Happening Today
State House blood drive
Sen. Sal DiDomenico will host a blood drive at the State House following Boston Police Commissioner William Evans’s call this week for members of the public to donate blood to the American Red Cross in honor of the two Boston police officers recently shot in the line of duty, Great Hall, 9 a.m.
Rally to close Pilgrim nuclear plant
State Sen. Daniel Wolf and Rep. Sarah Peakeis are among those scheduled to appear at a “speakout” rally in support of closing the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, State House Grand Staircase, 11 a.m.
‘Ask the Guv’
Gov. Charlie Baker is a scheduled guest on Boston Public Radio for his monthly “Ask the Guv” segment, WGBH-FM, 89.7, 12 p.m.
Supporters of Prouty Garden rally
Supporters of Prouty Garden who oppose the expansion of Boston Children’s Hospital hold a rally before a planned Public Health Council meeting on the issue, State House, 12:30 p.m., followed by march to the public health meeting.
Children’s Hospital expansion
Department of Public Health staff will present to the Public Health Council their recommendation for conditional approval of the controversial $1 billion expansion of Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Public Health, 250 Washington St., second floor, 2 p.m.
Walsh to join MBTA union rally
Mayor Marty Walsh and dozens of state lawmakers, city councilors and others will join members of the Boston Carmen’s Union planned picket and rally outside the State House to protest the T’s privatization efforts, the union has announced, State House, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
SJC’s Gants speech
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants delivers a speech on the state of the judiciary at the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Bench-Bar Symposium, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Sq., 4 p.m.
St. Anthony Shrine’s Franciscan Dinner
St. Anthony Shrine will be hosting its inaugural Franciscan Dinner, with Gov. Charlie Baker and Lauren Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh and Lorrie Higgins serving as honorary chairs, Plaza ballroom, Seaport Hotel, 5:30 p.m.
Charter schools forum
Suffolk University’s Ford Hall Forum hosts a discussion on the Question 2 ballot question that would expand the number of charter schools in the state, with supporters and opponents represented and with WGBH News reporter Mike Deehan moderating, Suffolk University Modern Theatre, 525 Washington St., 6:30 p.m.
Today’s Stories
It was a real debate until the moment …
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump showed up for a debate last night and actually debated substantive issues, instead of slinging the mud from minute one. But then … then there was “the moment.” The moment when Trump wouldn’t say if he would abide by the “peaceful transition of power” if he lost the election, as reported by the Globe’s Matt Viser and Annie Linsey. The Globe’s Scot Lehigh referred to it as an “epoch” moment. The Herald’s Joe Battenfeld said it was actually one of many bad moments for Trump. Even Howie Carr said Trump blew it with his non-answer answer, allowing the national media to trumpet his “I will keep you in suspense” response. But it wasn’t just the national media making a big deal of Trump’s response. Howie’s own Herald led its front page with the “defiant” remark, as reported by Chris Cassidy.
‘Put on your big-boy pants’
Before last night’s debate, U.S. Elizabeth Warren was ripping into Donald Trump, accusing him on Twitter of whining about alleged rigged elections, ““It’s not rigged, [Trump]. You’re losing fair & square. Put on your big-boy pants because this is what accountability looks like,” Warren said, reports NBC News. … Here’s our question: Is she referring to those little-boy knickers that your father or grandfather used to wear as little kids, before graduating to big-boy pants? By pure coincidence, a MASSterList author has been recently poring over old family photo albums and, sure enough, there was a photo of a MASSterList dad wearing knickers as a kid and a photo of a grandfather with long girly locks while wearing a dress as a toddler. Then we started imagining Donald Trump dressed in the same garb and … OK, we’re seriously digressing here. Sorry.
High tech council takes aim at ‘millionaires tax’
Do you think it has something to do with the lucrative stock-option packages promised to aspiring tech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists? No matter what the reasons, the Massachusetts High Technology Council is asking members to pony up $400,000 to fight the “millionaires’ tax” ballot initiative that could be before voters in 2018. The council would prefer to kill the idea in the cradle, before it reaches voters, via legal or political means, reports the Globe’s Frank Phillips.
