Happening Today
Comm. Ave. Bridge project update, Red Cross blood drive at State House
— Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver hosts a media briefing to provide an update on the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge project, in front of the Joan and Edgar Booth Theatre, 820 Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline, 9 a.m.
— Red Cross holds a blood drive at the State House through 3 p.m., Great Hall, 10 a.m.
For more calendar listings, check out State House News Service’s Daily Advances (pay wall – free trial subscriptions available) and MassterList’s Beacon Hill Town Square below.
Today’s Stories
Back on track: Lawmakers reauthorize horse racing and simulcasting after briefly letting law lapse
From SHNS’s Colin Young at the Lowell Sun: “Simulcast wagering on horse and dog races resumed Thursday afternoon and live horse races scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be run as planned after the Legislature re-authorized racing and simulcasting after it was illegal for about 36 hours. Racing and simulcasting became illegal in Massachusetts because the Legislature did not extend their legal authority before it expired July 31, leading the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to direct the state’s three tracks and simulcasting centers to cease operations until further notice.” The reauthorization was passed during informal sessions yesterday and promptly signed by the governor.
In an editorial, the Globe says the controversy was the result of late-session chaos and “helped make the point that the slow pace on Beacon Hill and habitual last-minute rush just before the end of the session have become a problem.”
Anti-Muslim mailers target Amatul-Wadud in First Congressional race
It’s getting ugly in the western Massachusetts race for Congress. Shannon Young at MassLive reports that Islamophobic mailers have been sent across the First Congressional District, attacking Democratic candidate Tahirah Amatul-Wadud. From Young: “The flier, which has reportedly been sent to residents in Pittsfield, Springfield, Greenfield and Florence, features a drawing on one side that appears to depict Amatul-Wadud holding a sign stating ‘Islam has nothing to do with it’ and ‘Islamophobe racist bigot.’ The other side contends ‘elites, leftists, Islamists and mass media are in alliance to keep you in the dark.’”
Neal and Amatul-Wadud have officially entered the ‘debate over debates’ stage of their campaign
Speaking of the First Congressional race: They both say they want to debate. But they can’t seem to agree on where, when and how to debate. Shannon Young at MassLive tries to explain the debate over debates between incumbent Richard Neal and challenger Tahirah Amatul-Wadud in their Democratic primary contest.
Boston announces ‘phased in approach’ to police body cameras
From Jennifer Smith at WBUR: “Boston will expand its police body camera pilot across the city ‘through a phased-in approach,’ Mayor Marty Walsh announced Thursday, as the final report on the pilot program was released.” Researchers found body cameras generate “small but meaningful benefits to the civility of police-citizen civilian encounters” The Globe’s Milton Valencia has more.
Special pass: Judge postponed DUI hearing so Sen. Brady could attend hectic last day of the session
From SHNS’s Colin Young: “Sen. Michael Brady was freed up this week to focus on the end-of-session work at the State House after a judge allowed a motion to postpone a July 31 hearing in his drunken driving case until October. Brady was due for a hearing in Quincy District Court on Tuesday, the last day of formal legislative business for the year, but instead filed a motion for continuance, which was allowed by the judge.”
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
Scathing report details repeated abuse of special-ed students at Easthampton school
Here’s the damning report and here’s the lead on Dan Glaun’s piece at MassLive: “Easthampton’s private Tri-County Schools will remain closed for at least a year after an investigation found that staffers had repeatedly abused and neglected special education students. Investigators with the Disability Law Center found a disturbing pattern of unnecessary violence, physical injury and psychological harm at the school, which provided services to students with severe special education needs.”
Just reading the insults regularly hurled at the poor students is enough to make your blood boil. Btw: Tri-County Schools is operated by the nonprofit Northeast Center for Youth & Families, but is largely funded by public schools via tuition payments.
