| | |  | BY STEPHANIE MURRAY | Presented by CuriosityStream | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. MAYORS PRESS CONGRESS FOR CASH — Massachusetts mayors have one question for Congress: Where's the money? It would be easy to overlook the fact that Congress has not reached a deal on the next pandemic stimulus bill — Washington is in overdrive. An unprecedented fight over the Supreme Court has broken out weeks before the election, Democrats and Republicans are jockeying for control of the Senate next year, and the much-anticipated presidential debate is only days away. And looming over everything is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has upended the way we live, work and go to school. It's also created financial chaos for the local governments on the front lines responding to the crisis. To have any shot at returning to normal, cities and towns desperately need federal funds. That's the message Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and nearly two dozen other Bay State mayors and town officials argued in a letter to Washington lawmakers this week. Walsh led the group in writing to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "The pandemic and necessary response measures have stalled municipalities' economies, triggering sharp declines in tax revenues. We have experienced substantial revenue loss across nearly all funding streams," the letter reads. The document includes signatures from Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo, Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer, Newton Mayor Ruthannne Fuller and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, among others. "Each day that Congress does not reach a compromise , the ability of local governments to maintain stable operations and provide the most needed services to our residents becomes even more difficult," the letter continues. The coronavirus question mark has also delayed the state budget, which is typically due by start of the fiscal year on July 1. Beacon Hill lawmakers pressed pause on crafting a yearlong budget this spring because state revenues and the health of the economy were so difficult to predict. The legislature instead opted to pass an interim budget, which funds the state through October. State lawmakers are preparing for what comes next. Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan, and Ways and Means Committee co-chairs state Sen. Michael Rodrigues and state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz announced yesterday they will convene a virtual roundtable to talk about the economic impact of Covid-19 on Oct. 7. "It is crucial that we have as clear of a picture as possible before we make any significant budgetary decisions,” Michlewitz said in a statement to reporters. 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 and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito make a Commonwealth Places program announcement in Lowell. Rep. Seth Moulton hosts a town hall with the Institute for Democratic Engagement & Accountability at The Ohio State University. Rep. Lori Trahan joins a U.S. Census phone bank with Massachusetts Voter Table and MassCounts. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Katherine Clark and Rep. Stephen Lynch hold a press conference to discuss their recent visit to Fort Hood. Clark hosts a Facebook Live with Illinois Rep. Chuy Garcia on the Health Equity and Accountability Act. | |
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| | JOIN OUR THURSDAY TOWN HALL - CONFRONTING INEQUALITY IN AMERICA: The current wave of protests have surfaced long simmering racial inequalities in a pronounced way, making it harder for Americans to ignore. On Thursday, POLITICO Live will convene scholars, activists and public officials for a virtual town hall focused on education inequality and the policies and measures needed to overcome disparities that persist in how Black and minority students are educated. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Massachusetts reports 11 new COVID deaths, 143 new cases as US passes 200K deaths on Tuesday,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials said on Tuesday another 11 Massachusetts residents died from coronavirus on Tuesday, which comes as the nation eclipses 200,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic. … Massachusetts health officials also confirmed another 143 cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide tally to at least 125,866.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Union lashes out at UMass administration during trustees meeting,” by Ron Chimelis, Springfield Republican: “According to representatives of University of Massachusetts employees, the COVID-19 slogan ‘We’re All in This Together’ is not being practiced by those who run the system. Three speakers gave scathing assessments of administration handling of the funding crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, while trustees disputed some of their assertions but also promised better communication in the future.” – “Firing of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh was ‘invalid’, judge rules,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “A Hampden Superior Court judge ruled the Baker administration’s firing of former Holyoke Soldiers' Home Bennett Walsh ran afoul of state law, invalidating Walsh’s termination in a ruling issued late Monday afternoon. In the same ruling, Judge John Ferrara rejected a countersuit by the state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services arguing the firing must stand.” – “As Temperature Drops, Restaurant Owners Urge State Lawmakers To Pass Relief Bill,” by Adrian Ma, WBUR: “A group representing chefs and restaurant owners is urging lawmakers to help the struggling industry before it becomes too cold for outdoor dining to continue. About a dozen people, speaking on behalf of the group Massachusetts Restaurants United, gathered on the steps of the State House in Boston on Tuesday and called for the passage of an economic aid package that would include a fund for distressed restaurants.” – “Mass. legislators urge MassDOT to consider purchasing Pan Am assets to secure a Fitchburg to North Adams passenger rail corridor,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts has the right