| | |  | BY STEPHANIE MURRAY | Presented by Masterworks | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. HEALTH EXPERT: 'ROUGH' MONTHS AHEAD — Coronavirus cases are climbing in Massachusetts — the state reported more than 1,200 new cases of the virus on Monday. What does that mean as we head into the winter? I spoke with Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, about where Massachusetts stands and what elected officials should do to prevent the spread of the virus. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Massachusetts has seen over 1,000 coronavirus cases per day for the past several days. How alarmed should people be? I would say we should be pretty concerned. I don't know about alarmed, but we should be pretty concerned. It's not just cases, but really all the metrics are going in the wrong direction. We have more new cases per population now than Georgia does. And we've always looked at Georgia as a state that hasn't necessarily done such a great job. We've been pretty steadily climbing on the kind of state rankings in terms of number of cases. We're moving faster than a lot of other states. What should the next steps be? Should Massachusetts roll back some reopening measures? First and foremost, I would make all the contact tracing data public, and really, we don't have a lot of it. Really go after contact tracing, because you want to be as evidence-driven as possible on this. I do think we should roll indoor dining way back. And it's reasonable to ask the question, at this point when things are getting so bad, does it make any sense to have indoor dining open at all? We also have -- casinos are open. That kind of stuff really bothers me. We don't have schools open in Boston, but we have casinos open in Massachusetts. That feels to me like we don't have our priorities right. What should we be doing about schools? Should the state have a more broad decision-making role? I do think that more state leadership here would be useful. I believe in local leadership, but the problem is that local municipalities just don't have much expertise in this. More uniform policy from the state would be helpful, the state does have more expertise. And obviously the state can customize for places that have bigger outbreaks or smaller outbreaks. I'm not saying the same policy for every municipality in the commonwealth. The other part of the issue is, even now as cases are rising, I think the evidence is that young kids really should be back in school. But this is going to get much, much harder if cases continue to rise. For the people who want to keep schools shut for the next year, our inaction on infection levels in the community are essentially providing fuel for the argument that we just can't have schools open at all. Is there a particular number, or set of numbers, that should signal to officials that things are trending too far in the wrong direction and we have to shut down to some degree? The way to think about this virus, and spread, is less in my mind, like a numerical threshold. I think it's all about trends. Whenever you get into a situation where you're starting to see acceleration, you want to put on the brakes. We have been seeing acceleration in Massachusetts for many, many weeks. And we have a narrow window here. When you get to a point where you have to shut everything down, things have really gotten very bad. Is there anything that state lawmakers or city councilors should be doing now? One really important part of this is communication with people. Even last week, I was walking my dog in Massachusetts, where I live. I walked by a house where there was clearly a large house party happening. There were about 12 cars in front, and lots and lots of people indoors. And I remember thinking, 'We've got to find some way to stop that.' I didn't call the police because I don't want to turn this into like -- I don't feel like that's the thing. But we've got to find a way to communicate to people. We just can't do that kind of stuff right now in a pandemic. I do think pulling back on some of the things that have opened -- casinos, restaurants. And I still think we can do more on testing. Winter is coming and cases are going up. Is there any bright spot that people can look toward in the midst of all of this? Undoubtedly, if policymakers were more aggressive now, we could have a much, much, much less dark winter. If they wait for a few more weeks, then yes, I think we have a very dark winter ahead. Obviously, we're all excited about a vaccine, which we'll start getting out there. But even under the most rosy of scenarios, a majority of Americans aren't going to get the vaccine until April. I'm not seeing much policy action coming out of state government, and so my expectation is that things are gonna be pretty tough for the next few months. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Rep. Katherine Clark hosts a press conference with Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan to announce the donation of 7,500 masks from the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce. The ROE Act Coalition hosts a virtual rally with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ed Markey. ELECTIONLAND: POLITICO is partnering with Electionland , a ProPublica project that works with newsrooms to track voting issues around the country. The Electionland project covers problems that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots during the 2020 elections. We’re part of a coalition of newsrooms around the country that are investigating issues related to voter registration, pandemic-related changes to voting, the shift to vote-by-mail, cybersecurity, voter education, misinformation, and more. Tell us here if you’re having trouble voting. | |
