Happening Today
Governor’s Council, ‘Moving forward or falling back,’ CCC’s Hoffman on the air
— The 12th annual Artists Under the Dome event is scheduled to recognize artists of all disciplines, with Rep. Cory Atkins and Treasurer Deb Goldberg expected to attend, Great Hall, starting at 9:30 a.m.
— The Massachusetts Department of Transportation‘s Finance and Audit Committee meets, followed by a meeting of DOT’s Capital Programs Committee, Transportation Board Room, second floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively.
— The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Board meets with an agenda that includes an update on the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, 63 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, 10 a.m.
— The Massachusetts Association for Community Action hosts a constituent services briefing, featuring Sen. Jamie Eldridge, MASSCAP Executive Director Joe Diamond and others, Room 428, 10:30 a.m.
— Governor’s Council holds a confirmation hearing on Gov. Baker’s nomination of Bristol County assistant district attorney Shelby Smith to a District Court circuit judgeship, followed by its regularly weekly assembly, Council Chamber, 10:30 a.m.
— In recognition of World Diabetes Day, Tim Garvin from the United Way of Central Massachusetts emcees a program that includes patient advocates Tess Keele and Jennifer Galvin, Mass Biotechnology Council president Bob Coughlin and and lawmakers, Nurses Hall, 11 a.m.
— State Auditor Suzanne Bump chairs a meeting of the Municipal Finance Oversight Board, with an agenda that includes a request from the city of Lynn, Auditor’s Office, Room 230, State House, 11 a.m.
— Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and Citizens Bank CEO Bruce Van Saun unveil a $500,000 investment into programming to help launch a new ‘Small Business Technology Initiative for Community and Economic Growth,’ YMCA of Greater Boston, 316 Huntington Ave., Boston, 11:30 a.m.
— A Women’s Power Gap Initiative event, ‘Moving Forward or Falling Back?,’ will be held and hosted by Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia Haddad, Room 428, 12:30 p.m.
— Mayor Marty Walsh shares Resilient Boston’s vision at 100 Resilient Cities Network Exchange on Equitable and Resilient Cities, Ladd Room, Boston University, 43 Hawes Street, Brookline, 1 p.m.
— The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority‘s Rail Vision Committee meets to discuss potential future strategies to transform the existing commuter rail system, Transportation Board Room, second floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 2:30 p.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker has his monthly meeting with Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Room 360, 3 p.m. — Pro-Choice Massachusetts and the Pro-Choice Massachusetts Foundation host Attorney General Maura Healey for a networking event, Hotel Commonwealth, 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 6 p.m.
— Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Steve Hoffman is a guest on ‘NightSide,’ WBZ NewsRadio 1030, 8 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
Let ‘em have it: Is Amazon’s HQ2 decision another Alex Rodriguez moment for New York?
They wanted Alex Rodriguez – and they got him. They wanted the Amazon HQ2 – and they got it. Now New York is in a political uproar over the $1.5 billion it pledged to lure Amazon to Long Island, reports the New York Times and the Washington Post. Meaning, like the A-Rod deal, folks in the Big Apple are only now realizing after the fact that they’ve just overpaid for a potentially overrated star.
In Boston, there’s some predictable self-flagellation under way now that Amazon has made its non-Boston choices, i.e. talk of “little brother syndrome” and how we’re just too small (Globe), etc. But the BBJ’s Kelly O’Brien (pay wall) reports there was almost a sigh of relief yesterday in the Boston business community when Amazon made it official that it’s HQ2 won’t be coming here. The Herald’s Howie Carr is practically doing cart wheels. The Globe’s Adrian Walker, while suffering a brief spasm of self-flagellation, nevertheless sees pluses to not plunking down so much money to lure a trillion-dollar firm, headed by the world’s wealthiest man, to Boston.
And it’s not as if Amazon doesn’t already have a presence in Boston, as WBUR’s Callum Borchers reports. But here’s a good question via the Globe’s Adam Vaccaro: ‘Without Amazon HQ2, what happens to the Red Line-Blue Line connection?’
To hell with Amazon, it’s full steam ahead for Suffolk Downs developers
The BBJ’s Catherine Carlock reports that the redevelopers of Suffolk Downs, which until recently was viewed as a possible home to Amazon’s HQ2, seem unfazed by news that the giant tech company has decided to build its second headquarters in New York and North Virginia. It’s full steam ahead for the massive mixed-used project, they say.
Separately, it sure sounds like some members of the Gaming Commission are losing interest in continuing to financially prop up horse racing at the soon-to-close Suffolk Downs, SHNS’s Colin Young (pay wall) has the details.
Too early to talk about the 2022 governor’s race? Too bad. We’re talking about it anyway
A week after Gov. Charlie Baker’s landslide re-election victory, the Globe’s Joshua Miller and Matt Stout fire off a buckshot of names of those who might be eyeing a bid for governor in 2022. The usual suspects are mentioned – Healey, Walsh, Polito, Kennedy etc. There’s some relatively unknown names: Bussgang, Downing etc. Of course, it’s still not clear if Baker might run for a third term.
