| | |  | BY STEPHANIE MURRAY | Presented by CuriosityStream | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. NEW: CAMPBELL ANNOUNCES MAYORAL CAMPAIGN — Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell is launching her campaign for mayor of Boston this morning. She’s the second candidate to jump into the 2021 contest, following her council colleague Michelle Wu. "I'm running for mayor because every neighborhood deserves real change and a real chance," Campbell says in an announcement video. In the two-minute spot, Campbell supporters emphasize her Boston roots and work on the council over the last several years. Campbell plans to run on an "equity agenda" focused on issues including public health and safety, criminal justice, housing, public education, economic development, environmental justice and racial equity. Campbell will hold a campaign launch event outside her childhood home in Roxbury later this morning. "By the Grace of God and the opportunities this city afforded me, I stand here today — as a girl who grew up in public housing in Roxbury and the South End, with a family torn apart by incarceration and loss, who could be elected the first Black woman president of the Boston City Council, and today launch a campaign to be the first Black mayor and first woman mayor of the city of Boston,” Campbell said in a statement to reporters. The District 4 councilor begins the race as an underdog. A recent poll of the 2021 race from GBH and the MassINC Polling Group found Campbell trailing incumbent Mayor Marty Walsh and Wu, with 4 percent of support among registered voters. Walsh, who is likely to run for reelection but has not made an announcement, had 46 percent of support, while Wu, who holds an at-large seat, had 23 percent. Both Campbell and Wu are running campaigns that could make history — an incumbent mayor of Boston has not lost a reelection bid in over 70 years. Plus, the city has never elected a leader who is not a white man. Entering the race early gives Campbell a long runway to raise campaign funds and catch up with Walsh's $5.5 million war chest. Campbell has $285,000 in her campaign account, according to data from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Wu had $346,000 in her account at the end of the last filing period, though her campaign says it raised $100,000 within days of her announcement last week. EXCLUSIVE: GRAY ENTERS AT-LARGE COUNCIL RACE — Jamaica Plain attorney Alex Gray is launching a campaign this morning to become Boston's first blind city councilor next year. Gray is vying for an at-large seat on the council in 2021. The 36-year-old Democrat is a policy analyst for the city of Boston, where he helped start Boston's tuition-free community college plan, and previously served as an adviser to former Gov. Deval Patrick. "Because I'm blind, I've become a great listener. Ironically, you know, it's improved my life in that way. I know that there are a lot of people that feel unheard and I've made a career of hearing people that haven't felt heard and taking what they say and putting it to action," Gray told me over the phone yesterday. Gray began to lose his vision at 8 years old due to a genetic condition, and fought to stay in a public school system while he was growing up. Gray is pitching himself as a progressive focused on issues including an equitable recovery from the pandemic, increased affordable housing, expanded education opportunities and a living wage. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Rep. Lori Trahan speaks to reporters with Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline and Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes. Trahan and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera discuss the U.S. Census on Facebook Live. | |
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| | JOIN OUR TOWN HALL TODAY - 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 542 new COVID cases, 17 new deaths on Wednesday,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials on Wednesday announced another 17 coronavirus deaths, bringing the statewide death count to 9,135. Officials also confirmed another 542 cases of COVID-19, for a total of 126,408 cases statewide.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Baker rips ‘classic Washington behavior’ as high court battle overshadows COVID response on Capitol Hill,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican who has long put his national party at arm’s length, criticized the GOP-led Senate for putting what he framed as a misplaced focus on the nomination of a new Supreme Court justice at a time when states and cities are desperately waiting for lawmakers to send more federal pandemic aid.” – “Baker weighs in on budget, eviction moratorium, Collins,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday said fiscal 2022, which begins in July next year, represents the biggest challenge facing state budget officials as they deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Baker said the state will shortly be able to close the books on fiscal 2020, which ended in June, and approve a budget for fiscal 2021, where the revenue shortfall has been projected to range between $4 billion to $5 billion compared to the previous year.” – “Bar Service For Food Now OK In Restaurants, Baker Declares,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Customers can belly up to the bar again in Massachusetts restaurants starting Monday, if and only if they plan to eat a meal and not stand around. Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday data from other states suggests it will be safe to let restaurants use bars areas to serve food and drink to seated customers, as long as the seats are properly distanced.” – “Charlie Baker urges school officials not to rush decision to switch to remote learning,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “During a press conference Wednesday morning, Gov. Charlie Baker emphasized that Massachusetts communities with a high number of COVID-19 cases relative to their population should remain ‘vigilant’ to stop the spread of the infectious and potentially deadly disease. But he also suggested that some had overreacted — at least when it comes to school reopening.” – “Thomas Turco, head of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, to retire at the end of year,” by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: “The top public safety official in Massachusetts announced Wednesday that he is stepping down. Thomas Turco, who served as secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) in Massachusetts for the past two years, announced to staff he will retire by the end of the year.” – “Charlie Baker calls on Holyoke Soldiers’ Home board to fire superintendent after judge’s ruling,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Gov. Charlie Baker called on the board of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home to fire its embattled superintendent a day after a judge ruled the state’s own attempt to remove him was improper. ‘It’s our expectation given the judge’s ruling with respect to who has the authority to fire at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, that we would expect the board… would act to remove Bennett Walsh permanently,’ Baker said.” – “Voting groups push for more ballot drop boxes,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI News: “Voting rights advocates are urging cities and towns to install more drop boxes to collect vote-by-mail ballots sent ahead of the November election, and the state's top election official is pledging to pick up the tab. Election officials predict a record turnout for the Nov. 3 election, when Massachusetts voters will pick a president and U.S. Senator amid a host of other races. They're also bracing for a crush of ballots cast by mail amid concerns about spread of COVID-19.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Greater Boston housing system could soon 'collapse,’ new report warns,” by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: “An eviction crisis is looming over Greater Boston: Low-wage employees in the region have lost jobs at a rate nearly four times that of high-wage workers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, diminishing households’ ability to pay rent. With many low-income households living paycheck to paycheck, and this summer’s expiration of an additional $600 in weekly unemployment benefits, a surge in evictions and housing displacement could materialize.” – “Rally in Franklin Park calls for justice for Breonna Taylor,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “Bearing protest signs, some worn from months of demonstrations, community members gathered at Franklin Park Wednesday evening for a moment of silence and an hour of voices calling for justice for Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical worker in Kentucky fatally shot by police in March.” – “‘A gold rush’ for local real estate,” by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: “A small army of developers is altering the fabric of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan in defiance of a zoning code that some argue was meant to protect abutters from the excesses of speculative real estate development. In case after case, developers are pushing past the previously set limits on building height and density.” – “Advocates Call For More Affordable Housing As BPDA Is Set To Vote On Massive Suffolk Downs Development,” by Simón Rios, WBUR: “Boston Planning and Development Agency is set to vote Thursday night on the largest new development Boston has seen in decades. The Suffolk Downs redevelopment proposal would create 10,000 units of housing and promises to create an entire new neighborhood between East Boston and Revere.” – “Sharp decline in child health care amid coronavirus prompts call to action by Medicaid chief,” by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: “A sharp decline in the number of low-income children receiving vital care during the pandemic, including vaccinations and mental health care, prompted a call to action Wednesday by the nation’s top health insurance administrator, who is seeking creative solutions, starting in Boston.” – “The MFA Unveils A New Outdoor Mural To Address Racism And Police Brutality,” by Dana Forsythe, WBUR: “Calling forth powerful images highlighting the struggle against racial and police violence toward people of color in America today, ‘No Weapon Against Thee Shall Prosper’ is a mural with many functions. The mural, which will feature on the front lawn of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston when it opens Sept. 26, serves as an introduction and conversation starter for museum visitors — on the issue of police brutality and racism in America, but also what role the arts and museums specifically play in reflecting communities of color.” – “Inside Boston’s Looming Mental Health Crisis,” by Rachel Slade, Boston Magazine: “If I asked how you are doing today, how would you answer? You might say ‘pretty well’—after all, you’ve probably already ticked a lot of things off your to-do list—shopping, cooking, helping the kids with remote classes, doing those Zoom calls like a boss, weightlifting on the porch, dropping in on your friend’s virtual cocktail hour. But dig a little deeper. Have you smiled—like, really smiled?” – “MGH study says routine blood test may predict COVID-19 hospital death risk,” by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts General Hospital researchers say they’ve found that a routine test of blood cells may provide a key clue to whether patients admitted to the hospital with the coronavirus face a higher risk of dying. A standard test that quantifies the variation in the size of red blood cells, called red cell distribution width (RDW), was correlated with patient mortality, researchers said in a statement from the hospital .” | |
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| | | | | PRIMARY SOURCES |
| – “How Early Voting Data Shows Some Inequities In The Mass. Democratic Primary,” by Steve Koczela and Rich Parr, WBUR: “Early voting in Massachusetts is a big hit. Out of the record-breaking 1.7 million votes cast this month, just over a million votes were cast absentee, by mail or early in-person, according to data from the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office. The early vote alone would have been a record turnout compared to any other primary election going back to 1990. But those early votes were not distributed evenly — not by party primary, or geography, or by racial and socio-economic demographics.” | | THE SENATE SHOWDOWN |
| – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: “Massachusetts Nurses Association Endorse Ed Markey for U.S. Senate,” from the Markey campaign: “The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) have endorsed Ed Markey for re-election to the United States Senate. With 23,000 members, the MNA is at the forefront of advocating for the rights of nurses across the Commonwealth.” | | YOU'VE GOT MAIL |
| – “Massachusetts Voters Can Now Apply Online For Mail-In Ballot,” by Edgar B. Herwick III, GBH News: “Massachusetts voters no longer need to use the mail to apply to vote by mail. Voters can now apply for a mail-in ballot for the November general election online at the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. The option to vote by mail has been extended to all voters this year, due to health concerns over COVID-19.” | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Four former eBay employees to plead guilty in cyberstalking case targeting Natick couple critical of company,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Four of the seven former eBay employees charged in a bizarre alleged cyberstalking campaign aimed at a Natick couple that ran an online newsletter critical of the company have agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the case, prosecutors said Wednesday.” | | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| – “Sen. Ed Markey leads three dozen senators demanding climate change questions in presidential, VP debates,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “Intense wildfires and heat waves. Rising sea levels and shifting water levels in the Great Lakes. Devastating hurricanes. None of the above will be up for discussion when President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden take the stage next week in Cleveland for the first of three debates before Election Day.” – “Mass. Congressional Delegation Calls For Changes At Fort Hood, Military,” by Chris Burrell, GBH News: “A month after the death of a soldier from Brockton who was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, a Congressional delegation from Massachusetts is calling for changes in how the military handles allegations of sexual assault. At least nine soldiers at the U.S. Army base have died this year alone, including 23-year-old Elder Fernandes, an Army sergeant from Brockton.” – “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Richard Neal and other Democratic leaders unveil reforms to curb presidential abuses,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced an expansive reform package to curb presidential abuses and enhance Congress’s ability to provide oversight and maintain the rule of law, which they argue President Donald Trump has repeatedly ignored while in office.” | | MEANWHILE IN MAINE |
| – “Maine Lifts COVID-19 Travel Restrictions For Mass. Residents,” by Patty Wight, Maine Public Radio: “Residents of Massachusetts no longer have to quarantine for 14 days or get a negative COVID-19 test before visiting Maine. The Mills administration announced the change Wednesday afternoon, saying it goes into effect immediately.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “RED ALERT," "RANK ACTIVITY,” — Globe: “Baker pushes districts to get students back in school," "With a court shift, Ginsburg's loss could be felt for decades.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Looking for decent WiFi, this mother parked outside a library so her daughter could log on to school,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: “Last week, Melissa Allis took her 11-year-old daughter with her to Firestone for a scheduled car repair. She wasn’t bringing the sixth-grader just out of convenience: sitting and waiting at the shop meant her daughter could log on to the internet. On another day, Allis spent a few hours parked outside a library so her daughter, Briar, could connect to the internet for online class.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Police presence in schools is detrimental for students, new study finds,” by Haley Lerner, Telegram & Gazette: “The presence of police in Massachusetts schools is detrimental to students and disproportionately harms Black and brown children, according to a new report released Tuesday. The policy report from Citizens for Juvenile Justice and Strategies for Youth found that Black and brown students and students with disabilities are ‘disproportionately targeted’ for in-school arrests.” – “Marlborough High switches to remote learning after students test positive for COVID-19. The students did not attend class when school year began Monday.” by Jeff Malachowski, MetroWest Daily News: “Marlborough High School will transition from hybrid to remote learning Thursday until at least Oct. 13 after some students tested positive for the coronavirus. None of the high school students who tested positive physically attended classes when the high school began the 2020-2021 school year on Monday, said Superintendent Michael Bergeron.” – “New Bedford Public Schools partners with Comcast to provide students free internet access,” Standard-Times: “New Bedford Public Schools has partnered with Comcast to provide six months of high-speed internet access through Comcast’s Internet Essentials Program to eligible families served by the school district, school department officials announced in a press relea.” TRANSITIONS – Anthony Foxx, Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Sasha Baker and Syra Madad have been named fellows at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, who is 68; former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who is 66; Scott Wallace , founder of the Wallace Global Fund and co-founder of Kennedy Democrats (h/t Andrew Laureti); Musawir Chaudhry and Hope Hall, a Warren 2020 alum and former Obama W.H. videographer. 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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