Happening Today
Medical marijuana regulations, Dangerous persons legislation, and more
— Department of Revenue is expected to release data on August state tax collections and where state revenue stands two months into fiscal 2019.
— Gov. Charlie Baker joins Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett and State Fire Marshall Peter Ostroskey to host the Department of Fire Safety Massachusetts School Active Shooter Symposium, National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, 9 a.m.
— Cannabis Control Commission executive director Shawn Collins is expected to present the commission with draft regulations for the CCC’s oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program, Health Policy Commission, 50 Milk St., Boston, 1 p.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett, Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn, Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson and Katia Santiago-Taylor of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center hold a press conference to announce new legislation regarding dangerous persons, Room 360, 1:30 p.m.
— Attorney General Maura Healey takes part in a basketball game between female officers from the Boston Police Department and girls from the Shooting Touch’s Getting Girls in the Game (G3) program, Tobin Community Center, 1481 Tremont St., Roxbury Crossing, 4 p.m.
— MBTA hosts a public meeting regarding the project to replace 25,000 feet of track and 6.5 miles of signal infrastructure on the Green Line D Branch beginning in October, Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium, 330 Homer St., Newton, 6 p.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
Third District: Headed for a recount
The Globe’s Matt Stout reports that Third Congressional District candidate Dan Koh’s campaign has started the process of gathering the necessary 500 signatures to force a recount in the now two-way battle between Koh and fellow Democrat Lori Trahan, who, according to an AP tally of the votes, is leading Koh by only 52 votes. Trahan has already declared victory in the Democratic primary race. But Koh has refused to concede.
Chris Lisinski at the Lowell Sun, Meghan Kelly at WBUR and Colin Young at SHNS (pay wall) have more, including how Secretary of State Bill Galvin has ordered ballots and paperwork impounded should a recount be requested.
‘Poster child for rank choice voting’
The Third Congressional District’s election outcome is such a tangled mess that both the Boston Globe, in an editorial, and Blue Mass Group, in a post, are declaring that the contest is a classic example of why ranked-choice voting is needed.
Simply not enough superlatives to describe Pressley’s historic win
A day after her stunning defeat of U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano in the Seventh Congressional primary race, Ayanna Pressely yesterday had to call a time out after suffering from dehydration and exhaustion, reports the Associated Press at the Lowell Sun. Otherwise, it was a day for Pressley to bask in the laudatory media spotlight. Pressley described her victory as almost “surreal,” reports Shira Schoenberg at MassLive.
Meanwhile, the NYT reports her victory was a “jolt to the very identity of a historic American city,” i.e. Boston. James Pindell at the Globe writes that her triumph “marks the second time this year that a younger woman of color has ousted a 10-term white male incumbent in a Democratic primary” (the first being Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s defeat of incumbent Joe Crowley in New York).
In an op-ed, Melanye Price at the NYT writes that the recent victories of Pressley and other African-American candidates across the nation “show the might of the black political left.”
‘The moment she learned she’d won’
You may have seen it already. But in case you haven’t, Universal Hub has the video of Ayanna Pressley’s reaction when she was first told that, yes, she had won Tuesday’s primary race.
A big day for women and progressives in general …
With election victories by Ayanna Pressley in the Seventh, Rachael Rollins in the Suffolk DA contest and other female triumphs on Tuesday, the Herald’s Jessica Heslam and the Globe’s Shirley Leung are basically declaring: Watch out, guys. It’s a women’s political world now in Massachusetts. Peter Kadzis at WGBH says Tuesday was a great day for progressives in general in Massachusetts.
One of Tuesday’s other winners? Maura Healey
Attorney General Maura Healey was also a big winner on Tuesday – for her key support of Ayanna Pressley in the Seventh Congressional primary race, reports the Globe’s Joshua Miller: “By breaking with most party leaders, Healey, already considered one of the state’s most popular politicians, boosted her Democratic political stock, and ended up on the right side of a history-making race.”
Even though two of his leaders went down in flames, DeLeo declares Tuesday a ‘good night’
House Ways and Means Chairman Jeff Sanchez and Majority Whip Byron Rushing may have been defeated Tuesday night, partly because of their close association with the bête noire of the progressive left in Massachusetts. i.e. House Speaker Robert DeLeo. But DeLeo declared it was actually a “good night for the Democratic House and I’m proud of our results” in all other legislative races, reports SHNS’s Matt Murphy at the Lowell Sun.
The Warren-Diehl race: Merely a dress rehearsal for a Warren-Trump showdown in 2020
Alexi Cohan at the Herald reports that U.S. Senate candidate Geoff Diehl and other Republicans are hoping, and somewhat expecting, that President Trump will come to Massachusetts this fall to campaign for Diehl – and against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. From Cohan: “In a U.S. Senate race that is seen as a dress rehearsal for a widely anticipated 2020 Trump vs. Warren presidential race, experts say Trump won’t be able to resist campaigning for state Rep. Geoff Diehl in what is seen as an uphill bid to unseat Warren.”
