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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Monday!
MORSE MAKES HIS CASE — Is seniority overrated in Washington, D.C.? Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse thinks it is.
The 30-year-old Democrat waging a primary challenge against House Ways and Means chair Rep. Richard Neal said yesterday that leadership from top Democrats like Neal and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "just isn't there" on impeachment and other big issues, and that the newest House members have been most effective in setting the agenda this year.
"There's this argument you have to be in Washington for 20 or 30 years to have influence or set the agenda, and I would argue the newer members of Congress, like Congresswoman Pressley, in just eight months has become a leader in Washington helping lead the fight to hold this president accountable, to set the agenda, to advocate for progressive policies," Morse said during an interview on WCVB's "On the Record" that aired Sunday.
"I've been inspired by a younger, more progressive class of Democrats that have taken on entrenched members of the establishment," Morse added, though he has not spoken with Pressley about his campaign.
Yet while Pressley and fellow members of the Squad — first-year Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar — have driven the national conversation, they haven't yet demonstrated the same influence over actual votes in the House. So when it comes to governing, what can the mayor of Holyoke give the First District that one of the most powerful members of Congress can't? That's the question Morse will have to answer over the next 13 months.
"This is the fundamental question of this campaign. There's no question that Congressman Neal has power and has seniority. But the fundamental question is: How is that power being used and who is it being used for?" Morse said. "You'd never know that we have one of the most powerful Democrats representing us when you look at outcomes in health and education, when you look at the opioid epidemic. So it's power for who and power for what?"
In any case, Morse is not running the same race Pressley did when she upset former Rep. Michael Capuano in 2018. The demographics in Neal's Western Mass-based district are older and whiter, and fewer people hold bachelor's degrees, according to census data.
The primary could come down to whether voters continue to put their trust in Neal to deliver the goods for them, especially now that he's reached the pinnacle of his career as Ways and Means chair. But we're living in tumultuous political times, and voters might prefer a fresh face who is more aligned with a Democratic party that is shifting to the left. Morse is outspoken on issues where Neal has been more moderate, including impeaching President Donald Trump, Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and campaign finance.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins is a guest on "Greater Boston." The MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board meets.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "RMV was long aware of problems that led to scandal, documents show," by Matt Stout and Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: "The banker boxes were carefully stacked in neat rows — five high and as many as 15 across — and arranged by date and state of origin. Keith Costantino took such care in March 2017 to document the approximately 72 cartons at the Registry of Motor Vehicles' Haymarket office that he took two photos of the tidy wall lined with thousands of alerts about law-breaking Massachusetts drivers. At the time, the images could have been mistaken for a model of organization. But today, they are portraits of abject administrative neglect. Instead of plucking the notifications from those boxes, as required, Registry officials let them languish in storage for years, ensuring that any number of troubled drivers remained licensed. And they only finally took action when a 23-year-old man with a terrible record allegedly crashed into and killed seven people in June on a New Hampshire highway after officials didn't strip him of his license."
- "Proposed Mass. ballot question would mandate gun safes," by Christian M. Wade, Newburyport News: "Massachusetts already has one of the nation's strictest weapons-storage laws, but some gun control advocates want to make it even tougher. A question proposed for the 2020 ballot would require gun owners to lock up their handguns, rifles, shotguns and ammunition in a "certified" safe. It would also hold gun owners legally responsible for "crimes committed by any person using unsecured weapons" taken from their home, vehicle or business. Kirby Boyce, a West Roxbury resident who filed the petition, said a spate of mass shootings, as well as murders involving stolen firearms, illustrate the need for tighter rules."
