Showing posts with label LIQUOR LICENSES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LIQUOR LICENSES. Show all posts

Thursday, May 30, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Drinks on the House



Massachusetts Playbook logo

BY LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY

Presented by 

Choose Who You Use

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: LIQUOR LICENSE BILL MOVING — The House is hoping to get more liquor flowing in Boston. Well, parts of it.

Top House Democrats are releasing their version of a bill that would expand the number of liquor licenses available in certain corners of the state’s biggest city. It’s a significant step forward in the long-running effort to make access to the city’s highly controlled and highly limited liquor licenses more equitable — especially for restaurateurs in Boston’s lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color, who face barriers to entry even before being confronted with the exorbitant costs of secondary-market liquor licenses .

The proposal — which the House Ways and Means Committee plans to poll later this morning and representatives intend to take up in informal session thereafter — would add 205 licenses to the mix over three years. Of those, 180 would be non-transferable licenses for establishments that prepare food on-site across 12 ZIP codes in Mattapan, East Boston, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Hyde Park, Charlestown, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and Dorchester. Five licenses would be released per year in each of those areas.

Another three licenses would be designated specifically for Oak Square in Brighton. There would be 15 non-transferable licenses set aside for nonprofits, community theaters or other community spaces. And, in a bit of flexibility for the city, the last seven licenses would have no restrictions on their locations.

That’s a bit different than the version backed by city councilors and Mayor Michelle Wu. That legislation — which was shepherded at the city level by Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell and by his brother, state Rep. Christopher Worrell, and state Sen. Liz Miranda at the State House — called for 250 licenses to be meted out five at a time over five years in 10 ZIP codes, excluding Jamaica Plain and Charlestown. The House also added the food requirement after members of the chamber’s Boston delegation expressed a desire for licenses to go to eateries over bars in an effort to create more economic viability for restaurateurs.

The brothers Worrell are just fine with the changes. Christopher Worrell called the revamped legislation a “game-changer for all the communities” that provides “205 opportunities for generational wealth.” His brother told Playbook that “if we’re truly thinking about trying to create every neighborhood as a destination and equity throughout every neighborhood, this gives every neighborhood a tool that’s needed.”

Don’t pour the celebratory champagne just yet. The bill is poised to clear the House today. But it's unclear whether and when the Senate will take it up — and if the upper chamber would make any changes that could land the legislation in the growing end-of-session logjam of conference committees before it can get to the governor’s desk.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Look for Gov. Maura Healey in Minnesota purple soon, after PWHL Boston fell short in its quest for the cup.

TODAY — Healey and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey celebrate federal funding for MBTA Green Line accessibility at 10 a.m. at Brandon Hall Station in Brookline. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a MetroWest Economic Research Center conference at 11 a.m. at Framingham State University, an AT&T Connected Learning Center launch at 5:30 p.m. in South Boston and a Northeast Arc gala at 7 p.m. at Encore.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss hosts a summit on PFAS regulations at 10 a.m. at Boston College. Rep. Seth Moulton helps launch expanded Salem Skipper service at noon.

Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email us:  lkashinsky@politico.com  and  kgarrity@politico.com .

 

A message from Choose Who You Use:

A new study published earlier this year revealed that if customers chose a retail electric provider over a utility in 2022 and 2023 the combined savings would have been $1.7 billion. Join the Choose Who You Use coalition to protect electricity choice and preserve Massachusetts ratepayers’ ability to choose the most affordable, renewable options for them. Learn more.

 
DATELINE BEACON HILL

—  “Victim support office seeks funds to bridge federal gaps,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, which supports more than 100 crime-victim organizations across Massachusetts, is calling for approval of a supplemental budget with $20 million in ‘bridge’ funding to prevent cuts in services for victims of homicide, rape, domestic violence, elder abuse, and children who have been sexually trafficked or abused.”

MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “Haitian migrant families living in Great Barrington and Pittsfield hotels must find new housing. The state's shelter contracts end in June,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle: “Nearly two dozen families from Haiti who arrived at hotels last year as part of the state’s shelter program have until the end of June to find alternate housing in the area. With help from the community and nonprofits, 24 families — 10 in Pittsfield and 14 in Great Barrington — are scrambling to find a place to live as state contracts with hotels in Great Barrington and Pittsfield come to an end. … [EOHLC spokesperson Kevin] O’ Connor said the state is winding down its hotel shelter operation. He described it as ‘part of an ongoing shelter consolidation effort to reduce the number of hotel shelter sites statewide and to connect families with homelessness and rehousing service providers.’”

 

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PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “Massport offers CEO job to Rich Davey, longtime Boston-area transportation leader,” by Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts Port Authority board on Wednesday picked longtime Boston-area transportation leader Rich Davey to be its next CEO, wrapping up a monthslong search involving dozens of candidates. Davey, currently the president of New York City Transit, won out over Eulois Cleckley, the other finalist and the CEO of the Miami-Dade transportation department in Florida. Although Davey has held a highly visible role in New York for the past two years, he has a long track record in Boston including a stint as chairman of the Massport board when he served as transportation secretary under then-governor Deval Patrick.”

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — State. Rep. Bill Straus is endorsing Democrat Mark Sylvia to succeed him in the race for his 10th Bristol House seat, according to Sylvia’s campaign. Sylvia, a Patrick administration alum and current chief of staff at solar energy developer BlueWave Solar, is “a person of character, positive in his approach to issues and dedicated to public service, his community and the Commonwealth,” Straus said in a statement.

— The Massachusetts AFL-CIO has endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren for reelection ahead of this weekend's MassDems convention.

 

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BALLOT BATTLES

PLOT TWIST — Both sides of the fight to replace MCAS as a high school graduation requirement are asking the Supreme Judicial Court to compel the state to change the title and one-sentence description of the proposed ballot question.

Playbook previously reported that the Committee To Preserve Educational Standards For K-12 Students asked the SJC to order the state to clarify that the ballot question would get rid of “any uniform statewide assessment” for graduation. The Massachusetts Teachers Association that’s pushing the ballot question is also asking the court to change the wording — to clarify that the ballot question would replace MCAS “with a more accurate measure of student competency, not to eliminate the competency requirement.” The cases are being considered together.

DAY IN COURT

— “Acting US attorney says office has rebounded in wake of Rachael Rollins ethics scandal,” by Shelley Murphy, The Boston Globe: “A year after US Attorney Rachael Rollins resigned on the heels of two government watchdog investigations that found she repeatedly committed ethical violations and misused the power of her office, her successor said Wednesday that the office has rebounded from the scandal. ‘I won’t sugar-coat the events that happened. It was a significant blow to the office when those reports came out,’ Joshua Levy, the acting US attorney for Massachusetts, said during a round-table discussion with members of the media. Still, he said, Rollins’s tenure at the helm ‘is a smaller dot in the rear view mirror every day.’”

— “Portrait of late Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants unveiled at courthouse,” by Chris Van Burkirk, The Boston Herald. 

 

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FROM THE DELEGATION

— “Warren, Markey speak to threats facing national abortion access at Boston hearing,” by Alexa Coultoff, The Boston Globe.

— “Sen. Warren says if found guilty, Trump likely will make unfounded claims legal system is corrupt,” by Anthony Brooks, Tiziana Dearing and Amanda Beland, WBUR.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "FEMA: No federal aid for flood damage to Leominster municipal properties," by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette: "The mayor of Leominster is not losing hope, even after the federal government closed the door to providing the $30 million the city says it needs to make repairs to municipal infrastructure following the September 2023 rainstorms."

— “Cambridge School Committee Asks Superintendent Victoria Greer to Resign in 5-2 Vote,” by Darcy G Lin and Emily T. Schwartz, The Crimson: “The Cambridge School Committee voted to give Cambridge Public Schools Superintendent Victoria L. Greer a 90-day notice to resign, following a closed-door executive session meeting on Wednesday. The vote, which ratified a decision that the committee made during a confidential meeting on April 30, comes nearly two months after The Crimson first reported that the School Committee sought Greer’s resignation during an April 1 executive session meeting.”

