GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. I hope you had a great Fourth of July. It's good to be back in your inbox.
VIRUS SHAKES UP ELECTION CALENDAR — When he signed a new bill to expand voting by mail in Massachusetts yesterday, Gov. Charlie Baker signed off on some major changes to the election calendar.
Primary Day is officially Sept. 1, and that date is when much of the action will happen in Massachusetts this cycle. But many voters will have already cast ballots by then through the mail and early voting.
More mail-in votes means less time to campaign. Because many people will vote in the weeks leading up to Sept. 1, candidates will have to look at early August as the deadline for most tasks, like sending campaign materials in the mail or airing ads on television. Campaigns that generate momentum in the final days leading up to the primary could face an extra challenge if voters already cast their ballots weeks before. Some important dates on the calendar:
July 15: Secretary of State Bill Galvin mails applications to households by this date to request mail-in ballots for the primary.
Aug. 22: Early voting begins.
Aug. 28: Early voting ends.
Sept. 1: Voting Day.
Some Democrats running in primaries have gotten a head start on running television ads. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who is trying to unseat Sen. Ed Markey, has spent $2.4 million on TV ads. Rep. Richard Neal has several ads on the air, and Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss, who is running to replace Kennedy in the House, just released his first TV spot.
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TODAY — Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Attorney General Maura Healey and state Reps. Tram Nguyen and Jon Santiago participate in a virtual rally for the ROE Act, which would expand abortion access. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III speak at a forum moderated by Sheriff Steve Tompkins. Rep. Lori Trahan and California Rep. Karen Bass speak on Facebook Live.
 | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
— “Massachusetts reports 15 new coronavirus deaths, 157 new cases as Phase 3 of reopening plan begins,” by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts reported 15 new coronavirus deaths Monday and 157 new COVID-19 cases as the state continues to show positive movement in containing the virus. The state reported 7,726 new molecular tests Monday as well as 159 antibody tests, which show if someone has been exposed to the virus.”
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| DATELINE BEACON HILL |
— “State Senate unveils sweeping police reform bill, plans to pass it this week,” by Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts state Senate on Monday unveiled sweeping police reform legislation, which would create a new independent entity to certify officers, and place new limits on use of force by law enforcement, among other elements its authors say are designed to increase accountability and fight systemic racism.”
— “Peter Pan Bus Lines, Legal Seafoods and over 100 other Massachusetts companies got over $5 million in PPP loans,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “Nearly 150 Massachusetts businesses received between $5 million and $10 million through the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program, according to federal data published Monday, putting them at the top tier of loan recipients nationwide.”
— “MCAS testing may be shelved,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: “Amid the disruptions to schools caused by the coronavirus outbreak, a renewed push is underway to put the brakes on MCAS testing. The Massachusetts Teachers Association, which has long sought to ease the state's standardized testing requirements, is lobbying hard for bipartisan legislation that would impose a four-year moratorium on the MCAS and suspend the requirement that students must pass the exam to graduate.”
| FROM THE HUB |
— “Boston Adds Three Members To Police Reform Task Force,” by Saraya Wintersmith, WGBH News: “Mayor Marty Walsh has expanded the panel charged with reviewing Boston Police’s policies for using force, adding three members in response to a request from City Council President Kim Janey. The three additions to what was initially a task force of nine members are Eddy Chrispin, president of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, Jamarhl Crawford and Javier Flores.”
— “Demonstrators Demand Justice, Paint 'Black Lives Matter' Street Mural In Roxbury,” The Associated Press: “Volunteers using yellow paint began filling in a Black Lives Matter street mural on Sunday, a day after hundreds of people used the Fourth of July holiday to call for justice on behalf of Black victims of police violence. On Saturday, demonstrators carried signs saying ‘Defund The Police’ and ‘Say Her Name’ as they marched from Roxbury's Nubian Square to the Boston Common on Saturday.”
— “Power Play: Boston City Council would get more control over budget under proposal,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “A city councilor on Monday proposed that the City Council should get more control over the budget — and share equal power with the mayor — but questions remain about whether the budget process would turn ‘dysfunctional,’ a watchdog tells the Herald. City Councilor Lydia Edwards’ proposed amendment to the city charter comes in the wake of calls for systemic change and a reallocation of resources away from the police department following the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white Minneapolis Police officer.”
