Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Connolly leaving Boston DSA

Monday, July 10, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Connolly leaving Boston DSA

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: CONNOLLY CALLS IT — Mike Connolly isn’t giving Boston’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter the chance to kick him out.

The Cambridge state representative says he’s dropping his affiliation with the leftist political group, days after 16 of its members filed a motion to expel him over a list of alleged breaks with DSA policies . His offenses, they said, include supporting Maura Healey for governor, voting for Ron Mariano for House speaker, backing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s “milquetoast” rent control plan and promoting the British royals’ “greenwashing junket” to a climate-tech startup in Somerville last year.

Connolly initially fought the effort to oust him, on social media and in various news outlets , blaming the call for his removal on new leadership of the Boston DSA chapter. Several prominent progressives, some of them Boston DSA members, publicly rushed to Connolly’s defense. Newspaper columnists weighed in on his behalf. Yet others called to let the group’s process play out at its July 23 meeting.

In an attempt at compromise, eight DSA members proposed censuring , rather than expelling, Connolly for a pared-down list of alleged transgressions that includes not engaging with the group’s endorsement process after his initial 2016 run for state representative (which he disputes) and “undermining Boston DSA candidates and campaigns” by sometimes endorsing against them.

But instead of mounting another defense, Connolly now says he’s “guilty as charged, and proudly so” of working with Democratic elected officials and activists who don’t fully align with DSA but are still “delivering results for working class and marginalized communities,” per a statement shared first with Playbook.

“Why continue with an organization whose new leadership has made it clear they oppose seeking common ground with state leaders or building broader coalitions to benefit working people?” Connolly wrote. “The answer, sadly, is there is no reason to continue with an organization that holds such beliefs.”

Boston isn’t the first DSA chapter to try and punish one of its own for allegedly deviating from the group’s values. Earlier this year, the Providence DSA withdrew its endorsement of a state lawmaker who the Providence Journal called a “rising star on the left” because he voted for an establishment Democrat to continue as state House speaker. Several DSA chapters pushed to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in 2021 after he traveled to Israel and voted for funding for its military, but the national group’s overseers ultimately decided against it .

The rupture over Connolly now stands as another example of the tension on the far left between maintaining ideological purity and growing political power. It also offers a window into the fissures that exist in Democratic politics in this deep-blue state where Republicans are the ones who typically draw headlines for infighting, but where disagreements among Democrats are starting to spill more into the open.

And it’s a setback for the Boston-area democratic socialists who, after years of making gains on local city councils, are now watching their state legislative ranks dwindle from two representatives to one.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Are you a Boston DSA member? Email me, we can keep you anonymous: lkashinsky@politico.com .

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visit the Sumner Tunnel command center at 9:30 a.m. in Boston, attend a Black Empowerment Council meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the State House and visit the Haymarket RMV at 1 p.m. Driscoll meets with the Massachusetts Restaurants United board at 2 p.m. Rep. Richard Neal visits Camp Atwater at 1 p.m. in North Brookfield.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— AND THEN THERE WERE THREE: U.S. Army National Guard veteran Bruce Chester is the third Republican in the race to replace Democratic former state Sen. Anne Gobi in the Worcester and Hampshire district. Chester twice ran against state Rep. Jon Zlotnik , who’s also now running for Gobi’s former seat. Chester joins state Rep. Peter Durant and Rebekah Etique in the Republican primary.

— REWIND: I joined Axios Boston’s Mike Deehan and NBC10 Boston’s Cory Smith on “@Issue” to talk about why there’s still no state budget and what could make the final bill.

— MCAS CHANGES POSSIBLE: Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler told WCVB’s “On the Record” that the Healey administration plans to “take a close look at” whether MCAS should remain a high school graduation requirement as teachers unions push to discontinue the practice. “It’s possible it could change,” Tutwiler said. But “I wouldn’t say soon.”

— “Special interest groups spar over wealth flight claims,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “A new report by the left-leaning policy group Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center says IRS data from 2020 to 2021 shows that Massachusetts has a lower rate of outmigration among high-income households earning $200,000 or more a year than that of low- and middle-income households.”

— “‘A nightmare of epic proportions’: Thousands of Mass. residents languish on subsidized housing wait lists,” by Diti Kohli, Boston Globe: “Among the lesser-known aspects of Massachusetts’ acute housing crisis are the myriad wait lists low-income residents go on to become eligible for a subsidized home. There is not one, but rather dozens of different lists — each maintained by a local housing authority or nonprofit. … In 2017, the average wait time across the lists was two years. By last year, it had doubled to four, according to a January report from the advocacy organization Housing Works.”

— “What does the Governor's Council do? The Eagle catches up with North Adams' Tara Jacobs, who has been serving on it for the past seven months,” by Greta Jochem, Berkshire Eagle.

FROM THE HUB

— COUNCIL CATCH-UP: Veteran Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty cited the council’s infighting as a reason for abruptly ending his reelection bid last week. “A lot of the good work and the great effort gets lost with some of the infighting, as well as colleagues that have not been engaged in ethical and lawful behavior," Flaherty told GBH’s Alexi Cohan .

That last piece is a nod to the $3,000 fine Councilor Ricardo Arroyo paid to settle a conflict of interest violation and to Councilor Kendra Lara crashing a car into a house and facing a host of alleged motor vehicle violations, including driving with a revoked license.

