Latest news with #Roath
Politico
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Cash and generational change
MONEY MOVES — Patrick Roath, the attorney, voting rights advocate and Deval Patrick alum challenging Rep. Stephen Lynch, raised more than $115,000 on the first day of announcing his bid — none from corporate PACs — according to his campaign. That's more than the roughly $47,000 Lynch raised in the first quarter of this year (He had more than $1 million in his campaign coffers at the end of the March, per the most recent data from the Federal Election Commission.). The next deadline candidates face to file campaign finance reports is in mid-July. Roath, 38, launched his campaign Wednesday calling for 'new thinking and new energy,' in Washington. 'I think it's really a time that demands new leadership,' Roath told Playbook. 'I think that the problems that we're facing in Washington, that are very much mirrored here in Greater Boston and South Shore, are challenging, are serious, and are not being adequately addressed — certainly not by the Republicans, but not necessarily by some of the Democrats in Washington either.' Lynch, 70, has been in Congress since 2001, when he won a special election to fill late Rep. Joe Moakley's seat. But it's not just age and tenure that set them apart; Roath pointed to Lynch's vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act, an immigration bill that would allow officials to deport people in the country illegally who have been accused of certain crimes. 'I think that we need to be challenging the administration, not handing them more authority to strip rights away from non-citizens,' Roath said. The challenge comes amid a reckoning over age and stagnation in the Democratic Party. Roath is among a handful of candidates challenging long-time members of Congress and channeling frustration among the party's base over how those in office are responding to President Donald Trump. There's even been some agitation for change within the party's leadership apparatus. David Hogg, the 25-year-old Democratic National Committee vice chair, pledged to spend $20 million funding primary challenges to 'asleep-at-the-wheel' Democrats in safely blue districts. Taking on Lynch in a primary won't be a cake walk. The South Boston Democrat faced a primary challenge from the left in 2020, when he defeated Robbie Goldstein, a doctor and an infectious disease specialist, by more than 30 points. It's not the only generational debate Lynch may be about to be embroiled in, as members of his party vie for the a top spot on the House Oversight Committee after Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) announced his plans to step down last month. Connolly tapped Lynch to lead Democrats on the powerful committee in his stead in the interim — a position Lynch said he's seeking to make permanent — but a slew of younger members including Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) are already maneuvering to make their own bids. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. While we wait for white smoke to billow from the Sistine Chapel chimney, this piece on how the film 'Conclave' helped some cardinals prepare for the real thing is worth a read. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announce new initiatives to support older adults at 10:30 a.m. in Plymouth. Healey speaks at the 34th annual Small Business and Entrepreneur of the Year Awards hosted by the Metro South Chamber of Commerce at noon in Brockton. Driscoll speaks at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts annual meeting at 8:30 a.m. in Boston, attends the Soccer Unity Project's 2025 Unity Ball at 6 p.m. in Boston and speaks at a Latinos for Education event at 7 p.m. in Revere. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a press conference on cuts to rural internet access at 10 a.m. in D.C. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a coffee hour at 10 a.m. in Jamaica Plain and participates in an annual disability community forum at 2:15 p.m. downtown. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ DATELINE BEACON HILL — Mass. Senate will 'explore' ban on cellphones in public schools, top Democrat says by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: 'Massachusetts Senate leaders will 'explore' legislation to ban cellphones in the state's public schools, the chamber's top Democrat said Wednesday, giving momentum to the push on Beacon Hill to curb students' phone use during school hours. Senate President Karen E. Spilka told Boston-area business leaders Wednesday that the idea has broad support, and that at least 18 other states have already passed laws limiting phones in schools. Governor Maura Healey told reporters at a separate event Wednesday that she, too, backs 'reining in' students' use of phones while in class.' — Spilka eyes sales tax exemption to encourage housing by Alison Kuznitz, State House News Service: 'Senate Democrats are moving to study the trade-offs associated with suspending the sales tax on construction materials used in multifamily housing projects, potentially forgoing some state revenue in a bid to encourage badly-needed housing production. Senate President Karen Spilka said a forthcoming proposal from Sen. Julian Cyr, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, will explore nixing the sales tax on building materials used for multifamily housing developments in conjunction with the Healey administration. The president's comments on the idea drew applause from the audience at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday.' — Mass. Republicans