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Politico
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Let the battle for City Hall begin
Presented by WHO'S ON BOSTON'S BALLOT — The field for Boston's much-hyped municipal elections is set — almost Candidates had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file their nomination papers with the city's Election Department. And while there are lots of candidates interested in running, only a handful are officially on the ballot so far. Who's in? Almost all incumbent councilors have already qualified for the ballot, save for At Large Councilor Henry Santana, who hadn't been certified to be on the ballot as of Tuesday night. Michelle Wu tapped her supporters to help collect signatures for Santana, a former director of civic organizing in the mayor's administration who she endorsed in 2023. Who's out? The only incumbent not seeking another term is Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who earlier this year pledged to step down from the council after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges. There's plenty of interest in filling the District 7 seat, which covers Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway and some of the South End. Eight candidates are already officially on the ballot: Said Ahmed, who runs the popular Boston United track program for youth; Samuel Hurtado, who served as a senior adviser to former Mayor Kim Janey; Miniard Culpepper, a Roxbury pastor, who ran for state Senate; Mavrick Afonso, a City Hall alum, who's now with the state's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities; Natalie Juba-Sutherland of Roxbury; and a handful of candidates who have run council before: Said Abdirahman Abdikarim, Jerome King and Roy Owens. The other big draw: The citywide at-large race. The fact that all four at-large councilors are planning to run for reelection doesn't seem to have deterred candidates from getting in the race. Alexandra Valdez, the director of Boston's Office of Cultural Affairs, and Yves Mary Jean, who ran for a district council seat in 2019, are both in, as is former District 3 Councilor Frank Baker, who is looking to mount his comeback after forgoing reelection in 2023. Not so crowded: The mayoral race. A bevy of interested candidates pulled papers to run for mayor, but it looks like the most closely watched race on Boston's ballot may not need a preliminary election come September. Only Wu and Josh Kraft have made it onto the ballot so far, though other candidates could have their signatures certified in the coming days. 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 has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the 2025 Multi-Chamber Legislative Breakfast at 8:15 a.m. in Malden and chairs a Governor's Council meeting at noon at the State House. Attorney General Andrea Campbell is on GBH's 'Boston Public Radio' at 1 p.m. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a Senate Climate Change Task Force meeting at 5 p.m. in D.C. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a coffee hour in the South End at 10 a.m. and speaks at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of Pok Oi Residence at noon in Chinatown. DATELINE BEACON HILL SHELTER SKIRMISH — Just as Gov. Maura Healey announced that the state would soon be closing makeshift shelter sites at hotels, state Auditor Diana DiZoglio released a report chiding the administration for relying on 'unlawful' no-bid contracts for emergency food and transportation services serving shelters. Those contracts, 'resulted in unnecessarily high costs and inefficiencies,' the auditor's office said. The audit covered a period from July 2021 to June 2024, a chunk of time during which both former Gov. Charlie Baker and Healey were in office. 'We hope, for the sake of history not repeating itself, especially in areas such as the no-bid contracting process, where taxpayers have grown increasingly frustrated and concerned with the appearance of impropriety regarding how and why no-bid contracts were awarded, that this administration will move away from its defensive posture and instead embrace recommended reforms,' DiZoglio said in a statement. Still, the report earned criticism from one provider. 'When you're auditing systems that are essential service — emergency service systems — you need to really understand the emergency service and the system that you're auditing to understand the nuances of how it functions,' Heading Home CEO Danielle Ferrier told Playbook. 'And what I saw in the report that I read is — I did not see, for example, interviews with providers or folks that know the system. And so a lot of the conclusions, from what I read are actually inaccurate because the audit methodology, to me, is, is lacking.' More from the Boston Herald and The Boston Globe. — State board OKs vocational education lottery system by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'State education officials have approved a new statewide admissions policy for vocational and technical schools that includes a lottery system to fill high-demand seats in the programs, but advocates say the changes will still leave some students behind. The proposal, approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday, would require the state's 28 vocational and technical schools to use lotteries to fill limited classroom openings. Currently, applicants are ranked on their academic, attendance and disciplinary records.' FROM THE HUB — Two Boston City Hall employees fired after being arrested last week, mayor's office says by Nick Stoico and Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: 'Two Boston City Hall employees have been fired after they were arrested last week in connection with a domestic incident in a Chinatown apartment, a spokesperson for Mayor Michelle Wu's office said Tuesday. Marwa Khudaynazar, 27, chief of staff for the city's Office of Police Accountability, and Chulan Huang, 26, who worked in the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, had been placed on unpaid leave following their arrests.' MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — As ICE appearances increase across Mass., local communities amp up resistance by Anjali Huynh, Dan Glaun and Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio, The Boston Globe. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — MBTA board approves 'nuts and bolts' capital budget, leaving billions in critical projects unfunded by Shannon Larson, The Boston Globe: 'On Tuesday, the T's board of directors approved a $9.8 billion, five-year budget for construction projects, while also leaving more than $12.4 billion in needs without funding, familiar territory for the cash-strapped agency. The plan directs the bulk of the investments to critical repairs and service improvements.' WARREN REPORT — Mass. Sen Warren roasts Trump's IRS pick: 'You shouldn't be within 1,000 miles' of the job by John L. Micek, MassLive: 'President Donald Trump's pick to run the Internal Revenue Service shouldn't be 'within 1,000 miles' of the post if he couldn't answer a question about black-letter law, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren argued Tuesday. That criticism came during a tense exchange between Warren and former U.S. Rep. Billy Long, of Missouri, as he faced a barrage of questions before the Senate's Finance Committee.' FROM THE 413 — Northampton mayor unveils $145M budget, defending school funding position by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has officially debuted her $145 million fiscal year 2026 budget for the city, continuing to defend her plan for the school district while warning of possible instability from federal cuts. The new budget represents a 4.8% increase from the previous fiscal year, with $129.5 million in the city's general fund and the remaining to be used across the city's four enterprise funds. Within the general fund, school funding makes up 43% of all expenditures, with $43 million budgeted for Northampton Public Schools and another $11 million for Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Quincy mayor to add 'senior scam and fraud liaison' to city payroll by Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger: 'Mayor Tom Koch wants to add a new 'senior fraud and scam liaison' for the city's department of elder services. The position comes with a $90,000 salary. In hearings on Mayor Koch's proposed $455.8 million budget for fiscal 2026, the city council's finance committee approved $36 million in spending increases for the fiscal 2026 budget, including this new hire which drew questioning from multiple councilors.' — Worcester to add security guards, scanners at City Hall by Adam Bass, MassLive: 'Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista announced Tuesday that City Hall will add security guards on its first floor and install security scanners. Beginning May 27, security compliance officers will be stationed at City Hall when the building is open, according to an email the city issued Tuesday.' — Norton approves two zoning districts to comply with MBTA law by Madison Dunphy, The Sun Chronicle. HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Seth Klarman, Nicole Freedman, Evan Francis of state Rep. Dennis Gallagher's office, Edelman's Amy Larkin Long, Beth Dozoretz, Arthur Brooks and Lacey Rose.
The Independent
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Singapore's ruling party extends hold with sweeping win in general elections
Singapore 's People's Action Party (PAP) has secured another decisive victory in Saturday's general election, winning 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats and 65.6 per cent of the popular vote, according to the Election Department. The result marks a strong endorsement for prime minister Lawrence Wong in his first electoral test as head of government, a year after he took over leadership of the long-ruling party. The outcome not only extends the PAP's uninterrupted 66-year rule but also reflects a swing in support from its near-record low of 61.2 per cent in the 2020 polls. Voters backed the party in a campaign shaped by economic headwinds and regional instability, delivering early wins in key battlegrounds like Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, and Jalan Kayu SMC. At a press conference following the vote count, Mr Wong described the result as 'deeply humbling' and 'a clear signal of trust, stability and confidence' from Singaporeans. He acknowledged that voters also wanted more alternative voices in government, but said the strong PAP mandate would give Singapore the best chance to navigate an uncertain world. 'The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,' he said. 'We will honour the mandate you have given us.' Thanking voters for their support, Mr Wong said his immediate priority would be to form a Cabinet and confirmed that all key MPs had been returned to Parliament. 'I will announce the Cabinet line-up when ready,' he added. A US-trained economist and current finance minister, Mr Wong had appealed for a strong mandate to guide Singapore through economic headwinds worsened by global trade tensions and protectionist policies. At 52, he now faces the challenge of addressing rising living costs and a housing crunch, even as the economy braces for a potential recession. Despite retaining its 10 seats, the opposition Workers' Party saw heavy losses in many constituencies. PAP candidates won more than two-thirds of the vote in 18 of 33 contested races. Leader of the Opposition and the WP's secretary general Pritam Singh told supporters: 'We start work again tomorrow, and we go again. 'Your support has been so important in the mission of achieving and working towards a more balanced parliament. That work also continues.' 