MASSterList: Warren in talks with Clinton camp | Baker reverses immigrant policy | Uncontested races

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By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 06/02/2016 Warren in talks with Clinton camp | Baker reverses immigrant policy | Uncontested races

Happening Today

Wynn Chapter 91 hearing   The Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Appeals holds a hearing on the city of Somerville's appeal of a Chapter 91 environmental license for the Wynn Everett casino, MassDEP Headquarters, 1 Winter St., Boston, 9:30 a.m.

House Global Warming Committee   Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton is expected to testify at a House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change that’s also expected to cover the issue of the transportation sector's contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, Hearing Room B-2, 1 p.m. Today's News   DeLeo on transgender bill: Let’s forgo conference committee and get this done   As expected, the House yesterday overwhelmingly approved the transgender anti-discrimination bill, after a long and emotional debate on Beacon Hill. After the vote, House Speaker Robert DeLeo had a suggestion: How about avoiding a conference committee to reconcile the House and Senate bills? “It will be my wish that we're able to avoid a conference committee,” DeLeo told reporters, according to a report by Andy Metzger at State House New Service. “I believe that the governor made it clear that he would sign the House bill. ... I'm hopeful that the Senate will follow our lead and have this pass." Even if the bill does go to conference committee, the Senate will probably cave on the minor differences between the two bills. It’s just not worth the risk and hassle. SHNS (pay wall)     Lack of contested legislative races prompts Harshbarger to jump party ship   The statistics are pretty damning: Of 200 House and Senate seats on Beacon Hill, 127 of them will go uncontested this year – and more than two-thirds of incumbent lawmakers seeking re-election this fall won’t be facing a challenger, according to aLowell Sun piece by Katie Lannan and Colin A. Young of State House News Service. Obviously, the lack of competition ensures a continued Democratic dominance of the legislature that now spans more than a half century in Massachusetts. Enter Scott Harshbarger, the former Democratic state attorney general, gubernatorial candidate and head of Common Cause, who says in CommonWealth magazine that he’s joining for now the United Independent Party. The goal: To promote more competition in legislative races that hopefully will lead to lasting campaign-finance and other reforms. From Harshbarger’s declaration:  “Let’s be clear, in Massachusetts, neither my Democratic Party with its overwhelming majority, nor the on-life-support Republican Party solicits or encourages citizens to run for office against any incumbent of either party. As an official party, the United Independent Party will offer us challengers in races across the Commonwealth under a banner of independent thinkers promoting nonpartisan public policies that deserve to be heard and debated. That fact alone will begin creating the climate for reform.” CommonWealth Baker reverses Patrick’s policy on detaining illegal immigrants   Gov. Charlie Baker is reversing former Gov. Deval Patrick’s policy that barred the state police from detaining undocumented immigrants at the request of federal immigration officials, a policy shift intended to capture dangerous convicts, reports Matt Stout of the Herald. As Stout notes: “The move is also likely to draw fire from immigrant advocates, who have regularly railed against Gov. Charlie Baker’s stance on their issues and have long criticized the feds’ approach to deportation.”  Actually, we’d say the move is guaranteed to draw fire from advocates. But will it draw fire from enough pols in an election year to make a difference? Granted, the vast majority of legislators aren’t facing challengers this November. But it’s still a safe – and centrist -- political move by Baker. Boston Herald     As she blasts Trump, Warren is now ‘communicating regularly’ with Clinton campaign   Even though she has yet to endorse Democrat Hillary Clinton, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s advisors are now "communicating regularly" with the Clinton presidential campaign, as Democrats slowly coalesce around Clinton to present a united anti-Trump front, reports Abby Phillip and Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post. The piece notes that both sides insist there’s no formal coordination, but that’s what appears to be happening behind the scenes.  The WaPo story adds that there likely will be “no endorsement by Warren until after the last round of primaries” between Clinton and Democratic rival Bernie Sanders. Warren's fence-sitting on an endorsement has drawn criticism from some quarters amidst worries that Democrats are too divided heading into this summer's party convention. Washington Post Layoffs loom as T offers buyouts   The MBTA will begin offering retirement buyouts to its workforce today, hoping to cull hundreds of workers voluntarily from payrolls, Nicole Dungca of the Globe reports. Two separate buyout programs will target those eligible for retirement. The T says it will save more than $37 million annually with the cuts and has not ruled out layoffs if needed to reduce headcount. Boston Globe     Retail association rejects the retail sale of marijuana   The president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts says his business group is opposing a proposed ballot measure legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Massachusetts, calling legalization a “real can of worms” that will lead to a very “litigious environment,” reports Gintautas Dumcius at MassLive. Jon Hurst, president of the retailers' group, said the ballot measure has "too many flaws." MassLive Investigative report: Prosecutors withheld evidence of corrupt narcotics testing   We missed this important story, by Shawn Musgrave of the New England Center for Investigative Reporting, that appeared at WGBH over the Memorial Day weekend: “Massachusetts prosecutors withheld evidence of corrupt state narcotics testing for months from a defendant facing drug charges, and didn’t release it until after his conviction, according to newly surfaced documents and emails. The case of Rolando Penate has become a leading example for lawyers calling for further investigation into alleged misconduct by prosecutors who handled documents seized from Sonja Farak, the Amherst crime-lab chemist convicted of stealing and tampering with drug samples.”  