POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: MTA sets its sights on strikes (and more)

By Kelly Garrity GETTING SCHOOLED — Fresh off its latest victory at the ballot, the Massachusetts Teachers Association is ready to revive some familiar fights on Beacon Hill this session. The state’s largest teachers’ union is eyeing a suite of policy asks and budget items this session — and hoping for a solid slice of the so-called millionaire’s tax revenue to make them happen. The MTA wants to put legislation legalizing teacher strikes back on the table, and it’s pushing proposals that would see school employees covered by the state’s paid family and medical leave law, establish minimum salaries for K-12 teachers, up the funding for mental health services in schools, target wage and staffing struggles at public higher ed institutions — the list goes on. And after successfully muscling through a ballot question ending the use of the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement, the MTA wants the state to make MassCore — the state-recommended outline for high school course requirements — mandatory across the board in Bay State schools while creating a commission to study graduation requirements that would create an “extensive, serious public process,” MTA President Max Page first told Playbook. Their goals this session are all interconnected, Page said, underscored by what he described as the “fiscal crisis” schools are facing. Take teacher strikes. Local unions bargaining for better wages and benefits like those the MTA is pedaling on Beacon Hill have increasingly taken to striking in recent years to coax those policies through negotiations. The MTA has become a more dominant (and to some electeds, a more vexing) powerbroker in recent years, wracking up a series of high-profile victories at the ballot box. Amid a wave of illegal teacher strikes last year, some wondered whether strike legislation — which hasn’t seen much buy-in on Beacon Hill — was also destined for the ballot. MTA leaders say they are focused on legislating first. But don’t be surprised if more strikes pop up over the next few months. ​​”I think what you're going to see is more educators standing up and speaking out … for living wages, for the right to [paid family and medical leave],” MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy told Playbook. “I do expect to see a more militant public vocalization of fighting for public ed,” she added. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. One of the union’s hopes looks like it’s already been dashed. The MTA wanted to see “a significant portion” of the roughly $1 billion excess millionaires tax revenue go toward education-related deferred maintenance and capital projects, Page said. (The union was one of the biggest driving forces behind the ballot measure that created the surtax, after all). But Gov. Maura Healey announced yesterday plans to use about two-thirds of that money to help plug transportation funding holes. More on the $8 billion transportation finance plan from the Boston Globe and CommonWealth Beacon .  TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs a Governor’s Council meeting at noon at the State House. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com .  DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Republicans push for reforms to shelter system,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “Republican lawmakers are calling for an overhaul of the state’s emergency shelter system amid rising costs and revelations the Healey administration didn’t conduct criminal background checks on migrants staying in hotels and other taxpayer-funded housing. The GOP lawmakers rolled out a package of bills Tuesday they hope will be taken up by the Democratic supermajority in the state Legislature, including proposed changes to the state’s right-to-shelter law, limits on shelter stays by migrants, and residency requirements to qualify for emergency housing.” PAYWALL RELATED — “House budget chief wants more info on shelter crimes before advancing Healey’s spending bill,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald.  