Happening Today
8 a.m. | Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joins New England Council in Manchester, New Hampshire for “Politics & Eggs” event, which over the years has offered a stage to potential presidential candidates.
9 a.m. | U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark hosts a press conference to discuss new federal funding to help plan and sequence coastal resilience strategies for the Mystic and Charles Regional Coastal Flood Interventions Project.
10 a.m. | Lawmakers consider proposed spending on the judiciary and law enforcement systems in Gov. Charlie Baker’s $48.5 billion fiscal 2023 state budget.
11 a.m. | House meets in an informal session and Senate meets without a calendar.
12 p.m. | Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Federal Transit Administration Administrator Nuria Fernandez, Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak, and other officials gather in Cambridge for the grand opening of the MBTA’s Green Line Extension.
Today’s Stories
Good Monday morning.
The first Green Line trolleys for passengers will roll out of Union Square in Somerville today heralding the completion of a $2.3 billion project (at least the Somerville spoke of GLX) that some thought might never happen. Gov. Charlie Baker will be there to mark the day, as he undoubtedly will want “I Finished GLX” etched on his political epitaph.
But before being able to celebrate a milestone like GLX, Baker had to take his lumps Sunday as the infamous South Boston St. Patrick’s Day breakfast returned in person for the first time in three years and was back in all of its “groan-filled glory,” as Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter put it in a piece yesterday.
Boston Globe’s Emma Platoff writes that Baker was the subject of more jokes than he made. The outgoing governor took a sentimental approach, recalling how his first winter on the job was dominated by massive and successive snowstorms that probably foreshadowed the tough eight years to come.
Senate President Karen Spilka took jabs at Baker’s lame-duck status (she gave him a duck.) Like Baker, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also said her first few months on the job have been a “trial by snow,” but also “trial by firefighters union.” I’m getting used to dealing with problems that are expensive, disruptive and white,” Wu said. “I’m talking about snowflakes, snowflakes!”
The riskiest joke award of the morning may go to Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty. GBH News’ Saraya Wintersmith writes that Flaherty took aim at U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s absence from the breakfast.
“Someone told me she’s on a vacation with her dear friend Monica Cannon-Grant,” he said, directly referring to the head of nonprofit Violence in Boston who was recently indicted for fraud.
And, of course, the Democratic gubernatorial candidates had to make their appearance — both Attorney General Maura Healey and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz were there. State House News Service’s Michael P. Norton reports Chang-Diaz joked she’d been mistaken online for U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“You know, Latina, two last names, Green New Deal,” she said. “Maybe if they keep this up, Markey will endorse me.”
Diehl names names lieutenant governor ‘running mate
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Geoff Diehl has tapped Leah Allen, a one time state representative from Peabody, as his unofficial running mate, the Herald’s Peter Lucas reports. Apparently, that’s the trend now. Diehl follows Republican rival Chris Doughty in picking a former state representative to round out his campaign, though unlike Doughty, Diehl is also familiar with the inner workings of the building as a former state representative himself. Earlier this month, Doughty, a Wrentham businessman, named former lawmaker Kate Campanale to be his de facto ticket mate.
Diehl and Allen, who since leaving the Legislature has married and changed her last name from Cole, will be back at the building this morning at 11:15 a.m. for a press conference outside to announce their political partnership.
Tufts closing children’s hospital causing uncertainty for some
Uncertainty and anxiety over Tufts Medical Center’s decision to close hospital beds for children is growing two months after executives announced the move. Boston Globe’s Priyanka Dayal McCluskey reports the pediatric hospital may have to close sooners than expected after staff started departing for new jobs.
MCLA senior launches Democratic primary challenge against Barrett
Paula Kingsbury-Evans, a 22-year-old senior at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, says she’ll challenge Rep. John Barrett III in the Democratic primary for the right to represent the 1st Berkshire District. Danny Jin of the Berkshire Eagle reports Kingsbury-Evans praised Barrett, who is 74, but says the district needs a “fresh new voice” on Beacon Hill.
