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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF!
SCOOP: SOULCYCLE BILLIONAIRE GAVE TO NEAL — Here's a Massachusetts connection: The billionaire owner of Equinox and SoulCycle, who is under fire for hosting a fundraiser for President Donald Trump, has donated more than $11,000 to Rep. Richard Neal.
Stephen Ross, who owns the boutique fitness outposts as part of his real estate development firm, is facing backlash from SoulCycle and Equinox clients for Friday's planned Hamptons fundraiser. Ross gives to a number of other politicians, including Neal.
Ross has given two $2,800 donations to Neal and another $5,600 donation to Neal's PAC, the Neal Victory Fund, according to FEC records. A Neal spokesman didn't respond to a request for comment late last night.
Neal is chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee , which has jurisdiction over tax revenue, Social Security and Medicare, among other topics. He's also leading a lawsuit to obtain Trump's tax returns and has faced criticism from some Democrats for moving too slowly. Neal is facing a primary challenge from the left from Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. Morse and another possible candidate, author David Daley, have been critical of Neal's relationship with big donors.
BAKER AND LYONS TO RAISE CASH TOGETHER — It could get a little tense when Gov. Charlie Baker and state GOP chairman Jim Lyons appear side-by-side at a fundraiser in Gloucester on Saturday.
The so-called "Infamous Rooftop Fundraiser" comes as the MassGOP and members of Baker's team argue over access to donor lists, according to a Boston Globe report . The spat is illustrative of the fracture between the Baker administration and the state's Republican Party since Lyons took over the reins this year. Baker has distanced himself from Lyons' conservative views against abortion and immigration.
And the Massachusetts Democratic Party is using the fundraiser to tie Baker to Lyons and the Trump-friendly MassGOP, even as the governor is at odds with the leader of his own party, according to an email shared with POLITICO.
"Charlie Baker doesn't want you to know what he is doing this weekend. That's because tomorrow, Baker will join Republican Party Chair Jim Lyons at a fundraiser to help elect extreme right-wing, anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ candidates here in Massachusetts," the Massachusetts Democrats will write in a fundraising email to supporters this morning. "And the fundraiser will support the MassGOP's campaign to re-elect Donald Trump."
The fundraiser is hosted by Connie and Joe Orlando. The host committee includes state Rep. Marc Lombardo, Amanda Kesterson, Luke Noble, Jonathan Ring, Joe Orlando Jr., Jaclyn Corriveau, Maura Ryan Ciardiello, John McCarthy, James Hannon and Christian Hashem. Suggested donations to the fundraiser, which is a joint event for the MassGOP and the Gloucester Republican Committee, range from $100 to $1000.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attends a Boston EMS graduation and promotional ceremony. Rep. Jim McGovern and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visit Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and McAllen, Texas over the next several days.
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POLITICO AT #TRIBFEST19 — We are excited to partner with The Texas Tribune Festival to bring some of the top journalists from our newsroom to downtown Austin on September 28 for the premier gathering of policymakers and citizens engaged in the most pressing issues of our time. From fixing America's broken politics to understanding how immigration and border policies are shaping the 2020 landscape, join us for big-thinking conversations with top leaders and experts in the field. Learn more about the festival HERE. Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email Us
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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— "MassGOP and Charlie Baker's political team clash over donor databases," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Republican Party and the political committee of GOP Governor Charlie Baker are feuding over access to lucrative donor databases, an embarrassing intraparty clash that has left both sides locked out of the data by software giant Salesforce.com. In a scorching letter sent to the company last week, a MassGOP lawyer said the San Francisco company had "unlawfully" blocked the party from its databases since July 15 and "knowingly allowed access by unauthorized third parties," in an apparent reference to Baker's political team. The letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Globe, said the lockout had affected fund-raising and demanded that Salesforce restore the party's access to its databases. It threatened legal action if Salesforce failed to "make a reasonable settlement offer" within 30 days."