About that ‘vicious … unfair … shameless’ smear campaign against UMass’s Marty Meehan …
In a Globe opinion piece, Jennifer C. Braceras, a senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum and a self-described conservative, is going after a UMass-Lowell union for launching a “vicious and unfair smear campaign” against UMass president Marty Meehan, who she says deserves enormous credit for building a “thriving” institution.
MGM Springfield gets preliminary opening-day approvals from state regulators
Unless something totally unforeseen happens, they’ll be rolling dice, flipping cards and plunking coins in slot machines in exactly three weeks in Springfield. From Peter Goonan at MassLive: “The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, after hearing glowing reports about MGM Springfield’s casino project, including the quality of its work and workforce diversity, gave unanimous first-step approvals to the casino in advance of its opening Aug. 24.”
Meanwhile, the Globe’s Joan Vennochi takes a look at next summer’s planned opening of the new Everett casino. It’s most definitely a project in which the totally unforeseen happening is just assumed.
Worcester County furor: Is that a Neo-Nazi or football-jersey tattoo?
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Department briefly pulled the plug on its Twitter account due to death threats after a group posted a photo online of a correctional officer’s arm with what activists say is clearly a neo-Nazi tattoo, reports George Barnes at the Telegram and Benjamin Swasey and Jonathin Cain at WBUR. But David Tuttle, superintendent of the Worcester County Jail & House of Corrections, said the “88” tattoo was actually the guard’s football jersey number in high school – and he presents WBUR the photo to prove it.
Taunton woman pleads not guilty to ramming car with Trump bumper sticker
More proof that we all need to chill out a bit. From Kristen Young at the Cape Cod Times: “A Taunton woman accused of intentionally driving into a man’s car a month ago after becoming enraged by a Trump bumper sticker pleaded not guilty Monday in Barnstable District Court to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. Chloe Wright, 25, also faces charges of vandalizing property and leaving the scene of property damage.” She may have pleaded not guilty, but the man whose car was hit recorded the incident on his phone, police confirm.
Tie goes to the incumbent: A progressive versus progressive face-off in the Middlesex DA race
Michael Jonas takes a look at the spirited Democratic primary race for Middlesex County district attorney between incumbent Marian Ryan and challenger Donna Patalano, two progressives competing to out-progressive each other. Jonas concludes that a tie probably goes to the incumbent in this contest.
In Suffolk County, former city councilor and mayoral candidate Tito Jackson has endorsed Rachael Rollins in the crowded Democratic primary contest for Suffolk DA, Jackson announced yesterday. Meanwhile, Suffolk DA candidate Greg Henning is proposing to create a new unit to investigate unsolved shootings in Boston, reports Emily Williams at the Globe.
Lt. governor’s race: It’s come down to safe versus inspiring risk
The Herald’s Joe Battenfeld takes a look at the no-laughing-matter lieutenant governor race between local comedian Jimmy Tingle and the climbing-the-government-ladder Quentin Palfrey. The race may come down to whether Democratic primary voters want to play it safe with Palfrey or take a risk with Tingle and his inspiring personal story, Battenfeld writes.
‘Generational split’
At WBUR, MassInc’s Steve Koczela digs into recent polling data and finds a growing ‘generational split’ among Democrats, with younger members of the party eager to see new national leadership in the party. While 48 percent of all Democrats polled in the 7th District Congressional race say they’d rather see someone other than Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House should Congress flip in November, that number soars to 69 percent among 18 to 29 year olds. “On any number of issues, it’s often the young people on the leading edge of major change,” Koczela writes.
Galvin’s true ‘weak spot’? He’s been in office since 1994
Speaking of generational politics, Peter Lucas at the Herald takes a look at the Democratic primary race for secretary of state between incumbent Bill Galvin and upstart progressive Josh Zakim. His conclusion: “Galvin’s political ‘weak spot’ is not that he has failed at the job. Or that he voted against abortion 34 years ago. His ‘weak spot’ is that he is a 67-year-old white politician who has been in office for a long time.”
