POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey: Show me the shelter money

 

BY KELLY GARRITY With help from Lisa Kashinsky ‘WE NEED FUNDING’ — Gov. Maura Healey didn’t mince words when asked in a new interview about the Legislature’s 11th-hour impasse over a supplemental budget that would infuse the state’s maxed-out emergency shelter system with much-needed cash and deliver long-awaited raises to state employees. “We certainly need funding. We need funding for emergency shelter. We need funding to pay state employees. So we need to get that done,” she told NBC10’s “At Issue” during an interview in her office. It’s been 11 days since the state’s shelter system exceeded the Healey administration’s 7,500-family capacity limit. There were 92 families on the waitlist as of Thursday night, according to the state’s most recently available count. On Sunday, the Healey administration said it had been able to find shelter for some of them through community partners. As the shelter crisis worsens, Healey continues to prod the federal government — and less so the Legislature, at least publicly — for help. The first-year governor has taken a largely hands-off approach to the Legislature (again, publicly) on several big bills as she learns how to navigate the politics of one-party rule — and of inter-chamber drama — on Beacon Hill. Healey said she’s “confident” that Democratic state legislative leaders will work something out quickly. “We all understand the urgency that we're in right now in terms of making sure that people have housing in particular,” she said. Meanwhile, she told WBTS-TV, "we need Congress to act. And I'm going to continue to call on Congress to act, and also for help from the Biden administration to help a state like Massachusetts that's really bearing a lot of the burden." The Biden administration did lend a hand last week, helping the state shepherd more than 1,000 migrants through a clinic to more quickly obtain work authorizations. But Healey is looking for more, and is working with a bipartisan group of governors through the National Governors Association “on a plan for Congress to act” on immigration. She’s not alone in prodding the federal government on the issue — state and local leaders in New York and Illinois have been ramping up the pressure on Biden and Congress, especially as the colder winter months move in. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Healey and the House don’t appear to be on the same page about how the $250 million in shelter funding she requested should be used. Healey said she asked for “money to help us continue to operate existing emergency shelter through the course of the year.” But the House wants her to use $50 million of it for overflow sites so those on the waitlist have a place to go — a provision backed by some housing and homeless-prevention advocates. TODAY — Healey , Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and state Attorney General Andrea Campbell make an announcement on addressing hate crimes at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. Healey and Driscoll speak at a Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month event at 11:15 a.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu talks turkey distribution for families in need at 9 a.m. at CommonWealth Kitchen, attends a Kiddies Corner event at 2:30 p.m. and the North End trellis lighting at 5:30 p.m. at Christopher Columbus Park. Rep. Jim McGovern kicks off the annual March for the Food Bank starting at 6:30 a.m. in Springfield. PROGRAMMING NOTE: It's a three-day week here at Massachusetts Playbook: We'll be in your inboxes through Wednesday, then off Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. Tips? Scoops? Email us:  kgarrity@politico.com  and  lkashinsky@politico.com DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Former state senator Dean Tran arrested for alleged COVID unemployment fraud,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Former state senator Dean Tran was arrested Friday morning on federal charges that he fraudulently collected jobless benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic and failed to report rental income to the IRS, prosecutors said. Tran, 48, was charged with 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns and is slated to make an initial appearance in US District Court in Boston at 1:30 p.m., Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy’s office said.” — “Massachusetts becomes fifth state in nation to make prison calls free,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News. MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Shelter workers, faith leaders overwhelmed and frustrated amid stalled state aid for shelters,” by Rachel Armany, GBH News. — “For Haitian teen and her family, Mass. shelter represents hope for the future,” by Juliet Schulman-Hall, MassLive. — “Advocates plan vigil at State House to call for overflow site for migrants, homeless,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. REWIND — Lisa joined GBH’s Katie Lannan , Axios Boston’s Steph Solis and State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski on GBH’s “Talking Politics” to break down the breakdown of the supplemental budget negotiations and what did make it through before the end of formal sessions last week. FROM THE HUB — “Three months after council approval, a retired Boston firefighter’s pension boost still waiting for Wu,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “More than three months after the Boston City Council passed a home rule petition that would boost the pension of a retired Black firefighter who said his career was cut short in the early 1980s by racism, Mayor Michelle Wu has yet to sign off on the proposal, a necessary step to move the measure forward.” — “Superintendent Skipper says exam school admissions changes are being ‘actively looked at’,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “After months of back and forth between parents, BPS officials and school committee members, Superintendent Mary Skipper said the district is actively looking into ‘incremental’ changes to alter the controversial policy at Wednesday night’s school committee meeting."   GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.     THE RACE FOR CITY HALL RECOUNT IN REVERE — Former Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo isn’t done trying to get his old job back. The city councilor has filed for a recount of ballots cast in the city’s mayoral race after finishing 367 votes behind Acting Mayor Patrick Keefe , according to official results from the city . Rizzo wrote on Facebook that “it is important to me and our committee that everyone that took advantage of these additional ways to vote, as opposed to on election day, had their votes counted.” Keefe posted on X that it’s “disheartening, but not surprising” that Rizzo, who also requested a recount in the 2015 mayor’s race he lost to Brian Arrigo , is pursuing “an unnecessary and costly recount.” Keefe pledged to move forward with transition and inauguration planning and has already updated the city’s website to say he’s mayor-elect. BALLOT BATTLES — “DiZoglio all in on ballot bid ,” by Bruce Mohl and Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: “State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has drained her campaign account to pay for the signature-gathering effort to put a proposed law on the ballot allowing her office to audit the Legislature.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Eng says $24 billion for MBTA is a ‘planning tool,’ not immediate need,” by Daniel Kool, Boston Globe: “MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said in a television interview Sunday that the $24.5 billion price tag announced last week to fix the T’s infrastructure is a “planning tool” for future work and does not represent the agency’s immediate needs. That sum includes repairing and replacing tracks, station amenities, trains, signals, and more, to bring the neglected system back to a state of good repair. But “that’s not looking to say we need $24.5 billion today,” Eng said on WCVB-TV’s “On The Record” Sunday morning.” WARREN REPORT Protesters hold signs Sunday outside Sen. Elizabeth Warren's house in Cambridge. | AP THE CALLS ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE — Roughly four dozen pro-Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in on a side street outside of Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’s Cambridge home on Sunday and unfurled a banner in front of it urging the senator to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. Warren has repeatedly called for humanitarian pauses in the region. But groups of far-left activists, medical professionals and a few hundred former staffers from her 2020 presidential campaign have implored her to go further, demonstrating outside of her offices and sending her open letters asking her to call for a permanent cease-fire and to end U.S. aid to Israel. “She is a national progressive standard-bearer — or she would like to be,” one of the Cambridge protesters, Isaiah Newman , told Playbook. “We’ve seen her language shift over the past month and a half and we’ve seen her call for humanitarian pauses. And part of why we’re here is because that’s not enough.” A spokesperson for Warren declined comment. The Boston Globe’s Sean Cotter has more. DATELINE D.C. EYES EMOJI — “'Same thing, it's just bigger.' Is President Biden expected on Nantucket for Thanksgiving?” by Walker Armstrong, Cape Cod Times: “...There is no official word from the White House. But Nantucket Memorial Airport public information officer Cameron Woods said the Air Traffic Management System Operations Security team issued a temporary flight restriction Friday, indicating Biden and his family will likely arrive within the week.” IN MEMORIAM — “Former first lady Rosalynn Carter dies at 96,” by David Cohen, POLITICO.   GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK : Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.. SUBSCRIBE NOW .     FROM THE 413 — "Title IX report slams Amherst’s response to harassment of LGBTQ+ students," by Jackson Cote, MassLive: "An investigation report released to the public Friday determined Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools (ARPS) failed to effectively address claims of harassment and misconduct by middle school staff against LGBTQ+ students." — “Arrests in Holyoke mayor’s street crime crackdown lead to gridlocked courts,” by Aprell May Munford, Springfield Republican: “Mayor Joshua A. Garcia’s crackdown on street crime, after a child’s tragic death, is producing both a mountain of arrests and near gridlock in local courts. Since Nov. 8, under a program called Operation Safe Streets 2, Holyoke saw 97 arrests, 55 criminal summonses and 475 traffic stops in two sweeps, according to a Holyoke Police Department Facebook post.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Brockton councilors reject $500K revolving fund as city works to put its finances in order,” by Chris Helms, Brockton Enterprise: “City councilors shot down a half-million-dollar ‘revolving fund’ as fallout from the school overspending scandal continues. With voters paying closer attention to city finance since the revelation Brockton Public Schools overspent by $14.4M in fiscal 2023, councilors balked at creating a fund to support economic development and planning. The ‘Economic Revolving Fund’ would have allowed the planning department to spend up to $500,000 with approval from the city's chief financial officer.” — “Worcester city manager: Police oversight not a priority for Human Rights Commission,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “City Manager Eric D. Batista is declining to give the city's Human Rights Commission documents it requested regarding the Police Department's response to hate crimes and officer misconduct.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Rep. Jim McGovern , state Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis , Samuel M. Gebru , Rebecca Hart Holder , executive director of Reproductive Equity Now; Erika Scibelli and Valerie Frias . 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 Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   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: Baker's gone but not forgotten