assail $25M for parking garage pet project in House speaker's district by John L. Micek, MassLive. THE RACE FOR CITY HALL — Wu challenger emerges from inside Boston City Hall by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: 'A dozen people have expressed interest in taking on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu as she runs for a second term. An attorney who works for her is among them. John F. Houton, who lives in the city's South End and often walks to work, has been employed as an attorney for Boston City Hall for nearly 20 years. Houton, 58, has served as an assistant corporation counsel, starting under the late Mayor Tom Menino, continuing into the Marty Walsh and Wu administrations, representing the city in various legal matters. He is currently in-house counsel for City Hall's treasury department, which handles money, property, and securities acquired by the city.' PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — Real ID deadline flew by smoothly at Logan by Robert Goulston, GBH News: 'The enhanced identification requirement, known as Real ID, for domestic flights took effect Wednesday — and most travelers at Boston's Logan Airport came prepared. Transportation Security Administration spokesperson Dan Velez said by early afternoon, nearly 90% of Logan's domestic fliers were compliant. TSA agents pushed those without an approved ID — such as a Real ID, a passport or a military identification card — through a different line for additional security screening.' EYES ON 2026 — Mass Dems. call for state to investigate donations to Republican Mike Kennealy's gov campaign by John L. Micek, MassLive: 'Massachusetts Democrats have called on the state's campaign finance watchdog to investigate what they're describing as 'multiple violations' of state law by Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Kennealy's campaign. The call for the probe is tied to recent reporting by The Boston Herald that Kennealy, a former senior Baker administration official, accepted a series of contributions in April that exceeded the state's individual donation limit.' — John Deaton, former challenger to Warren, considering a run against Ed Markey by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'John Deaton, who ran last year as a Republican against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is considering challenging U.S. Sen. Ed Markey during the 2026 election. But there are caveats. 'I would consider running again, but if I ran again, I wouldn't run against a Trump-endorsed candidate in the primary because I'm not interested in running against President Trump,' Deaton said. 'Now, if it looked like … President Trump and the administration approved of my candidacy because they see that I can win, and I didn't have to spend all my money to win a primary, then absolutely I would think about it again.'' DAY IN COURT — Court rules Rümeysa Öztürk be transferred to Vermont, denying Trump administration's appeal by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: 'A federal appeals court on Wednesday morning ordered the Trump administration to comply with a lower court order to transfer Tufts PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk from ICE detention in Louisiana to Vermont. The ruling comes a day after a three-judge panel for the 2nd Circuit for the U.S. Court of Appeals heard arguments over the administration's request to pause Vermont District Court Judge William Session's order to move Öztürk ahead of a Vermont court appearance in the case about her detention.' — Should Massachusetts judges be able to raise criminal defendants' bail to prevent deportation? The state's highest court will decide. by Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe: 'As state and federal authorities clash over deportation matters in the Trump era, Massachusetts' highest court will decide whether a state judge can increase the bail of someone facing deportation in an effort to keep them in the country to answer for criminal charges. This issue came before the Supreme Judicial Court for a hearing Wednesday through the case of Cory Alvarez, whose charges became a symbol of the safety issues at state-run emergency shelters last year after he was accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in a Rockland hotel housing migrants.' — POST Commission, court system at odds over training of constables for eviction by Sam Turken, GBH News: 'When a resident is evicted or foreclosed on, the state's Housing Court can send a constable to ensure the person leaves the property. Some housing advocates and a state board in charge of police oversight argue constables should have additional training, similar to what police officers must go through. The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission says it's a precaution in case the move-outs escalate and become unsafe. But the Massachusetts Trial Court, which manages the Housing Court, disagrees with POST, and says the board is overstepping its authority in asking for that change.