Btw: The Herald’s Joe Dwinell and Herald columnist Adriana Cohen are pounding into Warren this morning for her support of protesters at Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing earlier this week.
Is Baker no longer a shoo-in for re-election?
The Herald’s Joe Battenfeld thinks Republican Gov. Charlie Baker should be a little nervous this morning in the wake of Tuesday’s primary results, i.e. the progressive surge, as represented by Ayanna Pressley’s big win in the Seventh Congressional race, and divisions within the Republican party, as represented by conservative Scott Lively’s decent showing in the GOP gubernatorial primary.
Meanwhile, the Globe’s Matt Stout and Victoria McGrane report that Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jay Gonzalez is indeed hoping to tap into progressive enthusiasm. Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine reports that there’s definitely substantive policy differences between Gonzalez and Baker. Shira Schoenberg at MassLive reports Gonzalez is calling on Baker to disavow outside spending in the governor’s race. We have a hunch the governor is going to decline.
Baker launches his ad version of ‘It’s morning in America’
Speaking of the governor, Shira Schoenberg at MassLive reports that Charlie Baker released his first television ad of the general election only hours after he cruised to victory in the Republican primary on Tuesday. From Schoenberg: “The ad is a positive spot that opens with an idyllic picture of sunrise over the Boston Harbor, as a narrator says, ‘The sun is shining brighter in Massachusetts.’ … It touts the Baker administration as bringing ‘strong bipartisan leadership, instead of partisan bickering.’”
A video of the ad accompanies the MassLive article. Btw: In keeping with Baker’s bipartisan message, Boston philanthropist Jack Connors, a Democrat, will be the chairman of Baker’s re-election campaign, Shira Schoenberg also reports at MassLive.
The Rosenberg seat, Part II: Army of volunteers credited for Comerford’s write-in victory
Jo Comerford’s victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary could become a case-study in how to wage successful write-in campaigns, Bera Dunau writes in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Comerford bested a four-candidate field, including one hopeful whose name was actually on the ballot, via a massive force of some 650 volunteers and her experience organizing on the grassroots level for MoveOn.org, Dunau writes. In the end, Comerford captured 53 percent of the vote — and is now poised to fill the seat previously held by former Senate President Stan Rosenberg.
Another write-in victory sets field in 10th Plymouth
Here’s a rep race that could produce fireworks between now and Nov. 6: After waging a write-in campaign in the GOP primary Tuesday, John Cruz will face off against state Rep. Michelle DuBois of Brockton for the 10th Plymouth Seat. DuBois made national headlines last year when she warned Brockton residents about a rumored ICE sweep.
More legislative results from Tuesday …
Here are some more legislative results from Tuesday’s primary elections, in addition to those we reported on yesterday:
— Liz Miranda won the Democratic primary Tuesday in the 5th Suffolk state representative and so will replace Evandro Carvalho, who ran unsuccessfully for Suffolk County District Attorney, reports Universal Hub.
— Democrat Alex Bezanson and Republican Alyson Sullivan will face off for the 7th Plymouth state representative seat — now held by Rep. Geoff Diehl, a Republican who on Tuesday won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate — after winning their respective party primaries, reports the Enterprise.
— Needham lawyer Becca Rausch defeated Dem challengers Jackie Katz and Kris Alexsov on Tuesday and will now face off against state Sen. Richard Ross, a Wrentham Republican, in November, reports the MetroWest Daily News.
— In a close race to fill former Rep. Tom Calter’s seat, Joe Truschelli emerged as the victor in the GOP House primary on Tuesday and will face Kingston resident and Democrat Kathy LaNatra in November, reports Wicked Local.
— Republican Ed O’Connell of Marshfield and Democrat Patrick Kearney of Scituate each bested their opponent in Tuesday’s primary and will face independent Nathaniel Powell in the general election, reports Wicked Local.
Althea Garrison has finally hit the elected-office jackpot
She’s in line to become an at-large city councilor now that Ayanna Pressley is poised to leave the council for Congress. But the perennial candidate of all perennial candidates in Boston is still running for state representative in the 5th Suffolk District this fall. She’s none other than Althea Garrison, 78, and Universal Hub has her jackpot details.
Three ideas to increase voter turnout in primary elections
Turnout wasn’t as bad as feared on Tuesday, considering the primary elections this year came only a day after the long Labor Day holiday weekend. But turnout was still pathetic in general, so media critic Dan Kennedy has three ideas to boost turnout in the future: June primaries, instant runoffs, and non-partisan primaries. He explains.
