debate planned for last week in Springfield was postponed because lawmakers had to be in Washington to respond to the crisis. For his part, Markey has also been active around the coronavirus pandemic. Markey went live on Facebook and has held press conferences, appeared on news shows and penned letters with his colleagues to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of policies to combat the outbreak. Markey is still raising money for his campaign with his email list, and has two phone banks scheduled for this evening. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Sen. Ed Markey is a guest on WBUR. Former Gov. Michael Dukakis, Michael Goldman and Jimmy Tingle - veterans of the Blizzard of '78 state shutdown - join the Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action's "Schmoozefest" virtual lunch on Zoom with Sue Horowitz. DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Baker orders non-essential businesses shuttered," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Gov. Charlie Baker is ordering all non-essential businesses in Massachusetts to shut their physical operations as of noon on Tuesday. The order will remain in effect through April 7 at noon, although it could be extended beyond that depending on circumstances on the ground. State officials are urging individuals to stay at home, but Baker stopped short of issuing a mandatory stay-at-home order." - RELATED: "What is an essential business? Here are the Massachusetts businesses that can stay open during COVID-19 pandemic," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com. Link. - "Four More People Have Died From COVID-19 In Massachusetts, Baker Says," The Associated Press: "Four more people in Massachusetts have died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, bringing the state total to nine. The update came the same day Gov. Charlie Baker has ordered all nonessential businesses to close at noon on Tuesday and remain closed until at least April 7 in an effort to slow down the spread of the coronavirus." - "Coronavirus sparks bill letting Mass. communities postpone certain special elections, but signature collection deadline remains unchanged," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts lawmakers rescheduled special state elections and passed a bill that would allow cities and towns to postpone their own upcoming races to June, sending it to the governor's desk. The two special Senate elections, one for a seat vacated by Sen. Donald Humason of Westfield and another vacated by Sen. Viriato deMacedo of Plymouth, were rescheduled until May 19." - "As Baker Tells Massachusetts To Stay Home, Critics Applaud — But Say More Is Needed," by Adam Reilly, WGBH News: "Critics who spent the past week urging Governor Charlie Baker to tell Massachusetts residents to stay home are welcoming today's announcement in which Baker did exactly that — while also urging the governor and State House to act with more alacrity as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. "I think it was the right call," said State Representative Mike Connolly (D — Cambridge), who previously urged Baker to take action in an open letter signed by dozens of other elected officials." - "Massachusetts' coronavirus stay-at-home advisory: What happens if you don't comply?" by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Classes are canceled, the bars are closed and the death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic is rising around the world by the hour. Why not blow off some steam with a football game in the park? If the fear of infecting your friends, your parents or your grandparents weren't enough, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's administration is now imposing a fine for anyone who overtly violates the 'social-distancing' guidelines issued by the state Department of Public Health." - "As COVID-19 hits prisons, worry spreads," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "With three prisoners and one corrections officer diagnosed with the coronavirus at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater, the Department of Correction has developed a response plan for containment of the virus, including setting up screening tents with the help of the National Guard to take the temperature of all employees entering state prisons. The department is using Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidelines 'to reduce, to the greatest degree possible, the potential impact of this virus on our correctional system while maintaining core services,' Carol Mici, the Department of Correction commissioner, said in a statement." FROM THE HUB - "Brigham Nurses Forced To Commute Via Crowded Shuttles During Coronavirus Pandemic," by Tori Bedford, WGBH News: "As on-site parking lots sit unfilled at Brigham and Women's Hospital, hundreds of nurses — some of whom treat patients with confirmed cases of coronavirus — are still shuttled to and from work on small crowded buses, sources told WGBH News. 'We're literally on top of each other, we are by no means six feet away from one another,' an employee who asked to remain anonymous to protect their job security told WGBH News." - "Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal to review Boston's emergency plans," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh is tapping a consulting firm headed by Stanley McChrystal, a retired four-star Army general who at one time commanded US and international forces in Afghanistan, to review the city's emergency plans amid the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at a news conference outside City Hall Monday afternoon, Walsh also announced that the city had seen its second death from coronavirus." - "Some estimates predict Mass. hospitals could be overrun by April 16. Can Baker's new order forestall that outcome?" by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "Officials have repeatedly said that although the local health care system can handle the current influx of patients battling COVID-19, the public must take steps to help stem the tide of a surge that would leave hospitals without enough beds and resources. According to models on CovidActNow.org, Massachusetts would need to go beyond social distancing and into a three-month shelter-in-place order to keep the rise at bay through the spring." - "Boston police decline to release coronavirus protective measures; Cambridge officers switch to 12-hour shifts," by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: "The Boston Police Department on Monday declined to say what protective equipment is available for its officers after one of them tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Sergeant Detective John Boyle said he did not want to compromise officers' safety by saying whether the department is issuing them masks, gloves, and other protective equipment." - "Moderna might seek emergency approval this fall of coronavirus vaccine for health care workers," by Jonathan Saltzman, Boston Globe: "The head of Moderna says the Cambridge drug company may seek federal emergency approval of its experimental