Neal thinks the Senate will flip, but the House will flop
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal admirably admits he’s a flip-flopper — when it comes to how the battle for partisan control for Congress will play out. “Six months ago I thought the Senate would surely flip. Then a month ago I thought it was questionable. Now I’m back to thinking it flips,” Neal tells SHNS’s Michael Norton. But he still thinks Dems’ efforts to retake the House will flop, largely due to gerrymandered districts across the country.
Winklevoss twins of ‘Social Network’ fame tap State Street for bitcoin venture
This is pretty interesting, via Greg Ryan at the BBJ: “State Street will serve as the administrator and transfer agent for a long-gestating bitcoin fund created by the Winklevoss twins, the brothers who famously fought Mark Zuckerberg over ownership of Facebook. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, both Harvard graduates, have been developing a first-of-its-kind exchange-traded fund tied to the virtual currency bitcoin since 2013. The product has yet to receive approval from federal regulators. Other firms are racing to put a bitcoin ETF on the market as well.”
Judge: Can someone please explain to me why Sal’s pal is also being released early?
The same federal judge who has effectively said “not so fast” in releasing Sal DiMasi early from prison is now saying roughly the same thing about the planned early release of Richard McDonough, who was convicted as an accomplice in the DiMasi corruption case, reports the Globe’s Michael Finucane. U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf basically wants to know why McDonough is being released because he has completed a 500-hour drug and alcohol abuse treatment program – but in a pre-sentencing report it was stated that McDonough hadn’t used marijuana since the 1990s.
Council eyes Airbnb crackdown
The Boston City Council is signaling it will enact regulations on Airbnb and other home-sharing services, citing resident complaints and the impact they are having on the city’s permanent housing stock, Jordan Graham of the Herald reports. The council asked its Committee on Housing and Community Development to develop draft regulations. “We really want to be intentional and smart in the development of these regulations,” City Councilor Ayanna Pressley said.
Spitting in public may not be illegal for much longer
Christian Wade at the Gloucester Times has a fun time listing some of the archaic state laws on the books, some dating back to the 1600s, that a special state commission is now trying to identify for possible elimination. Some of them are seemingly funny, from a $50 fine for using “profane, impure language or slanderous statements” at sporting events to allowing police to arrest anyone spitting in public. But the ACLU notes that many of the laws are not so funny and “run the gamut from First Amendment violations of free speech to civil liberty violations.”
Package store group offers up a sensible ‘road map for regulating marijuana’
Much of the liquor industry is pouring money into defeating the Question 4 ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana in Massachusetts. But the head of the Massachusetts Package Stores Association, which has taken no position on Question 4, is suggesting ways to regulate marijuana, as if the group assumes the referendum will pass, as numerous polls suggest it will. Basically, Frank Anzalotti, head of the association, writes at the Sun Chronicle that lawmakers should treat future marijuana stores like package stores – with a limited number of licenses based on population counts, regulated store hours, mandatory training for employees checking IDs, etc. “Package stores’ regulations can serve as a baseline for promoting consumer and public safety” if Question 4 passes, says Anzalotti. Makes sense to us. No need to reinvent the regulatory wheel here.
Only in Boston: Citgo sign to be declared a landmark
As far back as July, the Boston Landmarks Commission has been signaling its intent to designate the huge Citgo sign in Kenmore Square as a protected city landmark. Now the commission is poised to pull the designation trigger, reports the Globe’s Tim Logan. … Is there a protected Citgo sign anywhere else in the entire world? No siree, we’ll bet. And that’s what makes Boston so great.
Moulton: South Station rail expansion would be ‘historic mistake’
Gov. Charlie Baker favors an expansion of South Station to accommodate more commuter rail trains, but U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, appearing a breakfast hosted by the New England Council, said yesterday the costly expansion would be a “historic mistake’’ that would gobble up funds better spent on building an even more expensive tunnel link between North and South stations, reports Mike Deehan at WGBH.