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Millbury approves MBTA housing law, zoning changes for land at town meeting by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette: 'Residents attending the annual Millbury town meeting May 6 voted to accept state requirements outlined in the MBTA Communities Act and approved the change in zoning for several parcels to allow multifamily housing to be constructed on the tracts by right. The 130 to 150 residents in attendance at Millbury High School voted on two possible maps, approving one showing three tracts.' — Lawrence police chief's nomination set for council review this month by Jill Harmacinski, The Eagle-Tribune. WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING — Mass. business confidence plummets to lowest level since pandemic onset by William Hall, Boston Business Journal: 'For the third month in a row, a barometer of confidence in the Massachusetts economy has plunged, reaching a low not seen since Covid-19 shuttered businesses at the onset of the pandemic. The AIM Business Confidence Index, updated and released Wednesday by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, sank 4.5 points in April to 41.5 on the 100-point scale. That level was 10.4 points lower than the year-earlier period.' — For communities relying on federal funds, things changing 'every 5 minutes' by Jim Kinney, The Springfield Republican. HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH SPOTTED — seated baseline at last night's Celtics playoff game: former Gov. Charlie Baker a seat away from new New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Francy Wade, Dana Sprole, Janis Lippman, Tom McCuin, Dave Lam, David Brade, Robert Horvitz and Kelley Greenman.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass. congressional Democrat will face challenger seeking 'new generation of leadership'
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch will face a challenger next year for the congressional seat he has held since 2001. Patrick Roath, a lawyer and voting rights advocate from Boston, said Wednesday that he will aim to unseat Lynch to bring 'a new generation of leadership' to Capitol Hill. 'I think we are in desperate need of new voices, new leadership, and big news ideas in D.C.,' the Democrat said in a LinkedIn post Wednesday morning. Roath, who also worked for former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, was first reported to be considering a run for Congress in late February. That was shortly after Lynch verbally sparred with constituents at a rally in Boston as he and his Democratic colleagues faced pressure to oppose President Donald Trump's agenda in Congress more forcefully. At one point in a contentious back-and-forth at the rally, Lynch suggested people should run for Congress if they disagreed with his strategy or judgment of what was in the best interests of the country. 'I'm running because everything is on the line right now with Trump in the White House,' Roath said in a campaign launch video. 'And we've got to have people who are ready to go down there, and fight for us, and stick up for us, and defend our democracy.' Roath was raised in Connecticut and has lived in the Boston area since he attended Tufts University in the early 2000s. After college, according to his campaign, he interned in the Obama White House before joining then-Gov. Deval Patrick as a campaign aide and staffer at the State House. Roath also chaired the board of Common Cause Massachusetts, a Boston-based democracy and voting rights nonprofit, where he was involved with campaigns to pass automatic voter registration in Massachusetts, adopt universal mail-in voting in the state, and other voting accessibility initiatives. For the last decade, he also worked as a commercial civil litigator at Ropes & Gray, a global law firm based in Boston, where he ran a pro bono practice focused on voting rights. The resident of Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood will challenge Lynch for the Massachusetts 8th Congressional District, which includes part of Boston and stretches south to Brockton. In his campaign launch video, Roath said he felt the 'American dream' success stories of his parents, whose stable jobs at IBM brought them into the middle class, are fading away. 'It was that sense that you don't hear that American dream opportunity story so much anymore that really got me motivated to be in public service for the first time,' he said. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Patrick Roath, voting rights attorney, will challenge Stephen Lynch in Democratic primary for Congress
Roath's announcement comes as Democrats nationwide continue their soul-searching following their November losses, with some expressing anger over President Biden's decision to seek a second term amid concerns about his age and mental acuity. That anger has intensified as Trump has reshaped the country dramatically Advertisement Many Democrats have called for longtime elected officials to step down and politicians. Advertisement Lynch, 70, grew up in a 'That failure to deliver and the failure to articulate is really the problem right now, and you're hearing that with lots of people who are speaking up out of frustration,' Roath said. Roath grew up in Connecticut — though he noted his mother spent her early years in Greater Boston — and went to Tufts University before attending Columbia Law School. He spent the past decade working as a corporate attorney for Boston law firm Ropes & Gray. He also has a lengthy resumé in Democratic politics. He interned in the White House under former president Barack Obama before working for Patrick, first as a deputy press secretary on the campaign and then as an aide in the governor's office. He also volunteered for several Democratic presidential campaigns, including knocking on doors in Pennsylvania last year for Vice President Kamala Harris, who took Biden's place atop the Democratic ticket. While he has not previously served in elected office, Roath argues his political experience in those roles, as well as legal work involving voter protections and democracy — he previously led Common Cause Massachusetts' board — make him well-suited to tackle issues in Congress. Advertisement Roath said some of the main issues he plans to emphasize in his campaign include making housing more affordable, improving health care and child-care costs, and working to make 'our democracy work better.' Those, he says, will be part of a pitch for 'articulating a vision of the future . . . that is exciting to people' and not just anti-Trump. 