Boston wants the details from DHS

Politico

a day ago

RECORDS REQUEST — Michelle Wu is taking her battle with the Trump administration to a new frontier.
The Boston mayor signed an executive order Tuesday pledging to formally request more information from federal immigration officials about who they're taking into custody.
What it says: Boston will 'regularly' submit Freedom of Information Act requests to the Department of Homeland Security, asking for information about when, where and who immigration officials are detaining. The city may also ask for info about 'federal officers' use of face masks and the display of badges and/or other forms of identification.'
Federal immigration officials last week said they had detained over a month nearly 1,500 people they suspected had immigrated to the U.S. illegally, but specifics about who they had seized or what crimes they had committed were limited.
Wu has been blasting the White House for days for using what she's described as 'secret police' tactics when carrying out operations, and she stayed on the attack Tuesday.
'In Boston, our officers wear badges, they do not routinely wear masks. We are clear about the reasons for potential arrests or interactions,' Wu said at a press conference unveiling the order. 'We expect the same standards from law enforcement operating in the city, no matter what agency they are from.'
Staring down an expensive reelection battle, tearing into Trump is one way to appeal to her supporters in deep-blue Boston — even if, as Wu acknowledged, her office has little real power to sway the White House.
'The city government cannot overrule what they're doing,' Wu said when asked about getting federal officials to comply with the FOIA requests. 'But it's still important to tell the truth, and it's still important to be clear about what we expect from our federal government.'
GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Taking on the president also means shifting the focus away from one of the challenges still unfolding for Wu at home.
On Tuesday, Wu addressed new allegations against one of her Cabinet chiefs, Segun Idowu. In a Boston Globe report earlier this week, Marwa Khudaynazar, former chief of staff in the city's police oversight office, said that Idowu had propositioned her and that her recent firing following a domestic dispute was an attempt by the city to protect Wu's chief of economic development and inclusion.
'There had not been a report of this type filed previously or made aware to the city of Boston prior to the news report coming out,' Wu told reporters Tuesday/ And city officials, she said, had taken 'appropriate action.'
'But anytime the city of Boston receives any kind of allegation or report or suggestion that there has been improper behavior by a city employee, we conduct a review,' she added, though she didn't directly say whether she supported calls for an independent investigation into the incident.
It's a sticky situation for the first-term mayor just a few months away from the city's preliminary election. When the rumors that Idowu may have been involved in the incident in some way first started spreading, a coalition Black business leaders publicly voiced their support for the Cabinet chief in a letter published in the Bay State Banner.
One of those supporters, granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive situation, told Playbook they are still behind Idowu 'one thousand percent.'
TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey speaks at the Health Equity Trends Summit at 9:30 a.m. in Boston. She and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll deliver remarks at a United Negro College Fund breakfast at 10:15 a.m. in Boston. Healey, first lady Joanna Lydgate and state officials attend the Pride Flag Raising at 11 a.m. at the State House. Healey speaks at an event marking one year before the FIFA World Cup kicks off at 2:30 p.m. in Boston. Driscoll speaks at the Preston Settles Memorial Fund's PS3 Casino Night at 7 p.m. in Boston. Sen. Ed Markey hosts virtual teach-ins at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on potential cuts to health care, food security, education and climate initiatives in the reconciliation bill. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a coffee hour at 10 a.m. in Fenway and speaks at the Hero Square Dedication for General Joseph Warren at 11:45 a.m. in Charlestown.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: [e-mail].
DATELINE BEACON HILL
TOO CLOSE TO CALL — The state Democratic Party declared victory Tuesday night for Democrat Lisa Field in the special election to replace late Democratic state Rep. Carol Doherty. But Larry Quintal, the Republican vying for the seat, says the race is too close to call. Field held a 21-vote lead Tuesday night, but Quintal told the Taunton Daily Gazette that he plans to call for a recount.
— Wealth surtax may generate $3 billion by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: 'State budget honcho Matthew Gorzkowicz told municipal officials Tuesday that the state is on track to rake in nearly $3 billion from its surtax on household income greater than about $1 million, more than double the estimate used to craft this year's budget.'
