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Politico
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Politico
Beacon Hill: The documentary
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION — Transparency and power on Beacon Hill have been the subject of a flurry of news stories and the target of ballot petitions. Soon, it'll be the focus of a documentary. The film, which is still in the works, is covering 'the real reason common-sense laws don't pass' in Massachusetts, 'even when they're backed by voters, policy experts and a supermajority of lawmakers,' according to the description posted online. Director Aaron Singer, a Massachusetts native and Emerson College grad, doesn't have a background in politics, though he told Playbook he did volunteer on the effort to help pass the ballot question that created the so-called millionaires tax in the Bay State. He got the idea for the documentary, titled 'Shadows on the Hill,' after trying to track the status of a state Sen. John Keenan bill that would make daylight savings time permanent. 'I tried to follow the path of [the bill] on the Legislature's website, and it was extremely difficult to do,' said Singer, who previously worked making motion graphics for shows like American Idol and TMZ on TV in Los Angeles. 'The more people I ended up talking to about the process, the more I realized this is really, really messed up.' The goal is to wrap up filming in September or October, and have it edited by early next year, Singer said. He's already interviewed state Auditor Diana DiZoglio and a handful of progressive activists. And he's planning to talk to more current and former lawmakers, as well as academics and democracy experts. The release could line up with some ballot campaigns that are also targeting Beacon Hill — if supporters can clear the initial hurdles. Singer isn't working directly with the groups behind the ballot petitions, but he has been in touch with organizers from Act on Mass and the Coalition to Reform Our Legislature. Both groups are backing a ballot question that would eliminate or overhaul how legislative stipends are distributed to lawmakers. 'At the end of the day, I'm a supporter of democracy, and I feel like we don't have that here in Massachusetts,' Singer said. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the Indian Association of Greater Boston's India flag raising ceremony at 11:40 a.m. at the State House. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Stephen Lynch hold a press conference alongside union leaders outside the West Roxbury VA Medical Center at noon in Boston. Rep. Richard Neal commemorates the 90th anniversary of Social Security at 1 p.m. in Springfield. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu visits the graduating class of the Boston Police Academy at 11:30 a.m. in Hyde Park and attends Boston After Dark at 7:15 p.m. in East Boston. THIS WEEKEND — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on WBZ's 'Keller @ Large' at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. State Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler is on WCVB's 'On the Record' at 11 a.m. Sunday. State Sen. Sal DiDomenico is on NBC10 Boston Weekend Today at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ DATELINE BEACON HILL BREAKING BREAD — Maybe they aren't state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and state Sen. Michael Rodrigues, but House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka seem to have set aside whatever bad blood sent the last year's July 31 session into a tailspin. Mariano and Spilka recently dined together at Ruth's Chris steakhouse — their 'usual spot,' Spilka told Playbook. '[We] had a great discussion, and it was very comfortable,' said Spilka, who charcaterized their current relationship as 'great.' ANOTHER ONE — It's good timing, because Gov. Maura Healey just filed another supplemental budget, this packed with some serious policy changes and a surprisingly sizeable bottom $2.45 billion price tag comes at a net cost of only $947 million after 'revenue offsets,' according to Healey's office. Much of the money would go toward MassHealth, and despite Democratic handwringing over cuts to health care programs, the administration expects federal reimbursements to cover much of it, State House News Services Ella Adams reports. Here's what else is in the spending bill: — Grants the public access to driving records, with state lawmakers sealed in 2022. The Boston Herald has more on that. — Allows the state Department of Public Health be able to set its own vaccine standards, separate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Sets the 2026 primary Sept. 1 — the first Tuesday of the month, notably before the long Labor Day weekend. — Delays the state's deadline to for offshore wind procurement from 2027 to 2029. — State auditor finds widespread mismanagement at Cannabis Control Commission by Nick Stoico, Stella Tannenbaum and Yogev Toby, The Boston Globe: 'An audit of the state's troubled Cannabis Control Commission found widespread mismanagement, violations of state regulations, and potential improprieties at the agency charged with regulating the marijuana industry in Massachusetts, Auditor Diana DiZoglio's office said Thursday. The review, which examined operations at the commission from 2022 to 2024, cited a host of regulatory lapses. It determined that the agency failed to enforce regulations in a timely manner or maintain adequate internal controls.' FROM THE HUB — Boston city councilor calls for 'hate crime' investigation into vandalized Virgin Mary statue at South End church by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'The Boston Police Department is investigating vandalism that occurred at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End, where a statue of the Virgin Mary was defaced with graffiti. Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents the South End and posted a photo of the vandalism on X Thursday, said he has been in contact with the police department and has recommended that the incident be investigated as a hate crime.' — International students are signing fewer Boston leases amid uncertain future by Carrie Jung, WBUR: 'As anyone familiar with the Boston rental market knows, a Sept. 1 lease usually is secured months in advance, given how the region's housing cycle revolves around the academic calendar. But in student heavy neighborhoods, including Allston and Mission Hill, lease signings have been sluggish, data show. Some Boston realtors who work in neighborhoods near large universities, like Boston University and Northeastern, attribute the slowdown to new student visa processing protocols under the Trump administration, which has imposed additional restrictions on foreign-born students seeking visas to come study in the U.S.' ON THE STUMP — GOP guv candidates slam Healey admin plan to charge new gas customers for full hook-up costs by John L. Micek, MassLive: 'The two Republican candidates for governor say an emerging Healey administration plan to make new gas customers pay the full share of service hook-ups, arguing the move would drive up costs and hurt the state's economy. The comments from GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy came in response to news Thursday that state utility regulators are considering banning gas utilities from charging existing customers from the cost of adding new ones.' FROM HARVARD YARD — Harvard tries to eliminate discrimination protections for campus unions by Diti Kohli and Aidan Ryan, The Boston Globe: 'As Harvard battles with the White House, it is tussling with campus unions over how much say they get on antidiscrimination policies for research assistants, postdocs, and professors. Both the Harvard Academic Workers Union and Graduate Students Union said the university has ignored their calls for nondiscrimination provisions in the contracts. Instead, Harvard has said that discrimination complaints — on the basis of race or gender identity, for example — should be settled by university-wide policies, which Harvard can change at will.' FROM THE DELEGATION — Markey hears from public safety officials on challenges, needs by Erin-Leigh Hoffman, Greenfield Recorder. — Warren, Wyden probe Cantor Fitzgerald over tariff conflict of interest concerns by Ari Hawkins, POLITICO. THE LOCAL ANGLE — Report clears town official; reveals longstanding rifts, corruption claims by Brad Petrishen, Telegram & Gazette: 'A $170,000 investigation commissioned by the town largely clears a Barre selectman who'd been accused of an array of misconduct, including harassing members of the town's Public Works Department and 'breaking' into their building. Mark Regienus, vice chairman of the small town's three-member governing board, was accused of harassment but was actually trying to ferret out employee misconduct, a Wellesley lawyer hired by the town found.' — After 12 years, Judy Sullivan won't seek reelection to the Brockton School Committee by Jacob Posner, The Brockton Enterprise: 'After serving on the Brockton School Committee for 12 years, Judy Sullivan has decided to not seek reelection this November. In a statement to The Enterprise, she cited two main reasons: a desire to give someone else the opportunity to serve, and ongoing challenges working with a deeply divided board.' — Following the money in New Bedford politics by Anastasia E. Lennon and Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light: 'The race is on to oversee New Bedford's half-a-billion dollar annual budget. But where does the money come from that supports these local campaigns? All 11 seats in New Bedford's City Council, three School Committee seats (out of six), and one assessor's seat (out of three) are up for election this year. A recent surge of candidates who pulled nomination papers could indicate renewed interest in running for local office — especially after recent budget fights on highly-visible community landmarks like the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center and the Casa da Saudade library branch.' — Attleboro mayoral, city council candidate Timothy Barone scratched from ballot after election commission ruling by Rhianwen Watkins, The Sun Chronicle: 'Mayoral and councilor-at-large candidate Timothy Barone will no longer be on the Nov. 4 city ballot after the city's election commission voted Thursday morning to strike his name from the voter registry. The commission, in a 4-0 vote, determined that Barone is not a qualified voter due to lack of evidence that he resides in Attleboro. The decision made him ineligible to run for office, as residency is a requirement to do so. It means Mayor Cathleen DeSimone will not have a challenger on the election ballot.' — Massachusetts researchers worry as federal environmental data disappears by Vivian La, WBUR. HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH IN MEMORIAM — Former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court Martha Grace died peacefully at her daughter's home in Shrewsbury Wednesday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Mary Serreze, Mary Elizabeth Taylor and Gabe Mulley. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — Kristen Elechko and Justin (JP) Griffin, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Bob Massie, Ari Meyerowitz and Lisa Murray.
