Happening Today
Health Connector, Gaming Commission, Cannabis Control
— Health Connector Board meets, with Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders chairing, 50 Milk St., 8th Floor, Boston, 9 a.m.
— Mass. Gaming Commission meets to get an update on 2020 racing applications, discuss the process for the renewal of Plainridge Park Casino’s license, and other issues, 101 Federal St., 12th floor, Boston, 10 a.m.
— Cannabis Control Commission meets to get an update on correspondence related to Fall River and the commission’s ‘financial due diligence’ before digging into other license-related issues, Western New England University School of Law, 1215 Wilbraham Rd., Springfield, 10 a.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, Sen. Adam Hinds and Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening of the Wayfair Sales and Service Center, 75 S. Church Street, Pittsfield, 10:30 a.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Sen. Adam Hinds and Rep. Smitty Pignatelli gather for a Make-Ready Core Bore Utility Pole Replacement site visit to make an announcement relative to the Last Mile program, 80 Chester Road, Blandford, 12:30 p.m.
— The Registry of Motor Vehicles’ three-member Merit Rating Board meets to hear an update on a search for a permanent director., State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 2 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
Ready for the rain?
Just fyi: Brace yourself for some heavy rains and strong winds today, amid warnings of dangerous flooding, power outages and wind damage in general in eastern Massachusetts. Emily Sweeney at the Globe and Michelle Williamsat MassLive have the ugly-forecast details.
Case of measles confirmed in Boston, first in six years
One more non-political item before getting to the (mostly) political items: EEE, West Nile Virus, vaping illnesses and now this, from Roberto Scalese at WBUR: “A Boston resident has tested positive for measles. It’s the first reported case in the city since 2013 and the third this year in Massachusetts, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.” A list of all the places the victim visited just prior to being diagnosed accompanies the story. And, unfortunately, it’s a long list.
‘The Elizabeth Warren pregnancy smear’
The counter-offensive has begun against allegations, first raised in right-wing media outlets, that U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren hasn’t exactly been clear about why she left a New Jersey teaching job way back in 1971. Margaret Sullivan at the Washington Post is slamming the “smear campaign” – and the MSM for following the right-wing media.
Meanwhile, from the Globe’s Yvonne Abraham: “Let’s not do this again: False equivalencies and women running for president.” From the Globe’s Joan Vennochi: “I believe Warren’s pregnancy story.” The AP at MassLive reports that Warren better get used to such attacks and heightened scrutiny in general, now that she’s the Democratic front-runner for president.
Warren vows to forgo big money in general election too – if she’s nominated
Speaking of Warren, from the NYT: “Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who has risen in the Democratic presidential primary on her pledge to forgo traditional big-money fund-raisers, said this week that if she became the nominee she would continue to skip such events, a reversal of what her position has been throughout 2019.”
ActBlue: Leading the small-donor revolution
Here’s part of the reason why Elizabeth Warren feels comfortable swearing off big donations from big donors: Somerville-based ActBlue, which has become the go-to place for Dem candidates digitally trying to raise small-donor money. We’re talking billions of dollars that ActBlue has helped raise for both national and local candidates. Adam Reilly at WGBH has an update on the small-donor revolution led by ActBlue.
Healey: How can you be a bankrupt billionaire?
In a Globe opinion piece, Attorney General Maura Healey belittles the latest attempt by Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to dismiss her legal lawsuit against the opioid-peddling duo, saying they’re merely using bankruptcy courts to protect the billions of dollars they’ve stashed away. And she basically asks: Are billionaires really bankrupt while keeping billions of dollars in other accounts? Good question.
Local Kurds protest Turkish military action; Neal condemns Trump policy
Simón Ríos at WBUR reports on a small rally held yesterday outside the State House to protest Turkey’s military attacks on America’s steadfast Kurdish allies in Syria, thanks to President Trump’s greenlighting of the military action by Turkey.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal is among local pols condemning Trump’s highly unpopular foreign policy move, saying the “air and artillery strikes we are witnessing today in northern Syria against Kurdish military forces are tragic, disturbing and completely unnecessary,” according to a report by Jim Kinney at MassLive.
Mystery votes: So why do two Governor’s Council members routinely object to state paying its bills?
SHNS’s Chris Lisinski reports on the how two Governor’s Council members, Robert Jubinville and Marilyn Devaney, routinely vote against approving state government’s financial warrants that allow the Treasury to pay bills. But the two decline to say why they object to the warrants. So the mystery goes on. Perhaps WGBH’s Curiosity Desk can help find the answer?
