POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: POLL: Renters hit by economic crisis — Police won’t release BODY CAMERA footage — Activists want new name for FANEUIL HALL

By Stephanie Murray

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. POLL: ECONOMIC CRISIS HITS RENTERS HARD — More than a quarter of renters in Massachusetts missed paying at least some of their rent between April and June, according to a new poll from MassINC released this morning. That’s compared to 13 percent of homeowners who say they've missed a payment as the coronavirus crisis slams the economy. Among those who say they missed paying some or all of their rent, many are part-time or hourly workers, people of color, or younger than 30 years old. Only about a fifth of those who have missed a payment say they are "very likely" to catch up by the time the state's moratorium on evictions expires in August. MassINC surveyed 1,531 state residents from May 20 to May 25. The struggle to pay rent lines up with unemployment trends during the pandemic and economic shutdown. More than half – 57 percent – of part-time workers surveyed said they've lost wages since the pandemic began, while 29 percent of full-time workers said the same, according to the poll. Renters and people who live in lower-income households were more likely to be furloughed or unemployed, the poll found. "This is a compound crisis," MassINC president Steve Koczela said in a release. "It started with a public health emergency, but economic challenges and housing issues are piling up." O'CONNOR PIVOTS TO PUNDIT — How hard is it to get airtime as a Republican running for office in Massachusetts? Kevin O'Connor, one of the two GOP candidates running for Senate, called into Dan Rea's "Nightside" radio show as a listener last night to comment on the debate between Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Sen. Ed Markey earlier this week. It's an unusual move for a politician — candidates usually join radio shows as invited guests. O'Connor introduced himself as "Kevin from Dover" and mentioned his campaign about halfway through the call, after knocking Kennedy and Markey as "career politicians." Rea asked O'Connor a couple of questions about his campaign and invited him to promote his website. The move was one of several by O'Connor to drum up attention – and serve as a political commentator – over the last few weeks. He called on organizers of a Democratic primary debate on June 1 to give him a spot on the stage, saying it was misleading to market the event as a "Senate debate" rather than a primary debate. When they didn't oblige, O'Connor live-tweeted the debate instead. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Dan Sena and Carol Doherty are sworn in as state representatives. Sen. Ed Markey and Attorney General Maura Healey speak at a virtual press conference on the clean energy industry and coronavirus. Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius is a guest on WGBH’s “Morning Edition.”

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– “Massachusetts coronavirus deaths rise by 55, with 263 new cases,” by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: “Deaths from the novel coronavirus in Massachusetts increased by 55 on Tuesday and the state reported another 263 cases as Gov. Charlie Baker said public health data continues to trend in a positive direction. The new deaths bring the state’s COVID-19 toll to 7,408, according to the Department of Public Health.” – “Months into pandemic, number of deaths of nursing home workers is unclear,” by Laura Crimaldi and Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe: “New data released by the federal government last week included the first tally of nursing home workers who had died of the coronavirus. But when questioned by the Globe, state officials, as well as individual nursing homes that completed the national survey, said that estimate was badly skewed by misreported data.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– “Baker bill mandates COVID reporting by labs, health providers,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker is seeking legislative permission to fine health care providers and labs up to $2,000 a day if they do not give the state complete demographic data about COVID-19 patients. Baker on Sunday signed a bill that will require the state Department of Public Health to publish more specific data about COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities and to provide expanded racial and other demographic data about individuals with the virus.” – “Baker says there are positive signs in fight against coronavirus; Phase 2 off to good start,” by Travis Andersen and Jaclyn Reiss, Boston Globe: “The data on COVID-19 is continuing to trend downward in Massachusetts as the state begins Phase 2 of reopening its economy, Governor Charlie Baker said Tuesday. Baker briefed reporters following a tour of the New Balance factory in Lawrence. The company has made over a million masks in an effort to fight the virus.” – “Gov. Baker casts doubt on World Health Organization official’s suggestion that asymptomatic coronavirus transmissions are ‘very rare,’” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Gov. Charlie Baker said he remains skeptical of a recent World Health Organization official’s comments calling asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 rare. The Republican governor was taking questions from the New Balance factory in Lawrence Tuesday morning when he was asked about the WHO study.” – “Deval Patrick Talks Curse of Being Black, Privilege of Being White,” by Alison King, NBC10: “Like most Americans, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was shocked by the video depicting the end of George Floyd's life at the hands of police. ‘We black people ... are constantly having to swallow and tamp down our frustrations, our suspicions about differences in treatment,’ he said. Patrick calls it the curse of being black — constantly asking if the event that goes wrong in your life is on account of race.”

