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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
WALSH'S SPEECH — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will deliver his annual State of the City address at Symphony Hall tonight.
Last year, Walsh focused on unity in Boston in the face of an increasingly divided Washington. Remember the bipartisan road trip to D.C. that Walsh pitched with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker at last year's address?
But beyond laying out the mayor's vision for the city, tonight's speech is a chance for Walsh to highlight his administration's accomplishments over the last year. That's a useful opportunity for Walsh, who will face reelection in 2021 if he decides to run for a third term. Many suspect City Councilor Michelle Wu will challenge him next year, and if Wu doesn't, someone else probably will. There's pent-up political ambition in the state's Democratic party.
"I expect that what you will see is him explaining what he has done to make the city a better, more livable place and what he expects to do in the next year to make it even more livable," said Michael Goldman, a longtime political consultant who advised Walsh's first mayoral run.
"Even though it's only a half hour long, it gives you an opportunity to basically say 'While you weren't watching, this is what I've done to make the city better for you, safer for you, more livable for you,'" Goldman added.
And in light of a potential challenge next year, the State of the City event is an example of why it's particularly tough to run against an incumbent mayor. Unlike statewide officeholders like a senator or a governor, the mayor has a smaller turf. That means he's been able to reach a higher percentage of constituents than other officials.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attend Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's State of the City address at Symphony Hall. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a "Save The Spinners" community meeting at LeLacheur Park in Lowell. The Supreme Judicial Court hears cases in Boston.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Amid spate of anti-Semitic attacks, Massachusetts allocates $1.5 million for nonprofit security grants," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "On Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker held a ceremonial "bill signing" to call attention to $1 million in funding for security for nonprofits included in a recently passed supplemental budget bill. Past grants from the program have been awarded disproportionately to Jewish institutions. The rabbi called it "powerful" for the Jewish community "knowing that the government has our back." The money is part of a state program founded in 2017 that pays for security upgrades at nonprofits that are at high risk of terrorist attacks."
- "Massachusetts public payroll jumps; 16,600 earn $100,000 or more," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "The state's payroll ballooned to $8 billion-plus last year, with two UMass bosses pocketing $1 million in what fiscal watchdogs say is an "unsustainable" trend. Newly released state payroll records for 2019 also show 16,599 employees in the University of Massachusetts system and throughout state government pulled down $100,000 or more — a 20% jump from the previous year driven in part by overtime work."
- "Vehicle Repair Question Opponents Funding $500,000 Ad Campaign," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "The coalition organized to fight against a 2020 ballot question that would increase access to a vehicle's digital data said Monday that it planned to spend half a million dollars over the next few months on billboards and digital ads. The Coalition for Safe and Secure Data said the public awareness campaign will ask voters: "You wouldn't give your car keys to a stranger, why give up your data?" Opponents of the "right-to-repair" question, including auto manufacturers, argue that privacy and cybersecurity would be at risk if national groups and local repair shops successfully pass the ballot measure in November aimed at gaining access to electronic repair information, or telematics."
- "Audit: Security measures too loose at benefits agency," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "State auditors have again found that an agency is not doing enough to defend sensitive data from cyberattacks, this time faulting the Department of Transitional Assistance for substandard data and information security. The audit did not detail instances in which sensitive data had been compromised, but Auditor Suzanne Bump's office found that DTA "did not have a tested incident response plan," "did not assess and document third-party vendor risks," and "did not revoke terminated employees' access to one of its systems in a timely manner."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Boston's most diverse city council sworn in," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The most diverse city council in Boston's history was sworn in this morning during ceremonies at Faneuil Hall. Mayor Martin J. Walsh swore in a council that for the first time is made up more than half by women and people of color. The council includes four new faces, an unusual amount of turnover for the 13-member body. Four newbies are at-large councilor Julian Mejia, who's the body's first Latina, and district councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Kenzie Bok and Liz Breadon, who is the first openly gay woman to serve on the council."
- "Developer, unions agree: Suffolk Downs mega-project will be built using all-union labor," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "Building a new neighborhood in East Boston and Revere that's the size of the Back Bay will be a union job. The development firm HYM Investment Group and the region's major construction unions said Monday that they have reached a long-term labor agreement to build 16 million square feet of housing and office space on the site of the shuttered Suffolk Downs racetrack. The deal, which covers an estimated 14,000 jobs — probably over 20 years — includes $2 million to recruit and train neighborhood residents, women, minorities, and others who have long been underrepresented in Boston's construction industry."
- "Cambridge Elects First Muslim Mayor In Mass." WBUR: "A Cambridge city councilor on Monday became the first Muslim mayor in Massachusetts. Sumbul Siddiqui was elected to the role by her fellow city councilors. A long-time Cambridge resident, Siddiqui has served on the council since 2018. Born in Pakistan, her family moved to the U.S. when she was 2 years old, according to her biography on the city of Cambridge website."
- "New England Law dean will leave with more than $5 million," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "During his long tenure at New England Law, John F. O'Brien has been among the highest paid law school deans in the country. When he turns over leadership of the school later this year to former Republican senator Scott Brown, O'Brien will also walk away with one of the most lucrative retirements in academia, worth at least $5.3 million."