Let the Ways and Means jockeying begin …
With the defeat of state Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez on Tuesday night and the elevation of Sen. Karen Spilka to the Senate presidency, two of the most powerful committee chairmanships on Beacon Hill – for the House and Senate Ways and Means committees – are now up for grabs. SHNS’s Michael Norton at Wicked Local has more on the jockeying to come at the State House.
Hodgson and other sheriffs push plan to crowd-fund border wall
Won’t Mexico be upset? Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is leading a push by sheriffs nationwide to establish a crowdfunding website to collect funds to help jumpstart construction of President Trump’s signature border wall, South Coast Today reports.
Christopher Kennedy Lawford, RIP
From the Associated Press at the Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Author and actor Christopher Kennedy Lawford, who was born into political and Hollywood royalty, sank into substance abuse and addiction and rose to become a well-known advocate for sobriety and recovery, has died. Lawford died of a heart attack Tuesday in Vancouver, Canada, his cousin, former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, told The Associated Press. He was 63.”
Boston police captain’s son gets 20 years for ISIS terror plot
Alexander Ciccolo, 26, the son of a Boston police captain and described as an ‘ISIS soldier,’ will serve 20 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, under a plea agreement approved yesterday by U.S. Judge Mark Mastroianni, after the Adams resident pleaded guilty earlier this year to an ISIS-inspired terrorist plot, perhaps against New Mexico State University, according to reports at WBUR and Fox News.
New NECCO owner auctioning off Skybar and other famous candies
From Universal Hub’s Adam Gaffin: “Now that they’ve laid off all the workers, the new owners of NECCO are auctioning off some of its brand names – and much of the candy-making equipment at its now closed Revere plant. Brand names up for grabs include Skybar, Haviland Thin Mints and Mighty Malts Milk Balls. Sorry, the NECCO Wafers brand is not for sale.”
Meanwhile, the trustee in the NECCO bankruptcy case is suing the now-defunct company’s former owners and previous leaders for allegedly running the business into the ground, reports Jon Chesto at the Globe.
Pot-giveaway charges dropped, but prosecutors say they’ll refile
Essex County prosecutors say they’ll refile charges against a Methuen business owner who they say violated state law when she gave away marijuana with purchases, Jill Harmacinski reports at the Eagle-Tribune. A judge in Lawrence District court dismissed the case against Sandra Kattar, the former owner of Humble Bumble, when prosecutors said they were not ready to proceed.
Brockton takes downtown property via eminent domain
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the city of Brockton has seized a property via eminent domain. The Brockton Redevelpment Authority said it will pay the current owner of the so-called Furniture Building—the tallest structure in downtown—$1 million in exchange for the taking, Ben Berke reports in The Enterprise.
Corporate Citizenship Awards 2018
We look forward to seeing you on September 6th for the Boston Business Journal’s 13th annual event to recognize Massachusetts’ most philanthropic companies!
A Night of Music to Benefit Katie McBrine for State Senate
Come out for a Night of Music to benefit the campaign to elect Katie McBrine to the State Senate. Kingsley Flood and Eddie Japan will perform at the River Club in Scituate on September 7, 2018, beginning at 7:30PM. Tickets available now!
Committee to Elect Katie McBrine
2018 State of the Region Address – North Shore Chamber
Join us September 12th at our Annual State of the Region Breakfast. The State of the Region Breakfast connects chamber members and business professionals with information about important regional issues, while providing direct access to elected officials.
North Shore Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Harvard Alum Stuart Eizenstat will discuss “President Carter: The White House Years”
The definitive history of the Carter Administration from the man who participated in its surprising number of accomplishments―drawing on his extensive and never-before-seen notes.Stuart Eizenstat was at Jimmy Carter’s side from his political rise in Georgia through four years in the White House, where he served as Chief Domestic Policy Adviser.
The Coop Event Series…Authors, Coop Kids & More!
Development Unicorns: Neighborhood Game Changers
The most transformative multi-phase developments in recent Boston history started with a vision, taking decades to design, entitle, plan and execute. Join NAIOP to hear from the original visionaries behind three of these game-changing projects (Assembly Row, The Fenway and Seaport Square) to hear how they started and what has changed along the way.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Boston schools expect some buses to roll late again on first day of classes – Boston Globe
Family of boy who drowned at Boston summer camp sues state – Boston Herald
Massachusetts
Worcester City Council committee OKs ballpark package – Telegram & Gazette
Three vie for Attleboro city council slot – Sun Chronicle
$650 million water park and resort proposed in Palmer – Telegram & Gazette
Nation
Trump aides launch frantic search for author of op-ed – Washington Post
Insurgency shakes up Democratic establishment – The Hill
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