Lara apologized in a statement Saturday that didn’t mention the alleged violations. "We are all accountable for our actions, and I am no different, which is why I offer my sincerest apologies to everyone, especially the people of District 6," Lara tweeted . "As an elected official, I've worked hard to center the dignity and humanity of my constituents. Today, I ask you to also see mine as I work to correct my mistake." She also pledged to continue serving on the council.

Boston City Council President Ed Flynn, who admonished Arroyo and Lara in a statement last week but did not call for their resignations nor outline any discipline against them, is now asking the city to check the license , vehicle registration and insurance for every City Hall worker and councilor who takes advantage of the city’s employee parking, the Boston Herald’s Gayla Cawley reports.

Two council hopefuls also told Cawley that they see the chaos as an opening to get elected to the city’s governing body.

— “The discovery of a dead body in Southie led to 4 kids entering DCF custody and is now the front line of a Boston culture war,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe.

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Sen. Lydia Edwards , Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta and former Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley are endorsing Henry Santana in the at-large council race, his campaign said, marking some of the first major endorsements since Flaherty exited the field.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston state Rep. Christopher Worrell and Councilor Brian Worrell are endorsing Sharon Durkan in the special election for District 8 city councilor.

— WALSH WADES BACK INTO BOSTON POLITICS: Former labor secretary Marty Walsh is out of government and jumping back into local politics. The former Boston mayor is backing John FitzGerald in the race to replace District 3 City Councilor Frank Baker , who isn't seeking reelection, the Dorchester Reporter's Gintautas Dumcius scoops .

— “For one Boston City Council candidate, questions about potential campaign violations prompt an apology,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “[Enrique José] Pepén reported more than $11,000 in campaign contributions for June, a haul that may contravene state law, which prohibits paid municipal employees who are not elected officials ‘from directly or indirectly soliciting or receiving contributions or anything of value for any political purpose.’”

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PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “The MBTA’s new leader is more optimistic about Boston’s subway than you are,” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “[Phil] Eng says he isn’t here to just fix [the T’s] long festering problems. He envisions a future where taking the T is a no-brainer, and not just for commuting. He sees throngs of New Englanders happily choosing to travel by train from brewery to brewery (he’s a big beer guy), instead of driving."

— LOL: What’s worse than getting stuck in the Sumner Tunnel shutdown traffic? Not getting stuck in it, the Boston Globe’s Beth Teitell reports from a Dunkin’ at Logan Airport.

ROLLINS REPORT

— “Rachael Rollins ethics investigation transcripts withheld from the Herald,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “A Herald request for the interview transcripts behind the Department of Justice’s Office of Special Counsel’s investigation into ex-U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins has been denied in full, with the agency citing ‘personal privacy’ exceptions.”

FROM THE 413

— “STCC advocacy group, irked by president, logs complaints with AG’s office,” by Ron Chimelis, Springfield Republican: “A group that has advocated for administrative changes at Springfield Technical Community College has filed two complaints with the state Attorney General’s Office. The complaints raise questions about a possible conflict of interest and dispute the college’s references to where it stands in a national ranking of community colleges.”

— "Think tank, the Western Massachusetts Policy Center, setting up shop in Northampton," by Mercedes Lingle, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— DOLLARS AND SENSE: The millionaires tax just didn’t add up for the Celtics’ Grant Williams , who’s now headed to the Dallas Mavericks , per The Athletic: “In Boston, it’s really like $48 million with the millionaire’s tax, so $54 million in Dallas is really like $58 million in Boston and $63 million in L.A.”

— “Amid hiring slump, Massachusetts police departments look to leave civil service,” by Sean Cotter, Boston Globe: “Dozens of police departments across Massachusetts have left or are seeking to leave the state’s civil service process, saying the system that was created nearly 140 years ago to increase fairness and decrease political patronage in government jobs is now a roadblock to hiring the officers they want.”

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

— “Driver privilege cards for undocumented residents of 5 states — including Rhode Island and Vermont — now invalid in Florida,” by Edward Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe: “The driver privilege cards Rhode Island and Vermont are issuing to undocumented residents are considered invalid in Florida, meaning some drivers caught in the Sunshine State could face misdemeanor charges, or worse."

2024 WATCH

— AND SO IT BEGINS: Iowa Republicans will hold their presidential nominating caucus on Jan. 15, 2024. New Hampshire’s primary will likely be Tuesday, Jan. 23 — but whether it’ll count on the Democratic side remains to be seen.

— “Can Joe Biden make it ‘Morning in America’ again? Reagan’s ‘84 campaign offers a potential blueprint for reelection,” by Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe.

— “Nikki Haley Makes Her Pitch in New Hampshire. It’s Unclear Whether Voters Will Swing,” by Maya King, New York Times.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Equitable Opportunities Now policy co-chair and KG Consulting principal Kevin B. Gilnack and Green International Affiliates civil engineering project manager Corinne S. Tobias welcomed their first son, Tobias Gilnack , at 7:44 p.m. on June 8. Tweet .

TRANSITIONS — Vikram Savkar has been promoted to EVP and general manager of compliance solutions at Wolters Kluwer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Tamarack Garlow and Edie Mead Holway.

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