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| | JOIN WEDNESDAY - SPACE, THE FINAL ECONOMIC FRONTIER: The quest for resources and other economic benefits is space exploration’s new frontier. Commercialization and public-private partnerships are increasingly common, a trend that will likely continue. What will a future space economy look like, and what role will the U.S. play in achieving it? What policy and regulatory issues must be tackled as space commerce grows? And what obstacles and opportunities lie ahead? On Wednesday, Oct. 28, join POLITICO for a virtual, deep-dive conversation exploring the opportunities and challenges of the fast-growing space economy. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “New Massachusetts COVID numbers climb again; 1,216 new cases amid fears of ‘second wave,’” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “Health officials confirmed another 1,216 coronavirus cases on Monday, marking the third straight day of more than 1,000 new cases. That’s based on 20,086 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 17 COVID-related deaths. There have now been 9,657 deaths from the respiratory infection since the start of the pandemic.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Legislature passes bill to send $1,800 in extra jobless benefits to previously ineligible residents,” by Larry Edelman, Boston Globe: “The Legislature passed a bill Monday intended to deliver $1,800 in unemployment pay to thousands of Massachusetts residents who previously didn’t qualify for bonus benefits from the federal government. Governor Charlie Baker signed the legislation shortly after approval.” – “‘Emotionally disturbed’ man charged in burning of ballot box, authorities say,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “A 39-year-old Boston man charged with setting a ballot box in Copley Square on fire early Sunday is emotionally disturbed and does not appear to be “plotting against our democracy,” Suffolk County’s top prosecutor said. Worldy Armand appeared Monday in Boston Municipal Court on a charge of willful and malicious burning, according to Boston police and the Suffolk County district attorney’s office.” – “Ballot box security to be boosted following fire,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “After a man set fire to a ballot box in front of the Boston Public Library, officials are beefing up security aimed at maintaining the integrity of next week’s election. Secretary of State William Galvin issued a directive to municipal election officials Monday morning that urges them to improve the security of ballot drop boxes.” – “She voted, and then 2020 struck again: ‘Of course my ballot has been set on fire,’” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Sarah Carlson had happily documented her 2020 vote on Saturday, posting to Facebook a photo of her holding her ballot next to the drop box outside of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, just before she deposited it. The time was 2:42 p.m. ‘Civic duty done (for today),’ Carlson, 39, wrote. She later found out that may not be the case.” – “Baker-affiliated PAC bypasses Sen. Tran,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Bolstered by a $150,000 donation from developer John Fish, a super PAC affiliated with Gov. Charlie Baker reported on Monday that it raised $652,500 since late August and spent more than $525,000 on 29 candidates, all but three of them Republicans. Even though Republicans control only four seats in the Senate, the Massachusetts Majority PAC chose not to support Republican Sen. Dean Tran of Fitchburg, who is facing a challenge from Democratic political newcomer John Cronin.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “These ordinary citizens are preparing to fight a coup in November,” by Zoe Greenberg, Boston Globe: “On a recent Tuesday evening, about 1,500 people gathered virtually to consider some previously unthinkable questions. They were students and retirees, veteran activists and rookies, residents of Anchorage and Manchester and Boston and Honolulu. If President Trump carried through on his threats and refused to accept a loss in the Nov. 3 election, what were they prepared to do?” – “Loconto’s gaffe underscores simmering racial conflicts,” by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: “A brew of conflict fueled by Boston’s racial politics came to a boil last week, when the School Committee took up a proposal to suspend for one year the test governing entrance to the city’s three exam schools. A flashpoint came when now-former Boston School Committee President Michael Loconto was heard on hot mic making fun of