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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. BIDEN MAKES TEACHERS THE NEW VACCINE VIPS — At the beginning of the pandemic, Massachusetts set pretty much every coronavirus policy ahead of former President Donald Trump. In some cases, the Trump administration never got on board at all. Things are different now. The push to get kids back in school has created a new dynamic. The state is scrambling to get teachers at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of the month under a new Biden policy. It's part of a larger federal plan to reopen schools, which might even include a “school reopening czar " when all is said and done. The new rule means 400,000 educators here will be eligible for the vaccine starting March 11. That's welcome news for teachers worried about the state's push to reopen schools. But Gov. Charlie Baker is warning it might throw another wrench in the rocky vaccine distribution. And if teachers have trouble booking their vaccines, it could open the governor up to even more criticism over his handling of the vaccine rollout. Baker had been pressured by officials closer to home — like House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka — to move teachers up in the vaccine line. The governor pushed back, and instead prioritized people over the age of 65, or who have certain health conditions, because they have a higher risk of getting seriously ill or dying from the virus. But at the same time, he set a plan in motion to get the state's youngest students back in the classroom five days a week — without vaccinating teachers first. Baker's top education officials will ask a state board on Friday to give them the authority to decide when to take remote and hybrid schooling options off the table, something individual districts have control over right now. Baker insisted in-person learning is doable with social distancing, masks and cleaning. Biden thinks otherwise, because he said teachers all over the country should be vaccinated ASAP. That caught Baker by surprise. “The first time we heard about it was the tweet," Baker said yesterday, in reference to Biden's announcement the day before. Before the governor could even announce Massachusetts will follow the president's orders, the CVS website beat him to it. And the last-minute change could mean a longer wait for those over 65 who have been eligible for weeks and still can't find appointments, Baker said. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Senate President Karen Spilka is a guest on "Bloomberg Baystate Business." House Speaker Ron Mariano and Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn are guests on WBUR. Rep. Ayanna Pressley speaks at a Boston Globe talk titled “What's Next In Washington?” John Barros launches his campaign for mayor of Boston at Restaurante Cesaria. | ||
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– “After 6 weeks of new COVID cases dropping, Massachusetts leveled out last week; State reports 1,553 new cases, 66 deaths Wednesday,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “COVID-19 data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health shows the state’s steady week-over-week decline in new cases leveled out last week following six straight weeks of decline. The state reported 10,389 new COVID cases on the week of Feb. 14. Last week’s new case count was 10,374, with additional cases still being reported.” | ||
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– “When it comes to Covid, 'hot spot' isn't just a metaphor,” by Victoria Colliver and Nolan D. McCaskill, POLITICO: “If you overlaid a map of the country’s coronavirus hot spots with its actual hot spots — that is, neighborhoods with the highest levels of extreme heat — the maps would be virtually the same. These hot spots, better known as ‘heat islands,’ are hotter than other neighborhoods because they often have large expanses of concrete, less greenery, higher density housing, lower average incomes and poorer health status than more affluent neighborhoods.” | ||
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– “State eyeing hybrid telework model for half of workforce,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Close to half of the state’s executive branch employees could continue some form of telework even once the pandemic ends, Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan said Tuesday. Speaking to the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees at a hearing on Baker’s $45.6 billion fiscal 2022 budget proposal, Heffernan laid out the broad contours of a proposed state employee remote work plan.” – “State Police colonel tasked with reform is accused of breaking rules to promote his allies,” by Matt Rocheleau and Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “While a parade of controversies has continued during Mason’s tenure, many have been linked to misconduct under previous colonels. But now a lawsuit filed by three veteran supervisors alleges recent improprieties around the agency’s promotional exam and promotions process, laying blame with Mason.” – “Local nonprofits join Uber, Lyft in new coalition for 'app-based workers,'” by Lucia Maffei, Boston Business Journal: “A new local coalition launches today in Massachusetts, backed by several large national companies including Uber and Lyft, as well as local industry groups and nonprofits, saying it plans to advocate for ‘flexibility’ as well as ‘increased benefits’ for gig economy workers.” – “State weighs tax exemption for PPP loans,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: “Senate President Karen Spilka on Wednesday voiced support for exempting federally backed pandemic business loans from state taxes. In remarks to North Shore business leaders during a live-streamed event, Spilka said she ‘agrees’ that federal Paycheck Protection Program grants received last year by tens of thousands of Massachusetts businesses shouldn't be taxed.” – “February Tax Haul Shatters State’s Expectations, With Collections Rising Nearly 25%” by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: “Tax collections exceeded the Baker administration's expectations by $372 million in February and surpassed the total of collections in February 2020, a development that positions the state to end this budget year having collected more tax revenue than it did last year.” | ||
