MBTA Communities opposition still on track
CONFLICT ZONE — Just when it looked like opponents of the MBTA Communities Act would have to admit defeat, a new ruling out of the state auditor's office is giving them an opening to challenge the law.
Since state Auditor Diana DiZoglio's Division of Local Mandates issued the determination late last month labeling the law an 'unfunded mandate.' A steady stream of cities and towns have been using the determination in a last-ditch effort to circumvent the controversial zoning law that municipalities have long tried to dodge.
Winthrop became the latest town to sue the state's housing office Monday. Eleven residents of the Boston suburb filed a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court, leaning on the ruling out of the auditor's office and asking the court to exempt the town from having to approve new zoning plans in areas nearby public transit stations.
That makes six cities and towns trying to use the unfunded mandate decision to avoid compliance. Hanson, Marshfield, Middleborough, Middleton and Wrentham have filed similar suits.
The Winthrop residents, in the lawsuit, argue that the law imposes a significant cost burden on the town, 'including but not limited to infrastructure improvements, public safety services and educational service,' as well as costs related to updating safety and evacuation plans.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell doesn't seem to be sweating the legal fights. Rockport previously tried to use the unfunded mandate argument, but it got shut down in Lawrence Superior Court. Campbell didn't comment specifically on the Winthrop case, but said in a statement that she intends 'to successfully defend this law in court.'
Campbell already won one legal battle related to the zoning ordinance. The state's highest court ruled earlier this year that cities and towns would have to comply with the law once the state tweaked its guidelines, which it rushed to do after the ruling. But that hasn't made the law any more popular among opponents, who have remained eager to find any opportunity to wiggle their way out of compliance.
GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The drawn-out fight over the $200 million renovation of White Stadium heads to Suffolk Superior Court this morning.
Proponents of the project notched an 11th-hour win Monday after a judge discredited one of the major claims the opponents hoped to make today: That the project, the cost of which will be split between taxpayers and private investors, violates terms of the George Robert White Fund, set up to bankroll the initial build.
Still at issue: Whether the city needed legislative approval before it could move forward with the project (Demolition is already underway.).
The lawsuit, brought by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and residents living near the park, and the price of the renovations have become focal points in Boston's mayoral race. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has thrown significant support behind the city's partnership with Boston Unity Soccer Partners, while challenger Josh Kraft has called for a pause on the project until the legal issues are settled.
TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey hosts a roundtable promoting her transportation funding plan at noon followed by a press conference at 12:45 p.m. in Lenox, stops by a replaced culvert at 1:115 p.m. in Becket and participates in a fireside chat at a Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism conference at 3 p.m. in Springfield. Sen. Elizabeth Warren holds a town hall at 7 p.m. in Lowell. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark holds a press conference at the Cambridge Health Alliance's Malden Care Center to talk about potential cuts to Medicaid at 11:15 a.m. in Malden. Rep. Ayanna Pressley participates in a Q&A with the Boston Globe's Joshua Miller at 7 p.m. in Cambridge. Rep. Richard Neal visits Riverside Industries to talk about the impact of potential Medicaid cuts on his district. Rep. Jim McGovern joins a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. in Greenfield.
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
— 'Vaccine-related contracts at Boston Children's Hospital 'stopped' amid funding uncertainty,' by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'A top official at Boston Children's Hospital said vaccine-related contracts between the medical facility and multiple federal agencies have 'stopped' amid President Donald Trump's efforts to slash federal funding that does not align with his policy views. The hospital is the leading recipient of pediatric research funding from the National Institutes of Health with more than $200 million flowing into the institution each year. But an effort to slash funding to the medical research agency could cut annual funding for Boston Children's in half.'
— 'Lawmakers agree to extend remote meetings law,' by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'Legislative leaders have agreed to extend pandemic-related rules authorizing remote or hybrid meetings for local governing boards by another two years, with a temporary law set to expire at the end of the month. Emergency rules adopted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed local governing boards — as well as the state Legislature — to meet remotely to conduct business as part of broader efforts to reduce the spread of the virus.'
