Happening Today
Gaming Commission, tear gas and rubber bullets ban, and more
— Mass. Gaming Commission is expected to vote on the minimum required standards for casino reopenings, 10 a.m.
— Governor’s Council interviews Judge Edward McDonough, who currently serves on the Appeals Court, for a transfer to the Superior Court, Room 157, 11 a.m.
— Boston City Council holds a virtual Zoom meeting to consider a previously proposed ordinance that would restrict the use of crowd control chemicals, such as tear gas, and ‘less-lethal’ projectiles, such as rubber bullets, 12 p.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker joins First Lady Lauren Baker, former Gov. Deval Patrick and former First Lady Diane Patrick for Project 351’s virtual leadership event, 7 p.m.
— Four campaigns hoping to place statewide ballot questions before voters this year face a deadline to file signatures with local election officials for certification.
For the most comprehensive listing of calendar items, check out State House News Service’s Daily Advances (pay wall – free trial subscriptions available), as well as MassterList’s Beacon Hill Town Square below.
Today’s Stories
Beacon Hill policing reforms: Here they come
State Rep. Russell Holmes, a member of the Black and Latino Caucus at the State House, is among those expecting, or hoping, Gov. Charlie Baker unveils today his proposed policing reforms in Massachusetts, including proposals for certification of cops and more police accountability, reports Erin Tiernan at the Herald.
Meanwhile, from SHNS’s Katie Lannan (pay wall): “Reps See Hill Now Coalescing Around Police Standards Bill.” And from the Globe’s Gal Tziperman Lotan: “Police union leaders, Black and Latino legislators agree on building blocks for reform.” Speaking of police unions, political columnist Jeff Jacoby has one of the most top read pieces at the Globe this morning: “Don’t reform police unions. Abolish them.”
Local policing reforms: Here they come
As lawmakers on Beacon Hill mull state-level proposals on police reforms, local government officials across the state are taking matters into their own hands amid demands for action. Here’s some sample headlines and summaries, starting with the Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter: “Boston councilors call to limit police use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets.” … From the Globe’s Milton Valencia and Meghan Irons: “Amid protests, focus turns to police in Boston schools.” … From the Berkshire Eagle Tribune: “Pittsfield leaders plot a new path to city’s policing.” … From the MetroWest Daily News: ““Spicer declares racism a public health crisis in Framingham.” … From Quincy Walters at WBUR: “Protesters Call On DA Rachael Rollins To Reopen Coleman, Rahim Cases.” … From MassLive: “Springfield City Council, armed with new lawyers, prepares to fight for return of police commission.” Note: The Springfield dispute dates back a while, but it’s found new life recently. … Sometimes the policing trend is moving in the opposite direction. From the Telegram: “Worcester council OKs budget with police increase over callers’ objections.”
And, finally, the Globe, in an editorial, is criticizing the city of Boston’s stop-and-frisk program that has led to mostly African-Americans being stopped and frisked.
Andelman ousted as CEO of Phantom Gourmet after mocking anti-racism protests
He’s out. Dave Andelman has lost his job as CEO of Phantom Gourmet – as well as his ownership stake in the TV-show production company – as a result of his ugly social-media comments about recent protesters and protests following the death of George Floyd. And he’s also out at Mendon Twin Drive-In. Boston Magazine’s Alyssa Vaughn and MassLive’s Scott Croteau have the details. Note: Andelman’s brother, Dan, who’s host of the now-suspended Phantom Gourmet show, is remaining with the company.
Loose lips in Swampscott?
The Globe’s Dugan Arnett reports on how a bartender in Swampscott says he overheard a town selectman allegedly making snide remarks about Black Lives Matter movement “liberal b——t” — and later posted a description of the incident on Facebook. And then he found himself without a job. Controversy has ensued.
The coronavirus numbers: 18 deaths, 7,665 total deaths, 195 new cases
MassLive has the latest coronavirus numbers for Massachusetts.
UMass model: Coronavirus deaths could hit 8,309 by July 11 in Massachusetts
You have to scroll down a bit to get to the UMass part, but the Globe’s Martin Finucane and Jaclyn Reiss report that a new UMass model projects the coronavirus death toll could reach 8,309 by July 11 in Massachusetts – despite recent falling coronavirus-case numbers. That’s a big increase. Let’s hope the model is wrong.
Senate approves expanded vote-by-mail bill
SHNS’s Chris Van Buskirk reports that the state Senate, amid coronavirus social-distancing concerns, yesterday approved its own version of legislation that would expand voting by mail in Massachusetts, setting up negotiations with House members to resolve bill differences and hopefully sending final legislation to Gov. Charlie Baker within a few weeks, if not days.