- "Vineyard Wind layout tough issue for regulators," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "VINEYARD WIND'S TURBINE LAYOUT is likely one of the sticking points that prompted federal regulators late last week to expand their environmental review of the wind farm to include an analysis of how it would interact with a host of other projects in the planning stages along the East Coast. While Massachusetts politicians accused the Trump administration of delaying the project to death, officials at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have been struggling with whether to look at the wind farm in isolation or as the first of many to come. Vineyard Wind officials sometimes feel as if they are being penalized for going first, with the delays throwing off their aggressive construction timetable and threatening to derail the project."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Jewish groups lament immigration crisis during protest at Boston office," by Abigail Feldman and Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "Hundreds of people, young and old, gathered to sing laments of Tisha B'av outside the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in downtown Boston late Sunday afternoon, shifting the focus of the traditional day of mourning from ancient struggles to an issue dominating today's headlines. The holiday, known as the saddest of the Jewish calendar, is typically observed as a commemoration of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem and persecution of the Jewish people. But Sunday's crowd gathered to mourn what they described as a current tragedy — the separation of immigrant children from their families at the southern border and living conditions inside immigrant detention centers."
- "Boston restaurants feel pinch from Encore Boston Harbor casino's hiring," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Encore Boston Harbor's huge hiring spree is squeezing an already tight restaurant labor market, yanking workers from Boston bars and restaurants and stirring fears that local spots will close under the pressure. "We already had issues with finding staff — the casino has added a whole other dimension to it," said Mark D'Alessandro, the general manager of Mistral and operations manager for the Columbus Restaurant Group. Restaurateurs say Boston's strong economy in recent years already had left scant pickings for hires even before Encore opened in Everett in late June, ramping up hiring to over 5,000 hospitality workers. Massachusetts Restaurant Association chief Bob Luz noted recent high-profile restaurant closures, including Boston landmark Durgin-Park — and said his members tell him they worry that trend will continue."
- "The complicated legacy of 'broken windows' policing," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "DRAWING ON LESSONS he learned as a seminarian, social worker, and then probation officer, George Kelling became a major thinker on law enforcement, envisioning a new approach to policing that combined a strong regard for public safety with a keen sensitivity to community concerns and perspectives. When Kelling died this spring, at age 83, William Bratton, the former Boston and New York City police commissioner, told the New York Times he had been "the most profound influence on American policing in the last 40 or 50 years." But his death has revived a long-standing debate over the nature of Kelling's outsized influence."
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| THE OPINION PAGES |
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- "Mayors of Salem, Holyoke call for carbon fee," by Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse: "WE ARE THE MAYORS of Salem and Holyoke, two medium-sized Gateway Cities. Our communities are more than 100 miles apart, but both are feeling the impacts of climate change. We are experiencing severe storms, unpredictable flooding, drought, and damage to homes, businesses, roads, and infrastructure. Climate change is disrupting city operations and straining budgets."
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| ON THE STUMP |
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- "Cahill first Beverly mayor to face no opponent in back-to-back elections," by Paul Leighton, The Salem News: "When the deadline for filing nomination papers for the 2019 city election expired last week, it produced the seemingly sleepy news that Mayor Mike Cahill will once again have no challenger. Further scrutiny reveals that the non-existent race is more newsworthy than you might think. Research by The Salem News indicates that Cahill is the first mayor in the city's history to have no opponent in consecutive elections."
- "Bill Weld courts anti-Trump Republicans at Iowa State Fair, and finds few," by Todd J. Gillman, Dallas Morning News: "There are a lot of long shots at the Iowa State Fair. The ring toss. The milk can game. The water balloon dart throw. On Sunday, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld joined the list, pitching himself as the Republican alternative to President Donald Trump. How long are his odds? At the "cast your kernel" straw poll, the scoreboard showed Trump leading 97-3. Iowans filled nearly nine mason jars with corn for the incumbent three days into the fair. Weld's first jar was only about half full."
- "Election of first female mayor in Taunton would make history," by Charles Winokoor, Taunton Gazette: "It remains to be seen who the next mayor of Taunton will be. But there's a better than even chance it will be a woman. "You have two extraordinary women running for the job. I think one of them will win," said attorney Jordan Fiore, a onetime City Council member and current member of the Taunton School Committee and Planning Board. Fiore was referring to three-term council member Estele Borges, a Democrat, and five-term state Rep. Shaunna O'Connell, R-Taunton. The last time a woman was on a ballot for mayor was in 2001, when Yvonne Woods ran in a preliminary election against the late Ted Strojny, who went on to defeat Walter Bevis."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Elizabeth Warren's New Plan On Guns Has A Goal: Reduce Gun Deaths By 80%" by Asma Khalid, NPR: "Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced a sweeping gun control plan Saturday with the goal of reducing gun deaths by 80% through executive action and legislation. "You've got to start with a goal. I haven't heard anybody else talk about a goal," Warren said in an interview with The NPR Politics Podcast. "What I've heard them talk about is here's one thing we'll do, and one thing we'll do, and one thing we'll do, and then we'll quit." Announcing her plan, Warren said the first step toward meeting her goal is immediate administrative action, which includes a range of ideas such as requiring background checks, investigating the NRA, and revoking licenses for gun dealers who break the law."
