Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Abortion providers harassed in Mass.

Friday, June 2, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Abortion providers harassed in Mass.

‘WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CONCERNED’ — Abortion providers across the country faced a “sharp increase” in violence last year, particularly in states that protect access to the procedure, a National Abortion Federation report says.

Clinics saw a rise in arson, invasions, burglaries and death threats in 2022 amid the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade , according to NAF's recently released annual report . There were 218 reports of death threats against providers nationwide, up from 182 in 2021. Instances of patients and providers being stalked rose sharply — up to 92 last year from 28 the year prior.

Meanwhile, incidents of trespassing and assault and battery fell — a drop the federation, a professional association for abortion providers, attributes to clinic closures in states that restricted access to the procedure.

While Massachusetts evaded some of the worst instances of violence documented last year (clinics here reported no arson, stalking, death threats, bomb threats or burglaries), the state’s abortion providers did see one instance of trespassing, 28 pieces of hate mail or harassing calls and more than 1,600 instances of picketing. They also reported four instances of "obstructions" to people seeking abortion care.

“We are absolutely concerned,” Rebecca Hart Holder, the president of Reproductive Equity Now, told Playbook. “No state is immune to extremists of all shapes and sizes, and so we have to be extremely vigilant in protecting providers.”

Still, Massachusetts’ numbers are lower than some other states where abortion is protected. Colorado, for example, saw 12,792 instances of picketing, as well as 15 burglaries and 12 instances of stalking.

Holder believes that’s in part due to the Legislature’s investments in clinic safety. After POLITICO last spring reported the draft Supreme Court opinion that would fell Roe , the Senate added $2 million to the state budget to help bolster security around clinics. Similar funding was proposed for this upcoming fiscal year.

“No one forgets that Massachusetts is a state where there has been abortion violence,” Holder said, referencing the 1994 shootings at two abortion clinics in Brookline that killed two women and injured five other people. “I think there's a special vigilance here.”

Yet advocates say there’s more the state can do to protect patients and providers, including shielding location data to make sure people aren’t tracked to clinics, increasing access to birth control and lowering the cost of child care.

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . The bill to avert a government default is on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk without the support of Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren.

Markey and Warren both voted against the debt deal that sailed through the Senate 63-36 late last night, two of just five members of the chamber’s Democratic caucus (including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)) to reject the bipartisan agreement out of concern over changes to social safety-net programs and energy permitting processes.

“I was obligated by my commitment to our planet and to the everyday families across the Commonwealth and nation struggling to make ends meet to vote against the debt limit deal,” Markey said in a statement.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey is on WEEI at 9 a.m. and attends the Newburyport Pride kickoff at 4 p.m. outside Newburyport City Hall. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Rep. Jake Auchincloss speak at a Charles River Regional Chamber breakfast at 9 a.m. in Needham. Auchincloss speaks at a Moms Demand Action event at 9:45 a.m. at Sharon Town Hall. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends the 27th Annual Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and an Office of Black Male Advancement summit at 10:15 a.m., both in Roxbury.

THIS WEEKEND — AG Andrea Campbell is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. MBTA GM Phillip Eng is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tips? Scoops? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Nasty surprise: State learns it erred by using $2.5 billion in federal money to pay jobless claims,” by Larry Edelman and Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “A routine audit has uncovered a potentially devastating error: Massachusetts mistakenly used about $2.5 billion in federal money to fund jobless benefits during the pandemic — payments that should have been made by the state.”

— “Healey signs onto letter asking textbook publishers to ‘hold the line’ for Democracy,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Textbook companies need to 'hold the line for our Democracy' and not cave to governors calling for 'censorship' of school educational materials, a letter signed by ten governors, including Gov. Maura Healey, said. The governors said they wrote the open letter — dated May 25 — out of concern that textbook publishers may be tempted to ‘water down critical information to appeal to the lowest common denominator.’”

— “Massachusetts allocates nearly $2M to organizations helping immigrants and refugees,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “Seventeen service providers in Massachusetts will be receiving $1.75 million in public funds to help meet the needs of nearly 800 recently arrived refugee and immigrant families, state officials said Thursday."

— “In Worcester, Healey’s pick for housing secretary gets a mixed reception,” by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “Former Worcester city manager Edward M. Augustus is credited by many as the formidable leader who brought the state’s second-largest city out of Boston’s shadow and into a building boom that has attracted no less than 25,000 new residents in the last decade. … But Augustus’s eight-year tenure was also rocked by tensions over racial inequalities, with a city audit that he himself commissioned revealing a workplace culture that many employees described as toxic and hostile to people of color.”

— "State looking into sudden closure of Compass Medical facilities," by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald.

— "A race to keep up – or to the bottom? Lottery bets big on $50 scratch ticket, online games," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine.

FROM THE HUB

— “Governor, mayor kick off LGBTQ+ Pride Month with celebration on City Hall Plaza,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “Maura Healey paid tribute Thursday to the LGBTQ+ pioneers who helped blaze a trail for her to become the first lesbian elected governor of a US state, as she gathered on City Hall Plaza with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, other elected officials, and about 200 community members to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month.”

— "Nonprofit leader, former Connolly aide to run for District 3," by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter.

PARTY POLITICS

— REPUBLICANS TAKE BOSTON: Amy Carnevale may have 99 problems as the chair of the financially troubled and bitterly divided state GOP. But her relationship with the national party’s top brass doesn’t appear to be one.

Carnevale is playing host to RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and Republicans from across the northeast this week at a three-day regional retreat and training session for party activists at the posh Liberty Hotel, including a fundraiser with McDaniel and a field trip to Wednesday night's Red Sox game.