 

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BY LISA KASHINSKY

Presented by Save Our Benefits Massachusetts

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: NEW RATINGS ARE IN — Charlie Baker sure has some staying power in the minds of Massachusetts voters.

Baker remains the most popular politician in the state, according to a new survey that shows 55 percent of respondents view the Republican governor favorably two months after he left office. And 27 percent view the new NCAA president unfavorably, according to the Change Research poll for Northwind Strategies.

Marty Walsh and Maura Healey are neck-and-neck behind him. Forty-two percent of respondents have a positive view of Walsh, while 26 percent view the outgoing Labor secretary negatively.

The new governor starts with a 46-percent favorability rating, while 31 percent view her unfavorably. The online poll of 711 likely 2024 voters was conducted Feb. 20-23 and has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.

Then-Gov. Charlie Baker looks on as then-Gov.-elect Maura Healey talks to reporters on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. | AP

For Healey, these results are a benchmark. The survey was done before Healey released her first budget proposal — the clearest portrait yet of how the Democrat intends to govern. The next poll in the planned series will help capture whether voters’ attitudes change toward her because of it. And it'll show whether emulating — and in some cases exceeding — Baker's proposed tax breaks can help her close the polling gap with her predecessor.

Healey is "starting from a really solid net favorability rating. And she’s starting with a hardcore group of people who are very favorable to her” when looking at Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, Northwind Strategies’ Doug Rubin told Playbook. “In any political situation, that’s great to have.”

Rubin said the poll also carries a message for anyone thinking of challenging Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2024: "don’t." Warren’s favorability rating among all respondents was 47 percent, while 41 percent viewed her negatively. But she tops the list with a whopping 83 percent when it’s just Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents — aka likely Democratic primary voters — weighing in.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Diana DiZoglio is no stranger to standing up to legislative leaders from the inside. Now she’s trying to audit them from the outside.

DiZoglio told Playbook she wants to give taxpayers more access to one of the nation’s least transparent legislatures. And you can imagine what DiZoglio, who spent a decade serving in the House and Senate, might be looking to make public here. She’s well aware of how committee votes are kept private and what happens to lawmakers who buck leadership — things she fought against as a legislator and pledged to shine light on while campaigning for auditor.

DiZoglio wants access to a lot of things for her review: information about hiring and procurements, the committee-assignment process and "the adoption and suspension of House and Senate rules" were all listed in the letters she sent to Democratic leaders yesterday alerting them to the probe.

Then-state Sen. Diana DiZoglio campaigning for auditor on Nov. 2, 2022. | AP

Whether she gets all that is a different story. There’s some disagreement over whether DiZoglio actually has the authority to audit the Legislature. Former Auditor Suzanne Bump told CommonWealth Magazine she didn’t . DiZoglio points to the governing statute of the auditor’s office to say she does. But the Legislature’s exemption from public records law, which didn’t exist when the body was last audited a century ago, could complicate things.

And it seems she’s already meeting some resistance. A spokesperson for Senate President Karen Spilka said her chamber has the power to "set its own rules," is already audited each year by a certified public accounting firm and already makes its journals, calendars and session recordings public.

TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visit Strong Women Strong Girls at 3:30 p.m. in Boston. Driscoll attends a Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce breakfast at 7:30 a.m., visits Beverly Middle School at 10 a.m. and visits Groundwork Lawrence at noon. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the Greater Boston International Women's Day Breakfast at 9:50 a.m. at Simmons University.

