POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Coming to a BALLOT near you — High court rules on ‘DIRTY DEEDS’ — COLLEGES crack down on PARTIES

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. NOVEMBER BALLOT QUESTIONS FLUSH WITH CASH — Groups on either side of a question that will appear on the November ballot have already spent more than $13 million on television ads in Massachusetts. There are about seven weeks to go until voters head to the polls on Nov. 3. Question 1 will ask voters whether the state should update a law and require automakers to equip vehicles with an open data platform that independent repair shops can use to access more mechanical information. Opponents of the question argue an update to the law would put consumer privacy at risk by making driving information more readily available. The so-called Right to Repair group supporting the ballot measure has already spent $8.8 million on television ads this cycle, according to the ad tracking platform Advertising Analytics. The Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, which opposes the question, has spent nearly $5 million on television ads. Both groups have raised plenty of cash ahead of November. Right to Repair has raised a total $9.2 million this cycle, and the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data has raised a whopping $25.5 million, as CommonWealth Magazine reported earlier this week. The ballot measure has support among voters, according to a WBUR poll conducted in August. Fifty-seven percent of likely general election voters said they would vote yes on Question 1, while 31 percent of those surveyed said they would vote no and 12 percent were undecided. A group supporting Question 2, which proposes changing the state's voting system, has not spent any money on television ads yet this year. The Ranked Choice Voting 2020 Committee has raised over $4 million and spent $2.3 million, according to data from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. There's been no fundraising or spending by a group that opposes the ranked choice voting question, according to OCPF data. Ranked choice voting would allow voters to rank their choices at the ballot box rather than choose only one candidate to support. After Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss won the crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III with only 22.4 percent of the vote last week, second-place finisher Jesse Mermell (who received 21.1 percent of of support) offered to serve as a face for the group supporting the ballot question. When it comes to ranked choice voting, the electorate seems split. Thirty-six percent of likely general election voters said they plan to vote for the measure, according to that WBUR poll, while an equal percentage of those polled would not vote for the measure. About a quarter of voters said they are undecided. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Rep. Seth Moulton holds a press conference with two Gold Star families in Bedford. Democratic candidate for congress Jake Auchincloss greets voters with Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan and state Rep. Carole Fiola.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– “Massachusetts' 7-day average of positive COVID tests drops to .8% as state reports 4 new coronavirus deaths, 182 new cases,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials announced another four coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, bringing the statewide death count to 8,937. Officials also confirmed another 182 cases of COVID-19, for a total now of at least 121,396 cases across Massachusetts.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– “Number of 'high-risk' communities edges up in Massachusetts,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “The number of communities at high risk for COVID-19 infections increased slightly in the past week, according to state data released Wednesday, which also shows dozens of cities and towns still at elevated levels of risk. The Department of Public Health reported 13 communities are coded ‘red’ —including Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield and Methuen.” – “Mass. Unemployed Workers To Receive Additional $300 A Week, Baker Announces,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Unemployed workers in Massachusetts are beginning to receive an additional $300 a week in benefits approved by federal authorities, Gov. Charlie Baker disclosed Wednesday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the state's request to take part in the emergency program, which is funded with federal dollars previously allocated by Congress.” – “Baker: COVID precautions driving down health care costs,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker said on Wednesday that health care costs overall in Massachusetts are dropping, not because fears of COVID-19 are prompting people to avoid hospitals but because the incidence of such routine health issues as ear infections, sore throats, and strep are way down from previous years.” – “Massachusetts primary drew 1.7 million voters, breaking 1990 turnout record in first major election with new vote-by-mail law,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “The Sept. 1 primary drew a historic 1.7 million voters in Massachusetts, breaking the previous record for the state primary’s turnout set three decades ago, Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin announced on Wednesday.” – “Governor Baker lauds state’s low rate of positive coronavirus tests,” by Travis Andersen and Jaclyn Reiss, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker on Wednesday highlighted the state’s ‘very low’ seven-day positive coronavirus test rate and told reporters that alcohol regulators last week cited about 300 establishments statewide for pandemic-related violations.” – “Study spotlights racial disparities in state criminal justice system,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “A new report prompted by the huge overrepresentation of blacks and Latinos in Massachusetts prisons zeroes in on disparities at various stages of the court system’s handling of cases that are factors behind the disparate incarceration rates. The report, commissioned by Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants and carried out by researchers at Harvard Law School, found that among those who are incarcerated, black and Latinx defendants receive sentences that are, on average, about five months longer than sentences for white defendants.” – “Massachusetts issues new guidance for school nurses ahead of reopening,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts education officials have released guidance for school nurses, who now have an even more critical role in the health and safety of students during the coronavirus pandemic. Amid the pandemic, schools must have a designated medical waiting room for students who have symptoms of coronavirus, which can include fever and a cough.” – “Unions say ruling against Andover teachers won’t curb activities,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “As school districts and teachers’ unions continue to debate whether teachers must report to work in person, a decision by the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board condemning an ‘illegal strike’ by the Andover teachers’ union threatens to curb unions’ options. But union representatives say the decision does not necessarily mean an end to workplace actions designed to pressure school districts to delay reopening until it is safe.” – “Massachusetts public schools to recognize Juneteenth as official holiday, give students and staff day off,” by Michelle Williams, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts schools will now commemorate the end of slavery in the United States annually. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education updated its school calendars for the 2020-2021 school year to add Juneteenth Day to the list of observed holidays.”