We’re sure we’re going to hear a lot more about Sonja Farak and other tainted cases – probably in the thousands -- in coming months and years. WGBH     Is Massachusetts the next Puerto Rico?   With a high debt load and unfunded liabilities, Massachusetts ranks 49th among states for fiscal solvency and the commonwealth is now “walking on the same road as Puerto Rico” in terms of fiscal management, according to the author of a new George Mason University study, reports the Herald’s Jordan Graham. “Massachusetts’ economy is far stronger than Puerto Rico, their debt loads are nowhere near Puerto Rico, but it’s that habit they’ve got to look out for,” said Eileen Norcross, a senior research fellow at GMU’s Mercatus Center. “If it’s an ongoing habit, you might be early on that road, but you’re walking on the same road as Puerto Rico.” The Baker administration is disputing the report, noting the state’s strong economy and stable credit rating. Boston Herald Gants declares DeLeo leak inquiry closed   The state’s highest court says it is closing its inquiry into who leaked a confidential transcript of House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s testimony in the probation department scandal, Bruce Mohl of CommonWealth magazine reports. Chief Justice Ralph Gants said law enforcement agencies involved in the case told the court they were not responsible for leaking the transcript to the Globe. CommonWealth     Is Mayor Walsh losing the support of the black community?   Some members of the Boston black community who helped propel Mayor Marty Walsh into office are wavering in their support as he ramps up his re-election bid, reports Meghan E. Irons of the Globe. Some former supporters are working behind the scenes to recruit challengers to Walsh while others express disappointment about how much Walsh has done to address issues important to the black community, including income inequality. Boston Globe Somerville runs up $400K tab challenging Wynn   The city of Somerville has spent $400,000 in the past year to challenge approvals of Steve Wynn’s proposed Everett casino, though the overall cost is likely higher, according to a report from Adam Vaccaro of Boston.com. One of those challenges—to a DEP permit issued for construction of the $1.8 billion project—heads to a state hearing today. Boston.com     Cops in SouthCoast region say opioid problem ‘out of control’   An overdose on a busy highway in the midst of the holiday weekend and a spate of four overdoses in a 24-hour period are the latest reminders that the opioid problem remains critical in the SouthCoast region, Curt Brown of the Standard-Times reports. "It's out of control," said Detective Capt. Steven Vicente, a spokesman for the New Bedford Police Department. "Every day we have four or more overdoses throughout the city." Standard-Times Anti-Semitic incidents are on the dramatic rise in New England   Reports of anti-Semitic incidents are dramatically rising across New England, apparently fueled by vandalism, harassment, and other acts at schools and colleges, according to the Anti-Defamation League, as reported by the Globe’s Steven Rosenberg. According to the ADL, there have already been 56 anti-Semitic acts in the region this year, nearly as many as for all of 2015, when 61 were reported. “Clearly, people are acting out on some long-held stereotypes and hatred toward Jews, and it’s designed to send a message of intimidation,” said Robert Trestan, director of the New England Regional Office of the ADL. Boston Globe     'Court: Man bit off more than he could chew,’ specifically a nose   From Universal Hub’s Adam Gaffin: “The Massachusetts Appeals Court yesterday upheld a Swampscott man's conviction for a 2012 attack in Revere that left his former business partner with part of his nose missing. The court ruled that Kenneth Michaud, 44, got a fair trial and he just needs to deal with the 3-to-5-year prison sentence he got after a jury convicted him of assault and battery causing serious personal injury and mayhem. " Universal Hub Today's Headlines   Metro   Is black community wavering in its support for Walsh? - Boston Globe Somerville has spent $400,000 fighting Wynn casino in the last year - Boston.com Judge rules subpoenas on City Hall should be public - Boston Globe Boston zoning board faulted on open meetings - Boston Globe Massachusetts   Former AG Harshbarger leaving Democratic party, for now - Salem News Worcester health board raises minimum smoking age to 21 - Telegram & Gazette Retailers Association of Mass. opposes campaign to regulate marijuana like alcohol - MassLive State rep fears ‘real safety issue’ from bathroom bill - Boston Herald Charlie Baker strikes Deval Patrick’s ICE policy - Boston Herald Three hoping to unseat newly elected state Sen. O’Connor - Patriot Ledger Fiscal impact of outside students sought by Lowell board - Lowell Sun SouthCoast opioid problem is ‘out of control’ - Standard-Times House passes transgender bill after heated debate - Boston Globe MBTA offers buyouts, but could see layoffs in the future - Boston Globe Gants calls off DeLeo leak inquiry - CommonWealth Magazine   Nation   Obama wades into election debate with Indiana speech - Boston Globe Warren endorsement a missing piece of the campaign puzzle - Boston Globe Donald Trump rails after PGA pulls event from his course - Boston Herald

Growing Casino Opposition! Let's REPEAL THE CASINO DEAL!

