Happening Today
Moments of silence for Marathon bombing victims
Gov. Charlie Baker and other elected officials will hold a moment of silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings three years ago, Memorial Hall, 2: 30 p.m.
Former Gov. Deval Patrick joins religious leaders at an Interfaith Service of Resiliency as part of the “Day of Resilience,” with a program that includes a moment of silence for bombing victims, Old South Church, 645 Boylston St, Boston, 2:30 p.m.
In addition, Mayor Walsh, Treasurer Deb Goldberg and others will mark a moment of silence for bombing victims at City Hall Plaza, Boston, 2:49 p.m.
Tax day – not!
April 15 is the traditional tax-filing deadline but due to the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington D.C., the deadline this year is April 18.
Today’s Stories
Wall Street Hillary
The winner of this morning’s best headline about last night’s Democratic debate goes to the Washington Post: “Clinton and Sanders reach the limits of their patience.” That pretty much sums up the feisty and yet impressive presidential debate before next week’s big New York primary. The televised showdown was impressive because the two really did stick to the issues. Well, sort of. What struck us here is how Bernie just pounded into Hillary’s ties to Wall Street. Keep in mind: New York is the home of Wall Street and the tens of thousands of jobs it generates in New York. Can you imagine a candidate coming to Boston and blasting away at the state’s high-tech and life-science sectors and expecting to win favor? It’s hard to believe. Yet lambasting Wall Street seems to be working for Bernie even in New York.
The Herald’s Tom Shattucknoticed roughly the same thing: “Bernie Sanders couldn’t have made Hillary Clinton look any more Wall Street if the split screen during last night’s CNN debate showed her lighting stogies with $100 bills at a Delmonico’s table festooned with Baked Alaska and snifters full of brandy.”
MassLive’s Shannon Young had her own five takeaways from last night’s debate. The Wall Street angle was definitely one of them. But her first takeaway: “Sanders walked back his claim that Clinton is not qualified to serve as president.” Good point.
Btw: The winner of the worst, most unimaginative headline from last night’s debate goes to, of all people, Drudge: “Brooklyn Brawl!” (sigh).
Baker plans largest Medicaid overhaul in decades
The transition to a new Medicaid payment system may have been first conceived and outlined under former Gov. Deval Patrick, but it’s been up to Patrick’s successor, Gov. Baker, whether to actually pursue an overhaul. It looks like administration officials have made up their minds. From the Globe’s Priyanka Dayal McCluskey: “Their solution is to move MassHealth away from a system that predominantly pays for each medical service provided. Instead, the administration wants to more widely implement a model known as accountable care, in which doctors and hospitals are paid set budgets to treat patients.”
Local Jewish press hits back on controversial Newton meeting following anti-Semitic incidents
Recent anti-Semitic incidents at Newton public schools prompted a city meeting last week that dissolved into shouting and hard feelings about how it was conducted and the subject matter covered. The problem: Some Jewish residents felt the meeting should be about anti-Semitism, period. But instead it was billed as more of a “community discussion” about discrimination and prejudice in general. Almost no one was happy with the outcome of the raucous affair. The Newton Tab headlined its story about the meeting: “Newton forum on prejudice gets rowdy.” Earlier this week, the Globe followed up with a story headlined: “Jewish groups condemn ‘disrespect’ at Newton forum,” a reference to the hooting of speakers who didn’t address anti-Semitism directly.
Now two local Jewish newspapers, the Jewish Advocate and Jewish Journal, are out with their own late-week editions. The headline on the main story by the Advocate: “Newton avoids addressing anti-Semitic incidents.” The Journal’s front page took direct aim at Newton School Superintendent David Fleishman, who some say hasn’t done enough to condemn the recent anti-Semitic incidents in Newton. “The Jewish power structure doesn’t want to talk about anti-Semitism,” reads the Journal’s front-page subheadline. “Why won’t Dr. Fleishman, (Newton) Mayor Setti Warren and the powerful Jewish organizations identify anti-Semitism in Newton for what it is?”
Bottom line: This doesn’t sound like a story that’s going away soon.
Joyce sets up legal defense fund with no donation limits
As federal law enforcement officials ramp up their investigation of Sen. Brian Joyce’s law firm dealings and dirty laundry habits, the Milton Democrat is looking for ways to pay for his mounting legal bills. From the Globe’s Andrea Estes: “On Wednesday afternoon, (Joyce) set up a legal defense fund with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Donors to these funds aren’t constrained by the same rules as contributors to regular campaigns. They can give any amount they want — not just $1,000 a year like campaign donors — and companies can also contribute.”
Quincy mayor spent a record $55 per vote
Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch set a state record by spending more than $55 for every vote he received in last fall’s election, Jessica Trufant of the Patriot Ledger reports. The state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance says that’s the most ever spent since it began keeping track in 1997, besting the $54 per vote level that Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria spent in a city election in 2013.
Marijuana proponents take on Baker, DeLeo and Walsh
After Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Mayor Marty Walsh announced they were banding together to oppose this November’s ballot question that would legalize marijuana, a group pushing the ballot question hit back with its own statement. “Our campaign will not allow our opponents to claim the high road on matters of public health and safety. The truth is that the greatest danger associated with marijuana is its illegal status,” said Jim Borghesani, spokesman for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, in a statement posted on the Weed Blog. (Fyi: We’ve always wanted to say we’ve posted something from the Weed Blog. Now we can.)