'The voters have spoken and they have voted for stability, for continuity, for certainty – and they voted to give Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate,' said Mustafa Izzuddin, adjunct senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore, told Reuters. Mr Wong's victory marks the beginning of a new chapter in Singapore's leadership. He succeeded Lee Hsien Loong in May 2024, becoming the city-state's fourth prime minister. Mr Lee, who stepped down after 20 years in office, remains in Cabinet as a senior minister. His retirement closed a significant chapter in Singapore's political history, ending a family dynasty that began with founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who led the nation for 31 years and transformed it into one of the world's most developed economies. Speaking after the results, Mr Wong acknowledged emerging signs of a slowdown in Singapore's economy and pledged to treat it as a priority. 'We will do more to get Singapore through the storm safely,' he said. He emphasised that the real contest was not between the PAP and the opposition, but between Singapore and a turbulent global environment. Framing the country as a perennial underdog, Mr Wong urged unity over division: 'Singapore is the underdog we have always been, and we will continue to be, despite what we have achieved today. So to improve our chances, we cannot afford to fight one another.' He also warned against attempts to sway voters along racial or religious lines, reinforcing the PAP's message of multiracial harmony and national resilience. World leaders were quick to extend their congratulations to Mr Wong and the PAP following their victory. The US, a longstanding ally, reaffirmed its commitment to the relationship. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the nearly 60-year strategic partnership between the two nations, calling it 'strong and enduring.' 'We look forward to continuing to work closely with the newly elected government and Prime Minister Wong to strengthen economic growth and our bilateral defence and security ties,' he said. Regional leaders echoed the sentiment. Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto praised the 'decisive victory' as a reflection of Singaporeans' trust in Wong's leadership and said he looked forward to strengthening bilateral ties. Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba also extended his congratulations, adding that he hoped to deepen cooperation as the two countries approach the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. India's prime minister Narendra Modi described the Singapore-India relationship as 'strong and multifaceted' and said he looked forward to working closely with Mr Wong to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Malaysia's prime minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke of the 'enduring ties of kith and kin' between the two countries, highlighting the importance of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and said it could become 'a shining example of what neighbours can achieve, with conviction and shared purpose'.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Singapore's ruling party wins another landslide in general elections extending its 66-year rule
Singapore's long-ruling People's Action Party extended its 66-year unbroken rule with yet another landslide victory in Saturday's general elections after the Election Department declared it the winner of the key polls. After the completion of vote counting, the Election Department announced that the PAP had won 82 parliamentary seats. The party had earlier secured five seats without opposition, bringing its total number of MPs to 87. The count also showed the opposition Workers Party maintained its 10 seats. Before the announcement, supporters of the PAP, which had ruled Singapore since 1959, gathered at a stadium waving flags and cheering in an early celebration. The result is expected to bolster the leadership of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office a year ago. 'The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,' Wong said. Wong added that he was humbled and grateful for the solid mandate for the PAP. He, however, acknowledged voters' desire to have more alternative voices in government but said a strong PAP team was needed to tackle challenges ahead. The 52-year-old prime minister succeeded Lee Hsien Loong to become the city-state's fourth leader. Lee stepped down in May 2024 after two decades as prime minister but remained in the cabinet as senior minister. Lee's retirement ends a family dynasty that was started by his father, Lee Kuan Yew, who was Singapore's first leader and built the former colonial backwater into one of the world's richest countries. As the country's Prime Minister and Finance Minister, with a US training, Wong, an economist, has a strong mandate to steer trade-dependent Singapore through the uncertainty caused by rising tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The US administration's announcement on tariffs has led the Singaporean government to lower its trade forecast and warn of a possible recession. The PAP is seen as a beacon of stability and prosperity, but tight government control and the rising cost of living in one of the world's most expensive cities have also led to growing unhappiness, especially among younger voters. Widening income disparity, increasingly unaffordable housing, overcrowding, and restrictions on free speech have relatively weakened its previously ironclad support. Its share of the popular vote slipped to a near-record low of 61% in the 2020 elections, down from nearly 70% in 2015. Related Singapore dissolves parliament, paving the way for 3 May election The opposition says that a greater presence in parliament would allow for a more balanced political system and greater accountability but has often been hamstrung by a lack of resources and fragmented support. Wong has sought to revive support for the PAP by bringing in 32 new faces as several veterans of the party withdrew. He has attempted to engage younger voters through social media and promised to strive for a more balanced and inclusive Singapore.
