POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WALSH steps on WU’s big news — MARKEY and KENNEDY to meet at ‘UNITY’ event — Nursing homes brace for SECOND WAVE

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. WALSH STEPS ON WU'S ANNOUNCEMENT — There's just something about Labor Day that Massachusetts politicians can't resist. Last year, the buzz at the Boston Labor Council's annual breakfast was whether Rep. Joe Kennedy III would challenge Sen. Ed Markey in a primary. Now, only a week after the votes were tallied in that race, the next big contest is already taking shape. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh effectively stepped on City Councilor Michelle Wu's mayoral campaign roll out yesterday. Walsh told the Boston Globe that Wu had called him a day earlier to tell him that she plans to run for mayor. Wu, a Roslindale Democrat, made a sly reference to the news report in a tweet Monday afternoon. "I want you to hear it from me…" Wu wrote on Twitter, posing for a picture with her two young sons. "Cass has now switched his fav flavor from strawberry to mint chocolate chip @No_1_icecreaman." Walsh’s move yesterday gives a sense of the tense, personal fight the mayoral race would be if he runs for reelection next year. Of course, there is speculation that Walsh may not even run for mayor if Democratic nominee Joe Biden is elected and offers him an administration role. If that were to happen, an open-seat mayoral race would draw a crowded, competitive field. For now, Walsh has not said whether he'll run for a third term. He told the Globe that he's focused on helping Biden beat President Donald Trump in November. The other big question is whether Wu would be Walsh's only challenger, or if other Boston pols may jump into the race. If Wu does run for mayor, and Walsh runs for reelection, a yearlong campaign will give her time to chip into Walsh's enormous financial advantage. Walsh has more cash on hand — $5.5 million — than Markey and Kennedy did at this time last year. Wu has $346,000 in her war chest. Taking on an incumbent mayor is no easy task, and the tea leaves from the Sept. 1 primary offer mixed messages. Rob Consalvo, a former Walsh administration official, just won a primary for an open state legislature seat representing Hyde Park, Roslindale and West Roxbury. And incumbent state Rep. Kevin Honan won a tough primary challenge in Allston-Brighton. Walsh also endorsed Markey, who had a surprisingly strong performance over Kennedy in Boston last week. But some of Markey's most outspoken activist backers have already signaled their support for Wu, and voiced their frustration that Walsh made Wu's campaign news public. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at the unveiling of the BPD Memorial Wall, then speaks with reporters at Boston City Hall. Rep. Katherine Clark hosts a discussion on Covid-19 and its impact on communities of color over Facebook Live with California Rep. Ami Bera. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III join the Massachusetts Democratic Party for a unity event on Zoom.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– “Massachusetts reports 8 new COVID-19 deaths, 222 new cases on Labor Day,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts public health officials reported eight coronavirus-linked deaths on Labor Day, bringing the state’s death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic to 8,925. The state Department of Public Health also reported 222 new COVID-19 cases, based on 9,870 new molecular tests. As of Monday, 322 people are hospitalized due to a coronavirus-related illness.”

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

– “Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s office detected nearly 13,000 wage theft victims in fiscal 2020, surpassing previous year,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office identified 12,939 employees affected by labor rights violations in fiscal 2020, a 16% increase from the previous year. The AG’s Fair Labor Division made employers pay $6.65 million in restitution and $5.68 million in penalties with the highest number of assessments coming from the hospitality industry, according to AG Maura Healey’s 2020 Labor Day report published Monday morning.” – “How is Massachusetts going to pay all of the unemployment requests? Employers will face ‘staggering’ hike in unemployment taxes.” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: “With unemployment soaring, state lawmakers are considering ways to soften the blow from a major impending increase in the taxes employers pay toward the state’s unemployment system, a jump in costs that one business group described as a ‘pretty staggering.’” – “State pols support rescinding Columbia Gas emergency,” by Bill Kirk, Eagle-Tribune: “While state lawmakers from the Merrimack Valley cheered Gov. Charlie Baker’s recent decision to rescind the state of emergency due to the Columbia Gas disaster, they cautioned that the region remains scarred and still needs help. On Tuesday, the Baker-Polito Administration terminated the state of emergency -- nearly two years after it was declared by Baker.”

