POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Who WASN'T in the BOSTON MAYORAL POLL — DAS ARRESTED by FEDS — The LATE STATE BUDGET tradition

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by SimpliSafe PICKING APART THE MAYORAL POLL — The 500 likely voters who were surveyed in the Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of the Boston mayoral race provided a long-awaited barometer for where the field currently stands. But the 593 people who were screened out of the poll could potentially serve as a bellwether for where the race is heading. Out of the nearly 1,100 voters called up by the pollsters, 54 percent could not identify the month of the preliminary election that will whittle the mayoral field down from six major candidates to two — and were therefore screened out of the poll, according to data shared exclusively with POLITICO. Suffolk has long used that as a way to filter out people who are unlikely to vote; for reference, the preliminary contest is Sept. 14, and the general municipal election is Nov. 2. Here's why that matters: Those 593 people are indicative of a larger pool of still-untapped voters that candidates — particularly those further back in the pack — could engage with to change the trajectory of the race, but are rapidly running out of time to reach. “No one’s exactly broadening the voter base right now,” Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos told me. But doing so could be particularly helpful to middle-tier candidates like City Councilors Annissa Essaibi George and Andrea Campbell, who are trying to close the gap with polling leaders City Councilor Michelle Wu and acting Mayor Kim Janey. It could also give a needed boost to state Rep. Jon Santiago and former city economic development chief John Barros as they try to climb out of the single digits. Campaigns have plenty of tools — door-knocking, phone-banking, digital ads, television spots — to reach more voters. But only one, Santiago, has actually gone up on the air so far, though he’s now being followed by a super PAC backing Campbell. The field was sitting on a combined nearly $4 million in the bank at the beginning of June, including more than $1 million each for Wu and Campbell — money that could, and strategists say should, be going toward ads with just 76 days left to reach voters. The candidates also keep burning daylight at largely virtual forums that tend to draw the activist crowd instead of the average voter. “That doesn’t leave a lot of time to go out and beat the drums to get people more educated about when the preliminary is or to make them decide,” Paleologos said. Here are some other takeaways: — The historically diverse mayoral field may yield historic results. The four women of color in the race have held onto the four top polling spots through the spring, setting Boston on a real path toward electing a mayor who’s not a white man for the first time in the nearly two centuries since the job was created — not only smashing the post’s patriarchal past, but taking another step in combating the city’s history of racism. — Marty Walsh may not be in as much hot water as it seems, at least with Boston voters. President Joe Biden's labor secretary had a higher favorability rating, 68 percent, than any of the candidates vying to succeed him as mayor. That’s despite the Boston police commissioner scandal that continues to dog him. It’s validating for Walsh’s allies and a positive sign for the former Boston mayor’s political future in the Bay State. But it doesn’t mean he’d be immune to the Dennis White controversy — and the others that happened under his watch here — should he look to run for office in Massachusetts again. Walsh also had the highest unfavorable rating, 22 percent, of the group. GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's the last day of the fiscal year. Keep your eyes on the budget battle in Boston. But don't look away from the State House just because an interim budget's already been passed — there's a fight brewing over the Holyoke Soldiers' Home construction labor agreement. TODAY — Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey, Housing and Economic Development Sec. Michael Kennealy and more speak at the Hearth at Four Corners ribbon-cutting at 10:30 a.m; Janey speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony for new land at Eastie Farm at 6 p.m. At 11 a.m., Secretary of State Bill Galvin details his office's plans to welcome tourists for exterior tours of the State House starting July 1. Sen. Ed Markey tours the YMCA of Greater Boston Springfield Child Care Center at 11:45 a.m. and Holyoke’s Lyman Terrace at 1 p.m. State Health and Human Services Sec. Marylou Sudders delivers remarks at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation’s 20th anniversary virtual event at 2 p.m. WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn participates in a virtual White House Summit on Eviction Prevention at 1:20 p.