| | |  | BY STEPHANIE MURRAY | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. STATE PREPS FOR FALL COVID-19 SEASON — If it wasn't clear already, most of the responsibility to respond to the coronavirus pandemic this autumn will be on state and local leaders. Lawmakers in Washington failed to advance a Republican-backed coronavirus relief plan in the Senate on Thursday, my POLITICO colleagues report, and negotiations may be on pause until after the November election due to the congressional calendar. It's not clear what a second wave of coronavirus cases might look like in Massachusetts in the months ahead. Transmission levels are still relatively low, though the number of cities and towns considered to be at the highest risk for Covid-19 infections ticked up this week. The state's contact tracing program is staffing up for the fall, according to CommonWealth Magazine , to prepare for an expected resurgence of the virus, especially as schools reopen. And Gov. Charlie Baker signed two executive orders yesterday to help restaurants continue outdoor dining through the fall. Colleges around the state are cracking down on students who break social distancing rules, and Boston Public Schools plans to randomly test teachers for the virus each week. Beyond preventing transmission of the virus, keeping the economy afloat is also a concern as we head into the fall. Massachusetts had the highest unemployment rate in the country in July, and Baker raised concerns this week that President Donald Trump's new program for jobless benefits is not a "sustainable" solution. Plus, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is sounding the alarm that 15,000 families in Boston will have a hard time paying rent in the coming months without expanded unemployment assistance. Walsh, along with the Massachusetts Right to Counsel Coalition, is calling for free legal representation for tenants facing eviction who cannot afford a lawyer. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, First Lady Lauren Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito join events recognizing the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks throughout the day. Rep. Katherine Clark and Washington Rep. Kim Schrier host a virtual town hall on Facebook about America’s child care crisis moderated by the Town Hall Project. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is a guest on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio,” attends a virtual event hosted by the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund and attends a census sign-up event in Roxbury. Sen. Ed Markey observes the anniversary of 9/11 at the Malden Fire Department. Rep. Richard Neal and Westfield Mayor Don Humason attend a 9/11 memorial service in Westfield. | |
| | THE NEW NORM? Sales of medical self-exam kits and diagnostic software are surging among people opting to monitor their vital signs at home during the pandemic. How are medical professionals adjusting to the new norm? The health care system is rapidly changing during the pandemic, and emerging technologies will continue to drive change. Future Pulse spotlights the politics, policies, and technologies driving important change on voters' most personal issue: their health. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts reports 20 new COVID deaths, 363 new cases on Thursday,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials announced another 20 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, bringing the statewide death count to 8,957 since the pandemic began. Officials also confirmed 363 new cases of COVID-19, for a total now of at least 121,759 cases across the state .” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Baker plugs funds, restaurant dining,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “At a press conference on Thursday at Bistro 5, Gov. Charlie Baker announced he’s signing off on a pair of executive orders that will extend and expand both efforts. Baker said one order will extend the time-frame for municipal permitting for expanded outdoor dining and provide $5 million more for the Shared Streets and Spaces program.” – “Baker administration calls for changes to allow more defendants to be held without bail,” by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: “The Baker administration on Thursday asked lawmakers to make it easier for prosecutors to jail people charged with violent crimes before trial, citing the recent case of an accused rapist who allegedly committed another sexual assault after a nonprofit group bailed him out. The state’s public safety and security secretary, Thomas A. Turco III, urged the Legislature to allow prosecutors to ask that a defendant be held indefinitely — until his or her case is over — rather than for the current limit of 180 days for Superior Court and 120 days in District Court.” – “Contact tracing ramping up hiring again,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Massachusetts contact tracing effort, which scaled back its workforce dramatically this summer as the spread of COVID-19 subsided, is ramping up again. The nonprofit Partners in Health, which works with local boards of health across the state to track down those who have been infected with the coronavirus and those they have come in contact with, is operating much like an accordion, contracting in late June and July as cases diminished and now expanding again.” – “AG