PAYWALL FOR THE BOSTON HERALD RAG! THIS IS WHY PBS & NPR ARE IMPORTANT! FACT BASED REPORTING MATTERS! ALSO RELATED — “Shelter leaders say they're responding to incidents to the best of their ability,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “ State records show more than 670 serious incidents at Massachusetts’ emergency assistance family shelters in 2024, including allegations of rape and physical assault. … GBH surveyed the over 40 shelter agencies mentioned in the 2,239 pages of reports last year. They were asked how they handle domestic abuse cases and how quickly perpetrators are kicked out of shelter; if there’s a screening involved in the intake process; how many people have been evicted from shelter as a result of the reports, if staff has been concerned for their own safety; and thoughts on the governor’s call to audit all shelters. Five of the providers replied with answers. Four ignored questions and gave short statements. Two forwarded information to the state and referred all questions to the state. Thirty-two didn’t respond at all.” — “‘Anger is justified’: Revere City Councilor wants state to address emergency shelter concerns,” by Ryan Breslin, Boston 25 News. MASS GOP: GRANDSTANDING HYSTERIA WITH NO INFORMATION! HOW ABOUT GATHERING FACTS? WHO'S INCLUDED? THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT LOCAL POLICE WERE CALLED...WHY NO ARRESTS? SCOTUS CRIMINALIZED HOMELESSNESS - WHAT ARE THE MASS GOP DOING TO ADDRESS THAT? THE MASS GOP IS JUST BLOVIATING WITH NO SOLUTIONS!  excerpt: “The public’s anger is justified and I stand with them in demanding answers. It is appalling that a state-run resource funded by taxpayer dollars operating under a unique right to shelter law...was so fundamentally flawed,” said Revere City Councilor Michelle Kelley. House and Senate Republicans plan to hold a press conference at the Massachusetts State House Tuesday morning. They say they plan to address concerns about the migrant crisis and propose legislative and administrative actions. — “Springfield opens new emergency shelter after reaching capacity during freezing weather,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican. FROM THE HUB FAMILY MATTERS — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was discharged from Brigham & Women’s hospital at 4 p.m. yesterday, a source close to the mayor told Playbook, after giving birth to a daughter, Mira, at 2 p.m. Monday. She was home recovering yesterday evening, and had been in touch with her team at City Hall. Congratulations and well-wishing for Wu and her family poured in from supporters yesterday — and from one potential opponent. “Congratulations to Mayor Wu on the birth of her daughter, and best wishes to her husband and boys as they welcome Mira to the family,” New England Patriots Foundation President Josh Kraft posted on Linkedin . — “Very few women have delivered babies while serving in elected office. Here’s what a few had to say, ” by Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe: “In interviews with the Globe, women politicians who have balanced the same challenges hailed [Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu’s example and said they have drawn inspiration and strength from those who did it first. Mom-mayors say their small community keeps in touch via group texts and trade tips at conferences and national conventions.” — “White Stadium project opponent says City of Boston can renovate venue for BPS for ‘fraction of the cost’,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald. WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET — “Frustrated AG Reminds Auditor ‘We Have A Process’,” by Alison Kuznitz, State House News Service (paywall): “Attorney General Andrea Campbell divulged Tuesday that she voted for Question 1, as she defended why her office has yet to intervene in Auditor Diana DiZoglio's unsuccessful attempts to audit the Legislature amid the voter law taking effect earlier this month. … DiZoglio, who says she cannot initiate a lawsuit to force the Legislature to comply with her audit, has repeatedly and publicly asked Campbell for her support. Campbell on Tuesday afternoon stressed there's a process her office must follow to determine which state agencies it represents.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES WERE YOU ASLEEP? THIS WAS PASSED IN 2021  MBTA Communities Law Q&A MASS.GOV ZONING OUT — The Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling last week that the MBTA Communities Act is constitutional and enforceable didn’t deter Needham voters from turning out to vote down the zoning plan local officials had crafted to put them in compliance with the controversial law, the Boston Globe’s Andrew Brinker reported last night. Meanwhile, new regulations the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities rolled out yesterday in response to the SJC’s decision are facing their own pushback from lawmakers in some regions seeing the fiercest opposition to the law. State Sen. Bill Driscoll raised concerns about a lack of public process for the new regulations that he suggested ought to be required. “I understood the [SJC’s Jan. 8] decision to mean that new guidelines should be promulgated by HLC via the same public process that all regulations go through, namely the Administrative Procedures Act. The previous MBTA Communities Act guidelines did not, and were therefore deemed unenforceable,” the Milton Democrat said in a statement.  “After nearly a year of legal action, and over four years since the MBTA Communities Act was passed, the public process has again been abridged. The previous guidelines were a set of moving goal posts and included provisions and penalties not authorized by the statute. Today's emergency regs are more of the same.” And in the House, Rep. Ken Sweezey, a Pembroke Republican, floated new legislation to repeal the zoning law entirely, saying in a statement that the new guidelines were “not the long-term reprieve that our residents resoundingly want after record setting town meetings.” DAY IN COURT — “Prosecutors of Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson ask for evidence to be filed under seal, ” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: “Prosecutors are asking to release their evidence in the kickback case of Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson under seal, as the voluminous number of documents are rife with personal identifying information. ‘The government submits and the defendant does not at this time contest, that good cause exists for the following protective order in regard to certain discovery in this case,’ the model language of the order prosecutors submitted Monday evening states.” FROM THE DELEGATION APP BATTLE — Reps. Jake Auchincloss and Seth Moulton aren’t the only members of the Massachusetts delegation backing a TikTok-related bill. Sen. Ed Markey unveiled the “Extend the TikTok Deadline Act,” a bill that would extend the deadline for ByteDance to sell the app (or see it banned) by 270 days. The social-media savvy senator also went live on the app to break it down for his followers. More from MassLive.   — “Why Moulton won't back transgender bill,” by Nicholas Wu, POLITICO: “Rep. Seth Moulton plans to oppose a bill banning transgender athletes from women’s sports, according to a statement provided first to POLITICO. ‘This is not the sort of balanced, fairness-oriented policy I’ve advocated for, and I won’t vote yes on this bill just because it is the first option that comes to the floor,’ he said. The Massachusetts Democrat said there should be ‘reasonable’ restrictions on transgender athletes but said the bill on the floor was ‘too extreme.’” THANK YOU SENATOR WARREN! PETE HEGSETH IS AN UNQUALIFIED, INCOMPETENT LIAR! THE FBI YET AGAIN FAILED TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK! PETE HEGSETH WAS FIRED FROM 2 KOCH FUNDED VETERANS ORGANIZATION FOR MISUSE OF FUNDS. HIS FRIENDS & CO-WORKERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT HOW PUBLICLY DRUNK HE WAS & NEEDED TO BE CARRIED OUT, SOMETIMES MISSING FLIGHTS THE FOLLOWING MORNING! When asked about his judgment on getting drunk and having sex with a woman at a work-related conference two months after his 3rd wife gave birth (who he impregnated during his 2nd marriage), he refused to even admit they had sex at all. THOSE MAGA GOP WHO FAILED TO OPPOSE THIS NOMINEE WILL REGRET THEIR FAILURES! WATCH — “'Let's just stop right there': Warren confronts Hegseth about past remarks,” via MSNBC. LISTEN — “Rep. Pressley is spending MLK Day in Boston and ditching the inauguration,” by Kana Ruhalter and Arun Rath, GBH News.  FROM THE 413 AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THIS PREVENTS IT! MASS GOP WHINE, BUT OFFER NO SOLUTIONS! DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS HAVE OFFERED SOLUTIONS THAT REPUBLICANS OPPOSE! — “Dozens of Amherst homes snapped up by LLC’s over past 5 years,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Companies, rather than families or individuals, acquired an average of more than 10 single-family homes each year from long-term residents over a recent five-year period, according to information presented to the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust on Thursday.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Man’s quest to make Worcester ’city of joy’ leads to city council run,” by Adam Bass, Masslive: “Dr. Satya Mitra, founder of The Guru Tax and Financial Services in Worcester, announced Monday he is running for city councilor-at-large. Mitra, 73, who lives on Westport Road according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, announced his candidacy on Radio Worcester, telling host Hank Stolz that he will do his best to help and give back to the city.” — “Methuen councilors choose not to renew city solicitor's contract,” by Teddy Tauscher, The Eagle-Tribune: “Without any deliberation, the City Council voted 6-3 to not reappoint City Solicitor Ken Rossetti Monday night. Rossetti began working as city solicitor on Jan. 1, 2021 during the Neil Perry administration, according to his LinkedIn and had been up for a two-year reappointment at the Special Meeting held Monday night.” — “Consultant calls for firing of Lawrence police chief,” by Jill Harmacinski, The Eagle-Tribune.  — “Healey on DOJ investigation of Worcester police: I'm confident in the city,” by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette. MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND LIGHTS, NO CAMERAS, ACTION —  “R.I. governor blocks rotunda from protesters, bans TV cameras from State of the State address,” by Steph Machado and Edward Fitzpatrick,  The Boston Globe: “Governor Daniel J. McKee’s State of the State address Tuesday night was overshadowed in part by a decision to block the public from the rotunda, where protesters had planned to gather, along with barring television news cameras from the House chamber where he made the speech.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Samantha Joseph, the outgoing director of the USDA’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, is joining the Anti-Defamation League as the director of the organization’s New England region. — Non-profit Thrive Support & Advocacy has hired Nancy Bishop, DeMarr Langford , Claire Jean-Michel , and Patrick Reardon. Guillermo Creamer Jr. was promoted to director of residential services and Tony Smith was promoted to director of community employment and internships. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Rep. Kate Hogan, former Pittsfield city councilor Helen Moon, Omar Sedky and Bruce Schneier. 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 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: 5 things to know about Warren’s challenger

BY LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY SEX, DRUGS AND CRYPTO — John Deaton is launching his campaign against Elizabeth Warren, giving the state’s senior senator some more prominent — but still long-shot — competition in her bid for a third term. A website and a Facebook page for Deaton’s campaign went live over the long weekend. But unless you’re really into crypto, you’ve likely never heard of the digital-assets advocate and attorney who moved to Massachusetts last month to take on Democrat Warren, Congress’ loudest crypto critic. We’ve already covered the basics : He’s a dad to three daughters, a testicular cancer survivor and a former Marine who opened a law firm in Rhode Island representing asbestos victims. He’s renting a house in Swansea that is now his primary and full-time residence, and is selling his Barrington, Rhode Island, home for $2.5 million, according to real-estate listings and Jim Conroy, a political adviser to former Gov. Charlie Baker who is consulting for Deaton. He also plans to loan his campaign $500,000 to start. Deaton's 314-page memoir, “Food Stamp Warrior,” says a lot more. We read it over the long weekend. Here’s what we learned: John Deaton | Jim Conroy/Courtesy photo A VIOLENT UPBRINGING — Violence pervaded Deaton’s childhood in a rough Detroit enclave. He writes that he was raped, had a gun pressed into his mouth on the first day of high school and sold pot in exchange for food stamps for his family. He also may have shot someone — and to this day, he writes, he doesn’t know if he did. In Deaton’s telling, his close friend was killed in a drug-related drive-by shooting. As he was dying, Deaton, then 17, took his friend’s gun and opened fire: “I kept squeezing the trigger, as bullets shot through the car and blasted the back window into shards. I saw a person in the back slump down, and I’m still not sure if it’s because I hit him or if he ducked.” Deaton writes that years later, “I couldn’t stop asking myself: Did he kill my friend, did he get hit with a bullet, did he live or die? ” ‘COKE-FUELED SEX BENDER’ — Deaton writes that after his divorce he “went on a coke-fueled sex bender.” Using sites like “Plenty of Fish” and “Sugar Daddy” to find partners, Deaton says he would search for “women in their mid-twenties, decades younger than me.” He met his current partner, Kristiana, when he hired her as an assistant at his law firm. “Within a couple of years of Kristi working for me,” they struck up a romance. They’ve been together for almost nine years and share a 5-year-old daughter. OVERCOMING ADDICTION — Deaton says he “periodically battled dependency on pain pills” after being prescribed opioids following a back surgery. CRYPTO CURIOUS — Part of what helped pull Deaton out of a self-described “mid-life crisis” was discovering crypto — and the online community of digital-asset enthusiasts that comes with it. Deaton, who has invested in Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, gained notoriety in the crypto world when he battled the SEC’s efforts to classify XRP as a security as part of a lawsuit against Ripple Labs. Here’s how Deaton sees crypto: “It's a story, one much like my own: it is a story of survival and evolution, not just for the few but for the many.” TRUMP'S 'ANTITHESIS' — Though Deaton is running as a Republican, whether he’ll embrace his party’s standard bearer (and likely 2024 presidential nominee) is unclear. In his book, Deaton references former President Donald Trump — but only to draw contrast with himself. “I’ve always believed that money should never define someone. If anything, I’m the antithesis of Donald Trump,” Deaton writes. “You’ll never catch me being flashy or anything like that.” GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . As Deaton readied his launch, Warren released a report from her Senate office this morning that says she’s helped secure $50 billion in federal funding for Massachusetts since taking office in 2013. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have no public events. Rep. Ayanna Pressley celebrates federal funding at 10:30 a.m. at Chelsea City Hall. First lady Jill Biden arrives in Boston at 7 p.m., after attending a political finance event in Connecticut and ahead of a Wednesday event in Cambridge that’s part of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. Tips? Scoops? Running for Congress? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com .   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE .     YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS ‘AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND’ — MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale thinks John Deaton will “present a strong candidacy” for U.S. Senate despite only recently returning to the state (he lived here during law school). “He has an interesting background,” Carnevale said Sunday on NBC10’s “At Issue.” Taking on Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who has nearly $4 million in her campaign coffers, is no small challenge for a Republican in Massachusetts — particularly in a presidential election year, Carnevale said. But Deaton “came to us and said he has a passion for running for office and he wants to compete and present his vision." DATELINE BEACON HILL THAT’S NOT A NO — It wouldn’t be an appearance on WCVB’s “On the Record” if the politician sitting in the hot seat didn’t get asked — directly or indirectly — whether he or she aspires to higher office. On Sunday, it was Auditor Diana DiZoglio ’s turn to field that question. “When you are governor, are you going to allow the governor’s office to be audited?” host Ed Harding asked. DiZoglio laughed it off. “Like I’ve said time and time again, I am incredibly grateful to be in the position that I am in and looking forward to continuing the work to increase accountability and equity,” she said. When ROMNEY left office, he removed ALL of the HARD DRIVES and there is no record of his tenure. Where were REPUBLICAN voices then? Former Romney Aides Deleted Electronic Footprint https://www.npr.org/2011/11/21/142609014/former-romney-aides-deleted-electronic-footprint DiZoglio said the governor’s office “absolutely, 1,000 percent” should be subject to the state’s public records law. Former GOP gubernatorial nominee Geoff Diehl agreed in a post on X . She also feels the budget Gov. Maura Healey put forward is “less equitable than it could have been” because her office is slated for a lower percentage spending increase than the offices of the attorney general, secretary of state, inspector general and treasurer. Coincidentally, DiZoglio is “getting ready to soon release the results of an audit of the Office of Administration and Finance.” MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Cambridge officials press secretary of state to turn migrant shelter into 24/7 operation,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “[State] Rep. Mike Connolly, a Democrat whose district encompasses the old courthouse in East Cambridge, told the Herald on Saturday that he, city officials, and the rest of the city’s state delegation, have been ‘begging’ Secretary William Galvin for weeks to run the shelter around the clock, but Galvin hasn’t budged. … Galvin spokesperson Deb O’Malley … said Gov. Maura Healey’s office ultimately makes the final call about the shelter’s hours even though the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office owns the building.” — “New day shelter opens in Chelsea, as state shelters remain full,” by WBUR: “Sarah Bartley, vice president of United Way's safe and stable housing program, said the day shelter is particularly needed since the Cambridge state shelter has limited hours.” FROM THE HUB — “Boston Fire continues to fail to reflect the community it serves, new data show,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe: “The Boston Fire Department continues to struggle to diversify its ranks, with its current academy class being overwhelmingly white and male, in stark contrast to the city it serves, according to new city figures the Globe obtained through a public records request."   Don’t sleep on it. Get breaking New York policy from POLITICO Pro—the platform that never sleeps—and use our Legislative Tracker to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more.     