Politico
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Summer safety in the city
PLAYING IT SAFE — On the campaign trail, Mayor Michelle Wu has touted Boston's low homicide rate. The city saw the lowest number of murders in more than half a century last year. The challenge, as the mayoral election starts to ramp up, is keeping it that way. Standing alongside city safety officials and civic leaders, Wu rolled out the city's summer safety plan that officials said focuses on crime prevention and intervention as well as increased community engagement. Under the plan, the mayor's Community Safety Team will shift under the purview of the Boston Public Health Commission's Office of Violence Prevention, and a $1 million donation from the Cummings Foundation will help fund programs like 'Boston After Dark,' a series of free, Friday night events for teens. 'Any incident of violence is too much in our communities, and we know that for families in our neighborhoods, the numbers don't reset every year in their daily lives,' Wu told reporters. 'Overall, we still see that the numbers, if you just look at the statistics, are below the five-year average and that the progress is continuing,' — that these two years will likely be the lowest two years in some time.' Still, Tuesday's press conference made evident how challenging holding that trend can be. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox opened the event by addressing a shooting that had occurred less than two hours earlier, where a man grabbed an officer's gun near Massachusetts General Hospital and shot himself in the foot. Homicides are up compared to this time last year. According to Universal Hub, eight people have been killed in the city so far this year, up from four during the same time last year. City officials are bracing for the typical summer uptick, he said Thursday, when roughly a third of the city's shootings typically take place. Wu's chief challenger, Josh Kraft has criticized the mayor over other safety concerns in the city, including an uptick in petty crime in downtown Boston and a higher number of violent crimes in the area than in years past. An upward trend in the city's homicide rate would give Wu's critics new fodder to undermine her claim that Boston is the safest city in the country. But Democratic state Rep. Russell Holmes, who's backing Wu in the mayoral race, largely brushed those concerns at Tuesday's event. 'I don't take credit when homicides are down, and I don't take credit when they're up,' Holmes told Playbook. 'But this is much more than the homicide number.' GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey announces the results of Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation's regulatory review at 10:15 a.m., chairs a Governor's Council meeting at noon at the State House and hosts a Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at 3:30 p.m. Auditor Diana DiZoglio speaks at a CREW Boston reception for women in government at 5:30 p.m. in Boston. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a walking tour at 10:15 a.m. and press conference at 10:45 a.m. on canceled federal grants for coastal resilience in Chelsea. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on GBH's 'Boston Public Radio' at noon. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The Conversation with Dasha Burns arrives on Sunday, June 1 — and we're dropping a first look. Each week on her new podcast, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling — and sometimes unexpected — power players in Washington. This isn't just a podcast. It's a new kind of political interview show for a moment when politics feels more personal, more chaotic and more consequential than ever. Catch the video and audio trailer out this morning to see what Dasha's digging into this season. And subscribe to the podcast, wherever you listen or watch. DATELINE BEACON HILL — Senate budget panel trims House spending bill by Sam Drysdale and Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: 'Six days after the House approved a $530 million supplemental budget (H 4151) to replenish a string of state programs, the Senate gave initial approval to a scaled-back version appropriating nearly $190 million for child care services that could soon run out of money. The bill, which needs another Senate vote before the House can respond, leaves decisions about hundreds of millions of dollars for an unspecified future date as lawmakers deliberate several other major spending bills.' — Healey says 250,000 people in Massachusetts could lose insurance under GOP's proposed cuts by Katie Lannan, GBH News: 'Elected officials in Massachusetts are warning that cuts approved by the U.S. House last week could cost 250,000 Bay Staters their health insurance and tear a hole in the fabric of the state's broader health care system. … Healey's office said that Massachusetts would lose $1.75 billion in federal funding under the bill for its Medicaid program, known as MassHealth, and for the Massachusetts Health Connector insurance marketplace.' MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — ICE begins detentions at immigration courts in Boston and Chelmsford by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: 'At least three individuals were detained at immigration courts in Massachusetts on Tuesday — the first local immigrants to be detained in and around courts overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office of Immigration Review. Similar arrests are being seen elsewhere around country, signaling a tactic change to a long-standing practice when it comes to immigration enforcement.' ICE ON THE ISLANDS — The Department of Homeland Security appeared to confirm reports Tuesday that several people were deported from Nantucket as part of an operation that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were carrying out on the island. 