 | BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY | PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ve reached the last two Playbooks for the year! Send us all those tips and scoops you’ve been holding onto: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com . CITY COUNCIL SIGNS OFF — The Boston City Council held its last meeting of the year Wednesday, an uncharacteristically smooth conclusion to a term plagued by infighting and scandal. Wednesday’s meeting saw a unanimous vote to approve the $82 million agreement Mayor Michelle Wu reached with Boston’s Police Patrolmen’s Association — a key compromise that will tighten disciplinary rules for officers and keep those convicted of some crimes from easily being rehired. The council will see significant turnover next year and new leadership, as Ed Flynn reaches the end of his two-year term as council president. But while at-large Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune says she has the votes to be the council’s next leader, Flynn told Playbook that others (who he declined to name) are still jockeying for the position. “There’s still other city councilors that are asking for the support of other City Council colleagues. I think the selection is still taking place,” Flynn said, adding that a colleague had approached him Tuesday about the role. Flynn’s own political future has been the subject of rampant speculation by Boston’s political chattering class. But he shot down the idea that he might try to follow in the footsteps of his father, former Mayor Ray Flynn, come 2025. “I’m not considering that,” he said. Nor is he eyeing other statewide or congressional seats in the area. “I would like at some point to work at the Veterans Administration," Flynn, a Navy vet himself, said. Playbook chatted with Flynn about his tumultuous past two years, the No.1 issue facing the city (“quality of life"), the No. 1 thing he didn’t get done as council president (“establishing a standalone domestic violence committee") and if he believes the city will hire a “rat czar” (“it’s something I’m going to keep working on”). Here are more excerpts from our conversation, edited for length and clarity:
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Ed Flynn presided over a turbulent two years on the Boston City Council | Steven Senne/AP | Is there anything you wish you could go back and do differently? No. I stand by the decisions I made. They weren't popular political decisions. They hurt me politically and probably professionally. But I try to do what's best for the residents of Boston. Is there any decision in particular that you think hurt you? Yes. I think stripping Councilor [Ricardo] Arroyo of his committee chair [following the resurfacing of years-old allegations of sexual assault] hurt me politically. But I still think I made the right decision. There’s a lot of turnover on the council coming. Do you think this will change how things operate? The incoming group is very mature, professional and understands the role of the City Council. It's about working together. It's about treating each other with respect and dignity — you might not agree but you have to be civil to each other. What letter grade would you give Mayor Wu as she hits the halfway mark in her term? I wouldn’t give her a letter grade. I think she's done a good job. I'm close with the mayor personally. I like her, I respect her. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey speaks at the Massachusetts Conference for Women at 10:15 a.m. at the BCEC and attends Officer Paul Tracey ’s wake at 3 p.m. in Waltham. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a Small Business Administration 9:30 a.m. at Mount Ida and makes an affordable housing announcement at 2 p.m. in Foxboro. Healey, Driscoll and Auditor Diana DiZoglio attend MassDems holiday party at the Omni Parker House at 5:30 p.m. Wu speaks at the Massachusetts Conference for Women at 12:30 p.m. and attends a menorah lighting at 5:30 p.m. Rep. Seth Moulton is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m.
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| — “Mass. Health Dept. says state needs controversial overdose prevention centers,” by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: “The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is endorsing overdose prevention centers where staff are on hand, if needed, to revive clients who use drugs. The department published a report Wednesday on the feasibility of opening these sites, which have generated public controversy and may violate federal law. The report was released in conjunction with the latest statewide overdose death numbers. They showed virtually no change in the record-setting high count of fatal overdoses Massachusetts posted six months ago.” — “Healey, marking first year in office, touts MBTA as ‘safer and more reliable’ amid continued lapses,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey said Wednesday that she believes the MBTA has turned a corner since she took office in January, saying that both her administration and her hand-picked general manager have done the ‘right things’ in tackling deep-seated problems at the beleaguered transportation system.” — “Massachusetts Gov. Healey looks to double down on housing affordability in her second year,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Gov. Maura Healey is looking to double down on affordable housing in Massachusetts in the second year of her administration, including by pushing the Legislature to pass a pending $4 billion housing bond bill she already filed.” — “Gov. Healey asks Biden to issue a major disaster declaration for fall flooding,” by Alvin Buyinza, MassLive. — “Gov. Healey says abortion pill will remain available in Mass. regardless of Supreme Court's decision,” by Sharman Sacchetti, WCVB.