"Ronna's presence is a strong indicator of her support of Amy's agenda, which is to get the party back on track," national committeewoman Janet Fogarty told Playbook.

It also represents a marked change in relations between the state and national Republican parties. Former MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons supported McDaniel’s rival, Harmeet Dhillon , in the RNC’s leadership election earlier this year. McDaniel indirectly rebuked Lyons back in 2021 for refusing to condemn a state committeewoman who made anti-gay remarks. And Lyons’ opponents on the state committee had implored McDaniel to intervene in an intraparty rift over last year’s auditor’s race that they accused Lyons of fueling.

Yet detractors of Carnevale and McDaniel are deriding the fly-in as a costly junket that’s a waste of donors’ dollars — a reflection of how fractured the state party remains. And those tensions could flare at Thursday’s state committee meeting, where agenda items driven by competing factions will aim to settle old scores and the MassGOP’s checkbook.

GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE .

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "T officials urge riders to be patient," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "In a virtual Q&A session, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, T board chair Thomas Glynn, and T board vice chair Thomas Koch said the transit authority has the team of transit professionals in place to bring about improvements in service. ... 'I think people will see a difference at the T a year from now, but I don’t know if they’ll see a difference in two months,' Glynn told questioner Brian Kane, the executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board."

— “Transit advocates push for regional rail system,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle Tribune.

DAY IN COURT

— “12 people sue city over Worcester police response to 2020 George Floyd protest,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “A dozen people filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging Worcester police committed a litany of misconduct, including excessive force, during the chaotic June 1, 2020, protests in Main South after the death of George Floyd.”

— "Western Mass. YWCA employees charged with theft of state funds intended for domestic violence victims," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican.

WARREN REPORT

— “Elizabeth Warren, J.D. Vance team up on bank CEO crackdown,” by Zachary Warmbrodt, POLITICO: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s push to hit the executives of failed banks with sharper penalties is getting a big boost from an unexpected conservative partner — Sen. J.D. Vance.”

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

— “State program to fund new schools allows for fossil fuels, despite climate goals,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “Since 2021, the year the state passed its landmark climate legislation committing to net-zero emissions by 2050, the school building authority has approved 30 new school projects for construction. The vast majority — 21 of the 30 — will be built to burn fossil fuels long into the future, and well past 2050."

— "Longshoremen’s union gets contract, ending Vineyard Wind strike," by Will Sennott, New Bedford Light.

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “Cannabis company fined for worker death in Holyoke is closing up shop in Massachusetts,” by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: “The marijuana company that settled with federal workplace safety regulators last year over the death of an employee who rolled joints at its growing and processing facility in Holyoke announced Thursday that it would close its dispensaries in Northampton, Framingham, and Worcester by June 30.”

FROM THE 413

— “López Comes into View as Challenger to Chicopee Mayor Vieau,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass. Politics & Insight: “On Thursday, Ward 3 Chicopee City Councilor Delmarina López announced she would run for mayor. The first-termer, who became the Council’s first woman of color in 2021, would be challenging incumbent mayor John Vieau.”

— “Report: Northampton mayor, elected officials deserve big pay bump,” by Chad Cain, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— “Trump-DeSantis feud gets ugly fast,” by Sally Goldenberg, Alex Eisenstadt, Natalie Allison and Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: “Shortly after Ron DeSantis snapped at a reporter who questioned his limited voter engagement during a swing through New Hampshire on Thursday, his chief primary rival tried to one up him.”

— “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pitches his long-shot Democratic presidential campaign to N.H. independents,” by Steven Porter, Boston Globe.

— "NH Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington launches campaign for governor," by Adam Sexton, WMUR.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — at MassDems’ Roosevelt Dinner last night: Honorees AG Andrea Campbell and former MassDems Chair Gus Bickford along with his partner Toody Healy ; Gov. Maura Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll , Rep. Ayanna Pressley , Boston Mayor Michelle Wu , MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan and husband Jacob Watts ; MassDems Executive Director Joe Sherlock, Danielle Allen, Bryan Rafanelli and partner Mark Walsh , Steve Bilafer , former state Sen. Joe Boncore , state Sen. Will Brownsberger, Dan Cence, Elyse Cherry, Larry DiCara, Auditor Diana DiZoglio , state Rep. Kate Donaghue , Governor's Councilor Eileen Duff , Boston City Council candidate Sharon Durkan, Evan Falchuk, Tim Foley, Juan Gallego, Mary Liz Ganley, Kathy Gasperine, Tara Healey, Jamie Hoag, state Rep. Kate Hogan, Kate Kelly, former Sen. Paul Kirk , state Rep. Kathy LaNatra, Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune , Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn , state Rep. Adrian Madaro, Veronica Martinez, Jesse Mermell, state Rep. Joan Meschino, state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz , former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy , Matt O'Neil, Jimmy Tingle, Katie Prisco-Buxbaum, Kevin Ready, Patrick Roath, Ann Roosevelt, Jim Roosevelt, former Ambassador Alan Solomont, Steve Tolman, Adam Webster, Corey Welford, Matt Wilder, Conor Yuntis and state Rep. Jon Zlotnik .

TRANSITIONS — Casey Atkins has been promoted to president of the Liberty Square Group’s Blue Lab political incubator.

— The Massachusetts Assisted Living Association has appointed Wendy Nowokunski as board chair after the passing of former Board Chair Larry Gerber.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Kathryn Grosso Gann and Liam Horsman.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Eric S. Rosengren, Sean McFate and Eric Farmer , who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Lance Lambros and Mort Zuckerman .

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS — Happy hour is back on the legislative menu for this session and environmental concerns abound over a proposed machine-gun range on Cape Cod. Hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky break it all down. 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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