Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey tries to regain control of the narrative

Monday, March 25, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey tries to regain control of the narrative

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MANAGING THE MESSAGE — Gov. Maura Healey defused one controversy when her office issued a revised travel notification policy on Friday and finally divulged where she went for a long weekend in February: Puerto Rico, with her partner.

Healey will provide the location of her personal trips out of state in the monthly calendars her office makes available upon request, though that means we likely still won't learn about her travels until weeks after the fact.

It’s a notable about-face for the governor . Healey used to alert reporters when she was traveling out of state (and thus transferring executive power down the chain of command). But she stopped providing that information in advance last fall amid unspecified “security concerns” and then stripped the location of her mid-February trip out of that month's calendar. After days of intensifying scrutiny, she’s changing course again.

“The governor’s focus is on balancing the need to protect the privacy and security of her family while also providing information to the public,” Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand said in a statement Friday. “Last month, the governor’s partner, Joanna Lydgate, took her to Puerto Rico for a long weekend for her birthday — their first vacation together in a long time.”

Travel remains an area in which Healey, who came into office pledging more executive-office transparency than her predecessors, is providing less. But her amended policy is likely to put a pin in the issue.

And it's not the only situation in which the governor is trying to regain control of the narrative.

Gov. Maura Healey | Lisa Kashinsky/POLITICO

Healey is finally addressing the other controversy that dogged her all of last week — the “things will happen” remark she made in the wake of the alleged rape at a Rockland hotel housing migrants that Republican former Sen. Kelly Ayotte has turned into a campaign cudgel in New Hampshire’s gubernatorial race .

“Well, obviously that wasn’t the full quote,” Healey said in an interview with WBZ’s Jon Keller that aired Sunday. But instead of jabbing back at Ayotte or defending her pick in the race, Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, Healey pivoted to calling out congressional inaction on immigration reform. “What happened to this young victim, this 15-year-old girl, is exactly why the federal government needs to act,” Healey said.

Healey insisted she’s “not interested in playing politics with this issue.” She accused former President Donald Trump and House Republicans of doing just that when they tanked the bipartisan federal border deal.

But, Keller wondered, isn’t that just Healey pointing the finger? “I’m just speaking the truth of what happened,” Healey said.

Healey also used her appearance on “Keller @ Large” to try and make the MBTA Communities Act more palatable to Milton, which the state is trying to sue into compliance after voters killed a rezoning plan. The law “simply requires communities to rezone, to draw up plans,” Healey said. “It actually doesn’t require them to build any housing.”

But, as Keller pointed out, that’s not how it’ll work in practice. Rezoning will draw developers. And if a town doesn’t approve their plans, lawsuits could follow. Healey didn’t engage when Keller said she’s “essentially … opening the door to developers.” She also didn’t play ball when Keller asked if she expects to issue any exemptions to the law. “I’ll have to take a look at that,” she said.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com .

TODAY — Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and legislative leaders gather for a leadership meeting at 2 p.m. in the Senate president’s office, with a media availability to follow. Healey and Driscoll swear in the Governor’s Youth Advisory Council at 4 p.m. at the State House. Senate President Karen Spilka speaks at the 2024 Independent Living Day at 11 a.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu breaks ground on a new childcare center and launches an online childcare enrollment platform at 11 a.m. in Mattapan.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

HEALTH CARE HEARING — Steward Health Care will likely be in lawmakers' crosshairs today as Health Care Financing Committee members dig into the role of private equity in the state’s health care system — a hearing spurred by the shaky financial situation at Steward that’s put the future of the company's seven acute-care hospitals in the state at risk.

Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre isn’t expected to testify , which makes sense given that he's become a top target of the state’s Democratic leaders. When House Speaker Ron Mariano was asked by a reporter last week if he had spoken to de la Torre recently, the Quincy Democrat shot back: “Not since he pissed through my hospital.”

— “Sen. Edwards apologizes for Milton comments,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “Sen. Lydia Edwards of East Boston apologized to Milton residents for comments she made earlier this month suggesting ‘the state has to crush Milton’ for its failure to come into compliance with the MBTA Communities Law. In a letter to the editor published in the Milton Times, Edwards [said] … ‘The measure of our character and professionalism is not in the fervor with which we hold our positions, but in the respect and civility with which we express them. In this instance, I failed to uphold these standards.’”

— “Auditor Diana DiZoglio undeterred about audit ballot question’s chances on Beacon Hill,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “DiZoglio is scheduled to head before a committee Tuesday to pitch a group of legislators on her proposed ballot question that would allow the state auditor’s office to audit the Legislature, an idea that has so far faced fierce resistance from top Democrats at the State House. The former senator and representative said if history repeats itself, ‘the Legislature is highly unlikely to support this’ and the committee tasked with reviewing the measure is not likely to give it a stamp of approval.”

