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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF!
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: KENNEDY RAISES CASH FOR CHELSEA — Rep. Joe Kennedy III used his campaign email list to raise $30,000 for organizations assisting Chelsea in the city's coronavirus relief effort, his campaign said on Thursday. Kennedy has raised a total $75,000 for organizations working on coronavirus relief across the country.
Chelsea has emerged as a hotspot in Massachusetts, and an influx in cases led officials to call for a 24-hour curfew there. Kennedy started raising money for the city last week, and held a livestream broadcast with city leaders on April 9. Sen. Ed Markey, whom Kennedy is hoping to unseat in a Democratic primary, held a live broadcast with the Chelsea Collaborative community group yesterday.
CAMPAIGN WORKERS ADJUST TO WORK DURING PANDEMIC — As candidates get used to life on livestreams and lawmakers grapple with ballot access, the coronavirus pandemic has made life a little more complicated for another group in the political process: campaign workers.
Accustomed to knocking on doors, setting up events and interacting with volunteers in person, campaign staffers are now adjusting to a socially distant version of their jobs, and rewriting the playbook on how to campaign when people cannot gather together.
Nicole Silvestri is a Revere Democrat who just graduated from a staff training program run by the National Democratic Training Committee, a political action committee aimed at getting a more diverse group of people into politics. She expects state and local races will rely on digital communication and outreach to voters in the weeks ahead.
"You can't go to the door. That human contact is really going to affect everything, but that doesn't mean it's not adaptable," Silvestri told me.
Silvestri has been involved in politics since 2015 - she and her husband were part of the first wave of the opioid epidemic in the early 2000s, went to college later in life and got involved in politics at the urging of their professors. Her husband, Marc Silvestri, is the director of Revere's Veterans Service Office
The staff training academy Silvestri just graduated from typically ends with an in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., but the 127-person group ended the program online instead due to coronavirus restrictions.
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 and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera hold a livestream. Rep. Seth Moulton hosts a telephone town hall. Rep. Joe Kennedy III holds a small business virtual town hall. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley talk to reporters about their coronavirus equitable data collection bill.
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JOIN TODAY - COVID-19: A WAKE-UP CALL FOR SUSTAINABILITY: Join Global Translations author Ryan Heath today at 1:00 p.m. for a virtual conversation with Paul Polman, chairman, International Chamber of Commerce, co-founder of Imagine and former CEO of Unilever. With a direct line to hundreds of CEOs Polman discusses how the coronavirus pandemic is a "wake-up call" for global businesses and why sustainability is now essential in every organization. Have a question for Paul? Tweet it to @POLITICOLive using #AskPOLITICO. REGISTER HERE TO PARTICIPATE.
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 | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
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- "Coronavirus in Massachusetts: Health officials announce 137 new deaths; Gov. Charlie Baker warns that the surge has arrived," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Health officials reported 137 new coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, bringing the statewide tally to 1,245. Of that total, 610 - roughly half - were in long-term care facilities. The state's Department of Public Health also reported 2,263 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 32,181."
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| DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Baker defends state coronavirus efforts in Chelsea," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday staunchly defended the state's handling of the escalating COVID-19 outbreak in Chelsea, including charging, without offering details, that city leaders have turned down help from his administration. The governor's claim blindsided officials in Chelsea, where leaders told the Globe this week that the state and even health care providers should have caught on sooner to the virus's rapid spread through the densely populated, working-class community."
- "Mass. Governor Warns 'Don't Leave Anything Unsaid' With Loved Ones During Coronavirus," by Hannah Hagemann, NPR: "As global cases of coronavirus top 2 million, and people across the world lose loved ones to the virus without being given the chance for final farewells, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said at a press conference Wednesday that instead of death toll numbers, he's thinking more about those lost moments. 'When you talk about where the numbers are going on this, what I'm really thinking about is all those people who aren't going to have a chance to say goodbye.'"
- "Critics say state needs to repeatedly test all nursing home staff and residents," by Shelley Murphy, Laura Crimaldi and Robert Weisman, Boston Globe: "With nearly half of coronavirus deaths in Massachusetts occurring at long-term-care facilities, state officials are now offering to provide testing for residents and staff at any nursing home, assisted living facility or rest home, seeking to curb a contagion that preys upon the frail and elderly. Because the illness can be transmitted by people who are not showing symptoms, the state said this type of universal testing is crucial so the facilities can isolate the infectious and identify the full scope of the outbreak."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "An Army of Virus Tracers Takes Shape in Massachusetts," by Ellen Barry, The New York Times: "Alexandra Cross, a newly minted state public health worker, dialed a stranger's telephone number on Monday, her heart racing.It was Ms. Cross's first day as part of Massachusetts's fleet of contact tracers, responsible for tracking down people who have been exposed to the coronavirus, as soon as possible, and warning them. On her screen was the name of a woman from Lowell."
