Happening Today
RMV Merit Rating Board, casino proposal for Wareham, and more
— Boston Mayor Martin Walsh participates in the Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon on WEEI’s Greg Hill Show, 93.7 FM, 9:30 a.m.
— Notos Group LLC, a development partnership led by Thomas O’Connell, holds two press events at which it’s expected to announce plans for a proposed casino and racetrack in Wareham, the first at Granite Links Golf Club Ballroom, 100 Quarry Hills Drive, Quincy, 11 a.m. and the second at 257 Glen Charlie Road, Wareham, 3 p.m.
— The Registry of Motor Vehicles’ Merit Rating Board, which has been under fire this summer for its failure to act on thousands of interstate driving violations, holds a public meeting to ‘discuss several issues and topics,’ Transportation Board Room, 2nd floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 2 p.m.
— U.S. Rep. Richard Neal will join state Sen. Adam Hinds and Rep. Smitty Pignatelli to announce tax credit funds for the Eagle Mill development in Lee, Eagle Mill, Machine Shop, 73 West Center St., Lee, 2:30 p.m.
— Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Steve Hoffman is a guest on ‘Radio Boston,’ WBUR-FM 90.9, 3 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
Healey now finds herself at the center of the RMV storm
WGBH’s Mike Deehan reports that the RMV Merit Rating Board could decide today to give the heave to the leader of the unit that failed to process thousands of alerts about dangerous drivers.
But perhaps the board should reprimand and/or fire itself? The Globe’s Matt Stout reports that the obscure three-person panel, which apparently hasn’t met in years, includes none other than Attorney General Maura Healey, who’s previously been critical of the Baker administration’s handling of the RMV records-keeping saga and scandal.
In other RMV news, from the Herald’s Mary Markos: “Union president slams Charlie Baker for know-nothing stance in RMV scandal.” Specifically, the union is furious that a recent RMV audit actually named low-level state employees, reports SHNS’s Chris Lisinski (pay wall).
Suffolk Downs South? Developers to pitch casino and racetrack for Wareham
Boston’s Suffolk Downs may have hosted its last race earlier this summer. But Chloe Shelford at Wareham Week reports that a Quincy-based development team plans to unveil a proposal for a casino and horse-racing complex in Wareham, with press events scheduled today in Quincy and Wareham. Notos Group LLC, a partnership led by developer Thomas O’Connell, is pitching the project.
The Globe’s Jon Chesto and South Coast Today have more on the proposed project that’s seeking to obtain what others have failed to obtain: A coveted gaming license in southeastern Massachusetts. SHNS’s Colin Young (pay wall) reports that the proposal will require a legislative change to state law.
Meanwhile, MGM Springfield celebrates its first anniversary of glitz and missed revenue goals
Speaking of casinos in Massachusetts, Peter Goonan at MassLive reports that MGM Springfield officials are praising the first-year performance of their gambling mecca in downtown Springfield – despite the casino’s failure to come close to its own monthly revenue projections. And, of course, there’s the companywide staff reductions. Don’t forget about them.
Warren apologizes yet again to Native Americans
She wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t still a problem, perhaps picked up in her own internal polling, to wit: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren yesterday apologized yet again to Native Americans for her past claim of tribal ancestry, saying she was “sorry for the harm I have caused,” as the AP’s Elana Schor and Josh Funk at WGBH.
The Herald’s Hillary Chabot writes that the latest apology is a sign that Warren’s ancestry claims aren’t going away – and that President Trump and Republicans are already practicing their “Pocahontas” chants should the surging Warren win the Democratic nomination for president.
Loyalty tests: Markey-vs-Kennedy puts pressure on Dems to choose
As U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III mulls whether to challenge U.S. Sen. Ed Markey next year, the state’s senior senator, Elizabeth Warren, has released a video endorsing Markey, saying he has her “full support” as a “true progressive” in the Senate, reports Fausto Menard at WBUR.
So is this an early blow to Kennedy’s nudge-Markey-out-of-the-way strategy? Yes, but Warren is also saying very nice things about Kennedy too, as she and other Dems walk a local endorsement tightrope, reports the Globe’s Victoria McGrane and James Pindell.
Btw: There’s plenty of speculative and counter-speculative reports out there about who might run for what in Massachusetts, depending on what Kennedy ultimately decides to do. Among other things, McGrane and Pindell report Attorney General Maura Healey’s camp is shooting down the idea that Healey might be eyeing her own Senate bid. Meanwhile, Jim Hand at the Sun Chronicle reports that state Sen. Paul Feeney says “he wants nothing to do with speculation he might run for Congress next year if Rep. Joseph Kennedy III runs for Senate.”
Btw, II: The Globe’s Joan Vennochi has a memo to Kennedy: The Senate seat has to be earned, not handed to you as some sort of right.
Activists sue DCR over logging in Wendell State Forest
Douglas Hook at MassLive reports that 29 activists have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Conservation and Recreation over logging within Wendell State Forest, saying DCR “has engaged in a pattern and practice of violating, ignoring and/or misinterpreting laws and regulations meant to protect the environment.”
Louisiana lawmakers join Bay State officials in pushing for fed Vineyard Wind action
This is interesting. SHNS’s Colin Young reports that three Republican congressional members from Louisiana have “joined five federal lawmakers from Massachusetts in calling on the Trump administration to study the burgeoning offshore wind industry and its potential consequences quickly and without putting the Vineyard Wind project in peril.” The Louisiana folks apparently have suppliers in their districts keenly interested in the outcome of the Vineyard Wind project.
Meanwhile, Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine notes that members of the Massachusetts congregational delegation, including U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, seem to be softening their tone toward the Trump administration regarding Vineyard Wind.
