POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: In Belichick they trusted

BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook won’t publish on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We’ll be back on Tuesday. END OF A LEGENDARY ERA — Bill Belichick’s last play with the Patriots was uniting New England politicians from across the aisle. Tributes to the Hoodie, the Yoda of football, the Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain and now-former New England Patriots coach and general manager flooded in following the news that Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways after 24 years and six Super Bowl rings. “The best team in the best state with the best coach ,” Sen. Ed Markey posted on X . “A legend, an icon, a mastermind. Bill, thank you for sharing your greatness. We will be forever indebted.” “Eternally grateful,” New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu posted . “In the 104 year history of the National Football League , no coach has been more dominant than Bill Belichick,” Rep. Richard Neal added . “Coach, thank you for bringing another winning franchise to New England.” Bye, bye, Bill Belichick. | Matt Slocum/AP Now, Belichick claims he’s “not a political person.” But there's always a political connection to be found. And in Belichick's case, that came in 2016. The coach penned a laudatory letter to his friend, Donald Trump, who read it aloud at an election-eve rally in New Hampshire. Belichick said the letter was “not politically motivated.” That didn't matter to Trump — he won. Trump played up their connection, saying years later that he would turn to Belichick for military advice . Belichick told WEEI at the time that he was “flattered,” but would stick to football. (A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about whether he ever did seek such counsel.) But Belichick later distanced himself from Trump, in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. When Trump offered Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his way out the White House, he turned it down — amid some political pressure from some of Massachusetts’ top pols. Even Belichick’s departure from the Patriots carries some potential political implications. The team’s no-good, very-bad season — its worst in three decades — changed the game for presidential hopefuls campaigning in New Hampshire by freeing fans from their couches. But the Patriots could become must-see TV again in the post-Belichick era — even if it’s just to watch whether the team can redeem itself under a new coach. While Belichick is leaving at a low point, he’s being remembered for the highs — and possibly as “a cultural hero to the State of Massachusetts,” as the MassGOP put it. There’s no word yet on whether he’ll get any official commendations from Gov. Maura Healey. But she did call him a “legendary coach with an unparalleled legacy,” in a post on X . That’s close enough. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. We're onto the next coach. TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have no public events. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. THIS WEEKEND — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Former MassGOP Chair Jennifer Nassour and Black Lion Strategies’ Samuel Gebru are on NBC10’s “At Issue” at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com . DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Top Senate Democrat expresses reservation with Maura Healey’s shelter funding plan,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “The Senate’s top budget writer again expressed reservation Thursday toward Gov. Maura Healey’s plan to use surplus dollars from the pandemic to pay down massive shelter costs and a deficit this fiscal year. Growing doubt in the Legislature around handing more money to the shelter system comes before the governor has officially filed a bill with the Legislature, though she did lay out detailed ideas in a report to top Democrats in December. Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues said he is 'very protective' of reserve funds.” SENATE GUN BILL ‘ON TRACK’ — Senate President Karen Spilka is “very optimistic” the House and Senate will be able to hash out their differences over gun regulations and send a bill to the governor’s desk before the end of the session, she said during an interview on WBUR’s “Radio Boston .” Senators are “on track” to release their version of how to tighten the state's gun laws in the next two weeks. Spilka said there should be “some overlap” with the House’s bill, citing ghost guns and red flag laws. — “Activists push back on Gov. Healey's budget cuts to social services,” by Carla Rojo, NBC10 Boston: “Chanting ‘rescind the cuts!’ the Lift our Kids Coalition called on the governor to rethink the plan and the impacts it will have on social services that residents rely on. About $13 million will be cut from the transitional aid to families with dependents program and more than $4 million from the emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children program.” — “Nearly three dozen cities and towns lose money for fire departments after Gov. Healey’s budget cuts,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald. — “Lawmakers urged to favor bill requiring financial education for high school graduation,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette. FROM THE HUB — “Auchincloss blasts Boston City Council for rejecting $13M anti-terror grant,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss blasted the Boston City Council for voting to block a $13.3 million counter-terrorism grant for the metropolitan region amid heightened threats of terror that he says have been ‘fueled by antisemitism and anti-Zionism.’ Auchincloss, a Democratic Jewish congressman who represents Brookline, one of the nine communities that would have received the funding, sent a letter to Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune on Thursday, urging the body to pass the U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant upon its refiling by the mayor." — “Mass. AG sues Boston Housing Authority over mice-and-mold-infested Dorchester apartment,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe. DAY IN COURT — “No life without parole for those under 21, SJC rules,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Supreme Judicial Court declared it unconstitutional to sentence anyone under the age of 21 to life without the possibility of parole, citing brain development science and ‘contemporary standards of decency.’ The closely watched 4-3 ruling, released Thursday morning, extended protections that have been in place for the better part of a decade for juveniles to slighter older ‘emerging adults.’ It makes Massachusetts the first state in the nation to categorically reject life without parole for young adults, and comes through a sharply divided ruling by a court often known for its unanimous decisions.” — “EBay settles criminal charges over harassing Natick couple as new details emerge,” by Aaron Pressman, The Boston Globe: “As part of the agreement, eBay will pay a $3 million penalty, improve its legal compliance program and monitor corporate compliance for three years. In return, Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy agreed to indefinitely defer prosecuting the company on six criminal charges related to the 2019 harassment of Ina and David Steiner, who publish a website covering eBay called EcommerceBytes.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “MBTA workforce grew by 730 over last year,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “Fueled in large part by labor agreements that boosted wages and rolled out retention bonuses, the MBTA hired 1,480 new employees in 2023 and promoted 511 others to boost its workforce, long viewed as key to addressing some of the agency's deep-rooted problems. After accounting for 750 employee departures over the course of the year — which was also the highest amount in several years —the MBTA added a net 730 new full-time employee equivalents to its roster, pushing the total headcount above 7,000.” — “Chamber CEO confident MBTA starting to turn a corner,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon. FROM THE 413 — “Arrest warrant issued for former Holyoke city councilor, Wilmer Puello-Mota,” by John Pantalone, Springfield Republican: “Former Holyoke City Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota has a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear Tuesday at a disposition hearing in Rhode Island. Facing a variety of charges, including possession of child pornography, Puello-Mota was scheduled for the disposition hearing in Superior Court in Warwick.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Arrests made at encampment outside emergency shelter in Worcester,” by Veer Mudambi, Telegram & Gazette: “Three people were arrested Wednesday night after refusing to leave a homeless encampment that sprung up outside the new emergency winter shelter at 611 Main St. Early Wednesday morning, demonstrators began setting up tents and heaters in the parking lot of the shelter, protesting the lack of available space for the homeless population, particularly women, in the city.” — “Jasiel Correia moved to a 6th federal prison. It might be 'cushier' than the last site,” by Ashley Schuler, The Herald News: “As of Jan. 11, Correia can be found at Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland in eastern Kentucky, according to the online Bureau of Prisons inmate tracker.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE COURTING CHRISTIE’S CAMP — Nikki Haley may have barely mentioned Chris Christie ’s exit while campaigning in Iowa Thursday, but her allies back in New Hampshire are racing to lock up his supporters. At least one more member of the former New Jersey governor’s steering committee is now backing the former South Carolina governor, Lisa and Natalie Allison report . HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr is now a Senate co-chair of the Massachusetts Food System Caucus. Here’s him on a fishing boat. — Auditor Diana DiZoglio has appointed Renee Harper to the Federal Funds Equity and Accountability Review Panel. — Emily Oken has been appointed the new president of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Zelda MacGregor . Happy belated to Jerome E. Groopman and Senate President Karen Spilka, who celebrated Thursday. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Gina Christo and GBH’s Paul Singer , who celebrate Saturday; Yael Sheinfeld and Nick Murray , who celebrate Sunday; and to Monday birthday-ers state Rep. Kate Hogan , former Pittsfield city councilor Helen Moon, Omar Sedky and Bruce Schneier . 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 .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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