THE RACE FOR CITY HALL
MAYORAL MOVES — Taunton City Councilor Estele Borges filed paperwork with the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance Monday and is 'exploring the idea' of running for mayor in the city, she told Playbook. More from the Taunton Daily Gazette.
— 'Hochman joins Peabody council race for at-large seat,' by Caroline Enos, The Salem News: 'Longtime School Committee member Jarrod Hochman is running for an open at-large seat on the City Council this fall. Hochman, 54, is an attorney who has lived in Peabody for 23 years.'
DAY IN COURT
— 'McGovern calls on voters to resist federal cuts to food services,' by Anthony Cammalleri, Greenfield Recorder: 'In his address to food cooperative members at the 14th annual Neighboring Food Co-op Association meeting, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern rallied his constituents to fight back against federal cuts
ON CAMPUS
— 'Bunker Hill Community College cancels study abroad programs over Trump immigration actions,' by Emily Piper-Vallillo, WBUR: 'Bunker Hill Community College is canceling all of its short-term summer study abroad programs this year. The decision, relayed in emails to students last week, came after school leaders reviewed the Trump administration's recent changes to immigration policy. A spokesman for the college confirmed the canceled programs to WBUR on Monday.'
FROM THE 413
— 'Lenox school district widens its net for educators amid a challenging hiring market,' by Clarence Fanto, The Berkshire Eagle: '
— 'With no one to enforce its new social media policy, the Pittsfield School Committee has tabled the proposal for the moment,' Greg Sukiennik, The Berkshire Eagle: 'The School Committee supports a policy on employee use of social media and cellphones. Members previously approved it unanimously as a directive to employees, as the administration and school labor leaders are in agreement as well. So why didn't the committee ratify the policy as planned on Wednesday? Because there's no one to manage and enforce it — meaning the schools would be out of compliance with their own policy on Day 1.'
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— 'Central Mass. select board chair leaves post, another resigns amid controversy,' by Adam Bass, MassLive: 'A week after the Templeton town administrator submitted his letter of resignation, the chair of the select board resigned and the vice chair announced their intention to step down. Select Board Chair Michael Currie resigned his chairmanship on March 12 following complaints presented by fellow board members about his professional conduct. … Upon his resignation, Currie handed the gavel to Select Board Vice Chair Michael Rivard, who was made interim chairman. Three days later, however, Rivard announced on Facebook he would be stepping down from the select board after its meeting on March 26.'
— 'Weymouth schools facing staff cuts. What we know about the $1.9M shortfall,' by Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger: 'The schools will need to cut positions for budgetary reasons, [Weymouth Public Schools] Superintendent Melanie Curtin said this week. With the end of COVID-era funding, increasing student needs, inflation and declining revenues, the school department is grappling with a $1.9 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year.'
— 'Fall River must change how it measures school bus distance,' by Emily Scherny, The Herald News: 'Fall River Public Schools has prided itself for its 'walkable' district in which most students in all grade levels benefit from living within walking distance to their school. But the latest transportation policy may be taking a sharp turn. At a March 10 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Dr. Tracy Curley revealed that the district has been notified by state officials that Fall River must adopt a state-mandated standard method — based on actual walking or driving distance — for calculating distance from a students' home to their school.'
— 'Barnstable teacher petitions for 'Anti-Racist School System',' by Rachael Devaney, Cape Cod Times.
— 'Worcester has a lot of dirt roads. Residents say good luck driving on them,' by Sam Turken, GBH News.
MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND
— 'Prosecutors say deported R.I. doctor had photos of Hezbollah, Iran leaders on her phone,' by Edward Fitzpatrick and Christopher Gavin, The Boston Globe: 'Brown University urged its international community to reconsider travel outside of the United States after Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant doctor and assistant professor at Brown Medicine, was deported late last week. The Rhode Island doctor was questioned by US Customs and Border Protection agents at Logan Airport about photos on her phone of Iran's supreme leader and of a leader of the terrorist group, Hezbollah, federal prosecutors wrote in documents filed in court in Boston on Monday.'
HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH
TRANSITIONS — We Are ALX, formerly Amplify LatinX, has added three new members to its board of directors: KPMG's Cynthia Izzo, Melissa Luna of GreenLight Boston and Francisco Marriott of EdVestors.
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