Healey announces $1.5 million grant program to expand opioid treatment access for people of color,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Thursday morning announced a new grant program intended to provide more equitable care for Black, Latino, and other people of color struggling with opioid use. The $1.5 million program, called Promoting Cultural Humility in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Grant, will ‘support more inclusive recovery programs and behavioral health services for communities of color,’ Healey said in an interview Wednesday.” – “Arcades see Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement as a win for small business owners and their constitutional rights,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “Gov. Charlie Baker announced Thursday that arcades will be allowed to open next week after months of pressure and multiple lawsuits from owners. ‘Sometimes you have to smack a dog across the nose with a newspaper before it understands the rules,’ said Marc J. Randazza, managing partner, founder of Randazza Legal Group, PLLC. ‘ Dogs aren’t supposed to s*** on the carpet and governors aren’t supposed to s*** on the Constitution.’” – “Massachusetts public health commissioner out on monthlong medical leave,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel will be out from work for about a month on medical leave, officials announced Thursday. Bharel has been one of the leaders of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and contracted the virus during the early weeks of the outbreak.” – “Social distancing and mask wearing isn’t limiting just COVID-19 spread, Baker says,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “Social distancing is preventing more than just the spread of COVID-19. The months that residents across the commonwealth have spent relatively hunkered down, keeping to themselves, and following a stricter hygiene regimen have also led to a dropoff in other, more common illnesses, according to Gov. Charlie Baker.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Boston Police Task Force Calls For A New Oversight Office — With Subpoena Power,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “The Boston Police Reform Task Force, convened by the mayor this summer, is recommending the city create an independent office with broad investigatory and subpoena powers that could review and resolve civilian complaints and assess Boston police policies. The Office of Police Accountability and Transparency would replace the existing Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel, which has been criticized for its failure to enact promised reforms or perform proper oversight.” – “Concerns rise over coronavirus cluster in Boston College athletics after outbreak on swim and dive team,” by Bob Hohler, Boston Globe: “Concerns about the health and safety of Boston College students rose Thursday, as the school shut down its women’s and men’s swimming and diving program for a minimum of two weeks after at least 13 team members tested positive for COVID-19.” – “State Democratic Party members irked by choice of investigator,” by Michael Connors, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “After former state Sen. Cheryl Jacques was tapped by Democratic State Committee leaders to investigate allegations that state Democratic Party higher-ups meddled in the 1st Congressional District primary election, at least 70 committee members are urging officials to reconsider this decision — arguing that Jacques is too entrenched in the party to be truly independent.” – “IKEA to return $1.4 million in unemployment payments to Mass.” by Anissa Gardizy, Boston Globe: “IKEA Retail U.S. plans to pay back unemployment benefits for its previously furloughed employees in 27 states, including $1,393,437 to Massachusetts, according to a press release from the state. The money will be used to fund skills development and workforce training.” – “Whenever clubs do reopen, the city’s live music scene won’t be the same,” by Malcolm Gay, Boston Globe: “On just about any given night, Frank Poindexter could be found at Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club, the tiny South End mainstay founded by his great-grandfather in 1947. The family-owned club has served for decades as a training ground for area music students, open 365 days a year and offering multiple sets a night. But like so much else, that all came to a crashing halt in March, when the state ordered bars and music venues to close because of the pandemic — an existential threat to a club that relies on thin margins and a packed house to survive.” | | BALLOT WARS |
