Happening Today
New COVID-19 restrictions, SJC hearings, and more
— Gov. Charlie Baker’s new pandemic restrictions – including gathering limits, evening business closures and public facecovering requirements – go into effect today.
— Supreme Judicial Court meets to hear oral arguments for six cases, 9 a.m.
— Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, who is leading the state’s COVID-19 Command Center, speaks as part of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans’ 2020 Health Policy Speaker Series, 9 a.m.
— Joint Committee on Public Health hosts a virtual hearing to consider newly filed legislation aimed at accelerating improvements to local health infrastructure, building on a bill Gov. Baker signed in April, 11 a.m.
— Boston Mayor Marty Walsh takes listener calls on ‘Boston Public Radio,’ WGBH-FM 89.7, 12 p.m.
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
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.
The coronavirus numbers: 23 new deaths, 9,859 total deaths, 1,761 new cases
WCVB has the latest coronavirus numbers for Massachusetts.
Prez update: Biden inches ever closer to 270 electoral votes
We assume most of you have been glued to the TVs and various other digital display screens, so we’ll make this short and sweet: Joe Biden continues to make voting gains in key swing states, inching ever closer to the 270 electoral-college votes mark that will make him the next president of the United States. We’ll see. The Post has more.
Btw, a Globe editorial makes a great and obvious point: “States should count early ballots before Election Day.”
Believe it or not: Trump did make inroads with state urban voters on Tuesday
Sure, dozens of towns that voted for Donald Trump in 2016 flipped to Joe Biden on Tuesday, as MassLive’s Jackson Cote reports. But the Globe’s Meghan Irons has an intriguing report: Many Latino voters in urban areas such as Lawrence, Fall River and New Bedford flipped from blue to red on Tuesday. One of the reasons: Their religious conservatism.
Meanwhile, Deborah Becker at WBUR reports on the “deep pockets” of both red and blue in western Massachusetts on Tuesday. Bottom line: Trump didn’t run as strong in western Massachusetts on Tuesday compared to 2016, but he still has strong support in the region.
Baker: It’s time to celebrate the huge voter turnout, not the huge political divisions
He’s looking on the bright side of things. WCVB reports that Gov. Charlie Baker said yesterday Americans should be proud of, and celebrate, the fact that huge numbers of people turned out to vote on Tuesday across the country – and not focus so much on the nation’s divisions. He’s right.
But then there are some people who see divisions even when there are no divisions. The Herald’s Rick Sobey reports on the arrest of protesters outside the governor’s home yesterday who were calling on Baker to come out strongly for counting every vote in the presidential election – something Baker has already done on a number of occasions.
Opponents of ranked-choice voting spent less than a cent per vote – and they want everyone to know it
File under: Rubbing it in their face. WBUR reports how opponents of ranked-choice voting are gleefully boasting they spent less than a cent per vote in helping defeat Question 2 on Tuesday, compared to the more than $7 per vote spent by mostly billionaire backers of Question 2. Well, you do have to hand it to them. They defied the polling odds.
Dem civil war alert: Centrists blame progressives for costing party seats
No mention of U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and other Mass. congressional members in this Washington Post piece about centrist Dems blasting progressives for the party’s unexpected loss of U.S. House seats on Tuesday. But sooner of later the state’s congressional members will get dragged into this interparty fray if things don’t calm down.
Fyi: If you have the time and inclination, read and compare the Post’s piece and the NYT’s version of the same story. The Times buries the fact that it’s a classic centrist-vs-progressive battle. Draw your own conclusion about why the Times takes this milquetoast approach. We have our own protect-the-left-flank suspicions.
Warren faces a huge obstacle to getting a Biden cabinet spot: Mitch McConnell
If Joe Biden wins the close presidential election — and it’s still an a big ‘if,” considering these crazy political times – many will be watching if he offers a cabinet job to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. But the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld says the Dems’ failure to take control of the U.S. Senate means any Warren nomination would have to get past Republican Senate Leader Mitch ‘She Persisted’ McConnell. And so …
Notable Election 2020 kingmaker: He may have cast the deciding vote that flipped Webster to Biden
OK, it’s only Webster. But this is still a fun and inspiring story about how 24-year-old Jake Beaumont went out of his way to vote in Webster earlier this week – and how his vote may have flipped Webster from Trump to Biden on Tuesday, as Lynn Jolicoeur reports at WBUR.