FROM THE HUB

– “Black girls in Mass. nearly 4 times more likely to face school discipline than white girls, report finds,” by Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: “Black girls in Massachusetts are 3.9 times more likely to face school discipline than white girls, according to a report released last week that looked at three states. The state’s disparity is slightly higher than that of Alabama, the report by the nonprofit Appleseed Network found, but lower than that of Kansas, where Black girls are 6.2 times more likely to be disciplined than their white counterparts.” – “A former Boston school principal says she was targeted by politically connected parents, teachers,” by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: “Weeks after a Suffolk Superior Court judge found that Boston Public Schools officials wrongfully terminated her, a former principal is speaking out, saying she was the victim of politically connected parents and teachers. Cramer’s interview with The Boston Globe provides a rare peek into the life of a BPS principal and some potential insight into why so many principals leave.” – “Cambridge arts groups seek city COVID relief funds,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Before the pandemic, Improv Boston averaged about 2,000 patrons a week who watched its comedy shows and participated in acting classes at its Central Square location. Now, almost six months after it closed in compliance with state coronavirus rules, the nonprofit improvisational theater is asking the city of Cambridge for help.” – “In Vaccine Trial, Researchers Struggle To Ensure Diversity Of Study Subjects,” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News: “A line of people worked its way recently through the parking lot at Brookside Community Health Center in Jamaica Plain. The big draw there was free coronavirus testing, but before they left, Carlos Hernandez, a patient navigator at the center, had one last important question to ask them.” – “Multilingual Outreach Workers Share COVID-19 Prevention Tips In Mass. Cities Hardest Hit By Virus,” by Adrian Ma, WBUR: “During a long Labor Day weekend when a lot of people are relaxing, or maybe hitting the beach, Cristiane Alves was working. At a beach in Lynn on Sunday, Alves stood out somewhat: mask and gloves on, walking from blanket to blanket between clusters of sunbathers, with an armful of fliers in English and Spanish.” – “Last year, he was the country’s top military officer. Now, he is retired on the South Shore,” by Brian MacQuarrie, Boston Globe: “Joe Dunford wore the Marine Corps uniform for 42 years, but the retired four-star general has swapped the battle space in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as political skirmishes in Washington, for a South Shore home a block from the ocean. He and his wife attend Sunday Mass from their car as protection during the pandemic, and Dunford laughs as he says that he checks the Sharktivity app to monitor the location of any Great Whites patrolling the beaches.”

THE SENATE SHOWDOWN

– “Kevin O’Connor sets ‘common sense’ strategy he says can beat Ed Markey,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “It’s been a decade since Massachusetts voters sent a Republican to the Senate — a streak Republican Kevin O’Connor says he’s hoping to end with a ‘common sense’ strategy he says will win over independents and blue-collar Democrats and beat Sen. Ed Markey. State Republican Committee Chairman James Lyons said lunch-bucket Democrats and police unions — once reliably Democratic — are flocking to O’Connor who he called ‘fresh face,’ to state politics.”

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– “Planning your return to the MBTA? Here’s what you missed,” by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: “Nothing signals the end of summer quite like the sudden swell of sun-kissed commuters jamming back onto the MBTA after Labor Day. Except this year. While the return of college students and a slowly reopening economy may slightly boost ridership, much of the transit system will probably still have that empty feel of a summer Sunday.”

DAY IN COURT

– “Healey won’t defend part of state panhandling law,” by Nick McCool and Maggie Mulvihill, Boston Globe: “In a legal clash that pits the state’s top law enforcement officer against the City of Fall River and police, Attorney General Maura Healey’s office will no longer defend part of a 90-year-old Massachusetts law criminalizing panhandling from people in vehicles, arguing it violates free speech rights.”

WARREN REPORT

– “No One Deserves This Labor Day More Than Women—Too Bad They Can’t Take Off,” by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Cosmopolitan: “Sure, women aren't just the backbones of their families, but as we celebrate Labor Day, we should acknowledge that women are also the backbones of our economy and our country. Despite their importance, it is clearer than ever that our economy is not working for them. For women— particularly women of color—the challenges that have always existed are only getting worse.”

TRUMPACHUSETTS

– “’Our elections have integrity’: Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, 24 other AGs urge people not to vote twice as President Trump suggests,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “While President Donald Trump has suggested repeatedly that people who vote-by-mail also cast a ballot in person, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and 24 other attorneys general urged the public to avoid voting twice.”

