Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Spilka's love letter to a revolution

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Spilka's love letter to a revolution

PROPAGANDA!
NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY!

RADIOACTIVE WASTE?
JUST LOOK AT HOLTEC'S PILGRIM CLEAN UP!

Presented by

‘LADIES CELEBRATING LADIES’ — A new political tradition blossomed last night in a city and state now run almost entirely by women: Galentine’s Day.

Senate President Karen Spilka threw the first of what she hopes will be many Galentine’s Day bashes, packing Boston’s City Winery with a who’s who of women leaders from politics, business, philanthropy and beyond.

“Women were left out of our commonwealth’s history for far too long,” Spilka told the crowd that included Massachusetts’ first elected female governor (Maura Healey), its first female governor (Jane Swift), its first Black female attorney general (Andrea Campbell) and its first female Senate president (Therese Murray).

“I’m happy to say those days are over," Spilka beamed. "There's such a concentration of power in this room tonight. If we do this again I think we're going to have to name a designated survivor."

From left: Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung, Gov. Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Senate President Karen Spilka at Spilka's first Galentine's Day event on Feb. 13, 2023. | Courtesy photo Kenny Pierre/United Artistry

Think of Spilka’s Galentine’s Day soirée like the St. Patrick’s Day political breakfast, but pink. A lot more pink. Like glasses of rosé, roses in the centerpieces and candy hearts sprinkled around gold-flecked votives pink. Like Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wearing heart-shaped glasses on stage pink.

There was hardly a man in sight, much to ~~state Sen. Julian Cyr’s~~ 1848 Massachusetts Senate President Zeno Scudder’s chagrin. Dressed in a period-appropriate top hat and coattails, Cyr took the stage as Scudder wondering why a picture of “Donn A. Summer” was covering his portrait in the Senate president’s suite. He demanded to speak to someone in charge. The Senate president? He must know. The governor? Surely him. The Boston mayor? Let’s find him to ask.

Just one problem. It’s not 1848. The governor, the mayor and the Senate president, who were sitting onstage for the skit, are all women. And while the speaking program at times touched on serious topics, like the stereotypes and inequities women in politics are still overcoming, Galentine’s Day was truly a celebration of their achievements.

Leslie Knope would be proud. Scratch that, she is proud. Burlington native Amy Poehler, whose “Parks and Recreation” character created Galentine’s Day, recorded a video sending love to Spilka, Wu, Healey and all the other attendees, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Rep. Ayanna Pressley among them.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Roses are red, violets are blue, there's never a dull moment writing these newsletters for you. Happy Valentine's Day!

TODAY — Healey and Driscoll attend the UNCF HBCU breakfast at 9 a.m. at the State House and visit The Engine in Cambridge at 11 a.m. to discuss federal funding opportunities. Driscoll speaks at a Local Government Advisory Committee meeting at 1 p.m.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley visits African Community Economic Development of New England at 10:30 a.m. Rep. Jim McGovern visits Franklin County Community Development Center at noon and meets with town officials in South Deerfield and Conway. Wu is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 11 a.m.; Campbell joins at 1 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Bad poetry? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

PROPAGANDA!
NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY!

RADIOACTIVE WASTE?
JUST LOOK AT HOLTEC'S PILGRIM CLEAN UP!

A message from NextEra Energy:

Affordable, carbon-emissions free, reliable electricity from nuclear energy. Seabrook Station lowers consumer energy costs in Massachusetts and New England by providing a year-round, low-cost, baseload energy supply. And American-made nuclear energy supports hundreds of jobs across New England.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Report says millions from new tax on high earners could be lost to loophole,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine: “A new report says Massachusetts could lose out on anywhere from $200 million to $600 million from the new tax on high earners unless legislators close a loophole in state tax law. The analysis from the left-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center said high-earning married couples could skirt the new tax by filing separate state tax returns, while still reaping the tax benefits that come from filing a joint return for federal taxes.”

— “Super Bowl offered first big test for Mass. sportsbooks after in-person wagering launch,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “The three sportsbooks in Massachusetts offering legal, in-person sports betting faced their first big test Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs pulled out a victory in their Super Bowl matchup versus the Philadelphia Eagles. But the true impact of one of the biggest sporting events of the year on Massachusetts’ nascent sports wagering industry will not come into clear view until early next month when the three casinos report revenue figures to regulators. Numbers aside, officials at Encore Boston Harbor, Plainridge Park Casino and MGM Springfield said the weekend was a resounding success.”

FROM THE HUB

— “Mayor Michelle Wu files rent control proposal with City Council, setting up debate,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Monday formally filed her rent control proposal with the City Council, teeing up what’s likely to be a contentious debate at both the city and state level. The policy, which Wu made a centerpiece of her mayoral campaign and has been floating for weeks, would tie allowable rent increases to the health of the economy, allowing annual rent increases of 6 percent plus inflation, with a cap of 10 percent in high inflation years. It would exempt from that cap new construction for the first 15 years it is open, as well as small owner-occupied properties such as three-deckers.”

— “Flynn to other Boston councilors: Open your doors,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Open up. That’s the message that Boston’s city council president recently sent to the rest of the councilors, asking them to make sure to have their City Hall offices open and accessible to the public after what he described as people telling him they came to City Hall to bend a councilor’s ear — only to find a closed door.”

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CAMPAIGN MODE

— “New super PAC aims to elect Black candidates in local races,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “A new super PAC dedicated to electing Black Democratic candidates to local offices has formed, with its founder pledging to fill a void arising from the state party's lack of vigor in supporting new office seekers. ‘It is hard for candidates of color to raise money, and in a world where there are $1,000 campaign donation limits, it makes it even harder to have a well-funded campaign for candidates of color, especially first-time candidates of color,’ said founder Reynolds Graves, a 34-year-old political consultant.”