- "The state's third busiest abortion clinic could close soon without financial support," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "The threat of abortion clinic closures has become commonplace in such states as Missouri and Louisiana, where lawmakers have passed bills aimed at curtailing the procedures. But the threat has hit home in progressive Massachusetts, where the state's third busiest abortion clinic revealed it's in a fight for survival. Its medical director recently launched a GoFundMe page aimed at raising $250,000 fast. "We are at a crossroads," wrote Laurent "Lolly" Delli-Bovi, medical director of Women's Health Services in Brookline."
- "Filing shows DraftKings' net loss ballooned in first 9 months of 2019," by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: "Through the first nine months of 2019, DraftKings Inc.'s net losses grew significantly over the prior year, according to the first detailed, public glimpse into the company's financials in a new securities filing related to its plan to go public. The Boston-based fantasy sports and betting firm revealed Monday that it lost $114 million through Sept. 30. That's more than a 50 percent increase from the same period a year earlier, according to the filing."
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- "Two candidates in 4th District race release fundraising reports," by George W. Rhodes, Sun Chronicle: "Year-end campaign finance reports aren't due until the end of the month, but so far two of the six candidates for the 4th Congressional District have released their fundraising totals for the final quarter of 2019. Jake Auchincloss of Newton raised "more than" $609,000 since declaring his candidacy in October for the seat now held by Joe Kennedy III, according to a press release from his campaign. Meanwhile Jesse Mermell of Brookline announced she raised $351,000. A press release said Mermell surpassed her goal and that she refused corporate PAC donations."
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| ALL ABOARD |
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- "The wild idea of making MBTA buses free is gaining traction," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "It promises to be a big year on the transportation front, as the Legislature prepares to debate new money for the rail and road systems that may prove at odds with funding initiatives already backed by Governor Charlie Baker. Against this backdrop, a once-radical idea to fight Boston's horrific traffic has seemingly taken hold: Eliminate transit fares outright, or at least make rides on Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority buses free. The idea has been bandied about in small circles of transportation advocates for years. But it has gained much wider discussion since last year's MBTA fare hike ."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Immigrants in Mass. more likely to have attorneys," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "CLAD IN A GREEN JUMPSUIT and chained at the hands and the feet, Ismail Garces Avila is sitting in immigration Judge John Furlong's windowless courtroom, waiting for his bond and asylum hearings. The 25-year-old Avila was jailed in September after crossing the border illegally after fleeing what he claimed was political persecution in his native Cuba. Despite the complicated nature of his immigration case, Avila has no attorney, which makes his bid for asylum very difficult. Immigrants facing deportation have no right to counsel in the United States, but having an attorney is often a key determinant of what happens to them."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Julián Castro endorses Warren for president," by Caitlin Oprysko, POLITICO: "Julián Castro on Monday threw his backing behind Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president, only days after suspending his own bid for the White House. "There's one candidate I see who's unafraid to fight like hell to make sure America's promise will be there for everyone, who will make sure that no matter where you live in America or where your family came from in the world, you have a path to opportunity, too," Castro says in a video announcing his endorsement."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "Moulton addresses public's concerns at Pentucket town hall meeting," by Heather Alterisio, The Salem News: "U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, answered continued questions about conflicts in the Middle East, impeachment and other contentious topics during an hourlong town hall meeting Monday night at Pentucket Regional Middle School. Moulton, who has been serving the 6th District for five years, said he typically starts these discussions with local issues, but felt compelled to address "the elephant in the room," Iran, immediately."
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| KENNEDY COMPOUND |
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- "Joe Kennedy presses for war authorization repeal vote following Soleimani strike," by Ellen Mitchell, The Hill: "Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) on Monday pressed for an immediate House vote to repeal aging presidential war powers following President Trump's decision to forgo congressional input and launch a drone strike that killed a top Iranian commander. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Kennedy asked that the House take up legislation to repeal the 2001 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs). The 2001 AUMF authorized U.S. military force against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks and any "associated forces," while the 2002 authorization was meant to go after Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "ON THE OT TRAIN," — Globe: "Law dean draws fire for hefty payout," "Iran mourns, vows direct hit." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "'I'd prefer not to read it on Facebook': New Westfield Mayor Donald Humason welcomes criticism -- but wants it in person or over the phone," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "New Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. said Monday that he'll welcome criticism, but asked for it to be face-to-face or over the phone. "I'd prefer not to read it on Facebook," Humason said in his inaugural address Monday at the Westfield Technical Academy. He also warned the critics that they'll also be the first ones he'll call on to volunteer if their ideas are better than what the city's doing now. "So, get out of your basement and get up here and get to work," he said."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Here are the Mass. cities and towns with the highest tax rates for 2020," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: "Residential property tax rates in cities and towns around Massachusetts continued to decline this year as commercial rates edged upward, indicating that more communities are shifting the burden of their municipal budgets onto local businesses. This year, the median residential tax rate among all 345 communities that had approved new tax rates as of Jan. 3 was $15.27 per $1,000 in assessed value. That's down from $15.37 in 2019 and $15.57 in 2018."
SPOTTED: at Brockton City Hall on Monday for the inauguration of Brockton Mayor Bob Sullivan ... Rep. Stephen Lynch and state Sen. Mike Brady. Pic.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Emma Crowley, finance director on Shannon Liss-Riordan's campaign and a Jay Gonzalez alum.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Jeff Gulko.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Wizards beat the Celtics 99-94.
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