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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Halfway through the week!
BAKER ADMINISTRATION MOVES — A top member of Gov. Charlie Baker 's administration is on his way out. Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash is leaving his post, marking the second high-level departure in state government this month. It's not yet clear what he'll do next, but the Globe reports he's already interviewed at the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership. Ash's successor, HED Assistant Secretary for Business Growth Mike Kennealy, will be sworn in Dec. 28.
Baker, Ash and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will hold a press conference with Kennealy this afternoon. Ash led the administration's "Opportunities for All" economic development strategy, which included getting more than a thousand homeless families out of hotels and motels, revitalization for cities like Worcester, Springfield and Lynn, and partnering with lawmakers to pass economic development packages.
Administrative departures aren't uncommon between first and second terms, so Ash's move isn't entirely a surprise. At the beginning of December, the Baker administration also announced Secretary of Public Safety Dan Bennett was leaving his post. Bennett was replaced by Department of Correction Commissioner Thomas Turco.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: It's almost that time. The Massachusetts Playbook will not publish from Dec. 24 to Jan 1. I'll be back in your inbox Jan. 2.
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TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, outgoing Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash and his successor Mike Kennealy talk to the press. The Governor's Councilmeets. Rep. Joe Kennedy III tours Milford Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department. Rep. Katherine Clark is a guest on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Transportation for Massachusetts holds a discussion with Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth Chair Steve Kadish, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz , Braintree Mayor Joe Sullivan and Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, moderated by the Boston Globe's Shirley Leung.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "AFTER "DISASTER," BAKER ADMIN SEEKS CHANGES TO EASE LNG FLOW TO MASS." by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "As cold weather and higher electricity prices start to encroach, Massachusetts energy officials want to lobby the federal government to ease restrictions on shipments of liquified natural gas into New England in hopes of controlling costs and improving reliability in the energy grid. When winter hits - it officially begins on Friday - the demand for natural gas to heat homes and to generate electricity exceeds the supply of natural gas being delivered to the state via the existing pipeline infrastructure."
- "Economic chief Jay Ash stepping down from Baker administration," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Jay Ash, Governor Charlie Baker's point person on economic development, has made it official: He's stepping down after nearly four years serving in Baker's Cabinet. Baker's office announced Ash's departure Tuesday, but didn't say where he is going."
- "EDUCATION CAMPAIGN URGES LEGISLATURE TO COME UP WITH $1.5 BILLION," by Chris Triunfo, State House News Service:"Students, educators, parents and local leaders with the Fund Our Future coalition on Tuesday gathered at the State House to call on Gov. Charlie Baker and the Legislature to invest $1.5 billion into Massachusetts' public education system. The coalition, which was started by the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA) and unanimously supported by the Massachusetts Teachers Association's board, launched its campaign earlier this month, with the goal of passing legislation in 2019 that would increase state funding for public higher education by $500 million and public prekindergarten through grade 12 schools by $1 billion."
- "ERROR IN HOUSE LOCKOUT BILL PUTS ALL UTILITIES ON HOOK FOR COSTS," by Michael P. Norton, State House News Service: "As the House on Dec. 6 passed legislation authorizing wage benefits for locked out utility workers, House Speaker Robert DeLeo announced that the utility responsible for locking out its workers would be on the hook for any related costs under the bill. That's still the intent, but it appears that's not reflected in the bill that was rushed through the House on a voice vote and with no debate."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "In landmark agreement, Mass., eight other states vow to cut transportation emissions," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "In a landmark agreement to address climate change, Massachusetts and eight other Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states have agreed to work together to impose regionwide limits on transportation emissions, the nation's largest source of carbon pollution. Under the agreement, announced Tuesday, the states, which extend as far south as Virginia, have one year to create a system that caps the region's overall transportation emissions and requires fuel distributors in those states to buy pollution permits for some of the carbon they produce."
- "Fed up with stepping over needles near school, students say enough," by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe: "The students of the Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School in Roxbury wanted to send a message that they had had enough: enough of the dirty syringes that surround their school and playgrounds, and enough of official indifference to their safety. So they gathered at the corner of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Albany Street — along with their parents, many of their teachers, and some community activists — and held a protest."
- "Harvard professor seeks records of Boston connection to Pentagon Papers," by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe: "Nearly 50 years ago, during the administration of President Richard Nixon, federal prosecutors convened two grand juries in Boston to investigate the leak that hadled to one of the greatest newspaper scoops of all time: the publication of the secret Pentagon Papers detailing America's involvement in Vietnam. Records of those grand juries remain sealed today."