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
Case clothed: Lynnfield firefighter gets community service after naked store jaunt
The former Lynnfield fire captain who made national headlines in April after witnesses said he strolled into a Rhode Island convenience store wearing only the bare minimum has dropped his not guilty plea and will perform 10 hours of community service — presumably with his clothes on. Thomas Grillo reports at the Lynn Item that John H. Walsh, who retired over the summer, was also ordered to donate $500 to charity.
New Hampshire vaping retailers: ‘Thank You, Gov. Baker’
Zeninjor Enwemeka at WBUR reports how Massachusetts vapers are crossing the border into New Hampshire to buy vaping-related items, now that Gov. Charlie Baker has imposed a four-month emergency ban on the sale of all vaping products in Massachusetts. Needless to say, New Hampshire retailers appreciate the new business.
Is it ‘lights out’ for CRRC’s trolley factory in Springfield?
They don’t appear to be bluffing. From Jim Kinney at MassLive: “CRRC MA executives told the city’s Statehouse delegation Wednesday that the mammoth rail car factory in East Springfield could close in 2024 if it misses out on new business making transit cars for railroads, subways and trolley systems.”
Among other things, the factory’s Chinese owners are miffed over the MBTA’s recent order of passenger rail cars from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem, even though CRRC is currently building the T’s new Red and Orange Line cars. Speaking of CRRC cars, from Universal Hub: “First two new Red Line cars now in Boston.” UH has a photo of the big delivery (and we’re talking big).
Amazon to Holyoke job seekers: Don’t call us, we’ll call you
It’s being billed as an “invite only” hiring process. It really isn’t. It’s more like text applying for an application – then waiting to get a call/text back for a job interview. In any event, Amazon’s hiring process for its new Holyoke distribution center is definitely unusual, as Jim Kinney reports at MassLive.
Althea Garrison creates a stir at forum by being … Althea Garrison
Saraya Wintersmith at WGBH reports on what appears to be a typical performance of City Councilor Althea Garrison behaving like Althea Garrison at a recent candidates’ forum in Boston – and the tut-tutting over her “outrageous” views and remarks etc. etc. To which we say: Get a grip. It’s only Althea, for heaven’s sake.
Re-what? Fall River officials baffled over CCC pot-certification request
It’s your problem now. That’s the basic message from the city of Fall River to the Cannabis Control Commission, which had asked local officials to “recertify” host community agreements signed by indicted Mayor Jasiel Correia. Jo C. Goode at the Herald News reports the city council is backing Corporation Counsel Joseph Macy’s stance that state law gives no guidance on what recertification would look like and that local officials’ hands are essentially tied while their mayor fights federal bribery charges for allegedly shaking down pot companies.
Baker on withheld RMV documents: ‘Nobody’s hiding anything’
Yet more proof that the administration’s Friday audit-dump ploy didn’t work. From the Herald’s Mary Markos and Sean Philip Cotter: “Gov. Charlie Baker is insisting that ‘nobody’s hiding anything’ despite withholding over 53,000 documents from the outside auditing firm hired by his administration to conduct a costly review of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. ‘Everything they asked for, they got,’ Baker said Wednesday. ‘Nobody’s hiding anything.’
Meanwhile, the tab for the outside RMV audit: $1.1 million
Spin control is getting mighty expensive these days. From the Herald’s Marky Markos, once again: “Gov. Charlie Baker has run up a $1.1 million tab of high-priced hourly rates, airfares, meals and hotel bills on a private Chicago-based auditing firm — keeping the critical RMV investigation under his control, when critics say he could have handed off the inquiry to the state’s elected auditor or inspector general.”
Can the geniuses of Kendall Square solve the problem of traffic congestion?
They won’t win a Nobel Prize for this. But they sure will earn the gratitude of countless commuters if the Kendall Square folks can solve the traffic congestion problem in their neighborhood – and the state. The Globe’s Jon Chesto reports on the new Kendall Square group formed to tackle the issue of chronic traffic gridlock.
Scary stuff: Salem Horror Fest booted from venue due to anti-Trump salvos
The latest political witching-hour story from Salem, via the Herald’s Stefan Geller: “A Salem horror festival that posts anti-Trump message on social media has been forced to find a new venue to screen scary movies after officials with the government-owned building said they can’t be associated with an overtly political group.”
Is Taunton a key piece of Polito’s future political empire?
