| | |  | BY STEPHANIE MURRAY | Presented by the American Heart Association | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. POLICE REFORM BILL HEADED TO BAKER'S DESK — After months of closed-door negotiations, a controversial police reform measure is headed to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk. Now, the question is whether the governor will sign it. The proposed law would create a certification, training and decertification process for law enforcement in Massachusetts, something Baker supports, along with a number of other measures. Citing the swift nature of the bill's passing on Beacon Hill yesterday, the governor declined to comment on the legislation. "Since we filed the first round of creating a certification and decertification process in Massachusetts back in June, this is an issue that's important to us," Baker said during a press briefing on Tuesday, a few hours before the bill passed. "Until we have a chance to actually read the thing, which I mean, we haven't even talked to our own lawyers about it yet." After being stuck in conference committee for months, the legislation moved quickly on Beacon Hill. The compromise bill was released Monday evening, and both chambers had passed it by Tuesday night. "I'm not going to comment beyond that to just say that I'm glad that the Legislature moved forward on this. I'm glad this is something that was part of what they consider to be important to get done before the end of the session," Baker said. "But I can't speak to the specifics of this until we have a chance to review it." The legislature has a Democratic super majority, meaning lawmakers can theoretically overrule vetoes from the governor. But here’s something to note: The police reform bill did not pass in the House with the two-thirds majority that would make it veto-proof. Massachusetts is one of several blue states with Republican governors eyeing police reform in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police in Minneapolis. In Maryland, led by Gov. Larry Hogan, lawmakers are expected to draft police reform legislation when they resume business in January. And in Vermont, GOP Gov. Phil Scott signed a law in July that requires state police to wear body cameras and prohibits police officers from using choke holds. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley speak at a virtual forum hosted by the Museum of African American History Boston and Nantucket. | |
A message from the American Heart Association: The facts on sugary drinks are simple. They pose a real health risk. Kids especially are drinking too many of them. All those sweet drinks contribute to major health problems, like diabetes and heart disease. And with Massachusetts already spending nearly $2 billion per year treating obesity-related diseases, we need to address the problem. Massachusetts should take a page from a growing number of places across the country and adopt a tax on sugary drinks. Learn more here. | | | | |
| | TRACK THE TRANSITION: President-elect Biden has started to form a Cabinet and announce his senior White House staff. The appointments and staffing decisions made in the coming days send clear-cut signals about Biden's priorities. Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, it tracks the appointments, people, and the emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “COVID deaths in Massachusetts continue slow climb as average positive tests increase to 4.61% with 2,845 new cases,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials confirmed another 2,845 cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the number of active cases statewide to 43,601. Tuesday’s cases are based on 59,832 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. There have now been 221,174 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.” | | HEALTH CHECK |
| – “Baker: With 'Brighter Days Ahead,' No New COVID Restrictions Planned,” by Adam Reilly, GBH NEWS: “Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said Tuesday that despite rumors to the contrary, the state has no plans to further curtail the activity of residents to limit the spread of COVID as winter approaches. ‘There’s … been a lot of misinformation going around about things that are going to get shut down here, there, everywhere, at a moment’s notice,’ Baker said. ‘People have enough stress in their lives without having to deal with the rumor mongering.’” – “With more holidays ahead, Charlie Baker says ‘too many’ COVID-19 clusters are stemming from religious gatherings,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “During his first press conference following the Thanksgiving weekend, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that he has no plans to implement additional restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19. But with more holidays on the horizon, Baker cautioned residents about in-person religious gatherings, which state officials have linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases .” – “Vaccine panel prioritizes health care workers, long-term care residents,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “A federal advisory committee recommended on Tuesday that the initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines expected to become available starting in two weeks should go to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities before being rolled out to other high-priority groups over the coming months.” – “‘Time is of the essence here’: High-risk groups await state vaccine plan,” by Robert Weisman and Deanna Pan, Boston Globe: “With the first COVID-19 vaccines on track to arrive in Massachusetts in less than two weeks, the groups most vulnerable to the deadly virus — from front-line health workers to residents of hard-hit communities — are awaiting the state’s plan for allocating the initial doses in what’s shaping up as the largest vaccination program in history .” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Divided Legislature passes police accountability bill, sending controversial measure to Baker,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “A divided Massachusetts Legislature on Tuesday passed a sweeping police accountability bill that would subject thousands of officers to licensing standards for the first time and holds the potential to reshape law enforcement statewide. Capping months of intense and often secretive debate, the Senate and House approved the controversial 129-page compromise hashed out by legislative leaders, and sent it to Governor Charlie Baker, who has not made his views clear on several aspects of the bill.” – “Social Activists Say Beacon Hill Police Reform Bill Is A Start,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Advocates for increased oversight of Massachusetts police welcomed passage of compromise legislation Tuesday that would empower a majority-civilian review board that would have the power to remove officers from service if they were found guilty of wrongdoing or abusing their authority.” – “Ayanna Pressley backs new Massachusetts police reform bill — even if it ‘falls short,’” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Rep. Ayanna Pressley says Massachusetts state lawmakers should ‘swiftly’ pass the compromise police reform bill released Monday evening. However, she also isn’t pulling any punches about where she feels the legislation ‘falls short.’” – “Mixed Reaction From Police Accountability Activist To Proposed Reform Law,” by Lisa Mullins and Lynn Jolicoeur, WBUR: “Sgt. Eddie Chrispin, president of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, told WBUR's Radio Boston he has mixed feelings about the bill.” – “Police reform milestones and missed opportunities,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “It’s been six months since members of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus hung their heads in silence over the death of George Floyd, the unarmed black man killed beneath the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. The moment spurred nationwide calls for specific and targeted police reform, including on Beacon Hill.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Mayor Walsh Bracing For Thanksgiving Impact On Boston's Already-Rising COVID Rates,” by Isaiah Thompson, GBH News: “After a single-day count of over 400 new COVID-19 cases in Boston -- the highest since June's infection peak -- Mayor Marty Walsh is bracing for the possibility that infection rates will continue to climb in the wake of this Thanksgiving weekend. Many residents, Walsh says, traveled or left their homes to visit with relatives despite public health advisories urging them to stay home.” – “Walsh doesn’t anticipate Boston schools reopening until after Christmas break,” by Mark Gartsbeyn, Boston.com: “Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he doesn’t anticipate public schools fully opening before Christmas break as the city continues to bear its second major surge in coronavirus cases. ‘I know there are parents all across the city… saying, ‘Reopen schools,’’ Walsh said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. ‘I support you. But right now today, we are not prepared for that, not when you have 400 new cases today.’” – “From Idea To Mass Production, Moderna's COVID Vaccine Will Come From Massachusetts,” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News: “The COVID-19 vaccine that was dreamed up and developed by Massachusetts-based Moderna will also be manufactured in the state. ‘The vast majority of the U.S. production will be done in Massachusetts,’ Moderna co-founder Noubar Afeyan told GBH News.” – “Behind the Mask of the Phantom Gourmet,” by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: “Like all great performers, brothers Dan and Dave Andelman have a keen understanding that the show must go on. So one day in late March, as COVID-19 cases surged and shutdown hysteria swelled, the cohosts of the TV show Phantom Gourmet calmly stood 6 feet apart at opposite ends of a folding table in a large field ogling a spread of overstuffed whoopie pies.” – “Lee Pelton, Emerson president, will be Boston Foundation’s next CEO,” by Dasia Moore, Boston Globe: “The Boston Foundation announced Tuesday that Lee Pelton, currently president of Emerson College, will take the reins as its president and chief executive officer in June, becoming the leader of the philanthropic powerhouse at a time when a pandemic, recession, and movement for social justice have exposed tremendous need across the region.” – “Labor board says Yotel Boston illegally helped United Here coerce hotel workers into joining the union,” by Katie Johnston, Boston Globe: “The Yotel Boston hotel in the Seaport