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss speaks at The Hill Live’s "ESG + Corporate Responsibility in America" at 2:50 p.m. Auchincloss and Rep. Seth Moulton are guests on GBH News’ Greater Boston at 7 p.m. Moulton is also a guest on WBUR’s Radio Boston. State Sen. Adam Hinds, state Rep. Liz Miranda, NFL players Devin and Jason McCourty and more speak virtually at “Democracy Denied: A Town Hall Discussion on Incarceration & Political Power in Massachusetts” at 6 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. THE LATEST NUMBERS — "Active COVID infections in Massachusetts fall to 1,361 as hospitalizations tick back above 100 on Tuesday," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "The number of active COVID-19 infections in Massachusetts continued to decrease on Tuesday, now down to 1,361 from the 1,422 reported the day before. Massachusetts health officials reported 63 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. Officials also reported another single COVID-related death, bringing the death toll from the pandemic up to 17,629." DATELINE BEACON HILL — UPDATE: A source close to state Rep. Maria Robinson confirmed to me that the Framingham Democrat has been vetted by the White House as a potential Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner. Robinson previously led the Advanced Energy Economy’s program on wholesale markets, including engagement at FERC, and focused on regulatory issues surrounding air and energy. The news comes less than a week after state House Majority Leader Claire Cronin was nominated as U.S. ambassador to Ireland. — “Massachusetts gig economy comes under scrutiny as lawmakers, labor leaders examine future of work,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Lawmakers, union leaders and labor analysts in Massachusetts face the gargantuan task of analyzing what the post-COVID economy and workforce look like ... experts speaking before the Future of Work Commission Monday honed in on one area that is quickly becoming a heated debate in the Bay State: the gig economy and the rights and benefits for its workers, particularly at app-based companies.” — “Continuing an annual tradition: The late state budget,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “It may be an unusual year, but one annual Beacon Hill tradition is continuing: getting the state budget done late. July 1 marks the start of the 2022 fiscal year, but a final budget bill is nowhere in sight." — “Lawmakers plea for safety-net hospitals,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “Lawmakers are urging support for the state's safety-net hospitals that are struggling to stay afloat following the pandemic. During a livestreamed hearing Tuesday, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing heard the pleas of lawmakers from the Merrimack Valley and other regions where hospitals that served large numbers of COVID-19 patients are buckling financially.” — “Department of Correction moves to end solitary confinement,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “The Massachusetts Department of Correction on Tuesday announced its intention to end solitary confinement as currently constituted within three years, based on the recommendations of an independent consultant. … But the department did not lay out details about what specific steps it would take and when, leading some advocates to question what exactly the announcement means.”   A message from SimpliSafe: Most security companies send a technician to your home. SimpliSafe doesn’t. Order online. Set it up in 30 minutes. After that, you’re protected 24/7. Learn more.   VAX-ACHUSETTS — “Massachusetts VaxMillions registration opens Thursday for fully vaxxed residents to win $1 million,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Fully vaccinated Massachusetts residents can register to win cash prizes or college scholarships in the state’s VaxMillions Giveaway starting on Thursday, the Baker administration announced." FROM THE HUB — “Kim Janey, Boston councilors haggle with stimulus funds to try to get city budget passed,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s administration and City Council budgetary leadership continue to horse trade over just how much federal stimulus money Janey will have to throw to the assorted councilors’ priorities in order to get them to drop their opposition to her budget." — “Task force calls for exam school admission changes, but gives in on exception for high-ranking students,” by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: “A task force recommended that Boston make sweeping changes to the admission criteria for the city’s exam schools to give priority to disadvantaged students, but in a bow to political pressure included a last-minute change to appease middle-class families. The changes finalized at a public meeting Tuesday night would place much more emphasis on a student’s grades than test results, and would separate applicants into eight groups based on their socioeconomic status, so that a low-income child would not be competing with a wealthier student for the same seat.” — “Street violence is up throughout US, but not in Boston,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Major American cities have convulsed with increases in street violence during the first half of the year, but Boston appears to be an exception. Through June 27, the city had experienced 19 homicides, versus 21 slayings for the same time period last year. This year’s number of killings was also less than Boston’s five-year average of 28 during the time period, according to the Boston Police Department.” — “Longtime director of Boston rape crisis center leaves amid a broiling controversy over racial equity,” by Katie Johnston, Boston Globe: “When the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center announced on its website in early June that longtime executive director Gina Scaramella was retiring at the end of the month, the board of directors lauded the innovative ways she had helped survivors of sexual assault in her 26 years at the agency and highlighted glowing praise from supporters, including Representative Ayanna Pressley. What wasn’t mentioned were the circumstances surrounding Scaramella’s sudden departure: a broiling controversy over racial equity that resulted in 32 people — more than half the nonprofit’s staff — sending the board a letter of no-confidence detailing what they said was her failure to ‘rise to the current challenge of addressing white supremacy.’” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL — “Boston Black Men's Committee Launches, Vows To Register Thousands Of New Voters,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “At a midafternoon event on a scorching-hot City Hall Plaza Tuesday, former city councilor and mayoral candidate Tito Jackson announced the formation of the Boston Black Men’s Committee, saying the group would push for more civic engagement, increased economic and educational opportunities, assistance for previously incarcerated individuals and greater attentiveness to mental-health concerns in the run-up to the 2021 city elections.” — “For Boston's Next Mayor, Boston Police Will Be A Tough Fix,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “One of the biggest issues facing the next mayor of Boston is how to fix the problems at the police department. Boston's police department is in disarray. The police commissioner was fired over domestic violence allegations. More than a dozen police officers have been charged with overtime fraud. The former head of the police union is accused of molesting children. And the department has long faced criticism over whether it does enough to solve shootings in the poorer parts of the city.” — “What do Bostonians think of police? About half of those polled had a generally positive perception of the force,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “Following months of sustained calls for structural changes at the scandal-battered Boston Police Department, a new poll shows that city voters have a complicated and nuanced view of the city’s force, with just over half of respondents agreeing that its officers generally do a good job. The poll of 500 Boston voters by Suffolk University and the Globe indicates many likely voters appear to harbor more moderate views on issues of policing than some local progressive political candidates and advocates who are calling for a continued overhaul of the department.” — “This American city has a long history of racism. Now, all top mayoral candidates are women of color,” by Janet Hook, Los Angeles Times: “The voters of Boston, a city with a notorious history of racism, face a once-unimaginable political tableau in the mayor’s race this year. For the first time, the four top candidates are all women of color. Boston is an unlikely pioneer in a change that is inching into electoral politics across the nation: A growing number of women of color are running for the highest offices.” — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: 314 Action Fund, which works to elect scientists, doctors and STEM professionals, is endorsing Santiago in the Boston mayoral race. “Dr. Santiago’s backgrounds in medicine and policy make him uniquely qualified to lead Boston as the city continues to recover from the pandemic and into a more just and more equitable future. We’re proud to support him and are eager to help make sure Bostonians know his story,” 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton said in a statement.   JOIN FRIDAY FOR A PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH ANITA DUNN: Anita Dunn, a senior White House adviser to President Biden and one of the most influential women in Washington, will join Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss the administration’s legislative priorities, including getting the massive infrastructure plan through Congress, the latest on efforts to get 70% of U.S. adults vaccinated against Covid, and preparations for the White House’s first big public event on Independence Day. Don’t miss this Playbook Live event, REGISTER HERE.     PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Boston drivers wasted 50 hours in traffic in 2020, despite pandemic,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “Boston-area drivers had the second-longest average wait time in traffic out of large U.S. cities in 2020, at 50 hours per driver over the year, according to a new study released by Texas A&M University’s Transportation Institute.” DAY IN COURT — “Feds arrest former Massachusetts congressional candidate for allegedly using campaign funds to pay hotel debts,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “In his 2018 concession speech, former Massachusetts congressional candidate Abhijit ‘Beej’ Das said that his bid to succeed former Rep. Niki Tsongas came at 'incredible cost, both personally, professionally,' and ‘for our company.’ But according to federal prosecutors, his troubled hotel company was also a significant — and illegal — drain on Das’s campaign. In a press release Tuesday, the U.S. attorney’s office for Massachusetts announced that they had arrested Das, a North Andover resident and Democratic primary candidate in the open 2018 3rd District race, for soliciting illegally excessive campaign donations from friends and family, dipping into his campaign account to pay for business debts, and covering it up with falsified campaign finance reports to the Federal Elections Commission.” — “Driver in New Hampshire crash that killed seven people takes case to state Supreme Court,” by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “The case of Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, the Massachusetts truck driver accused of killing seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire’s White Mountains two years ago, went before the New Hampshire Supreme Court on Tuesday, offering a glimpse of his possible defense at his November trial on manslaughter and negligent homicide charges. Zhukovskyy, 25, who has been imprisoned for two years without bail, wants a judge to hear his account of the fatal crash on June 21, 2019, in hopes of being freed before trial.” — “Duxbury teen who allegedly drowned his ‘possessed' dad told police he was ‘baptizing his father in order to exorcise these demons’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “A Duxbury teenager accused of killing his father by repeatedly dunking his dad’s head in a local pond told police that his dad’s body was ‘possessed by a spirit’ — and that he was ‘baptizing his father in order to exorcise these demons.’”       