Happening Today
Health Connector, German president and more
— Gov. Charlie Baker, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and others gather for the grand opening of Akamai’s new headquarters, a 19-story tower that the company says is the tallest building in Kendall Square, 145 Broadway, Kendall Square, 2 p.m.
— UMass Lowell opens its new cybersecurity education center, called the Cyber Range, with U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, state Rep. Tom Golden, Lowell Mayor William Samaras and others attending, the MassCyberCenter Center at MassTech, Wannalancit Business Center, 600 Suffolk St., Lowell, 9 a.m.
— U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch discusses the impeachment inquiry and other matters on ‘Boston Public Radio,’ WGBH-FM 89.7, 11 a.m.
— Mass. Health Connector, the state’s health insurance exchange, will kick off open enrollment, which runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 23, 291 Bennington St., East Boston, 11 a.m.
— Udit Batra, CEO of MilliporeSigman, hosts German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to learn more about the company’s operations in Massachusetts and across the US, MilliporeSigma Life Science Center, 400 Summit Drive (GPS: 400 Wheeler Drive), Burlington, 1:15 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
Seeing double: Pete Buttigieg as Brad Stevens? Mitt’s grandson as Pierre Delecto?
You gotta check out the photos accompanying Nik DeCosta-Klipa’s piece at Boston.com, showing Pete Buttigieg dressed up as Celts coach Brad Stevens on Halloween – and Brad Stevens responding by dressing up as Pete Buttigieg. A “near-splitting image” indeed.
Meanwhile, check out the photo, via the Boston Globe, of Mitt Romney’s Belmont grandson dressing up as Pierre Delecto, the former Massachusetts governor’s Twitter nom de guerre. It’s pretty much how we pictured Pierre. Btw: Spencer Buell at Boston Magazine says it may be time for U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton to stick a pitch fork in his witch-hunt/Salem jokes.
Solemn indeed
A lot has been written on yesterday’s vote by House Democrats to officially launch the public phase of the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. But this piece by the Globe’s Jazmine Ulloa and Ryan Wangman captures the underlying solemn mood of both Democrats and Republicans in the deeply divided House, not to mention the solemn mood of many Americans.
Meanwhile, from Boston Magazine’s Spencer Buell: “Jim McGovern Opens Impeachment Vote: ‘This Is a Sad Day for Our Country.’ From SHNS’s Colin Young (pay wall): ‘Mass. Delegation Helps Approve Impeachment Resolution.’ We also liked this piece, via WBUR, on Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe’s impeachment-proceedings advice to Democrats, which is basically: Keep the charges simple.
Charlie Baker’s Super PAC: Money for both Republicans and Democrats?
We eagerly await Howie Carr’s thoughts on the matter. From SHNS’s Matt Murphy: “A new super PAC closely tied to Gov. Charlie Baker and funded by a familiar ensemble of well-heeled GOP donors has been spending heavily this fall in local elections, backing both Democrats and Republicans. The Massachusetts Majority super PAC has reported spending $267,429 to support candidates for mayoralties and city councils.”
The MetroWest Daily News has identified one of the PAC’s donations: $24,000 to a city council candidate in Framingham.
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
PACs: Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em
Speaking of PACs, David Bernstein at WGBH notes the recent establishment of a Super PAC by Boston’s Larry Rasky, on behalf of his pal Joe Biden, and concludes the new fund and other PACs show how hard it is for many Democrats to resist the call of big-money donors.
Battle of Bunker Hill musket sells for $492,000
Universal Hub reports, via Bearing Arms, that the first musket reportedly fired at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 has sold at auction for $492,000. The musket, originally owned by Private John Simpson, was recently put up for sale by family descendants who have owned the firearm for nearly 250 years.
Senate strips out controversial change on appointing top campaign regulator
File under: ‘Nice try’? From SHNS’s Chris Lisinski (pay wall): “The Massachusetts Senate is primed to act next week on a bill that includes a House plan to overhaul how political candidates report fundraising and spending but strips out controversial language on how the top campaign finance regulator is selected.”
Speaking of differences between the Senate and House, from Andy Metzger at CommonWealth magazine: “Senate chair knocks House handling of tax break.” It’s the controversial tax break that was tucked into the House supplemental budget, a budget that has yet to be passed by lawmakers, as SHNS’s Colin Young reports (pay wall).
Free bus service instead of a gondola in Seaport?
The Globe’s Shirley Leung reports that, sure, the dream of a Seaport gondola may be over. But the Seaport Transportation Management Association has a more practical idea in mind: Potentially free bus service to relieve traffic in the notoriously congested neighborhood. Actually, we wish we could have both. And a skating rink. Don’t forget the skating rink.