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
Clark proposes $10B fund to help day-care centers to reopen
The Baker administration recently eased reopening restrictions on child-care facilities in Massachusetts. But U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark thinks much more needs to be done to help child-care facilities across the nation – and she’s filed a bill that would create a $10 billion fund to help struggling centers to reopen, as Alysha Palumbo reports at NBC Boston .
Bridal shops throwing fit over reopening rules
And, yes, we stole the headline from the Globe, where Janelle Nanos reports that a key segment of the Wedding Bride Industrial Complex, i.e. bridal shops, is beset by controversy over how fitting rooms must remain closed under Gov. Baker’s reopening guidelines, even if bridal shops are allowed to open in general.
Meanwhile, Plainridge chomping at the bit to resume harness racing next month
Plainridge Park Racecourse still needs Gov. Charlie Baker’s Phase 3 reopening approval, but officials say the track is ready and eager to launch harness racing early next month, with appropriate social-distancing measures in place, of course. SHNS’s Colin Young (pay wall) has the details.
From lockdown to locked up: Judge orders Oxford gym shut after defying Baker’s closure orders
CBS Boston reports that a Worcester Superior Court judge has ruled the town of Oxford can use whatever means necessary to close a town gym that’s repeatedly defied the state’s coronavirus closure orders — up to and including changing the locks and boarding up the gym building.
Blacks facing ‘Pandemic … Within Pandemic’
From SHNS’s Michael Norton: “Fifty-nine percent of Black domestic workers in the Boston area have either lost their jobs or experienced fewer hours and a decline in pay during the COVID-19 crisis, according to newly released survey results, which also found that 52 percent of those workers received no safety clothing or personal protective equipment from their employers.”
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
Reminder to readers: SHNS Coronavirus Tracker available for free
A reminder to our readers as the coronavirus crisis unfolds: The paywalled State House News Service, which produces MASSterList, is making its full Coronavirus Tracker available to the community for free on a daily basis each morning via ML. SHNS Coronavirus Tracker.
Pot workers of Massachusetts, unite!
The Globe’s Dan Adams reports on aggressive campaigns to unionize marijuana workers in Massachusetts, including a planned vote next week by about 100 workers at the New England Treatment Access (NETA) marijuana store in Brookline on whether to form a union.
Harvard law professor apologizes for ‘cosmetics’ description of black female candidates
The Herald’s Joe Battenfeld reports that Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe, who signed a recent letter with 100 other liberals urging Joe Biden to pick Elizabeth Warren as his VP running mate, is apologizing for saying that putting a black woman on the ticket was just “cosmetics.” Needless to say, the comment has stirred up controversy.
And it’s stirred up controversy just as Warren appears to be winning over some Blacks in support of her getting the VP nod, as the Associated Press reports. Btw: Jon Keller, in his Keller at Large on MassterList podcast yesterday, had his own thoughts on the letter signed by Tribe and others.
Still got it: Warren-led event raises $6 million for Biden
Speaking of Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden, this may or may not help the former’s VP-pick prospects, to wit: Warren, who swore off big-dollar fundraisers during her own presidential bid, helped raise $6 million for Biden’s campaign in less than an hour during a virtual event headlined by Warren, Annie Linskey at the Washington Post reports
Shadowy Boston organization in the spotlight over controversial solar proposal
CommonWealth magazine’s Bruce Mohl reports how solar industry advocates, as well as Attorney General Maura Healey, are in a tizzy over a shadowy Boston organization’s recent FERC filing that effectively argues solar “net metering” programs should be regulated by the feds, not states. It’s definitely a policy-wonkish issue, but it’s created quite a stir within the solar industry.
Buying time: Quincy College gets city backstop amid hopes for turnaround
The Quincy City Council has agreed to include $2.4 million in health insurance costs for Quincy College in next year’s budget, despite concerns among some members that the school will become a budget-buster for the city, Mary Whitfill at the Patriot Ledger reports. Mayor Thomas Koch and others say newly installed President Rick DeCristofaro should be given time to get the college back on the financial tracks.
ELM Wednesday Webinars | Session 10: A New Era for State Climate Action
In the final webinar of this series, “Session 10: A New Era for State Climate Action”, join ELM as we hear from MA Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides. She will discuss how the Baker Administration has been balancing the dual crises of COVID-19 and climate change and more.
Environmental League of Massachusetts
A Virtual Conversation with Sally Field and Senator Ed Markey
A Virtual Conversation with Sally Field and Senator Ed Markey will be held on a video conferencing platform for everyone to enjoy safely from their homes.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Protesters demand DA Rollins reopen cases of police killings of Black men – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Greenfield schools lay off 43–24 of them teachers – Greenfield Recorder
Manchester looks to create affordable housing zone north of 128 – Gloucester Times
Salem plans furloughs for city employees – Salem News
Nation
Trump administration sues to try to delay publication of John Bolton’s book – New York Times
Americans are unhappiest they’ve been in 50 years, poll finds – NBC News
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