— "Traffic congestion has reached a 'tipping point' in Massachusetts, state officials say," by Kellen Browning, Boston Globe: "The Baker administration on Thursday acknowledged the state's epic traffic has reached a "tipping point" and signaled support for major new tools to combat congestion, including allowing commuters to pay to bypass gridlock and reserving bus lanes on highways. At a news conference, Governor Charlie Baker released a long-awaited report that concluded what Boston-area commuters already know: Traffic in and around the city is bad, and getting worse. "No one likes traffic and congestion, period, and it's a frustrating and inconvenient reality for too many people," he said. The congestion report — and the fact that Baker held an event to release it —demonstrates just how much transportation has come to dominate his gubernatorial career."
CHARLIE BAKER FAIL!
— "Baker gave a 'courtesy' heads-up to O'Connell," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION notified Rep. Shauna O'Connell ahead of time that the governor was appointing the mayor of Taunton as the interim register of probate in Bristol County, but officials say the notification was done as a courtesy and her own bid for mayor was not discussed. Gov. Charlie Baker announced the interim appointment of Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. as register of probate for Bristol County on Monday and shortly thereafter O'Connell, the Republican state rep from Taunton, announced she was running to replace Hoye as mayor. The bang-bang moves came just a day before nomination papers were due at city hall for candidates seeking to run for mayor in November."
— "Local officials seek to block sanctuary state policy," by Christian M. Wade, The Daily News: "A group of mostly Republican state, county and municipal leaders are behind a new ballot initiative that seeks to prevent Massachusetts from taking steps to declare itself a "sanctuary state." Under the proposal, state and local law enforcement would be authorized to detain certain people based on requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if an administrative warrant is issued and there is probable cause to suspect the individual is "a threat to public safety" and living in the U.S. illegally."
— "EQUAL PAY ROLLOUT BUMPY IN MASSACHUSETTS SENATE," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Three years ago this month, dozens of lawmakers crowded around Gov. Charlie Baker at the foot of the Grand Staircase in the State House to celebrate his signing of a new gender pay equity law. The implementation on Beacon Hill, however, has been something less than triumphant, particularly in the state Senate where some staff have felt left out of the process of salary restructuring and believe inequities continue to exist. The frustrations reached a boiling point last week when a former communications aide to Sen. Jamie Eldridge wrote a lengthy email to Senate Counsel Jennifer Miller, and copied all Senate staff, raising concerns about a lack of transparency in how Senate leaders went about reevaluating salaries."
— "Mass. Senator Undeterred Over Presidential Tax Return Disclosure Bill," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service:"With legal challenges pending over a new California law requiring presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns to appear on the ballot, the sponsor of a similar bill in Massachusetts said the Bay State should follow suit before waiting for the court cases to play out. Sen. Michael Barrett, who filed a presidential tax returns bill in January for the second consecutive session, said the Legislature often passes laws that could be subject to a challenge in court, and in those cases they act on the bill and then "let litigants sue."
— "Recovery coach licensing proposed," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "A state commission is recommending professional licensing for the recovery coaches who are increasingly sent to emergency rooms, drug treatment centers and courtrooms to help addicts get clean. A 15-member panel, created as part of a sweeping opioid bill signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker last year, wants recovery coaches to be regulated under a yet-to-be-created board of registration for the emerging profession. Recovery coaches should have "lived experience" as former addicts, according to the recommendations, but should be in recovery for at least two years before working with patients ."