FROM THE DELEGATION BLUNT TALK — Warren was asked on “Pod Save America” who she would want in her “dream blunt rotation” — aka four people she would “hypothetically” smoke weed with “because they’d be a really fun time.” Sen. Ed Markey was on host Jon Favreau ’s list. But Warren only had one person in mind: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson . Though, she noted that she interpreted the question as “nothing to do with weed” and just “who you think is fun.” The Hill has more . — “Rep. Lynch: Financing deal is 'not enough' to keep all Steward hospitals open,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR: “On WBUR's ‘Radio Boston’ Friday, Massachusetts U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch said Steward executives told him in meetings this [past] week that although they received an infusion of money to keep some hospitals running, it's ‘not enough.’ Lynch also said Steward has not deviated from its initial statements to his staff that the company will leave Massachusetts.” FROM THE 413 — “Former Agawam personnel director pleads guilty to tax fraud,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: “The former long-term personnel director in Agawam has pleaded guilty to tax fraud, more than two years after federal investigators showed up at City Hall with subpoenas demanding records related to their investigation.” — “Springfield shelter system at capacity and homelessness expected to expand,” by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican. WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING SHOT — “MTA exerts more power amid a wave of teacher strikes, generating praise and scorn,” by James Vaznis, The Boston Globe: “The more forceful approach has rejuvenated union activism among its members and attracted attention from national politicians like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, who have sided with striking teachers. But the MTA’s combative style has increasingly chafed Beacon Hill lawmakers and local leaders who quietly and sometimes publicly complain the union is difficult to deal with and has instilled resentment among some parents grappling with the repercussions of teacher strikes and pandemic school closures on their children and families.” CHASER — “Newton parents file class-action lawsuit, seek damages for teachers’ strike,” by Ross Cristantiello, Boston.com. — “Should National Guard be deployed at Brockton High to 'prevent a potential tragedy'?” by Cody Shepard, The Enterprise: “Four members of the Brockton School Committee have asked Mayor Robert Sullivan to consider contacting Governor Maura Healey to ask her to temporarily send National Guard soldiers to Brockton High School ‘to prevent a potential tragedy.’ … Brockton High School has been in increasing turmoil this school year with many teachers publicly describing shocking levels of chaos and violence.” They defended their call in a press conference on Monday ; the mayor opposes it. — “How the Newburyport mayor became a regional lightning rod,” by Billy Baker, The Boston Globe: “In 2021, Sean Reardon won a tight election for mayor. But after a landslide win in a huge fight over a new building for Whittier Tech, he sits a bit differently in the corner office.” — “Red flag law seldom used to confiscate firearms,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “Data from the state Trial Court shows the law was used to confiscate firearms belonging to just 12 people last year, which is higher than the previous year. In all, there have been 57 ‘extreme risk’ petitions filed under the 2018 state law, which was passed in the wake of previous school shootings nationally.” — “Revamping literacy, with fewer school librarians,” by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light: “More than 9,500 students don’t have an active school library or librarian in New Bedford Public Schools. ... In one school, Normandin Middle, the abandoned library is now where suspended students serve their detentions.” MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DRUGS ARE NOT COMING IN FROM MIGRANTS! SUNUNU LIED! REGURGITATING GOP LIES IS STILL A LIE! — “Sununu wins approval to send NH National Guard soldiers to US-Mexico border,” by Josh Rogers, NHPR: “[Gov. Chris] Sununu repeatedly defended it as necessary to stem the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into New Hampshire. He said while the nation's southern border may feel distant, the impacts of unauthorized immigration touch the entire country.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Bill Keefe is PERAC’s next executive director. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to WBZ’s Tiffany Chan and Benchmark Strategies SVP Susan Elsbree . 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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