— At Globe tech summit, Healey criticizes Trump on L.A. protests, says she's open to evaluating millionaire's tax by Anjali Huynh, The Boston Globe: 'Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey laid into President Trump for his response to protests in Los Angeles against mass arrests of immigrants, saying Tuesday she believed the United States had been 'in the midst' of a constitutional crisis under his administration 'for a while now.' … At one point, Healey indicated she could be open to undoing the so-called millionaire's tax, which placed an additional tax on earnings over $1 million after Massachusetts residents approved a constitutional amendment to do so two years ago. That change has since generated billions of dollars for education and transportation-related initiatives Healey said she supports, such as making community college tuition-free for Massachusetts residents.'
FROM THE HUB
— BCEC becomes Menino Convention Center in July by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: 'The largest building in New England will officially be renamed next month in honor of the late Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, eight months after the Legislature ordered the change. The Mass. Convention Center Authority announced Tuesday that it will hold an event on Saturday, July 12 to formally relabel the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the Seaport as the Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center. The new name is meant to honor Menino, the city's mayor from 1993 until 2014 who oversaw the start of the Seaport building boom.'
— Is Boston losing its biotech crown? BIO conference takes place amidst industry fears by Scott Kirsner, MassLive.
THE RACE FOR CITY HALL
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — EMILYs List is endorsing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in her reelection bid, according to Wu's campaign.
— Mary Kate Feeney pulls papers for Framingham City Council by Tom Benoit, The MetroWest Daily News: 'When Mary Kate Feeney officially lost her last bid for City Council, in early 2022, she promised: 'Don't worry — I'll be back.' More than three years later, here she is. Feeney has pulled papers to run for Framingham's City Council, representing District 3. She unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2021, losing to incumbent Councilor Adam Steiner — but only after a revote when the original race ended in a tie.'
IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN
— Environmental groups oppose climate change plans by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: 'Environmental groups are urging regulators to reject five-year climate change adaptation proposals from the state's major utilities, saying the plans don't go far enough to help the state transition to clean energy. The state Department Public Utilities is reviewing plans filed by National Grid, Eversource and other natural gas providers detailing steps they plan to take over the next five years to help the state meet its benchmarks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which scientists say are contributing to a warmer planet.'
FROM THE 413
— Springfield Council takes 1st step to ban unregulated 'gas station weed' by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican: 'The City Council took the first step to pull synthetic marijuana products off the shelves of stores across the city, but some aired concerns that the proposed ordinance isn't strong enough. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno with Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, police and the city's lawyers last week announced they were submitting a proposal to the City Council to close a loophole that allows the unregulated products that will produce a high to be sold in retail stores.'
— State leaders discuss student mental health in Agawam by Raegan Loughrey, Kevin Culverhouse and Hanna Guidry, Western Mass News.
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— City Council accidentally eliminates single family zoning by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light: 'In the midst of a national housing crisis, some cities have made the bold decision to get rid of single family zoning. Cambridge, Austin, and Minneapolis recently removed restrictions that kept multifamily housing out of certain neighborhoods. New Bedford's City Council did it last November — by accident. It didn't find out until months later. Councilors consider the change a mistake, and plan to repeal it.'
— Everett city councilor wants to limit where ICE can stage by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: 'A city councilor in a Greater Boston community says federal immigration agents should be prohibited from 'staging' at the local police station and other municipal parking lots, but some are not on board with the request. Everett City Councilor At-Large Katy Rogers says she's hearing residents express concern over agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement using a parking lot behind the police station to stage, leading to a fear of local law enforcement.'
— School Committee fails to pass resolution supporting immigrant students by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light: 'The School Committee on Monday failed to pass a resolution that sought to affirm the district's commitment to protecting immigrant students from federal deportation raids. The committee's inaction sparked frustration and outrage from many advocates in attendance.'
— Vacant lot on Martha's Vineyard among 450 acres statewide now available for housing by Zane Razzaq, Cape Cod Times.
HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH
TRANSITIONS — Liz Whynott is joining RIZE Massachusetts to lead a new program helping municipalities effectively use opioid abatement funds.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Sam Tracy, Ryan O'Connor of state Rep. Bridget Plouffe's office, Jim Mahoney, Rand Wilson and Tad Devine.