POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Baker’s FOUR PHASE reopening guide — ‘QUARANTINE FATIGUE’ — CASINOS brace for SUMMER

By Stephanie Murray

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. THE FOUR PHASES — Gov. Charlie Baker sketched out a much-anticipated blueprint to reopen the Massachusetts economy yesterday, but don't expect things to change quickly. The so-called "New Normal" comes in phase four of the plan, and we haven't even started phase one. "We all know life will be different, but as the medical and life science communities make progress in developing treatments or vaccines, we can really begin to put this virus into the rearview mirror. But none of that is gonna happen overnight," Baker said at a Monday press briefing. After weeks of social distancing and closures, new coronavirus cases dropped to their lowest level since late March on Monday, according to Department of Public Health data. The plan has four phases , titled "Start," "Cautious," "Vigilant," and "New Normal." Beginning around May 18, limited industries can reopen with "severe restrictions," and more businesses can reopen as the phases progress. The final phase will arrive when a vaccine or other treatment reduces the threat of the virus. Baker's approach is in contrast to President Donald Trump, who is pushing for reopening the economy even as officials in his White House worry about the virus spreading there. "I want our country open. I want it open safely," Trump said during a briefing at the White House on Monday. The president said "certain blue states" are moving too slowly to reopen, but a number of the nearby states led by Democratic governors are on track with Massachusetts. Parts of New York state could open a few days earlier than the Bay State, and Rhode Island may allow outdoor dining to begin on Monday. Even with the outline fleshed out, the timeline to reopen the Massachusetts economy is fluid. Baker acknowledged that other states expect each phase of reopening to last around a month, but he cautioned that the timeline could be slowed or reversed if coronavirus cases and deaths increase again. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: AUCHINCLOSS AND KHAZEI GET MILITARY BOOSTS — Two candidates running in the crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III are rolling out military-related endorsements this morning. Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss, an Afghanistan veteran, will announce an endorsement from the VoteVets PAC. The organization bills itself as the largest group of progressive veterans in America, and it spent heavily in support of veteran and former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg in the Democratic presidential primary. The organization's chair, Jon Soltz, touted Auchincloss as someone who can "combine smarts with a spirit of service" from his time as a captain in the Marines. And City Year co-founder Alan Khazei is announcing an endorsement from Douglas Wilson, who served as assistant secretary of defense for public affairs in the Obama administration. Wilson was the first openly gay White House official to be confirmed by the Senate to a senior-level Pentagon position. He worked on repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and more recently led a team of advisers on Buttigieg's presidential campaign. One well known pol with ties to the military who does not plan to endorse in the 4th District race is Rep. Seth Moulton. The Iraq War veteran is backed by the VoteVets PAC and does not plan to choose a candidate in the race, according to his office. But Moulton's Serve America leadership PAC has added both Auchincloss and Khazei to its “watch list," which the PAC uses to highlight races with two or more service-oriented or veteran candidates. Moulton endorsed Auchincloss when he ran for city council in 2015. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Attorney General Maura Healey is a guest on WGBH’s “Boston Public Radio.” Healey discusses her office’s brief on the environmental factors that contribute to inequality in Covid-19 cases during a Zoom press conference. Healey and Jimmy Tingle are guests on JALSA’s “Schmoozefest” livestream. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse hosts a virtual town hall on coronavirus for Easthampton residents. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and Neighborhood Villages co-founder Lauren Birchfield Kennedy speak at a “Pro-Choice Check-in” hosted by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– “Massachusetts coronavirus death toll now over 5,000 as Gov. Charlie Baker sets plan to begin reopening businesses,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “Health officials announced 129 new coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, bringing the statewide total to 5,108. Officials also confirmed another 669 cases of the virus, for a total of 78,462 across Massachusetts. That figure is based on 6,339 new tests reported on Monday, according to the Department of Public Health. It’s the lowest single report of new cases since March 26.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– “Baker gives first glance at Mass. reopening plan, unveils basic outline of approach,” by Matt Stout and Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker on Monday offered a broad outline of what reopening Massachusetts would look like, warning the process would be gradual and could face heavy revisions should the novel coronavirus again run rampant in one of the country’s hardest-hit states. With an order closing nonessential businesses due to expire next Monday, Baker unveiled a four-phased approach that will mandate steps businesses would have to take to reopen.” – “The State Wanted Someone With Health Care Experience To Oversee Soldiers' Homes. It Never Happened,” by Miriam Wasser, WBUR: “In 2016, the Massachusetts Legislature decided the Holyoke and Chelsea Soldiers’ Homes should be overseen by someone with at least five years of health care management experience, so lawmakers created a new position: an executive director of veterans’ homes and housing. Four years later, that position remains unfilled. And now, as the coronavirus rages on, and the state-run veterans home in Holyoke experiences one of the deadliest outbreaks in the U.S., some Mass. lawmakers want to know why.” – “Governor Charlie Baker has ‘hard time’ projecting when basketball might be able to return in Massachusetts,” by Tom Westerholm, MassLive.com: “With the NBA season suspended and most public basketball courts closed state-wide, basketball fans have had little encouraging news over the last few weeks, even as businesses cautiously begin to reopen .” – “Massachusetts Lifts Cap On Rates Nursing Homes Can Pay To Fill Empty Shifts,” by Gabrielle Emanuel, WGBH News: “Massachusetts has lifted the cap on rates paid to temporary nursing agencies. The commonwealth's Executive Office of Health and Human Services has increased the cap by 35 percent across the board and removed the cap altogether for nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who are working with COVID-19 patients. The temporary change is due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the office says.”

