POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: AIRBNB takes to the airwaves — NURSES say they’ll head to ballot — STATE AGENCY expenditures concealed



AIRBNB takes to the airwaves — NURSES say they’ll head to ballot — STATE AGENCY expenditures concealed



05/01/2018 07:08 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Temperatures are creeping higher today with sun and a high in the mid-60s in Boston.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - AIRBNB TAKES TO THE AIRWAVES IN BOSTON IMBROGLIO - Airbnb has taken to the airwaves with a new radio ad in the latest development in the long-simmering battle between it and the Boston City Council over short-term rentals.
This time, the new ad singles out Mayor Marty Walsh by name (and not City Councilor Michelle Wu). Airbnb evoked strong backlash after singling out Wu in an email earlier this month accusing her of being "aligned with big hotel interests against the interests of regular Bostonians" as the city grapples with regulating the industry.
The one-minute spot will first go live on WBZ Radio through this week featuring testimony from 'Deborah', a Brighton-based Oak Square airbnb host. The ad opens with Deborah saying "I think Airbnb saved my life." It's also expected to air on other news talk and music stations before the end of the week, according to Airbnb.
Deborah continues: "Airbnb paid for this ad so I can tell you, Mayor Walsh, and my city council members, how important it is for us to continue hosting here in Boston and to continue to be able to open my home."
This isn't Airbnb's first ad in the Massachusetts market as it works to shape regulations related to its operation. As its spokeswoman put it to me, "As conversations around policies in Boston continue, we want to ensure Boston's Airbnb hosts continued to be heard and have a platform to do so." Listen to the ad here.


Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Governor Charlie Baker and LG Karyn Polito join Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash and Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus at the 2018 Massachusetts Economic Development Summit. Later, Baker will officially designate May as Asian American Pacific Islander month - Rep. Jim McGovern speaks at the Worcester County Bar Association Breakfast about the federal separation of powers in the Trump era - The Cannabis Control Commission meets.

ON THE STUMP -


DOES THIS MEAN CHARLIE BAKER MIGHT ACTUALLY DO THE PEOPLE'S WORK?

- "Running for a second four-year term, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker won't be focusing on campaign trail until August," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Days after he picked up the endorsement of the state GOP convention and drew a likely primary opponent, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said he won't be out on the campaign trail until later this summer."

MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICANS ENDORSED & SUPPORTED A TRUMPIAN DICTATORSHIP....SAD COMMENTARY! 

- "Antigay Springfield pastor fighting Charlie Baker - and gay Ugandans in federal court," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe:"Controversial pastor Scott Lively, whom Republicans this weekend catapulted into contention for the GOP nomination for governor, is embroiled in an active federal lawsuit in which he was accused of conspiracy to deprive gay people in the East African nation of Uganda of their fundamental human rights. A judge last year called Lively's efforts and writings against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people 'odious' and 'crackpot bigotry.'"

- "In polarized staffing fight, nurses say they'll just go to the ballot," by Andy Metzger, State House News Service: "Nurses who support mandatory staffing ratios are keeping their powder dry for a ballot fight they expect to wage this fall, a union chief told lawmakers on Monday."

- "Former treasurer Steve Grossman back Jay Gonzalez for governor," by Frank Phillips, Boston Globe: "Former state treasurer Steve Grossman, who failed twice to get his party's gubernatorial nomination and then this year backed a candidate who left the race last week, is throwing his support to a former top Patrick administration official in the now two-way Democratic race for governor."

- "DA candidate Patalano calls for transparency, accountability," by Alana Melanson, Lowell Sun: "Middlesex District Attorney candidate Donna Patalano blasted the incumbent Marian Ryan in a Sun Editorial Board meeting last week, labeling the office a 'black box' when it comes to releasing such data as pretrial incarcerations, who is prosecuted versus who is diverted, the outcomes of diversion programs and the details of how her just under $17 million budget is spent. By law, district attorneys aren't required to release this information, Patalano said, but she believes greater transparency and accountability are needed."