Notable Election 2020 kingmaker, Part II: Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, a Franklin native, Tufts grad and Biden campaign manager?
And, OK, she may not be taking any bows if Joe Biden ends up losing the presidential election. But right now it appears Biden is poised to win the close election – and, if he does, it will be thanks in no small part to Franklin’s very own Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, a Tufts grad who just so happens to be Biden’s campaign manager. The MetroWest Daily News recently ran a mini-four-things-to-know profile on Dillon, who’s been in the news this week, to say the least (The Hill).
House leaders unveil $46B state budget, eye debate next week
Here we go. From SHNS’s Matt Murphy (pay wall): “House leaders put forward a $46 billion state budget on Thursday that top Democrats said has no ‘drastic cuts’ or broad-based tax increases, but does rely heavily on one-time funding from the federal government and state reserves to protect services during the ongoing pandemic.”
GBH’s Mike Deehan reports that the House proposed use of state reserves funds is roughly the same as what Gov. Charlie Baker has proposed. CommonWealth’s Shira Schoenberg has more on the House budget – and how it seems to be crafted to avoid controversy and ensure fast passage. The budget also includes some added protections for tenants applying for rental assistance.
Employers’ blunt warning: We’ve learned from the pandemic that we don’t need to stay in Massachusetts
Thanks to the expansion of remote working during the pandemic, employers have learned they don’t need office buildings and headquarters here as much, so their recent blunt warning to lawmakers is not necessarily an empty threat: Raise taxes too much and we move out of state. SHNS’s Colin Young has more on the cautionary letter sent to Beacon Hill lawmakers from “a giant giant chunk of the Massachusetts business community.”
Our question: How might this remote-working trend also impact future debate over the so-called “millionaire’s tax” pushed by activists?
SHNS (pay wall — free trial subscription available)
After pleas from restaurant owners, Baker tweaks eatery closure rule
Gov. Charlie Baker’s new pandemic restrictions announced earlier this week go into effect today – with one update/modification regarding restaurants: Patrons served food before 9:30 p.m. can stay to finish up till 10 p.m., reports SHNS’s Matt Murphy (pay wall).
Yesterday’s “update” (or whatever it was) came after restaurant groups sent the governor and legislative leaders a letter pleading with them to change the new curfew hours, saying closing at 9:30 p.m. would be “devastating” to eateries, the BBJ’s Gintautas Dumcius reports. They didn’t get everything they wanted, but they got something.
Speaking of the hospitality industry in general, from Isaiah Thompson at GBH: “Walsh Commissions $2M Tourism Campaign To Mitigate COVID Drag.”
Report: Encore Boston could furlough up to 1,000 amid business curfew
On another business-curfew front, from the BBJ’s Catherine Carlock: “The Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett could see between 670 and 1,000 full-time equivalent workers furloughed as a result of the state’s forthcoming curfew, Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox said on the company’s third-quarter earnings call Thursday evening.”
‘Lame’: Emails reveal how officials received story about T’s mask scofflaws
She was not impressed. Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack lashed out at the MBTA’s leadership and its spokesperson after a story detailed lax mask-mandate compliance among T workers, Colman Herman at Boston Magazine reports. Emails show Pollack calling the T’s official response to the original piece “lame” and calling the incident “deeply disturbing.”
Study: Massachusetts sees highest spike of people facing hunger in U.S.
In proud blue-state Massachusetts? Yes, in proud blue-state Massachusetts. The Globe’s Janelle Nanos reports on a new study that shows a million people don’t have enough food in Massachusetts, where the rate of those facing hunger is rising faster than anywhere else in the nation.
Mystery plot: Plymouth man wants to know who’s buried in his mother’s rightful grave
A squatter in a gravesite? Maybe. Rich Harbert at the Enterprise reports that a Plymouth man wanted to bury his mother in a family plot, but discovered that the last remaining space was taken up by an unmarked vault. He’s now demanding answers.
Well, at least the 2020 election isn’t as bad as the 1800 election
Dispirited by today’s divisive elections? You can take some comfort in knowing it isn’t nearly as bad as the 1800 presidential election between Thomas Jefferson and Quincy’s very own John Adams. Mary Whitfill at Wicked Local has the details on the “slanderous, contentious and fiercely partisan” battle between two of America’s founders.
Sunday public affairs TV: James Pindell, Michael Capuano and more
Keller at Large, WBZ-TV Channel 4, 8:30 p.m. This week’s guest: Boston Globe political reporter James Pindell, who talks with host Jon Keller about Tuesday’s election and local winners and losers.
This Week in Business, NECN, 10 a.m. Adviser Investments CIO Jim Lowell on the impact of the election on markets and the economy; Roche Bros. vice president Arthur Ackles on keeping the shelves stocked as winter approaches and COVID cases likely spike; and the BBJ’s Doug Banks on new state pandemic regulations and other local business stories.
On The Record, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 11 a.m. This week’s guest: Former U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, who talks with hosts Ed Harding and Janet Wu, followed by a roundtable political discussion with analysts Mary Anne Marsh and Virginia Buckingham.
CityLine, WCVB-TV Channel 5, 12 p.m. With host Karen Holmes Ward, this week’s main topic: About Black Girls.
Veterans Day Virtual Job Fair
Statewide MassHire Veterans Day Virtual Job Fair: Exclusive access for veterans 9AM – 10AM; open to the general public and veterans, 10AM – 2PM.
MassHire Department of Career Services Veterans Program & MassHire Career Center System
ICP – Breaking the crime-poverty cycle
Panel Debate – The event will feature an overview by Professor Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, Director, Center for Crime, Justice and Policing, University of Birmingham, a quick historical recap of antiquated laws and contributions by the panelists.
ESRC IAA – University of Birmingham
Critical Conversations: Racial Justice and the Immigrant Rights Movement
The Binger Annual Immigration Law Forum brings together lawyers, students, advocates and community members to learn from each other and develop tools to continue the struggle to protect human rights, basic dignity, and the rule of law.
James H. Binger Center Annual Immigration Law Forum
Building a Better Business Through Diversity and Inclusion
In this panel discussion we’ll explore steps large and small organizations can make to further promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. How are companies going about building a more diverse and inclusive work environment, and what have been the major challenges, as well as best practices that assure a strong program.
Virtual Discussion – Women Who Lead: Navigating the Challenges of 2020 and Beyond
Join us for a virtual live-streamed panel discussion with four female business leaders moderated by Carolyn Jones, publisher of the Boston Business Journal. Women have unique perspectives to offer on leading through these current turbulent times from how to build organizational resilience to how to advocate for themselves in a politically charged environment to maintaining a work/life balance.
Boston Business Journal and Santander Commercial Banking
Virtual-Revolutionizing Retail: The Omnichannel Experience
Omnichannel is a word we’ve heard tossed around the industry, but what does it really mean? Some years ago, in-store was the only channel, then we moved into multi-channel and now it seems omnichannel is the way to go. Join us to learn about which technologies are supporting the omnichannel approach, how 5G is opening up a word of consumer insights, and how retailers can use those takeaways.
Baxter Lecture with author Nathaniel Philbrick: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War
Join for an online talk with Nathaniel Philbrick about his book Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War as part of the BPL’s Baxter Lecture Series. Ryan J. Woods from NEHGS will be the moderator and a representative of the State Library will be a co-host. BPL President David Leonard will introduce this program. Registration is encouraged.
Local Voices Network Conversation: Civic Engagement (Honan-Allston)
Join the Boston Public Library and Local Voices Network for an online discussion about civic engagement. LVN conversations are focused on sharing our lived experience, rather than beginning the conversation with our positions on issues. We are doing this in order to help build connections and to foster conversations that improve our understanding of one another.
Modern Mobility Aloft: Elevated Highways, Architecture and Urban Change in Pre-Interstate America
Join the Boston Public Library and the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library for an online talk with Amy D. Finstein, author of Modern Mobility Aloft: Elevated Highways, Architecture and Urban Change in Pre-Interstate America.
Managing Change to Grow Business – Part II: Growing Your Business in a Virtual World
Please join Middlesex Savings Bank and the Boston Business Journal for this conversation about managing business change in our new normal.