coronavirus vaccine for some people in the fall, although the product wouldn't be commercially available for at least 12 to 18 months." PRIMARY SOURCES - "Campaigning in the time of coronavirus: Here's what the 4th Congressional candidates have to say," by Abby Patkin, WickedLocal: "Campaigns usually don't happen in a bubble: There are hands to shake, debates to be had and babies to kiss (if anyone still does that). But the new coronavirus, COVID-19, has changed the rules. What is it like to campaign during a pandemic? We asked the candidates for Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District, which represents Brookline." ALL ABOARD - "MBTA approves plan to consolidate stops on Green Line's B branch," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: ""The Green Line's B branch may finally move a little faster along the western edges of Boston University's campus, as the MBTA finalized plans Monday to consolidate four stops located less than a half-mile from each other. The MBTA's board of directors awarded an $18 million contract for the long-discussed project to build two new stations and eliminate four." - "Transportation officials struggle with the downturn," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "State transportation officials are starting to do financial and workforce contingency planning in case the drastic falloff in MBTA ridership and toll revenue in response to the coronavirus outbreak continues for an extended period of time. The numbers are way down and most transportation officials expect them to dip even more with Monday's order by the governor that all non-essential businesses be shut down." DATELINE D.C. - "Coronavirus student loan relief: Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar introduce bill to cancel at least $30,000 for borrowers amid COVID-19 pandemic," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "A bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley would bring student loan relief for up to 45 million borrowers in the United States. Pressley, along with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, introduced the bill on Monday as the country responds to the coronavirus pandemic. The Student Debt Emergency Relief Act would provide immediate relief canceling at least $30,000 in outstanding student loan debt per borrower." - "Sen. Ed Markey defends Senate Democrats blocking emergency coronavirus bill," MSNBC: "Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) speaks with Andrea Mitchell about why Senate Democrats blocked a coronavirus stimulus package, saying 'we need guardrails around this $500B that (Treasury Secretary) Steve Mnuchin wants but doesn't want to disclose where this money will be spent.'" - "Congresswoman Clark On Coronavirus Legislation In Washington," WBUR: "Rep. Katherine Clark joins us to talk about coronavirus relief legislation in Congress. One coronavirus stimulus package is currently held up in the Senate." IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN - "Open Meeting complaints filed over toxic waste cleanup plan," by Clarence Fanto, Berkshire Eagle: "Several residents have filed complaints alleging that the Select Boards in Lenox and Stockbridge violated the Open Meeting Law when they voted unanimously behind closed doors to approve the mediated settlement for an EPA-GE Rest of River cleanup. In Lenox, the three allegations filed with state Attorney General Maura Healey's office focused on the inclusion of a PCB waste disposal site for low-level toxic material in a Lee landfill." MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS - "Mass. marijuana leaders protest Baker's order to stop recreational sales during 'stay-at-home' advisory," by Felicia Gans and Dan Adams, Boston Globe: "Medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts have been deemed "essential" and will be allowed to stay open, despite an order for most other businesses to close by noon on Tuesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Charlie Baker said Monday. Medical dispensaries will be 'treated for all intents and purposes the same way we treat healthcare operations,' Baker said during a press conference Monday." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "NOT BUILT TO BE SHUT DOWN," — Globe: "Debate turns ugly; stimulus bill still stuck," "State issues stay-at-home advisory, closes nonessential businesses." TWEET OF THE DAY THE LOCAL ANGLE - "Lowell City Council to meet by phone," by Robert Mills, The Lowell Sun: "The Lowell City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night will be held via conference call instead of in City Council chambers in the wake of Gov. Charlie Baker's announcement that people should not gather in groups of 10 or more, the city announced Monday afternoon." - "City Hall Notebook: Public meetings are still public," by Nick Kotsopoulos, Telegram & Gazette: "While the coronavirus has led to the closure of City Hall to the public, the business of government continues. With city government meetings closed to the public for the time being, the Cable Services Division, one of the city's smaller departments, has taken on the giant role of bringing the meetings to the people. Led by Judith A. Warren as director, the division serves as the eyes and ears of the public by live-streaming City Council and board and commission meetings." - "Advocates urge safe virus testing for immigrants," by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: "Public health experts have expressed growing concerns about the impact of the new coronavirus on vulnerable groups, including the state's immigrant population. The Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus and Equity, consisting of public health experts and advocates, is calling for action from state leaders to address the disproportionate economic and health impact of the coronavirus outbreak on marginalized communities, such as immigrants, low-wage workers and people experiencing housing insecurity." MEDIA MATTERS - "Globe offers buyouts, plans Taunton layoffs," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal : "The Boston Globe is laying off nearly 50 workers at its Taunton mailroom, and is offering buyouts to 55 more, according to a union official, in conjunction with a plan months in the making to outsource its work mailing out Globe Direct. Last fall, the Boston Mailer Union Local 1 raised the alarm about the company's efforts to transfer the mailroom work associated with Globe Direct — the company's direct marketing business — to North of Boston Media Group, the North Andover-based parent company of the Lawrence Eagle Tribune and Salem News." HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Ford Hatchett and Westford's #1 Playbook fan Paul Murray. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? The home teams are not playing. NEW EPISODE: HOME ALONE - On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray speak with state Rep. Jon Santiago and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu about the coronavirus pandemic. 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