- "Ioannis Miaoulis, longtime Museum of Science president and director, to step down in January," by Andres Picon, Boston Globe: "Ioannis N. Miaoulis, the president and director of the Museum of Science, will leave his post next month after more than 15 years as one of the institution's top leaders, museum officials announced Tuesday. Miaoulis, a former dean of the Tufts University School of Engineering and a vocal advocate of improved science education, is stepping down Jan. 31, 2019."
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| THE OPINION PAGES |
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CHARLIE BAKER FAIL!
THE MEDIA HAS FAILED TO HOLD CHARLIE BAKER ACOUNTABLE FOR HIS SILENCE!
- "Governor Baker, it's time to hold gas utilities accountable," by Congresswoman-elect Ayanna Pressley, Darlene Lombos and Jessica Tan, Boston Globe: "We know the dangers of natural gas leaks. We saw the devastation in September when explosions caused by gas pipelines ripped through Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover. One person died, hundreds had their lives upended, and many of the families affected are still without heat and hot water. You'd think a tragedy like this would have Governor Baker working overtime to hold gas utilities accountable and prevent another tragedy from striking. Instead, National Grid, the privately held British company with $15 billion in yearly revenue, which saw its pre-tax profit soar 24 percent in 2018, is racking up dozens of dangerous and potentially catastrophic safety violations, and the governor is nowhere to be found."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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- "Trade war hangs over ceremony celebrating completion of new MBTA subway cars," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "The Chinese company building subway cars for the MBTA hosted a ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the completion of the new Orange Line vehicles at its factory in Western Massachusetts, as it lobbies the Trump administration for a break from the tariffs in the two countries' ongoing trade war. The ceremony included a not-so-subtle hint from Chinese Consulate-General Huang Ping about the trade tensions."
- "Democrats prepare for tax return showdown with defiant Trump," by Lauren Fox, CNN: " Incoming House Ways and Means Committee Chairmen Richard Neal, the only Democrat who has the power in Congress to obtain Trump's taxes, had hoped Trump would hand them over willingly, but a source familiar with ongoing discussions says public comments from the President's allies have made it clear that asking nicely would be a 'waste of time' and that likely the most efficient way for Neal to ask for the returns is to do it formally. In that case, Neal would ask the Treasury Department for the returns in the new Congress. When that would actually take place is still under discussion."
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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- "'My Hope Is That It Ends Up Something Positive': Rep. Capuano Reflects On Leaving Congress," by Bob Oakes and Bob Shaffer, WBUR: "The Massachusetts congressional delegation will be without U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano for the first time in 20 years when the new session of Congress begins in January. The 7th district Democrat lost in September's primary to Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who will be taking his seat. Capuano joined WBUR in-studio to reflect on his 10 terms in office and to discuss the future and the past."
- "McGovern warns against House Democrats focusing on impeachment," by Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe:"Representative Jim McGovern, who is set to ascend to a powerful committee chair when Democrats take control of the House next year, warned against his party focusing on what he characterized as futile efforts — at least for the moment — to impeach President Trump."
- "TSA says it will dial back controversial passenger monitoring program," by Rene Marsh, Gregory Wallace and Ellie Kaufman, CNN: "Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts who's a critic of the program, said Monday that he is 'pleased that TSA is now scaling back its collection of personal information about innocent Americans and their behavior.' 'However, I continue to have concerns about the effectiveness and invasiveness of this program,' Markey said."
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| THE CLARK CAUCUS |
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- "Katherine Clark celebrates the success of the PAWS Act — with puppies," by Nik DeCosta Klipa, Boston.com: "Rep. Katherine Clark celebrated a long-sought legislative success Tuesday with adorable shelter dogs at an MSPCA center in Waltham. But aside from her cuddly surroundings, the expected passage of her Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act is something the Massachusetts congresswoman says will have a real, serious impact for pet owners impacted by domestic violence."
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| DATELINE MERRIMACK VALLEY |
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- "After congressional bid, Dan Koh running for Andover selectman," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Months removed from a congressional bid, Dan Koh is returning to the campaign trail on a more local scale. Koh, the former chief of staff to Mayor Martin J. Walsh, said Tuesday he is running for a spot on Andover's Board of Selectmen in the town's March election. An Andover native who moved back to his hometown to seek the open Third District seat, he fell by 145 votes to Lori Trahan after a recount to finish second in the unpredictable, 10-person Democratic primary."