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– “After offering unused vaccines to civilians at State Police facility, Baker says state ‘shouldn’t’ do it again,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker said his administration should not again resort to inviting civilians to be vaccinated with unused doses at state sites reserved for first responders, suggesting Wednesday that the decision to offer hundreds of shots at the State Police headquarters was not the ‘right way.’” | ||
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– “Boston Equity Chief Karilyn Crockett Resigns,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Karilyn Crockett, Boston's equity chief and a potential mayoral candidate, is resigning her post. Crockett, 47, submitted her letter of resignation to Mayor Marty Walsh on Monday. ‘It has been my pleasure and honor to serve as chief of equity for the city of Boston these last several months,’ the Dorchester native wrote, noting her sooner-than-expected departure as Walsh prepares for an expected U.S. Senate confirmation to become secretary of labor.” – “Reflections on Black History Month: Here’s what local leaders said was different this year,” by Arianna MacNeill, Boston.com: “While Black community leaders say there seemed to be more conversations and events this year than during past Black History Months, the conversations need to turn into meaningful change, they say. In conversations with Boston.com, local leaders and activists shared their thoughts about Black History Month this year versus years prior — and on the future of racial justice work.” | ||
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– “It’s official: John Barros is running for mayor of Boston,” by Mark Gartsbeyn, Boston.com: “John Barros will launch his campaign to become Boston’s next mayor Thursday morning, becoming the fifth candidate in what’s shaping up to be a crowded race. The announcement comes after weeks of speculation that the city’s longtime economic development chief would run for the office, which was further fueled by his resignation last week from that post.” – “Why Michelle Wu Wants To Bring A Green New Deal To Boston,” by Eoin Higgins, The Appeal: “Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu decided to run for mayor after seeing how the crises of inequality and injustice that some of the city’s residents experienced well before COVID-19 hit have only worsened.” – “Boston mayoral candidates stock up on political consultants,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “All politics may be local — but that’s not always the case for the strategists guiding campaigns in the Boston mayoral race. As the four candidates in the race continue to staff up, they’re in many cases shelling out thousands of dollars to hire consultants, some whose experience is largely outside the city.” | ||
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– “Man claiming to be Satan, dressed all in black and fully masked, kicked out of MBTA station for frightening passenger,” by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: “One MBTA passenger had a hellish encounter on the train this week. A fully masked man dressed all in black was kicked out of an Orange Line train station in Boston late Monday for frightening a 20-year-old woman by claiming he was Satan while staring her down, according to a statement from MBTA Transit Police.” | ||
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– “Calls for ranked-choice voting in Massachusetts renew after 19th Suffolk primary,” by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: “Calls for ranked-choice voting are rising from the ashes of last year’s failed ballot measure after the victor in Tuesday’s 19th Suffolk District Democratic primary won with little more than a third of the vote. Jeffrey Turco of Winthrop, a self-proclaimed ‘Reagan Democrat,’ won 36.2% of ballots cast while ideologically more progressive candidates split the rest of the vote.” – “Bernie backing means little in middle-of-the-road Winthrop,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “It turns out Bernie Sanders has little sway with voters in Winthrop and Revere when it comes to choosing their next representative. The same goes for former US housing secretary Julian Castro. And, for that matter, an impressive cast of local liberal politicos from surrounding areas.” – “Jeff Turco says he’s a ‘moderate Democrat.’ Reproductive rights groups say he’s a ‘threat.’” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “One of former Massachusetts House Speaker Bob DeLeo’s last acts in office was to override Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of a bill expanding abortion rights. Now, reproductive rights groups say the Winthrop Democrat who won the special election primary Tuesday night for DeLeo’s old House seat is a ‘threat’ to that same bill-turned-law, as well as abortion rights more generally.” | ||
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– “Speedy Trial Set In Challenge To Boston Exam School Admissions,” by Ken Cooper, GBH News: “A federal judge on Wednesday set an expedited schedule for a trial on a discrimination lawsuit filed by Asian and white parents challenging temporary changes to how Boston admits students to its three exam schools.” | ||
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– “The Zoom public meeting: Revealing, civically engaging, and sometimes appalling,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “Behold the Zoom public hearing — a very pandemic-era distraction that is at once revealing, civically engaging, and appalling. Politics has always been part performance art. But since public meetings have shifted online due to COVID, many official deliberations have been relocated from council chambers to bedroom chambers.” | ||