– “During coronavirus pandemic, Massachusetts AG’s office got nearly 300 calls from people believed to have been hit by unemployment scam,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts officials still have not said how much money the state or its residents may have lost as part of a national scam, but the scope of the incident is coming into clearer view. Attorney General Maura Healey’s office said Tuesday it has received nearly 300 calls from people claiming to have been targeted.” – “New school funding could be delayed,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Economic fallout from the coronavirus might delay implementation of a new school funding law as the state braces for deep budget shortfalls. The Student Opportunity Act, signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker last year, commits the state to invest $1.5 billion in new K-12 school funding over seven years, beginning this fiscal year. But the law didn't create a source of revenue for the funding, leaving it up to the Legislature to find the money.” – “‘Financially, it doesn’t work;’ Daycare providers in Massachusetts given the green-light to reopen, but don’t see a viable way forward,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “Phase 2 of Gov. Charlie Baker’s plan to reopen Massachusetts began Monday, meaning daycares could technically restart operations, provided they’ve put in place new coronavirus health and safety protocols. But the new health and safety standards, released one week ago, have already been scrutinized for being too draconian.” – “Massachusetts bars moved to Phase 4 of reopening plan as Gov. Charlie Baker says officials need to figure out how to reopen them safely,” by Steph Solis, Masslive.com: “While Massachusetts restaurants can now reopen for outdoor dining and, eventually, a modified version of indoor dining service, the local watering hole might prove trickier to bring back during the coronavirus pandemic.” FROM THE HUB – “Behind calls to defund police, a refrain long-held by police themselves,” by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: “As calls to defund police departments around the country have risen in the wake of the killing of a Black man, George Floyd, by a white officer from the department where Davis once served, activists are echoing something police themselves have long maintained: The police cannot fix all of society’s problems, from mental health crises to homelessness to students misbehaving in school.” – “Boston Police Won't Yet Release Body Camera Footage Of Recent Protests, Citing Ongoing Investigations,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “The Boston Police Department is refusing to release body camera footage captured during a pair of protests against police brutality in late May, saying that all the video is tied to ongoing investigations. WBUR requested, via the state's public records law, any body-worn camera footage for two protests: the first, on May 29 in the South End, and another much larger demonstration on May 31.” – “Continued military presence in Boston is troubling, activists and scholars say,” by Zoe Greenberg, Boston Globe: “For more than a week, the Massachusetts National Guard has patrolled the streets of Boston in camouflage fatigues, carrying rifles and wearing black vests that read ‘military police’ in white letters. The troops were called in to Boston by Governor Charlie Baker on the night of May 31, after confrontations broke out between police and protesters and some people smashed windows and stole goods in Downtown Crossing and the Back Bay.” – “Protesters Renew Demand To Change The Name Of Faneuil Hall,” The Associated Press: “Protesters poured fake blood at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday as they renewed calls to rename the historic Boston meeting house that's considered the Cradle of Liberty but named after a slave trader. Residents and young community activists, meanwhile, demanded that city leaders to slash the police department budget as part of a growing movement to "defund" law enforcement agencies.” – “Boston residents call for slashing police budget,” by Danny McDonald and Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “For more than four hours Tuesday, a diverse array of Boston residents called on the city to redirect police funding toward job training, wellness programs, mental health treatment, and other community resources, as appeals for reexamining the role of the police, both locally and nationwide, continued.” – “Boston city councilors propose banning use of facial-recognition technology,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “Boston would become the largest U.S. city east of San Francisco to ban the use of facial-recognition technology by any city agency if a local law proposed by two city councilors is adopted. The ban would prevent any city agency from using face surveillance software and ensure that people are not subject to unregulated, mass surveillance in public spaces, such as at protests.” – “Minority police advocates call for end of BPD tests, not ‘defunding,’” by Andrew Martinez, Boston Herald: “City Councilor Andrea Campbell and minority police officer advocates are calling for an end to internal BPD tests they say are discriminatory, while discouraging calls of “defunding” police. The call for change comes as minority officers struggle for internal reforms.” – “Asian commission criticized for Black Lives Matter statement,” by Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press: “A prominent Chinese American group has taken issue with the language of a statement by Massachusetts’ Asian American Commission expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement following George Floyd’s death.’” PRIMARY SOURCES – “Kennedy television ad to focus on racial inequality,” by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: “U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, fresh off of a third debate against U.S. Sen. Edward Markey in their Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, is going back on television Wednesday with a new ad that will focus on racial inequity and the protests occurring around the country, according to his campaign.” The ad. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “MBTA to boost service levels for Phase 2, but not for nearly two weeks,” by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: “The MBTA said Tuesday that it will take nearly two more weeks to increase frequency of buses and subways to accommodate the growing number of people starting to travel after the coronavirus shutdown, and even then many lines will still not be running on a regular schedule.” THE OPINION PAGES – “It’s TV’s best new comedy: Why is Joe Kennedy running for the US Senate?” by Scot Lehigh, Boston Globe: “TV critics nationwide have performed an invaluable service by recommending captivating but unheralded series to binge-watch during this time of pandemic. And now, I am pleased to suggest a little-noticed gem that has escaped their searchlight gaze.” DAY IN COURT – “Harvard Professor Charged With Making False Statements In China Case,” The Associated Press: “A Harvard University professor accused of lying about his ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program ‘is the victim’ in the case, ‘not the perpetrator,’ his lawyer said Tuesday, after authorities announced his indictment on charges of making false statements. Charles Lieber, the former chair of the department of chemistry and chemical biology, was arrested in January on allegations that he hid his involvement in China's Thousand Talents Plan.” – “Oxford gym stays open in defiance of new court order,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “The gym owner who reopened his facility in May in violation of state COVID-19 restrictions is keeping his doors open in defiance of a new court order. Town officials took Blondin to court May 28, 10 days after he reopened his gym in violation of the restrictions Gov. Charlie Baker placed on businesses in the wake of COVID-19.” FROM THE DELEGATION – “Lynch, Pressley launch investigation into Trump administration’s drone surveillance of protesters,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “U. S. Representatives Stephen F. Lynch and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts have launched an investigation into the Trump administration’s surveillance of people protesting last month’s killing of an African-American man by a white Minneapolis police officer.” DATELINE D.C. – “Mitt Romney says Democrats’ police reform bill isn’t meant to pass. He’s working on a Republican alternative.” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Sen. Mitt Romney says he wants to pass legislation to address systemic racism and excessive force in policing. But the Utah Republican and former Massachusetts governor says Democrats haven’t yet made a good-faith effort on reforms that are ‘meant to actually get passed.’” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Feds release Vineyard Wind environmental assessment,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Federal regulators on Tuesday released a detailed, 420-page environmental assessment of the proposed Vineyard Wind project that includes predictions about the future of wind energy along the East Coast and suggests the impact on commercial fishing of six possible wind farm configurations would be roughly the same.” ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: “Floyd laid to rest," "BACK ON TRACK,” — Globe: “Calculating our risks, in a COVID world," "Residents want cuts to police budget.” FROM THE 413 – “Springfield City Councilor Orlando Ramos calls for ban on police chokeholds, other steps after George Floyd death in Minneapolis,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “City Councilor Orlando Ramos on Tuesday called for police reforms including a ban on choke holds following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and protests around the nation.” – “Southern Berkshire community reckons with student's racist post,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle: “A student's racist social media post last week is continuing to stoke fear and outrage in the community, and parents say they are worried about a culture of bigotry among some that festers in the district.” – “Amid public pressure, Narkewicz proposes cutting next year’s police budget,” by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Mayor David Narkewicz is cutting his proposed budget for the city’s Police Department next fiscal year by more than $200,000 amid public pressure from residents in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and two protests that drew thousands to the city.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Milton teacher placed on leave after addressing racism during class,” by Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger: “Members of the Milton Educators Association and the state teachers’ union are demanding an apology from Superintendent Mary Gormley after a black teacher was reportedly placed on leave for addressing racism in one of her classes. According to a letter Pierce Middle School parents sent to district officials this week, sixth grade English teacher Zakia Jarrett told students ‘many cops are racist.’” – “Cape Cod chambers shift marketing message to lure visitors,” by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: “The Cape’s traditional summer season is longer than usual this year because of the way Memorial Day and Labor Day fall. At the beginning of the year, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce was planning to run a campaign capitalizing on that, asking people how they were going to use those extra days while showing them tantalizing pictures of the peninsula.” MEDIA MATTERS – “News business in George Floyd upheaval,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The news business is going through its own George Floyd reckoning, as traditional ways of operating are being challenged and overturned in swift fashion...The Boston Globe yanked its weekly magazine out of Sunday print newspapers because an illustration on the cover, which was designed prior to Floyd’s death, bore a resemblance to the way he was killed in Minneapolis.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to state Sen. Adam Hinds. NEW EPISODE: PROTESTS AND PATHS FORWARD – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, host Jennifer Smith speaks with Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell about recent protests against police brutality and policy solutions. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: Jossie Valentin has joined Sen. Ed Markey's official Senate office, not his campaign team. 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. KEEP UP WITH THE GLOBAL RESPONSE: The coronavirus pandemic devastated the world, and countries are now figuring out what's next. Our Global Translations newsletter, presented by Bank of America, is focused on essential global news, trends and decisions layered with critical contextual analysis from the sharpest minds around the world. 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