Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Wu wades into another council race

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Wu wades into another council race

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FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: WU FOR WEBER — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is putting her thumb on the scale in another City Council contest. But this endorsement isn’t like her others.

Wu is backing Ben Weber in District 6, giving a substantial boost to the Jamaica Plain workers' rights lawyer and first-time candidate as he battles William King for outgoing Councilor Kendra Lara's seat.

Weber joins a roster of Wu endorsees that also includes City Councilor Sharon Durkan, at-large hopeful Henry Santana and District 5 candidate Enrique Pepén.

Unlike the others, Weber hasn't worked for Wu before — a notable departure from the mayor's previous picks as she looks to expand her influence in city politics and over the council. Durkan was a former political fundraiser for Wu. Santana and Pepén both worked for Wu in City Hall, the former as her director of civic organizing and the latter as her head of neighborhood services. Weber has only loose political connections to Wu world: his campaign manager is a former Wu and Sen. Ed Markey hand.

“Ben has a strong record of already giving back to community,” Wu said. “He’s someone who’s active on his local neighborhood council and who’s spent his career fighting for workers’ rights, so I know he comes with the vision and commitment to make sure that all families have what we need.”

For Weber, Wu’s endorsement carries some risk but likely even greater reward. The mayor is two-for-two in this year’s council contests: She helped Durkan win her summer special election. And she hit the doors for Pepén ahead of last month’s preliminary — propelling him to the top of the field and knocking out her past political ally, incumbent Ricardo Arroyo, in the process. Now Wu can come to Weber’s aid while he’s sidelined with Covid.

But for first-time candidates pitching themselves as progressives , taking the mayor’s support also threatens to turn their races into referendums on her policies and governance as Wu faces increasingly vocal pushback from her left flank — most recently over grant money for the controversial Boston Regional Intelligence Center .

Wu's endorsement could be a turn-off for progressive activists who supported Arroyo and Lara and who are now looking for candidates who will carry on checking the progressive mayor from the left. But that's blunted by Pepén saying Wu's support won't influence his council votes and the reality that these activists don't have another progressive choice in Districts 5 and 6. Just look at state Rep. Samantha Montaño, who backed Lara in the preliminary and is now with Weber.

With just five weeks until Election Day, it's also notable who Wu isn't backing: Julia Mejia, who’s seeking another at-large term, and Tania Fernandes Anderson in District 7. Both councilors are frequent Wu antagonists who have clashed with the mayor over public safety funding and tried to pull her even further to the left on issues like rent control. The mayor has at least held fundraisers for other councilors facing challengers, including Ruthzee Louijeune and Liz Breadon.

Asked whether she plans to endorse in any other races , Wu told Playbook “this is it for now.”

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Preliminary elections continue today in New Bedford, where Mayor Jon Mitchell faces five challengers for two spots on the November ballot.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have no public events. Wu designates BCYF Nazzaro a Boston landmark at 11:30 a.m. and speaks at the Tough Tech Summit at 1:45 p.m. in the Seaport.

Tips? Scoops? Endorsements? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “As child care costs soar, Healey administration pledges to simplify access to financial support,” by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: “The new policies from the Department of Early Education and Care will cut down on paperwork and simplify the application process for help covering the cost of early education, particularly for low-income families and those facing homelessness or who have disabilities.”

— “Coalition to stop private jet expansion comes to Beacon Hill,” by Bob Seay, GBH News: “The ‘Coalition to Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere’ rallied at the State House Monday, urging the governor to apply pressure on Massport and cancel an expansion of the Bedford airport.”

— “Restraining a patient is supposed to be a 'last resort.' Why is Massachusetts doing it so often?” by Alexi Cohan, GBH News: “Last year, there were more than 9,000 restraints performed across Massachusetts inpatient facilities. That represents a 20% increase from 2021, when there were 7,300 restraints, according to [Department of Mental Health] data obtained by GBH News via public records request. So far this year, 4,700 restraints were already reported between January and August. A ‘philosophy statement’ on DMH's website says the department aims to eventually eliminate restraints. That philosophy statement was written in 2007, and has not been updated.”

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

BALLOT BATTLES

BALLOT BALLADS — State Rep. Mike Connolly has taken a page out of Auditor Diana DiZoglio ’s songbook and recorded a tune to trumpet (metaphorically speaking) his ballot question for local-option rent control. Give it a listen on GBH .

FROM THE HUB

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — State Rep. Russell Holmes , who backed City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo in Boston's District 5 preliminary election, is now throwing his support behind Enrique Pepén . "Enrique is a thoughtful leader whose commitment to this city is clear," Holmes said in a statement.