helped Unite Here Local 26 coerce employees into joining the union, according to a complaint issued Monday by the National Labor Relations Board. A virtual hearing on the matter is scheduled for March.” – One hour after Volodymyr Zhukovskyy crash that killed 7 motorcyclists, transportation company tried to add him to their insurance policy,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “Westfield Transport, the defunct Massachusetts trucking company linked to a June 2019 New Hampshire crash that killed seven motorcyclists, did not perform a required background check of 24-year-old driver Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, who awaits trial on several charges including manslaughter, negligent homicide and driving under the influence.” – “Buying a home in Greater Boston isn’t likely to get much easier in 2021,” by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: “If you thought 2020 was a tough year to buy a house, well, don’t count on 2021 being much easier. Home sales website Realtor.com has released a report predicting that home prices in Greater Boston will climb 5.7 percent next year, and sales volume will rise 5.4 percent.” | | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “Former Suffolk County sheriff Andrea Cabral endorses Andrea Campbell for mayor," by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe: “Cabral and Campbell became colleagues a few years later under Governor Deval Patrick, when Cabral was Secretary of Public Safety while Campbell was a member of the governor’s legal staff. Now Cabral is endorsing Campbell for mayor — the most high-profile endorsement for either of Walsh’s opponents in the race next year.” | |
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| | | | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Massachusetts justice Kimberly Budd sworn in as chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, succeeding late chief justice Ralph Gants,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “A small group of masked politicians and photographers surrounded Supreme Judicial Court Justice Kimberly Budd as she was sworn in as chief justice. Budd, whose family hails from Springfield, is the first Black woman to lead the high court. She’s also the first SJC appointee to be sworn into a new role during the coronavirus pandemic, which has shut down the Massachusetts State House since March.” – “SJC considers Healey’s demand for Facebook documents,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Massachusetts’ highest court will decide whether Attorney General Maura Healey can demand internal information from Facebook to investigate whether the company misused users’ personal data. In March 2018, news outlets revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm that worked with President Trump’s campaign, improperly harvested the personal data of 87 million Facebook users through an external app, then used the data for political purposes.” | | ON THE STUMP |
| – “The Fattmans highlight the power of campaign cash,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The state’s Republican power couple – Stephanie and Ryan Fattman of Sutton – knows how to win elections. The trick appears to be to raise a lot of money, spend nearly all of it, and run for office in a district that generally reflects your political values.” | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “Warren makes case to Fed chair for canceling student loan debt,” by Naomi Jagoda, The Hill: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Tuesday pressed for President-elect Joe Biden to take executive action to cancel student loan debt during an exchange with Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell at a Senate hearing. ‘All on his own, President-elect Biden will have the ability to administratively cancel billions of dollars in student loan debt using the authority that Congress has already given to the secretary of Education,’ Warren said during a Senate Banking Committee hearing.” | | MARKEYCHUSETTS |
| – “Sen. Ed Markey focused on leading from Senate as other Massachusetts natives up for roles in Biden administration,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “With about a half dozen Massachusetts political powerhouses in the mix in Joe Biden’s Cabinet guessing game for months now, Sen. Ed Markey says he’s happy right where he is. ‘No,’ the Malden Democrat said with a chuckle, when asked in a recent interview if he’d consider a Cabinet gig.” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in pesticide used on millions of Mass. acres when spraying for mosquitoes,” by David Abel, Boston Globe: “For two decades, state environmental officials have used a controversial pesticide to kill mosquitoes in Massachusetts, spraying millions of acres from the air and ground to reduce the spread of Eastern equine encephalitis. Now, after years of criticism from environmental advocates who have long raised health concerns about the expensive treatment known as Anvil 10+10, the pesticide has been found to also contain an array of toxic compounds known as PFAS.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “SOCIAL WARRIOR ON THE TRAIL,” “BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS,” “BUSTED,” — Globe: “High-risk likely first in line for virus vaccines," "Police reform bill goes to Baker," "Pelton of Emerson to lead Boston Foundation.