POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Keeping T progress on track

BY LISA KASHINSKY CHUGGING ALONG — Gov. Maura Healey’s top MBTA officials are warning it could take a year for riders to see major service improvements. But first the T has to come up with an adequate safety plan for its workers — by today . First of all, progress is happening at the T. Since Phillip Eng took over as general manager on April 10, the overall number of subway slow zones is down. The T also struck a deal with the carmen’s union to start bus drivers as full-time employees as part of its push to accelerate hiring. Yet in that same time, the MBTA drew two lawsuits from riders injured at its stations. One man died last month after falling under a moving Green Line train . Another was struck and killed by a Commuter Rail train the day Eng started. A Blue Line track worker was hospitalized days later, the latest in a series of safety issues that prompted federal transit officials in mid-April to request a worker-protection plan from the T. Officials submitted that on May 5. Now Eng — and therefore Healey’s — commitment to more transparency at the T is coming into question after top brass chose not to publicly disclose a letter from the Federal Transit Administration asking them to resubmit the worker-safety plan, which was deemed “insufficient” for taking too long to implement changes. If the redraft due today doesn’t pass muster, T workers could be “prohibited” from accessing track areas. Eng explained the “back-and-forth” as part of the “normal process” with the FTA during a weekend appearance on WCVB’s “On the Record," and said he expects a "positive response" to the retooled report. And in the bigger picture, it’s unreasonable to think Healey’s team could turn around a transit system long in decline overnight. But they might not have a year, either — at least when it comes to managing public opinion. While the transit troubles that transpired under former Gov. Charlie Baker’s watch never seemed to dent his popularity, his high approval ratings were also buoyed by other factors including a strong economy, veteran pollster David Paleologos told Playbook. Healey is facing a different set of circumstances. “By the end of this year, I think you’ll have closer scrutiny in terms of whether there are signs that things are moving in the right direction,” Paleologos said. “If people see buses and trains on time, if they see professionalism, if they don’t see crime on buses and subways, I think [Healey] stands to benefit from that.” Former state transportation secretary Jim Aloisi suggested that T leaders set some metrics by which to measure their success, from reducing slow zones to increasing service frequency. Clear goals "would be a serious improvement in terms of setting rider expectations, media expectations and also keeping people’s feet to the fire," Aloisi told Playbook. FWIW, the Red Line rider said he's already seen some slow-zone reductions on his commute. The MBTA logo outside Wellington Station in Medford. | AP GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Speaking of pending reports, keep an eye out for May’s tax-revenue readout and how it might affect the Senate tax-relief plan that could come as soon as this week. TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll participate in an Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company anniversary celebration at 1:30 p.m. on the Boston Common and huddle with legislative leaders at 2:30 p.m. in the governor’s office; a media availability follows. Sen. Ed Markey holds a youth mental health summit with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy at 11:30 a.m. at BU. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu makes a life sciences jobs announcement at 11 a.m. and attends a ribbon-cutting ceremony for MassBIO at noon, both at the BCEC. AG Andrea Campbell testifies in support of legislation on electric ratepayer protections at 1 p.m. at the State House. Tips? Scoops? Revenue previews? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .     DATELINE BEACON HILL — “As lawmakers weigh solutions for child care emergency, some wonder: Why not help political candidates, too?” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Amid promises to tackle the worsening shortage of available and affordable child care, state leaders are again being pressed to allow Massachusetts political candidates to use campaign funds to help cover ballooning child care costs while they run for office. The change, supporters argue, could help remove a hurdle for working parents, including women, to run for office, including for seats in a Legislature that’s disproportionately male. Nearly 30 states allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care, as does the federal election system.” — “Healey said error was ‘avoidable’ after state wrongly used $2.5 billion in federal money to pay jobless claims,” by Matt Stout and Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey said Friday she is hoping Massachusetts can avoid having to reimburse the national government for $2.5 billion in federal money the state wrongly used to fund jobless benefits under her predecessor, a mistake she called ‘avoidable.’ … The goal of talks with federal labor officials is to ‘resolve it without any impact to the Commonwealth or to employers,’ Healey said.” — “Cops accused of child rape, road rage suspended by state law enforcement regulators,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Law enforcement regulators suspended the policing licenses of a former deputy chief in Hopkinton accused of raping a teenage girl and a Hingham officer accused of pulling a gun and yelling racial slurs at a person in an apparent road rage incident, according to records released Friday.” — “'We must take each one of these seriously': Police, schools, face uptick in threats,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “On Beacon Hill, lawmakers have filed numerous bills in recent years to toughen the state’s penalties for swatting, but they have failed to gain traction. State Sen. Barry Finegold, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, is among those who want to see the penalties for swatting beefed up. He said the crime should be a felony.” FROM THE HUB — “North End restaurant owners drop lawsuit against Boston mayor,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Four North End restaurant owners dropped their lawsuit against Mayor Michelle Wu, retracting claims that she showed anti-Italian discrimination when singling out their neighborhood for last year’s $7,500 outdoor dining fee. … [Their attorney] added that his client did not provide specifics on why he chose not to pursue the case, but said it was likely because ‘he was the only one fighting.’”   