Happening Today
11 a.m. | House meets in an informal session.
11 a.m. | Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee holds a hearing on legislation related to transportation, including a trio of bills to establish primary seatbelt enforcement.
1 p.m. | Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Committee holds a virtual public hearing on bills related to data use, data privacy, the internet and broadband access.
2 p.m. | Gov. Charlie Baker along with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland speak as the American Clean Power Association begins its Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition in Boston.
2 p.m. | Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee accepts testimony on bills dealing with environmental justice, air quality and water quality.
7 p.m. | Boston mayoral candidates Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George face off in the first 1-on-1 televised debate on WBZ Ch. 4.
Today’s Stories
All the maps in the world
We have the maps. We have the maps. We have the maps. Sing that to the tune of Dora The Explorer’s “I’m The Map” song and you’ll get a good feel for what Tuesday felt like inside the halls of the State House.
Those around Beacon Hill call it Map Day — a decennial experience where lawmakers release preliminary redistricting maps, elected officials and advocates fire back with complaints and threats of potential legal challenges, and those interested spend most of the day hunched over a computer screen figuring out what the new proposed lines mean.
So here’s where we stand with the dust settled (for the moment): the House proposed adding 13 new majority-minority districts and several incumbent-free districts in Chelsea, Brockton, Lawrence and Framingham. The Senate decided to add two new majority-minority districts and two incumbent free districts.
For all your intricate map needs the State House News Service’s Matt Murphy and Chris Lisinski have you covered. Boston Globe’s Emma Platoff and Matt Stout point out that the major — but low-drama overhaul — pits few incumbent lawmakers against each other.
Haverhill Democrat Rep. Andy Vargas, who plans to run for the Senate, voiced frustration with the decisions to divide his city up, tweeting early in the day, “This is absolutely ridiculous. There is no other way to put it. We will have more to say about it.”
And he kept true to his word, releasing a statement later in the day that read in part: “While I understand the challenges that come with redistricting, it is unacceptable to cut out the heart of Haverhill and segregate the most diverse precincts from the rest of the city. The proposed Senate map splits Haverhill by ethnic and racial lines.”
There’s also unwelcome news for Rep. Dan Hunt: lawmakers decided to split Ward 16 in Dorchester. He told the Dorchester Reporter on Monday that the Ward 16 Democratic Committee would consider legal action if the ward was carved up.
So where does this leave us? MassLive’s Alison Kuznitz notes that public comment will be accepted through Monday, and Democratic leaders said the goal is to send Gov. Charlie Baker maps to sign by the beginning of November. Candidates for House seats in 2022 must establish residency in the district they plan to run in by Nov. 8.
But for now, we’ll just have “I’m The Map” playing on repeat as the debate moves forward.
Going for it: Hinds announces lieutenant governor run
It’s official. After weeks of speculation sparked when he bought a home outside his district, Sen. Adam Hinds will finally formally announce this morning he will run for lieutenant governor in next year’s election, Danny Jin of the Berkshire Eagle reports. With $174,000 already in his war chest, Hinds arrives as the best-funded candidate in the Democratic race for the number two role.
Baker calls on Guard to help with COVID testing
The state’s National Guard is getting ready to put on another hat next week after Gov. Charlie Baker activated up to 200 members to help with COVID-19 testing in K-12 schools and 250 to help the Department of Corrections with security and transportation ahead of a vaccine mandate going into effect. State House News Service’s Colin A. Young reports that Guard members are starting training this week for COVID testing.
Stay home: Boston suspends 812 workers over coronavirus vaccine mandate
The city of Boston will be a tad short-handed for the foreseeable future after 812 workers were suspended Tuesday for failing to comply with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate, Sean Phillip Cotter of the Herald reports. Hundreds of workers got their first shots in the days just before enforcement began, but some 4 percent of the city’s 18,000 workers are still on the sidelines.
‘They do it their way, we do it our way’
It’s been just over seven months since nurses at St. Vincent Hospital first went on strike. Negotiations are still at a stalemate with disagreements now focused on a return-to-work agreement. Telegram & Gazette’s Cyrus Moulton spoke to one group of nurses about their decision to keep working and not go on strike.
Three weeks left: Poll shows Wu with big lead as first debate looms
The marathon has become a sprint. With three weeks to go before the final votes are cast, a new poll shows Michelle Wu with a 30-point lead over fellow city councilor Annissa Essaibi George. Gintautas Dumcius and Bill Forry of the Dorchester Reporter have all the numbers.
So what could change the dynamic of the race? The Globe’s Emma Platoff and Meghan Irons explore how Essaibi George might be able to shake things up, starting with today’s first televised debate.
A quick preview of tonight’s Boston mayoral debate
The first 1-on-1 debate between Boston mayoral candidates Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George is all set for tonight. So what should you expect? GBH News’ Saraya Wintersmith has you covered with a complete preview of tonight’s event.
More from Wintersmith: “For Essaibi George, it’s a chance to dim the rosy media glow Wu has enjoyed since winning more than 30 percent of the vote in September and nabbing endorsements from several major political figures. For Wu, it’s a test to defend and also expand the coalition that put her ahead of the other candidates in the first leg of the race.”
The tale of a comedian and Annissa Essaibi George
This is funny. A Boston comedian told an audience at a fundraiser that he was excited City Councilor Michelle Wu was running for the city’s top office. Guess who was in the audience? Rival candidate Annissa Essaibi George. Boston Globe’s Steve Annear has more details on the encounter.
Apples and oranges? Machine-gun range foes say Cape Army officials omitted Devens upgrades
Foes of a planned machine-run range on Joint Base Cape Cod are criticizing Army National Guard officials for not mentioning plans to upgrade another firing range at Devens, but the military says there is no comparison: The large guns the Cape base is designed to handle can’t be fired at the Devens facility. Jeannette Hinkle of the Cape Cod Times has the details.
From the WBUR and GBH radio waves
Missed yesterday’s radio shows? No worries, here’s a rundown of some of the interesting conversations that occurred on WBUR and GBH programs.
From WBUR’s “Radio Boston:” A retired four-star Army general talks about lessons learned from Boston’s early pandemic response, Afghanistan, and 9/11 to understand how people mitigate risk.
On GBH’s “Boston Public Radio:” A conversation on the significance of Indigenous Peoples Day, the scientific achievements of immigrants in the United States, and a discussion with CNN’s John King.
Hamilton letter returned to Massachusetts
A very old letter is back in state possession. A 1780 correspondence written by Alexander Hamilton to Marquis de Lafayette was returned to the Massachusetts Archives after a federal ruling said its rightful owners were residents of the state. CommonWealth’s Shira Schoenberg reports that Hamilton wrote to Lafayette to warn of imminent danger to French troops in Rhode Island.
Back to Zoom: After outburst, Saugus school board going remote again for safety reasons
The Saugus School Committee is holding meetings remotely via Zoom again, but not because of COVID. The board says it will meet remotely due to concerns for the safety of members and school workers following an outburst at a recent meeting involving an administrator and board member Arthur Grabowski, Hannah Chadwick of the Lynn Item reports.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Harvard moves summer program from ‘unfriendly’ Beijing to Taipei – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Nation
US to open Canada, Mexico land borders for vaccinated travelers in November – The Hill
U.S. sees biggest revenue surge in 44 years despite pandemic – Politico
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