Speaking of Baker, there’s no mention that he might be mulling a race for U.S. Senate in two years, as the Herald’s Jaclyn Cashman asserted yesterday. Then again, why mention it? It’s one of the more far-fetched speculative ideas out there.
Post Ballot Question Stress Disorder: Nurse union still shell-shocked over commission study
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which was handed a major defeat when its Question 1 initiative was soundly beaten last week, is still shell-shocked over the pre-election Health Policy Commission study that said the mandatory nurse-staffing measure would cost $1 billion a year, reports Michael Jonas at CommonWealth. In the end, the commission was to the union what James Comey was to Hillary Clinton.
Thanks to Pioneer Valley, Green-Rainbow party is back in the statewide game
Massachusetts will officially recognize the Green-Rainbow party again after two candidates from the Pioneer Valley each received more than 3 percent of the vote in two statewide races last week, Patrick Lovett Daily Hampshire Gazette. Both Jamie Guerin, who ran for treasurer, and Juan Sanchez, who ran for secretary of state, cleared the magic threshold, meaning, among other things, the party will once again have the ability to put a presidential candidate on the state ballot in 2020.
Senate sets hearings on gas explosions: ‘We need answers’
The Massachusetts Senate will hold two hearings next month on the devastating natural-gas explosions and fires that have left thousands of Merrimack Valley residents without gas service, reports Christian Wade at the Eagle-Tribune. “As we approach the cold winter months, we need answers,” said Senate President Karen Spilka in a statement.
Meanwhile, SHNS’s Michael Norton (pay wall) has a piece confirming how a construction moratorium slapped on gas utilities by the DPU is taking a toll on housing and economic development in the state. The BBJ was reporting the same thing the other day.
Shock and awe: National Grid hauls out propane cannon to settle score with crows
Speaking of utilities, a cold war has turned into a hot war in North Adams. From Tim Jones at MassLive: “A flock of crows that has been creating issues for a North Adams National Grid substation will hopefully be deterred with the use of a propane cannon that emits sound, the energy company said. National Grid said from Tuesday, Nov. 13, through Saturday, Nov. 17, they’ll be using the sound-emitting cannon between 4 – 6 p.m. to deter the crows near the Brown Street office location. No projectiles will come from the cannon.”
Baker and other governors push feds on unified grid modernization
Still on the general subject of utilities, from SHNS’s Colin Young at the Lowell Sun: “A bipartisan group of 18 governors, including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, is proposing that the federal government take a serious look at stitching together the three main United States power grids, comparing the importance of grid modernization to the creation of the interstate highway system 60 years ago.”
And the Yanks are coming: Northeastern University to buy small U.K. college
This is interesting. From Greg Ryan at the BBJ: “In an unusual move, Northeastern University has agreed to acquire a small college in London for an undisclosed amount, the latest step in the Boston school’s aggressive expansion efforts. The university plans to merge with New College of the Humanities, a 250-student school in central London that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. NCH was started six years ago with the goal of having one of the lowest student-to-professor ratios in the U.K.”
The Wall Street Journal (pay wall) reports Northeastern’s move could be the start of a trend in higher education.
In Roxbury, they’re really not wild about moving to Brockton
Gentrification has hit Roxbury with full force. The Herald’s Brooks Sutherland and Jonatha Ng report on a hearing last night in which angry, desperate residents complained of being priced out of Roxbury. Meanwhile, Tina Martin at WGBH has a good story on how many Roxbury residents, unable to afford homes in their longtime neighborhood, are moving and buying elsewhere, such as Brockton, where real estate agents are seeing a major uptick in Roxbury residents searching for affordable housing.
Former Sen. Fred Berry, RIP
From SHNS’s Katie Lannan and Matt Murphy (pay wall): “Former state Sen. Fred Berry, a Peabody Democrat who spent 30 years on Beacon Hill and served as majority leader at the time of his retirement in 2012, has died after a ‘brief illness,’ according to a former aide. He was 68. Berry’s family said in a statement that the longtime lawmaker died peacefully Tuesday morning.
The Globe’s Travis Andersen and Katherine McCabe note Berry’s long commitment to the disabled over the years. The Salem News has the sad reactions to news of Berry’s death. From the Patch: ‘The World Is A Better Place Because Of Fred Berry.’
Promoting weed diversity in Somerville
This is interesting. The Globe’s Tim Logan reports that Somerville has passed a strict “equity ordinance” that effectively, over the next two years, will only allow mostly minority and locally-owned retailers to get approvals for pot shops in the city. Separately, Logan has an everything-you-need-to-know primer on coming retail pots shops across the state.
