 | By Kelly Garrity | GOING LOCAL — Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House alongside a Republican-led Congress in D.C. has some Democrats at home looking to shore up resistance down-ballot. In this case, waaay down ballot. Former state Rep. Jamie Belsito recently formed a political action committee with an eye toward getting Democratic-aligned candidates elected in upcoming municipal races in the North Shore. The targets: races for hyper-local positions like school committee and library trustee, particularly in the smaller North Shore towns like Hamilton, Topsfield or Boxford. “Right now there’s a very big need to focus on local office,” Belsito, who’s currently serving as town moderator in Topsfield, told Playbook. Some of those races have become more contentious, like competitions for school committees amid debate over issues like book bans. Municipal races typically aren’t partisan, but that doesn’t prevent candidates from running on partisan issues — Belsito pointed to the bitter Hamilton-Wenham School Committee race a few years ago. Though candidates won’t have a “D” or an "R” next to their name on the ballot, the goal behind the PAC is to help elect people “who aren’t looking to ban books or diversity in our schools, and who want to keep kids healthy,” Belsito said. In local races, where spending is often lower and turnout is often smaller, support from a PAC can make a big difference. And “a lot of time, folks are on their own,” Belsito said. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Belsito, another Democrat whose name has been floated for a challenge to Rep. Seth Moulton, didn’t shut the door on the idea, saying serving in the district would be “an honor and a privilege” if the opportunity became available. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey holds a signing ceremony for a substance use disorder bill at noon at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper celebrate the grand opening of the new Boston Adult Technical Academy East Boston campus at 9:30 a.m. in East Boston. THIS WEEKEND — Dr. Michael Rich of Children’s Hospital is on “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com .
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| — “Healey administration acknowledges it hasn’t been conducting full background checks on state homeless shelter residents,” by Deirdre Fernandes and Stephanie Ebbert, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey’s administration acknowledged for the first time on Thursday that it has not been conducting full criminal background checks on the people staying in the state’s homeless shelters, despite repeated assurances for months that the state’s vetting process was thorough. Last March, after a shelter resident was arrested for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old at a Rockland shelter, Healey sought to reassure the public that people who were entering the shelter system were being fully screened. … But on Thursday, amid controversy over the arrest of an undocumented immigrant on drug and weapons charges at a Revere shelter, a spokesman said that they have not been conducting criminal background checks — commonly known as CORI checks, for Criminal Offender Record Information — on shelter participants.” — “Auditor gets cold shoulder from lawmakers as 72-hour deadline passes,” by Matthew Medsgar, Boston Herald: “The State Auditor’s request for information from the State Legislature has been met with stonewalling, she said, while lawmakers say they are considering the serious constitutional questions created when voters resoundingly passed Question 1 in November. According to State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, her request for information from the State House and Senate ... went unanswered as a standard 72-hour deadline passed on Thursday afternoon.”
****BEWARE! GUN ZEALOTS RETURN!**** STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS FAVOR STRONG GUN LAWS THAT PROTECT THE PUBLIC
ARTICLE WORTH READING! The 10 States With the Highest Gun Death Ratesexcerpts: At the same time, 60% of U.S. adults viewed gun violence as "a very big problem," and data illuminates why: There were more than 48,000 gun deaths across the U.S. in 2022, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s down slightly from the year before but still amounts to more than 130 people dying from a gun injury each day, frequently in connection with suicide or homicide. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/states-with-the-highest-gun-death-rates
NOVEMBER 18, 2024 POLL Majorities Still Back Stricter Gun Laws, Assault Weapons Banhttps://news.gallup.com/poll/653489/majorities-back-stricter-gun-laws-assault-weapons-ban.aspx
— “Spencer Republican plans to file bill that would repeal gun law Healey signed last summer,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer said he is preparing six different pieces of legislation that target a gun law top Beacon Hill Democrats have hailed as a key measure to save lives, create safer communities, and maintain responsible ownership of firearms but critics argue impede fundamental Second Amendment rights. Durant said one bill will call for a full repeal of the law while the rest will take aim at sections of the statute covering gun registrations, a ban on automatic rifles and shotguns, live fire training requirements, a nonresident ban on semiautomatic magazines, and a ‘pre-ban’ on magazines.” — “Budget Writers Agree To Work With Slower Revenue Growth,” by Chris Lisinski and Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “Beacon Hill budget-writers agreed Thursday to plan for a 2.2% increase in state tax revenue available to spend in the upcoming budget cycle, a modest outlook that will be boosted by growing surtax dollars that can be directed only to transportation and education. The Healey administration's finance secretary and the House and Senate Ways and Means Committee chairs announced a $43.614 billion consensus revenue estimate for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1. About $2.4 billion of that figure consists of money from the voter-approved surtax on high earners, leaving $41.214 billion as a baseline projection for other tax revenues the state will collect next fiscal year.”