Euronews
04-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Singapore's ruling party wins another landslide in general elections extending its 66-year rule
ADVERTISEMENT Singapore's long-ruling People's Action Party extended its 66-year unbroken rule with yet another landslide victory in Saturday's general elections after the Election Department declared it the winner of the key polls. After the completion of vote counting, the Election Department announced that the PAP had won 82 parliamentary seats. The party had earlier secured five seats without opposition, bringing its total number of MPs to 87. The count also showed the opposition Workers Party maintaining 10 seats. Before the announcement, supporters of the PAP, which had ruled Singapore since 1959, gathered at a stadium waving flags and cheering in an early celebration. The result is expected to bolster the leadership of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office a year ago. 'The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,' Wong said. Wong added that he was humbled and grateful for the solid mandate for the PAP. He, however, acknowledged voters' desire to have more alternative voices in government but said a strong PAP team was needed to tackle challenges ahead. Singapore Election Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's, from People's Action Party (PAP), second from right, thanks his supporters and voters at an assembly area for People's Acti Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved The 52-year-old prime minister succeeded Lee Hsien Loong to become the city-state's fourth leader. Lee stepped down in May 2024 after two decades as prime minister but remained in the cabinet as senior minister. Lee's retirement ends a family dynasty that was started by his father, Lee Kuan Yew, who was Singapore's first leader and built the former colonial backwater into one of the world's richest countries. Wong, a US-trained economist who is also the finance minister, has a resounding mandate to guide trade-reliant Singapore through the economic uncertainty brought about by US President Donald Trump's tariff hikes. The US administration's announcement on tariffs has led the Singaporean government to lower its trade forecast and warn of a possible recession. PAP maintains its hold on power The PAP is seen as a beacon of stability and prosperity, but tight government control and the rising cost of living in one of the world's most expensive cities have also led to growing unhappiness, especially among younger voters. Widening income disparity, increasingly unaffordable housing, overcrowding, and restrictions on free speech have relatively weakened its previously ironclad support. Its share of the popular vote slipped to a near-record low of 61% in the 2020 elections, down from nearly 70% in 2015. Related Singapore dissolves parliament, paving the way for 3 May election The opposition says that a greater presence in parliament would allow for a more balanced political system and greater accountability, but has often been hamstrung by a lack of resources and fragmented support. Wong has sought to revive support for the PAP by bringing in 32 new faces as several veterans of the party withdrew. He has attempted to engage younger voters through social media and promised to strive for a more balanced and inclusive Singapore.
NHK
03-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Singapore's ruling party wins general election to extend its unbroken rule
Singapore's ruling People's Action Party, the PAP, has won a landslide victory in Saturday's general election, giving a fresh mandate to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Results of the vote count show that the PAP has secured 87 of the 97 seats in parliament, earning a dominant majority of nearly 90 percent. Local media cited the Election Department as saying the PAP won 65.5 percent of the popular vote, up more than 4 points from the previous election. Prime Minister Wong expressed gratitude for the strong support voters gave to his party in the first electoral test since he took office last year. Wong said in his victory speech, "We will honor the trust that you have given to us by working even harder for all of you." Ahead of the election, the ruling party offered cash vouchers to citizens aged 21 or older as part of measures to counter the rising cost of living. It also made an appeal to voters that a stable government is necessary, amid concerns over the impact of US tariffs and US-China trade friction. With its latest victory, the PAP will extend its effective one-party rule of 60 years, since the city-state won independence in 1965.