'ICE is removing illegal aliens from ALL states, communities and worksites across this country,' DHS posted on X, above a video from the Nantucket Current that showed several people in life vests sitting on a U.S. Coast Guard boat along with officers wearing what appeared to be bulletproof vests. Local reports also said that ICE officers made several arrests Tuesday on both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Neither ICE nor Nantucket police immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday night. State Sen. Julian Cyr said it was 'sad' and 'shameful to see the immigrants who make our communities function, particularly in these most busy summer months, be targeted, harassed, and in some cases, forcibly removed from their families and lives just for a political agenda.' FROM THE HUB — Are Boston's school buses still the safest choice for students? by Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe: 'City officials recently said the district's buses are involved in about 400 crashes per year, though most are minor. Across the state, 19 people died in school bus-involved crashes in the last decade; across the country, more than 100 die that way each year. More than a dozen personal injury claims have been filed against the transportation company Transdev, and its drivers, since it began operating BPS school buses in 2013, according to a Globe review of court data. Still, experts say school buses remain one the safest modes of transportation to take students to and from school.' FROM HARVARD YARD — Trump administration pursues termination of Harvard contracts by Juan Perez Jr., POLITICO: 'The Trump administration is pressuring federal agencies to terminate their contracts with Harvard as the university and government continue a high-stakes battle over the future of billions of dollars that serve as a critical resource for the elite institution. The General Services Administration proclaimed the Ivy League university engages in racial discrimination in its admissions and other aspects of campus life, prompting the administration to help agencies carry out a 'review for termination or transition of their federal government contracts' with Harvard, according to a letter sent Tuesday.' — As Trump targets elite schools, Harvard's president says they should 'stand firm' by Steve Inskeep, Obed Manuel and Reena Advani, WBUR. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — China to Springfield: The MBTA's 11-year struggle to get new Red and Orange Line cars by Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez, WBUR: 'Eleven years and a billion dollars after the MBTA signed a deal with a Chinese company for new and improved train cars on the Orange and Red lines, the job still isn't done. The rollout has been plagued by malfunctioning equipment on the trains. Costs have risen and the initial delivery date of 2023 for many cars has been pushed out to 2027. And now President Trump's tariffs on goods from China could further complicate completion of the work. Brian Kane, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, said in retrospect, the T could have saved time and money by going with a company that was already established here.' FROM THE 413 — Gaming Commission grants Western Massachusetts $3.2 million in casino mitigation funds by Jim Kinney, The Springfield Republican: 'The Massachusetts Gaming Commission granted Tuesday more than $3.2 million in community mitigation funds for Western Massachusetts. Grants include $200,000 for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to do a traffic study on the impact of cars headed through Springfield and neighboring towns headed to MGM Springfield.' — Districts make funding pleas at Northampton Youth Commission-led meeting with state education boss by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'School districts across the Pioneer Valley made their case for more support to rural and western school districts, appealing directly before Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler during a visit he made to Northampton High School on Tuesday. Tutwiler made the trek from Boston to Northampton at the request of the Northampton Youth Commission, an official city body consisting of high school students that advocates for youth in the city.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Teachers union rips new graduation guidelines by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'The state's largest teachers union is pushing back against plans to use MCAS test results to help gauge whether students meet high school graduation requirements. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last week to approve the 'limited use' of MCAS scores to determine if students are satisfying the competency determination for a high school diploma.' — Worcester schools budget proposal: $586 million, no layoffs planned, uncertainty remains by Jesse Collings, Telegram & Gazette: 'The proposed Worcester Public Schools budget for the next school year is set at $586 million, an increase of $33.8 million, or 6.1% over last year. The district announced earlier this month that the proposed budget would be within striking distance of $600 million, and the budget is currently undergoing a series of public hearings before it will ultimately be voted on by the School Committee.' — Quincy, Massachusetts, residents sue city, mayor over plan for religious statues on public building by Alex Svenson, WCVB: 'A multifaith group of Quincy, Massachusetts, residents and taxpayers filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in Norfolk Superior Court to stop the planned installation of two large religious statues at the entrance of the city's new public safety building, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced.' — Taunton High bans cell phones Emma Rindlisbacher, Taunton Daily Gazette: 'Starting next school year, cell phones will be banned at Taunton High, due to a policy passed by the School Committee at their Wednesday, May 14 meeting. According to the new policy, after students arrive at the high school, they will 'place their phone, AirPods/earbuds, and smartwatch inside their Yondr pouch and lock it in front of school staff;' and will not unlock the pouch until after the end of the school day.' — Dartmouth could ban homeless encampments, allow guns in town hall by Matthew Ferreira, The Standard-Times: 'On June 3, Dartmouth voters at Town Meeting will decide whether or not to pass a bylaw which could ban homeless encampments in town, and whether town-owned buildings like Town Hall should be exempt from a new law barring firearms from municipal buildings.' MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — Stefany Shaheen launches 2026 campaign for New Hampshire 1st Congressional District by Adam Sexton, WMUR: 'Highlighting her work as a health care advocate for her daughter, who has Type 1 Diabetes, Shaheen says she can no longer stay on the sidelines of politics, and she points to the Trump Administration and Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as motivating factors in her decision to enter the race in the 1st Congressional District.' HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Joe Gravellese has started a new position as community development planner for the City of Revere. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Alan Khazei, Rich Thuma, Jeff Santos and Ellen Weinstein Pildis.