- "Lawsuit filed against Columbia Gas," by Jonathan Ng and Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "A Lawrence mom who still can't go back into her home months after gas explosions rocked the Merrimack Valley is headlining a class-action lawsuit against Columbia Gas. The 24 plaintiffs in the complaint allege the utility company failed to adequately manage their gas system and have a safety plan in place. They also say they've been displacement for months, suffered lost income and profits and are owed out-of-pocket expenses."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "For pot shop opponents, Leicester's traffic nightmare is a gift," by Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: "Images of cars lined up, bumper to bumper, flashed across the screen — a traffic hell. When one of the state's first marijuana stores opened last month in Leicester, a tiny town in Central Massachusetts, Greg Bivona, 72, watched the news from his vacation condo in Florida. He had already planned to fly home to Brewster to vote against pot stores because he felt they would worsen traffic. Now, he had proof."
- "Here's why some Western Massachusetts cities are welcoming marijuana stores," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican:"Several communities in Western Massachusetts are rolling out the red carpet for marijuana businesses. The way they are doing that, city leaders said Tuesday, is by treating marijuana companies just like any other business. 'It was really important for us not to be an obstacle,' Abrahams said. 'We look at them like any other business.'"
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| EYE ON 2020 |
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- "Dukakis To Dems: Focus Less On Impeachment, More On 2020," by Tori Bedford, WGBH News: "Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis urged his fellow Democrats to avoid pushing for impeachment and instead to focus on the 2020 election in an interview with Boston Public Radio Tuesday. 'I'm not a big impeachment fan — I think we just go out and beat [President Trump's] brains in, politically, in two years,' Dukakis said."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "MY HALL VOTES," — Globe: "Furious judge takes Flynn to task," "Mass. joins 8 states in vow to curb emissions," "Historian wants Boston's tie to Nixon-era probe unsealed." |
| ALL ABOARD |
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- OR NOT: "DOT chief blunt about challenges of east-west passenger rail," by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: "A map of Massachusetts, projected onto a conference room wall, made a quiet statement: Railroads hardly take the shortest route to get somewhere. And as members of an advisory panel heard Tuesday, impediments to expanded east-west rail travel, especially the fast kind, lie everywhere. That led Stephanie Pollack, secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, to issue a warning to the nearly three dozen civic leaders, policy experts and lawmakers who gathered to help steer a new yearlong study of whether passenger rail can make a comeback in this state, and at what cost . "
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| NO PLACE LIKE THE CITY OF HOMES |
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- "'This is about bringing the T into the 21st century': Gov. Baker sees first rail cars roll off Springfield factory line," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "It was a trip of a few seconds on CRRC's quarter-mile test track. But it was also a momentous step forward for Chinese-owned CRRC, for its customer the MBTA and for Springfield, which won the statewide competition to host the $95-million factory with 126 employees."
- "Mayor vetoes sanctuary city ordinance," the Associated Press:"A Massachusetts mayor has vetoed an ordinance he says would have made his municipality a so-called 'sanctuary city.' Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said Tuesday he vetoed the 'Welcoming Community Trust' ordinance because he believes it would create financial and legal challenges for the city."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Indicted Fall River mayor has five days to resign, or face recall election, city council says," by Jackson Cote, Boston Globe: "The Fall River City Council voted unanimously Tuesday evening to alert indicted Mayor Jasiel F. Correia II he has five days to resign from office or face a recall election. The vote was the result of a petition signed by residents last week seeking a recall vote on Correia. The measure received 4,533 signatures, 2,023 more than the required number to certify it."
- "Day care owner joins those suing Columbia Gas," by Jill Harmacinski, The Salem News: "The owners of a North Andover home where a day care business also operated are among those suing Columbia Gas after a series of gas-driven fires and explosions across the Merrimack Valley on Sept. 13, according to court papers. Attorneys for Dean Thornhill and his wife, Mona, and their children, are scheduled to be in Salem Superior Court on Wednesday for a court appearance in a civil lawsuit filed after the incidents in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover now three months ago."
- "Residents say 'no thanks' to Scituate coastal project," by Mary Whitfill, Patriot Ledger "The town's plan for protecting North Scituate from future winter storms is dead in the water after a majority of residents refused to sign easements that would allow a dune nourishment and road elevation project to move forward. Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to discontinue the project after an update that revealed only six of the 34 property owners who were needed to sign easements had done so. Coastal Management Officer Kyle Boyd said only one resident went to two open-house meetings to ask questions about the easement process."
TO GET YOU IN THE LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING SPIRIT: "Is the mall dead? In Massachusetts, it's survival of the fittest as shopping centers evolve."
TRANSITIONS - Kevin Milton joins Davis, Malm & D'Agostine, P.C. as an associate in the business law and banking and credit areas.
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