— “Fiorentini not seeking reelection,” by Mike LaBella and Teddy Tauscher, Eagle-Tribune: “James Fiorentini, the mayor of Haverhill since 2004, will not be running for reelection. He formally made the announcement at a breakfast with friends, family and supporters on Saturday at Maria’s Family Restaurant. … With Fiorentini announcing he will not seek an 11th straight term in office, the field is wide open and potential successors are already preparing to run including two, long-time city councilors and one former mayoral challenger.”

That includes City Councilor Melinda Barrett , who Playbook reported last week is in the hunt and has the backing of state Rep. Andy Vargas and Auditor Diana DiZoglio , who represented Haverhill in the Legislature.

— “In Attleboro, a kinder, gentler mayoral debate,” by Jim Hand, The Sun Chronicle: “The candidates said their life experiences range from singing opera, to almost losing an arm in an accident, to working on a garbage truck.”

PROPAGANDA!
NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY!

RADIOACTIVE WASTE?

JUST LOOK AT HOLTEC'S PILGRIM CLEAN UP!

A message from NextEra Energy:

DAY IN COURT

— “Massachusetts judge ‘publicly reprimanded’ for his Facebook posts about the 2020 election,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “A Massachusetts judge has been “publicly reprimanded” by the Supreme Judicial Court for his Facebook posts about the 2020 presidential election. Housing Court Judge Joseph Michaud — a former Dartmouth selectman and Republican candidate for state rep. who was sworn in by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018 — violated the Massachusetts Code of Judicial Conduct when he made those social media posts in 2020, the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct has announced.”

ANOTHER CHARLIE BAKER INCOMPETENT!

excerpt:

A Massachusetts judge has been “publicly reprimanded” by the Supreme Judicial Court for his Facebook posts about the 2020 presidential election.

Housing Court Judge Joseph Michaud — a former Dartmouth selectman and Republican candidate for state rep. who was sworn in by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018 — violated the Massachusetts Code of Judicial Conduct when he made those social media posts in 2020, the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct has announced.

Michaud, who took home $195,472.70 as a judge last year, made those Facebook posts leading up to and following the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. His social media posts were about political figures, political events, and politicized public events.

In its order, the Supreme Judicial Court adopted the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s recommendation that Michaud get publicly reprimanded for that social media activity.

FROM THE 413

— “After the killing of Tyre Nichols, a local attorney wants to make a failure to intervene a fireable offense for Pittsfield cops,” by Meg Britton-Mehlisch, Berkshire Eagle: “A new petition coming before the City Council could make it a fireable offense for any Pittsfield police officer to stand by without intervening while another law enforcement officer ‘engages in unlawful violence.’”

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THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Annie Dookhan took the blame for the state drug lab scandal, but she wasn’t the ‘sole bad actor,’ new documents show,” by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: “Disgraced state chemist Annie Dookhan was falsely labeled the 'sole bad actor' who submitted bogus test results in the biggest drug lab scandal in US history, according to just released court documents that suggest other employees at the Hinton Lab in Jamaica Plain may have escaped accountability for their roles.”

— “Correctional officer hired as Lawrence mayor's new chief of staff,” by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: “William Castro, 55, who resigned from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department on Friday, is expected to 'bring a fresh perspective and professional direction' to the mayor’s office and City Hall, [Mayor Brian] DePena announced Monday. Castro succeeds Jhovanny Martes-Rosario, 48, the former chief of staff who was immediately fired last week after his arrest by state police for illegal possession of child pornography.”

— “Report: Hundreds waiting for nursing home beds,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association’s report, which surveyed 37 hospitals, found that there were at least 891 patients awaiting discharge to long-term care facilities or services in January, more than half of whom were waiting for beds in a skilled nursing facility. Nearly 400 of the patients were in the Metro Boston area, according to the report, with about 130 in the northeast corner of the state.”

— IN MEMORIAM: “Politics and the City: Christopher Condon, behind-the-scenes giant of Worcester politics, dies at 46,” by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette.

PROPAGANDA!
NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY!

RADIOACTIVE WASTE?
JUST LOOK AT HOLTEC'S PILGRIM CLEAN UP!

A message from NextEra Energy:

Seabrook Station has provided Massachusetts with low-cost, clean, reliable energy for over 30 years, reducing carbon emissions regionally by approximately 4 million tons per year. Nuclear energy is Massachusetts’ most cost-effective and essential tool to combat climate change.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — at the Beanpot final: former Gov. Charlie Baker , Boston Mayor Michelle Wu , former House Speaker Bob DeLeo , Rep. Stephen Lynch and state Reps. Aaron Michlewitz, Mike Moran, Alice Peisch, Dan Cahill and Tram Nguyen all sitting together. Congratulations to the Northeastern alums of the group (DeLeo, Michlewitz, Cahill and Nguyen) on the win.

TRANSITIONS — Tim Buckley , who rose to chief of staff under former Gov. Charlie Baker, is following his old boss to the NCAA. Buckley will become senior VP of external affairs for the college sports organization in March, when Baker takes over as president. He’ll oversee the association’s government relations and communications efforts.

— Darshan Goux has been named chief program officer at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute; Josh Silver will serve as special adviser to the CEO and the Maura Callahan Group has been retained to continue developing the institution’s fundraising and stewardship efforts.

— GreenRoots’ María Belén Power is joining the Healey administration in the newly created position of undersecretary of environmental justice and equity.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Rep. Richard Neal , Medford native Mike Bloomberg, Hayley Johnson and Diana Felber.

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