THE PRESSLEY PARTY — “Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Maxine Waters and Rashida Tlaib unveil bill to empower HUD tenants, improve housing conditions,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “The Tenant Empowerment Act of 2021 would protect tenants’ rent money and subsidy payments if they find themselves in substandard housing conditions in properties taking part in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs. The bill would strengthen HUD tenants’ rights to organize and give them more power to negotiate or fight with negligent owners and management companies through court.” THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP — “Former councilor, Diosdado Lopez, joins Holyoke mayoral race,” by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Longtime former city councilor Diosdado Lopez has announced that he is running for mayor. Lopez, 56, is the eighth candidate who has pulled papers to run for mayor in Holyoke." MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — “N.H.’s Sununu, the GOP’s top Senate recruit for 2022, may have just created a big political problem over abortion,” by James Pindell, Boston Globe: “In a little-noticed move on Friday, the Republican Party’s top recruit to run for the US Senate next year— and possibly flip the balance of power in the chamber ― may have committed a mistake that will likely dominate next year’s election, should he end up running.”   SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     THE NATIONAL TAKE — "Latest New York mayoral count voided after ‘test’ ballots included in tally," by Joe Anuta and David Giambusso, POLITICO: "The New York City Board of Elections accidentally included results from a mock trial of the city's new ranked-choice voting system in unofficial primary returns released Tuesday — a snafu that threw the election process into chaos."   A message from SimpliSafe: It’s finally easy to make sure your house is safe. Whatever you’re worried about—from french doors to basement windows—SimpliSafe’s got your back. Just click here to customize your system and get a FREE security camera.   MEDIA MATTERS — “WEEI’s Glenn Ordway will retire at the end of the summer,” by Chad Finn, Boston.com: “Glenn Ordway, who in a near 50-year career broadcasting career established himself as one of the most influential voices in the history of Boston sports radio, announced Tuesday afternoon that he will be retiring from his full-time role at WEEI at the end of the summer. ” HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Plymouth County Register of Probate Matthew McDonough and Daniel Goldhagen. Happy belated to state Rep. Liz Miranda, who celebrated Tuesday. 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 Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   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: WU, JANEY top Boston mayoral POLL — Coalitions EXERT INFLUENCE in Boston elections — SCOTUS REJECTS N.H. tax lawsuit against Mass.

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY Presented by SimpliSafe COALITIONS WADE INTO BOSTON MAYORAL RACE — A new coalition launching today hopes to put climate resiliency, economic vitality and other issues affecting Boston’s waterfront at the forefront of the city’s municipal races this year. The Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront — a Barr Foundation Boston Waterfront Initiative grant-funded effort that includes Boston Harbor Now, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Boston Children’s Museum, NAACP Boston Branch and other neighborhood and conservancy groups — aims to educate candidates and voters on issues facing the city’s harbor, islands and other waterways. To buoy their efforts, the coalition is releasing a MassINC Polling Group survey of 635 likely voters from mid-June that shows overwhelming support for keeping the city’s waterfront and other open spaces accessible to all. More than 80 percent of voters also support creating a set of climate change and community benefit standards for waterfront developers, and putting more city money toward climate change protections in specific neighborhoods. “The future leaders of our city will face off with an escalating climate crisis that presents significant challenges," Vikki Spruill, president and CEO of the New England Aquarium, said in a statement. "Science-based approaches to creating climate-resilient, open space on the waterfront will be critical to the future livability of the city, and we are hopeful that this coalition will help us spotlight these urgent issues at a key inflection point in Boston’s history.” It’s the second such coalition to launch in recent weeks, following the Responsible Development Coalition, which includes the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and various local developers and contractors. Neither coalition is looking to endorse candidates, though the development-focused one, which is a 501(c)(4), technically can. But they’re still shaping the field. Banding together in coalitions gives individual groups — particularly 501(c)(3) nonprofits, which can’t endorse — a policy platform through which they can exert influence in the mayoral race and down the ballot by hosting forums, grading candidates on the issues and more. Those efforts are already in motion. Both coalitions already have mayoral