people’s names after secretary Elizabeth Sullivan read off the names of several Asian Americans who were scheduled to testify.” – “College students make a last-ditch effort to make Election Day an academic holiday,” by Diti Kohli, Boston Globe: “An intercollegiate band of Boston students has mobilized, just before the presidential vote, to make Election Day an academic holiday. The group is behind a series of student government resolutions, petitions, and events that have swept city-area campuses in the past two weeks. Their collective message? Cancel classes and unrelated events on the day when they say students, faculty, and staff should focus on heading to the polls.” – “In Dunkin' deal, a restaurant giant sees a brand built to withstand the pandemic,” by Jon Chesto and Janelle Nanos, Boston Globe: “Dunkin' Brands has proven in recent months that its business model can outshine and outlast its independent coffeehouse rivals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, one of Massachusetts’ best-known chains looks likely to be acquired for a steep price by a national conglomerate.” | | BALLOT WARS |
| – “UMass Amherst/WCVB poll: Massachusetts voters support Biden, Question 1, eliminating Electoral College,” WCVB: “Massachusetts registered voters support Joe Biden in the race for president and many have already cast their ballot, according to a new poll from UMass Amherst and WCVB. The poll found that 62% of the 713 respondents have already cast their general election ballot, whether voting by mail, absentee, or taking advantage of early voting.” – “Question 1 Again Thrusts Mass. Into Forefront On 'Right To Repair,'” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Tinkering with cars and solving problems is Tony Venuto's love and livelihood. It’s what drove him, over 30 years ago, to launch the Dedham repair shop and used car dealership that he now co-owns with his brother-in-law — him running the repair side, while his relative oversees sales.” | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “T faces $850,000 judgment in ‘grudge’ case,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The state appeals court on Monday upheld a judgment of more than $850,000 against the MBTA for allowing a manager with a 10-year-old grudge against a fellow employee to use his connections at the agency to force the worker into retirement.” | | NOVEMBER IS COMING |
| – “More than 1.7 million Massachusetts voters have cast their ballots, a week before Election Day,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “A week before Election Day, Massachusetts clerks have received more than 1.7 million votes for the general election, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. More than 1 million people have returned mail-in ballots with 57,157 more ballots getting processed since Sunday, according to Secretary William Galvin’s office.” | |
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| | | | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “More cases connected to Sonja Farak’s drug lab work expected to be dropped,” by Maggie Mulvihill, Boston Globe: “Hundreds of additional Massachusetts drug lab scandal cases are being dismissed, contributing to the 35,000 convictions already thrown out, due to remaining questions about the reliability of tests performed by Sonja Farak while she worked as a chemist at the William A. Hinton laboratory in Jamaica Plain.” | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “Sen. Elizabeth Warren says Trump ‘doesn’t seem to care’ about those impacted by the pandemic,” MSNBC: “On President Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, Senator Elizabeth Warren says he ‘doesn’t seem to care’ about those affected by virus infections or the economic fallout from it.” | | THE PRESSLEY PARTY |
| – “Ayanna Pressley, Storm Reid, and Youth Activists Are Urging People to Vote for Joe Biden,” Teen Vogue: “To acknowledge this climactic moment in a year that changed everything, Teen Vogue brought together some of our favorite actors, activists, and lawmakers to talk about all that is at stake.” | | MARKEYCHUSETTS |
| – “Markey rips GOP for support of Amy Coney Barrett: Originalism 'just a fancy word for discrimination,'” by Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill: “Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Monday lambasted Senate Republicans for their full-throated support of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a religious conservative and President Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court who is expected to be confirmed by the end of the day. ‘Originalism is racist. Originalism is sexist. Originalism is homophobic,’ Markey tweeted Monday. ‘Originalism is just a fancy word for discrimination.’" | | THE CLARK CAUCUS |
| – “Rep. Katherine Clark: Health crisis exposes crucial role of child care,” by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: “Congresswoman Katherine Clark says a lack of access to child care is ‘holding our economy hostage’ and called for a shift in how the public views care and education of young children. Speaking Thursday at an online Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event, Clark said child care should be thought of as a public good like transportation infrastructure rather than as a personal choice for parents.” | | TRUMPACHUSETTS |