of first refusal in the potential sale of Pan Am Railways that could ‘be a major boost for our regional economy and invaluable’ to the state and the environment, according to a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack by legislators on Tuesday.” – “How The Battle Over Replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg Is Shaping Massachusetts Politics,” by Anthony Brooks, WBUR: “Republican attorney Kevin O'Connor, who is challenging Democratic Senator Ed Markey in November, is blunt about what the U.S. Senate should do following the death of Justice Ginsberg. ‘They should do their job,’ he said. O'Connor says that means as soon as President Trump nominates a successor, the Senate should hold hearings and vote.” – “Massachusetts National Guard members to receive to a $500 bonus for work responding to COVID-19 crisis,” by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts announced that National Guard members will receive a $500 bonus for their response and aid to residents during the pandemic. ‘Massachusetts veterans and service members always put our safety ahead of their own and we wanted to find a way to thank them for their bravery,’ said State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg.” | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “Michelle Wu touts $100G in donations in first two days of Boston mayoral race,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Newly minted mayoral challenger Michelle Wu is boasting $100,000 in fundraising in the first 48 hours of her campaign last week. Wu’s campaign claimed in a news release Tuesday that supporters tossed the 100-large her way in the two days after her announcement last Tuesday morning, Sept. 15.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “The 7 minutes of chaos and confusion that led to the police shooting of Juston Root,” by Dugan Arnett, Boston Globe: “The call would spark a stunning series of events, seven minutes of mayhem that would shut down a hospital and neighboring communities, prompt an all-hands response from four law enforcement agencies, and leave a hospital parking attendant with a gunshot wound to the head. It would end with the man in the long coat, a 41-year-old with a long history of mental illness and a habit of carrying fake guns, dead in a barrage of police bullets. It would also leave some unanswered questions: What exactly happened here? And why?” – “Boston Police Reform Task Force Hears Calls For Real Change, More Training For Police,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “The public got one last chance to offer ideas to the task force charged with recommending reforms for the Boston Police Department. Speakers during Tuesday's remote hearing asked for more mental health training for officers, and cautioned that real cultural change is needed.” – “Buying a home? Good luck. Prices soared 14 percent last month,” by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: “The region’s housing market surged in August, with prices for single-family homes both statewide and in Greater Boston leaping by double digits compared with the same month last year. Fueled by strong demand — despite the pandemic-induced recession — coupled with a severe shortage of properties for sale, prices for single-family homes jumped 14 percent to a record-high median of $480,000.” – “The state’s emergency child-care centers kept COVID-19 in check. Here’s how,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “As schools and day-care centers were shuttered last spring to slow the spread of the coronavirus, hundreds of emergency child-care centers stayed open to serve the children of essential workers, even amid concerns that little was known about the risk of infection and transmission among children.” | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “New highway, route exit numbers are coming to Mass. starting next month,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “New exit numbers are coming to highways and routes across Massachusetts beginning next month, state Department of Transportation officials said Monday. The switch to mileage-based numbering rather than the current sequential numbering system emblazoned on green road signs around the commonwealth comes under a mandate from the Federal Highway Administration, an initiative MassDOT announced last year.” | | TRUMPACHUSETTS |
| – “Trump's remarks prompt posturing over poll security,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI News: “A group of Democratic lawmakers want cities and towns to send extra police to the polls this November, while at the same time keeping out sheriffs and state police. Rep. William Straus, D-Mattapoisett, said the bill was prompted by comments last week by President Donald Trump, who vowed to dispatch law enforcement to the polls to guard against voter fraud. In an interview last Thursday on Fox News, Trump said he plans to enlist local sheriffs and U.S. attorneys to monitor the vote.” | | NOVEMBER IS COMING |
| – “Fenway Park expected to be approved as an early-voting site,” by Peter Abraham, Boston Globe: “Fenway Park is one of the sites in line to be certified as an early-voting center when the City of Boston Board of Election Commissioners meets Thursday. If approved, as expected, the ballpark would be used for voting Oct. 17 and 18 only for Boston residents, according to the Election Commission.” | |
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| | | | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “State high court rejects Sudbury’s challenge to power line being built under MBTA right-of-way,” by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: “The state’s highest court ruled Tuesday that Sudbury cannot block a $9.3 million lease between the MBTA and Eversource that allows the utility to build a 4-mile-long underground transmission line on an unused railroad right-of-way. Residents fear the project will cause harm to the watershed and environmentally sensitive lands. But in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Judicial Court said the town lacks the legal standing needed to get the courts involved.” | | YOU'VE GOT MAIL |
