Happening Today
Veterans Day observed
The State House is closed to the public today on the observed date of Veterans Day. Gov. Charlie Baker, lawmakers and other top state leaders have no scheduled public appearances today.
Today’s Stories
Veterans Day: Remembering … and cancelling
Here’s a sad AP report at CBS Boston: Northampton has canceled its nearly century-old Veterans Day Parade this year due to the dwindling number of spectators and veteran participants. Meanwhile, Worcester is pinning blame on a contractor for a delayed WWI memorial restoration, reports Walter Bird Jr. at Worcester Magazine.
Despite those disappointments, there’s a lot of good Veterans Day stories in general out there, most focusing on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The Globe’s Thomas Farragher has a nice piece on one veteran’s first-hand accounts of WWI, preserved in a cloth-covered diary still cherished by his descendants. Springfield held a Veterans Day parade yesterday — with a warning about the large number of suicides every day by veterans, MassLive reports. Meanwhile, Neal Simpson at the Patriot Ledger takes a look at how Quincy reacted 100 years ago to news of the end of WWI. Wicked Local has photos of Armistice Day 100 years ago and Veterans Day today. Universal Hub has photos of the celebrations in the Back Bay and elsewhere around the state 100 years ago.
And, finally, the Lowell Sun has a piece on a recent trip by former Sun advertising employee Tom Sexton Jr. and his son Tom Sexton III to France to retrace the steps of the 327th Infantry during World War I, a unit that included their father/grandfather, Tom Sexton Sr.
Gaining brownie points: Warren sets her sights on Florida
The Herald’s Joe Battenfeld reports that U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is now offering to help raise funds for Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson’s bid for a recount in his close election loss in Florida last week. Warren is genuine in her support of Nelson, but Battenfeld notes the move will also gain her “important brownie points in the party for her own expected White House campaign.”
The big 2020 question for Dems: Pragmatism or progressivism, smash-mouth or subtly?
Speaking of the senior senator from Massachusetts, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Gov. Deval Patrick get nods in a Washington Post piece on how Democrats must now choose between progressive and more pragmatic candidates for president in 2020. Blue Mass Group was recently debating the same thorny issue.
Meanwhile, on the Republican side of the presidential debate, the Herald’s Howie Carr is blasting the “Never Trumpers” crisscrossing New Hampshire these days.
Deval Patrick’s presidential prospects get the New Yorker treatment
The New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin takes a (very) deep dive into the possibility that former Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick will run for president in 2020. After spending time with Patrick on the midterm campaign trail and back in Boston, Tobin seems to come away convinced that even though he is “practically a nobody” at the national level — and despite the fact that his gubernatorial accomplishments “may be as much atmospheric as concrete” — his effective grassroots campaign style and Obama-like qualities make him an instant contender.
Developers say National Grid lockout and moratorium are causing a ‘crisis of huge proportions’
From the BBJ’s Catherine Carlock: “Winter is coming to Greater Boston’s real-estate industry, and panic is setting in as dozens of developments await natural gas work without any timeframe for when it might get done. The issue stems from the ongoing lockout of National Grid union workers, as well as the commonwealth’s moratorium on non-emergency gas work. … ‘This is a crisis of huge proportions,’ said Ted Tye, managing partner of National Development, a real-estate development firm.”
Has Baker cracked the code of Republicans winning over urban voters?
Rich Parr and Steve Koczela write at CommonWealth how Republican Gov. Charlie Baker last week racked up impressive vote totals in urban areas normally dominated by Democrats. It took a lot of courting and taxpayer-funded grants to win over voters and, in many instances, Democratic mayors. But whether national Republicans can ever duplicate such gains is doubtful because, well, Baker isn’t like national Republicans. Separately, Stonehill College’s Peter Ubertaccio writes at CommonWealth that Baker will be facing major education and transportation challenges in his second term – and challenges on how to fund improvements in those areas.
Lawrence mayor tamps down rumors he’ll join Team Baker
Still on the subject of Gov. Baker’s urban electoral strengths: Days after playing a starring role Baker’s re-election party, Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera, a Democrat, says there’s nothing to rumors that he’s leaving his post to serve in the Baker administration, Keith Eddings reports at the Eagle-Tribune. Rivera, one of the first Democratic mayors to back the governor, says he “will not seek nor will I accept a position” in the administration. Sounds very Shermanesque. We’ll see.
