Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey hits the trail ... for housing

Thursday, May 9, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey hits the trail ... for housing

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ON THE TRAIL — Maura Healey is back in campaign mode.

But it’s not another term she’s seeking (well, not directly anyway). It’s support for her sweeping housing agenda.

The governor kicked off a multi-week, statewide housing campaign Monday in Lynn, where she and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll met with a crew of mayors and municipal officials to talk about her $4 billion housing bond bill, the MBTA Communities law and other housing-related challenges facing local leaders.

On Wednesday, Healey was in Worcester for another roundtable with electeds and business leaders. And today, it’s back to Boston for a “Housing is Health Care” event with hospital executives and health care leaders at Boston Medical Center.

There’s a lot at stake for the first-term governor, who swept into office with a promise to address the state’s high housing costs and lack of availability. Healey doubled down on the pledge during her State of the Commonwealth address this year, calling housing “the biggest challenge we face” and plugging the bond bill that’s been languishing before the Legislature.

But she’s faced unexpected pushback — primarily over the MBTA Communities Act that was passed by her predecessor but is central to her housing plans. Milton voters dealt Healey a significant blow earlier this year when they voted down a measure that would’ve put the town in compliance with the controversial zoning law, despite Healey expending significant political capital to try and sway voters the other way. And Milton’s not the only town voting down compliant zoning plans .

Healey is coming at the issue from both sides. After following through on her threats to withhold grant funding from Milton, on Monday she applauded dozens of cities and towns that “already passed zoning plans intending to comply with the MBTA Communities Act.”

But as the Legislature moves into crunch time , Healey needs to sell not just voters but also lawmakers who hold the fate of her housing agenda in their hands. House Speaker Ron Mariano said his chamber would get to the bond bill after the budget. But there’s been no movement on it since representatives passed their take on the state’s next spending plan late last month. And in the interim, Mariano has been sounding less enthusiastic about a key component of Healey’s plan: a transfer tax on high-end real-estate sales.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

TODAY — Healey and Driscoll hold their “Housing is Health Care” roundtable at 12:30 p.m. at Boston Medical Center. Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Rep. Richard Neal are honored at the Environmental League of Massachusetts’ Earth Night event at 5:30 p.m. Fenway Park.

Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Mass. lawmakers suggest changes to police handling of rape cases after WBUR investigation,” by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “Several state lawmakers say Massachusetts law enforcement needs to more aggressively pursue sexual assault cases. This comes on the heels of a WBUR investigation into how authorities failed to arrest an alleged serial rapist for years, despite DNA evidence. Legislators say potential improvements could include launching a new statewide sexual assault unit, forcing police to disclose more information about rape reports and expanding the state’s DNA database.”

— “Mass. House leaders scored big in chamber’s closed-door budget process. You just wouldn’t know it,” by Samantha J. Gross and Matt Stout, The Boston Globe.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “New tone for Healey transportation funding task force,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The task force met on Wednesday and several members, who asked not to be identified, indicated afterward that the group is no longer going to work on developing a transportation funding plan. Instead, they said, the group intends to focus on developing a ‘tool kit’ that could be used by policymakers to develop a transportation funding plan. These task force members said the group is no longer going to attempt to reach consensus on a revenue target and won’t be breaking into subcommittees focused on specific types of revenue options.”

FROM THE HUB

— “Amid growing worry about city tax base, chamber pushes back on Wu’s proposed budget hike,” by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “In a letter sent to the chair and vice chair of the council’s Committee on Ways and Means — Councilors Brian Worrell and Enrique Pepén — and copied to all 11 other council members, James E. Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, pushed the councilors to 'practice fiscal discipline,' and keep spending growth between 3 and 4 percent.”

— “Boston city councilors wrestle over how to declare support for local Jews,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Boston City Council duked it out over two resolutions that sought to show its support for the local Jewish community and denounce antisemitism, but only one was ultimately approved over the objections of a councilor forced to withdraw his. The resolution [filed by Councilor Ben Weber and] adopted Wednesday, via a 12-0 vote, recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month, and affirms the Council’s stance against ‘all forms of hate including antisemitism and islamophobia,’ along with its commitment to stand with the city’s Jewish residents."

— “Shattuck’s cottage community, a relief to the unsheltered at Mass. and Cass, to close this summer,” by Jason Laughlin, The Boston Globe

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ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

— “Students demand UMass chancellor’s resignation after pro-Palestine protesters’ arrests,” by Namu Sampath, The Springfield Republican: “University of Massachusetts Amherst student government members announced at a rally on Wednesday afternoon that they would be pushing for a no-confidence vote to remove Chancellor Javier Reyes after his decision to use police to disperse a pro-Palestinian encampment the day before. More than 130 students, faculty and others were arrested. Video of the camp clearing depicts rough handling of protesters by police, many of whom were in riot gear.”