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| WHAT CITY HALL IS READING |
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— "Advocacy, negotiation, or criminal activity? Guilty verdicts blur line at City Hall," by Milton J. Valencia and Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "They're the unwritten rules for building in Boston: Hire union. Woo the neighbors. Appease advocates, and pony up cash for "community benefits" like parks or bike lanes or even a church roof. That's how business with the city gets done. But some of those rules — and the subtle ways they're enforced — could be upended following this week's convictions of two top City Hall aides in federal court on charges that they pressured a music festival organizer into hiring union stagehands. The unexpected verdicts, and the indictments that preceded them, have blurred an already fuzzy line between negotiation and criminal activity, say lawyers, community advocates, and others who routinely do business with City Hall. Now, some say, federal prosecutors have sent a message that could stifle the give-and-take of city politics."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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— "Tensions flare as homeless and drug users spread into South End," by Felice J. Freyer, Milton Valencia and Danny McDonal, Boston Globe: "The contrasts of urban life were on display on a recent sunny afternoon in the South End's Franklin Square, an oasis of greenery crisscrossed by diagonal paths that converge at a fountain. While a man played fetch with his dog, another nearby screamed expletives from his bicycle. Among those strolling in the shade were two disheveled people pushing carts piled with their belongings. Then a police van pulled up. Three officers hopped out, approached a couple sprawled under blankets, and told them to leave. The couple packed up a large black duffel bag and trudged off. An officer picked up a discarded syringe nearby. "Imagine if this was your neighborhood," he remarked to no one in particular."
— "Massachusetts mayors call on Senate Republicans to pass gun control legislation," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "A dozen Bay State mayors have joined more than 200 of their counterparts in calling for the U.S. Senate to take up gun safety legislation after the latest fatal mass shootings. The mayors of Boston, Beverly, Cambridge, Everett, Framingham, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Newton, Salem and Somerville signed onto the letter from the United States Conference of Mayors, which urges Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to reconvene the Senate and pass gun control bills that have already cleared the House of Representatives."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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— "Elizabeth Warren Calls Trump a White Supremacist," by Thomas Kaplan, New York Times: "Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said on Wednesday night that she believed President Trump was a white supremacist, broadly accusing him of dividing Americans along racial lines and providing direct and tacit support to those who believe white people are superior to other races. Asked in a brief interview with The New York Times if she thought Mr. Trump was a white supremacist, Ms. Warren responded without hesitation: 'Yes.'"
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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— "Some in Mass. tell Equinox to 'do better' amid parent company head's Trump fund-raiser," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "New Englanders joined the chorus of critics on the Internet lambasting billionaire Stephen Ross — head of the Related Cos., whose portfolio includes brands such as Equinox and SoulCycle — for hosting an upcoming fund-raiser for President Trump. "@Equinox and @soulcycle know your audience," said Mary Anne Marsh, a political commentator and prominent figure in Massachusetts Democratic circles, via Twitter. "This is unacceptable. Really. Your owner Stephen Ross is raising money for @realDonaldTrump." Maine State Representative Ryan Fecteau, a Democrat who serves as assistant majority leader in Vacation Land, also called out Ross, who also owns the Miami Dolphins."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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— "Boston ZBA chair blasts City Council for 'posturing' in fight over marijuana buffer rule," by Dan Adams, Boston Globe:"Lately, Christine Araujo, chairwoman of the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal, has been contemplating the meaning of existence — not so much in the philosophical sense, but as it pertains to marijuana businesses. That's because, under a city rule meant to prevent clusters of pot stores, each new cannabis establishment must be located at least a half-mile away from an "existing" one. And last week, a long-simmering dispute over when, exactly, a business comes into existence boiled over into an unheard-of public confrontation between Araujo's board and the city council, which is refusing to confirm seven appointees by Mayor Martin J. Walsh to the ZBA until they declare their stances on the marijuana buffer rule."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "CHARLIE'S LUXURY LANE$." — Globe: "SPREAD OF HOMELESS RATTLES SOUTH END," "Baker pitches solutions for easing traffic."