Rep. Goldstein-Rose bows out of race, endorses Domb
More on generational politics: State Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, who’s the youngest member of the Legislature and who switched his party registration from Democrat to independent earlier this year, has decided not to run for re-election, saying he wants to focus on electing a new president in 2020 and becoming more active on federal energy issues, reports Shira Schoenberg at MassLive. Goldstein-Rose, 23, promptly endorsed Democrat Mindy Domb, who’s running in the primary against Eric Nakajima.
MASSterList Campaign Ca$h
In MASSterList’s new feature, Campaign Ca$h, our research team this week takes a look at the finances in the contested 3rd Congressional District race. This second edition has information on Boston City Councillor Dan Koh, Sen. Barbara L’Italien, Rep. Juana Matias, Bopha Malone, and Lori Trahan. Click the banner ad above to download a mobile-friendly, complete PDF list of their expenditures and donors since 1/1/2018. All information is from the Federal Election Commission (fec.gov).
Stay tuned for more races throughout the election cycle. If there’s a particular race that you’d like us to consider for upcoming coverage, email dart@massterlist.com.
View the report here (desktop)
The net result of secret government surveillance of thousands of Americans: No terrorist threats
Maybe they can blame it on an assignment algorithm? From Jana Winter at the Globe: “Federal air marshals have closely monitored about 5,000 US citizens on domestic flights in recent months under the controversial ‘Quiet Skies,’ but none were deemed so suspicious that they required further scrutiny, according to three people with direct knowledge of a congressional briefing held Thursday with the Transportation Security Administration.”
Btw: U.S. Sen. Ed Markey is calling the Quiet Skies program “the very definition of Big Brother.” Anyone care to argue?
Rufus Gifford hands over tainted CBS donation to Planned Parenthood
From Matt Stout at the Globe: “Rufus Gifford, the Third District congressional candidate whose father sits on the CBS Corp. board, said Thursday he’s donating thousands of dollars that the company’s embattled chief executive, Leslie Moonves, gave his campaign, after several women accused Moonves of sexual harassment. Gifford said he sent Moonves’s $2,700 contribution to Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts on Monday — the same day the CBS board, where Charles ‘Chad’ Gifford is a member, met but did not discipline the company’s longtime CEO.”
BU lab gets its first shipment of deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses
Some people eagerly anticipate the arrival of consumer goods ordered from Amazon.com etc. Boston University lab researchers have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses – and they finally got what they wanted, reports the BBJ’s Jessica Bartlett.The lab’s South End neighbors aren’t happy, reports Marky Markos at the Herald.
That time of the year: Absentee ballots now available for Sept. 4 primary
From MassLive: “Absentee ballots are now available for those unable to get to the polls for the Sept. 4 Massachusetts primary. ‘Anyone who expects to be away or otherwise unable to get to their precinct on September 4th should apply for an absentee ballot as soon as possible,’ Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said in a statement.”
Five years later: John Henry’s search for a sustainable model for the Globe remains elusive
As of today, it’s been five years since Red Sox owner John Henry purchased the Boston Globe – and the “jury is still out” on Henry’s ownership of the still-shrinking newspaper, as Don Seiffert at the BBJ reports.
After seeing what’s happened lately at the Boston Herald and New York Daily News under their cut-throat new owners, Globe staffers – and the public – should thank their lucky stars that Henry purchased the paper. He may not have found a sustainable business model for the Globe, but he seems to genuinely love good journalism and he isn’t squeezing the paper for every nickel he can get.
Going round and round: A carousel, DCR and the difficulty of managing public lands
As Colman Herman shows at CommonWealth magazine, it’s one thing to criticize the Department of Conservation and Recreation for poor management of public lands and not negotiating the best deals for private use of state property. But it’s another thing to actually negotiate a lease with a nonprofit tenant running a beloved institution, in this case the Friends of Paragon Carousel and its antique carousel across from Nantasket Beach in Hull.