forums scheduled — the Responsible Development Coalition on July 15 and the Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront on July 29 at the New England Aquarium. All six major mayoral candidates have also signed a development coalition “pledge” in support of “responsible development to protect Boston’s neighborhoods and to strive to make housing more affordable.” Several council candidates — and even candidates in other cities — have since joined on, and the coalition is currently running ads promoting the pledge. GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Here’s a scooplet: Danielle Allen is launching the first digital ad of her gubernatorial campaign. The two-and-a-half-minute video is a riff on a book Allen wrote in 2014 dissecting the Declaration of Independence and the role of equality in it. Released this week to coincide with Independence Day, the clip highlights opportunity gaps in a Bay State that Allen says has settled into a “status quo” under the Baker administration. The clip also shows the Harvard professor and political theorist playing up her academic roots in her first run for elected office as she vies against two seasoned state lawmakers in the Democratic field. Asked during her launch how she plans to appeal to those who might view her as a “clueless academic,” Allen said voters “have to recognize that they have settled for too little, that they have let their expectations fall, that we can ask more of ourselves in this commonwealth.” TODAY — Rep. Katherine Clark joins Jane Doe Inc’s annual Spring Into Action Breakfast to accept the Justice in Action Award at 8 a.m. Boston mayoral candidates attend a forum hosted by the Newmarket Business Association at 8:30 a.m. at Suffolk Construction. Gov. Charlie Baker and Rep. Richie Neal speak at the Massachusetts High Technology Council’s virtual annual meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Boston mayoral candidate City Councilor Andrea Campbell discusses the opioid crisis with frontline health care providers outside Boston Medical Center at 9:45 a.m. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) host a virtual press conference on legislation to strengthen HUD tenant protections at 10 a.m. State Sen. Eric Lesser and state Rep. Josh Cutler co-chair the inaugural meeting of their Future of Work Commission, featuring experts from the Aspen Institute, UMass Amherst Labor Center and SEIU, at 11 a.m. Sen. Elizabeth Warren visits Lowell Community Health Center and Mill City Grows Mobile Market at 11:30 a.m. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, state Senate President Karen Spilka and technology Secretary Curtis Wood speak at the National Cybersecurity Center’s Cybersecurity for State Leaders briefing at 2 p.m. Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey gives remarks at a press conference hosted by community leaders calling for the “elevation of the status of Black men and boys in Boston through civic engagement, housing opportunity, jobs/entrepreneurship, reentry, and health equity” at 2:30 p.m. on City Hall Plaza. The New England Joint Board UNITE HERE endorses Boston mayoral candidate City Councilor Michelle Wu at 5 p.m. Boston park advocates host a mayoral forum at 6 p.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss will be the featured guest on Cheddar’s new prime time show “None of the Above” to talk infrastructure and the INVEST Act at 8 p.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. THE LATEST NUMBERS — “More than 60% of Massachusetts is now fully vaccinated, as active COVID infections reach new low,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “The number of active COVID-19 infections in Massachusetts continued to decrease on Monday, now down to 1,422 from the 1,432 reported the day before. Massachusetts health officials reported 41 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. Officials also reported another 2 COVID-related deaths, bringing the death toll from the pandemic up to 17,628.”   A message from SimpliSafe: Most security companies send a technician to your home. SimpliSafe doesn’t. Order online. Set it up in 30 minutes. After that, you’re protected 24/7. Learn more.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker is transferring bulk of federal aid to legislative control, but now comes the fight over how it’s spent,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday signed a $5.1 billion spending plan that would give lawmakers control over where the federal aid from the American Rescue Plan goes, but he swiftly revived a spending plan lawmakers rejected earlier this month that would allot more than half of the money to housing production, homeownership assistance and downtown redevelopment.” — “State’s Medicaid director is leaving to take a job in the Biden administration,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: “Daniel Tsai has been assistant secretary for MassHealth, the state Medicaid program, for more than six years. He leaves Tuesday to become deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, overseeing Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. CMS officials said Tsai will lead their efforts to address health disparities and serve the needs of children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and others who rely on public health benefits.” — EYES EMOJI: "Massachusetts state rep, favored by renewables industry, emerges among frontrunners to fill FERC seat," by Catherine Morehouse, Utility Dive: "Maria Duaime Robinson, a Massachusetts state representative, is among the frontrunners to replace Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Neil Chatterjee, sources confirm. Though a final nominee has not yet been announced, Robinson