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| EYE ON 2020 |
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— "These Mass. Employers' Workers Have Donated The Most Money To Presidential Candidates," by Callum Borchers, WBUR:"Harvard University employees have donated more money to presidential campaigns this year than workers at any other Massachusetts employer, according to a WBUR analysis of Federal Election Commission records, and their contributions favor Sen. Elizabeth Warren far above the rest of the field. Employees of Bain Capital and the consulting firm from which it spun out, Bain & Company, have given the second-largest sum. Though voters may know the firms for grooming Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, all donations by Bain employees so far this year have gone to Democrats. Former Vice President Joe Biden is the top recipient."
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| FROM THE 413 |
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— "A Late, Breezy Shift in Holyoke's 1st Midterms," by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: "Holyoke will experience its first "midterm" election in 2019. It may be easy forget as he is running for something, but Alex Morse is not on the ballot this year. The four-term mayor is halfway through his first four-year mayoral term. But the City Council and much of the School Committee remain on a two-year election cycle. Voters rejected doubling councilors' term in 2015 even as they lengthened mayoral terms to four years. There is some reason to think Holyoke will see less drama this cycle. It is not just the lack of a mayoral contest."
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| NO PLACE LIKE THE CITY OF HOMES |
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— "Almost a year after MGM Springfield's opening, city casino advisory committee still hasn't met; member asks Gaming Commission to intervene," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "A resident who serves on the MGM Springfield Community Advisory Committee filed a complaint this week with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, saying the local board has failed in its obligation to begin meeting once the casino opened. The mayor's office, however, says the 11-member advisory committee will have its first meeting shortly after Labor Day, and that its functions have generally been handled by the City Council's Casino Oversight Committee, made up of five councilors."
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Artificial intelligence. Facial recognition. Lightning fast networks. Rapid technological change is transforming the consumer experience, upending entire industries, and challenging the way lawmakers craft policy. How are some of the world's leading companies innovating to avoid extinction? Tune into POLITICO's "Global Translations" podcast to hear from Stephen Bird, the CEO of Citi's Global Consumer Bank and Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, in a special branded episode by Citi. Subscribe and listen now: Apple Podcasts -Spotify - Stitcher |
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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— "PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS REVEAL ARLINGTON'S BEHIND-THE-SCENES RESPONSE TO POLICE CONTROVERSY," DigBoston: "Like in any donnybrook, there are countless angles and competing arguments in play. The documents that we obtained provide a much deeper insight into why certain decisions were made regarding developments including Pedrini's employment and the town's use of the restorative justice (RJ) process, which is traditionally designed as 'a system that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the larger community.'"
— "City, victim in settlement talks over 2016 sexual assault by cop," by Julie Manganis, The Salem News: "Lawyers for the city are 'actively engaged' in settlement discussions with a Cape Cod man who was sexually assaulted by a now-former Salem police officer in 2016, according to filings this week in a federal civil rights lawsuit. Brian Butler is currently serving a 3 1/2-year to 5-year state prison term, following his 2018 conviction on an indecent assault and battery charge. He was found not guilty of a rape count. ... His victim was a young man who had traveled from Cape Cod to Salem with family members to celebrate Halloween in 2016."
— "Conservatives gather in Billerica to unite behind ideology," by Emma Murphy, The Lowell Sun: "Being conservative doesn't make you a racist, a bigot or a small-minded person. That was the main takeaway from a conservative confab at a private home in town Thursday, which drew dozens from across the country to talk about the future and their united ideology. Grand Opportunity USA (GOUSA), a Boston-based nonprofit organization, hosted a conservative conference at founder and CEO John Paul's Billerica home."
— "People Keep Stealing the "Old Town Road" Signs in Wellesley," by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "Everybody knows the lyrics: In his wildly popular single, Lil' Nas X sings all about taking his horse to the Old Town Road. But in Wellesley, Massachusetts, it's the "Old Town Road" itself that's being taken. The town's "Old Town Road" traffic signs, that is. According to the local news website the Swellesley Report, the roadside signage for a tiny side street in the town's leafy Wellesley Farms neighborhood, which happens to share its name with the most popular song in the world, has become a target for thieves."
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, who celebrates Sunday.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Angels, 3-0.
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