Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: What is Ed Flynn up to

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: What is Ed Flynn up to

Presented by Mass General Brigham

TO RUN OR NOT TO RUN — Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn isn’t really running for mayor. Or wait, he is still considering a bid? And what’s up with the “Veterans for Flynn” group that recently formed ?

The rumors keep smoldering, and Flynn’s increasingly vocal criticism of the way the city is run is feeding the fire. But it still isn’t clear whether the Boston city councilor, now in his fourth term, will launch a longshot bid against Boston Mayor Michelle Wu when she’s up for reelection next year.

Asked yesterday during a campaign fundraiser about his plans, Flynn delivered what’s become his go-to response lately: “I'm going to consider it at some point, but I have a lot of work ahead of me before that,” he told Playbook.

The event itself, held in Dorchester’s Florian Hall, didn’t quite have the air of a campaign on the cusp of a big announcement. “I guess my message tonight is, I'm going to continue working hard for the residents of my district, the residents of the city,” Flynn said after thanking the family, friends and small group of elected officials in attendance.

There’s still plenty of time for those eyeing the office to make a decision before Boston voters head to the ballot box next fall. But if he’s not gearing up to get in the race, why has Flynn been ramping up his critiques of the city in the press and online?

Flynn cited “significant public safety challenges” he says Boston Common and the Downtown Crossing area are facing, when asked about the motivation behind his critiques of the city. “Residents are expecting me to provide leadership in advocating for more police officers, and that's exactly what I'm doing,” he said.

What about the city’s record low homicide rate that’s making national headlines ? “I credit Boston police for doing an exceptional job, especially under difficult circumstances,” Flynn said.

The District 2 councilor has called for hiring up to 400 more BPD officers – which would come at significant cost to the city already as it’s facing calls to make cuts to its budget. Money paid for police overtime could help offset, he argued.

“We do spend a lot of money on overtime – that money spent on overtime should really be spent hiring police,” Flynn said.

Boston political observers foresee an uphill battle for Flynn if he does give it a go. Though he has plenty of campaign cash, Wu has more – and if New England Patriots Foundation President Josh Kraft, who’s rumored to be exploring a run, does join the mix, it could make it harder for Flynn to carve a niche.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Heads up, Red Line riders: Shuttles are replacing service between Ashmont and JFK/UMass after a water main break last night .

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey is in Pennsylvania to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the Cape Cod Commission’s OneCape Summit at 4 p.m. in Harwich Port. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper provide an update on school transportation at 9 a.m. in Roxbury. Wu is on "Java with Jimmy" at 10 a.m., speaks at the Centenarian Society of Boston induction ceremony at noon in Roxbury and presents awards at the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center’s annual banquet at 7 p.m.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com .

A message from Mass General Brigham:

DATELINE BEACON HILL

HORSING AROUND — Yes, that was Gov. Maura Healey riding a horse down Beacon Street yesterday.

Healey hopped in the saddle after announcing the launch of MA250, an initiative celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution that’ll run through 2026. The state plans to hand out $1.5 million for 37 grants for events, exhibits and programs across the Commonwealth.

Also spotted at the kick-off: Paul Revere riding up to warn of a British invasion, along with other Revolutionary reenactors and Spot, the Boston Dynamics robot dog.

— “State lawmakers hope to reduce arrests for debtors during informal sessions,” by Jenifer B. McKim, GBH News: “Consumers advocates are pushing for a new state law to protect low-income residents facing a deluge of lawsuits from big companies in small claims courts in Massachusetts — a problem recently detailed in an eye-opening report issued by the state trial court. Supporters hope the bill will pass before December, during the Legislature’s informal sessions, since recent compromises on the bill led many debt collection companies to drop their opposition.”

— “Healey does not say if state police should pause trainings at academy after recruit’s death,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Gov. Maura Healey did not immediately say if the Massachusetts State Police should pause training activities at their academy days after a recruit suffered injuries there and died, and instead urged people not to ‘jump to conclusions.’ At an unrelated event outside the State House Tuesday, Healey said the death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who died after suffering a ‘medical crisis’ during a boxing training exercise, was heartbreaking. But the first-term Democrat declined to comment on the injuries Delgado-Garcia reportedly sustained and who should take over the investigation into his death after Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said his office would step aside because of the recruit’s prior service as a victim witness advocate.”

Who will lead the investigation is still up in the air. During an interview on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” Tuesday, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said she’s been in communication with Early’s office about “who is best positioned to take on this investigation.” But since state police are assigned to every district attorney’s office — and to Campbell’s office — “the question becomes, are there conflicts in all of our offices?” Campbell said.

Campbell expects to have an answer on who will lead the investigation soon. “I get the sense of urgency here,” she said. “[Family and community members] have a lot of questions. They need a point of contact to go to to get those questions answered, and someone to navigate that investigation on their behalf.”

— “Mariano Met With Dem Rep Contenders At UMass Club,” by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): “Last week, House Speaker Ron Mariano hosted a welcome lunch for 22 Democrats who won their House primaries this month and could become new faces in his chamber. The lunch was held Thursday at the UMass Club, organized by Mariano's campaign team, and the primary winners were invited regardless of whether or not they have a challenger in the general election on Nov. 5.”

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

ROAD TRIP — Gov. Maura Healey is hitting the road for the Harris-Walz campaign today, heading to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the campaign’s “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” bus tour.

CASH DASH — Attorney General Andrea Campbell headlined a fundraiser for the Harris Victory Fund in Concord, Massachusetts earlier this week, helping raise more than $200,000 for the campaign. In attendance: Campaign finance chair and Manchester-by-the-Sea native Rufus Gifford, according to a person familiar with the event.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM & INTIMIDATION BY

EXTREMISTS THAT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED!

