| | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | | Presented by |  | | | BOSTON STRONG — Republicans on the House Oversight Committee looked to deliver a death blow to Democratic mayors over their handling of the immigration crisis. They ended up giving Boston Mayor Michelle Wu fundraising fuel and a more prominent place in the national Democratic psyche. Wu rolled in dressed for the occasion — baby in tow, with a visible Ash Wednesday cross on her forehead — before taking her seat alongside her fellow mayors: New York Mayor Eric Adams, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Republicans on the panel came out swinging, but Wu leveled several blows of her own. The first-term Democrat fired off an early shot at White House border czar Tom Homan. “Shame on him, for lying about my city, for having the nerve to insult our police commissioner, who has overseen the safest Boston’s been in anyone’s lifetime,” Wu said earlier in the hearing. “Bring him here under oath, and let’s ask him some questions.” She deflected and redirected some lines of questioning, calling on Congress to pass gun-control legislation and “stop cuts to Medicaid,” in response to a line of questions from Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) suggesting the mayors’ policies meant their cities were harboring criminals. And (t o the excitement of her team) Republicans largely avoided laying into Wu over her comments offering “condolences” to the family of a knife-wielding man who was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer over the weekend. Meanwhile, supporters rallied around her at home. At dueling rallies outside City Hall, local lawmakers and immigrant-rights advocates tried to drown out the noise from those who showed up to voice their opposition to the city’s immigration policies. The mayor revived her long-dormant X account for the occasion, posting some highlights: the Homan zinger, a few suggestions for Congress to help cities with safety, a clip of her telling committee members that Boston doesn’t listen to “kings or presidents who think they are kings.” We counted three fundraising emails off the event from Team Wu. In the end, Wu walked away without any college-presidents-style blunders and a cache of sound bites she’ll be able to replay on the campaign trail. “This is our city,” Wu said in her opening statement, before telling the panel — and members of Congress at large — to “do your job” and pass immigration legislation. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Thoughts on the testimony? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com. MORE FROM THE HEARING: — “Boston Mayor Wu, other mayors may face criminal prosecution for sanctuary policies, House Republicans say,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald. — “‘Give ‘em hell Michelle’: Mayor Wu stayed calm and combative during her first congressional hearing on immigration,” by Jim Puzzanghera and Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe. — “‘It’s heartbreaking': Mass. Rep. Pressley shares constituents’ deportation fears,” by John L. Micek, MassLive. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Secretary of State Bill Galvin and Auditor Diana DiZoglio testify at a Joint Ways and Means Committee hearing that begins at 11 a.m. DiZoglio speaks at a Contrarian Boston webinar forum at 11:00 a.m. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at the 7th Annual Building Women in Construction "Inspire Awards" at 5:30 p.m. in Boston. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark is among the members of Congress holding a "on the Republican scheme to cut Medicaid," at 9 a.m. in D.C.
| | | | A message from Uber: Massport's $15 Rideshare Tax Would Be The Highest in World. Massport wants to make Logan Airport passengers pay a whopping $15 tax for a roundtrip Uber ride. Even while charging record breaking taxes, Massport will still force Uber passengers to use remote pickup and drop-off locations. Stop MassPort's unfair tax on travelers. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office consulted with labor lawyer amid first legislative audit fight,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office consulted with former attorney general candidate and longtime labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan in 2023 as the Methuen Democrat pursued an initial audit of the Legislature, according to public records obtained by the Herald. The State Auditor’s Office did not enter into a formal contract with Liss-Riordan and her firm, Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C., but instead sought ‘legal advice and assistance’ in connection to DiZoglio’s audit of the House and Senate that was released in October, the records show. The Office of the State Auditor acknowledged the correspondence in a detailed list of records they withheld from public release under the claim of attorney-client privilege.” — “These 12 committees held no hearings last session. They’re back, and their leaders earn up to $44,862 in extra pay,” by Emma Platoff and Laura Crimaldi, The Boston Globe: “Last session, a dozen of the Massachusetts Legislature’s 53 committees did not hold a single hearing or consider a single bill. This session, Democratic leaders have brought all those panels back, and in many case kept the same committee chairs in their lucrative posts. During the most recent two-year session, more than one in five legislative committees did little or no legislating, but their leaders nonetheless earned tens of thousands of dollars in additional pay, the Globe reported last year. House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka last week maintained the charges of those committees and shuffled only a few of their leaders to helm other panels that traditionally consider legislation." ICYMI — Gov. Maura Healey joined “Late with Seth Meyers” Wednesday night (technically this morning), her second notable national media hit in less than a week. The conversation spanned the spectrum, from Donald Trump’s address to Congress Tuesday night, to Healey’s “DunQueens” get up. Healey again delivered a pointed message about the state of the Democratic Party. Asked by Meyers if she feels like the party has any plan, Healey avoided a “yes.” “People need to be active,” Healey said. “I mean, look, it’s frustrating for me to see some of what’s gone on the last few weeks because I think it’s important for people to speak up. People in leadership, members of Congress, get out to your districts, stand alongside folks in your districts, and listen to them about what they’re experiencing.” You can watch here.