- "State correctional facility in Bridgewater emerges as hotspot of coronavirus infection," by Vernal Coleman, Boston Globe: "The first wave of infection inside Bridgewater's Massachusetts Treatment Center emerged in mid-March. With four deaths, and more than 50 infections among inmates and employees, the medium-security correctional facility finds itself among the ranks of several larger and more well-known prisons and jails across the country that are battling an explosion of COVID-19 infections."
- "Some Boston-area banks still taking PPP applications, despite lack of funds," by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: "Several banks in the Boston area are still accepting new applications from small businesses for the Paycheck Protection Program, even though the program had burnt through its full $349 billion by Thursday morning. In anticipation of Congress delivering more funding, the two largest banks operating in Massachusetts, Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) and Citizens Financial Group (NYSE: CFG), are still taking PPP applications, representatives said Thursday afternoon."
- "30 residents at Belmont Manor nursing home have now died of coronavirus, owner says; up from 13 in five days," by Laura Crimaldi and John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: "For more than 50 years, Belmont Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has been the sole option for skilled nursing care in Belmont and the life's work of two generations of the Karger family, which opened the facility in 1967. On Thursday, the family-owned nursing home near the open fields and woodlands of the Beaver Brook Reservation emerged as another symbol of misery in the COVID-19 pandemic, after the facility announced the virus had killed 30 patients, accounting for all but one death in Belmont apparently connected to the illness."
- "Mental Health Advocacy Groups Launch Investigation Of Lemuel Shattuck Hospital After 'Rapid Spread' Of COVID-19 Cases," by Jenifer B. McKim, WGBH News: "Concerned about an outbreak of COVID-19 in the state's Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain, two advocacy groups for people with disabilities have launched an investigation into alleged problems. The Disability Law Center and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee sent a letter to the state Thursday requesting more information about the treatment of patients in the Metro Boston Mental Health Units at the Shattuck hospital."
- "Will Boston see concerts and large gatherings canceled until 2021? Here's what Mayor Walsh just said on CNN," by Jaclyn Reiss, Boston Globe: "Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh appeared on CNN shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, speaking with Brianna Keilar about the city's response to the coronavirus pandemic. During his brief appearance, Keilar noted that the mayor of Los Angeles recently said that he believes large gatherings, such as concerts and big sports events, may not resume in L.A. before 2021."
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "NATIONAL DEMOCRACY REFORM GROUP LEADERSHIP NOW PROJECT ENDORSES ALAN KHAZEI FOR CONGRESS IN MASSACHUSETTS 4TH," from the Khazei campaign: "Highlighting his commitment to restoring, protecting, and defending our democracy, the Leadership Now Project endorsed Alan Khazei, City Year Co-Founder, Service Year Alliance Co-Founder, Democracy Entrepreneurs founder and candidate for Congress in Massachusetts' 4th District."
- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins Endorses Jesse Mermell for Congress," from the Mermell campaign: "Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins has joined the strong and growing list of community, state and national leaders to endorse Jesse Mermell for Congress in Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District. Tompkins, a statewide progressive leader on issues related to justice, announced his support Thursday evening during a virtual community conversation on protecting vulnerable populations, including the incarcerated, during the COVID-19 pandemic."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "SJC Rules Police Were OK To Use License Plate Readers To Track Suspect Over Cape Bridges," by Lisa Creamer, WBUR: "The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled Thursday that police did not violate a suspected drug dealer's constitutional rights by using automatic license plate readers to track his movements over the Cape Cod bridges. Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) are camera systems that photograph and use software to identify vehicle license plates in real-time. Operated by the Massachusetts State Police, the ALPRs were installed on the Bourne and Sagamore bridges in 2015."
- "National gun groups sues Mass. over shop closings," by Stephanie Purifoy, Boston Globe: "A national gun rights group has filed a federal lawsuit against Attorney General Maura Healey and Governor Charlie Baker in an effort to allow firearms dealers to reopen during the COVID-19 crisis, the organization announced Thursday. The Gun Owners of America, based in Virginia, joined more than a dozen other gun stores and manufacturers in suing Baker and Healey, claiming their Second Amendment rights have been violated and their businesses are suffering 'immediate, irreparable, injuries,' according to the lawsuit."