In Brockton, accusations fly over $6 million bus account shortfall
Speaking of buses, they’re searching for some cash in Brockton — and maybe a scapegoat too. The Brockton School Committee says the acting mayor and city council are out of line in acting surprised that the district’s busing account is $6 million in the red and trying to cast aspersions on the city’s late mayor in the process, Marc Larocque reports at the Enterprise.
When it comes to the transportation debate, it’s taxes, taxes, taxes
One more transportation item, as many get revved up in anticipation of the House possibly taking up a transportation bill later this month. From the Herald’s Mary Markos: “Gas taxes could leave drivers doubly down in the dumps.” From CommonWealth magazine’s Bruce Mohl: “T control board leans toward new revenue.” And from SHNS’s Michael Norton (pay wall): “Coalition urges members to back biz tax measures.
Boston School Committee learns the lockstep
The Herald’s headline pretty much says it all: “Echo Chamber: Boston School Committee voted unanimously on 111 agenda items.” But for further elaboration, from the paper’s Alexi Cohan: “The Boston School Committee voted unanimously on 111 agenda items in the past year — every bit of business before the board with the sole exception of a 5-2 vote on the new superintendent, a Herald review has found. The lockstep voting pattern is prompting advocates to question whether the seven-member board is just a rubber stamp for Mayor Martin Walsh.”
For DraftKings, it’s the sports gambling, stupid
The Globe’s Andy Rosen has a good piece this morning that A.) Confirms Boston’s DraftKings is now in talks to be sold to another firm and B.) Confirms that a lot of companies would love to own DraftKings for its sports-gambling potential, not its chump-change fantasy sports business.
Destroying it to save it: Lovely mulls fix to rather large historic preservation loophole
She’s having serious second thoughts. State Sen. Joan Lovely says she may file legislation to close a loophole that allowed historic preservation credits to go to a Beverly developer whose corporate successor now plans to raze structures the credits were aimed to save. Paul Leighton reports at the Salem News that Lovely had advocated for the credits in 2014 but says the decision by a subsequent development team to change course is ‘disheartening.’
Not so nice: Weld and fellow GOP Trump challengers blocked from ballot in Minnesota
What happened to Minnesota nice? The Gopher State’s Republican party has joined those in several other states in excluding challengers to President Trump — including former Mass. Gov. William Weld — from the 2020 primary ballot, Rachel Frazin reports in The Hill.
No news: Out of Town News kiosk officially closes its doors
The shelves are empty. The employees have bid farewell. And now the Out of Town News kiosk, a feature of Harvard Square since 1954, has officially closed, as of yesterday, according to reports at CBS Boston and the Herald.
A voter’s guide to Boston’s 2019 city council elections
Gabrielle Emanuel and Isaiah Thompson at WGBH have an excellent voter’s guide to next Tuesday’s city council elections in Boston. They’re all there, including Althea Garrison, whose electoral fate has everyone in Boston on the edge of their city-government seats. Well, maybe not. But she is a character.
Angry alum: Congresswoman blasts Harvard’s crackdown on single-gender social groups
Samuel Zwickel at the Harvard Crimson reports that U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, a New York Republican and Harvard alum, is furious at Harvard’s new rules that bar members of single-gender Greek groups and final clubs from leading extracurricular organizations, holding athletic captaincies, and receiving college endorsements for prestigious fellowships – and she thinks it’s time for legislation protecting students.
Exxon Mobil’s worst legal nightmare: Maura Healey
The Globe’s Scot Lehigh has a column this morning on how ExxonMobil seems to be a little bit cocky following Attorney General Maura Healey’s announcement that she plans to sue the oil giant for allegedly misleading investors about what it knew about climate change. But ExxonMobil may not be cocky for long, writes Lehigh.
Company owner convicted of manslaughter in trench-collapse deaths
From the Herald’s Lisa Kashinsky: “A drain pipe company owner has been convicted of manslaughter in connection with the tragic drowning of two workers in a South End trench collapse in 2016 — providing a sense of closure to one of the victim’s families three years after the horrific incident.”
State trooper who posted racist rants pleads not guilty to shooting-incident charges
From Tanner Stening at MassLive: “Matthew Sheehan, a Massachusetts State Police trooper on indefinite suspension after making racist comments online, was arraigned Thursday on assault and weapons charges after he shot an ATV driver during a police confrontation in February. Sheehan pleaded not guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault with a dangerous weapon in Suffolk Superior Court.” The confrontation followed the infamous dirt-bike chase on I-93 in 2018, if you recall.