- "Warren wows in Iowa as candidates' sprint to caucuses begins," by Thomas Beaumont and Alexandra Jaffe, The Associated Press: "The chant — "2 cents, 2 cents, 2 cents" — started in the back of a crowd that packed sidewalks at the Iowa State Fair. Elizabeth Warren, basking in the spontaneous adulation of her proposed wealth tax, prompted roars with her call for the ultra-wealthy to "pitch in 2 cents so everybody gets a chance to make it." A night before, the Massachusetts senator enjoyed similar treatment when Democrats at a party dinner jumped to their feet — some beginning to dance — at the opening bars of Dolly Parton's "9 to 5," the song that would usher Warren on stage. For someone whose White House ambitions were dismissed by some Democrats earlier this year, Warren's reception in Iowa this weekend was a clear warning sign to other 2020 candidates that hers is a campaign to be reckoned with in the state that kicks off the race for the party's nomination."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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- "Pence thanks Baker after visit to Nantucket — but vice president can't keep up with Lance Armstrong," by Kenneth Singletary, Boston Globe: "Vice President Mike Pence thanked Governor Charlie Baker for meeting him Saturday at the airport on Nantucket, where Pence was scheduled to attend a fund-raiser. "Thank you @CharlieBakerMA for welcoming us to Nantucket today, @SecondLady and I are excited to visit your great state," Pence tweeted Saturday afternoon. A photo shows Pence, his wife, Karen Pence, and Baker standing in front of the vice president's airplane on the tarmac. The vice president also apparently had time for a bike ride on the island. And Lance Armstrong did, too."
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| IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
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- "State Democrats pass resolution for presidential debate on climate," by Michael Connors, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "With more than 100 climate activists looking on, the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee voted unanimously Saturday morning in favor of a resolution encouraging national party leaders to support a presidential primary debate centered on climate change and green job creation. Earlier in the day, local activists and members of the Sunrise Movement, a group of young advocates calling for decisive action on climate change, gathered outside Easthampton High School to motivate state Democrats arriving for the party's summer meeting to pass the resolution."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "State cracking down on CBD edibles," by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: "You see it advertised everywhere: local shops, pharmacies, convenience stores, even gas stations. It can come in an oil extract, or be part of topical salves, inside prepackaged treats for people and pets, or in some instances, added to your latte at a local restaurant. In recent years, cannabidiol has become ubiquitous, as more and more businesses jumped on the CBD train and the benefits of the hemp-derived compound became better known. The naturally occurring cannabinoid is used to promote relaxation and better sleep, reduce anxiety, inflammation and pain, and, unlike the marijuana compound tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, does so without getting the user high. But, thanks to policy statements released at the federal and state levels, that train of unfettered sales appears to be in danger of derailment."
- "Massachusetts policy leaves Dudley hemp farmers in limbo," by Elaine Thompson, Telegram & Gazette: "After working for others in the marijuana and hemp industries in several states to learn the trade, Gian Ranucci and his fiancée, Bryanna Joseph, purchased a former 10-acre apple orchard in Dudley in February, eager to jump into the state's new potentially lucrative hemp industry. Mr. Ranucci, 25, and Ms. Joseph, 26, paid $285,000, which was $10,000 over the asking price, for the property on Center Road that they have named Dream Catcher Farm. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources granted Mr. Ranucci a dual license to grow and process hemp. Together, the young couple cleared six acres and planted 1,300 hemp plants on a little more than an acre. They plan to expand the crop next year. Their goal is to create a full-range farm where family members can work together."