FROM THE HUB

– “For hospitals, the coronavirus crisis extends deep into their finances,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “As the coronavirus pandemic begins to slowly abate in Massachusetts, hospitals are confronting the full breadth of the devastation it has wreaked on not only their patients, but their finances. The state’s hospitals are currently losing $1.4 billion in revenue each month, according to the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, and are projected to lose $5 billion in revenue through July.” – “Boston Delivered $2 Million In Small Business Grants — But Who Received Them?” by Isaiah Thompson, WGBH News: “The Payroll Protection Program (PPP), for example, has been widely criticized — including by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh — for failing to reach to many actual small businesses. So, many small businesses have turned to local sources of help — like a $2 million small business relief program Walsh announced in April, which is funded through federal grants and city taxpayer dollars.” – “PPP lending in Mass. has slowed to a trickle,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “Paycheck Protection Program activity in Massachusetts slowed significantly last week, with the U.S. Small Business Administration approving an average of about 1,100 loans a day statewide — a fraction of the nearly 10,000-a-day pace of the previous week. The amount of money going out to Bay State small businesses has dropped sharply as well.” – “Sanitized dice after each shooter. Temperature checks at the door. How Encore Boston Harbor plans to keep people safe once it reopens.” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “Here’s something you can bet on: When Encore Boston Harbor reopens, gambling inside the Everett casino will be different than in the pre-coronavirus pandemic era. The resort recently released plans outlining its health and sanitation program for reopening.” – “Surprising racial twist in COVID-19 data,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “A surprising racial and ethnic dynamic appears to be emerging in the coronavirus data gathered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Hispanic and black people are suffering from COVID-19 infections at much higher rates than whites, according to the available data.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “Poftak wary of taking hard policy stances at T,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker’s order requiring all passengers on the MBTA to wear face masks or face coverings took effect last week, but don’t expect strict enforcement by the state’s transit authority. Steve Poftak, the T’s general manager, said the order exempts people who are unable to wear a face covering because they have a medical condition. He also noted that the order doesn’t require someone claiming a medical condition to provide proof of the condition.” – “$159M contract awarded for 2 new South Coast Rail project commuter rail stations and other work,” by Arianna MacNeill, Boston.com: “The MBTA has awarded a $159 million contract to Skanska DW White JV for work on the South Coast Rail project that includes new commuter rail stations in Freetown and Fall River. This is just the first major construction project that’s part of Phase 1 of the MBTA’s South Coast Rail project.” – “MBTA Prepares To Increase Service As State Looks To Reopen Businesses,” by Zeninjor Enwemeka, WBUR: “As the state looks to reopen businesses, the MBTA is also making plans to increase its service. The T scaled back in March due to plummeting ridership amid the coronavirus pandemic. MBTA ridership (bus and train combined) is currently down 85%. Transit officials expect ridership to slowly return to the MBTA.” – “Driving, transit ridership show a slight uptick,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Even though Gov. Charlie Baker still has the economy under wraps, traffic on the state’s roadways and at the MBTA picked up slightly last week, adding to confusion about what a reopening is going to mean for the state’s transportation system. … State transportation officials are trying to figure out what the uptick in travel means. Pollack chalked the higher driving levels up to ‘quarantine fatigue.’” DAY IN COURT – “DA Rollins asks SJC to vacate 64 defendants’ guilty pleas in drug cases following Dookhan, Farak scandals,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins on Monday asked the state Supreme Judicial Court to vacate the guilty pleas of 64 people in cases indirectly linked to the scandals involving disgraced former drug chemists Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak, whose misconduct has prompted the dismissal of at least 61,000 drug charges in Massachusetts.” WARREN REPORT – “Warren warns coronavirus 'poses a threat to free and fair elections'” by Maggie Miller, The Hill: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday warned that the COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to ‘free and fair elections,’ as experts cautioned that states are running out of time to prepare to hold elections during the crisis.” KENNEDY COMPOUND – “Rep. Joe Kennedy III on Trump's ‘devastating’ failure — and why he's running against a Democrat,” by Dean Obeidallah, Salon: “I recently spoke with Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., on ‘Salon Talks’ about how the Trump administration's failure to ‘get ahead of the virus’ and to perform robust testing has led us here we are today, in terms of both the heartbreaking loss of life and the widespread economic devastation.” ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: “OPENING THEATER,” — Globe: “'Immunity pass' sparks interest, worry," "For reopening, an outline but details are few.” FROM THE 413 – “Survey: Essential workers don’t feel safe,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Essential’ workers must go to work during the coronavirus pandemic — but a majority of these workers do not feel safe at their jobs, according to a new survey. The survey of 1,600 essential workers in Western Massachusetts conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Labor Center found that the workers, by and large, are unable to practice social distancing at work. Many lack facemasks, hand sanitizer, or regular opportunities for handwashing.” – “Springfield hospital resumes elective surgeries during pandemic; unclear when others in Mass. will follow,” by Stephanie Barry, Steph Solis and Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “A Springfield hospital has resumed certain elective surgeries during the coronavirus pandemic, but under strict safety procedures set by federal and state health officials. It is unclear whether other hospitals across the state will immediately follow suit.” – “MGM Springfield: Nearly 1,900 layoffs possible this summer due to coronavirus,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “MGM Springfield told state labor officials this month that it will lay off as many as 1,887 employees at the end of August after their temporary furloughs necessitated by the coronavirus emergency come to an end. MGM Springfield filed a notice May 5 with the state under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act. The state made the notice public Monday.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Ware selectmen: ‘Our businesses need to open,’” by Jim Russell, Springfield Republican: “Members of the Board of Selectmen here say it is time to allow all businesses to reopen despite concerns over the spread of coronavirus. There were 17 confirmed COVID-19 cases in town as of May 6. At last week’s meeting, selectmen said safety measures now in place via face covering or wearing mask, combined with community awareness of the dangers from the COVID-19, translate to a minimization of risk to public health.” – “Town of Brookline has furloughed nearly 200 employees amid coronavirus pandemic,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “The Town of Brookline announced another round of temporary furloughs on Monday, bringing the number of employees on furlough to 196 during the coronavirus pandemic. Town Administrator Mel Kleckner said another 95 town workers are on leave due to furlough.” – “Unruly customers challenge for struggling Cape Cod businesses,” by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: “Just one day after opening for the season, Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlour decided to close its doors to the public after dozens of customers angered by new social distancing protocols berated employees, causing one 17-year-old to quit. Owner Mark Lawrence had decided to open Friday for Mother’s Day weekend using curbside pickup, asking customers to call ahead and arrive at the ice cream shop at a designated time. Instead, customers arrived without placing orders in advance, and as wait times increased to more than an hour, they yelled obscenities at the employees.” TRANSITIONS – Christine (Krysia) Lenzo has started as head of content for the Covid Foundation, which donates PPE and supplies to frontline workers. She continues as executive director of Harvard in Tech. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY – to state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who celebrated Monday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Kathryn Alexander, communications director for Rep. Katherine Clark; Nick Tierney, Marissa Wilkinson and Charity Wallace. 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.   POLITICO Magazine Justice Reform: The Decarceration Issue, presented by Verizon: Over the past decade, the longstanding challenge of criminal-justice reform has emerged into the spotlight with a new twist: Both Republicans and Democrats are onboard. But if both parties want to lower the incarceration rate, why are our jail and prison populations still so high? The latest series from POLITICO Magazine works to answer this important question and take a deeper look into what it will take to make progress in the policy and politics of justice reform. 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