Middleboro Review: MASSterList: Bernie's big Mass. bucks | New T privatization battle | A young progressive woman on Sanders vs. Clinton

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) and Keith Regan

Today: As the dust settles, a message from the people of NH

As the campaign buses roll out of New Hampshire and on to South Carolina, a prevailing political sentiment is the New Hampshire primary was more than a one-off event. It was a message.

"By picking Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, New Hampshire has sent voters in South Carolina and other upcoming primary states a pair of outside-the-mainstream politicians with vastly differing ideologies, whose messages will now be tested in unfamiliar territory, in an increasingly fast-paced political calendar," writes the Globe's James Pindell.http://bit.ly/1orqrPD

Facts and figures from the primary:

* About 75 percent of Democratic primary voters under age 45 backed Sanders in New Hampshire, including 83 percent of voters under 30. Sanders won women voters 55-45, according to CNN.

* Gov. John Kasich held 106 town hall meetings in New Hampshire.

* On the Republican side, Trump (35 percent) and Kasich (18 percent) won the most independent voters.

* Chris Christie, who needed a strong showing in New Hampshire, received 7.5 percent of the vote with nearly 90 percent of the precincts reporting.

* Real Clear Politics has Trump ahead in South Carolina 36-20 over Cruz.

* The most recent poll (November) has Clinton ahead of Sanders by nearly 30 points in Massachusetts; with nearly 600,000 college students in Massachusetts, it's now an open question how much that gap will close.

Money from Mass.: Sanders' campaign has received strong financial support from Massachusetts, writes Don Seiffert of the Boston Business Journal. "Last night's decisive win for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was fueled by more than $7.6 million in donations from Massachusetts to the Vermont senator." That's double the $3.6 million Clinton raised from Massachusetts in the same time period. http://bit.ly/1orv8co

The Bloomberg factor: Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is the true winner from last, writes the Globe's Alex Kingsbury, for the results leave an opening for him. "Bloomberg would need to move swiftly and be prepared to put not just his name, but some of his considerable fortune behind a disruptive, start-up campaign." http://bit.ly/1KbyoCs

Bush cast in a political version of "Requiem for a Heavyweight": Eric Fehrstrom, longtime Romney aide, predicts the future of Jeb Bush, told with a dark movie metaphor:http://bit.ly/1Q6tSRS

Also today: Privatization controversy brewing

The Massachusetts Cultural Council hosts a daylong assembly of the 329 local cultural councils across the state, grassroots cultural funding organizations administered by municipally appointed volunteers. Musician Sally Taylor, the daughter of James Taylor and Carly Simon, gives a keynote address. Lt. Gov. Polito offers remarks at 11:00 am. Grand Staircase, 9:45 am.

A T privatization controversy is brewing as the MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board meets. The agenda includes an update on responses to a request for information for automated fare collection maintenance. Boston Carmen's Union Local 589 President James O'Brien and workers from the MBTA's "money room" plan to attend the meeting to speak out against privatization of fare collection. According to the union, the plan would jeopardize the jobs of 165 fare collection operations employees. 10 Park Plaza, Suite 3830, 12:15 pm. Nicole Dungca of the Globe previews the privatization plan here: http://bit.ly/1QVjjEz

Sen. Eric Lesser, who falls within the group known as Millennials at the ripe old age of 30, plans to join Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, 66, to discuss the Senate Millennial Engagement Initiative, Senate Reading Room, 3:00 pm.

MASSterList op-ed: A young progressive woman on Hillary and Bernie

The appeal to gender politics voiced by the likes of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has touched a nerve in with some young female Democrats. "As a progressive young woman, I am not double-dealing, misogynistic or any less of a feminist because my support is firmly with Bernie Sanders for president," writes Megan Montgomery for MASSterList.http://bit.ly/1PjZuq1

Regan loses Suffolk contract

More fallout from the attempted coup at Suffolk University: Regan Communications has lost its public relations contract with the university worth nearly $300,000. George Regan spoke for the faction that was trying to oust Suffolk President Margaret McKenna, at one point suggesting to a Globe columnist that it was time to "cut your losses, stop the bleeding, and move on." McKenna will stay on no longer than the end of the next academic year; board of trustees chairman Andrew Meyer is stepping down in May, as is Julie Kahn, a Regan employee. More from the Globe's Laura Krantz: http://bit.ly/20UsiKE

T management: That bloated feeling

Staggering numbers from the Pioneer Institute on T staffing and spending in a report released yesterday: "According to data made public by the NTD (National Transit Database) -- based upon numbers released by the MBTA itself -- the agency's general administration employee count increased by more than 79 percent between FY08 and FY14, from 279 to 481.The overall number of paid hours per year increased by more than 86 percent over the same period, from 493,853 to 921,191." That's $33 million in additional salary and fringe benefits in that time period.