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
Can you believe it? Report says Massachusetts among the least-friendly states
A new report says the Bay State is the fourth-least friendly state in the country, behind only Delaware, Arkansas and New York, which Big Seven Travel says is the least friendly state in the nation, Thomas Catenacci at NBC 10 Boston reports. Our quickie reaction: Delaware?
Anyway, Ken Jennings, the champ of all Jeapardy champs, is offering up a ‘gentle and sweet’ redefinition of ‘Masshole,’ reports Spencer Buell at Boston Magazine. As if we need help from a 15-minutes-of-fame guy in burnishing our image, the jerk.
Behind the recent South Shore Health suspensions: accreditation problems, negative bond ratings, leadership turmoil, etc., etc
It’s still not clear why two top South Shore Health executives were put on paid leave earlier this month. But the BBJ’s Jessica Bartlett reports that the backdrop of their departures was definitely lots of turmoil, including South Shore Hospital nearly losing its accreditation, negative bond rating reports and the sudden departure of another senior executive.
BPS pushing kids to take T to school while others abandon transit system
The Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter and Rick Sobey report that the Boston Public Schools are “pushing another 10,000 students to take the delay- and derailment-plagued MBTA to and from school, raising concerns about both tardiness and safety.”
Meanwhile, Andy Metzger and Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine report on an opposite trend: Ridership on the Red Line has never fully recovered from the June 11 derailment that knocked out the line’s signal system, causing a summer (and fall) of frustrating delays.
Man seeking damages over Northampton arrest is arrested again
Who could have seen this coming? Less than two weeks after his lawyer served the city with notice of a lawsuit seeking $700,000 in damages from past arrests, Eric Matlock was arrested again for disorderly conduct and other charges at a downtown protest tied to a local homeless issue, Bera Dunau at the Daily Hampshire Gazette reports. Matlock’s lawsuit alleges police misconduct in connection with a 2017 arrest during which he was pepper sprayed and subsequent interactions with police.
Environmentalists buck at compromise plastic-bag ban
The Globe’s Janelle Nanos reports that those who would normally back legislation that would ban carryout plastic shopping bags in Massachusetts are now opposed to a compromise plan on Beacon Hill, saying the revised bill could end up doing more environmental harm than good.
Supporters of caretaker registry quietly working on bill redraft
Speaking of Beacon Hill, SHNS’s Colin Young reports that, behind the scenes during the August legislative break, some advocates and policymakers are quietly working on a redraft of legislation that would create a registry of caretaker “abusers of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.”
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
From boutique hotel to student dorm? Suffolk University eyes purchase of Boston’s Ames Hotel
From the Globe’s Tim Logan: “In a sign of how far Boston schools will go to add student housing these days, Suffolk University appears poised to buy a well-known downtown hotel and convert it into a dormitory. Suffolk has an agreement to buy the Ames Hotel on Court Street, near City Hall, for use as a residence hall, a top university official confirmed Monday.”
Not on ballot, Almonte still making waves in Lawrence politics
She’s certainly stirring the pot. Former Lawrence City Councilor Sandy Almonte, who fell eight signatures short of gaining a spot on the November ballot in Lawrence, says she’ll launch a write-in campaign and is accusing other candidates of illegally obtaining signatures at City Hall, Bill Kirk reports at the Eagle-Tribune. It should be noted: Almonte stepped away from city politics in 2016 after being charged with assault in New Hampshire.
Weld says he’ll need $10M to do real damage to Trump in N.H.
Former Gov. Bill Weld tells the Washington Post Magazine’s David Montgomery that a true, full-on challenge to President Trump in the New Hampshire GOP primary would cost around $10 million — and Weld says he has a plan to collect about half that amount. The rest, he says, will arrive in “an absolute flood” as soon as polls show him gaining traction.
Since Weld raised less than $1 million in the first quarter — compared to $108 million for the president – we’ll be curious to see how much traction he gets.
‘The Codfather’ loses his right to fish forever
He’s going to need a new nickname. Carlos ‘The Codfather’ Rafael will not be allowed to return to commercial fishing after he finishes serving his 46-month sentence on conspiracy, tax evasion and other charges, reports Sean Horgan at the Gloucester Times.
Standing tall: Boston Marathon memorial is completed
The AP’s Philip Marcelo at WBUR reports that the memorial to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and its victims is now largely complete in Boston’s Back Bay. Check out the accompanying photo. It looks terrific: Simple, elegant, dignified. Universal Hub has a good photo of the memorial lit up last evening.
Authors@MIT | Nolen Gertz in Conversation with Robin James
Nolen Gertz in Conversation with Robin James discussing Gertz’s new book Nihilism
Town Hall Meeting on Climate Change with Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Katherine Clark
A community discussion will be held at Framingham High School with Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Katherine Clark, with plans to discuss “the Green New Deal resolution, a bold set of goals that calls for a national mobilization to transform the economy, fight climate change, and create millions of jobs.”
Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
A housing professional will provide an overview of tenant rights and responsibilities.
City of Boston’s Office of Housing Stability
2019 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
Global Engagement Networking Night
Join WorldBoston, BNID, and UNAGB, three local international relations organizations, for an exciting evening on international affairs!
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Memorial to victims of Boston Marathon bombing completed – WBUR
Boston Celtics said to be looking to replace GE logo patch – Boston Business Journal
Massachusetts
Marshfield water issues drag into 9th day – Patriot Ledger
Northampton charter panel to review elected status of city clerk – Daily Hampshire Gazette
Nation
Trump impeachment push gets important ally – Politico
Oregon has way too much legal weed. This is where it’s going – Vice
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