POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: PRESIDENT BIDEN’s Covid plans — New LAWMAKERS to WATCH — What an ACTING MAYOR can do

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. BIDEN'S BOOSTER SHOT — The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Massachusetts has been pretty slow compared to other states. Can President Joe Biden speed it up? The new president made a big promise: 100 million vaccinations in the first 100 days of his term. But before he took office, Biden expressed concern that his Covid team won't meet that goal, my POLITICO colleagues report. That's partially due to the chaotic nature of President Donald Trump's vaccine rollout, which Biden inherited when he took office yesterday. Biden has an ambitious plan to speed up vaccinations, which hinges on Congress passing a large Covid-19 spending package. Biden is proposing new vaccination sites to make the shot more accessible for communities of color, and a billion-dollar ad campaign. In the Bay State, Gov. Charlie Baker has described the rollout as "bumpy." The pace here can also be described as slower than more than half the country. The vaccine distribution plan is in phase one, which includes health care workers providing Covid-19 care, long term care facilities, first responders and congregate care settings. Massachusetts ranks 29th for vaccine distribution in the United States, when sorted by percentage of the population that has received a first dose, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just over 4 percent of the state's population has received a first dose, and .6% of the population has completed the vaccination process. Just in New England, Massachusetts has vaccinated a lower percentage of residents than its neighbors. A word of caution: Officials here have warned there can be significant lags in the vaccine data. Ranked by number of people vaccinated , Massachusetts is behind 14 states, and has vaccinated 288,200 people, according to the CDC. Massachusetts ranks behind states including Texas, California and Florida. The state also releases a weekly report with vaccination data separate from the CDC, which comes out on Thursdays. There's also been some concern about whether Beacon Hill has a handle on the vaccine plan. Shortly after he was elected to the speakership, House Speaker Ron Mariano told WCVB in a widely shared video clip that he had "no idea" how the vaccine rollout was going because his term had just begun, but would look into it if necessary. The pace of vaccination could pick up soon. The Department of Public Health just expanded the list of health care providers who can administer the vaccine, the State House News Service reports. And mass vaccination sites are ramping up at Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park. The vaccine will also be available at CVS and Walgreens stores, Baker announced this week. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.   TRACK FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION: Track the first 100 Days of the Biden administration. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news and analyzes the initiatives, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Subscribe today.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts reports 3,987 new COVID cases, 78 deaths on Wednesday as average age of those hospitalized drops to 71,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials confirmed another 3,987 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the number of active statewide cases to 90,154. Wednesday’s case total is based on 82,567 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Five new lawmakers to watch on Beacon Hill,” by Matt Stout and Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts’s new class of state lawmakers arrived at a moment like none other on Beacon Hill: amid a pandemic, on the heels of a historic leadership change in the House, and with work still bleeding over from the last legislative session. But they’ve already splashed into the Massachusetts political scene, scoring surprising — and in some cases, historic — victories to earn their spots in the State House.” – “Baker goes silent on foreign-trained docs,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “In early April, amid the first COVID-19 surge and an emerging shortage of health care workers, Gov. Charlie Baker signed an executive order allowing foreign-trained medical doctors to gain full licensure here in Massachusetts. This came after a slew of legislators and immigration advocates appealed to his administration to utilize that workforce.” – “Voters hold Beacon Hill in high esteem,” by Steve Koczela, CommonWealth Magazine: “Politics is not all toxic. Here in Massachusetts, voters hold political leaders in very high regard. The state Legislature has climbed to 65 percent approval in a poll we released last week, the highest we have seen in our polling going back over a decade. Gov. Charlie Baker sports a 73 percent approval rating and has been in the 70s and 80s for most of his term. Taken together, we have what may be the most popular governor and the most popular legislature in the country.” WHAT CITY HALL IS READING – “Mayor-to-be Janey's focus: 'Seamless transition,'” by Bill Forry, Dorchester News: “While there are plenty of unanswered questions about what the next 10 months hold for Boston City Hall, there is one certainty: City Council President Kim Janey will be the next mayor of Boston for at least a few months— and possibly longer. Janey will take control of the Mayor’s Office the minute that Mayor Walsh submits his letter of resignation to City Clerk Maureen Feeney, the former city councillor from Dorchester who is next in line of succession.” – “What would Kim Janey’s powers as ‘acting mayor’ of Boston be?” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “City Council President Kim Janey wouldn’t have the powers of a full mayor if Mayor Martin Walsh leaves and she steps up in an acting capacity — but the interim position is still a powerful and influential job, and city attorneys are looking at the 1993 acting mayorship of Thomas Menino as a guide.” FROM THE HUB – “Massachusetts Confirms Second Case Of UK Virus Variant,” The Associated Press: “A second case of the more infectious coronavirus variant first found in the United Kingdom has been confirmed in Massachusetts, state health officials said Wednesday. The second case was confirmed Tuesday by a state laboratory and is a man in his 20s from Worcester County, a spokesperson for the state Department of Public Health said in an email.” – “Biden’s great immigration undoing, by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts immigrants could be impacted by President Biden’s immigration overhaul, which includes a massive bill sent to Congress on Wednesday that was accompanied by a series of executive orders.” – “Protesters In Boston On Inauguration Day Promise 'No Honeymoon' For Biden Administration,” by Max Larkin and Shannon Dooling, WBUR: “Boston Common hosted a number of protests and counter-protests during the four years of the Trump administration. And on Wednesday evening, dozens of people gathered once more at the Parkman Bandstand to mark Trump's exit, in anger and relief, and to ask the new administration for urgent change.” – “As Feds Change Rules For Reporting Jail Deaths, Sheriffs Face Less Accountability,” by Beth Healy, WBUR: “Tracking deaths in Massachusetts jails and prisons has long been difficult, with details of fatalities kept secret from the public, and often from family members, too. Last year, the federal government changed the way it counts deaths in custody — a move that’s received little notice in a chaotic period marked by a global pandemic and political unrest.” – “BPS students question in-school instruction push,” by Morgan C. Mullings, Bay State Banner: “The Boston Teachers Union have come to yet another agreement with the Boston School Committee on how to reopen schools in 2021, and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang have both expressed that they want students back in school as soon as it is safe.” – “State Street to cut 1,200 jobs as no-layoff pledge expires,” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “State Street Corp. plans to eliminate approximately 1,200 jobs this year, mostly in middle management, another cost-cutting move after it reduced its global real estate footprint by about 1 million square feet, an executive said Tuesday.” – “Cardinal O’Malley urges President Biden to help ‘forgotten and vulnerable,’” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “The leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston on Wednesday said he hoped newly inaugurated President Biden and Vice President Harris will enact policies that help the ‘forgotten and vulnerable’ as the nation looks to a new administration in the White House. Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley made his thoughts known in a written statement.” – “Domestic violence homicides decline during pandemic,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “There was a significant drop in domestic violence–related homicides in Massachusetts in 2020, according to a new state report, but some worry that there may be a dark underside to what would normally be regarded as unalloyed good news.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES – “Baker appointee ‘mourns’ transportation vetoes,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Monica Tibbits-Nutt, who serves on the boards of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board, said in a long series of tweets that the $16.5 billion bond bill that became law last week contained much to like. But she said the governor’s vetoes of a congestion pricing commission, higher fees on Uber and Lyft rides, means-tested fares, and a grant program for transportation management associations were disappointing.” DAY IN COURT – “Latanowich to be tried on Cape, change of venue denied,” by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: “The trial for the man accused of killing Yarmouth police Sgt. Sean Gannon will be held in Barnstable Superior Court, a judge ruled last week. Thomas Latanowich is facing a murder charge for allegedly shooting Gannon and his K-9 partner, Nero, while the officer was serving an arrest warrant for Latanowich in Marstons Mills in 2018.” AS SEEN ON TV – Rep. Jake Auchincloss said he’s supporting a waiver that would allow Lloyd Austin to serve as the next Secretary of Defense, during an interview on MSNBC this morning: “I'm going to vote in favor of the waiver, but I don't think my colleagues are wrong to have serious concerns about granting these waivers. ... But Joe Biden's not Donald Trump. Donald Trump got a waiver because he needed adult supervision in the national command authority. Joe Biden's going to get a waiver because we're facing a series of cascading crises. America has said they need Joe Biden to help steer this ship, and Joe Biden has said he needs Lloyd Austin to help him do that,” Auchincloss said. TRUMPACHUSETTS – “A man busted for smuggling pot, another for illegal donations to Mitt Romney campaign: 4 people with New England ties given pardons, clemency from Donald Trump,” by Jackson Cote and Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “On his last day in office, President Donald Trump announced more than 140 pardons and commuted sentences for dozens of current and former