| – “Mail-in ballots were most popular in primary in Attleboro,” by George W. Rhodes, Sun Chronicle: “There were four ways to vote in the Sept. 1 primary and the most popular was by mail. According to numbers provided by the city’s election office, 5,517 people, or 60.3 percent of the 9,142 people who cast ballots for the primary election, voted by mail.” | | DATELINE D.C. |
| – “Romney backs vote on Supreme Court nominee, clearing way for Trump,” by Burgess Everett, POLITICO: “Sen. Mitt Romney said Tuesday he would support a floor vote to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, essentially clinching consideration of President Donald Trump’s nominee this year despite the impending election. Just two Republican senators have asked for the party to put the brakes on the confirmation. And with a 53-seat majority, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) now has the votes he needs to move forward with a nominee.” | | THE PRESSLEY PARTY |
| – “Pressley applauded on House floor after moving speech on living with alopecia,” by John Bowden, The Hill: “Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) received a round of applause from fellow lawmakers on Tuesday after delivering an emotional speech on the House floor regarding her life with alopecia areata, a condition that causes hair loss. In the five-minute speech, the freshman congresswoman shared intimate details about coming to terms with the reality of her condition and urged support for a bill authored by herself and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) that would allow seniors to purchase medical wigs using Medicaid funds.” | | THE CLARK CAUCUS |
| – “The Rise Of Katherine Clark: From Small-Town School Board To Contender For Assistant Speaker Of The House,” by Callum Borchers, WBUR: “In 2004, a little-known member of the Melrose School Committee ran for state Senate. She lost by double digits. That candidate was Katherine Clark, now a congresswoman and a contender to become assistant speaker of the House next year. Clark has come a long way in 16 years — from small-town politics and a resounding defeat to the top tier of the Democratic Party — but she says the seemingly little job she used to hold isn't so different from the very big job she's running for today.” | | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| – “‘Four more years means more judges,’ Pence declares, rallying Trump supporters in N.H.” by Zoe Greenberg, Dugan Arnett and James Pindell, Boston Globe: “Vice President Mike Pence rallied Trump supporters at the Laconia Airport here Tuesday afternoon, arriving in the Granite State just a few days after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg heightened the stakes of an already pitched election battle. The now-vacant seat was a central rallying cry for the vice president.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “HUNGRY FOR HELP," "HIGH NOON ON THE HILL,” — Globe: “A closer look sheds light on 7 minutes of chaos," "Stimulus talks take a back seat in D.C.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Great Barrington to ask Gov. Baker, AG for help with Housatonic water woes,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle: “Town officials will ask Gov. Charlie Baker and the Office of the Attorney General to help solve water quality problems in Housatonic, after another summer of rusty water. The Select Board on Monday signed off on a letter asking Baker to ‘ensure that water quality and infrastructure improvements can be expedited’ to fix the system privately owned by Housatonic Water Works Co.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Sudbury police want end to ‘volatile’ comments about gathering amid coronavirus that led to charges,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Sudbury police want town residents to stop making ‘volatile’ comments on social media about a recent large gathering of high schoolers in town, noting Tuesday that the parents and teen child who allegedly held the party all stand accused of violating the state’s social host law.” – “State coalition of police union denounces violence, hostility against officers,” by Elaine Thompson, Telegram & Gazette: “As the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts launches an initiative Wednesday to highlight police misconduct, the state’s largest police union is calling on elected officials to denounce violence and hostile actions towards law enforcement.” – “Coastal study reveals Falmouth spots vulnerable to climate change,” by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: “As sea levels continue to rise, residents and town officials should prepare to retreat from the coast as a recent report presented to the town’s Coastal Resiliency Action Committee recommends major changes to undertake in the decades ahead.” – “COVID-19 outbreak closes Merrimack College dorm; 17 students test positive, 266 are quarantined,” by Mike LaBella, Eagle-Tribune: “Merrimack College has placed one of its dorms under quarantine after 16 students tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19, officials at the school said. One other student tested positive for the virus last week, officials said. According to an announcement college officials sent to students, teachers and staff, Merrimack placed all students who live in Monican Hall on quarantine as of 8 a.m. Tuesday after five students tested positive for the virus.” SPOTTED: At a virtual fundraiser for state Sen. Eric Lesser on Tuesday night … Dave Mandel, Timothy Simons, Jimmy Tingle, Anita McBride, Candy Glazer, Linda O'Connell, Michael Baick, Beth Dindas, Deborah Sirulnik, Laura Settlemyer, Susan Knightly, Dianne Doherty, Josh Levine, Margaret Child, Kait Saier, Sara Slavin and Brianna Pereira. TRANSITIONS – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former congressional candidate Jesse Mermell joins the Yes on 2 campaign as honorary co-chair and senior adviser. Yes on 2 is advocating for the November ballot question that would bring ranked-choice voting to Massachusetts. – Autumn Gould McLaughlin joins nonprofit BlueHub Capital as manager of communications. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Michael Falcone, chief of government affairs and advocacy at the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association; and Joshua Foer. 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. | |
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