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS |
| — “Grant program funding two overnight shelters opening in North Central Massachusetts,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Opportunities for Hope will provide 23 bedrooms across the two sites as well as facilities management and maintenance while the Spanish American Center will offer ‘multilingual, culturally competent resource coordination and connections to local supports.’”
| | FROM THE HUB |
| — “Boston City Council passes measure to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections,” by Danny McDonald and Vivi Smilgius, The Boston Globe: “The City Council on Wednesday took a step toward making elections more inclusive by approving a measure that would allow immigrants legally living in Boston to vote in local elections. But the home rule petition, which must be approved by the state legislature to take effect, still has a long way to go before it becomes reality.”
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| — “Wu’s appointee to T board raises questions about low-income fare proposal,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s appointee to the MBTA board of directors pushed back against a transit authority presentation on Wednesday that steered the agency toward launching a half-price fare for low-income passengers instead of the free fare concept favored by the mayor. The T’s presentation on low-income fares was similar to ones delivered many times in the past, focusing largely on the benefits for roughly 60,000 people between the ages of 26 and 64 earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.”
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS |
| MORE CAPE RACES TAKE SHAPE — It’s going to be a busy election season on Cape Cod next year. Democrat Owen Fletcher , a former state legislative aide who serves as clerk of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, says he’s running for the 5th Barnstable state House seat held by GOP state Rep. Steven Xiarhos .
| | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| — “Did Harvard aim to cancel Auchincloss?” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon: “An innocent bureaucratic mix-up or sharp-elbowed payback? Those are among the competing explanations being offered for a chain of events that forced a Harvard student group to scramble at the eleventh hour last week to find an off-campus location for an event with U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss.” DEMS DIVIDED — A resolution from Rep. Elise Stefanik condemning last week’s controversial testimony on antisemitism from three university presidents left members of the Massachusetts delegation divided. Reps. Bill Keating , Stephen Lynch and Seth Moulton voted in favor of the resolution, which passed with bipartisan support. The six other members voted against the proposal. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark slammed it as “hypocritical” and accused Republicans of failing to “put forward solutions to combat antisemitism.” DEMS NOT DIVIDED — Every Massachusetts Democrat in the House voted against greenlighting a Republican-driven impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden .
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “'Great plan … but not a solution': Council allows accessory dwelling units throughout city,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “After about an hour of discussion, the City Council voted Tuesday to allow the construction of accessory dwelling units as a right in residential districts. The policy requires owners to occupy the property to construct an additional unit.” — “Enrollment at public colleges and universities climbs in Massachusetts; first increase since 2013,” by Travis Andersen, The Boston Globe. — “The state disapproves of bylaws banning 5G in Great Barrington and Sheffield. Some residents are appealing,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle.
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| THE SUNUNU EFFECT — Chris Sununu is already proving himself useful to Nikki Haley beyond New Hampshire. The pair are in the midst of an all-out media blitz, booking interviews on local radio shows and, more importantly for reaching donors who can fuel Haley’s campaign into the new year, national networks including CNN and Fox News. Sununu is calling for Republicans and independents who can vote in New Hampshire’s GOP primary to consolidate behind one candidate — Haley — as an alternative to former President Donald Trump , the far-and-away frontrunner. Trump responded at an Iowa rally last night, saying Sununu “didn’t have the guts” to run for president himself and his endorsement of Haley has "meant nothing." Sununu was deciding between Haley , Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for his endorsement. He didn't speak to either DeSantis or Christie before going public with Haley, and, as of Wednesday night, still hadn't called Christie, his longtime friend whom he's credited with helping him win his first term as governor. "What am I going to say? Congratulations on a bad choice?" Christie told reporters after a town hall event in Londonderry. "I'm sure he'll get to it at some point."
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND |
| — “Gov. McKee rips reporter for question at bridge briefing,” by Ted Nesi, WPRI: “Gov. Dan McKee lashed out at a reporter Wednesday for asking about potential resignations at the R.I. Department of Transportation in the wake of the Washington Bridge crisis, calling such questions ‘out of line.’"
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| SPOTTED — State Sen. Jamie Eldridge at the White House, along with dozens of other state lawmakers and Vice President Kamala Harris , for the launch of the Biden administration’s “Safer States” gun violence-prevention initiative. ALSO SPOTTED — Matt Damon , dressed as a firefighter for a movie role, meeting with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu while filming in the Hub. Pic . TRANSITIONS — Gina Christo , a former political strategist and fundraiser for top progressives including state Sen. Liz Miranda, will be departing Rivera Consulting at the end of the year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to GBH’s Alexi Cohan, Toora Arsala, John Ullyot of Brighton Strategy Group and Christopher Marcisz . NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE CAMPUS AND THE CONGRESS — WBUR's Max Larkin joins hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela to talk through antisemitism on college campuses and the fallout from last week's congressional hearing on the topic. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and SoundCloud . 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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