Happening Today
10 a.m. | Mass. Gaming Commission meets in executive session to discuss legal matters related to a number of lawsuits that the commission is involved in.
10:30 a.m. | Governor’s Council interviews Helen White, currently an assistant clerk magistrate in the Dorchester division, for a lifetime clerk magistrate posting in the Boston Municipal Court’s Charlestown division.
11 a.m. | House holds an informal session.
1 p.m. | Election Laws Committee holds hearing on a wide-ranging slate of bills including voter identification, moving the state’s primary election, the Electoral College, and special election scheduling.
6 p.m. | Boston mayoral candidates Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu participate in virtual forum on equitable home ownership hosted by Madison Park Development Corporation and Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance.
Today’s Stories
Boston declares addiction and homelessness a public health crisis
The era of expansive tent encampments in Boston’s Mass. and Cass area could soon be coming to a close after Acting Mayor Kim Janey declared addiction and homelessness a public health crisis and banned tents and temporary shelters in the city.
The crisis around Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard has prompted calls for intervention from elected officials and residents alike. It’s cropped up as a major issue in the Boston mayoral race and even pitted Janey against Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo as Boston looked for help outside from neighboring communities.
And with the days winding down on her stint as acting mayor, Janey showed off a plan Tuesday that seeks to provide additional support to people living in the area with help from state authorities. Boston Globe’s Danny McDonald reports that the executive order Janey signed creates a central command structure to boost street interventions for people needing shelter and addiction services.
And as far as the tents are concerned the order states that “all city agencies will now prioritize enforcement of existing laws and the exercise of existing powers to prevent the placement and maintenance of these encampments in the city.”
Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter reports that city officials said they aren’t looking to jail unsheltered people but instead require workers in the area to give those living in tents advance notice and offer them treatment or a shelter bed.
If they refuse to move their encampment, however, it could be considered “disorderly conduct” and be subject to enforcement of existing laws.
State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski writes that it wasn’t immediately clear how state resources would be used in the new effort to remove tents and move people into shelters and treatment.
Candidates clash in second Boston mayoral debate
They traded blow after blow in a fierce hour-long event. In their second televised one-on-one debate of the race, Boston mayoral candidates Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George clashed and went after each other more than previous encounters. Boston Globe’s Emma Platoff, Meghan E. Irons, and Andrew Ryan report that Essaibi George started to target Wu over “inconsistent” messaging on admission to Boston’s exam schools.
Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter reports that Wu compared some of Essaibi George’s attacks to former President Donald Trump’s “scare tactics,” saying “the people of Boston deserve better.”
Riley says DESE to announce decision on school mask requirement next week
Are the days of mask mandates in schools numbered? As the Nov. 1 deadline for the most recent mask mandate approaches, MassLive’s Melissa Hanson reports that Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said he expects DESE to announce a decision early next week on whether or not mask requirements will continue in schools.
Cronin nomination advances through U.S. Senate committee
House Majority Leader Claire Cronin’s nomination to serve as ambassador to Ireland cleared a key congressional committee Tuesday and advanced to the full U.S. Senate. State House News Service’s Chris Van Buskirk reports that Cronin’s confirmation and resignation from the Massachusetts House would open up the second-highest position in the branch.
Stirring the melting pot: Cruz proposes immigration ports of entry for NE
He’s not even being coy about it. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says he’ll soon drop legislation that would require federal immigration officials to relocate migrants massing at the southern U.S. border to ports of entry in New England, including Cambridge, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The Globe’s Alex Gagosz and Carlos Munos report Cruz acknowledged his goal is to force “rich Democrats” in the seaside communities to see how the surge of migrants impacts Texans.
House to vote on district maps Thursday
It’s looking like there will be another map day on Beacon Hill this week. State House News Service’s Matt Murphy reports that House and Senate leaders finished up going over revised district maps ahead of the House’s plan to take them up Thursday.
More from Murphy: “After soliciting feedback over the past week on draft redistricting maps for the Legislature, House and Senate leaders on Tuesday finalized revised plans that would add a sixth majority-minority Senate district that covers Brockton and strengthen the majority-minority status of House districts in New Bedford and Framingham.”
Educators flock to Wu while public safety workers back Essaibi George
Lines are being drawn in the Boston mayoral race among city employees. Boston Globe’s Elizabeth Koh reports that more educators are backing Michelle Wu while public safety workers are supporting Annissa Essaibi George.
More from Koh: “Essaibi George has pulled more than $150,000 from hundreds of police officers and firefighters in Boston — a total roughly 50 times that of Wu, who has been a critic of the city’s police department … Meanwhile, Wu has garnered donations from three times as many Boston public school employees than her rival, though on a much smaller scale than the public safety sector’s support for Essaibi George.”
Bully pulpit? Fall River candidates swap charges over single-issue meeting
Legit meeting or a campaign stunt? Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan says a meeting called by challenger and City Council President Cliff Ponte designed to focus on the state of the city’s finances amounted to a campaign stunt while Ponte says he’s just trying to shine light on what has become a key campaign issue. Jo Goode of the Herald-News has the details.
Astros take 9-2 victory over Sox to tie ALCS at 2-2
A (sadly) huge ninth inning led the Astros to a 9-2 victory over the Sox Tuesday night to tie up the ALCS series at 2-2. We’ve got another game at Fenway today starting at 4 p.m. Boston Globe’s Alex Speier has the full rundown from last night’s four-hour and four minute game.
Cash reserves: Heroux being outraised in Attleboro mayoral race
Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux raised considerably less campaign cash than challenger Todd McGhee over the last three months, but the incumbent continues to enjoy a funding advantage thanks to a healthy war chest he brought into the campaign season, George Rhodes of the Sun-Chronicle reports.
More flight options out of Worcester Regional Airport
There’s more good news for travelers looking to fly out of Worcester: JetBlue is adding a second daily flight to and from JFK International Airport in New York and plans to add a Worcester-Fort Lauderdale route. The Telegram & Gazette reports that Delta Airlines also plans to start daily flights to and from New York while American Airlines plans add a Philadelphia route.
Targeted: Conservative sues Wellesley schools over ‘affinity groups’
Parents Defending Education filed a federal lawsuit against the Wellesley Public Schools, saying the district discriminated against white students by creating race-based “affinity groups” and excluding a white teacher from a forum about violence against Asian Americans, Diti Kohli of the Globe reports. The national conservative group also claims the district has adopted a policy that infringes on free speech rights.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Labor unions oppose plan to break up Dot’s Ward 16 – Dorchester Reporter
Massachusetts
Redrawn Amherst districts give more power to BIPOC voters – Daily Hampshire Gazette
UMass Lowell graduate students rally for higher wages – Lowell Sun
Nation
Dems scramble for climate Plan C as Manchin dashes their dreams – Politico
Facebook is planning to rebrand the company with a new name – The Verge
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