felons, several of whom have connections to New England.” DATELINE D.C. – “Amid presidents and pop stars, poet Amanda Gorman grabs the spotlight at inauguration,” by Hanna Krueger and Diti Kohli, Boston Globe: “If Amanda Gorman, 22, has it her way, her knockout poetry performance on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday won’t be the last time she appears at a presidential inauguration. She plans on taking the oath of office herself .” – “Biden's inauguration met with praise, optimism,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Elected officials from Massachusetts reacted with a mix of praise and optimism as Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in Wednesday as the nation's 46th president during a scaled-down ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.” – Neal: Biden's inauguration underscores America's 'durable' institutions,” by Danny Jin, The Berkshire Eagle: “President Joe Biden’s inauguration served, for U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, as a reminder of ‘how durable American institutions are.’ Neal, D-Springfield, looked on Wednesday as Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in outside the U.S. Capitol, two weeks after a violent mob invaded that building in an attempt to delay certification of November’s presidential election results.” – “McGovern gets good view of 'awe-inspiring' inauguration of Biden,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “Worcester Congressman James P. McGovern and his wife, Lisa, had a close-up view Wednesday as President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was sworn in at a Capitol building that looked far different than it did under siege exactly two weeks prior.” – “'There's No Comparison': Mass. Congressional Delegation Describes An Inauguration Like No Other,” by Callum Borchers, WBUR: “Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation had front row seats to an inauguration unlike any other Wednesday. Kind of. Some of those seats were farther from the president's podium than usual because of the pandemic and security concerns.” – Mass. National Guard Troops Feel 'Tremendous Pride' In Providing Security For Inauguration,” by Lisa Mullins and Lynn Jolicoeur, WBUR: “Among the approximately 26,000 National Guard troops who helped secure Washington, D.C. for the inauguration are 500 from Massachusetts. Lt. Col. Tom Clark of Dartmouth is commanding the Massachusetts National Guard contingent.” ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: “JOE’S TURN,” — Globe: “Democracy has prevailed.'” FROM THE 413 – “County jails vaccinate some staff, inmates next in line,” by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Staff at the Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin county jails have begun to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and jail officials said they plan to offer vaccinations to inmates this week.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Amid COVID-19, city borders complicate some responses,” by Alex LaSalvia, Boston Globe: “Without the state creating regional guidance, Newton and its neighboring cities and towns have been left to interpret coronavirus regulations on their own, said Newton City Councilor Alicia Bowman. This has led to inconsistencies between communities with school reopenings, outdoor seating at restaurants, and other concerns amid the pandemic.” – “Medford schools create racial equity task force,” by Andrew Stanton, Boston Globe: “Medford Public Schools has created a racial equity task force that is exploring a district-wide equity audit after discussions on race the district held last summer, the school district announced Wednesday. Superintendent Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent announced the task force during a school committee meeting on Jan. 7, Medford Public Schools said in a statement.” – “All Framingham Public Schools staff expected to return to school buildings on Feb. 1,” by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: “All Framingham Public Schools staff are expected to report and work from school buildings on Feb. 1, as the district makes steps towards its hybrid model. Those who have an approved ADA accommodation are exempt.” – “In Provincetown, a quiet but joyous Inauguration Day,” by Mary Ann Bragg, Wicked Local: “If you were looking for obvious signs of either celebration or dismay during the presidential inauguration around noon Thursday, they were hard to come by — until about 1 p.m. After the ceremony in Washington, D.C., had ended, lunches consumed and home television sets turned off, celebrants began to turn out near Town Hall on Commercial Street.” – “Locals hopeful as Biden touts unity, recovery for nation,” by Jenna Manto and Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger: “South Shore residents and the nation tuned in Wednesday to hear the first words of a new president who promised swift action against the spread of COVID-19, relief for the middle class and to unite a country that has fallen deep into social and political division.” – “Attleboro area officials see hope in new president's inauguration,” by Tom Reilly, Sun Chronicle: “After an unnerving two weeks — not to mention a tumultuous four years — one local political observer had a simple hope for President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday — that it should be ‘incredibly unmemorable.’” TRANSITIONS – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Quentin Palfrey, 2018 candidate for lieutenant governor, was sworn in by the Biden Administration on Wednesday as acting general counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Jeremy Jacobs and Diego Sanchez, a Massachusetts Democratic State Committee member and Barney Frank alum. 