THE CLARK CAUCUS

– “Child care has always been essential to our economy — let's start treating it that way,” by Rep. Katherine Clark, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Suzanne Clark, The Hill: “The COVID-19 pandemic’s economic and societal disruptions have highlighted an important truth: child care is essential to our return to work and our nation’s recovery. Parents heal our sick, stock our shelves, design our products, and run our businesses—and, as any parent knows, those roles are secondary to our main job: raising and protecting our children.”

KENNEDY COMPOUND

– “What’s next for Joe Kennedy III?” by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: “As he yielded his yearlong primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Edward Markey on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III left the door open for a comeback. His Senate dreams dashed — at least for now — and out of a job in Congress come January, the scion of the state’s premier political dynasty will soon be looking for his next gig.” – “Kennedy -- quietly -- left his mark on Attleboro area,” by Tom Reilly, Sun Chronicle: “Now that Kennedy, D-Brookline, who lost his primary challenge to Sen. Ed Markey last week, will be replaced as the area’s representative, that’s what some in the area will miss most. And, they say, the person who replaces Kennedy in the 4th Congressional District seat, whether it’s Democrat Jake Auchincloss or Republican Julie Hall, will have a high standard to meet.”

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: “WU'S IN! (MARTY SAYS SO), "FLU GAP,” — Globe: “For Black Americans, grief compounded," "Trump's cash edge vanishes in final weeks.”

FROM THE 413

– “Easthampton City Council urges state to build new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke,” by Jim Russell, Springfield Republican: “The city council has joined with other municipalities in the state urging the legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker to commit resources to build a new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. Easthampton Council last week unanimously approved a resolution that ‘urges Governor Baker and the Legislature take immediate action to increase funding.’” – “Appeals court decision will cost state millions in 'middle mile' fees,” by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: “When the pandemic hit, pushing school and government work onto the web, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative worked with partners to expand free wifi access around the region. It did that by opening up portals onto what's known as the ‘middle mile.’ But the quasi-public agency's history with the operator of that 1,200-mile fiber-optic network, MassBroadband 123, has been far from harmonious.” – “Who should decide when it’s safe for children to go back to school? How one Massachusetts town wrestles with that question,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “Like roughly 30% of districts across Massachusetts, South Hadley schools will begin the academic year remotely before phasing in different groups of students based on their individual needs, with the goal of eventually returning to in-person instruction. And while school administrators and teachers’ unions clash over learning models for the fall, parents and doctors in South Hadley are using their backgrounds as scientists to try to challenge an administration they say is ignoring the science.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– “Pro-Trump counter-protesters compete with Somerset Black Lives Matter protest,” by Tim Dunn, SouthCoast Today: “Tempers flared in Somerset Sunday night as a Black Lives Matter protest was met by a pro-Trump rally outside of the New England for Trump store. The Black Lives Matter protest, organized by New Bedford resident Kendra Ford, w as originally organized as a ‘lie-in’ at the store that sells pro-Trump merchandise.” – “Local nursing homes brace for new wave of virus,” by Elaine Thompson, Telegram & Gazette: “Having borne the brunt of COVID-19, nursing homes say the financial help and guidance they have received from the state have prepared them to better address a second wave of the deadly virus should it strike this fall and winter. Funding, staff recruitment efforts, and acquisition of personal protective equipment have significantly improved, but some advocates say more needs to be done to continue the fight against COVID-19 in nursing homes and to enhance the overall quality of care.” – “Bourne asks legislators to avoid ‘knee-jerk’ police reforms,” by Beth Treffeisen, Cape Cod Times: “Bourne has joined several towns across the state in expressing concern over the sweeping police reform and accountability legislation being considered on Beacon Hill. ‘This letter purposefully talks about this in a time where ... there has been a lot of tensions that are bringing to the forefront of how we do things,’ Judith Froman, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, said at last week’s meeting.”

MEDIA MATTERS

– “WCVB’s Ted Wayman stabbed in Copley Square while working Sunday night,” by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: “Ted Wayman, a reporter for WCVB-TV Channel 5, is recovering after he was stabbed in Copley Square while reporting on a story Sunday night, according to the station. Wayman was taken to a local hospital and is ‘going to be fine,’ said Ro Dooley Webster, a spokeswoman for WCVB-TV.” TRANSITIONS – Cassie Moreno joins Virginia Sen. Mark Warner’s reelection campaign as press secretary. She previously served as comms director for Suraj Patel’s congressional campaign in New York, and is a Michelle Wu and Seth Moulton alum. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Jess Tocco of A10 Associates and Andrei Berman. 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.

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