Tips? Scoops? Thoughts on how the state's top pols stack up? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

 

A message from Save Our Benefits Massachusetts:

In a time when there is so much that is driving up the price of health care - Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) create competition to bring prescription drug costs down. 
Find out how PBMs are advocating to lower drug costs on behalf of employers and unions.

 

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— OFF TRACK: Gov. Maura Healey blew her self-imposed 60-day deadline for hiring a transportation safety chief on Monday. On Tuesday she told reporters that bringing one on board will be a matter of “days, not weeks.” She’s also in the final stages of hiring her new MBTA general manager.

— “Healey setting new tone with Legislature,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “After eight years working with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, everyone wondered how the Democrat-dominated Legislature would get along with Gov. Maura Healey. Judging from the governor’s presentation of her budget to a joint hearing of the House and Senate budget committees on Tuesday, it appears the relationship with her fellow Democrats is off to a good start. Healey came across as respectful of the Legislature’s role. She mentioned several times that she doesn’t have all the answers. She signaled a willingness to listen and collaborate with legislators on legislation. There was almost no tension during the lengthy hearing.”

— “Healey is pushing a plan to make calls free in Massachusetts state prisons — with limits,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Advocates who have long pushed to make phone calls free for the state’s incarcerated people appeared to have scored something highly unusual so early in Beacon Hill’s new legislative session: a seeming glide path to their priority becoming law. … But in reviving the issue, [Gov. Maura] Healey would also set a monthly 1,000-minute cap for free calls per person, making it one of the most restrictive such programs among those adopted across the country. She is also seeking to limit the change to the Department of Correction.”

— “Galvin seeks more money for early, mail voting,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Testifying before the Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, Secretary of State Bill Galvin said the $18 million proposed by Gov. Maura Healey for his election division is about $6 million short of what he says is needed to cover the cost of running statewide and local elections in the next fiscal year. … Galvin said cities and towns are still owed $1 million for costs incurred as part of the 2022 elections, which he said isn’t included in the proposed $18 million.”

— BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE: Auditor Diana DiZoglio launched her audit of the Legislature hours after asking lawmakers for more money for her office during yesterday’s budget hearing at the State House, CommonWealth Magazine’s Jennifer Smith reports. A cheaper alternative, auditing government agencies every four years instead of three, was a recommendation the governor tacked onto her budget.

— STAYING PUT: State Rep. Jessica Giannino says she won't run for Revere mayor. She was one of several top pols eyeing the seat that's coming open after Mayor Brian Arrigo said he wouldn't seek a third term.

— "Governor Healey to establish a statewide missing persons unit," by Hanna Krueger, Boston Globe: "Governor Maura Healey is pledging to dedicate $300,000 to establish a new statewide unit for missing persons investigations, her office announced Wednesday."

 

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING : What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today .

  

VAX-ACHUSETTS

— “HCC, other colleges to drop vax requirement after spring semester,” by Mary Byrne, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A year and half after the mandate first went into place, all Massachusetts community colleges, including those in Holyoke and Greenfield, will no longer require COVID-19 vaccines for enrollment.”

FROM THE HUB

— DECISION DAY: Two of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’s biggest policy priorities come before the City Council today — rent control and restructuring the Boston Planning & Development Agency. Wu’s rent-control plan has majority support from voters , per the Boston Globe’s Emma Platoff . But it’s facing pushback from councilors on both sides of the ideological spectrum and from the real-estate industry, which launched a nearly $400,000 advertising campaign to try and kill it. The council kicks off at noon .

— “Downtown Boston organization bashes BPDA reform mechanism,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The Alliance of Downtown Civic Organizations is blasting the Wu administration’s approach to BPDA overhaul, particularly hitting it over the fact that only one of the nine members tasked with putting together reforms to the large-project permitting process is from a neighborhood group.”

— “Boston Police Commissioner Cox supports ending dismissal appeals,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox expressed support Tuesday for removing arbitration as an option for fired officers to regain employment. Cox, who officially assumed leadership of the department in August, said the police department should also improve the quality of its internal investigations and its disciplinary history records.”

— “Felix D. Arroyo retiring as register of probate,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Felix D. Arroyo has retired as Suffolk register of probate and family court, opening up another one of the low-profile but high-paying countywide elected seats.”