WHERE'S CHARLIE BAKER? STILL OUT GLAD-HANDING? 

DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Mass. agencies fail to post millions in expenditures," by Matt Rocheleau, Boston Globe: "At least 19 agencies in Massachusetts appear to have flouted state law by failing to publish millions of dollars in payroll and spending data on a state transparency website as required by a 2010 law that mandated the public disclosures. All of the missing data belonged to so-called quasi government agencies, which are established by the state."


- "Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo does not anticipate passing major immigration bill this session," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said he does not anticipate bringing up a major bill on immigration policy this session. Advocates for immigrants have been pushing for the Safe Communities Act, which would limit the ability of state and local police forces to work with federal immigration authorities."

- "Massachusetts police chiefs back 'extreme risk' gun bill allowing family to petition judge to take someone's guns," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "A major Massachusetts police organization is supporting a bill that would let a family member petition a judge remove someone's gun. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association sent a letter on Thursday to legislators in support of the Extreme Risk Protection Order bill, H.3610."

- "Facts in Alli Bibaud case 'raised questions and concerns' about potential ethics violations, Massachusetts Attorney General says," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's review of the changes to the arrest report of a judge's daughter 'raised questions and concerns' about potential violations of state ethics laws, she said Monday. As for what happens next in the case, it's back to 'wait and see' mode, as the Ethics Commission determines whether there were indeed violations."

- "Utilities must detail tax savings," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "Utilities got a hefty tax break this year but the savings has yet to be passed onto most electric, gas and water consumers in Massachusetts. In February, the state Department of Public Utilities ordered the companies to submit reports revising their 'cost of service' calculation, passing any tax savings onto consumers, retroactive to Jan. 1."

- "WWII veteran visits Charlie Baker on tour to meet all 50 governors," by Laney Ruckstuhl, Boston Globe: "As Governor Charlie Baker pinned a gold medal to the lapel of Sidney Walton's blazer in the State House Monday, the 99-year-old World War II veteran grinned up at him from beneath the brim of his baseball cap, mentally checking another governor off his list. Massachusetts was the Army veteran's second stop on a nationwide 'No Regrets' tour to visit every governor in the country before making his last stop at the White House on Feb. 11, 2019, his 100th birthday."

THE KENNEDY COMPOUND -
- "Time for a New U.S. Foreign Policy Narrative," by Ian Bremmer and Joe Kennedy III, Foreign Affairs: "As a candidate, Trump painted a gloomy portrait of American weakness and decline, trends that he promised to reverse. To the surprise of some and the fears of many, Trump's dark vision resonated and continues to resonate over a year into his presidency."
- "An Interview with Joe Kennedy III, Representative from MA-4," by David Edimo, The Politic: "The Politic's David Edimo spoke with Rep. Kennedy recently to discuss his decision to enter public service and his time in Congress. 'You might be choosing between something that looks great on a resume and something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. I would give a lot of thought to the latter option that's going to force you look at the world a little bit differently and learn something about yourself and the way you handle circumstances.'"

MOULTON MATTERS -
- "Moulton talks gun control, opioid epidemic, legal weed," by Mary Markos, Eagle-Tribune: "An 18-year-old Beverly student, whose friends survived the shooting in Parkland, Florida, asked Congressman Seth Moulton about gun reform. More than 100 people went to Peabody City Hall on a sunny, Saturday afternoon to ask such questions, largely expressing their concerns about national issues affecting people locally. Moulton spent about an hour at his Town Hall event speaking to topics that ranged from the opioid crisis and money in politics, Syria and veterans services to the NSA and the EPA."

TSONGAS ARENA -
- "Task for 3rd District Democrats: Standing out," by Chris Lisinski, Lowell Sun: "By the time the second of two debates at UMass Lowell wrapped up Sunday afternoon, it became clear again that the 3rd Congressional District race is still defined more by who the candidates are than by what they have to say. In a field of 12, that may be the best way to stand out, although the occasional remarks about the role of money hint that top fundraisers such as Dan Koh and Rufus Gifford may come to face attacks from their opponents on that topic."
- WOOD WAR - Herald: "LOST TOO YOUNG" Globe"Mueller's questions for Trump revealed," "Market volatility," "19 agencies fail to post millions in expenditures," "A Medford side trip to visit a slice of her father's past ends in death," "Baker's rival ensnared in rights suit," "Celtics take Game 1," "Court weighs ground rules in meningitis case."

THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Worcester DA denies involvement in Troopergate scandal," by 7News WHDH Boston: "Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. is denying any wrongdoing after an independent investigation found he asked former Massachusetts State Police Col. Richard McKeon to scrub embarrassing details from a report detailing the arrest of a judge's daughter. 'I didn't ask the colonel to make changes to the report,' Early said Monday when asked about the report by 7's Sharman Sacchetti."

- "Hackers get $10,000 in bitcoin after attack on Leominster schools," by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: "The hackers were hunting for vulnerable computer systems and in mid-March they found a mark: the Leominster public schools. With their system locked down by a ransomware attack that encrypted data and froze e-mails, Leominster school officials said they had no choice but to pay $10,000 to a suspected ring of international hackers."
- "Black nurses sue Brigham and Women's Hospital," by Liz Kowalczyk, Boston Globe: "Nirva Berthold had nursed cancer patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital for nine years, when she decided to go after a higher-paying position. The Haitian-American nurse said she was turned down for that job because she is black. When another Haitian- American nurse stuck up for Berthold, that woman said the hospital retaliated against her. The women's claims - which the Brigham said are untrue - are at the center of two back-to-back trials scheduled to begin this week in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston."

- "25 Investigates: Secret group illegally raffling off high-powered guns on Facebook," by Eric Rasmussen and Erin Smith, Boston 25 News: "A secret Massachusetts group has been illegally raffling off hundreds of high-powered guns on Facebook, 25 Investigates uncovered. ... Some of the guns, such as a Beretta ARX100 rifle, aren't even legal to own in Massachusetts without making safety modifications, according to guidelines from the state Attorney General's Office. ... But that didn't stop organizers of the secret, 800-member group from raffling off the firearms online and telling the winners they would have to make them legal."

- "City Hall Notebook: Worcester poverty rate among fastest growing in U.S.," by Nick Kotsopoulos, Telegram & Gazette Staff: "A lot has been said and written about Worcester's renaissance and the rebirth of its downtown, but there is another story that has received far less attention. It has to do with poverty."
- "Round two for harborfront skyscrapers begins," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "It only took a decade, but zoning for a key stretch of Boston's downtown waterfront finally got the green light from state environmental regulators Monday, giving developer Don Chiofaro long-awaited permission to move forward on a 600-foot tower near the New England Aquarium. Now comes round two."

- "SnotBot featured in Monday's NatGeo show," by Mary Markos, Eagle-Tribune: "Ocean Alliance's SnotBot, the drone that collects whale snot, was featured Monday night in the National Geographic show, 'One Strange Rock.' In addition to SnotBot's television debut, which was narrated by actor Will Smith, the Gloucester-based nonprofit organization last week received a Webby Award, presented annually by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Worcester state Rep. Daniel Donahue, Gimlet Media's Abbie Ruzicka, and Gary Uter, project manager at Boston Planning and Development Agency.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and No! The Red Sox beat the Royals 10-6, the Celtics defeated the 76ers 117-101, but the Bruins fell to the Lightning 4-2.
POLITICO's Ben White is bringing Morning Money to the Milken Institute Global Conference to provide coverage of the day's events and evening happenings. The newsletter starts on April 29th. Sign-up to keep up with your daily conference coverage.
FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: The Ballot Stakes. It's a busy week in the bunker with Voter Choice Massachusetts' Adam Friedman on ranked choice voting, and -- in a return to the pod -- our senior campaign finance correspondent Sean Curran on the funding behind ballot question campaigns. Then, Steve and Lauren dig into the latest polling and upcoming debate in the race for the MA-3. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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