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.   JOIN TODAY TO HEAR FROM SELECT MAYORS ACROSS THE U.S.: Today, The Fifty: America's Mayors will virtually convene select mayors from across the U.S. for back-to-back interviews during inauguration week to discuss bold ideas and policy proposals for their cities to move forward post-COVID-19. The mayors will also discuss their cities' needs from state and federal government to recover from the economic and public health crises and how they'd like to work with President Biden as he begins in the White House. This virtual program will feature an executive conversation between POLITICO CEO Patrick Steel and Microsoft's President of U.S. Regulated Industries Toni Townes-Whitley. REGISTER HERE.       Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The crowded BOSTON MAYOR’s race — Baker signs ECON BILL, vetoes CLIMATE BILL — CAPITOL SIEGE fallout continues

 

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! WHERE THE RACE FOR MAYOR STANDS — It's been about a week since news broke that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is bound for Washington, though it feels more like a year. The race to replace him is shaping up. Boston City Councilors Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell have been in for months, raising money and racking up endorsements. Boston Police Commissioner William Gross is somewhere between 90 and 95 percent committed to running, depending on where you read about it. And state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins both announced they have decided not to run. The list of others to watch remains the same: City Council President Kim Janey (soon to be the acting mayor), along with her fellow Councilors Annissa Essaibi-George and Michael Flaherty . State Sen. Nick Collins and Boston's economic development chief John Barros could enter the race. And the city's chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez is openly weighing a campaign. State Rep. Jon Santiago may also run, he said on The Horse Race podcast, which I co-host. It boils down to this: The race will probably be crowded because an open mayoral contest is so rare. This is only the second open seat race in 28 years. And if the preliminary draws a huge field, whoever advances to the general election may get there with a pretty small number of voters. Take a look at the last open seat. Turnout in the 2013 preliminary election was 31%, and a total 113,300 ballots were cast. The top two finishers — Walsh and John Connolly — each got fewer than 20% of the vote because there were 12 candidates. Put another way, Walsh received 20,800 preliminary election votes, and Connolly received 19,400 votes. Turnout went up slightly in the general election, and Walsh won with 51.5% of the vote. The preliminary election turnout was only a sliver of the city’s registered voters in 2013, which is a challenge for any candidate running in an off-year municipal election. Boston now has 432,000 registered voters, according to data from the Boston Elections Department, which was recorded at the time of the 2020 presidential election. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.   A NEW YEAR, A NEW CONGRESS, A NEW HUDDLE: It was an ugly and heartbreaking week inside the Capitol, particularly for all of those who work on the Hill. How are lawmakers planning to move forward? How will security change? How will a new Senate majority impact the legislative agenda? With so much at stake, our new Huddle author Olivia Beavers brings you the most important news and critical insight from Capitol Hill with help from POLITICO's deeply sourced Congress team. Subscribe to Huddle, the essential guide to understanding Congress. It has never been more important. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts reports 5,545 new COVID cases, 74 deaths Thursday as high-risk communities grows by 10,” by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts reported 5,545 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and 74 more deaths. Although cases and deaths remain high, seven-day averages of both cases and deaths, which tend to smooth out the highs and lows of the daily reports, show some slowing to the spike that started the week of Christmas and peaked just after New Year’s Day.” – “Mass. Unemployment Claims Climb To Nearly 36,000, U.S. Claims Jump To 965,000, WBUR: “Close to 36,000 Massachusetts residents filed for first-time unemployment last week, an increase of nearly 5,200 from the week prior, according to the latest federal data.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – Reluctantly, governor vetoes Mass. climate change bill, but it may soon be back on his desk,” by Matt Stout and David Abel, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker vetoed a far-reaching package of climate change and energy legislation Thursday, rejecting — perhaps temporarily — a bill that would have set the state on a path to in effect eliminate its carbon emissions over the next three decades.” – “Baker signs economic and housing package, but vetoes some tenant protections,” by Matt Stout and Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday signed a nearly $627 million economic development bill, but rejected a handful of measures in the sprawling package, including two designed to further protect tenants. Baker’s signature will put in motion hundreds of millions of state borrowing over the next five years, which officials say will help jumpstart a state economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.” – “Baker approves order to send up to 500 National Guard troops to Washington for inaugural security,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday approved an order to send up to 500 National Guard troops to Washington D.C., to provide security around President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, following last week’s deadly violence at the US Capitol, officials said.” – “AG Reviewing Driver's Complaint Of Parking Lot Dispute With DA Rollins,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR: “Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said Thursday her office is reviewing a complaint filed against Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins over a Christmas Eve incident in Dorchester.” – “Bill would let hotels assess guest fee,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Fed up with what they see as years of state underfunding of tourism, some local tourism officials and hoteliers want to collect marketing money on their own – by charging a fee to hotel guests. A provision in the economic development bill sitting on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk would allow for the creation of Tourism Destination Marketing Districts.” – “Distribution of housing assistance funds lagging,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Despite efforts to bolster staffing, the Baker administration is having trouble getting housing assistance funds to families facing eviction. According to state officials, $22.6 million of the $100 million available through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition, or RAFT, program has been dispensed so far.” – “More than 1,500 Massachusetts businesses awarded $78 million in grants to weather COVID-driven recession,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Polito and Gov. Charlie Baker showcased Il Ristorante Saraceno as one of 1,595 businesses receiving small business grants, $78.5 million worth in total, from the state to help weather the COVID-driven recession that has stretched into its 10th month.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “Charlie Baker defends coronavirus vaccine rollout as Massachusetts lags behind its neighbors,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Massachusetts is set to begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to individuals in congregate care settings next week, the latest group to become eligible as officials work through the first phase of the state’s rollout. However, with the pandemic raging, some are questioning why the process isn’t happening faster.” – “When the Rollout Ramps Up, What Do We Do about Vaccine Line-Cutters?” by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: “For this early, and admittedly very ‘bumpy,’ phase of the vaccine rollout in Massachusetts, much of the focus has been on making sure the right people go first: doctors and nurses who need to stay healthy to keep hospitals running, first responders who come face-to-face with the public every day, and, next up, people in congregate settings where outbreaks thrive.” FROM THE HUB – “Marty Walsh doesn’t take questions in first press conference after Labor nom,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “So long, Marty. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh skedaddled in the middle of his first press conference since becoming President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for Labor secretary a week previous, leaving without taking questions about the move or the potential mayoral transition.” – “Boston police investigating whether officer attended Capitol siege, posted threats on social media,” by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “The Boston Police Department said it is investigating whether one of its officers took part last week in a rally and ensuing siege on the US Capitol, and the agency is examining social media posts in which the alleged officer threatened Vice President Mike Pence.” – “Boston public schools share more about return to in-person learning, starting with 4,900 high-needs students on Feb. 1,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Boston Public Schools students will have the option of returning to in-person learning in phases between February and March, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told reporters Thursday. Cassellius, appearing with Mayor Martin J. Walsh at his regular press conference, said that starting on Feb. 1, approximately 4,900 students with ‘high in-person priority needs’ will be invited back to learn in-person.” – “Boston Planning Agency Adds New Language Access Rules,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Under the new policy, slated to go into effect early this year, the Boston Planning and Development Agency will require that those meetings and relevant materials be interpreted in the popular languages of the city’s various neighborhoods.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “Go Straight To September: Expect Special Boston Mayoral Election To Be Waived,” by Adam Reilly, Mike Deehan, and Peter Kadzis, GBH News: “Boston will be able to skip special elections and proceed directly to September's non-partisan primary and November's final contest, officials on Beacon Hill and at City Hall have told GBH News. Gov. Charlie Baker, who has the final word, said Thursday that he would most likely approve that plan.” THE OPINION PAGES – “One red hot mayoral race is enough,” Boston Globe Editorial Board: “In a city where politics is a favorite pastime — right up there with the Red Sox and the Celtics — is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Well, yes. If the nomination of Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston as the Biden administration’s labor secretary touches off four elections in the city over the next 10 months, that would indeed be too much of an