Baker said he was ready to ‘rock’ after the election – and he did
Speaking of the governor: How did Charlie Baker, who said he was ready to “rock” after his landslide re-election last week, spend his post-campaign weekend getaway? He and the family attended a Blink-182 concert in Las Vegas. Nik DeCosta-Klipa at Boston.com has the details.
Ex-Rep. Henriquez resigns from controversial City Hall post
Former state Rep. Carlos Henriquez, who was ousted from the House after he was convicted of punching a woman who refused to have sex with him, has quietly resigned from an antiviolence-related job at City Hall, according to a report at Boston.com. Like Mayor Walsh, we believe in second chances for people. But not in this circumstance, not in this job.
Report: Watertown’s Athenahealth set to be sold for $5.5B
A few months after the departure of founding CEO Jonathan Bush (nephew of former President George H.W. Bush), Watertown’s Athenahealth is set to be sold for $5.5 billion to private investors, reports the BBJ’s Jessica Bartlett, citing a Reuters report. The announcement could come as soon as today. As Reuters notes, Bush stepped down after issuing an apology following reports that he allegedly assaulted his former wife 14 years earlier.
Sudders should read up on Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution
William Smith, a visiting fellow in life sciences at the Pioneer Institute, writes at CommonWealth magazine that Marylou Sudders, the Baker administration’s secretary of health and human services, needs to bone up a bit on the U.S. Constitution’s references to inventors and exclusive rights, etc., before talking about new state Medicaid price controls. True. But does the Constitution anywhere prohibit others from bargaining hard over the true value of patent-protected items, such as new drugs purchased by taxpayers?
So how did the former State Police union boss afford his lavish lifestyle?
The Globe’s Andrea Estes digs deeper into the fed investigation into former State Police union boss Dana Pullman, who reportedly has lived a rather lavish lifestyle – spending tens of thousands of dollars for dinners at swanky restaurants and owning a fully equipped $70,000 SUV etc., etc. – and who alone apparently controlled millions of dollars in union revenues and assets, etc., etc.
In Quincy, secret courts for pols and high-ranking government workers?
The Globe’s Spotlight team, following up on its earlier package on the state’s effective secret courts run my court magistrates, has discovered that a secret court in Quincy has very quietly handled and dispatched the cases of a Plymouth county commissioner accused of slugging a patron at an Elks Lodge and a high-ranking city employee driving around recklessly while telling people he was on urgent business of the mayor.
‘Brockton produces 10 legal settlements it said it didn’t have’
Another day, another fight for access to government records. In this case, the Enterprise’s Marc Larocque reports his paper was told that no, no, no there were no new legal settlements this year to share with the public. Turns out there were 10 such cases, totaling $235,000, including employee claims of discrimination.
Meanwhile, T demands that Herald pay for access to complaint records
This is a case of a government entity acknowledging that records exist – except the MBTA apparently thinks the media outlet, i.e. the Herald, should have to pay for access to what the paper later determined were 350 rider complaints and dozens of claims from employees. Joe Dwinell at the Herald has the details.
Not even a ‘slave auction’ reenactment will change his mind about Faneuil Hall
Activists over the weekend held a reenactment of a slave auction at Faneuil Hall, as part of a campaign to rename the historic building because of its namesake’s ties to Colonial-era slavery, reports the AP at WBUR. But the Globe’s Adrian Walker still isn’t buying into the name-change demand. He explains why.
UMass Boston’s new dorms: Water shooting from toilets, plunging elevators and really bad hamburgers
You hear the words “construction” and “contractor” and “UMass” and you can only wonder. Anyway, things aren’t going all so well at UMass-Boston’s spanking new dormitories, reports the Globe’s Laura Krantz.
Healey and other Dem AGs call on Whitaker to recuse himself from Russia probe
Attorney General Maura Healey of Massachusetts has joined 18 other Democratic state attorneys general in calling on U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, reports the Hill.