| – “A new map shows only two Massachusetts towns had more Trump donors than Biden donors,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Massachusetts is often called a ‘deep blue’ state. When it comes to donations in the 2020 presidential election, it looks even bluer. The New York Times released a map Monday that uses campaign finance data to break down the number of respective donors to Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by zip code.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “HERALD ENDORSES PRESIDENT TRUMP," "GO SLOW JOE,” — Globe: “It's Justice Barrett, ushering in a new judicial landscape," "As cases rise, so too calls for mask rule nationwide.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “New England NAACP chapters condemn Springfield police for removing chaplain,” by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: “NAACP chapters throughout New England on Monday condemned Springfield police for removing Bishop Talbert W. Swan II as a chaplain for the department, arguing that the move was a response to Swan’s criticism of the department. The Springfield Police Department has been under scrutiny since a US Department of Justice investigation released in July found narcotics officers used excessive force, needlessly escalated encounters with civilians, and routinely provide misleading or false arrest reports to cover up misconduct.” – “New COVID-19 cases nearly double in Springfield,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “City officials cited a ‘very disheartening’ spike in coronavirus with new cases of COVID-19 nearly doubling in a single week. ‘We are at a very dangerous time right now,’ Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said, during the weekly update on COVID-19 at City Hall.” – “Susan B. Anthony, Adams native, trending again as voting pioneer,” by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: “A pioneer of winning the vote for women, Adams native Susan B. Anthony, has not been forgotten. In fact, a tradition of pre-election pilgrimages to her final resting place appears to be intensifying. A plastic shield has been placed on her gravesite in Rochester, N.Y., because of all the ‘I Voted’ stickers that were being left at the plot.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “Crocker, Diggs square off in 2nd Barnstable District,” by Christine Legere, Cape Cod Times: “In his quest for a third term as state representative for the 2nd Barnstable District, Republican William Crocker faces a challenge from political newcomer Kip Diggs, a Democrat. The district comprises 10 precincts in Barnstable and two in Yarmouth. Before serving in the Legislature, Crocker was a longtime radio announcer on the Cape and more recently a teacher at the Bristol County House of Correction.” – “Sen. Ryan Fattman, in reelection bid, faces Milford Democrat Christine Crean,” by Elaine Thompson, Telegram & Gazette: “Christine M. Crean, the former chairman of the Milford Democratic Committee, is challenging state Sen. Ryan C. Fattman, R-Sutton, in his bid for reelection to a fourth term to the Worcester and Norfolk District seat. The district consists of Blackstone, Douglas, Dudley, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millville, Oxford, Southbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge, Webster, and Precincts 1 and 3 in Northbridge in Worcester County, and the town of Bellingham in Norfolk County.” – “Lawrence cancels trick-or-treating on Halloween after ranking 3rd in Massachusetts in overall case count and ‘146 souls lost to COVID,’” by Heather Morrison, MassLive.com: “Lawrence joins a growing number of cities and towns canceling trick-or-treating this Halloween due to the coronavirus pandemic. ‘We understand that this year has been full of sacrifices and disappointments, especially for families with children,’ Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera said.” | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| – “The Herald endorses President Trump,” Boston Herald: “The 2020 presidential election is about what people don’t want as much as what they actually do want. For the left, getting Donald Trump out of office tops the wish list. It’s been that way since the day after the 2016 election. For them, everything the president has done is bad, every move sinister, and every policy one more nail in the progressive coffin.” ONE COOL THING – Thanks to the Washington Post for including me on “The Fix’s 2020 list of outstanding politics reporters to follow in every state.” Link. TRANSITIONS – Emma Murphy is leaving her role as a reporter at The Lowell Sun. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Rep. Lori Trahan. NEW EPISODE: ELECTION DAZE – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray discuss the expiration of the state’s eviction moratorium, and break down early voting data with MassINC’s Rich Parr. And just in time for Halloween, we ask you: Is candy corn good or gross? 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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