ordinarily good thing.” DAY IN COURT – “Federal Authorities Charge MIT Professor With Hiding Ties To Chinese Government,” by Max Larkin, WBUR: “An MIT professor was arrested this morning on federal charges that he failed to disclose ties to the Chinese government as he sought — and was awarded — research grants from the U.S. government.” – “Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Alleged Civil Rights Violations In East Boston And Chelsea,” by Miriam Wasser, WBUR: “The environmental nonprofit GreenRoots, the Conservation Law Foundation and Lawyers for Civil Rights filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for allegedly violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act when it declined to investigate language access concerns during the on-going siting process of a controversial electrical substation in East Boston.” DATELINE D.C. – “Removal of panic buttons from Ayanna Pressley’s office being reviewed by House committee,” by Jazmine Ulloa and Jess Bidgood, Boston Globe: “The removal of panic buttons from Representative Ayanna Pressley’s Capitol Hill office before an armed insurrection overran the complex is under review by the House Administration Committee, as Congressional Democrats push to determine whether the mob had inside help.” – “‘The difference is skin color’: Rep. Katherine Clark says she wasn’t booed like Rep. Cori Bush for condemning white supremacy in Capitol attack,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “One congresswoman received boos, the other did not. U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark took to Twitter on Thursday to highlight the sharp disparity in how congressional colleagues reacted to her and Rep. Cori Bush’s condemnation of white supremacy as they called for President Donald Trump’s impeachment for inciting an insurrection.” ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: “BIG TIPPER," "AG VS. DA,” — Globe : “Chief's presence at D.C. rally roils N.H. town," "Biden package targets virus and economy," "IF YOU WANT RESTAURANTS TO STAY, TAKE IT TO GO.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “As Worcester begins vaccine distribution, COVID numbers start to plateau but officials warn city is ‘still surging,’” by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: “Officials in Worcester on Thursday spoke with cautious optimism for the first time during a COVID-19 briefing since the start of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. In the same week the city began providing coronavirus vaccines to first responders, the number of new cases was similar to the total last week.” – “Cape Cod detox center assailed by staff over allegedly lax COVID precautions,” by Brian MacQuarrie, Boston Globe: “A Cape Cod detox facility has come under fire from staff members who allege that management is not adequately protecting them from the coronavirus, just weeks after an outbreak of 19 cases forced a companion treatment center to shut down temporarily.” – “Panel: Drop Barnstable mascot name and logo,” by Jeannette Hinkle, Cape Cod Times: “Those tasked with identifying potential mascots for Barnstable Public Schools say the stain on the name ‘Red Raider,’ which has been associated with logos of Native American people and imagery for decades, can’t be washed away by pairing it with a new mascot.” – “Lowell City Council condemns Capitol chaos,” by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: “The chaos at the Capitol on Jan. 6 shook many, and the City Council has decided to use its platform to condemn President Donald Trump’s role in the violent attack by rioters that sought to stop the Electoral College vote count.” – “Worcester schools nearing finish of building air system upgrades,” by Scott O'Connell, Telegram & Gazette: “While external factors continue to stymie the city schools’ attempts to resume in-person learning, the district’s own requirement for reopening schools – the upgrading of buildings’ air systems – is nearly done.” HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY – to Boston City Councilor and candidate for mayor Michelle Wu, who turned 36 on Thursday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to state Rep. Kate Hogan, Pittsfield City Councilor Helen Moon, Omar Sedky and Bruce Schneier, who is 58. HAPPY (LONG) BIRTHWEEKEND – to Erin Buechele and Jonathan Hankin, who celebrate Saturday. And to Sunday birthday-ers Shane Cardillo, senior analyst at Hamilton Lane; and Northampton activist Marty Nathan. Plus David Jacobs, publisher of the Boston Guardian, who celebrates Monday. NEW EPISODE: CHARTER SCHOOL – On this week's episode of The Horse Race, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray discuss President Donald Trump's impeachment, whether Boston will have a special election to replace outgoing Mayor Marty Walsh, and new polling on Beacon Hill budget priorities. Guest state Rep. Jon Santiago shares his experience as an emergency room doctor and state lawmaker during the pandemic, and discusses why he's considering running for mayor. 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.   KEEP UP WITH THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WITH TRANSITION PLAYBOOK: It was a dark week in American history, and a new administration will have to pick up the pieces. Transition Playbook brings you inside the last days of this crucial transfer of power, tracking the latest from President-elect Biden and his growing administration. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news and analyzes the appointments, people, and the emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today.       Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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