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| ALL ABOARD |
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- "MBTA plans to shut down core sections of subway lines on fall weekends for repairs," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Facing intense pressure to speed repairs to its aging system, the MBTA intends to shut down core sections of the heavily traveled Red and Orange Lines, plus Green Line branches, throughout weekends in the fall to tackle the work, potentially hampering hundreds of thousands of riders. The proposal, considered unprecedented for T construction projects, will expand in both time and breadth the upgrades — and system shutdowns — that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority had already scheduled. It will also require the T to spend $27.5 million more to make good on calls to more quickly tackle projects designed to improve service."
- "Will higher Uber and Lyft fees get more commuters on the T? Some are skeptical," by Kellen Browning, Boston Globe:"Transportation advocates say charging higher fees on Uber and Lyft rides may get more people off the roads and help curb Greater Boston's traffic congestion — but some commuters faced with the prospect of pricier trips say that won't be enough to change their routines. Trips provided by ride-hailing services account for a small portion of the traffic, but pink Lyft emblems and black Uber decals have become nearly ubiquitous during peak traffic times, seemingly adding to the gridlock. The so-called ride-share industry has become a concern on Beacon Hill, and a long-awaited report on congestion released from the Baker administration last week suggested that making such travel more expensive — via the per-trip fee the state already levies — could help steer commuters to buses and subways instead."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "NEW HEART NEW HOPE," — Globe: "A scandal, sealed and forgotten," "T stations to close in weekend repair plan," "Between grief and resiliency." |
| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Data shows flood of opioids before OD surge," by Elizabeth Dobbins, The Lowell Sun: "Over a billion prescription painkillers were delivered to pharmacies in Massachusetts in the years before opioid overdoses began claiming the lives of more than a thousand residents annually. Between 2006 and 2012, 190.2 million pills were delivered to pharmacies in Worcester County. In Middlesex County, pharmacies received 203.9 million. Statewide, the figure is close to 1.3 billion. Data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration made available by the Washington Post — the result of a yearlong legal battle — shows data on shipments of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills to pharmacies and practitioners over these years."
- "Voyagers put focus on the Merrimack," by Richard K. Lodge, The Salem News: "After four days paddling through scenic landscapes, sudden rainstorms, challenging rapids and invisible sewage released into the waters around them, a cluster of kayakers landed at Plum Island Point on Saturday, marking the end of a 117-mile trek to shine a light on the Merrimack River. Eight voyagers set off Wednesday from Franklin, New Hampshire, led by Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn and Dan Graovac, president of the board of the Merrimack River Watershed Council, to highlight the importance of the river to the economic, environmental and recreational picture of the region ."
TRANSITIONS - Shannon Emmett joins state Sen. Barry Finegold's office as a legislative aide. Emmett graudated from UMass Amherst in May and serves as a commissioner on the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women and volunteers for UMass Women into Leadership. Tom Mahoney, Finegold's former legislative aide, was promoted to constituent services director.
WEEKEND WEDDINGS - Bonnie McGilpin and Craig Carpenter were married in Provincetown on Saturday. McGilpin has served as press secretary to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and former Gov. Deval Patrick. Guests included Alec Loftus, Eric Haynes, Juli Hanscom, Lauren Jones, Matt Kitsos and Patrick Roath. (h/t Alec Loftus).
- Winthrop Town Councilor Pete Christopher and Laura Barrett were married at St. John the Evangelist Church in Winthrop on Saturday afternoon. A reception was held at the Cottage Park Yacht Club. Pic. Another pic. (h/t Ben Goodman).
- "Katrina Forrester, Jamie Martin," from the N.Y. Times: "Katrina Max Forrester and Jamie Robert Martin were married Aug. 10 at Lyman Estate, a national historic landmark in Waltham, Mass. Devorah Baum, the wife of the bride's half brother, Josh Appignanesi, and who received a one-day marriage designation from Massachusetts, officiated. The couple met in 2008 at the University of Cambridge, from which each graduated with a master's degree in history." Link.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Sunday birthday-ers C. Peter R. Gossels and Dan Wolf, who turned 62.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Lauren Collins Cline.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Angels beat the Red Sox 5-4.
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