Boston Globe
27-05-2025
- Boston Globe
Wu, city officials announce summer safety plan as gun violence rebounds from historic low
Wu said the city holds holds weekly meetings to coordinate its anti-violence strategy between city departments, community organizations and social service agencies, both during the summer and quieter months year-round. The city's summer safety plan has been developed over the past four months in consultation with community leaders and through neighborhood meetings with residents, said 'We do an excellent job of responding to violence when it occurs and helping others recover from violence,' Yablo said. 'But it's not enough to only do that, we have to have a long term plan.' Advertisement Cox said spikes in violence often occur during summer time, as rival groups use the additional time spent outside during long days and warm nights to reignite conflicts that may have cooled over the winter. 'Sometimes these interactions lead to skirmishes and things of that nature,' Cox said. Advertisement Points of emphasis for the city and community officials include street safety and effective community policing, as well as funding community events and safe spaces for young people, Yablo said. The city this summer is expanding its 'Boston After Dark' program, which holds free events for teens on Friday nights. Wu has repeatedly described Boston as the safest major city in the U.S. Last year, Boston saw its lowest number of homicides in 67 years — an achievement city officials described as validation of years of work to improve policing, social services, and violence intervention outreach. So far this year, gun violence numbers are on pace to rebound, though they still remain near historic lows. This year, 43 people have been shot in the city, including a man experiencing a mental health crisis who Cox said he could not comment on a pair of Memorial Day stabbings in Yablo said the city's gun violence prevention strategy is centered on '100% engagement with individuals that are most likely to shoot or be shot.' A large part of that work is proactive, through building relationships with at-risk people before a violent incident. And after a shooting, the city uses those relationships to immediately contact victims, connect them with social services and interrupt cycles of retaliation, Yablo said. Advertisement Cox and Yablo both said the city is also focused on responding to quality of life concerns from residents, including fireworks, loud parties, and Cox said the police department is also focused on building rapport with residents, to help prevent incidents and ensure that witnesses come forward when violence does break out. In November, the department launched 'Community Interaction Teams,' deploying officers to walk beats and increase communication with residents, Cox said. Those teams were initially placed based on crime data, but future deployments will take into account community feedback, Cox said. 'We can't provide public safety without the trust of our communities,' Cox said. As Cox spoke, 54-year-old Dorchester resident Paulo De Barros stood listening on the steps overlooking the amphitheater at Mother's Rest. De Barros, the head of the Cape Verdean Association of Boston, said he has noticed real change in his native Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood, long a hotspot for poverty and When he was younger, the Cape Verdean community had a tense relationship with the Boston Police Department, De Barros said. Now, he said, there is greater trust due to the department's outreach and diversity efforts. 'You actually see a lot of community policing, a lot of relationships being built,' De Barros said. 'And I think it has to do with a lot of Cape Verdeans being in the force and kids seeing police as a normal person, an individual, a resident, a family member.' But the city could still do more, according to De Barros. There is still not enough culturally competent mental health services for survivors of violence, he said. Advertisement 'Trauma is a major thing in the community,' De Barros said. 'There's a lot of loss, a lot of violence.' Bisola Ojikutu, the city's Commissioner of Public Health, said she considers violence and the legacies of trauma it leaves behind to be a public health priority. 'We still have violent events. We still have this sense of instability sometimes within our neighborhoods,' Ojikutu said. 'We want to get to the roots of that. We want to actually fix this problem.' Dan Glaun can be reached at