In the at-large race, Henry Santana has won the backing of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters .

— “Boston takes its case for more liquor licenses to Beacon Hill,” by Diti Kohli, Boston Globe: “A hodgepodge group of Bostonians — from established restaurateurs to septuagenarian residents — testified on Beacon Hill Monday in support of legislation that could introduce as many as 250 liquor licenses to overlooked and further-flung corners of the city."

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

— “Mass. can expand solar without chopping so much forest, report says,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “But doing so will require changes in state incentives and planning efforts to encourage more solar on rooftops and covered parking lots, and more ground-mounted solar on smaller patches of already-developed or degraded land.”

— “DPU approves termination of SouthCoast wind contract,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The agreement approved by the DPU requires SouthCoast to pay a total of $60 million in termination fees, which will be rebated to customers, while allowing the joint venture of Shell Energy Ventures and Ocean Wind North America to walk away from signed contracts the company said were no longer workable given rising interest rates, inflation, supply chain disruption, and the war in Ukraine.”

ROE FALLOUT

— “AG Campbell launches reproductive justice unit, appoints Sapna Khatri as director,” by Ivy Scott, Boston Globe: “Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced the launch of the office’s reproductive justice unit Monday with the appointment of longtime abortion rights advocate Sapna Khatri as the unit’s first director. … The unit is tasked with protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive health care, in addition to gender-affirming care and postpartum maternal health.”

— “Women's health care advocates: SouthCoast is an 'abortion desert,’” by Audrey Cooney, Herald News: “Members of the Women's Fund placed a special emphasis on what [executive director Christine] Monska described as an ‘abortion desert’ on the SouthCoast, with only a handful of facilities offering abortion care. Earlier this year, a provider in New Bedford began offering medical abortions, which are mostly used for first-trimester pregnancies. ‘But that’s just simply not enough.’”

Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here .

PARTY POLITICS

MONEY, PLEASE — Days after signing a $15,000 settlement over alleged campaign finance violations under prior party leadership that deepened its debt, the MassGOP has started a legal defense fund to help pay its bills.

The party can now raise unlimited funds to “defend against a criminal matter” or to pay fees associated with a civil lawsuit (of which the MassGOP is facing several). But it can’t tap into the new fund to help pay off the campaign finance fine, a party spokesperson said.

FROM THE DELEGATION

— "Pregnant patients can be reported for neglect solely for taking addiction medication. A new federal bill would change that," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "New federal legislation being pushed by Senator Edward J. Markey and others would shield pregnant or postpartum mothers from child abuse and neglect investigations solely for taking prescribed medication to treat substance use disorder."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “MassHealth renewal on the line for 7 of 10 Brocktonians,” by Chris Helms, Brockton Enterprise: “More than seven out of 10 Brockton residents have MassHealth. East Side native Bryan Winston and his team have knocked on doors since April to warn Brocktonians that they might lose that health coverage. … Brockton is one of 15 Bay State cities getting special outreach, owing to the high percentage of residents on MassHealth, which is Massachusetts' version of Medicaid.”

— “Plymouth target of hate-group recruitment. How police reacted,” by David R. Smith, Patriot Ledger: “A New England-based group called a neo-Nazi organization by the Anti-Defamation League has come calling in Plymouth for new members as its presence seemingly continues to grow on the South Shore.”

— “Wage theft rules to become law in Salem,” by Dustin Luca, Salem News: “The City Council has taken a stand against wage theft with a new set of rules against those who engage in the practice.”

— “Lexington native Drew Weissman, co-recipient of Nobel Prize for COVID vaccine research, says he first thought it was a ‘prank’,” by Jonathan Saltzman, Travis Andersen and Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— "Chris Christie wants Trump ‘off the island.’ But GOP voters in N.H. say Christie should drop out of the race," by Steven Porter, Boston Globe: "Pollsters called 500 likely GOP presidential primary voters in New Hampshire between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2. Among the 202 respondents who had watched the debate, 41 percent said Christie was the candidate on stage who should drop out sooner than later."

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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Jessie Rossman has been selected as legal director for the ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts. Adriana Lafaille and Dan McFadden have been promoted to the position of managing attorney.

— Kathryn Niforos is now senior communications manager at Vineyard Offshore. She previously was director of communications at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

— Bill Yelenak has been named president and CEO of the Providers’ Council.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Madonna Meagher , the DNC’s Veronica Martinez and Juan Gilces Coronel . Happy belated to the Boston Herald’s Joe Dwinell and Mike Corbelle , who celebrated Monday.

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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