| – “Opposition forming to ranked-choice voting,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “The ranked-choice voting ballot campaign has been pushing its message for months with only minimal, informal opposition. Now, with two months left before the election, an organization is finally forming to oppose ranked-choice voting, with the earliest supporters coming from the conservative wing of Massachusetts politics.” – “‘Voters are making law’: Expect explainer booklet for 2020 Massachusetts ballot questions in mailboxes soon,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “Voters were told Thursday to expect the familiar red “Information for Voters” booklets in their mailboxes over the next few days and reminded that they can find an application for voter registration inside. The booklet explains the two ballot questions voters will decide in November, which deal with ranked-choice voting and access to auto repair data. The latter question pits automakers and dealers against independent repair and parts shops.” | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Federal judge says he likely won’t block Massachusetts eviction moratorium,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “A judge in Boston federal court says he likely will deny a request from landlords to block the Massachusetts eviction moratorium that allows people to stay in the apartments they rent even if they can’t afford to pay rent due to COVID-19. U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf on Thursday weighed arguments on the request for a preliminary injunction, the Baker administration’s motion to dismiss and other requests related to the legal fight over the moratorium that took effect in April.” – “Parents of suspended Northeastern students hire lawyer,” by Deirdre Fernandes and Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: “The parents of two Northeastern University students who were dismissed last week without a refund of their $36,500 tuition as punishment for breaking the rules on socializing have hired a lawyer and plan to challenge the school’s decision.” | | TRUMPACHUSETTS |
| – “Parents of Fallen Soldiers Speak Out Against Trump's Reported Comments About 'Losers and Suckers,'” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News: “Two Gold Star families from Bedford, Massachusetts, are condemning comments President Donald Trump reportedly made disparaging soldiers killed in action. The parents of Private First Class John Hart and Lance Corporal Travis Desiato spoke at a press conference Thursday near the bridge in Bedford that was dedicated to their memory in 2018. Both servicemen were killed in combat in Iraq.” | | KENNEDY COMPOUND |
| – “Letters reveal public distaste for booze in JFK White House,” by William J. Kole, The Associated Press: “It was a tempest in a teapot — or, more accurately, a whiskey tumbler. Presidential transitions are always at least a little tricky. Case in point: Researchers at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum have found a cache of letters from Americans objecting to JFK’s embrace of cocktails at White House events.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “BAKER TOUTS RESTAURANT REBOUND,” — Globe : “Don't forget to tip your ex-governor," "Task force calls for big changes to Boston police.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Party triggers COVID-19 outbreak in Monson, making it only ‘red’ designated community in Western Mass.” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “A private party has led to an outbreak of coronavirus cases in Monson, making the small town the region’s only high-risk community and delaying the start of school. Town Administrator Evan Brassard said Thursday that were 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the past two weeks, which brings Monson into the state’s ‘red’ designation for higher risk for the virus.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Quincy has spent $5.5 million preparing for school amid COVID,” by Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger: “The school district has spent more than $5.5 million preparing for the new school year, which involves virtual-only learning for most students and heightened safety measures for those who will attend class in person.” – “Young people partying blamed for rise in COVID-19 cases in Dedham,” by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: “Dedham health officials are blaming young people for a recent rise in the town’s COVID-19 cases. The increased rate of infections led the state to designate Dedham as ‘high-risk’ for the coronavirus and prompted local officials to postpone students' in-person return to school.” – “Former IRS worker filed hundreds of false tax returns,” by Breanna Edelstein, Eagle-Tribune: “A former employee of the IRS Service Center in Andover pleaded guilty Wednesday to helping prepare and file at least 70 false tax returns for herself and others, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling.” MAZEL! to Olivia Hussey in Rep. Seth Moulton’s office, who was awarded the “Allies in Action Award” by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Link. WELCOME TO THE WORLD – Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley and his wife Kathryn Niforos welcomed their daughter Margot Gillian O’Malley on Wednesday. Pic. TRANSITIONS – Hanna Ciechanowski joins Boston law firm Casner & Edwards LLP as an associate for the firm’s bankruptcy & restructuring group. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former state Sen. Ben Downing, POLITICO’s Joe Schatz and Matt Giancola. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to POLITICO’s Ben Schreckinger ; former Senator and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown, Waterville Consulting Principal Sean Curran, who is 5-0; and MassGIS’ Paul Nutting; who all celebrate Saturday. NEW EPISODE: THE HORSE RACE OF THE APOCALYPSE – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray discuss the looming 2021 mayoral race in Boston, and the Republican candidates running for congress. 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. | | | | |
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