— “The FBI is investigating suspicious packages sent to election officials in more than a dozen states,” by Summer Bllentine and Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press.

excerpt:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Tuesday were investigating the origin of suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials in more than 15 states, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or that any of the packages contained hazardous material.

The latest packages were sent to elections officials in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island. Mississippi authorities reported a package was delivered there Monday, and the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office said the FBI alerted it of a package that was intercepted.

The FBI is collecting the packages, some of which contained “an unknown substance,” agency spokesperson Kristen Setera in Boston said in a statement.

“We are also working with our partners to determine how many letters were sent, the individual or individuals responsible for the letters, and the motive behind the letters,” she said. “As this is an ongoing matter we will not be commenting further on the investigation, but the public can be assured safety is our top priority.”

It’s the second time in the past year that suspicious packages were mailed to election officials in multiple states.

— “‘Seeing someone like her who represents Asians is so huge.’ How Asian American voters could decide the 2024 election,” by Anjali Huynh, The Boston Globe.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — State Rep. Manny Cruz is endorsing Eunice Zeigler for Governor’s Council in District 5.

FROM THE HUB

— “‘A step backward, to take two steps forward’: Boston leaders on disruptive transition to new yellow bus tracking app,” by Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe: “Mayor Michelle Wu backed away Tuesday morning from her commitment to having 95 percent of school buses arrive on time, part of a school improvement plan she signed in June 2022 to avert a state takeover of Boston Public Schools. BPS leaders expect it will take months before school buses hit a lower on-time arrival rate of 90 percent, which was the average for the district last year. ... Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper attributed the low on-time bus arrival rates in part to the learning curve of a new real-time bus tracking app, Zūm, that the district launched this year.”

WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET

— “AG's Children’s Justice Unit addresses bullying and harassment claims at schools,” by Hannah Loss, GBH News: “[Attorney General Andrea Campbell] said some of her office’s most important work is addressing hate. … That’s why Campbell’s office stepped into the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District after complaints of racist bullying. A federal civil rights complaint was filed against Southwick Regional School after students held a mock slave auction on Snapchat last February.”

A message from Mass General Brigham:

MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “Migrant families return to Logan, raising questions about state shelter restrictions,” by Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio, The Boston Globe: “Migrant families who say they are out of viable shelter options are once again returning to sleep at Logan International Airport, despite the state’s ban on newly arrived migrant families and homeless people staying there overnight. On Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday morning, one group of migrants, sought refuge inside Terminal A. Another group of families, including children as young as 2, opted to sleep just outside the terminal, for fear of being kicked out if they slept inside the airport.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Massachusetts schools affected by Moms for Liberty lawsuit,” by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light: “This year, 32 schools in 19 Massachusetts districts are bracing for a return to political and cultural battles after a federal judge included them in his order to halt new protections for transgender students. Over the summer, Moms for Liberty, a conservative activist group, spearheaded a federal lawsuit in Kansas to block these protections in all schools where it has members — more than 2,000 schools nationwide.”

— “Female Sutton police lieutenant says she was wrongly denied chief’s job due to gender discrimination,” by Travis Andersen, The Boston Globe: “A female Sutton police lieutenant filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination on Friday, alleging she was wrongly denied a promotion to the chief’s position because of her gender, records show. The complaint from Lieutenant Lisa Sullivan, 51, which her lawyer shared with the Globe, said Town Manager James Smith notified her in writing in June that he was appointing her to the department’s top post after she received the highest score in a promotional test.”

— “Brockton school board meeting where mayor may face discipline rescheduled. What happened?,” by Chris Helms, The Brockton Enterprise.

— “Another man with Cape Cod ties sets self on fire by Israel consulate - this time in Boston,” by Rachael Devaney, Cape Cod Times.

— “'Industrial dystopia': Taunton neighbors sound alarm over plan to develop city-owned land,” by Daniel Schemer, Taunton Daily Gazette.

— “Salem City Council considers task force for evaluating and potentially changing city's seal,” by Michael McHugh, The Salem News.

MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND

— “‘Nothing is final’: Hasbro toys likely wouldn’t relocate from R.I. to Boston for ‘at least 18 months,’ according to CEO,” by Travis Andersen, The Boston Globe.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Former state Rep. Rachel Kaprielian will take over as CEO of the disability services agency Triangle, Inc. She starts Sept. 23.

— Zachary Calderon is joining the Ipswich River Watershed Association as an advocacy program manager starting Sept. 23. He previously served the government affairs & policy manager for the Association for Commuter Transportation

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former Rep. John Tierney, Daily Hampshire Gazette alum Emily Cutts, Jen Migliore, Kathryn Burton, Corey Lewandowski and Mark Walsh. Happy belated to Adina Shatz , who celebrated Tuesday, and to James A. Perelman , who celebrated Monday.

A message from Mass General Brigham:

At Mass General Brigham, we harness the collective strength of our healthcare system to provide research-driven cancer care for the patients and communities we serve. Mass General Brigham is number one in hospital medical research. We perform the most cancer surgeries and have the most cancer specialists in New England. We have the region’s only proton therapy center and provide access to more than 1,000 clinical trials annually.

The vision for Mass General Brigham is to build a world-class center of cancer care, with the patients at the center of everything we do. New collaborations, new treatments, and innovative approaches. Leading to new hope and possibilities. At Mass General Brigham, we’re one against cancer. Learn more.

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