Army Corps sets public meetings on future of Cape bridges
Lawmakers are urging members of the public to speak up when the Army Corps of Engineers holds a series of public meetings starting next month on the future of the two bridges leading to and from Cape Cod, Beth Treffeisen reports at the Standard-Times. The looming question appears to be whether the Corps will opt to fully replace both bridges—which state transportation officials say is necessary—or choose to refurbish the existing structures.
Tuesday’s blue wave was also good for East-West rail link
Funny how midterm elections can turn out. Sen. Eric Lesser’s long cherished dream of an East-West rail project connecting Springfield and Boston took a small legislative step toward reality with Democrats taking over the U.S. House — and U.S. Reps. Richard Neal and Jim McGovern expected to move up the House leadership ladder. The Globe’s John Chesto explains.
The incredibly shrinking Globe Sunday business section
Media critic Dan Kennedy last week took note of how the Globe is making do with less these days, from teaming up with the Philadelphia Inquirer on a recent report to reducing the size of its Sunday Business section. And, boy, has the Globe reduced the size of its Sunday business section, yesterday to less than two pages of wire reports and recaps of last week’s business news. Calling it a “section” is now a stretch.
Sports betting to start in Rhode Island later this month
When lawmakers on Beacon Hill inevitably start to debate legalized sports betting in Massachusetts, they’ll have the opportunity to conduct field trips to nearby Rhode Island to see how it works. Little Rhody is expected to launch its first (and highly restricted) sports gambling window later this month, the first in New England, and it could serve as a sports-gambling test case for the rest of the region, reports Andy Rosen at the Globe.
Newton Needham Fall Business Breakfast featuring Congressman Joe Kennedy
The election brought big changes to Congress and these could have a massive impact on the presidency, the government and American businesses. With that backdrop, United States Congressman Joseph. P. Kennedy III will address the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber at the organization’s Fall Business Breakfast. Also Umass Amherst Deputy Chancellor Steve Goodwin will discuss the new Newton campus.
Newton-Needham Regional Chamber
What’s Next? A Conversation with MA’s Up-and-Coming Political Leaders
Join the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, State Representative Joan Meschino, Author of POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook Stephanie Murray, and three up-and-coming political leaders to reflect on the fall 2018 midterm elections and discuss the future of Massachusetts politics.
Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus
Moving Forward or Falling Back? Women’s leadership in Massachusetts K-12 and Higher Education
Join us for a discussion on Women Leaders in the Massachusetts Public Education System, hosted by Senate President Spilka, House Speaker Pro Tempore Haddad, and the Eos Foundation.
Power 50
Join the Boston Business Journal to celebrate 2018’s Power50. These are the men and women who’ve made the biggest impact on Greater Boston’s business community and/or the region’s overall economy this past year.
Post Election Listening Cycle
Join Indivisible Mystic Valley for a special Listening Circle intended for anyone who has been working on the 2018 election!
2018 Distinguished Real Estate Awards Gala
Join NAIOP Massachusetts for the 2018 Distinguished Real Estate Awards Gala as we honor Related Beal for their achievements in real estate, charitable activities and community betterment. David Begelfer will be honored with this year’s Edward H. Linde Public Service Award in recognition of his 27 years of service to NAIOP.
TEDxBeaconStreet
On November 17, TEDxBeaconStreet will return to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for a second year! Some of the most inspiring minds and speakers in the world will come to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for the final day of TEDxBeaconStreet.
2018 Newman Civic Fellows National Conference
The Newman Civic Fellows National Conference is an annual conference exclusively for current Newman Civic Fellows that provides opportunities for networking, collaboration, and shared learning among Fellows. Only members of the 2018 Newman Civic Fellowship cohort may attend the 2018 Newman Civic Fellows National Conference.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Report: Watertown’s AthenaHealth to be acquired for $5.5 B – Boston Business Journal
Henriquez steps down from city post – Boston Globe
New program targets substance abuse among Native Americans in Mass. – Associated Press
Massachusetts
Vaping on the rise in Mass. schools – MetroWest Daily News
No mention of ‘New Vision’ as Berkshire Museum recruits new chief – Berkshire Eagle
Worcester’s WWI memorial contractor faces fines, says weather caused delays – Worcester Magazine
Nation
Opinion: Hillary will run again – Wall Street Journal
Gov. Brown, fire-besieged California strike back at Trump over blame tweet – Politico
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