Happening Today
Gaming Commission, Division of Banks hearing, and more
10 a.m. | Division of Banks holds hearing on amendments to its regulations 209 CMR 18.00: Conduct of the Business of Debt Collectors, Student Loan Servicers, and Third Party Loan Servicers and 209 CMR 48.00: Licensee Record Keeping.
11 a.m. | Mass. Gaming Commission holds a business meeting with just one agenda item: a review and clarification of a condition each licensee agreed to when they were allowed to reopen “that licensees shall conduct business in accordance with all COVID-19-related orders and advisories issued by the Governor or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that remain in effect, as well as any applicable CDC guidelines.”
12 p.m. | Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey, Massachusetts Restaurant Association President and CEO Bob Luz join owner Michael Wang and representatives from Oxford Properties to celebrate the reopening of Fóumami Asian Sandwich Bar after a closure of nearly 17 months due to the pandemic.
12:30 p.m. | Rep. Bud Williams, House chair of the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion, hosts virtual “Creating Generational Wealth: An Economic Roundtable Discussion” with panelists HED Secretary Mike Kennealy; Tanisha Sullivan, president of the NAACP Boston branch, and Bishop Talbert Swan II of the Springfield Church of God in Christ.
4:30 p.m. | MassEcon hosts Spotlight Series discussion and networking reception focused on competitive advantages of central Massachusetts as a business location.
Today’s Stories
Cash Game 2022: July Edition
A state senator running for Massachusetts’ highest office eclipsed her Democratic rivals in funds raised last month, hauling in roughly $30,000 more than the next candidate.
Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, in her seventh term representing Boston, raised just over $90,000 in July, according to her campaign. She officially launched her gubernatorial bid at the end of June, when she critiqued “Beacon Hill insiders” as lacking urgency.
In the first five weeks since announcing her run, the campaign raised over $98,000 from more than 1,000 contributions, according to her campaign. Chang-Díaz heads into August with over $295,000 cash on hand, the campaign said.
Coming in second is former Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, who reported raising $59,762 in July, according to her campaign. During her announcement event in mid-June, Allen said she held “core progressive values” and touched on her experiences with the “mechanics of politics.”
“Danielle and the campaign are encouraged by this strong show of support for Danielle’s candidacy and our vision to reimagine the future of our Commonwealth,” Campaign Manager Allen Chen said in a statement to MassterList. “There is still a long way to go on the campaign trail, but what our fundraising number helps show is as more people learn about Danielle, our movement is gaining momentum.”
Former Sen. Ben Downing took in $22,500 in July, according to his campaign, and surpassed 2,000 individual donations. Over 80 percent of donations came from Massachusetts with over 200 cities and towns represented, the campaign said.
Downing served five terms in the Legislature and was the first candidate to officially announce a run for governor. Downing has campaigned on fighting climate change, poverty, and making child care more affordable.
“Ben is working hard to build a deeply Massachusetts movement that is broad enough to win in a multi-candidate, Democratic primary and provide the infrastructure Dems will need to take on Charlie Baker or whoever the GOP nominee is next November,” Deputy Campaign Manager Christina Gregg said in a statement to MassterList. “Our fundraising efforts reflect that, highlighting the uniquely statewide, grassroots coalition that Ben is assembling across Massachusetts.”
Republican candidate and former state Rep. Geoff Diehl deposited about $17,300 into his campaign account between July 8-30. Diehl’s campaign manager did not respond to a MassterList request for comment.
Gov. Charlie Baker, who has not announced whether he is running for a third term, deposited just over $59,300 into his campaign account between July 6-30.
Officials reports from Baker and Diehl’s campaign for the full month of July were not yet available through the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
What will the fall look like for college students?
They’re coming and there’s a sense of uncertainty as to how it will all work out. Tens of thousands of students will arrive at colleges and universities around the state in less than a month and with COVID-19 cases rising again, Boston Globe’s Jack Lyons reports that there’s isn’t a clear picture of what student life will look like. Last year, many institutions relied on hybrid models — a mix of in-person and virtual learning — and this year, many are requiring students to get vaccinated before returning to campus.
More from Lyons: “Universities are responding to the uncertainty in different ways. Nearly every college in the state is requiring students to get vaccinated. Some schools — including Harvard University, Boston University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — have taken the further step of mandating masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. Many schools also will reprise regular testing among students and faculty members, a tactic that helped spot cases among asymptomatic students.”
Bring your dog to work
How do you encourage people to work from their Boston office? Do dog sitting services, bike lockers, indoor gardens, and renovated kitchens sound appealing? That’s the approach some landlords are taking as businesses and employees consider whether or not to head back to their cubicles, reports WBUR’s Callum Borchers. One local manager of a shared office space in the Back Bay told WBUR that their goal is to make the accommodations feel more like home, which is what everyone is used to after working remotely for over a year.
Baker not partying with Obama this weekend
He wasn’t invited and would’ve declined anyway. Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters “no” when asked if he was among the high-profile guest list for former President Barack Obama’s birthday party on Martha’s Vineyard this weekend, reports Boston Globe’s Travis Andersen.