First a controversial heads-up. Now fundraising assistance. Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine reports on the latest way Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito is trying to boost the mayoral campaign of Rep. Shaunna O’Connell in Taunton. Polito really wants O’Connell elected mayor, that’s for sure.
Susan B. Anthony museum hit by alleged insider theft
From Scott Stafford at the Berkshire Eagle: “The former head of the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum (in Adams) has been accused of embezzling $31,000 from the nonprofit over a period of nearly three years. Colleen Janz, 45, of Florida, was arraigned on a larceny charge earlier this month in Northern Berkshire District Court.”
Resolution sparks abortion-rights debate in Billerica
A resolution that critics saw as an attack on abortion rights was pulled from the Billerica Town Meeting agenda the other night, after protesters dressed in red Handmaid’s Tale garb chanted before the meeting “My body my choice” and waved signs reading ““Women’s Rights Are Basic Human Rights.” Joy Hosford at Wicked Local has the details. Emma Murphy at the Lowell Sun also has coverage of the pre-meeting protest.
Warren, Markey and Lynch press CEO to cancel compressor station project
They’re going straight to the source. Members of the state’s Congressional delegation are asking the CEO of Enbridge to drop his company’s plan to build a natural gas compressor station that has sparked outcry from local residents and criticism of the state’s scrutiny of the project, Jessica Trufant reports at the Patriot Ledger. U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren co-signed a letter to Enbridge President and CEO AI Monaco along with U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch that asks the company to ‘immediately seek an alternative for this project.’
Liberians pack Worcester court to protest Trump’s immigration policies
Dozens of Liberian nationals packed a federal courtroom in Worcester where a judge heard arguments on President Trump’s decision to roll back a program that allows refugees from that country to stay in the U.S., Brad Petrishen reports at the Telegram.
Forever at Home – An Evening to Celebrate and Support Boston Senior Home Care
Boston Senior Home Care’s Annual Fundraiser will be held at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood on October 16, 2019. This annual event raises about $175,000 each year for BSHC thanks to our sponsors, donors and attendees. The event is a fun night filled with music from Boston’s own Rich DiMare, delicious food and drink, and amazing auction items to bid on!
Race in the Public Dialogue: History, Free Speech and Civil Rights
Panelists will focus on the history of free speech and civil rights in the context of academia and the university campus.
Museum of African American History
Boston Speakers Series: Zanny Minton Beddoes
Named one of the “Most Powerful Women in the World” by Forbes, Beddoes is the first female editor-in-chief of The Economist, a post she has held since 2015. Prior to her 25-year tenure with The Economist, she was an economist at the International Monetary Fund.
2019 Financial Experience Design Conference
FXD, a one-and-a-half-day conference, is a select gathering of more than 150 executives, experts, visionaries, and progressive thinkers from across the insurance, banking, wealth management, and fintech industries.
Revolutionize – Presented by Aging2.0 Boston & Age Friendly Foundation
The Boston Chapter of Aging 2.0, together with the Age Friendly Foundation, is pleased to announce “Revolutionize”. Join us on October 25, 2019 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston for our inaugural conference. Let’s revolutionize our approach to aging by promoting creative collaborations among the varied sectors engaged in aging services.
Aging2.0 Boston & Age Friendly Foundation
The Good Fight, ADL’s Forum on Confronting Anti-Semitism
Join the Boston community for an informative and hands-on day dedicating to combating anti-Semitism. This one-day forum will include presentations by leading experts on anti-Semitism and skill building workshops for adults, students, and families. Participants will leave with an actionable toolkit for confronting anti-Semitism.
WorldBoston 10th Annual Consuls Reception
The Consuls Reception convenes the 60-member local Consular Corps and some 200 leaders from business, government, academia, and the arts for a lively evening of networking, hors d’oeuvres, and drinks – all against the sparkling backdrop of Boston Harbor by night. Ambassador Susan E. Rice, the former National Security Advisor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, will provide remarks.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
TD Garden is rethinking its new seats after all the complaints – Boston Magazine
First case of measles in a Bostonian since 2013 confirmed – Universal Hub
Massachusetts
Dartmouth teachers picket expenses while super charges violation – Standard-Times
Polar Park gets greenlight on construction – Telegram & Gazette
Embattled Dracut town manager resigns – Lowell Sun
Nation
For first time, Biden makes direct call for impeachment – Politico
Massive power outage presents a ‘stark new reality’ for California – Washington Post
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