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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- "Senior Democrat backs House rules change to allow for proxy voting," by Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris, POLITICO: "A senior House Democrat is urging a rules change to allow members to vote by proxy without having to travel to Washington, the push coming as the coronavirus pandemic continues to immobilize Congress with both chambers shuttered for weeks to come. The change — suggested by House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) on a private Democratic Caucus call on Thursday — would be temporary and likely only apply to emergency legislation related to the coronavirus."
- "'The Status Quo Is Not Going To Save Us': Mass. House Delegation Calls For Universal Mail-In Ballots In 2020," by Kevin G. Andrade, WGBH News: "Five members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation called on state leaders to pass a universal vote-by-mail law in advance of fall elections during a press conference Thursday. 'We know the status quo is not going to save us,' Rep. Ayanna Pressley said. The group, which also included Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Katherine Clark and Rep. Lorie Trahan, called on Beacon Hill to pass legislation that would automatically send mail-in ballots to all registered voters in the state ahead of the November general election."
- "Labor secretary details skyrocketing claims, new benefits," by Robert Mills, The Lowell Sun: "Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta told U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and a telephone town hall on the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday that unemployment claims statewide went from an average of about 17,000 per month to over 500,000 so far since the virus struck, with claims nationally reaching over 22 million. Acosta said the initial claims for unemployment insurance overwhelmed what was previously an office of about 50 people who make phone calls to process the claims."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "Mass. Recreational Marijuana Shops Lose Bid To Reopen During Pandemic," by Zeninjor Enwemeka, WBUR: "A Suffolk Superior Court judge has denied a request by a group of recreational marijuana businesses to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. The businesses had sued Gov. Charlie Baker over his decision to shut down recreational pot businesses in his response to the public health crisis. The businesses said the closures would irreparably harm the burgeoning industry."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "COVID BLUE," — Globe: "Trump talks of reopening, with onus on states," "30 dead in outbreak at Belmont facility." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "Amherst BID hopes to raise $500,000 to support downtown businesses," by Jim Russell, Springfield Republican: "The Amherst Business Improvement District is seeking donations to create a $500,000 'Resiliency Microgrant Program' after about two dozen downtown businesses said they might not make it through May if shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic continue. The organization surveyed 35 businesses in town."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Sheriff: more inmates test positive, but more also recovered," by Julie Manganis, The Salem News: "Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger said a total of 38 inmates at the Middleton Jail have tested positive for COVID-19 — but noted that 25 of those inmates are now considered 'recovered' based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. A total of 304 inmates have been released from the jail since March 10, said the sheriff."
- "Census 2020: Worcester and Mass. residents slow to be counted so far," by Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette: "As of Wednesday, the cumulative Census 2020 self-response rate for Massachusetts is 50.2%, compared to 49.1% nationally, while Worcester stands at only 39.7%. So what gives? 'As a characteristically Northeast state, we're doing very well,' said Susan Strate, population estimates program manager at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute in Hadley. ' Worcester's response rate is not looking good compared to the state's average.'"
- "Carpenters calls on Spicer to shut down Framingham worksite, citing coronavirus safety concerns," by Jeannette Hinkle, MetroWest Daily News: "The drivers of the vehicles in the rolling protest, designed to keep protesters from congregating in a group, were mostly members of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, a labor union whose members are arguing job sites like the one at the Bancroft Building should shut down to protect workers, their families and the community from the coronavirus."
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| MEDIA MATTERS |
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- "A message from the publisher," by Karen Andreas, Eagle-Tribune: "Beginning next week, the Eagle-Tribune will stop publishing print editions two days per week — on Tuesdays and Saturdays. On those two days, our journalists will continue to produce news stories, photography, videos, podcasts and more, but on our websites only, which are free to subscribers ."
REMEMBERING MAURA MCCAFFREY ... from the Springfield Republican: "Maura C. McCaffrey, former president and CEO of Health New England and a member of the Baystate Health President's Cabinet, died Tuesday after a long illness. She was 50. Link.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Dean Lieberman, founder and principal at DKL Strategies; Tom Hunt, Uber's Susan Effler and Christine Boncore, president at U.S -1 Ventures (h/t Ed Cash).
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to Saturday birthday-ers Charlie Baker, president and co-founder of Dewey Square Group; Theresa Verbic, Kelsey Donohue, director of comms at Harvard's IOP and an Obama WH and State alum; Trey Grayson, and Tracy Spicer , principal at Avenue Solutions and a Sen. Kennedy alum. And to Sunday birthday-ers Ron Kaufman, senior adviser in the public policy and regulation practice at Dentons, and Kyle Grabowski.
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.
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