has been vetted by the White House..." — “Business leaders want back-to-work incentives,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “In a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker, a group representing supermarkets and retail grocers suggested a ‘reasonable inducement’ to lure workers back to their jobs.” — “Prisoner advocates seek overhaul of inmate mental health treatment,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Seven months after the Department of Justice issued a scathing report about the treatment of inmates with mental illness in Massachusetts prisons, advocates for prisoners and people with mental illness are urging the Legislature to overhaul the way mental health treatment is provided to incarcerated people. A bill sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat, and Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley, a Boston Democrat, which had a hearing Monday before the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, would institute changes at both state prisons and county jails and would require that many prisoners in crisis be moved out of jails into health care facilities.” VAX-ACHUSETTS — “Ashish Jha on what Massachusetts got right — and wrong — during the COVID-19 pandemic,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Dr. Ashish Jha may have left Harvard last year to begin work as the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. But he remained in Massachusetts — riding out the pandemic in Newton with his family — as he became one of the country’s most prolific voices on COVID-19. … while he generally gives Gov. Charlie Baker high marks, Jha says the administration made several ‘costly’ mistakes.”   SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.     FROM THE HUB — It’s a scorchah: Boston.com’s Julia Taliesin reports that Boston set a three-way tie for record-high temperatures yesterday. Worcester set a record high, too, the Telegram & Gazette’s Anoushka Dalmia reports. The hot weather continues through Thursday, says the Boston Globe’s Dave Epstein. Stay cool! — “Boston’s oasis for kids and teens given new life with same mission,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: “‘Kids are just jumping out of their skin. It would bring you to tears,’ [Emmett Folgert] told the Herald Monday after it was announced the Dorchester Youth Collaborative lives again beginning Tuesday. Post-pandemic, this haven of hope will have a new name — Safe City Dorchester at MissionSAFE. It’s a merger of two organizations that will accomplish a shared goal of giving children and teens an escape from the streets.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL — It’s here: The first major public poll of the Boston mayoral race in two months dropped at midnight, and the Suffolk University/Boston Globe survey shows a three-tier race with Wu and Janey leading the pack, City Councilors Annissa Essaibi George and Andrea Campbell in the middle, and state Rep. Jon Santiago and former city economic development chief John Barros at the bottom. The poll shows a stratification of the field similar to what multiple campaigns have seen in their internal polls recently and to the last two major public polls in April, though the numbers have shifted. From the Boston Globe’s Stephanie Ebbert: “The poll also found that housing is the top issue driving voters’ decision-making, followed closely by racism and equality, and schools. It also indicated former mayor Martin J. Walsh is still viewed favorably by nearly 68 percent of voters, despite controversies that erupted after his departure, including his last-minute appointment of a police commissioner who lasted only two days on the job. His unfavorable rating was nearly 22 percent. Both his favorable and unfavorable ratings were higher than any of the candidates looking to succeed him. Overall, 70 percent of likely voters favored one of the contest’s four women — all women of color — suggesting that none of the four men running may survive the Sept. 14 preliminary election to advance to the Nov. 2 runoff.” — “Elizabeth Warren endorses at-large Boston City Council candidate Ruthzee Louijeune,” by Jasper Goodman, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered a high-profile endorsement to Boston City Council candidate Ruthzee Louijeune Monday, bolstering the first-time contender’s status as one of the front-runners in the council’s crowded at-large race.”       PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “$7.2M federal grant to add 8 electric buses to Pioneer Valley Transit Authority fleet,” by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: “A $7.2 million federal grant announced Monday will allow the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to buy eight new electric buses and continue its efforts to promote clean emissions. The grant from the Federal Transit Administration is the largest grant in the nation for a regional transit authority this year under the Low and No-Emission grant program. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, said at the announcement at Union Station that the grant is part of a ‘growing investment’ nationwide in decarbonization and electric-powered buses.” DAY IN COURT — “Supreme Court rejects New Hampshire income-tax case against Mass.,” by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “The US Supreme Court said Monday it would not intervene in a dispute between New Hampshire and the Baker administration over taxing out-of-state commuters who worked remotely during the pandemic. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu sued the Massachusetts Department of Revenue last fall in the Supreme Court, the typical venue for resolving legal disputes between states, after the agency adopted a temporary policy of collecting income taxes from commuters who used to travel into Massachusetts but were working remotely instead because of the COVID-19 pandemic.” — Granite Staters are not amused. Boston.com’s Nik DeCosta-Klipa rounds up reactions from GOP Gov. Chris Sununu, Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, and more. — “Jasiel Correia co-conspirator Tony Costa sentenced to 3 years probation,” by Jo Goode, Dan Medeiros and Linda Murphy, Herald News: “Saying the future is up to him, a federal judge sentenced Fall River businessman Tony Costa to three years probation for his part in former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia's marijuana extortion schemes. … Costa headed into the sentencing hearing with the knowledge that federal prosecutors U.S. Assistant Attorneys Zachary Hafer and David Tobin asked for no prison time saying he was instrumental in their prosecution of Correia on 21 out of 24 criminal counts.”   SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     DATELINE D.C. — “Inspired by #FreeBritney, Democrats and Republicans agree conservatorship is toxic,” by Jim Saksa and Sandhya Raman, Roll Call: “Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton was a bit more circumspect when he tweeted Friday, admitting that conservatorship was ‘a word I didn’t know until yesterday’ and asking his followers if Congress should investigate. The overwhelming majority said yes.” FROM THE 413 — “Gravesite memorial service for slain altar boy Danny Croteau provides closure for family,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Forty-nine years after his violent death at the hands of his parish priest, more than 100 gathered at the Croteau family gravesite on Monday for a memorial service that shone a bright light on a boy’s life cut short. ”   A message from SimpliSafe: It’s finally easy to make sure your house is safe. Whatever you’re worried about—from french doors to basement windows—SimpliSafe’s got your back. Just click here to customize your system and get a FREE security camera.   THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Man who ‘executed’ Black Winthrop residents acted alone, authorities say,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “Investigators say a Winthrop man who had ‘hate’ in his heart when he set out on a violent rampage that left two innocent bystanders — both Black — dead, acted alone.” — More: “Family And Friends Remember Victims Of Winthrop Shooting,” by Anthony Brooks, Simón Rios and Beth Healy, WBUR: “Family members and friends are mourning the two longtime public servants who were killed by a gunman in Winthrop on Saturday. Police say Nathan Allen, 28, of Winthrop, rammed a building in a stolen truck, then fatally shot David Green, a retired state police trooper, and Ramona Cooper, an Air Force veteran, before police killed him.” — And more: “DA Rollins Says Winthrop Killings Show Massachusetts Is Not Immune To Racist Violence,” by GBH/Greater Boston: “Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said Monday that the Saturday killing of two Black residents of [Winthrop] — Ramona Cooper and David Green — should be a reminder that even largely liberal [Massachusetts] is not immune from hate-based killings.” — “Worcester-themed Monopoly game draws 60,000 email submissions with votes for 34 board spots,” by Tom Matthews, MassLive.com: “Worcester’s Monopoly craze has resulted in a total of 60,000 email submissions to Top Trumps USA, the company said in an email Monday. … The company is now currently tallying votes to determine the 34 spots on the board, which will launch sometime in November.” — “Quincy College campus debate raises the question: Should the city be running a college?” by Mary Whitfill and Joe Difazio, Patriot Ledger: “The two-year, city-run school in the heart of downtown Quincy has been a point of contention between elected officials since Mayor Thomas Koch proposed a $123 million land acquisition and construction project that would end decades of nomadic existence for the community college and double as a new city hall. The mayor's proposal was ultimately withdrawn from city council consideration when it became clear it didn't have the support it needed, and Koch is now looking at alternative ways to fund it. But in asking councilors for the money, officials also posed an existential question: Is it the city's place to run a college? Quincy College is the only municipally run college in the state…” — “'Hiring is a struggle': Housing costs add to shortage of first responders, town staff around Cape Cod,” by Cape Cod Times Staff: “When Barnstable Police Chief Matt Sonnabend recently talked to the town council about his department's budget, he mentioned he had eight staff vacancies. ‘Hiring is a struggle right now,’ he said. And that applies pretty much everywhere on Cape Cod. Local communities are among 86% of cities and towns nationwide having trouble attracting first responders. For the Cape, the problem is tied to the high price of housing.” IN MEMORIUM — "Mike Gravel, Springfield native who became a US senator in Alaska, dies at 91," by Bryan Marquard, Boston Globe: "Mike Gravel once recalled that when he was a boy of 12 in Springfield, his parents and siblings started calling him 'our politician.'” TRANSITIONS — Diana Sargsyan joins Boston City Council District 7 candidate Angelina "Angie" Camacho's campaign as campaign manager. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Amish Shah. 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 Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   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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