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT : The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW .     WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET — WATCH: Andrea Campbell on WBZ's "Keller @ Large" discussing the search for a director for the police accountability unit she’s looking to stand up in the attorney general’s office, and what changes need to be made to online gambling . ROLLINS REPORT — “Rachael Rollins’s resignation comes as progressive prosecutors face national backlash,” by Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe: “Now, weeks after Rollins’s resignation in the wake of two explosive federal watchdog reports, legal experts say her departure may not have any direct impact on the movement she championed, even as it comes at a pivotal time: A number of progressive prosecutors across the country have been removed, impeached, resigned, and, in at least one case, indicted on criminal charges.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “New records show the close calls on MBTA tracks that prompted federal safety demands,” by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “In April, a lineman was injured by a 2,000-pound weight on the Blue Line. The next day, a Green Line operator ignored a signal and didn’t stop for contractors working between Boylston and Arlington stations. In an earlier incident, workers gathered without permission on Orange Line tracks being used by a nearby test train, putting themselves in potential danger.” — “Could private investment help fix the T?” by Bob Seay, GBH News: “It appears Phil Eng, the T’s new general manager thinks so. … And the new Chair of the MBTA Board Tom Glynn suggested efforts are being made to involve the private sector in helping the T cope with the financial challenges it faces.”       PARTY POLITICS — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: MassDems raised a record $380,000 at the party’s annual Roosevelt Dinner last Thursday in Boston, a spokesperson said. It's a financial boost for the party, which had drained its coffers to less than $100,000 in cash on hand between its state and federal campaign accounts after last year's election, as it heads into another special legislative election and then 2024. FROM THE DELEGATION — "Congressional staff of Mass. lawmakers skews whiter than average, data analysis shows," by Tal Kopan and Jorja Siemons, Boston Globe: "At a time of increasing scrutiny of diversity in hiring, nearly half of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, including a majority of its House lawmakers, has a whiter staff than the chamber’s average Democratic office, with some not meeting the diversity level of the state as a whole, a Globe data analysis has found. ... Representatives Bill Keating and Jake Auchincloss have the least diverse staffs overall, including all-white senior leadership." FROM THE 413 — “Northampton council OK’s $132.3M budget, with police dominating discussion,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A majority of the City Council on Thursday backed a $132.3 million budget for fiscal 2024, but not before significant debate about whether the Police Department should get more money to create so-called student police positions to counter both turnover of full-time officers and the growing use of overtime. … [T]he 60-member department that had its budget cut by 10% three years ago.” — “State report names 13 sites for potential new Springfield courthouse,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Amid years of concerns over environmental workplace conditions at the Roderick Ireland Courthouse, the agency in charge of financing all of the state’s construction projects released a report seemingly trending towards demolishing it.”   GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE .     THE LOCAL ANGLE — “‘Are you guys going to shoot me?’ Police encounters with mentally ill people increasingly turn deadly,” by Dugan Arnett and Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “A Globe analysis of police confrontations since 2016 shows that the majority of those shot by police in Massachusetts — 51 out of 88 — were people in the throes of a mental health crisis or who had been diagnosed with mental illness. That rate has risen significantly in the years since a 2016 Spotlight Team report, ‘The desperate and the dead, ’ on police shootings of people with mental illness.” — “Compass Medical board president says closure was a ‘necessity’ after operations ‘collapsed’,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. — “Abington man opens class action against now-closed Compass Medical,” by Caitlyn Kelleher, Patriot Ledger. — ICYMI: POLITICO’s Lauren Egan and Eli Stokols on how Boston-based Tatte Bakery & Cafe has become the new “it” spot for White House staffers and reporters in D.C. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Anna Meiler and Tiffany Chan have been named weekend morning anchors on WBZ . — Mass. Playbook guest host Sophie Gardner is taking over POLITICO's Women Rule newsletter . — Dave Swanson is now chief of staff to the president of MGH. He previously was Sen. Cindy Friedman's chief of staff. — Liz Berman , Friedman's legislative and budget director, is now the senator's chief of staff. — Adam Webster is now advising Revere City Councilor Steven Morabito's campaign for mayor. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Auditor Diana DiZoglio, state Rep. Kevin Honan and Aaron Moser.     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  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Abortion providers harassed in Mass.