Given the FACTS, communities are voting NO!

Predatory Gambling is a Public Health Disaster!

 

http://s.masslive.com/UIdnDBm

Bill Walczak speaks in East Boston in support of ballot question to repeal state casino law Codman Square Health Center founder and former Boston mayoral candidate Bill Walczak speaking against the law authorizing casinos in Massachusetts. Walczak is part of group of state officials and activists moving to repeal law at the ballot box in 2014.

Please share widely.

Momentum is building and we need you now!

Folks – You soon will get a report on the press conference (and the outline of the comments) this AM in E. Boston –as a follow-up and building on the media coverage (see various links David and Kathleen have distributed) of the past couple of days on Braude and Fox 25, and the clips of the Governor’s “not in my backyard” response to a casino in Richmond, and the press coverage of the “Emperor has no Clothes” MGC hearings on Milford and the outrageous flouting of the law by Suffolk Downs.

But I wanted to offer you my brief perspective on it so you understand why I firmly believe that, with your continued hard work as citizen activists and leaders, and the continued funding so many folks have been contributing (in whatever amounts they can afford).

Organized by the outstanding work of Melwood Global (Jon and Chris in attendance), there were at least 5 cameras and several print and radio reporters –and they got a show! Excellent comments by our citizen activist heroes, John Ribeiro and Celeste Myers; a rousing, substantive set of powerful economic and community culture arguments and sound bites from the Mayor of Somerville, Joe Curtatone (who should go on the road for us now and throughout this battle), strong advocacy for the potential (if we can be successful) for legislative repeal by Senator Will Brownsberger, and the public health, economic fairness, and “we can do better” examples from Bill Walczak, our Boston Mayoral hero. Plus effective Q & A responses from all of the above, but especially John, Celeste and Joe.

We are in a position, albeit still the underdogs, for “David’ to be fully equipped with facts and people power, and demonstrating that the more people know the less they support this failed public policy initiative, to slay “Goliath,” as the “promises and benefits” of casinos/slots in MA are exposed as more and more obviously deceptive and elusive. Statewide candidates and existing elected leaders are beginning to realize how strong and wide is the citizen base of support for REPEAL, and beginning to figure out which way the wind is blowing in case it is in their interest to follow and ride the wave!

This weekend is critical. Thank you all will give of your time, energy, and money, to give the people the chance to vote. Excelsior!

Scott Harshbarger

Subject Line: Momentum is building and we need you now!

Dear Repeal The Casino Deal supporters,

Our campaign to Repeal The Casino Deal has seen a surge in donations, volunteers and support in the week since the voters in East Boston and Palmer rejected casino proposals in their communities. The voice of citizens at the ballot is reaffirms that we are on the path to defeating the state’s reckless casino law. We need your help now to get the signatures and funding necessary to get to the next step of placing the question to REPEAL on the November 2014 ballot.

Today, Saturday and Sunday are the most important days of our battle. We need you to collect signatures and donate any amount you can afford for us to reach the goal. We are within reach and we need to have a buffer to be sure the powerful casino interests do not come back at us and try to defeat us with lawyers picking apart raw signatures. We know they are relentless and casino crawl never, ever stops unless the law is repealed.

Go to repealthecasinodeal.org to download petition papers and find out where you can go to collect signatures, now. Call Brian Ashmankas, Signature Coordinator with questions about where you can get signatures 617-701-7823. Donate. There is no time to wait.

“Although we have won in East Boston, the developers feel that they can circumvent the law and are proceeding as if they have been given the go ahead to do so,” Celeste Myers co-chair of No Eastie Casino said. “Even if they had not made the brazen steps to try to move ahead with their mad scramble for Gaming Commission approval, despite the will of the people and the democratic process, the law as written enables them to re-spin the plan and bring it before voters again within six months. We need to save other communities from this madness.”

Today, in East Boston a press conference was held to show our momentum. Leaders across the state are joining our grassroots group including our long-time champion former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and state Sen. William Brownsberger, D-Belmont, joined former Boston mayoral candidate Bill Walczak in urging their supporters and voters in their regions to join in the effort.

“We are so pleased with the momentum we’ve seen but we also know the power of this entrenched, deep-pocketed industry,” said John Ribeiro, chairman of Repeal The Casino Deal (RTCD.) “We have them on the run but the money and greed that drive that industry will cause them to stop at nothing until there are slot barns and casinos dotting the Massachusetts landscape. That’s why our effort must continue.”

On behalf of the entire RTCD statewide team, I sincerely thank you for the work you have done and stepping-up for the final push.

John

John Ribeiro, Chair

Repeal The Casino Deal (RTCD)