— “‘It caught us off guard’: Massachusetts overnight camps spent weeks preparing to reopen in phase 3, only to be moved last-minute into phase 4 and wait until 2021,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: “Last week began with overnight camps set to reopen as part of Massachusetts’ coronavirus reopening plan in phase 3. By the end of the week, the camps had been moved to phase 4 with a timeline for reopening set for the summer of 2021. Overnight camps, according to the state’s four-phase reopening strategy, are now prohibited from operating until the summer of 2021.”
— “College will be far different this fall, but the price will be largely the same,” by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: “As colleges across the country release plans for the unprecedented fall semester, each campus has its own strategy to bring back as many students as possible while keeping the coronavirus at bay. One thing most of them have in common: Tuition will remain the same.”
— “Harvard Will Ask Most Undergraduates To Stay Off Campus In The Fall,” by Max Larkin, WBUR: “This fall, Harvard College will only invite 40% of its undergraduates to Cambridge — an effort to reduce density on the campus and contain the coronavirus pandemic. In an email sent to the Harvard community Monday, President Lawrence Bacow acknowledged that ‘there is an intrinsic incompatibility’ between the university's tradition of in-person learning and the need for social distancing.”
— “Major Boston landlord extends eviction moratorium to end of year,” by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: “As debate grows about whether the state should extend the ban on evictions in Massachusetts, one of its largest landlords said Monday that it will do so on its own. WinnCompanies, which owns and manages more than 6,500 apartments at 51 buildings across the state, said it will halt all evictions at its properties through the end of the year for tenants who are struggling to pay rent.”
— “Mass. Landlords And Tenants Are At Odds — But Agree On Need For Massive Infusion Of Cash For Rent,” by Simón Rios and Tibisay Zea, WBUR: “Carolina lives in East Boston with her husband and four kids — her newest child was born at the start of the pandemic in March. The couple lost their cleaning jobs shortly after their baby's birth, and the family has almost no income. Because Carolina and her husband are undocumented immigrants, the family can’t get the kind of federal benefits that have helped others in the state keep up with their rent.”
— “As Boston Councilors Promote A Big Policing Shift, Worcester's Past Shows How It Could Succeed — Or Fail,” by Adam Reilly, WGBH News: “If you live in Boston and call 911, you’ll probably be connected to the police department’s Emergency 9-1-1 Center. They’ll ask your name, your location, and why you’re calling, and then assign the response to Boston police, fire, or emergency medical services. Usually, it’s the police who end up responding: data released a few years ago showed the BPD answering 70 to 80 percent of the two to three thousand 911 calls placed every day.”
DO NOT MISS! POLITICO Magazine Justice Reform: The Prison Conditions Issue, presented by Verizon : The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the difference between "inside" and the rest of society. With overcrowding, inadequate funding, and substandard medical care, prisons have become hotbeds of the outbreak - with substantial costs on the outside. POLITICO Magazine's latest Justice Reform package looks at efforts to improve prisons and how the epidemic has affected them. READ THE FULL ISSUE.
| PRIMARY SOURCES |
— “High on the left’s wish list: Knocking out another House chairman,” by Stephanie Murray, POLITICO: Rep. Richard Neal hasn’t had a tough primary challenge in 30 years. But Massachusetts’ Sept. 1 contest represents the last, best chance for the left to take down a Democratic incumbent this year, so the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee isn’t taking any chances against a progressive challenger.
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: “Community leaders back Natalia Linos for Congress,” from the Linos campaign: “Today, three leading members of the local community from across Massachusetts’s 4th Congressional District announced their support for Dr. Natalia Linos for Congress. Linos is thrilled to have the support of former Massachusetts Democratic State Committee Member and former Chair, Franklin Democratic Town Committee Dr. Michael Walker-Jones, Fall River Democratic City Committee Member Amanda Huggon-Mauretti, and Wellesley Town Meeting Member and Vice Chair of the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission Raina C. McManus.”
— “Auchincloss is first Dem on TV in race for Kennedy’s US House seat,” by Ted Nesi, WPRI: “Democrat Jake Auchincloss will be the first candidate running to succeed Congressman Joe Kennedy to go on the air with a campaign TV ad, introducing himself to South Coast voters as a family man and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. The 30-second spot, titled ‘A Marine’s Pledge,’ opens with Auchincloss and his wife, Michelle, sitting in patio furniture holding their infant son.”