— “‘You must leave campus immediately’: MIT suspends protesters as encampment tensions escalate,” by Mike Damiano, Lila Hempel-Edgers and Ava Berger, The Boston Globe.

— “Biden says US will cut off offensive weapons to Israel ‘if they go into Rafah’,” by Jonathan Lemire and Jennifer Haberkorn, POLITICO.

WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET

— “Democratic state attorneys general are teaming up to protect abortion access,” by Shefali Luthra, The 19th: “Led by Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts, the top lawyers from blue states want to use shield laws, legal hotlines and ‘reproductive justice’ units to secure abortion rights.”

— “Steward can’t even get bankruptcy right, state says,” by Aaron Pressman and Robert Weisman, The Boston Globe: “Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office complained in a new filing in the bankruptcy proceeding that Steward has separate sales processes for its hospitals that preclude a bidder from offering to buy all in one transaction, and had even excluded some potential buyers from participating.”

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

CALLING INTO QUESTION — Quincy City Council President Ian Cain is facing some questions about his Republican bona fides as he embarks on his GOP bid to unseat Sen. Elizabeth Warren . During an appearance on WBZ NewsRadio’s “NightSide with Dan Rea ” last week, Cain faced multiple questions from callers who said they were struggling to reconcile Cain’s Republican campaign with his past support for Democrats — including backing Michelle Wu for mayor of Boston in 2021.

Cain expressed “regret” over supporting Wu, and said he only endorsed her because she initially said she did not support rebuilding the Long Island bridge — a stance she’s since reversed. His mea culpa didn’t convince every caller. But others (who said they were from his hometown) came to his defense. One of their arguments in Cain's favor: he's a born and raised Bay Stater.

— “East Providence lawyer running against Elizabeth Warren dealt a blow in suit against Barrington,” by Katie Mulvaney, The Providence Journal: “A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith's finding that Barrington police officers had probable cause to arrest John E. Deaton following an altercation at a Pop Warner football game in 2017.”

— “Maggie Goodlander launches N.H. congressional bid after White House exit,” by Steven Porter, The Boston Globe.

BALLOT BATTLES

— “Mass. restaurant group asks high court to block ballot question on tipped minimum wage,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette: “[Ed Daly, the attorney representing the restaurant association] contends that two different questions are encompassed — whether tipped workers should be paid full minimum wage and whether employers can pool tips and distribute them among all employees.”

DAY IN COURT

— “Volodymyr Zhukovskyy testifies at hearing on his request to resume driving in N.H.,” by Laura Crimaldi, The Boston Globe: “Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, speaking publicly Wednesday for the first time about his role in the 2019 crash that killed seven motorcyclists and revealed years of bureaucratic neglect at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, said he wasn’t responsible for the fatal collision.”

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DATELINE D.C.

NO VACANCY — Democrats joined Republicans to overwhelmingly, though not unanimously, block Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ’s (R-Ga.) attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). “This latest Republican motion to vacate is a waste of time,” Rep. Lori Trahan said in a statement. “So long as we are able to find compromise, as we did on the recent bipartisan national security package, Democrats will continue to be the adults in the House.”

EYES EMOJI — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is considering bringing the failed bipartisan border deal to a vote later this month, Axios reports . We’re sure Gov. Maura Healey will be watching this closely.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Encore and Everett locked in new host agreement game of poker,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: " Encore is in a high-stakes negotiation with Everett over its $500 million expansion — a price tag that could soar even higher. ... Mayor Carlo DeMaria is seeking a public safety facility at the Encore Boston Harbor site to help with the estimated 700 to 800 calls a year tied to the mega casino."

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

SUGGEST REVIEWING KELLY AYOTTE'S HISTORY

NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS NOTHING TO RUN ON OTHER THAN CRITICIZING MASSACHUSETTS?

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS CLOG MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAYS FOR GOOD PAYING JOBS...WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE'S FAILURES?

IS THERE ANYTHING NEW HAMPSHIRE LEADS IN?

TAXACHUSETTS — Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte isn’t the only New Hampshire Republican with barbs for Gov. Maura Healey . Gov. Chris Sununu knocked her for “bragging about cutting taxes” during a New England Council breakfast . “That’s like me bragging about having a salad. We all know it [is] followed by [a] sleeve of Oreos,” he said.

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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Anthony Nguyen, Josh McCorkle and Maccon Bonner are all joining the city of Boston’s Office of Neighborhood Services. Nguyen will be the Mid-Dorchester Liaison, McCorkle will serve as the Roslindale Liaison and Bonner will be the Mission Hill, Fenway-Kenmore, Beacon Hill, and Back Bay Liaison.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Marina Chafa, Drew Sullivan, Cory Bisbee, David Gergen, Mark Leibovich and Ben Herman.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: HEAD OVER HEALEY — Gov. Maura Healey joins hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky at the MA Tech 16 conference to talk about her climate technology plans. Plus: polls and budgets. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud .

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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