 

View in browser   BY KELLY GARRITY AND LISA KASHINSKY ‘WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CONCERNED’ — Abortion providers across the country faced a “sharp increase” in violence last year, particularly in states that protect access to the procedure, a National Abortion Federation report says. Clinics saw a rise in arson, invasions, burglaries and death threats in 2022 amid the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade , according to NAF's recently released annual report . There were 218 reports of death threats against providers nationwide, up from 182 in 2021. Instances of patients and providers being stalked rose sharply — up to 92 last year from 28 the year prior. Meanwhile, incidents of trespassing and assault and battery fell — a drop the federation, a professional association for abortion providers, attributes to clinic closures in states that restricted access to the procedure. While Massachusetts evaded some of the worst instances of violence documented last year (clinics here reported no arson, stalking, death threats, bomb threats or burglaries), the state’s abortion providers did see one instance of trespassing, 28 pieces of hate mail or harassing calls and more than 1,600 instances of picketing. They also reported four instances of "obstructions" to people seeking abortion care. “We are absolutely concerned,” Rebecca Hart Holder, the president of Reproductive Equity Now, told Playbook. “No state is immune to extremists of all shapes and sizes, and so we have to be extremely vigilant in protecting providers.” Still, Massachusetts’ numbers are lower than some other states where abortion is protected. Colorado, for example, saw 12,792 instances of picketing, as well as 15 burglaries and 12 instances of stalking. Holder believes that’s in part due to the Legislature’s investments in clinic safety. After POLITICO last spring reported the draft Supreme Court opinion that would fell Roe , the Senate added $2 million to the state budget to help bolster security around clinics. Similar funding was proposed for this upcoming fiscal year. “No one forgets that Massachusetts is a state where there has been abortion violence,” Holder said, referencing the 1994 shootings at two abortion clinics in Brookline that killed two women and injured five other people. “I think there's a special vigilance here.” Yet advocates say there’s more the state can do to protect patients and providers, including shielding location data to make sure people aren’t tracked to clinics, increasing access to birth control and lowering the cost of child care. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . The bill to avert a government default is on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk without the support of Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren. Markey and Warren both voted against the debt deal that sailed through the Senate 63-36 late last night, two of just five members of the chamber’s Democratic caucus (including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)) to reject the bipartisan agreement out of concern over changes to social safety-net programs and energy permitting processes. “I was obligated by my commitment to our planet and to the everyday families across the Commonwealth and nation struggling to make ends meet to vote against the debt limit deal,” Markey said in a statement. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey is on WEEI at 9 a.m. and attends the Newburyport Pride kickoff at 4 p.m. outside Newburyport City Hall. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Rep. Jake Auchincloss speak at a Charles River Regional Chamber breakfast at 9 a.m. in Needham. Auchincloss speaks at a Moms Demand Action event at 9:45 a.m. at Sharon Town Hall. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends the 27th Annual Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and an Office of Black Male Advancement summit at 10:15 a.m., both in Roxbury. THIS WEEKEND — AG Andrea Campbell is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. MBTA GM Phillip Eng is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT : The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW .     DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Nasty surprise: State learns it erred by using $2.5 billion in federal money to pay jobless claims,” by Larry Edelman and Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “A routine audit has uncovered a potentially devastating error: Massachusetts mistakenly used about $2.5 billion in federal money to fund jobless benefits during the pandemic — payments that should have been made by the state.” — “Healey signs onto letter asking textbook publishers to ‘hold the line’ for Democracy,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Textbook companies need to 'hold the line for our Democracy' and not cave to governors calling for 'censorship' of school educational materials, a letter signed by ten governors, including Gov. Maura Healey, said. The governors said they wrote the open letter — dated May 25 — out of concern that textbook publishers may be tempted to ‘water down critical information to appeal to the lowest common denominator.’” — “Massachusetts allocates nearly $2M to organizations helping immigrants and refugees,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “Seventeen service providers in Massachusetts will be receiving $1.75 million in public funds to help meet the needs of nearly 800 recently arrived refugee and immigrant families, state officials said Thursday." — “In Worcester, Healey’s pick for housing secretary gets a mixed reception,” by Samantha J. Gross, Boston Globe: “Former Worcester city manager Edward M. Augustus is credited by many as the formidable leader who brought the state’s second-largest city out of Boston’s shadow and into a building boom that has attracted no less than 25,000 new residents in the last decade. … But Augustus’s eight-year tenure was also rocked by tensions over racial inequalities, with a city audit that he himself commissioned revealing a workplace culture that many employees described as toxic and hostile to people of color.” — "State looking into sudden closure of Compass Medical facilities," by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. — "A race to keep up – or to the bottom? Lottery bets big on $50 scratch ticket, online games," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine. FROM THE HUB — “Governor, mayor kick off LGBTQ+ Pride Month with celebration on City Hall Plaza,” by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: “Maura Healey paid tribute Thursday to the LGBTQ+ pioneers who helped blaze a trail for her to become the first lesbian elected governor of a US state, as she gathered on City Hall Plaza with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, other elected officials, and about 200 community members to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month.” — "Nonprofit leader, former Connolly aide to run for District 3," by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter. PARTY POLITICS — REPUBLICANS TAKE BOSTON: Amy Carnevale may have 99 problems as the chair of the financially troubled and bitterly divided state GOP. But her relationship with the national party’s top brass doesn’t appear to be one. Carnevale is playing host to RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and Republicans from across the northeast this week at a three-day regional retreat and training session for party activists at the posh Liberty Hotel, including a fundraiser with McDaniel and a field trip to Wednesday night's Red Sox game. "Ronna's presence is a strong indicator of her support of Amy's agenda, which is to get the party back on track," national committeewoman Janet Fogarty told Playbook. It also represents a marked change in relations between the state and national Republican parties. Former MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons supported McDaniel’s rival, Harmeet Dhillon , in the RNC’s leadership election earlier this year. McDaniel indirectly rebuked Lyons back in 2021 for refusing to condemn a state committeewoman who made anti-gay remarks. And Lyons’ opponents on the state committee had implored McDaniel to intervene in an intraparty rift over last year’s auditor’s race that they accused Lyons of fueling. Yet detractors of Carnevale and McDaniel are deriding the fly-in as a costly junket that’s a waste of donors’ dollars — a reflection of how fractured the state party remains. And those tensions could flare at Thursday’s state committee meeting, where agenda items driven by competing factions will aim to settle old scores and the MassGOP’s checkbook.   GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE .     PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — "T officials urge riders to be patient," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "In a virtual Q&A session, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, T board chair Thomas Glynn, and T board vice chair Thomas Koch said the transit authority has the team of transit professionals in place to bring about improvements in service. ... 'I think people will see a difference at the T a year from now, but I don’t know if they’ll see a difference in two months,' Glynn told questioner Brian Kane, the executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board." — “Transit advocates push for regional rail system,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle Tribune. DAY IN COURT — “12 people sue city over Worcester police response to 2020 George Floyd protest,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “A dozen people filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging Worcester police committed a litany of misconduct, including excessive force, during the chaotic June 1, 2020, protests in Main South after the death of George Floyd.” — "Western Mass. YWCA employees charged with theft of state funds intended for domestic violence victims," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican. WARREN REPORT — “Elizabeth Warren, J.D. Vance team up on bank CEO crackdown,” by Zachary Warmbrodt, POLITICO: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s push to hit the executives of failed banks with sharper penalties is getting a big boost from an unexpected conservative partner — Sen. J.D. Vance.