Sen. Dan Wolf on $15 per hour

Sen. Dan Wolf admitted at a hearing on raising the pay of Logan Airport workers to $15 per hour created an "awkward" situation for him, as he said he can't currently afford that rate at his company, Cape Air. "It's an awkward, interesting place for me to be because I do support the effort to get to 15. I think it has to be done in a way so that we make sure that the business community is healthy while we get there." Katie Lannan of the State House News Service has more: http://bit.ly/20Vhufq (paywall)

Investor slashes value of DraftKings stake

Twenty-First Century Fox has slashed the value of the investment it made in Boston's DraftKings last year by nearly 60 percent, Curt Woodward of the Globe reports. In a filing, Fox said the value of its initial $160 million investment had fallen by $95 million based on more recent financing events, which reflect the more difficult legal and regulatory environment facing the daily fantasy sports site. http://bit.ly/1ms44YN

Some unenrolled voters given Independent tag

State election officials are acknowledging that thousands of voters who intended to register as independent -- enabling them to vote in either party's primary on March 1 -- may have accidentally been labeled as registering for the United Independent Party of former gubernatorial candidate Evan Falchuk, Eric Levenson of Boston.com reports. About 21,000 voters who signed up as Independents have been informed of the possible mishap and some 5,500 have already switched to unenrolled. Residents have until 8:00 pm today to change their affiliations or register to vote for the March 1 primary. http://bit.ly/1PMzqoI

Lowell bans replica handguns

The city of Lowell, which found itself in the crosshairs of gun rights advocates for enacting strict rules for obtaining firearms permits, has now approved a ban on replica guns, the Sun's Grant Welker reports. The ordinance passed the City Council Tuesday and bans anyone from selling, possessing, using or displaying any replica gun in public unless "certain identifying marks are visible," such as by painting them in bright colors. http://bit.ly/1KF2H4q

Strong interest in Framingham charter commission

As it weighs a shift to a city form of government, Framingham is seeing strong interest in serving on the chapter commission that will study the issue. According to Danielle Ameden of the MetroWest Daily News, 26 residents are seeking one of the nine seats on the commission in the town's March 29 election. http://bit.ly/23WADjB

Open seat alert

Rep. Dennis Rosa, who has represented Leominster since 2009, says he will not seek re-election, the Telegram's George Barnes reports. Rosa, a Democrat, says he needs more time to focus on his family's growing auto repair business. http://bit.ly/1QVcItF

State, city want to redevelop downtown parcel

Development plans will be solicited for a 5.5-acre parcel located just off I-93 in downtown Boston, the most highly visible example yet of Gov. Charlie Baker's efforts to activate dormant state land with the help of private developers, Tim Logan of the Globe reports. The state plans to move a Department of Transportation office off the parcel and to hold meetings with area residents to develop a vision for the parcel, which could hold up to 2 million square feet of development. http://bit.ly/1RnA8dt

Baker on primary excitement:

"Having been up there myself on Saturday and had a chance to see just how much energy there is up there and how much fun people are having, I've got to tell you that not ever being really part of that kind of presidential scrum is kind of too bad for all of us down here in Massachusetts.... I may decide four years from now to spend a little more time up there just to get a chance to watch it."

-Gov. Baker, speaking on Boston Herald Radio.

Home podium advantage: Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack was right at home standing at the podium at MassDOT's Kneeland Street offices on Tuesday (see photo below). The secretary often needs to readjust microphones downward when following remarks by Gov. Charlie Baker, who is significantly taller. On Tuesday the podium was at a comfortable level for Pollack. "The podium is made for you," said Baker when it was his turn, the microphone positioned at about his midsection. "So rare," noted Pollack. - Andy Metzger/State House News Service