Family of slain teacher sues town, school
The family of Colleen Ritzer, the Danvers teacher raped and murdered inside the high school in 2013, has filed a lawsuit against the community and the school district, saying relatives are seeking answers and want any compensation directed toward safety improvements, Julie Manganis of the Salem News reports. The suit also names the designer of a new wing at the school and the cleaning contractor who maintains the property.
In Newton, mayor redistributes solar money to lower-income residents
Newton Mayor Setti Warren will redirect energy savings from a new solar installation to the city’s lowest income residents, Bruce Mohl of CommonWealth Magazine reports. The city will direct $60,000 worth of net metering credits to residents who already qualify for energy discounts because they receive public benefits and those who qualify will see their energy costs drop by $40 to $50 annually.
EPA rejects GE objections to river cleanup
The Environmental Protection Agency has rejected General Electric’s objections to a plan to clean PCBs from the Housatonic River, upholding an earlier decision that forces the company to truck contaminated soil out of state, Clarence Fanto of the Berkshire Eagle reports. GE is widely expected to appeal the decision that could lead to it having to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a cleanup effort.
Williams ramps up very early for Worcester mayoral run
Worcester won’t elect a new mayor until next year, but at least one candidate is already laying the groundwork for a run. The candidacy of Todd “Wesley” Williams—who staged a campaign for state senate in 2014 without actually appearing on the ballot—would likely grab headlines because he identifies as transgender, Tom Quinn of Worcester Magazine notes. And Williams has hinted he expects a tough campaign and wants a head start. “Worcester politics is rough, so we want to make sure we’re ready,” he said.
Drought-stricken Cambridge now paying double for its water
Cambridge’s Fresh Pond Reservoir is running dry due to the drought, so the city has been forced for the first time in a half century to buy its water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, reports Amy Saltzman at the Cambridge Chronicle. So how much more is Cambridge now paying? Roughly double, according to Sam Corda, managing director of the Cambridge Water Department. So farmers aren’t the only ones taking it on the chin, folks.
In Natick, town meeting split on gun proposal
Town meeting voters in Natick were split exactly down the middle on a non-binding question to have the town call on President Obama and Congress to enact stronger gun restrictions, Brian Benson of the MetroWest Daily News reports. The final vote on the question earlier this week was 56-56, with 10 people declining to cast votes, thus officially defeating the resolution.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Council weighs Airbnb regulations – Boston Herald
Iconic Citgo sign in Kenmore Square may be protected – Boston Globe
Wynn funded campaign against Revere slots parlor – Boston Globe
Boston rents still rising, just not as steeply – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Use of stun guns by Massachusetts police a growing trend – Boston Herald
Nearly 1,000 new voters registered in Holyoke since Sept. 8 primary – MassLive
More than 1,000 register to vote in Amherst ahead of Wednesday evening deadline – MassLive
Trump volunteers at Hudson HQ see vote-rigging threat – Telegram & Gazette
Beverly cold war missile site being studied for future walking tours – Salem News
EPA upholds plan to remove PCBs from Housatonic River, rejects GE objections – Berkshire Eagle
Ritzer family seeks answers with lawsuit over daughter’s death – Salem News
Question 3 takes aim at Diemand Farm in Wendell – Hampshire Gazette
Todd Williams putting name out early for mayoral race – Worcester Magazine
Warren redistributes solar income – CommonWealth Magazine
UML poll: 23 percent of millennials would rather check out than check a ballot – Lowell Sun
AG: Minutes unrequired for Brockton meeting held without quorum – Brockton Enterprise
Could Brockton be a hub for growing esports phenomenon? – Brockton Enterprise
Two face charges in Salem newspaper box explosion – Boston Globe
Nation
The 7 minutes when Trump blew the third debate – Politico
‘Veep’ had to pull a scene because of Donald Trump – Boston Globe
Trump refuses to say whether he’ll accept election results – Washington Post
To guide debate, Wallace mixed humor with scolding – New York Times
Why political ad spending is down this year – NPR
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