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Hampden County sheriff: 79 inmates, 20 staffers test positive for COVID,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A round of COVID-19 testing has revealed an outbreak at the county jail, where 79 incarcerated men and 20 staffers have tested positive. The spike in coronavirus infections at the Hampden County Correctional Center comes as cases continue to rise across the state.” – “Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse will not seek fifth term,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Mayor Alex Morse has announced that he will not run for reelection in November 2021, throwing open the door for potential candidates vying to be the city’s next chief executive. January will mark a decade since 2011, when Morse first declared his candidacy as a 21-year-old college student in his final semester at Brown University.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “At least 10 men have been randomly attacked in Waltham. Here’s what we know.” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “The attacks have come without warning. The assailant usually approaches the targets from behind after dark — after waiting for the victims to appear, authorities say. When finished, the suspect — face draped with either a hooded sweatshirt or eclipsed by a mask — leaves quickly, they say.” – “Stabilizing The World’s Last Commercial Wild Bay Scallop Fishery In Nantucket,” by Rachel Rock, GBH News: “Standing at the water’s edge overlooking Nantucket Harbor, Tara Riley explained that she had never heard of the famed island before she applied to become the town's shellfish biologist in 2009. But now, ten years later, she said, she can’t imagine being anywhere else.” – “Some students didn't heed public health warnings and traveled over Thanksgiving,” by Henry Schwan, MetroWest Daily News: “Despite warnings from public health and school officials not to do it, more than two dozen students in the Natick public schools traveled to high-risk states for COVID-19 during the Thanksgiving break. The number is 25, confirmed Monday by Natick Superintendent of Schools Anna Nolin, and all were forced into full-remote learning starting Monday.” – “Who contributed to 2020 election campaigns on Cape Cod,” Gregory Bryant, Cape Cod Times: “The 2020 election has come and gone on Cape Cod and the Islands. And candidate financial filings show a healthy round of fundraising this political year, particularly in the hotly contested Plymouth and Barnstable District senate race, according to Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance data.” – “Lunch a problem in planning full-time classes in Braintree,” by Fred Hanson, The Patriot Ledger: “Lunch and transportation are two major obstacles towards a goal of reopening schools to full-time, in-person instruction, officials said this week. The issue with lunch is a space one — how can students be seated at least 6 feet apart while they are eating? School Superintendent Frank Hackett told the school committee Monday night that the question presents ‘multiple challenges.’” | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| – “‘Your skin is so dark’: A WCVB producer on the challenges of being a Black journalist in New England,” Boston Globe: “Nneka Nwosu Faison is executive producer of the newsmagazine ‘Chronicle’ on WCVB-TV. Here, she talks about the challenges she faced as a Black TV reporter in New England and the pressure she still feels not to do anything that would make people doubt her.” TRANSITIONS – Amanda Coulombe is the new president of NGP VAN. Link. – Elysia Rodriguez joins Benchmark Strategies as vice president of media strategy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Associate Justice Barbara A. Lenk, who is 7-0 and Morgan Hughes. NEW EPISODE: TALKING TURKEY – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray discuss voting trends with MassINC’s Rich Parr, and look at regional differences in what people eat for Thanksgiving. 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. | |
A message from the American Heart Association: The facts on sugary drinks are simple. They pose a real health risk. Kids especially are drinking too many of them. All those sweet drinks contribute to major health problems, like diabetes and heart disease. And with Massachusetts already spending nearly $2 billion per year treating obesity-related diseases, we need to address the problem. Massachusetts should take a page from a growing number of places across the country and adopt a tax on sugary drinks. Learn more here. | | | | |
| | NEXT WEEK - DON'T MISS THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT 2020: POLITICO will feature a special edition Future Pulse newsletter at the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of global health industry leaders and innovators determined to confront and conquer the most significant health challenges. Covid-19 has exposed weaknesses across our health systems, particularly in the treatment of our most vulnerable communities, driving the focus of the 2020 conference on the converging crises of public health, economic insecurity, and social justice. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage from December 7–9. | | | | | | |
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