Opening Day: Green Line extension no small feat
Take a bow. As the Green Line Extension project officially opens for service this morning, Bruce Mohl of CommonWealth reports the project is a sign the agency is able to pull off a major infrastructure project – even one that nearly collapsed under the weight of cost overruns and budget shortfalls.
Nuclear submarine could be commissioned in Boston
How does a new U.S.S. Massachusetts sound? Well, it may soon become a reality. Boston Herald’s Flint McColgan reports a new Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine could be commissioned in Boston.
More from McColgan: “Commissioning is the final stage the ship … goes through before elevating from PCU, or Pre-Commissioning Unit, Massachusetts to USS Massachusetts, a full, commissioned member of the U.S. Navy fleet.”
Vacant North Shore seat draws a crowd
Five candidates have already declared their intention to fill the 8th Essex District seat in the House that was vacated earlier this year by now FEMA regional administrator Lori Ehrlich, Dustin Luca of the Salem News reports.
This day in history: Healey comments fire up state’s seniors
On this day in 2005, the administration of Gov. Mitt Romney was scrambling to distance itself from comments made by Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who told a State House News Service reporter that senior residents struggling with property tax burdens should consider selling their suburban homes for more modest digs in town and city centers.
Baker pushes for ‘dangerousness bill’
The Baker administration is using several recent incidents of alleged predatory behavior toward children to push for his “dangerousness bill” that would add to the list of offenses that qualify for a dangerousness hearing to keep someone in custody. Boston Herald’s Flint McColgan reports a press secretary for Gov. Charlie Baker highlighted three Boston-area incidents that did not qualify for a dangerousness hearing, but would have if the bill were signed into law.
U.S. Marine from Leominster dead in training exercise crash
A U.S. Marine from Leominster was among four soldiers who died when their vehicle crashed during a training exercise Friday in Norway. Boston Globe’s Nick Stoico reports 27-year-old Captain Ross Reynolds is remembered as an upstanding community member who always dreamed of being a pilot.
Gov. Charlie Baker shared his condolences on Twitter. ” The Marines who tragically passed in the accident are all heroes. We honor his service to our nation and pray for his family,” the governor wrote.
Southborough is latest town with its own police chief mystery
Southborough Police Chief Kenneth Paulhus is on administrative leave and town officials are mum on why, Norman Miller of the MetroWest Daily News reports. Paulhus has led the department since 2014.
BPD officer under investigation now living in New Hampshire
A Boston police officer under investigation by BPD for his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is now living on a 20-acre farm in New Hampshire. Boston Globe’s Tonya Alanez reports Joe Abasciano has still been making his way to Boston for anti-vaccine rallies in front of the State House.
Housing project in downtown Springfield running overbudget
A housing project in Springfield is in need of a cash infusion. MassLive’s Patrick Johnson reports construction cost overruns at the Court Square Hotel have added $13 million to the cost, meaning the city will need to inject an additional $6.5 million if officials want to keep it alive.
Mattapan student heading to National Spelling Bee in D.C.
A seventh grader from Mattapan is heading to the National Spelling Bee after winning a stunning 26-rounder in Boston. WBUR’s Amanda Beland reports Seventh-grader Sulayman Abdirahman of Mattapan’s Brooke Charter School will represent Boston later this year in Washington.
Keller: The GOP’s botched gas tax uprising
Last week, Jon Keller took a look at the recent GOP push to suspend the state’s gas tax amid rising costs at the pump. Check it out before his new column posts Tuesday.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
It’s now free to park at Revere Beach – Lynn Item
Massachusetts
State reps discuss Chapter 90 amendment vote, roadway investments – Lowell Sun
Report: Millionaires’ tax a ‘blank check’ for Beacon Hill – Salem News
Nation
Can Ashish Jha, ‘A Comforting Voice,’ Tamp Down Covid’s Political Divide? – New York Times
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