— "Saint Vincent nurses lodge more complaints, claim ongoing 'crisis' at hospital," by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette: "Nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association have filed another round of complaints with state and federal agencies that claim unsafe conditions for patients at the hospital."

— “Steward promised to rebuild its hospital in Norwood. The town is still waiting,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR.

 

A message from Choose Who You Use:

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Choose Who You Use is committed to protecting real electricity choice in Massachusetts. We believe the power to choose energy should be in the hands of the people. In Massachusetts, individuals should be able to choose the type of energy they want and how to pay for it. Learn more.

 
HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — David Beckstead has joined Womble Bond Dickinson’s corporate and securities group as of counsel in Boston.

— Walter M. Foster , a former state assistant attorney general, has joined Cozen O’Connor’s Boston office from Eckert Seamans.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to CNN’s Eric Levenson, Senate Ways & Means Chair Michael Rodrigues , Bill Fonda, Natasha Sarin, Ayanna Pressley alum Luisa Peña Lyons and Wes Ritchie.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER — Hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky talk chronic absenteeism and the state's lack of legislative competition. State House News Service's Chris Lisinski joins to discuss differences in the state budget proposals and end-of-session scaries. 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 .

 

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Monday, February 26, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Inside Healey's Washington weekend

 


Massachusetts Playbook logo

BY LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY

Presented by McDonald's

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: ECON DEV COMING — Gov. Maura Healey plans to file her long-awaited economic development bond bill this week, she told Playbook.

We know it’ll draw on the economic development plan that her administration released late last year, and that it will at least include $100 million to create an “Applied AI Hub” in the state and a reauthorization of the life sciences initiative first launched under the Patrick administration. We don’t yet know the price tag — and how that dollar amount has been affected by the state’s slumping revenues.

That’s not the only news Healey shared after her trip to Washington…

FROM THE LOUNGE AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore could barely make it across the lobby without getting stopped for a picture. When Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte moved, a phalanx of staff, security and family followed.

Healey cut a more unassuming presence as she networked her way through the National Governors Association winter meeting on Friday and Saturday at one of The District’s swankiest hotels.

Her lower profile is likely as much physical as it is political — at 5-foot-4 she’s simply shorter than many of the men who make up the majority of state executives. But it allows her to operate without (too many) interruptions from lobbyists and pesky reporters like yours truly.

And so, as the lobby lights dimmed on Friday evening, Healey arrived for a chat with Laura Kelly, the Democratic governor of Kansas. They sat off to the side of the lounge, at the same cluster of tables where Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt had held court moments before. But Healey and Kelly were joined only by Healey’s partner, Joanna Lydgate. They spoke quietly and intensely, heads bowed toward each other, their conversation shrouded by the dulcet tones of pop songs being recast as piano ballads by the evening’s entertainer.

Healey wouldn’t divulge all the details of their chat. But they did engage in some good-natured football-related ribbing, in which Healey warned Kelly not to “get too ahead of herself on the Chiefs because you can’t touch the Patriots.”

On a more serious note, the two talked immigration, a focal point for governors over the two-day event and the main topic of discussion at their White House meeting with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and administration officials including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Biden called on governors to press their federal representatives to revive the border deal that includes money for states sheltering migrants and stricter asylum rules. But Republican governors left the meeting unswayed .

“It’s a shame,” Healey said. “It really flies in the face of strong consensus among governors, both Democrats and Republicans, that we need federal immigration reform and that we need Congress to act. I can’t tell you how many conversations we had, conversations with Democratic and Republican governors and the White House, all of us lamenting Congress’ failure.”

President Joe Biden speaks to the National Governors Association during an event in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden speaks to governors at the White House. | Evan Vucci/AP

As the Biden administration explores what executive actions it can take to curb border crossings , Healey said there are “certainly things that can be done by executive action, and we have encouraged the president to exercise all authority.” She didn’t directly weigh in on the slew of executive actions Biden is considering, which have already spurred backlash from progressive groups .