— “Beacon Hill is eyeing utility bill equity upgrades,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon.

Access New York bill updates and Congressional activity in areas that matter to you, and use our exclusive insights to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more .

FROM THE HUB

— “Man seeks new trial in murder case linked to 1995 police beating of Michael Cox,” by Laura Crimaldi, The Boston Globe: “The notorious events of Jan. 25, 1995 are well known in Boston. Michael Cox, then a 29-year-old plainclothes officer with a police anti-gang unit, was beaten unconscious by a group of fellow officers who had mistaken him for a fleeing murder suspect. Lesser known is the murder that triggered the events that led to the brutal attack on Cox. … Now more than 25 years later, John Evans, 54, who was convicted, with his brother, of first-degree murder in [Lyle] Jackson’s death, is challenging the verdict and asking for a new trial.”

— “Amid budget crunch, Boston looks to update payment program short-changed by tax-exempt nonprofits,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Given the budgetary challenges expected to result from the city’s eroding commercial tax base, councilors are taking a new look at modernizing a payment in lieu of taxes program arguably short-changed by Boston’s wealthy nonprofit sector. The Boston City Council will hold a policy briefing Thursday on the city’s PILOT program, where discussion may be built around numbers released in October that show private institutions with tax-exempt status collectively contributed just 76 percent of their requested payment in fiscal year 2023.”

— “Judge denies request for injunction against White Stadium renovation project,” by Esteban Bustillos, GBH News.

— “South Boston state senator denounces degenerates, 'vidiots' and East Boston in push against proposed Andrew Square tavern,” by Universal Hub.

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PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

THE T IS ON TRACK — That’s the message Healey administration Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt delivered on WCVB’s “On the Record” over the weekend. “I think we’re in the best place we’ve been” under General Manager Phil Eng , who she described as “very, very honest about the issues” facing the T and “aggressive” about trying to fix them. Eng, meanwhile, was on NBC10 Boston’s “At Issue” touting his approach to “restoring the service so we can restore public trust.”

The T better be functioning this summer, when the Sumner Tunnel undergoes its second two-month shutdown. If that work doesn't wrap up on time, the contractors on the project will face “significant penalties,” Tibbits-Nutt warned.

PUMPING THE BRAKES — Eng continues to throw up resistance to broadening fare-free bus service outside of pilot programs in Boston and potentially Cambridge. "My responsibility is to balance a budget, and for me to be able to ensure that we have enough operating dollars to continue the level of service," he said on OTR. "I have a lot of work to do to tighten our belt.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS — Eng said the T’s contactless payment system is coming “this year” — at least in part. He’s been among the “small internal group” testing it since late last year.

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

ENDORSEMENT CORNER — The race for Suffolk County Supreme Judicial Court clerk is already dividing Boston pols. Rep. Stephen Lynch and past Boston City Council President Ed Flynn have endorsed Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy for the seat, with Lynch praising her “sense of compassion that’s rare among elected officials.”

State Sen. Lydia Edwards, meanwhile, is amplifying longtime attorney Allison Cartwright’s candidacy — though she hasn’t officially endorsed anyone for the job. “Excited to see such a qualified and professional candidate running for this position,” Edwards said of Cartwright in a post on X . She’s also been helping Cartwright collect signatures in Winthrop and Revere.

THERE’S ALWAYS A MASS. CONNECTION — New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy suspended her U.S. Senate campaign to replace embattled Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez on Sunday. Healey was among the prominent Massachusetts pols who hosted a fundraiser for Murphy in late February at former Ambassador Alan Solomont ’s home.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “High-speed chase leads to change of command at Lawrence PD,” by Jill Harmacinski, The Eagle-Tribune: “Provisional Police Chief William Castro has been placed on administrative leave after his credentials to serve as a police officer were suspended by a state commission for being ‘untruthful’ in a report about a motor vehicle pursuit. Also, Castro’s ‘hiring and certification practices’ for certain police officers have been called into question.”

— “Springfield leaders talk about potential sale of MGM casino,” by Alanna Flood, WWLP.

— “State Democrats gather in Attleboro, emphasizing importance of November election,” by Jim Hand, The Sun Chronicle.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to U.S. Grid Deployment Office Director Maria Robinson , NYT’s Felice Belman , Alissa C. Rooney and Playbook superfan Wayne Kashinsky . Happy belated to Kaleigh Fratkin , who celebrated Sunday.

TRANSITIONS — Ty McEachern will be communications director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. He was press secretary for New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

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