Congressman sues to block Maine’s convoluted ranked-choice voting that may deny him victory
Maine’s new ranked-choice system may survive its first major legal challenge, but this still doesn’t look good from a PR standpoint as other states mull switching over to the system, to wit: U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, beat his Democratic opponent Jared Golden by 2,000 votes in initial plurality vote counts, but he didn’t get a majority of votes, so that’s triggered Maine’s new convoluted ranked-choice tabulations – and Poliquin may now lose even though he won. Not surprisingly, he’s now suing to block the ranked-choice system in federal court, reports Steve Mistler at WGBH.
Rep.-elect Nika Elugardo: The Democratic Party is ‘straight-up racist’
Rep.-elect Nika Elugardo and other black women who won office in Massachusetts last week aren’t naming names, but they are saying the state Democratic establishment did little or nothing to help them in last week’s elections – and Elugardo is saying the party is “straight-up racist.” SHNS’s Michael Norton has more at CommonWealth magazine on the biting comments by Elugardo, state Rep.-elect Liz Miranda and Suffolk County District Attorney-elect Rachael Rollins on WGBH’s Basic Black.
Editorial: Trump ‘loserville’ wing holds back state’s GOP
In an editorial, the Lowell Sun is urging the state GOP to embrace the “moderate brand” of Republican Charlie Baker, who last week won a landslide re-election victory in Massachusetts, and reject the “rage and coarseness of red state, Trump-indoctrinated Republicans.”
Fall River recall group: More than 4,000 people have signed petitions to give the mayor the boot
Seems like a lot of people ignored the mayor’s plea not to sign the petitions. From Jo C. Goode at the Herald News: “The organizers of the effort to recall Mayor Jasiel Correia II dropped off another stack of petitions to the City Clerk Tuesday morning and they say they’ve reached the required 2,510 signatures of registered city voters that could set off a recall election. … As of Tuesday morning the group estimated they have collected over 4,000 signatures.”
The gloves come off: Airbnb sues Boston over new short-term rental regulations
No more faux grassroots social-media campaigns for Airbnb. From Jack Sullivan at CommonWealth magazine: “Airbnb filed suit against the city of Boston Tuesday seeking to block officials from implementing new regulations on short-term rentals set to take effect January 1, claiming the rules illegally require the company to turn over private host information and to bar investors from listing multiple units.”
Recount update: Last week’s blue wave was actually a bigger blue wave than thought
For the record, it now looks like Dems may gain 35 to 40 seats in the U.S. House, not 32, and Democratic losses in the Senate are not as severe as originally thought, after Kyrsten Sinema was declared the winner in the U.S. Senate race in Arizona earlier this week. The NYT has the details on all the recount results that now seem to be breaking for a lot of Dems across the country.
MassBay Community College suspends associate-degree nursing program
Another academic nursing program is in trouble, though not to the extent of Quincy College’s problems. From Dan Glaun at MassLive: “MassBay Community College has suspended admissions for its Associate Degree in Nursing program, citing cost concerns. ‘The number of graduates is small, and the program itself is extremely costly to run,’ MassBay Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Elizabeth Cooper told MassLive. ‘We’re just pausing to review it and make sure its sustainable.’”
Lord & Taylor agrees to pay $100K to settle allegations of racial profiling in state stores
We’re surprised they got off with just this. From Scott Croteau at MassLive: “Lord & Taylor will pay $100,000 to resolve an investigation into racial discrimination over concerns the company conducted a disproportionate about a surveillance of black and Hispanic customers inside four Massachusetts stores. The state Attorney General’s Office announced the settlement agreement with the company on Tuesday.”
Going local? Not teachers’ union dues
From Christian Wade at the Gloucester Times: ” Teachers unions in Massachusetts send the vast majority of members’ dues to state and national offices, instead of keeping the money for local chapters, according to a watchdog group. A new report by the Pioneer Institute found less than 16 percent of dues paid by members of nearly two-dozen union locals affiliated with the Massachusetts Teachers Association and National Education Association go to local chapters.”
Report puts economic price tag on opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic costs Bay State businesses $2.7 billion a year in lost productivity from under-performing employees, another $5.9 billion in lost opportunities from sidelined workers, and it costs the state billions in public safety and healths-are costs, according to a study published by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, as reported by the Globe’s Jon Chesto.
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
Roxbury residents say they’re being driven out – Boston Herald
City commission votes to give Citgo sign landmark status – Boston Business Journal
Massachusetts
Hate crimes were up 9 percent in Mass. in 2017 – Boston Globe
Charlton residents hear details of proposed $100M LNG plant – Telegram & Gazette
Stoughton native to give UMass Lowell its largest-ever donation – Patriot Ledger
Pittsfield City Council approves tax cut – Berkshire Eagle
Restrictions on off-campus housing eyed in Lowell – Lowell Sun
Nation
U.S. military could lose a war to China or Russia, commission finds – Washington Post
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