But she did say “it’s not about sending 15 National Guardspeople to the border from one of our northern states." That's a clear swipe at New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who recently won $850,000 from lawmakers to send members of the state’s National Guard to the Texas border. “If Congress passed the bipartisan bill," Healey said, "it would fund border agents, border personnel. It would also help with fentanyl interdiction.”

Healey also had “productive discussions” with a FEMA administrator after the feds rejected her request for a disaster declaration tied to September’s flooding. She still plans to appeal.

“We need Congress to act here as well,” Healey said. “We need to have a different mechanism for getting relief, getting funding to states and cities across this country that are dealing with new and devastating impacts of recurring adverse weather events attributable to climate change.”

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Also at the NGA: former Gov. Charlie Baker, who discussed sports betting’s impact on the NCAA during a private lunch with governors.

TODAY — Healey swears in a judge at noon and joins Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and legislative leaders for a leadership meeting at 2 p.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends the Age Strong Black Heritage Celebration Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. in Dorchester. Rep. Lori Trahan highlights federal funding at 1 p.m. at Middlesex Community College.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is in Boston today for a Biden Victory Fund event that was rescheduled from earlier this month due to that snowstorm that didn't happen.

Tips? Scoops? Fundraisers? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com.

 

A message from McDonald's:

From 2021 to 2022, the McDonald’s System contributed over $700 million to Massachusetts’ economy, supporting over 14,350 jobs statewide. McDonald’s presence in local communities throughout Massachusetts generated nearly $125 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, providing funding for public schools, infrastructure, parks and more. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Massachusetts and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/ma .

 
DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Healey says Steward information ‘insufficient’,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The Healey administration said Steward Health Care failed to provide requested financial information by Friday’s deadline and announced no steps to compel compliance. Steward earlier this week said it provided the state with an enormous amount of financial data, but administration officials said audited financial statements were not included. ‘The financial information that Steward provided this week continues to be incomplete and insufficient,’ said Karissa Hand, the governor’s spokeswoman. ‘What Steward must do from this point forward is clear — complete an orderly transition out of Massachusetts.’”

— “ As New England Revolution kick off new season, Mass. lawmaker keeps ball rolling on new stadium,” by John L. Micek, MassLive.

MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “A new immigration court is set to open in Mass. Will it help the immense backlog of cases?” by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: “A new immigration court is set to open in Massachusetts, where the population of migrants hoping to present their case to a judge has grown exponentially in recent years. The Lowell Immigration Court, which will be located on Apollo Drive in Chelmsford, is set to open in early April.”

 

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FROM THE HUB

— “Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden is facing two ethics probes from separate state entities,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe: “Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden is facing two ethics investigations related to statements he made about his opponent during the 2022 race for Suffolk DA. … One of the ethics probes is by the state’s Office of Bar Counsel, which investigates allegations of lawyer misconduct in Massachusetts. … Hayden is also being investigated by the state ethics commission for similar allegations raised by Arroyo.”

— “Boston employees regularly assaulted for writing parking tickets, city union says,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Boston parking enforcement officers say they’re tired of being an ‘outlet’ for the anger of people they issue tickets to, and are urging city officials to impose stiffer penalties for the offenders who regularly assault and harass them on the job.”

— “OTR: Boston [City Councilor Brian Worrell] wants to add 250 liquor licenses, here's why,” by Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti, WCVB.

 

A message from McDonald's:

 
SENATE SHOWDOWN

NO ARGUMENT HERE — Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and her most prominent Republican rival, John Deaton , appear to be on the same page about the Alabama Supreme Court ruling jeopardizing access to in vitro fertilization.

Both Deaton and Warren condemned the decision in statements posted to social media. “Children are a blessing. Efforts to prevent couples from conceiving are unconscionable and cruel. This is health care and it’s about family. Just as they were wrong on Dobbs, out-of-control judges should not be deciding these things. Period,” Deaton posted on X .