'There wasn't enough talk about important solutions for things like housing and health care and education . . . We've got to rebuild trust in government,' Roath said of Democrats' 2024 election losses. 'I see a real deficit of leadership in my representation . . . and I really do think that none of these things get solved without federal attention and an active and real federal response,' he added of why he is specifically running for Congress. Still, taking on an incumbent with more than two decades of experience who has bested several previous Democratic challengers will be no small task. Last month, Lynch became the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee, after US Representative Gerry Connolly, a 75-year-old Virginia Democrat, said he would step down as he battles cancer. Lynch Roath said his focus ahead of the September 2026 primary, 16 months away, is to be all over the Eighth District, introducing himself as he seeks to amp up his name recognition. Lynch has a '24-year lead on fund-raising, and I need to do everything I can [to] just try and catch up and be competitive,' he said. Advertisement Asked how much money he thinks he needs to raise, Roath was circumspect. 'People try to get a number from me on this all the time, and I'm like, look, it's as much as I can get, because I just need to get my name out there, and that's partly why I'm starting so early,' Roath said. He added, however, that he does not plan to take money from corporate super PACs. Massachusetts' last congressional upset occurred in 2018, when Representative Ayanna Pressley Democrats are readying themselves and hoping for a similarlyinvigorating election next year, with the goal of retaking at least one chamber in Congress. 'There's just an appetite right now for new people and new solutions and new energy,' Roath said, 'and, you know, I'm just hopeful that people will be responsive.' Anjali Huynh can be reached at
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hampden Police seek help identifying suspect who stole tree outside Monson Savings Bank
HAMPDEN, Mass. (WWLP) – The Hampden Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a larceny suspect. Thousands of tickets to be distributed to students for World's Largest Pancake Breakfast The larceny took place at Monson Savings Bank on Sunday at around 12:40 p.m.. The suspect appears to be driving a pickup truck. Detective Jason Roath of the Hampden Police Department told 22News that a newly planted tree was taken from the bank's front lawn. Hampden Police Department Hampden Police Department Anyone with information is being asked to contact Detective Roath at 413-566-8011, extension 6212. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Spring sprouts at Target as retailer adds Good Little Garden flowers and plants to stores
Spring sprouts at Target as retailer adds Good Little Garden flowers and plants to stores Show Caption Hide Caption Spring into gardening: Simple hacks for a lush garden You'll need to put in a little work during springtime to get your garden in shape for summer. Here are 6 things to start with. unbranded - Lifestyle Target is growing a new category at its stores – flowers and plants. The Minneapolis-headquartered retailer is launching its first stand-alone owned floral brand, Good Little Garden, just in time for Mother's Day. Most stores have flowers and plants available now and select stores will have in-store Good Little Garden kickoff events on April 27 with giveaways and a 'build your own bouquet' experience. Good Little Garden will have more than a dozen options for Mother's Day, the company said. 'Fresh flowers and plants play a big role in helping consumers observe important seasonal moments and create moments of joy every day, which is why I'm so proud of Target's newest owned brand: Good Little Garden,' said Lisa Roath, Target's executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of food, essentials and beauty, said in a news release. Consumer study: Many are worried about tariffs and are pulling back on spending What plants and flowers will you find in Target's new Good Little Garden? Good Little Garden will be stocked with more than 60 options of everyday and seasonal assortments of fresh flowers and plants, including: Bouquets of fresh-cut roses, tulips, carnations and mixed flowers, starting at $6. Potted plants and florals including succulents and orchids, starting at $15. Special-occasion plants and flowers for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations and other celebrations, starting at $10. This isn't the first time Target has offered flowers. In 2020, the retailer began offering seasonal flowers through its party supply brand Spritz. Since then, floral sales have tripled, the company said. 'When you combine the amazing assortment our team has curated, and everything we've done to ensure we're delivering quality and freshness to stores nationwide, Good Little Garden is making it easier than ever to celebrate any occasion,' Roath said. Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@ What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
