POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook:

 

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY TWO OF A KIND — And then there were two state representative seats opening up in Boston. Ed Coppinger is resigning from the House on Tuesday to lead government affairs for MassBio. He’ll focus on state and federal policy issues in the newly created position. Coppinger is the latest lawmaker to head to the trade group , at a time when its relationships with some in the Legislature are frayed over former state Sen. Joe Boncore ’s unceremonious departure as CEO. Playbook first reported Coppinger was in talks with MassBio and, after he was tellingly left off the House’s committee assignment list last week, his resignation . The representative’s exit tees up another special election in Boston, after Gov. Maura Healey tapped state Rep. Jon Santiago as her new veterans services secretary. Both men start their new jobs March 1. Plenty of people are already eyeing their seats. Bill MacGregor , who was chief of staff to former Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley , told Playbook he’s running for Coppinger’s West Roxbury-based 10th Suffolk seat. Rob Orthman , a deputy general counsel at the state Department of Early Education and Care, said he’s also looking at it. West Roxbury Democrats David Giordano , an attorney, and Brian Gaillardetz had filed paperwork to run for the seat before Coppinger submitted his resignation. Other names being floated include Paul Sullivan , a community liaison for Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty . Then there’s Santiago’s South End-anchored 9th Suffolk seat. John Moran , an associate director at Biogen who is on Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson ’s district advisory council, told Playbook he’s “strongly considering” running. And Brian Kearney, a Dorchester Democrat, has filed paperwork to run. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Sometimes it pays to have a former mayor as lieutenant governor. Healey is looking to boost local aid by more than 8 percent as part of her first budget , which will be released in full next week. Her Thursday preview — which proposes a nearly 10 percent bump in Chapter 70 school aid, a 2 percent increase in general government aid and more money for rural schools and student transportation — shows Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll ’s influence. Mayors have been looking for Driscoll to deliver the same level of partnership they had with the Baker administration, if not more, given her longstanding relationships with many of them from her time leading Salem. “There’s a significant amount of pressure on her. All the local people are looking at her saying ‘you’re going to carry our water now, right?’” Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo , the president of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association, told Playbook. “These local aid numbers are definitely an important first step.” Mayors were particularly pleased by Healey and Driscoll’s commitment to more school aid. Revere would see a 14 percent bump under their proposal, which is likely to see tweaks during the budget process. New Bedford would see a 12 percent increase, Mayor Jon Mitchell said. But they were left wanting on general government aid. While mayors praised the Healey administration for proposing a higher amount than last month’s consensus revenue forecast, Arrigo and Mitchell both told Playbook they were hoping for more as their cities grapple with rising costs. Still, Mitchell said, “if you were to ask me what my priority is between education aid and unrestricted [general government] aid, it’s education.” TODAY — Rep. Stephen Lynch and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey announce federal funding at 11 a.m. at Brockton City Hall. Lynch announces federal funding at 1:30 p.m. at Quincy City Hall. Markey visits Bridgewater State University at 1:30 p.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. THIS WEEKEND — Boston City Council President Ed Flynn is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Rep. Bill Keating is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Thinking of running for 9th or 10th Suffolk state rep? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .   JOIN POLITICO ON 3/1 TO DISCUSS AMERICAN PRIVACY LAWS: Americans have fewer privacy rights than Europeans, and companies continue to face a minefield of competing state and foreign legislation. There is strong bipartisan support for a federal privacy bill, but it has yet to materialize. Join POLITICO on 3/1 to discuss what it will take to get a federal privacy law on the books, potential designs for how this type of legislation could protect consumers and innovators, and more. REGISTER HERE .     THE LATEST NUMBERS — “Boston-area COVID wastewater data falling, Massachusetts virus cases drop 14%,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported 3,850 virus cases over the last week. The daily average of 550 COVID cases from the last week was down 14% from the daily rate of 639 virus infections during the previous week.” DATELINE BEACON HILL — YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME: Gov. Maura Healey said part of her mission in going to Washington, D.C., earlier this month was to strengthen her collaboration with the Biden administration. Well, now she’s one of the Democratic governors cutting videos promoting the president’s economic agenda . See if that translates to any more infrastructure money for Massachusetts. — “More illegal bets on Boston College women’s basketball reported at Encore Boston Harbor,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “Encore Boston Harbor officials have stopped all betting on NCAA women’s college basketball after patrons were able to place illegal wagers on a Boston College women’s basketball game for the second time this month, officials and regulators said Thursday. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s new inquiry into bets placed on instate collegiate sporting events — which are prohibited under Massachusetts law — is at least the fourth of its kind since in-person sports betting launched on Jan. 31.” — More: “More than $1,200 in illegal college wagers placed at MGM Springfield, regulators say,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive. — “Postpartum depression is the focus for several Mass. bills following Clancy case,” by Gabriella Aponte, BU Statehouse Program/MetroWest Daily News: “A recent bill addressing such matters is a revised version of one filed last legislative session by Rep. Jim O’Day, D-West Boylston, that would require criminal defendants who gave birth within a year of their alleged crime to be screened for postpartum depression and psychosis. … Another related bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Danielle Gregoire, D-Marlborough, would require MassHealth to cover postpartum depression screenings for up to one year after childbirth during pediatrician visits.” — "How Beacon Hill could expand abortion care for pregnant teens in Mass.," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "Jamie Sabino, co-chair of a panel of lawyers that helps minors navigate the judicial bypass process, said there’s heightened urgency to reform what she says is a fraught system that punishes a small fraction of Bay Staters who are younger than 16 and desperately want an abortion. ... A proposal from state Sen. Becca Rausch, embedded into a broader abortion access bill from the Needham Democrat, would nix the parental consent and bypass requirements altogether — should it advance amid a flurry of other pending reproductive equity and maternal health care legislation filed this session." FROM THE HUB — OPEN AND CLOSED: Good news first. MassDOT is shortening the Sumner Tunnel closure this summer to just two months, from July 5 to Aug. 31. The bad news: the tunnel will now close for two months in 2024 to complete the work. — “On-street dining remains banned in the North End despite shorter Sumner Tunnel closure,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “On-street outdoor dining in the North End will remain off-limits this year despite a revised schedule for the Sumner Tunnel restoration project. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has cut the Sumner Tunnel’s full closure in half from four to two months, but a city spokesman said officials maintain their stance that congestion from the project and the nearby bridge replacement on North Washington Street will prove too problematic for North End on-street dining to proceed.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “Lawmakers, advocates call for faster rollout on local fossil fuel bans,” by Hannah Reale, GBH News: “Last year, Massachusetts legislators approved a pilot program to let 10 cities and towns ban fossil fuels in new buildings. Now, lawmakers and advocates are urging the state to streamline how municipalities participate and let them start doing it — soon. … Under DOER’s proposed regulations, municipalities that have already asked the state for permission to ban fossil fuels in new construction, via a home-rule petition sent to Beacon Hill, would need to wait until early 2024 at the earliest to implement their bans.”   DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID .     MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Nation’s 1st topless cannabis dispensary? Strip club owners float new idea in Western Mass.,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “Nicholas Spagnola and Julius Sokol, co-owners of Club Castaway in Whately, want to turn their strip joint into what could be the nation’s first topless cannabis dispensary. … Club Castaway as a strip club ‘would be no more,’ Spagnola said. Instead, he pictures the business operating as a dispensary — but with topless budtenders on hand to assist customers as they purchase prerolls, cannabis flower, edibles and the other products found at pot shops across the state.” WARREN REPORT — “Sen. Elizabeth Warren says new role on Armed Services panel focuses on people, families; decision ‘imminent’ on new jets for Westfield Guard base,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “The senator, a longtime member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said her recent appointment as chair of the committee’s Personnel Subcommittee, places her in a position to ‘better work to try and drive funding for Home Base and similar programs.’ … ‘If we are going to have a strong military, then we have to treat our people better,’ she said.” FROM THE 413 — LIGHTS OUT: Remember that school where the lights wouldn’t shut off? The one that became a bit on "Saturday Night Live" ? Well, tens of thousands of dollars in repairs are underway at Minnechaug Regional High School to turn them off after nearly two years, 22News’ Alanna Flood reports. — “Melissa Mazzeo wants a defamation suit against her tossed. Mayor Tyer's husband, who brought the case, wants a jury to decide,” by Meg Britton-Mehlisch, Berkshire Eagle: “Melissa Mazzeo, a former city councilor and one-time mayoral candidate, is asking a Berkshire Superior Court judge to dismiss a defamation case filed against her by Barry Clairmont, the husband of Mayor Linda Tyer. Lawyers for Mazzeo and Clairmont appeared at a virtual hearing with Judge John Agostini on Thursday — some three years after the election at the center of the case.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Why Dr. Anthony Fauci, recently retired, will never retire,” by Neil Swidey, Boston Globe: “[Q:] President Biden has declared the end of the coronavirus public health emergency as of this May. Would you have advised him to do that? [A:] ‘Ultimately, we’re going to have to get out of the emergency mode to really get to some degree of normality. I know it’s a controversial thing. I think, on balance, it was the right decision. As long as we don’t forget that we have to figure out something for the uninsured, because you can’t leave them in the lurch. You’ve got to get them to have essentially equal access to the interventions — [COVID treatment drug] Paxlovid and the vaccines.’” MEDIA MATTERS — “Boston Globe Media, moving into TV, will launch weekday news show with NESN,” by Larry Edelman, Boston Globe. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Justin Babineaux has joined Beacon Communities as associate general counsel of property management. — East Boston Neighborhood Health Center has appointed Dr. Ryan Boxill as executive VP and COO. — Alison Hillegeist is now director of corporate affairs at Venti Technologies. She most recently was associate director of the Middle East Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former acting Gov. Jane Swift ; Sarah Groh , chief of staff to Rep. Ayanna Pressley; Boston Business Journal’s Benjamin Kail, Vicki DiLorenzo and Boston Ward 5 Democrats Chair Sharon Durkan . HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Jack Dew , who celebrates Saturday, and to Sunday birthday-ers Harold Hubschman, Cathey Park, Laura Oggeri, Adam Bass and Jill Webb . NEW HORSE RACE ALERT:  MASS. EXODUS — Hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky wonder why everyone's leaving Massachusetts. The Boston Globe's Samantha J. Gross joins to talk about the Healey administration's mixed record on public records. 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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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey's visitor policy takes shape

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE RADIOACTIVE WASTE?  HOLTEC IN THE PILGRIM SITE HAS NO PLACE  FOR RADIOACTIVE STORAGE  RENEWABLES ARE THE SOLUTION Presented by UNEXPECTED GUESTS — Surprising Maura Healey at work doesn’t always work out. A slew of activists have visited the governor’s office in the month and a half since Healey moved in. But they haven’t all gotten the same reception. Take the 100-plus Mothers Out Front activists who showed up in late January to deliver a letter spelling out their climate goals for Healey. The group gave Healey’s office a heads-up, and was greeted by the governor and her top climate officials, EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper and climate chief Melissa Hoffer. Healey even posed for pictures with them. But neither Healey nor Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll emerged from behind closed doors when Woburn teachers showed up on the fifth day of their strike asking to see the top Democrats. Aides said that both women were in meetings at the time, and, after a contentious exchange , the teachers left. Healey subsequently said she’s against legalizing teacher strikes . Healey wasn’t even in the state when Extinction Rebellion members staged their sit-in last week to demand she stop fossil fuel infrastructure projects. Hoffer heard them out, though the administration has repeatedly declined to share details of the conversation. And Healey doubled down on her pledge to “move away” from fossil fuels. Fourteen protesters were eventually arrested for trespassing , not the first time members of the group have been arrested for protesting a governor here. The visits are part of Healey’s very public introduction to life as the most prominent figure at the State House. And they represent a marked change from the eight years she spent high above the fray in the 18th-floor attorney general's office at One Ashburton Place. “That’s the way it works. It’s the People’s House. And I’m sure we’ll have any number of visitors and folks looking to advocate to our administration either in person or through other means,” Healey told Playbook. “I am, as always, anxious to engage with people, either at the State House or around the state.” But there’s a perceived “right way” and “wrong way” to getting your point across in politics. Activists will now have to decide whether it’s more effective to make nice or make a scene when it comes to approaching the nascent Healey administration with their requests. And Healey, in turn, will face a messy but major governance test in how she handles them. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Marty Walsh is still labor secretary, but you wouldn’t know it from how Washington is acting. Jockeying to succeed Walsh is well underway . Post-mortems are already being published about his tenure. And yet, a week after news broke that Walsh was on his way out, he’s still there. In fact, the Labor Department is actively trying to show Walsh remains on the job, my colleague Nick Niedzwiadek writes in. And so the WALSH DEPARTURE WATCH stands at eight days and counting. TODAY — Healey is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. Sen. Elizabeth Warren keynotes an Open Markets Institute event at 10 a.m. Secretary of State Bill Galvin heads to D.C. for the National Association of Secretaries of State winter conference. PROGRAMMING NOTE:  Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Monday in observance of President's Day. After the hiatus, we'll be back on Tuesday. Tips? Scoops? Planning to drop by the governor's office sometime soon? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .                                  PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE RADIOACTIVE WASTE?  HOLTEC IN THE PILGRIM SITE HAS NO PLACE  FOR RADIOACTIVE STORAGE  RENEWABLES ARE THE SOLUTION A message from NextEra Energy: A Beacon Research Poll shows that a majority of Massachusetts voters support clean, low-cost nuclear energy as a tool to fight climate change. Support for nuclear increases beyond 70% as people learn more.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS ARE COMING: Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano are hauling Democrats in for caucuses this week after all, signaling that leadership and committee assignments are likely forthcoming ahead of school vacation week. Senators will caucus today, while representatives are on deck for tomorrow. — “Healey faces a ‘critical’ choice in naming next State Police leader: to look inside, or out,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “For years, the Massachusetts State Police has churned through superintendents, offering governors multiple chances to name its top leader. But as she prepares to name the department’s third colonel in six years, Governor Maura Healey faces a whole new question: Where to look for one? Filling the superintendent position is an early test not only of Healey, the state’s former chief law enforcement official, but also of a two-year-old law that now allows the governor — should she choose — to pull the department’s next leader from beyond its ranks.” — “Illegal Harvard Basketball bets were made at MGM Springfield; regulators investigating,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “State gaming regulators said Tuesday they are investigating illegal bets made at MGM Springfield on a pair of Harvard University men’s basketball games, marking the third instance of prohibited wagering taking place at an active sportsbook in Massachusetts. … ‘We’ve had three of these now in a week and a half’s time,’ [Commissioner Nakisha Skinner] said. ‘I don’t know what the volume is going to be. But certainly, as we were reviewing operator applications, we learned that these are relatively routine and I’m not sure who used the word routine, but they’re relatively routine matters.’” — “Sports betting companies spent hundreds of thousands on lobbying firms in Mass.,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “In the years leading up to the legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts, some of the top wagering companies from across the country spent hundreds of thousands on Beacon Hill-focused lobbying firms just as legislation approving the activity was gaining momentum in the Legislature. And top executives from well-known brands such as DraftKings and FanDuel have donated thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to top Democrats in the state over the past three years as advocacy for the ability to wager on sporting events started to bleed into mainstream conversations.” — “Campbell previews changes to AG's office, weighs in on crime lab convictions and Justin Root investigation,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “In her first regular appearance on GBH's Boston Public Radio since becoming Massachusetts' new attorney general, Andrea Campbell outlined her plans for restructuring that office and tackling issues that might strike some as falling outside the AG's purview. Asked by host Jim Braude if Massachusetts' gun-control laws are jeopardized by the U.S. Supreme Court's established antipathy to gun control, Campbell said her office has already filed briefs against challenges to existing state restrictions — and that, in the coming months, she plans to roll out a new gun-enforcement unit inside the attorney general's office.” — “Stop, you're on camera: Proposed state bill targets drivers passing stopped school buses,” by Jeff A. Chamer, Telegram & Gazette: “Drivers who speed by stopped school buses may find a ticket waiting for them in their mailbox if state Sen. Michael O. Moore’s bill passes the Legislature. Moore’s bill, which the Millbury Democrat filed in January, would give municipalities throughout the state decision-making power to install cameras on buses to help enforce traffic violations.”   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 .     