 

A message from Save Our Benefits Massachusetts:

 

 

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “Ride-hailing drivers rally in support of bill allowing them to unionize,” by Lucia Maffei, Boston Business Journal: “[The bill would] grant drivers access to collective bargaining rights, discrimination protection, unemployment insurance, paid sick time and guaranteed minimum wage.”

— “After 3 ‘troubling’ incidents at Logan Airport, Stephen Lynch ‘demands’ review of FAA flight operations,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald.

DAY IN COURT

— “Judge considers requests for triple damages in official's ouster,” by Julie Manganis, Daily News of Newburyport: “A judge is now considering a request to triple the $820,000 awarded by a jury in November to the former chair of the Sex Offender Registry Board over her removal by former Gov. Deval Patrick in 2014.”

— "SJC rules that free speech at public hearings includes right to use ‘rude, personal, and disrespectful’ words," by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe.

WARREN REPORT

FOX NEWS????? NOT THE HEADLINE DIFFERS FROM SENATOR WARREN'S COMMENT!

— “Sen. Warren weighs in on movement to change Massachusetts state flag over 'White supremacy culture',” by Jon Michael Raasch, Fox News: “‘There are people who are reconsidering the flag in Massachusetts, and I support those efforts,’ [Sen. Elizabeth] Warren told Fox News in a brief exchange on Capitol Hill.”

 

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FROM THE 413

— “Holyoke councilor labeled ‘threat’ in police audit pushes back: ‘I am harmless’,” by Luis Fieldman, MassLive: “A recent audit of the Holyoke Police Department found low morale amongst the rank and file. At the top of the list of ‘threats’ listed under the section for patrol officers and detectives: City Hall. … The audit made note that Israel Rivera, an at-large city councilor, is a convicted felon and is the chair of the public safety committee. Another councilor, Wilmer Puello-Mota, is on bail release from Rhode Island on child sex abuse image charges. A city councilor previously referred to the department as a ‘gang.’”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “UMass Dartmouth hid sex assault allegations against former police officer, report finds,” by Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “A scathing investigation found the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth covered up allegations that a former campus police officer, David Laudon, sexually assaulted and harassed a student, allowing the officer to quietly resign and to go on to work for other police departments.”

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— “In testimony and rally, crowds oppose Republican-backed bills targeting LGBTQ youth,” by Sarah Gibson and Paul Cuno-Booth, NHPR: “The proposals before New Hampshire lawmakers include bills to restrict access to gender-affirming care and to classify such care as child abuse. Republicans in both the House and the Senate have also brought forward updated versions of a parental rights bill that narrowly failed to pass last year, after Gov. Chris Sununu and others raised concerns that it could violate the rights of LGBTQ students.”

 

A message from Save Our Benefits Massachusetts:

For nearly 50 years, federal law and legal precedent has prevented state legislators from preempting federal laws governing self-funded ERISA plans. Health plans are offered by employers, labor-management trusts as well as local, state and federal governments. With roughly 60 percent or more of the health plans offered by ERISA protected entities, these protected plans could expect consistency across state lines and a fair regulatory climate.

Now, lobbyists for Big Pharma and independent pharmacists are looking to increase their profits by ignoring federal law and undermining the cost-savings in self-funded plans. Save Our Benefits Massachusetts is ready to help you fight back against rising costs. Please, Join our coalition today and help us keep health benefits affordable and accessible for employers, employees and unions.

 

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito , former Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone , former Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey , former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis , 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jay Gonzalez , AAWPI's Diana Hwang , Boston economic opportunity and inclusion chief Segun Idowu, Keith Mahoney , Aisha Miller , Devin Quirk , Ellen Semonoff, Melissa Threadgill, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President and CEO Kenneth Turner , Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association President Steve Walsh , Mitch Weiss, Phyllis Rappaport, Elisabeth “Lissy” Medvedow, Elizabeth Graham , Myojung Chung , Celina Barrios-Millner and Christopher Norio Avery have joined the Rappaport Institute’s advisory board .

— Abundant Housing MA has hired Julia Davidovitz and Joyce Mandell as regional organizers.

— Elisabeth Reynolds has joined Unless as partner. She previously was special assistant to the president for manufacturing and economic development.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Emma Brodie and Axios Boston’s Mike Deehan.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .

 

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Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky

 

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