Boston Business Journal and Middlesex Savings Bank
Data + AI Summit Europe 2020
Data and AI are converging. The Success of Apache Spark has accelerated the evolution of data teams to include data analytics, science, engineering, and AI. Date + AI Summit brings together thousands of data teams to learn from practitioners, leaders, innovators, and the original creators of Spark. Delta Lake, MLflow and Koalas.
Climate Change, Survival, and Deepening Our Humanity
City of Boston’s Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola leads a panelist discussion on how the belief systems that define and maintain our societies impact the planet and influence our survival. Register for this free virtual Kennedy Library Forum to receive an email reminder with a viewing link before the event.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
MIT: AI and the Work of the Future Congress
Join MIT’s Task Force on WOTF, MIT CSAIL, and MIT Digital for this year’s Congress which will be a virtual event highlighting research findings from the MIT Task Force on WOTF’s final report that will be released in November. Given the rapidly changing environment brought on by Covid-19, this topic is more important and relevant that ever.
Disinformation and Digital Citizenship: Disinformation and Election Psychology
Disinformation and Digital Citizenship is a Learning Circle that meets weekly to discuss disinformation and its effect on civic institutions and society during an election year. Learning circles are small groups of individuals who explore and area of shared interest through discussion in a collaborative, friendly and mutually supportive environment.
Managing Climate Risk in the US Financial System
This webinar will be given by Robert Litterman, Chairman of the Risk Committee and Founding Partner, Kepos Capital, and Stephen Moch, MBA and MPP candidate at HBS and HKS. It is part of M-RCBG”s weekly Business and Government Seminar series. Registration is required.
Harvard Kennedy School of Business/Mossavar-Rahmani center for Business and Government
Interrupting Hatred Can Save Someone’s Life
This presentation, part of the Town of Lexington’s No Hate November series, will focus on lessons learned after the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Vincent Chen. The event is co-sponsored by the Lexington Human Rights Committee, Association of Black Citizens of Lexington, Chinese American Association of Lexington.
The Future of Higher Education
As schools around the country plan, react, and adapt during the Covid-19 pandemic, the presidents of Greater Washington’s top universities will gather virtually to discuss health and safety, diversity and inclusion, and budgeting and development of the future of higher education. Join the Washington Business Journal for a look behind the scenes with the decision makers.
Virtual Job Fair: MassHire Central Region Honors Our Veterans
Virtual Job Fair featuring 45 employers from diverse industries throughout Central Massachusetts. Free and open to the public and veterans!
MassHire Central Region Career Centers
Inno on Fire
The Inno on Fire Awards is our annual celebration of innovators, big and small, people, and organizations in Boston. What makes a company or individual on fire? We are looking at startups that have had a banner year, people and companies with hew funding, recent product launches, hot hires, innovative approaches to solving problems, and creative leaders who think out of the box.
WBJ Central MA Health Care Forum
Healthcare Post Pandemic: The Covid-19 pandemic has not only claimed over 200,000 lives in our country, but has been a disruptive force to many industries, including healthcare. Join us for this timely and informative webcast where our panel of experts will discuss what has changed since the beginning of the pandemic and what lies ahead.
The State of Innovation: Electrification presented by Analog Devices
Across the network, Innos State of Innovations meetups focus on a specific industry, category, theme or individual and will feature a keynote, fireside chat, panel, pitch, demo or a combination of the five. Join us for a conversation with local innovators and experts.
2020 Women Who Mean Business
Join us as we celebrate outstanding women at our fourth Women Who Mean Business awards program. These women represent the scale of business in Greater Boston and have demonstrated significant growth in their companies.
Boston Business Journal and Webster Bank
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Operation Resiliency: Safeguards for Dot ‘Shoreway’ put at up to $215m – Dorchester Reporter
Massachusetts
Charlton’s Tree House brewing getting a place on the Cape – Telegram & Gazette
In North Attleboro, a frustrating election night blamed on thumb drive – Sun Chronicle
Council won’t allow in-law apartments in Agawam – MassLive
Nation
Biden breaks Obama record for most votes – Politico
Secretaries of state in spotlight as Trump ratchets up attacks to sow doubt – New York Times
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