— “Milford Dems To Host Debate For Candidates Vying For Kennedy Seat,” by Neal McNamara, Patch: “The most-watched race of the 2020 Massachusetts election is coming to the area. At the end of July, the nine candidates seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-4, will debate in an event that will be televised by Milford TV.”
| THE OPINION PAGES |
— “Boston’s Racial Equity Fund is not systemic change,” by Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu: “In a moment of national upheaval due to the coronavirus pandemic and a long overdue reckoning on systemic racial inequities, cities can drive change. All across the country, local governments are taking action to transform power structures and overhaul systems for safety, health, and economic opportunity. Yet in Boston, the biggest announcements from City Hall have been a series of mayor-controlled funds to offer one-time grants for individuals and organizations.”
| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
— “ICE: Foreign students can’t stay if colleges, universities move online,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “The Trump administration is moving to expel foreign students from the United States this fall if their colleges or universities opt for online learning only as the coronavirus pandemic continues.”
| DAY IN COURT |
— “Lawsuits against Northampton police chief, officers, mayor and city pending in federal court,” by Jim Russell, Springfield Republican: “Civil Rights complaints filed against Northampton Chief of Police Jody Kasper, officers, Mayor David Narkewicz and the city are currently pending at federal district court in Springfield. The two lawsuits, filed earlier this year at Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton, were subsequently transferred from state court, to federal court, on requests by Attorney Nancy Frankel Pelletier, who represents the city in both complaints.”
| MARKEYCHUSETTS |
— “Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, union workers decry Stop & Shop’s decision to cut ‘appreciation pay’ for grocery story employees amid coronavirus pandemic,” by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey is among the thousands of individuals demanding that Stop & Shop reinstate hazard pay for its grocery store workers after cutting the wage hike program amid the coronavirus pandemic.”
| MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE |
— “Donald Trump to hold rally in New Hampshire,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “President Trump has set his sights on the Granite State, scheduling a rally in Portsmouth Saturday as he makes a bid to bolster his standing in the battleground states critical to his re-election. ‘He really wants to win New Hampshire,’ N.H. Republican activist Fran Wendelboe said of Trump, who narrowly lost the Granite State to Hillary Clinton in 2016.”
| ABOVE THE FOLD |
— Herald: “ON DECK," "ICED OUT,” — Globe: “Large Mass. landlord extends eviction ban," "Harvard classes will be only online," LENS ON BLACK LIVES.”
| FROM THE 413 |
— “New activist group seeks to boost voter turnout in Springfield,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “A new activist group has formed here with the mission of evaluating and improving a trend of poor voter turnout in the city. The group, calling itself 413Vote, is headed by a 10-member executive committee consisting of students from Springfield who attend area colleges, universities and high schools.”
| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
— “Fourth of July partiers on Nantucket issued $1,000 fine after refusing to disperse, wear masks,” by Heather Adams, MassLive.com: “A group of people at a party on the Fourth of July were the cause of the first mask-compliance fine by The Nantucket Board of Health. A group of about 20 people refused to disperse or wear masks, according to the Inquirer and Mirror. The refusal led to a $1,000 fine.”
The house was being occupied by renters. The news organization reported the homeowner was apologetic and canceled the lease of the tenants who were renting the property.
“I know this feels strange for many of us, but it is the best way you can prevent yourself from inadvertently spreading coronavirus to others when you’re out in public,” said Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Not everyone who has COVID-19 shows symptoms. You can be carrying the virus and infecting others without knowing. No one wants to be the one who infected the grocery store clerk, or the hardware store stocker, or the family out for a stroll. Wearing a mask is one way to avoid that.”
— “Army Corps to sign over control of bridges to state,” by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: “State and federal officials are expected to sign an agreement this week that will make the Massachusetts Department of Transportation the lead agency for the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. Officials from MassDOT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the latter of which owns the bridges, are scheduled to meet virtually on Tuesday to sign a memorandum of understanding.”
— “Worcester Regional Airport caught in ‘worldwide situation,’” by Emily Gowdey-Backus, Telegram & Gazette: “Worcester Regional, like airports across the state, nation and globe, has seen a marked decrease in airline travel over the past four months. Today, for reasons related to the pandemic, the airport is running 19 percent of its pre-COVID flights.”
| MEDIA MATTERS |
— “‘Us existing, being here, is just power.’ Black Boston photographers talk about covering recent protests,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Some say they are looking to build a portfolio. Others say it’s their calling, or are chasing an iconic shot. Underpinning the various motivations is a sense of duty to chronicle this current moment, to tell their stories.”
TRANSITIONS — Eric Reif is joining eStreet Group as managing director. He was previously director of paid media for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) presidential campaign.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Bryan Bowman, Megan Wessenberg and Tim Murray (h/t Paul Murray).
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