Meanwhile, State Police commander clears trooper of falsifying records in ‘Troopergate’
We almost forgot about ‘Troopergate,’ the granddaddy of all the recent State Police scandals. The Globe’s Andrea Estes reports that State Police chief Kerry Gilpin has cleared a trooper who he said was forced to falsify records to protect a judge’s daughter accused of drunk driving in 2017.
The proposed menthol cigarettes ban: Not cool with grocery store owners
WGBH’s Mike Deehan reports on the proposal to ban menthol cigarettes in Massachusetts, an idea that grocery store owners say is simply going too far, as Felicia Gans reports at the Globe.
Northampton eyes voting rights for non-citizens
This should lead to a lively debate. A panel reviewing possible changes to the city of Northampton’s charter wants to give noncitizens the right to vote in local elections. But Greta Jochem at the Daily Hampshire Gazette says the change would require state approval and so …
Sunday public affairs TV: Jim Rooney, Stephen Lynch and more
This Week in Business, NECN, 10 a.m. Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Rooney on the business community’s ideas to fix the state’s transportation troubles; Veracode CEO Sam King on the cybersecurity company; and Shirley Leung of the Boston Globe on the state’s slightly contracting economy, Fed interest rate cuts, and other local business issues.
CEO Corner, NECN, 10:30 a.m. AIS CEO Bruce Platzman discusses the company’s office furniture-making factory, showroom and headquarters in Leominster.
On The Record, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 11 a.m. This week’s guest: U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, who talks with hosts Ed Harding and Janet Wu, followed by a roundtable discussion with Democratic political analyst Mary Anne Marsh and Republican political analyst Rob Gray.
CityLine, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 12 p.m. With host Karen Holmes Ward, this week’s topic: History on Stage, with ‘Rent’ actors Aiyana Smash and Samantha Mbolewka featured.
We Did It For You! Women’s Journey Through History
“We Did It For You! Women’s Journey Through History” is coming to Needham Town Hall for a special performance on Sunday, November 3, 2019 at 3:00 pm. “We Did It For You!” is a powerful musical that tells of the struggles and triumphs women have undergone to get their basic rights in America.
League of Women Voters of Needham
A Roadmap to Health Care Price Transparency in Massachusetts
Did you know… 7 in 10 Massachusetts consumers want access to health care price information? Join us for a lively and informative discussion on the state of health care price transparency and steps we can take to make this information more accessible.
Catalyst for Change 2019
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) will honor U.S. Representative Jim McGovern as the recipient of its 5th Annual Catalyst for Change Award at an annual event on November 4th. MLRI is a nationally recognized nonprofit poverty law and policy center. Rep. Jim McGovern will be honored for his leadership and work to advance policies that help people in poverty.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
State Library Author Talk: Richard W. Judd
Was Henry a Hippie? Locating Thoreau in a Changing Modern World: An Author Talk with Dr. Richard W. Judd
State Library of Massachusetts
Top Women of Law
The Top Women of Law event celebrates outstanding achievements made by exceptional women lawyers. Each year Lawyers Weekly honors women attorneys who have made tremendous professional strides and demonstrated great accomplishments in the legal field, which includes: pro bono, social justice, advocacy and business.
2019 Distinguished Real Estate Awards Gala
2019 NAIOP Distinguished Real Estate Awards Gala honoring MIT Investment Management Company
Suffrage 100 – Massachusetts Women at the Forefront of Change
Fredie Kay, Founder and President of Suffrage100MA, will discuss the the suffrage movement in American and Massachusetts history.
MHSA Second Annual Gala
Please join the Middlesex Human Service Agency (MHSA) on November 7, 2019, as we celebrate our second annual gala and present the G. Peter Donovan award to James J. O’Connell, MD, President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless.
Middlesex Human Service Agency (MHSA)
Race in the Public Dialogue: Understanding Criminal Justice Reform
Panelists will lead a conversation on the present state and future of criminal justice reform and mass incarceration.
Museum of African American History
EPA Region 1: Risk Assessment & Emergency Response Plan Training
The U.S. EPA will be holding a one-day training to provide drinking water utilities with detailed information on America’s Water Infrastructure Act: Section 2013 and 2018. Specifically the training will cover the new risk assessment and emergency response plan requirements.
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Water Security Division
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Echo chamber: Boston School Committee voted unanimously on 111 agenda items – Boston Herald
A free bus to get around the Seaport? Beats a gondola – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Questions remain on Millbury town manager’s leave – Telegram & Gazette
Falmouth officials questioned over handling of asbestos pipe – Cape Cod Times
Multiple swastikas drawn on UMass Fine Arts Center: Police investigating – MassLive
Nation
Trump changes primary residence to Florida – The Hill
On impeachment fight, neither side seems willing to give an inch – New York Times
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