FROM THE HUB — “Mayor Wu doubles down on her opposition to an elected school committee,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Boston Mayor Michelle Wu doubled down on her reluctance to shift to an elected school committee Tuesday, setting up potential political friction between her administration and the nearly 80% of voters who expressed a clear desire to do away with a school board appointed by the mayor. ‘I have never been supportive of an elected school committee,’ said Wu, responding to a listener question during an appearance on GBH News’ Boston Public Radio. ‘I ran for this job because I want to make a difference in the schools. I want to have accountability and responsibility to be able to make the changes that we need.’” — “Massachusetts Inspector General’s office eyeing Boston schools busing contract,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The Office of the Inspector General has its eye on the Boston Public Schools bus contract that raised eyebrows last year, with the state entity telling the school district to ‘proceed at their own risk’ with the pact. … The contract procurement process took some flak in December when the Boston Finance Commission, a statutorily created city budget watchdog, took issue with the fact that only one company — the one that currently does busing for the district — had put in a bid to run transportation for the district.” PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE RADIOACTIVE WASTE?  HOLTEC IN THE PILGRIM SITE HAS NO PLACE  FOR RADIOACTIVE STORAGE  RENEWABLES ARE THE SOLUTION   A message from NextEra Energy:     PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Transportation secretary Fiandaca visits troubled Red and Orange Line car factory in Springfield,” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca quietly took a tour of the new Red and Orange Line car factory in Springfield Monday amid serious concerns about the quality of cars which forced the MBTA to halt deliveries last summer. MassDOT spokesperson Jacquelyn Goddard said via e-mail the purpose of Fiandaca’s visit was ‘to see first-hand the new car assembly operations to underscore that getting new Red and Orange Line cars into service safely and according to MBTA manufacturing specifications is a priority.’” — “Stunning amount of problems with China train deal exposed,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Minutes from closed-door meetings held last year reveal an escalating number of defects with the new Orange and Red Line cars and repeated criticism by the MBTA that its Chinese contractor was taking a lackadaisical approach to resolving them. These documents, obtained by the Herald through a public records request, show that CRRC only delivered nine of the 37 two-car train sets it promised in January 2022, reused safety-critical hardware on trains, and submitted ‘approval to proceed’ forms to bypass inspections where cars were missing materials.” FROM THE 413 — “Are former FTX Digital exec Ryan Salame’s extensive Lenox investments safe? Uncertainty sparks community concern,” by Clarence Fanto, Berkshire Eagle: “The Sandisfield native associated with disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s bankrupt bitcoin exchange is lying low as investigations and court cases take their course. But his marquee Lenox restaurants are operating as usual and some business leaders are cautiously optimistic.” — “Chicopee, Springfield, Westfield nursing homes want to remain open: Lawmakers searching for ways to make them financially viable,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican.   DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID .     THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Toxic 'forever chemicals' force Mass. towns to face 'true cost of water',” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “Littleton isn't the only town spending millions to clean up the chemicals. Barnstable has so far invested $27 million to deal with PFAS, for example; and Cambridge recently spent $8.5 million to temporarily switch water supplies while changing its PFAS filters.” — “School ‘swatting’ incidents continue with spate of hoaxes,” by Eli Curwin, Boston.com. — “More Worcester families are saying no to district's sex ed curriculum,” by Jeff A. Chamer, Telegram & Gazette. — “Braintree town councilor proposes using birth control to curb rat population,” by Fred Hanson, Patriot Ledger.              PROPAGANDA!  NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY AVAILABLE RADIOACTIVE WASTE?  HOLTEC IN THE PILGRIM SITE HAS NO PLACE  FOR RADIOACTIVE STORAGE  RENEWABLES ARE THE SOLUTION A message from NextEra Energy: Registered voters in Massachusetts show a clear interest in leveraging nuclear energy in the fight against climate change, according to a recent Beacon Research survey. The survey focused on the state’s energy resources, specifically how nuclear energy can be incorporated to reach long-term clean energy goals.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH SPOTTED — Former state Sen. Eric Lesser saying hello to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein at Cafe du Parc at the Willard hotel yesterday in D.C. TRANSITIONS — Mike Kennealy , former housing and economic development secretary under ex-Gov. Charlie Baker, will join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston as chief strategy officer on Feb. 27, per the Boston Globe’s Jon Chesto. — Baker's former deputy communications director, Anisha Chakrabarti , is now a communication strategist at Kraft Sports + Entertainment. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Law 360’s Chris Villani. 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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