Don’t forget: Capuano and Pressely debate Sunday on Channel 5
They’ve appeared together before at forums and other venues and generally agreed on most issues. But with the Sept. 4 primary around the corner, Sunday’s debate on Channel 5’s ‘On the Record’ between Michael Capuano and Ayanna Pressely might be different. See our ‘Sunday public affairs TV’ post below for show details.
Former state Rep. Jennifer Callahan tapped as Oxford’s new town manager
Jennifer M. Callahan, Millville town administrator and former state representative for the 18th Worcester District, has been selected as Oxford’s new town manager, according to a report at the Telegram. Callahan, btw, was described by a town official as a real ‘spitfire.’
Six women to watch in Massachusetts politics
Ayanna Pressley and Tahirah Amatul-Wadud are on the list. But you’ll have to read Madeline Charbonneau’s piece at WGBH to the learn the names of the other four females on her “6 women to watch in Massachusetts politics” list.
No vote on CPA in Worcester this year
Worcester voters won’t get a chance to vote on whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act this year after all, Walter Bird Jr. reports at Worcester Magazine. The City Council narrowly defeated a bid to put the question to voters in late June and now a group of residents calling itself Yes for a Better Worcester says it will wait until next year to collect the signatures necessary to get the CPA on the ballot.
Sunday public affairs TV
Keller at Large, WBZ-TV Channel 4, 8:30 a.m. This week’s guest: Beth Lindstrom, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, who talks with host Jon Keller about consumer protection, trade policy, and President Trump.
This Week in Business, NECN, 10 a.m. Shirley Leung of the Boston Globe and Doug Banks of the Boston Business Journal Editor Doug Banks review the top business stories of the week, including end-of-session action on Beacon Hill.
CEO Corner, NECN, 10:30 a.m. Boston Red Sox CEO and president Sam Kennedy talks about his winning team, concerns over the pacing of MLB games, how the league is responding to the onset of legalized sports gambling and more.
On The Record, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 11 a.m. This week: U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano and City Councilor Ayanna Pressely, who are running against each other in the Democratic primary in the Seventh Congressional District, debate the issues.
CityLine, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 12 p.m. With host Karen Holmes Ward, this week’s main topic: Wealth creation.
2018 Summer Institute in Global Leadership: Advanced Public Speaking
Advanced Institutes bring together older students who are passionate about global issues and are in, or aspire to be in, leadership roles that demand advance communication skills. This week, students will work together to develop public speaking skills through the format of Model UN crisis simulations. There will be a particular focus on presentation tips and tricks and extemporaneous speaking.
United Nations Association of Greater Boston
2018 #FlipMyFunnel B2B Marketing and Sales Conference
Each year, more than 1,000 B2B marketing and sales professionals gather together to learn about the latest in B2B marketing and sales, network with one another and explore the latest technologies to power their programs.
NAIOP 8th Annual Harbor Cruise
Mix business with pleasure on the decks of the NAIOP Harbor Cruise, featuring networking, an 80’s theme party, and cocktails. Connect with friends and colleagues while enjoying a 360-degree view of Boston’s ever-changing waterfront.
The Business of Sports
Join us for our very first Business of Sports discussion!
Malden Democratic City Committee Annual Summer BBQ
We hope you’ll join us for our summer BBQ! This annual event is always a lot of fun and a great chance to catch up with old friends while supporting MDCC.
Malden Democratic City Committee
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Death rate for Boston’s unsheltered homeless ten times that of general population – WGBH
Boston board pillories nonprofits for not paying their share – Boston Herald
Massachusetts
Officials criticize suggestion to run South Coast rail through Mansfield, Norton – Sun Chronicle
Steamship Authority consultant finishes round one – Martha’s Vineyard Times
Would PawSox move to Worcester hurt Spinners? – Lowell Sun
Nation
Is it a problem when voters think the election will be rigged? – Washington Post
Exclusive: Fired-up liberals raise $1 billion on website for candidates, causes – USA Today
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