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Among Boston nonprofits, federal funding unknowns causing trepidation,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe. OOPS — A recent fundraiser invite for an event supporting Boston mayoral hopeful Josh Kraft featured a graphic of a prominent city skyline. One tiny problem: It was New York City’s not, not Boston’s. The graphic shows the hard-not-to-recognize outlines of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. (Though to be fair to the Kraft camp, we missed that at first glance, too; h/t to Aidan Doherty, who first pointed it out to us). The fundraiser/cocktail party featured on the invite is billed for tonight at the UMass Club. It’s hosted by Rishi Shukla and Josh Leffler, according to the invite, and the campaign is suggesting donations of $250+.
| | | | A message from Uber:  
| | | | | TRUMPACHUSETTS | | — “Mass. receives $2 billion in federal education funds. It can’t replace it,” by Juliet Schulman-Hall, MassLive. — “National Weather Service cuts could hamper ability to warn of dangerous storms, local forecasters say,” by Clarence Fanto, The Berkshire Eagle: “When Chief Meteorologist Paul Caiano goes on the air during NewsChannel 13 news broadcasts in Albany, he's reporting a weather forecast prepared with the help of his team at the station. But that forecast is based on information and data it receives from the local office of the National Weather Service — part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That federal agency reportedly lost nearly 1,000 employees as part of the ongoing mass federal layoffs, though it's unclear how hard the local office of the National Weather Service in Albany was hit.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Every year, the water in this Western Mass. town turns brown. When will residents finally get a solution?,” by Erin Douglas, The Boston Globe. — “Worcester Police Chief Saucier outlines department changes in wake of critical DOJ report,” by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: “The City Council will hold a special meeting on March 18 to discuss a report by Police Chief Paul B. Saucier that outlines how the department has addressed the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice's investigation that allege use of excessive force and sexual contact during undercover operations. Saucier's report was briefly referenced at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Councilors had the report in hand but opted to put off their responses to the special session.” — “Former Methuen police chief, officer back in court this spring,” by Jill Harmacinski, The Eagle-Tribune: “Former Methuen police Chief Joseph Solomon and officer Sean Fountain are scheduled to be back in Salem Superior Court this spring although their criminal trial on fraud, perjury and related charges has not yet been rescheduled. The trial was previously scheduled for early March but postponed earlier this year.” — “Can you take a bus to South Coast Rail stations? SRTA will unveil an 'Uber-like' service,” by Dan Medeiros, The Herald News: “The MBTA's South Coast Rail project hopes to attract riders looking to leave their cars at home — or don’t use cars to begin with. The regional bus system is working to connect people to the train stations with its existing routes and a new Uber-like service.”
| | | | A message from Uber: Logan Riders Pay More, Get Less Under Massport's Plan
Massport wants to raise rideshare fees at Logan to $15 roundtrip—the highest in the world.
Yet while charging Uber riders more, Massport is still forcing them to go to remote pickup and drop-off zones, even though taxis and personal vehicles go right up to the terminal for free or at much lower rates.
Logan is already the only U.S. airport where rideshare passengers pay per-trip fees just to be dropped off and forced to walk to the terminal from remote garages. Now, Massport wants to charge riders the highest fees in the world while providing nothing in return.
Stop MassPort's unfair tax on travelers. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | TRANSITIONS — Martha Minow will be the new chair of the board of trustees at GBH. Mathai Mammen and Karen Hawley Miles were elected trustees. — Liza Meyer will be the next president of the Friends of the Public Garden. She currently serves as Boston’s interim parks commissioner and chief landscape architect. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Jason Ross, UMass Journalism’s Steve Fox, Blake Gottesman, Jenn Queally and Lauren Young. Happy belated to Michael Sandel, who celebrated Wednesday. Happy belated birthday to WBZ’s Jon Keller, who celebrated Thursday, and to Gabrielle Meyerowitz, who celebrated Sunday. 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. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | |
