Happening Today
Lottery opens Dorchester HQ, Iwo Jima Day, and more
— The Massachusetts Lottery plans to open its new headquarters in Dorchester.
— Marine Corps League holds its 20th annual Iwo Jima Day ceremony at the State House to mark the famous World War II battle, with Lynn Mayor and former Sen. Tom McGee — whose father and former House speaker Thomas McGee was a U.S. Marine who fought on Iwo Jima — receiving the Semper Fidelis Public Servant Award and with Senate President Karen Spilka and Gov. Charlie Baker attending, Memorial Hall, 11 a.m.
— Treasurer Deb Goldberg will speak at a meeting of the Women of Steel, an activist arm of the United Steel Workers union, 2 Griffin Way, 1st Floor, Muster Room, Chelsea, 12 p.m.
— U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan tours the New Balance manufacturing facility in Lawrence, where she will meet with recently named president and CEO Joe Prestend, 5 South Union St., Lawrence, 1:30 p.m.
— Senate President Karen Spilka meets with Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston Director-General Douglas Hsu, Room 332, 3 p.m.
— State Sen. Will Brownsberger, Rep. Chynah Tyler and City Councilor Ed Flynn will talk about their agendas for the upcoming year at a meeting of the Boston Ward 5 Democrats, First Church, 66 Marlborough St., Boston, 7 p.m.
— U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris plans to visit Boston today for a fundraiser as she pursues the U.S. presidency, former Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley expected to attend, according to the Boston Globe.
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
In case you missed it …
MassterList indeed came out yesterday over the holiday. In case you missed it, check out our website to see what we covered, including criticism of former Gov. Bill Weld’s run for president as a Republican, the hunger strike by ICE detainees at the Suffolk County jail, western Massachusetts lawmakers’ suggestions on how to spend GE reimbursement funds, and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito paying herself back for past campaign loans.
Warren to unveil universal child-care plan
From a new-policies standpoint, Elizabeth Warren appears to be consistently one step ahead of her Dem presidential rivals. The latest example, via the Globe’s Jess Bidgood: “Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts senator and presidential candidate, is set to release a sweeping proposal for universal child care on Tuesday, a plan she said would significantly increase the nation’s spending on child care and early learning and be paid for by a tax on the wealth of the richest Americans.”
The tax on the richest Americans is none other than her proposed “ultra-millionaire” tax, yet another specific progressive policy recently outlined by Warren. Btw: Certainly not everyone is impressed with all of Warren’s ideas, such as Dan Warner, who writes at the Herald that Warren and former Gov. Michael Dukakis seem to be cut from the same “pseudo-intellectual” cloth.
She’ll be back: Kamala Harris isn’t conceding Granite State to Warren
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris swept into New Hampshire yesterday for her first presidential campaign visit to the state – and she let it be known, contrary to prior reports, she plans to compete hard in the state, reports the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld, who notes: “Harris’ promise is bad news for her competitors, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who needs nothing less than a Granite State victory to keep her campaign going.” The Globe’s Liz Goodwin has more on Harris’ I’ll-be-back vow to NH voters.
Hampshire College president: Yes, there will layoffs, starting today
Despite campus protests and complaints, Hampshire College President Miriam E. Nelson announced yesterday that, yes, there will be layoffs at the financially struggling western Massachusetts college. And Jim Kinney at MassLive reports that students and faculty are bracing for the worst, with rumors flying that 30 percent to 50 percent of the college’s employees could see pink slips. The first round of layoffs is expected to start today.
Report: Metco students outperform those in BPS and charter schools
This is interesting and should spark some debate. From James Vaznis at the Globe: “Boston students attending suburban schools under a voluntary desegregation program dramatically outperformed their peers in the Boston school system and charter schools on two key barometers — graduating from high school on time and enrolling in college, according to a new report by a Harvard University researcher.”
Trump’s wall: ‘This is constitutional vandalism’
A coalition of 16 states, which doesn’t include Massachusetts (at least not yet), yesterday officially challenged in court President Trump’s plan to use “emergency powers” to spend billions of dollars on a new border wall, the NYT reports.
Meanwhile, protests were held yesterday in Boston, Worcester, Northampton and elsewhere against the president’s wall plan, with U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley in Boston calling Trump’s attempted unilateral move “constitutional vandalism” and asserting Trump has “lost all moral authority to continue to serve,” reports Jacqueline Tempera at MassLive and Simón Ríos at WBUR. George Barnes at the Telegram and Jacquelyn Voghel at the Gazette have details on the Worcester and Northampton rallies, respectively.
About that hunger strike by ICE detainees at Suffolk County jail …
The Herald has a piece this morning that appears to belittle some of the complaints that led to a reported hunger strike by ICE immigrant detainees at the Suffolk County jail, including “gripes” over “sarcastic remarks” from guards, bland food, insufficient bathroom breaks, etc. In other words, we’re supposed to pull out the small violin for them.
But not till the end of the story do you read about their real complaint: Being detained, period, and sometimes for months and even years.
MIT students protest planned speech by ‘war criminal’ Henry Kissinger
From the Globe’s Danny McDonald: “A group of students, alumni, and faculty from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is calling for the university to cancel a planned three-day celebration of a new college later this month and to apologize for inviting former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger to speak at the event.”
The article points to a recent op-ed piece in The Tech, an MIT student publication, in which Kissinger is referred to as a “war criminal.”
Sen. Rausch: Move state primary election to June
SHNS’s Chirs Lisinksi at Wicked Local reports that state Sen. Becca Rausch has filed legislation calling for state primary elections to be held in June, rather than September, arguing that a spring date would engage voters more and avoid the pitfalls of holding primary elections so soon after summer breaks.
Partners HealthCare appoints interim CEO: Dr. Anne Klibanski
Caught off guard by the surprise announcement by Dr. David Torchiana that he plans to step down as CEO of Partners HealthCare, it took a little longer than one might expect for Partners to name an interim CEO. But it finally did yesterday: Dr. Anne Klibanski, the current chief academic officer at Partners, reports the BBJ’s Jessica Bartlett.
Klibanski has a tough job ahead, even if it’s only a temporary gig. At CommonWealth magazine, Paul Hattis, an associate professor at Tufts University Medical School, explores whether Partners’ two main hospitals, MGM and Brigham & Women’s, truly are partners.
In Worcester, removal of Kaepernick poster sparks backlash
Administrators at the Abby Kelley Foster charter school in Worcester are under fire after they took down a student-made poster featuring controversial former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who hasn’t played football since he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality, Bill Shaner reports at Worcester Magazine. A principal at the school asked students to remove the poster, saying it was disrespectful to police officers.
UMass-Boston gets new ‘breathing space’ but …
In separate columns, the Globe’s Joan Vennochi and Adrian Walker write that UMass-Boston’s new gift from the development gods, i.e. the $235 million it will get from the huge Bayside Expo development deal, will certainly help the struggling Boston school. But Vennochi wonders whether it’s enough to offset UMass-Amherst’s planned foray into the Boston market, while Walker wonders if it will bring peace to warring factions at UMass-Boston.
How diverse is the state government workforce? Impressively so, in some areas
Shira Schoenberg at MassLive takes a look at the recent report by state Auditor Suzanne Bump’s office on state government workforce diversity. There’s encouraging news regarding the levels of women and minorities within executive-branch agencies in general. But not so good news when it comes to veterans and the disabled and not so good at some specific agencies.
Reducing cars on streets: Cambridge is no Albania, that’s for sure
The Globe’s Adam Vaccaro has a pieced on how it appears Cambridge is now “all but certain to fall short of its 2020 goal of reducing the ratio of cars owned by Cambridge residents by 15 percent from 1990 levels.”
Meanwhile, in a column at the Lowell Sun, Peter Lucas writes that U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who recently unveiled their new Green New Deal proposals, would have loved Albania’s car-free society in the 1980s, i.e. when it was controlled by communists.
Berkshires activist hopes hunger strike will get Vatican’s attention
Chester resident Olan Horne, a survivor of sexual abuse by a priest and a longtime critic of the Catholic church’s handling of its abuse crisis, says he will stop eating solid food until the Vatican responds to letters from the families of victims, Larry Parnass reports at the Berkshire Eagle. Horne is timing his hunger strike to coincide with a Vatican meeting on the church’s handling of the abuse crisis.
The ‘stealth attack’ on beer gardens
In an editorial, the Globe is not happywith legislation that would put a cap on the number of days that outdoor beer gardens can operate, saying the bill sponsors, Sens. Nick Collins and Ed Kennedy, appear intent on “micromanaging liquor licenses on the local level” and merely doing the bidding of the restaurant industry.
Sounding the alarm over run-down conditions at fire stations across the state
From Brooks Sutherland at the Herald: “Citing rats, broken plumbing, leaky ceilings, poor ventilation and run-down equipment, firefighter unions across the state are sounding the alarm about station houses they say receive little attention, saying poor conditions raise safety fears and hurt morale. ‘There’s concerns statewide,’ said Richard MacKinnon Jr., president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.”
Durgin-Park restaurant memorabilia up for auction
Hurry. Bidding ends Wednesday. From the Associated Press: “Fans of Boston’s recently-closed Durgin-Park restaurant can now own a piece of culinary history. Advertising signs and other memorabilia from the Faneuil Hall eatery, which billed itself as the city’s second-oldest restaurant, are on the auction block. Among the 200 items to be sold are an entrance sign and a carved wooden pig that dates to 1879.” The items for sale can be previewed online via Proxibid.
Self-driving cars pose ‘existential threat’ to commuter rail
In a Globe op-ed, Joseph M. Giglio and Charles Chieppo warn that self-driving cars could make commuter rail obsolete and pose an “existential threat” to public transportation in general. Maybe they’re right. They note a 2016 study by the Pioneer Institute already showing a decline in commuter-rail ridership between 2003 and 2016. Then again, CommonWealth magazine recently reported commuter-rail ridership increasing by 20 percent since 2012. Bottom line: No need to hit the panic button. More data is needed. Much more data.
George Mendonsa, sailor in iconic kissing-nurse photo, RIP
There is a New England angle. From the NYT: “George Mendonsa, who made the most credible claim to being the sailor shown kissing a woman in Times Square after the end of World War II in a photograph that became a national emblem of elation, died on Sunday at a nursing home in Middletown, R.I. He was 95.”
Read the story to learn how later extensive facial-recognition tests confirmed, for most, that Mendonsa was indeed the sailor in the famous photo.
Thank you, Pat Moscaritolo
The Globe’s Larry Edelman has a good piece on the retirement of Pat Moscaritolo as the long-time head of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Moscaritolo played no small part in transforming Boston into a top national and international tourism and convention destination stop. Indeed, the BBJ once named Moscaritolo one of Boston’s 100 most influential business people of the 20th Century. A huge congrats and thanks to Pat for a job well done.
Legislation would guarantee UI funds to future locked out workers
This is in direct reaction to the recent National Grid lock-out of more than 1,200 workers. From Shira Schoenberg at MassLive: “Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, and Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, have introduced a bill that would avoid similar scrambles in the future, by guaranteeing unemployment benefits for workers who are locked out during a labor dispute.”
Casino opponents ask to have say in Tribe’s lawsuit against feds
Opponents of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s East Taunton casino proposal are asking a federal judge to let them have a say in the tribe’s lawsuit seeking to overturn an Interior Department ruling that wiped out its claim to the land it would be built on, Tanner Stening reports at the Cape Cod Times.
Celebrate! with Flying Ship Productions – Rosa’s Ride
This moving production with original songs, inspirational scenes, and exciting dances traces how Rosa Parks handled various experiences of discrimination leading up to the famous Montgomery, Alabama bus incident sparking the modern civil rights movement.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Rockland Chamber Annual Breakfast: Rockland Moving Forward
Rockland and South Shore Chamber members are invited to attend the Rockland Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Breakfast. This year’s theme is “Rockland Moving Forward” and will feature the key leadership who are guiding the community forward.
South Shore/Rockland Chamber of Commerce
Diverse Professional Roundtable – Business Meeting
Diverse Professionals Roundtable is a professional association, sponsored by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, committed to the development of professional and personal relationships among senior leaders of racial and ethnic diversity in Central Massachusetts. DPR members grow and expand their influence and make a positive impact on the Worcester community.
NPO Group’s 2019 Annual Meeting
You’re invited to our first meeting of 2019! The NPO Group’s Annual Meeting agenda includes: networking, discussion on hot topics affecting NPOs, and the election of Steering Committee Officers and Members.
South Shore Chamber of Commerce
Business After Hours – February 2019 – Redemption Rock Brewing Co.
Business After Hours is an opportunity for you to network with other Chamber members and guests. Meet new contacts, develop new leads, and exchange ideas. Join us and hundreds of area professionals for a fun, informal networking event!
Building and Furthering a Career in Commercial Real Estate
Hear dynamic young professionals from NAIOP’s Developing Leaders program discuss their careers, how they got started, and the many opportunities available in the industry today.
Water: The Global Crisis and What Must Be Done Now
There is a global water crisis — increasing drought, desertification, floods, migrations, and social justice stressors. This forum will focus on the connection between the unfolding climate catastrophe and the water crisis; outline a global view of the ecological problems; focus on places that serve as case studies of resource scarcity and conflict; and point toward possible solutions.
herNetwork Women Mean Business Spring Conference 2019
herNetwork cordially invites you to our Women Mean Business conference! Our theme this year is “The Power of You.” The purpose of our conference is to empower, educate, and connect our students of all majors and years with other students and with professionals across a broad range of fields.
Rally: US Hands off Venezuela!
Join us as we support Venezuelan sovereignty and oppose US meddling in Venezuelan affairs, through sanctions and military threats.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
MIT’s invitation to Henry Kissinger is controversial – Boston Globe
State expects lane closures during Prudential tunnel extension – BU News Service
Massachusetts
Framingham rejects Tippling Rock Trading Post plan for Nobscot – MetroWest Daily News
Nation
Investigators find ‘ballot fraud’ in North Carolina race – New York Times
California leads 16 states in lawsuit against Trump national emergency declaration – Politico
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