Fernandes leaving House, creating big leadership void
Milford Democrat Rep. John Fernandes, co-chair of the powerful Judiciary Committee this session, won’t be running for re-election in November, after deciding it was best for himself and his family to slow down after 10 years on Beacon Hill, reports Matt Murphy of State House News Service. His leaving will open up a key leadership position for Democrats to fill.
IndyCar on hook for up to $16.5 million
Newly released agreements with city and state officials make it clear that organizers of the IndyCar race scheduled for South Boston on Labor Day are responsible for as much as $16.5 million in security and maintenance expenses, Matt Stout of the Herald reports. The three-day race still must clear the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency review process.
UMass trustees will talk divestment in June
After two days of protests that led to dozens of arrests, the UMass Amherst campus was quiet Thursday after university leaders said they would take protestors’ demands that the school divest from fossil fuel companies to the board of trustees meeting in June, Diane Lederman of MassLive reports.
Analyst sees no boost in crime near Plainridge
Some police departments are seeing an increase in traffic-related calls, but overall there is no sign of an increase in crime in the towns surrounding the state’s first casino at Plainridge Park, Gintautas Dumcius of MassLive reports. “[T]here’s been no indication so far that it’s caused an increase in any crimes or other detrimental social harms in the area,” analyst Christopher Bruce told the Mass. Gaming Commission.
New Bedford panhandle plan is panned
Worries about legal challenges have prompted the New Bedford City Council to table a plan to require panhandlers to obtain licenses from the city, according to a report from Steve Urbon of the Standard-Times. The councilor who proposed the plan said he will continue to refine his idea to find a solution that will address the issue the city has with panhandlers in the downtown area.
State funds Brockton development ‘fellow’
The state’s development agency has hired an economic development fellow to help the city of Brockton advance efforts to revitalize its downtown, Marc Larocque of the Enterprise reports. The plan to hire the fellow, who will earn $84,500 a year, was set in motion late in 2014 when Brockton became one of the first cities to enter the state’s Transformative Development Initiative.
Bill ‘Lazarus’ Delahunt’s very close call
Former U.S. Bill Delahunt is lucky to be still around after a nasty bout of pneumonia that turned into a sepsis infection. From the Globe’s Frank Phillips: “Bill Delahunt came a hair’s-breadth away from meeting his maker this winter, spending four weeks in a Boston hospital — most of it in an induced coma — but in the end, he won the battle. ‘I have a new name, Lazarus,’ quipped the former Massachusetts congressman, referring to the figure from the biblical tale whom Christ is credited with bringing back from the dead.”
Sunday public affairs TV
Keller at Large, WBZ Channel 4, 8:30 a.m., Guest: House Speaker Robert DeLeo will cover a range of topics including Gov. Baker’s stance on the transgender public accommodations bill, charter schools and activist Barbara Anderson’s death.
This Week in Business, NECN, 12:30 p.m. Guests: Pat Moscaritolo, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Meg Mainzer-Cohen, Back Bay Association, and Jim Rooney, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO.
CEO Corner, NECN, 8:30 p.m., Guest: Craig Bromley, the president of John Hancock Financial Services, who talks about what’s new with this year’s Boston Marathon.
On the Record, WCVB Channel 5, 1 p.m. Guest: Senate President Stan Rosenberg.
Matter of Fact with Fernando Espuel, WCVB Channel 5, 11: 30 a.m. Guest: TBA.
CityLine, WCVB Channel 5, 12 p.m. Guests: Dr. Laura Elizabeth Riley, vice chair of obstetrics at Mass General Hospital, discusses Zika virus in the Bay State, and Robert Lewis Jr. on Major League Baseball’s diversity issues.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Pro-marijuana group calls out Baker, Walsh – Boston Globe
Pacts yoke IndyCar to $16.5 million in costs – Boston Herald
Workers rally in Boston for $15 minimum wage – MassLive
Wise guys offer their take on Gaming Commission – CommonWealth Magazine
GE selects architect for its new Boston HQ – Boston Business Journal
Massachusetts
State hires economic development fellow to help Brockton revitalize downtown – Brockton Enterprise
DPU gets earful at Dracut pipeline hearing – Lowell Sun
Plan: $148 million on South Coast Rail over five years – Standard-Times
Effort to license panhandlers stalls in New Bedford City Council – Standard-Times
Mass. Gaming Commission crime analyst: Plainridge Park Casino has had little impact – MassLive
MetroWest lawmakers, police chiefs laud anti-marijuana committee – MetroWest Daily News
Koch breaks state record for campaign spending per vote in 2015 race – Patriot Ledger
Milford Rep. Fernandes, co-chair of Judiciary panel, won’t run again – Telegram & Gazette
No arrests at UMass Thursday night; board to consider divestment in June – MassLive
Baker defends approach to transgender bill – Boston Globe
Nation
Clinton, Sanders deepen their bitter feud during debate – Boston Globe
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Wants to Make Tax Day Easier – Boston Magazine
How to Contact MASSterList
Send tips to Matt Murphy: Editor@MASSterList.com. For advertising inquiries and job board postings, please contact Dylan Rossiter: Publisher@MASSterList.com or (857) 370-1156. Follow @MASSterList on Twitter.