And Obama is reportedly scaling back the extravagant gathering to a small gathering with family and friends due to concerns about the Delta Variant, reports WCVB.
Wicked remote: T development chief worked from Colorado for a year
The MBTA’s point person for developing agency land — think transit-oriented development — recently left the role after a year during which he worked remotely from Colorado, Joe Dwinell of the Herald reports. John Hersey earned about $130,000 in the role, plus a $2,700 buyout on his way out the door.
Ballot question battle kicks into high gear
The battle over app-based drivers’ employment status is officially here in Massachusetts after an industry-backed coalition filed a ballot question seeking to make app-based workers independent contractors while offering some additional benefits, reports State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski. The question has drawn opposition from labor groups, who say those workers should be treated like employees under state law, Boston Globe’s Emma Platoff reports.
Springfield releases new COVID measures
Officials in Springfield are ramping up measures to fight a recent rise in COVID-19 cases: mask required in schools and on school buses, unvaccinated city employees must wear masks in city buildings, and businesses are encouraged to follow Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, reports MassLive’s Peter Goonan. If necessary, Goonan reports, city workers would be required to recieve a vaccaine.
Janey not keen on proof of vaccination for indoor activities
Slavery, the Jim Crow era, and former President Donald Trump were all referenced by Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey when speaking negatively about the idea of requiring proof of vaccination for indoor activities, reports Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter.
“There’s a long history in this country of people needing to show their papers — whether we talking about this from the standpoint of, you know, as a way to, after — during slavery, post-slavery, as recent as, you know, what the immigrant population has to go through,” Janey said at a Tuesday press conference.
Janey’s response was prompted by a question about whether or not she would take a cue from New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that proof of vaccination would be required to head into restaurants, fitness centers, and indoor entertainment centers, according to CNN.
Outpouring of financial support for Mass. resident who died in Arizona
A GoFundMe to help pay for the services of a Massachusetts woman who died while hiking in Arizona last week has generated more than $42,000 in donations, reports MassLive’s Cassie McGrath. More from McGrath: “MassLive reported that [Angela] Tramonte became overheated and decided to turn back down while her boyfriend continued on to the summit. Authorities say she may have suffered a heat-related illness and never reached the parking lot.”
Hurry up: VaxMillions winners have 24-hour window to claim cash
Better answer the phone — just in case. Spencer Buell of Boston Magazine reports that those selected as winners in the state’s VaxMillions sweepstakes have just 24 hours to claim their $1 million prizes and notes that one of the first winners nearly ignored the call with the good news because it looked like a spam call.
Federal jury finds former Worcester housing official guilty
Not this time. A federal jury convicted a former top housing official for Worcester of conspiring to steal federal funds that were slated for an affordable housing project, reports Telegram & Gazette’s Brad Petrishen. Jacklyn Sutcivni served under former City Manager Michael O’Brien and was convicted on wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the government, and aiding and abetting fraudulent claims.
More from Petrishen: “As is common in federal cases, Sutcivni was not sentenced right away. She was allowed to leave the courtroom, where she declined to comment, and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 14. The developer with whom jurors determined she conspired, James E. Levin, is serving a 37-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to identical charges.”
Familiar foe: Activist Ploss files paperwork to run for governor
Activist Dianna Ploss, the lead organizer of a weeks-long protest outside the home of Gov. Charlie Baker, filed paperwork to organize a gubernatorial campaign, Trea Lavery of the Lynn Item reports. Ploss — a staunch Trump supporter and onetime talk radio host who was fired after video surfaced of her harassing a landscaping crew for not speaking English — lists no party affiliation in her filing but calls herself the state’s “loudest and bravest citizen journalist and freedom advocate.”
Another office: Norfolk County Treasurer Bellotti makes late entry into Quincy council race
He’s looking to try on all the hats. Norfolk County Treasurer Michael Bellotti will run for a seat on the Quincy City Council, apparently looking to round out a resume that already includes a stint in the state House of Representatives, nearly two decades as Norfolk County Sheriff and a brief run as interim president of Quincy College. Mary Whitfill of the Patriot Ledger has the details.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
John Barros: ‘I Believe I Have [Walsh’s] Vote’ For Mayor – WGBH
Peabody files suit against appraiser – Salem News
Massachusetts
Investigation continues into Chilmark camp incident – Martha’s Vineyard Times
Twenty-three new coronavirus cases confirmed on Nantucket Tuesday – Inquirer & Mirror
Attleboro mayoral race the only show in town for Sept. 21 preliminary ballot – Sun Chronicle
Nation
Spirit Airlines and American Airlines cancel hundreds of flights. – New York Times
How to Contact MASSterList
Send tips to Matt Murphy: Editor@MASSterList.com. For advertising inquiries and job board postings, please contact Dylan Rossiter: Publisher@MASSterList.com or (857) 370-1156. Follow @MASSterList on Twitter.