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “State program to fund new schools allows for fossil fuels, despite climate goals,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “Since 2021, the year the state passed its landmark climate legislation committing to net-zero emissions by 2050, the school building authority has approved 30 new school projects for construction. The vast majority — 21 of the 30 — will be built to burn fossil fuels long into the future, and well past 2050." — "Longshoremen’s union gets contract, ending Vineyard Wind strike," by Will Sennott, New Bedford Light. MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Cannabis company fined for worker death in Holyoke is closing up shop in Massachusetts,” by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: “The marijuana company that settled with federal workplace safety regulators last year over the death of an employee who rolled joints at its growing and processing facility in Holyoke announced Thursday that it would close its dispensaries in Northampton, Framingham, and Worcester by June 30.” FROM THE 413 — “López Comes into View as Challenger to Chicopee Mayor Vieau,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass. Politics & Insight: “On Thursday, Ward 3 Chicopee City Councilor Delmarina López announced she would run for mayor. The first-termer, who became the Council’s first woman of color in 2021, would be challenging incumbent mayor John Vieau.” — “Report: Northampton mayor, elected officials deserve big pay bump,” by Chad Cain, Daily Hampshire Gazette. MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — “Trump-DeSantis feud gets ugly fast,” by Sally Goldenberg, Alex Eisenstadt, Natalie Allison and Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: “Shortly after Ron DeSantis snapped at a reporter who questioned his limited voter engagement during a swing through New Hampshire on Thursday, his chief primary rival tried to one up him.” — “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pitches his long-shot Democratic presidential campaign to N.H. independents,” by Steven Porter, Boston Globe. — "NH Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington launches campaign for governor," by Adam Sexton, WMUR. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH SPOTTED — at MassDems’ Roosevelt Dinner last night: Honorees AG Andrea Campbell and former MassDems Chair Gus Bickford along with his partner Toody Healy ; Gov. Maura Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll , Rep. Ayanna Pressley , Boston Mayor Michelle Wu , MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan and husband Jacob Watts ; MassDems Executive Director Joe Sherlock, Danielle Allen, Bryan Rafanelli and partner Mark Walsh , Steve Bilafer , former state Sen. Joe Boncore , state Sen. Will Brownsberger, Dan Cence, Elyse Cherry, Larry DiCara, Auditor Diana DiZoglio , state Rep. Kate Donaghue , Governor's Councilor Eileen Duff , Boston City Council candidate Sharon Durkan, Evan Falchuk, Tim Foley, Juan Gallego, Mary Liz Ganley, Kathy Gasperine, Tara Healey, Jamie Hoag, state Rep. Kate Hogan, Kate Kelly, former Sen. Paul Kirk , state Rep. Kathy LaNatra, Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune , Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn , state Rep. Adrian Madaro, Veronica Martinez, Jesse Mermell, state Rep. Joan Meschino, state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz , former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy , Matt O'Neil, Jimmy Tingle, Katie Prisco-Buxbaum, Kevin Ready, Patrick Roath, Ann Roosevelt, Jim Roosevelt, former Ambassador Alan Solomont, Steve Tolman, Adam Webster, Corey Welford, Matt Wilder, Conor Yuntis and state Rep. Jon Zlotnik . TRANSITIONS — Casey Atkins has been promoted to president of the Liberty Square Group’s Blue Lab political incubator. — The Massachusetts Assisted Living Association has appointed Wendy Nowokunski as board chair after the passing of former Board Chair Larry Gerber. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Kathryn Grosso Gann and Liam Horsman. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Eric S. Rosengren, Sean McFate and Eric Farmer , who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Lance Lambros and Mort Zuckerman . NEW HORSE RACE ALERT:  SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS — Happy hour is back on the legislative menu for this session and environmental concerns abound over a proposed machine-gun range on Cape Cod. Hosts Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky break it all down. 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 .   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  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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