| | FROM THE HUB |
| — “Boston to allow more towers downtown, with a catch,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “The city’s latest zoning proposal for downtown Boston would allow towers to be built on the side of Washington Street closest to Boston Common — but only if the building is mostly residential. The new plan, published Wednesday, is a big change from a proposal last spring. That plan allowed a high-rise on just one site on a blocks-long stretch of that side of Washington, where Midwood Investment & Development has sought for years to build a 345-foot office tower.” — “Boston City Council kills ethics committee push amid Fernandes Anderson corruption charges,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Boston City Council, tarred by federal public corruption charges leveled against Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, overwhelmingly defeated a measure that sought to establish an ethics committee for internal oversight of the body. The City Council voted, 8-3, with Fernandes Anderson voting ‘present,’ to defeat a resolution ‘in support’ of a new Council subcommittee that would have aimed to ‘provide more oversight and transparency on potential violations’ on the council.” — “With virus cases surging, Boston hospitals adopt more strict masking policies,” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News.
| | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| — “Governor Healey’s task force eyes major cash infusion to fill T’s growing budget gap,” by Shannon Larson, The Boston Globe: “A transportation funding task force will recommend the state throw the struggling MBTA a lifeline by using hundreds of millions of dollars from the new tax on millionaires to close its yawning operating deficit and stave off severe cuts in service. The sudden injection of so sizable a sum would be a profound change for the T — at least in the short run. The agency’s day-to-day finances are in dire shape, as ridership and fare revenue have still not recovered since the pandemic, while the costs to run the system have only increased.”
| | TRUMPACHUSETTS |
| WHAT IS TRUMP DOING TO ADDRESS VESSEL STRIKES & ENTANGLEMENTS? TRUMP DISINFORMATION! BELIEVE THE SCIENCE & FACTS! OTHER NATIONS ARE EMBRACING CLEAN ENERGY! — “'Driving whales crazy.' Mixed reactions as Trump links wind energy to whale deaths,” by Heather McCarron, Cape Cod Times: “During a Jan. 7 press conference at Mar-a-Lago, [President-elect Donald] Trump called wind energy ‘the most expensive energy ever’ and likened wind turbines to ‘dropping garbage in a field.’ He specifically pointed to the Massachusetts area, and said, ‘the windmills are driving the whales crazy, obviously.’ Trump vowed to halt offshore wind development. His comments have drawn mixed reactions. Scientists and environmental organizations emphasized that there is no current evidence linking wind farms to whale deaths, while some activists welcomed Trump's support for halting offshore wind development amid ongoing concerns about its impact on marine life.”
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “Should Holyoke elect its city treasurer? Voters will decide this month,” by Aprell May Munford, MassLive.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “Despite court ruling, Holden will wait and see about complying with MBTA housing law,” by Adam Bass, MassLive: “On Jan. 8, the state’s highest court ruled that the MBTA Communities Act — a law that requires certain communities to zone for more housing — is constitutional. While the state needs to take additional steps before it is allowed to enforce the law, Gov. Maura Healey’s office has said it plans to do so by the end of the week. The ruling means the state will be able to enforce penalties for towns that don’t comply, including making them ineligible for certain grants and funding opportunities or potential legal action. For the Town of Holden, which has never taken any action to be in compliance with the law, Town Manager Peter Lukes told MassLive he is waiting to see what Gov. Maura Healey’s administration does first before taking any action.” — “Freetown-Lakeville superintendent resigns, citing 'abusive treatment',” by Emma Rindlisbacher, Taunton Daily Gazette: “Freetown-Lakeville Superintendent Alan Strauss has resigned from his position as superintendent effectively immediately. In a statement he read at Wednesday's School Committee meeting, Strauss alleged ‘abusive treatment’ and ‘defamatory statements about my health’ from two school committee members — Crystal Ng and Carolina Hernandez. Strauss also alleged "abusive treatment" by unnamed ‘Freetown officials.’ — “Former Attleboro nursing home to be redeveloped into a family homeless shelter,” by Georg W. Rhodes, The Sun Chronicle.
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS CLOG MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAYS SEEKING BETTER PAYING JOBS DUE TO NH FAILURES! HOW COME EVERYONE IGNORES AYOTTE'S HISTORY THAT'S WIDELY AVAILABLE?
MASSACHUSETTS ON HER MIND — “‘A cautionary tale’: Kelly Ayotte calls out Mass. after being sworn in as NH governor,” by Frank O'Laughlin, Boston 25 News.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| TRANSITIONS — Andrew Farnitano of Crawford Strategies has launched his own company, ACF Impact Strategies. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Chris Buchanan, Samantha Hooper and Jonathan D. Sarna. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to former GOP Senate candidate Kevin O’Connor, Jerome E. Groopman, Senate President Karen Spilka and Ben Finkenbinder, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-er Zelda MacGregor. 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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