FROM THE HUB

– “'Defund The Police': Activists In Boston's Black Neighborhoods Don't All Agree,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “‘Defund the police.’ In Boston neighborhoods where people of color predominate and frequently interact with police, that demand of Black Lives Matter activists draws opinions as rangy and complicated as the slogan. Its literal meaning — to withdraw financial support — is the one that activists who call themselves ‘abolitionists’ have in mind.” – “Activists march for racial justice and recognition of Black Bostonian history,” by Dasia Moore, Boston Globe: “Activists marched through Boston Wednesday afternoon to stand against racial injustice, travelling a path that illuminated the long history of Black Bostonians' fight against racism. Led by Black Boston 2020 and Black Future Project, two grass-roots organizations founded by young activists, demonstrators set off from Boston Common on a march that turned downtown Boston into both a protest site and a classroom.” – “Mayor, white councilors get majority of police officers’ political donations,” by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: “Boston Police officers have contributed more than $1 million to Boston elected officials over the last 10 years, with the lion’s share of the dollars — $456,548 — going to Mayor Martin Walsh, according to an analysis released by the political organizing group Mijente and ACLU of Massachusetts this week.” – “Boston Public Schools does walk-through of facilities, teachers say they were not invited,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Boston Public Schools officials showed off newly cleaned, prepared and stocked school buildings on Wednesday in preparation of welcoming students back for hybrid learning, but union members say they were left out of the tour. – “Worker safety coalition details ‘gross undercount’ of job-related COVID cases,” by Katie Johnston, Boston Globe: “At least 59 workers have died of COVID-19 after potentially being exposed on the job, according to a Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health report out Thursday. Of the 59 dead whose jobs could be identified, the vast majority were in health care, along with a handful of transportation workers, retail and grocery employees, and police officers.” – “Northeastern is not the only school cracking down on students for partying,” by Deirdre Fernandes and Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: “When Northeastern University dismissed 11 students last week without refunding their $36,500 tuition as punishment for socializing together in a hotel being used for temporary student housing, the move reverberated across higher education as swift and aggressive, perhaps extreme. But quietly, many schools around the region, desperate to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak that could topple their carefully orchestrated reopening plans, are cracking down on students who violate strict new regulations for gatherings.” – “10,000-unit Suffolk Downs vote approaching,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The 10,000-unit Suffolk Downs project appears headed for a final vote at the end of the month as developers have upped the number of affordable units at the huge site in East Boston. The yearslong back-and-forth between local officials and developer HYM Investment Group is approaching a close, with the Boston Planning & Development Agency advertising a special hearing at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 24.”

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– “Are these new MBTA armrests an aid for people with disabilities, or a hostile act against the homeless?” by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: “New armrests that MBTA officials say will improve seating on platforms for the elderly and disabled have generated a backlash among some riders, who accused the agency of making it harder for the homeless to use the stations as a refuge. At issue is a new design for benches inside stations that include black metal armrests.”