Warren called the ruling “outrageous” in her own post shortly thereafter, blaming “right-wing extremists” and former President Donald Trump , who she said “set the stage for this disaster by stacking the Supreme Court with radicals who’d overturn” Roe v. Wade.

 

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PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

PUMPING THE BRAKES — MBTA Advisory Board Executive Director Brian Kane is casting doubt on the future of reduced fares for low-income T riders. Gov. Maura Healey proposed $45 million for the program in her budget, but Kane said on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” that “there’s no funding source dedicated for it in the long term.”

“There’s no money in Year Two , and the cost of this program rises to $100 million after five years,” Kane said. “So it is a large concern for my organization, the cities and towns that contribute to the T.”

DAY IN COURT

— “Federal class-action lawsuit filed in Worcester over illegal state trooper recordings,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: “Four of the more than 200 criminal defendants state police recorded illegally using a cellphone application during undercover investigations filed a federal class-action lawsuit Friday against Motorola and the state police colonel.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Milton starts to chart path forward after residents reject MBTA zoning bill,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “The Milton Planning Board is considering seeking a reclassification that would lessen the burden on the number of multi-family housing units needed to comply with a state-mandated zoning plan. … Some Planning Board members argue that being classified as an ‘adjacent community’ rather than a ‘rapid transit community’ makes more sense.”

But the state has said no before to changing the town’s designation under the MBTA Communities Law.

THE SAGA CONTINUES — “Medford mayor broke law during search for interim fire chief, union attorney alleges,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “An attorney for the Medford fire union is accusing Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn of breaking the law by offering a firefighter from outside the city to serve as interim chief, but the mayor says she’s in the right as she followed the city charter. … Medford has been divided since a wave of sick callouts within the fire department earlier this month cost the city nearly $100,000.”

— “DCU bull riding event met with animal rights protesters disappointed hosted in city-owned venue,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette.

 

A message from McDonald's:

McDonald’s is an economic engine for the state of Massachusetts, contributing over $700 million to our state’s economy, directly employing nearly 11,600 Massachusettsans and supporting an additional 2,750 jobs statewide. It’s also an engine of opportunity: 1 in 4 independent McDonald’s operators in Massachusetts began their careers as restaurant crew members, generating wealth for their families and local communities. We are proud to support Massachusetts through public schools, parks and more from the nearly $125 million in federal, state and local tax revenue generated by the McDonald’s System’s activities. And thanks to the generosity of McDonald’s customers and owner/operators, the $700,000 raised through Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2022 provided over 7,000 overnight stays for families with children receiving medical care in Massachusetts. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Massachusetts and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/ma .

 
CAMPAIGN MODE

SHE’S ONTO SUPER TUESDAY — Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is vowing to fight on after getting blown out in her home state ’s GOP presidential primary by former President Donald Trump .

She mathematically doesn’t stand much — if any — chance of stopping his march to a third straight nomination. But her refusal to quit means political action will briefly return to the region: Haley is capping off her swing through Super Tuesday states with a campaign event Saturday night at the Sheraton in Needham.

More than 700,000 voters have requested mail-in ballots ahead of the state’s presidential primaries and nearly 250,000 had been returned , Secretary of State Bill Galvin said as early voting got underway. Even though there is “not as much of an incentive for people to come out” because races on both sides “seem decided,” Galvin said the “importance of this election” appears to be “superseding” low interest.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TAYLOR, IF YOU’RE READING THIS — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly would be enchanted to meet you. Healey said Kelly has yet to meet Taylor Swift, who’s dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce . But she’s “looking forward to doing that.” (Yes, we know the Chiefs play in Missouri, we’re just the messengers!)

FIRE UP THE GROUP CHAT — Healey and Kelly are in one with the rest of the nation’s female Democratic governors. “It’s a dream team, it’s fantastic,” Healey said on CNN .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Harold Hubschman, Cathey Park, Laura Oggeri, Adam Bass, Jill Webb and Li Zhou .

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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Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3

 

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