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– “Policing, guns, voting rights: Historic Democratic goals hit Senate skids,” by Marianne LeVine, Sarah Ferris, and Maya King, POLITICO: “House Democrats late Wednesday approved a momentous overhaul of American policing, responding to decades of frustration over racial injustice in law enforcement. But their plan is headed for a roadblock: the U.S. Senate.” | ||
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— Herald: “DYING FOR WORK,” — Globe: “A MONUMENTAL MOMENT,” “Pressed, Baker moves teachers up for vaccine.” | ||
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– “With Alex Morse taking Provincetown job, Holyoke City Council president Todd McGee will serve as acting mayor,” by Dennis Hohenberger, MassLive.com: “City Council President Todd McGee will accept the role of acting mayor when Mayor Alex. B. Morse leaves the post for his new job as town manager in Provincetown. Meanwhile, the council voted Tuesday to send a home rule petition to prevent a special mayoral election to its Charter and Rules Committee for review.” – “Springfield official, organizations describe deep need for rent and utility assistance during COVID pandemic,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “City officials and organizations that help the homeless and poor said this week there remains a dire need for financial assistance and guidance as families cope with rent arrears and the threat of evictions.” – “Hampden County retirement board hosts ‘chaotic’ phone meeting over audit findings; heckler asks, ‘$400 ... to stay at your own house?’” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “The Hampden County Regional Retirement Board came under heavy fire from municipal leaders and members during its first public meeting since the release of a brutal state audit questioning a range of apparent financial missteps.” – “Alleging ‘racially hostile environment’, white former Smith College employee Jodi Shaw files discrimination complaint; school calls claims ‘baseless,’” by Jim Russell, Springfield Republican: “In what she describes as a first step toward filing a lawsuit, a white former Smith College employee has filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination over claims of a racially hostile climate that the school has described as ‘baseless.’” | ||
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– “Lawrence legislators and mayor push for in-person school, say remote learning has ‘severe impact’ on student well-being,” by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: “Keeping students in long-term remote learning in Lawrence, rather than bringing them back for in-person classes, will ‘exacerbate the achievement gap’ between the city’s students and those in wealthier communities, members of Lawrence’s state legislative delegation and Mayor Kendrys Vasquez wrote in a letter to the city’s teachers’ union.” – “In initial vote, Worcester councilors narrowly back removal of school officers,” by Steven H. Foskett Jr., Telegram & Gazette: “A recommendation to remove school resource officers from city schools by the end of the year narrowly jumped its first hurdle at the City Council Tuesday night. By a 6-5 vote five hours into a marathon session, the council approved City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr.'s recommendation that the officers be removed by the end of the year, and that the city develop a new, comprehensive safety plan that does not involve uniformed police officers permanently assigned to the city's five major high schools.” – “Second vaccine dose may be late — but is coming — after state cuts off supply to Taunton,” by Susannah Sudborough, The Taunton Daily Gazette: “According to a Facebook post from the city, those who got their vaccines through the city's vaccination clinics last month will still get their second dose from the city. However, the post said, the city did not receive the second doses of the vaccine that were scheduled to be shipped to them this week, so they will not be holding a clinic.” – “Locals react to teacher vaccine eligibility,” by Allison Corneau and Madeline Hughes, Eagle-Tribune: “Local teachers unions across the Merrimack Valley are celebrating access to the coronavirus vaccine after federal and state officials said educators and other school employees can receive their first COVID-19 shot within the month.” – “Next in line for School Committee, Dominik Lay’s residency in question,” by Amy Sokolow, The Lowell Sun: “When Lowell School Committee member Robert Hoey resigned last week following his use of an anti-Semitic slur on TV, city officials scrambled to fill his seat as quickly as possible, but that task is proving more difficult than expected.” – “Reel attraction: Massachusetts is a hot Hollywood alternative,” by Dana Barbuto, The Patriot Ledger: “It's lights, camera, action again in Massachusetts as the state enjoys a long Hollywood closeup this winter. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Timothée Chalamet have finished filming the star-studded satire ‘Don’t Look Up,’ but there are more A-listers in the crosshairs.” TRANSITIONS – Gretchen Van Ness was hired as the first executive director of LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Jonathan Kraft, Rene Fielding, Deborah Ziskind, Henry Barrett and the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s Bera Dunau. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS — State Rep. Jon Santiago reported raising $240,490 for his campaign for mayor of Boston in the month of February. After merchant fees are deducted, his reported fundraising total is $233,719, which is the figure Playbook typically reports for mayoral candidates. The Santiago campaign told Playbook it collected $274,000 in February, but because some of the money was deposited after the month ended, it will show up in his March fundraising report. NEW EPISODE: COVID 101 – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray discuss the results of the Democratic primary in the 19th Suffolk district, and talk about a coronavirus outbreak at UMass Amherst with Massachusetts Daily Collegian reporters Cassie McGrath and Will Katcher. At the end of the show, the hosts settle the debate on how to pronounce #mapoli. 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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