DAY IN COURT

– “GOP congressional hopeful Rayla Campbell sues state to appear on ballot against Ayanna Pressley,” by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: “GOP congressional hopeful Rayla Campbell is suing the state to secure a spot on the November ballot opposite U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley. The Randolph Republican, who ran a write-in campaign to take on Pressley in the 7th Congressional District, received just more than 1,200 votes in the state primaries last week, according to Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office.” – “SJC: Prosecutors must share law enforcement ‘dirty deeds’ with defense lawyers and police chiefs when obtained through grand jury,” by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: “Prosecutors must disclose ‘dirty deeds’ committed by police to their commanders and to the defense lawyers even if they learn the information from historically secret grand jury proceedings, the state’s high court ruled in a major decision connected to allegations of police brutality.” – “Gov. Charlie Baker nominates lead prosecutor in Aaron Hernandez murder trial to serve as Massachusetts judge,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday three new judicial nominees to Massachusetts courts, including the lead prosecutor in the 2017 Aaron Hernandez double murder trial. Michelle D. Fentress and Robert W. Harnais received the nomination from Baker for associate justices of the district court and Patrick M. Haggan as an associate justice of the superior court.” – “Groups seek to have police shooting cases reopened,” The Associated Press: “Supporters of eight Massachusetts families whose loved ones have died at the hands of police planned a demonstration at the Statehouse on Wednesday to ask the governor to reopen past cases of what they call police brutality. One of the families is that of Malcolm Gracia of New Bedford.”

MARKEYCHUSETTS

– “Sen. Ed Markey again presses for monthly $2,000 stimulus checks during COVID as Democrats say Republican plan ‘headed nowhere,’” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “The latest COVID-19 stimulus proposal, up for a Senate vote Thursday, may be dead on arrival without support from several Republicans and Democratic leaders already blasting the bill as ‘emaciated’ and ‘headed nowhere,’ prompting Sens. Ed Markey and Bernie Sanders to again call on the federal government to provide monthly $2,000 checks to millions of Americans during the pandemic.”

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: “PATS POWER UP," "TEACHER TROUBLE,” — Globe: “COVID crackdowns become rule at colleges," "Teachers lose in bid to disrupt opening," "OUT OF CONTROL.”

FROM THE 413

– “Family visits at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home suspended again after employee tests positive for COVID-19,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Family visits have been suspended once again at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee plays an ‘administrative role’ rather than providing clinical care to patients, according to an email sent to patients’ families at 9:45 p.m. on Sept. 4 and obtained by The Republican.” – “15 appointed to Northampton’s new Policing Review Commission,” by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The Northampton resident is one of 15 who will study policing in the city and recommend changes as part of the Northampton Policing Review Commission — a new group whose members were announced at last week’s City Council meeting. The commission was proposed after residents asked the City Council in June to make significant cuts to the Police Department budget. More than 60 people sent in letters of interest.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– “Delta, hit hard by pandemic, suspends Worcester-Detroit flights,” by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: “Delta Air Lines will suspend operations at Worcester Regional Airport in October, a Massport spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The move - unless JetBlue and American resume flights before then - will result in the city once again having no commercial airline service.” – “Weymouth compressor station starts testing,” by Joe DiFazio, The Patriot Ledger: “The controversial natural gas compressor station in Weymouth has begun testing this week and, in the process, releasing natural gas into the atmosphere. The station, on the banks of the Fore River, is being built by Enbridge, a Canadian-based multinational energy transportation company. The compressor station is part of Enbridge’s Atlantic Bridge project, which would expand the company’s natural gas pipelines from New Jersey into Canada.” – “The City of Brookline? Charter change long overdue, says local group,” by Abby Patkin, Brookline TAB: “Annual Town Meeting was a catalyst for their movement, but the three founders agreed structural issues with Brookline’s local government pre-existed. In fact, this isn’t the first time residents have questioned whether Brookline would work better as a city. It came up in the late 1970s, then again in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the subject of rent control sparked heated debate.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to the Boston Globe’s Martin Finucane, state Senate candidate Meg Wheeler, and Annika Jensen, campaign manager for state Sen. Becca Rausch (h/t Gina Christo and Lilian McCarthy). NEW EPISODE: INCUMBENT UPON US – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray break down the Sept. 1 primary, and speak with special guest Rep. Jim McGovern about governing during the coronavirus pandemic. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. 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.   BEIJING IS WATCHING, ARE YOU? China has long been a nation of involved and cynical election-watchers, at least when it comes to American presidential campaigns. As the United States races toward Election Day, how do Chinese citizens believe each candidate will affect relations between the two nations? Join the conversation and gain expert insight from informed and influential voices in government, business, law, and tech. China Watcher is as much of a platform as it is a newsletter. Subscribe today.       Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US  POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA