Jon Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford, today endorsed Jake Auchincloss for the Massachusetts Fourth Congressional seat. The two appeared at City Pier 3 together for this morning’s announcement.

Mitchell stated: “I don’t always endorse in races. I just think this choice is so clear to me. That’s why I’m endorsing Jake.”

“I believe very strongly, Jake, that you are going to be the leader that we need here in Greater New Bedford — that Southeastern Massachusetts needs in order to create opportunity here,” Mitchell said. “[Jake is] a man who has proven, over the course of his life, that he sticks to his principles and he cares, he’s in it for all the right reasons.”

Elaborating on Jake’s character and biography, Mitchell said: “[Jake] decided to enlist in the Marine Corps…Not a careerist move, but somebody who followed his convictions, and led a Marine infantry company in the hills of Afghanistan — reflecting a tremendous commitment to country, to service, and to his highest ideals. That’s the kind of guy he is. He’s someone on the Newton city council, who has promoted opportunity, who has fought through the issues, who has worked hard, done his homework, who is committed to the highest ideals of service, but also the hard work it takes to effectuate them…[Jake] is somebody who will support what we do here.”

Auchincloss said: “I’m honored to have the endorsement of Mayor Mitchell…As a fellow local elected official, as someone who already has a strong working relationship with the mayor of Fall River, I understand how critical it is for the member of Congress from the Massachusetts Fourth and mayors of Southeastern Massachusetts to have a strong bond — to be working together day-in, day-out to deliver results that expand opportunity for Southeastern Massachusetts.”

“The city of New Bedford is technically not part of the district, as the mayor mentioned, but it is absolutely part of the mandate for the Massachusetts Fourth Congressional representative. Mayor Mitchell and the people of New Bedford should know that I’m going to be a champion for Southeastern Massachusetts,” Auchincloss said. “I’m going to work with the mayor of New Bedford, with the mayor of Fall River, to ensure that we have the investments for critical port infrastructure that are going to expand opportunity, that we are going to transition to a clean-energy economy that creates jobs for everyone, and that we’re going to have a rising tide that lifts all boats — because this economic recovery is not going to be complete until it’s an economic recovery that lifts up all small businesses and all working families.”

This endorsement comes after Mayor Paul Coogan of Fall River, the largest city in the district, threw his weight behind Auchincloss last month. Jake was the first candidate in the race to earn the support of any Mayor in the district. Mitchell’s endorsement solidifies his stronghold in the South Coast, having earned endorsements from State Representatives Pat Haddad, Carole Fiola, and Paul Schmid. Jake’s final TV ad, titled “Responsibility,” hit Boston TV screens today. Jake was first to place a substantial TV buy in the Boston market with 30-second spot “Lead in Crisis” earlier this summer. Last month, Jake was the first in the race to go up on TV, airing a 30-second spot in the South Coast titled “A Marine’s Pledge.”

About Jake:

Jake Auchincloss is running to represent Massachusetts’ Fourth District in Congress.

In the private sector, Jake has worked on transportation as a manager at a Fortune 100 innovation lab in Boston and on cybersecurity at a startup. He holds degrees in finance and economics from MIT Sloan and Harvard College.

Chris Van Buskirk
State House News Service

The secretary of state’s office has already mailed out almost 950,000 ballots in advance of the Sept. 1 primary election, representing nearly a quarter of the state’s 4.5 million registered voters.

The estimate of ballots mailed so far comes as the United States Postal Service faces increased scrutiny over whether it will be able to deliver mail-in ballots on time for local clerks to count them. USPS officials set off an uproar in late July when they warned states that deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Services’ delivery standard.

But on Tuesday, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy issued a statement saying that he would suspend operational initiatives “that have been raised as areas of concern as the nation prepares to hold an election in the midst of a devastating pandemic” until after the election, to avoid the appearance of effects on electoral mail.

DeJoy also announced the expansion of a leadership task force on election mail. He said retail post office hours will not change, mail processing equipment and collection boxes “will remain where they are,” no mail processing facilities will be closed, and overtime will be approved as needed.

Secretary of State William Galvin said about 149,000 ballots have been returned to local clerks and he expects mail-in voting will help boost participation while taking into account public health guidelines. The state’s top election official said “a lot of people” who requested ballots were primarily motivated by voting in the November general election, adding that more than a million people asked for ballots for the general election.

“This has been a very tedious effort to get all these ballots out. It was a very large mailing, and it had a great response, but it required a great deal of work at the local level to put these ballots out especially in a timely way,” he said at a Tuesday press conference.

Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday announced a lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from cutting back USPS operations as the elections approach. Galvin said his office has been in contact with Healey’s, providing the attorney general “detailed information.”

“The Postal Service has been able to provide ballot delivery even during wars. So I don’t understand why this would be such a problem,” Galvin said Tuesday. “This is a national issue. It needs to be addressed. My experience with the Trump administration through the census has been the only way to remedy bureaucratic problems that they create is to go to court. And I think that is the right answer here too.”

In a Twitter thread posted to the social media website on Tuesday, Healey said the Trump administration is attempting to “slow down the Postal Service to rig the election.”

“Like many of this Administration’s policies, its changes to USPS are illegal. Modifications to the Postal Service with a nationwide impact on mail service must be submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission,” she wrote on Twitter. “Trump can’t just wake up and unilaterally disrupt our mail system.”

Gov. Charlie Baker said he was “uncomfortable” commenting on whether he would support potential litigation without knowing more information.

“Usually, the role we play, if they ask us to play one, is on a sort of amicus basis to just give a discussion about what the implications of whatever the issue are, would be,” he said at separate Tuesday press conference. “And that’s our way usually of supporting those kinds of initiatives. I’m not aware that they’ve asked us for that. If they were to ask us we obviously would respond.”

Out of concern for Postal Service delays, Galvin said his office made sure that the application and ballot mailings went out as early as possible. Additionally, the secretary of state’s office advised localities to have drop boxes available at secure locations for voters to drop off their ballots.

“That gave voters the opportunity to make sure they return their ballot as quickly as possible as well and make sure that any disruption or delay in Postal Service would not have any effect on them,” he said.

A law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker on July 6 directed the secretary of state to send out mail-in ballot applications by July 15. Galvin told reporters nearly a week before the date that would not meet the deadline set out in the legislation unless the Legislature provided funding.

Election reform and voting rights advocates and the secretary of state disagreed over permissible funding sources to mail out ballot applications and a group of seven nonwhite voters, Common Cause Massachusetts, and MassVOTE filed a lawsuit in an attempt to force the secretary to mail applications.

The governor’s office agreed to advance funds included in a $1.14 billion COVID-19 supplemental budget so Galvin’s could move forward with mailing vote-by-mail applications.

The rush to solidify new vote-by-mail laws in the state came as a response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Residents have three options for voting in the primary election, regular in-person voting, voting-by-mail, and a seven-day early in-person voting period that starts Saturday.

Voters who chose to vote-by-mail can track their ballots on the secretary of state’s webiste, a measure that Galvin said would ensure residents know their ballots were cast.

Galvin said state and local officials “are going to great lengths” to make sure that voters who choose to head to the polls will be safe. Polling locations will observe social distancing guidelines, institute precautions for workers like PPEs and plexiglass guards, and space out voting booths.

“In fact, I would suggest to you that it’ll be safer than going to many supermarkets,” he said. “For those that wish to vote in person, who perhaps have delayed some final decisions on choices in the primary, and don’t want to avail themselves of voting by mail, voting in person is an option.”

After Congress failed to strike a deal to extend a federally funded $600 weekly benefit, on August 8th President Trump signed an executive order extending unemployment benefits.

The amount of the extension plan which will be either $300 or $400 hinges upon the decision of each state’s governor. The President’s plan, each state is required to cover $100 of the cost in order to receive the extra federal benefit dollars.

At a press conference at the State House on Tuesday, Gov. Baker said “We did submit a letter to the feds saying that we would apply to receive funds under that program. If this program is there and it turns out to be the only thing that’s there, I don’t think Massachusetts should pass on that.”

With 500,000 in Massachusetts without jobs due to the pandemic, it would be a boon considering federal benefits had ended in July leaving many without a livable income.

In order for Massachusetts do agree to the President’s plan and come up with the $100 per claimant, Gov. Baker said it would entail dipping into emergency aid provided in the CARES Act.

Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Utah are the first states to receive federal approval for the funding. and only South Dakota has declined.

Wednesday, August 26 is deadline. Ballots must be returned by Election Day, September 1.

The New Bedford Election Commission reminds voters that the statewide deadline for absentee ballots in the state primary election is Wednesday, August 26. Ballots must be received by the Election Commission office by Election Day, Tuesday, September 1, either by mail or drop-off at the Election Commission office at City Hall, 133 William Street.

All Massachusetts voters registered by July 1 have received applications to vote by mail due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In order to vote by mail with an absentee ballot, voters must return the application to the Election Commission by August 26. Due to the high volume of requests to vote by mail, responding sooner will result in receiving an absentee ballot sooner.

Applications must be received by the Election Commission office by August 26. Ballots must be received by the Election Commission office by Election Day, September 1. Applications and ballots can be mailed, or can be returned to the Election Commission office in person. City Hall and the Election Commission office are open at reduced hours due to the pandemic: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

All state primary kits mailed to voters will contain four items: a ballot; vote by mail instructions; an early ballot envelope (for the ballot); and an outer mailing envelope to return the completed ballot. If your primary kit does not include any of these items, please contact the Election Commission office at 508-979-1420.

Voters may also vote in person, as always. As usual, on Election Day, Tuesday, September 1, polls will be open in the City of New Bedford from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Additional safety requirements including the use of masks/face coverings and the observance of social distancing will be in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Voters may cast their votes for: Senator in Congress; Representative in Congress; Senator in General Court; Representatives in General Court for the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Thirteenth Bristol Districts; County Treasurer; County Commissioner; Governor’s Councillor; and Register of Probate.

Election Commission to suspend Notary Public and Passport services until September 14.

The Election Commission office is suspending Notary Public and Passport services until September 14 as staff attends to the election. The office is still open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m .to 1:00 p.m. and available for election services such as registrations, absentee/mail-in ballots, address changes, and other voting-related services.

Early Voting
The New Bedford Election Commission has also announced that Early Voting for the 2020 state primary election will be held at the New Bedford Main Library, 613 Pleasant Street, from Saturday August, 22 through Friday, August 28.

Any voter who wishes to cast their ballot in person prior to Election Day, September 1, may do so at the Main Library during the following hours:

– Saturday, August 22: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

– Sunday, August 23: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

– Monday, August 24: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

– Tuesday, August 25: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

– Wednesday, August 26: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

– Thursday, August 27: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

– Friday, August 28: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Any New Bedford resident who is uncertain about their voting status, designated polling location, or who has changed their address since the last election, or any other question should contact the Election Commission office at 508-979-1420.

In a letter sent to Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren appears to be pressuring Facebook into silencing debate on climate change on Facebook and to remove news organization Breitbart from Facebook News. In their response, Facebook didn’t appear to budge.

Senator Warren wrote in the first two paragraphs:

“Dear Mr. Zuckerberg:

We write to you about reports that Facebook has created fact-checking exemptions for people and organizations who spread disinformation about the climate crisis on its social media platform. Your company has reportedly “decided to allow its staffers to overrule the climate scientists and make any climate disinformation ineligible for fact-checking by deeming it ‘opinion.’” But the climate crisis and environmental degradation are not matters of opinion.

They are existential threats that hurt communities and economies throughout the world –
including and especially Black communities and other communities of color2 –and will continue to do so. It is imperative that your company reverse course and take immediate steps to combat the spread of climate disinformation on its social media platforms.”

Her full letter can be read below.

Facebook refuted Senator Warren’s claims:

“Our independent third-party fact-checking partners do review and rate climate misinformation. There has never been a prohibition against them doing so. In fact, we have a fact-checking partner specifically dedicated to reviewing science content, and many of the other partners in our network of over 70 global fact-checking partner organizations rate this content as well. As with all claims debunked by our partners, we reduce the distribution of posts rated “false” or “partly false” in News Feeds and apply a warning label on top of them on Facebook and Instagram so people understand that the content has been rated and what the ratings mean.”

Facebook went on to answer her questions and can be read below.

Senator Warren’s full letter

07.15.2020 Letter from Sens. Warren, Carper, Whitehouse, & Schatz to Mr. Zuckerberg

Facebook’s response

Facebook response

People in New Bedford like to complain a lot, but few take the time to vote and New Bedford is known for its lack of candidates running for office. After the death of George Floyd, New Bedford saw a few weeks of protests in the name of George Floyd, Black Lives Matters, and 15-year old Malcolm Gracia who was shot by police after stabbing a police officer in 2012. At the peak of the protests, activists shut down the New Bedford/Fairhaven Bridge, shut down the southbound lane of Route 18 in New Bedford, and even showed up in large numbers to Mayor Jon Mitchell’s house. Will the recent social activism translate politically in New Bedford’s 2021 election? I doubt it.

In 2017, I wrote the article ‘Protesting a Sheriff that ran unopposed’ that detailed the irony of dozens of people showing up to protest Bristol County Sheriff Hodgson’s plan to charge inmates $5 per day and to offer up volunteer inmates to build Trump’s wall. The irony was that Sheriff Hodgson just ran unopposed a few months earlier. Unfortunately, I don’t see 2021 being any different.

In 2021, there will be at least one open seat on the New Bedford City Council as At-large City Councilor Debora Coelho announced her retirement shortly after getting elected. At-Large City Council in New Bedford is a tough election to win if all five incumbents decide to run for election. Usually, you’ll only see new members when a seat is vacated. The last new at-Large City Councilor to get elected was Ian Abreu after David Alves announced he was not running for reelection in 2015. Debora Coelho’s retirement will provide a rare opportunity to fill a seat that is easily defended in future elections. Expect a lot of the politically experienced or those with name recognition to run for the seat, but few if any 2020 social activists.

There will be a low turnout in the 2021 New Bedford elections because there won’t be a mayoral election. For the first time in New Bedford’s history, Mayor Jon Mitchell was elected to a 4-year term and won’t need to seek re-election until 2023. This means you’ll only see elections for At-Large/Ward City Councilors, school committee, and assessor. Voters turn up for mayors, not city councilors.

This low turn out could provide a rare opportunity for people with little name recognition to get elected. I challenge the folks marching, protesting and calling for a change in New Bedford to be that change, and run for office in 2021. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” That’s not going to happen by holding signs and being active on social media. Now is the time to prepare by getting educated on how New Bedford’s government works, engage with your elected officials, show up to government meetings, and start to build your base.

Let’s hope some take up my challenge.

Chris Lisinski
State House News Service

Tenants who faced evictions in the past could petition to have those court records sealed under a bill advancing through the Massachusetts Legislature.

The Judiciary Committee unanimously voted last week to advance its version of legislation (H 4934) aimed at limiting the obstacles that residents face acquiring rental housing based on past history. Supporters of the proposal include the Boston City Council, which last year called for passage of a different version. The council argued that because eviction records are permanently public that makes it more difficult for those who have faced housing removal in the past to find stable homes.

Under the committee version of the bill, anyone with a court record of a fault eviction or lessor action can file a petition to have the record sealed if no additional action has been brought against them for three years. No-fault evictions could be sealed under a similar process without a mandatory time frame outlined in the bill. Parties in the original case would not need to be notified of the petition to seal the records for fault or no-fault evictions.

The legislation also bans consumer reporting agencies from disclosing the existence of or using eviction records unless they had been available for public inspection in a court within 30 days of a report. It also forbids filing of actions against minor defendants.

Judiciary Committee Co-chair Rep. Claire Cronin’s office told the News Service that the committee reported the bill favorably “with no dissenting votes.” The measure was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee. Housing protections have emerged as an important focus during the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic crisis, though the underlying bills on which the committee version was based had been filed at the start of the legislative session in January 2019.

New Bedford City Councilors Debora Coelho and Hugh Dunn have now missed all six New Bedford 2021 budget meetings.

Here are the final attendance records for the final two meetings:

Monday, August 10th
Present:
Abreu
Baptiste
Carney
Giesta
Gomes
Lima
Lopes
Markey

Wednesday, August 12th
Present:
Abreu
Baptiste
Carney
Giesta
Gomes
Lopes
Markey
Morad

The attendance logs for the first four meetings can be found here.

The final budget meeting and vote is on Aug 24.

Due to COVID-19, New Bedford City Council meetings are held on Zoom which makes attendance very easy. Councilor Dunn has stated, “My absence has no impact on my ability to effectively represent my constituents as we navigate the budget process.” Councilor Coelho hasn’t responded to an email request but announced her retirement shortly after getting elected.

The FY2021 budget review comes during a COVID-19 pandemic, shrinking revenues, and mayor requested cuts to the police and fire departments. The budget will determine the need for future property tax increases and fees, so the City Council’s role in the budget process is considered the single most important job city councilors have.

Two men were arrested for the July 26 shooting of two men at Petro Mart on Coggeshall Street in New Bedford to include a leader in the New Bedford Black Lives Matter movement.

According to New Bedford police, 24-year old Tyrell Woodis-Pina of Fairhaven and Giovanni Vale-Valentin of New Bedford have both been charged with discharging a firearm along with numerous weapons-related offenses. Another suspect, 23-year old Brian Ortiz of 2110 Phillips Rd. Apt. #19 in New Bedford, remains at large. A warrant is out for his arrest on numerous firearms-related charges.

Tyrell Woodis-Pina, a resident of Fairhaven, is one of the two people that manage the New Bedford Black Lives Matter Facebook page with over 1,600 followers and has been at many of the Black Lives Matter protests in New Bedford earlier this year. Here’s Tyrell Woodis-Pina live on the Black Lives Matter Facebook page on July 23rd complaining that the police arrested his pregnant girlfriend.

Woodis-Pina’s Facebook page shows him at a Black Lives Matter rally in New Bedford during the day of June 2nd:

According to New Bedford records, Woodis-Pina was one of two people arrested for disorderly conduct the night of June 2nd after protesters illegally marched down Route 18.

Earlier in the day on June 2nd, after Black Lives Matters protestors shut down the New Bedford/Fairhaven bridge for a short time, Woodis-Pina threatened physical violence on a New Bedford Guide reporter (me) while simply covering the protest.

Woodis-Pina messaged New Bedford Guide to remove some protest photos that were sent to us and posted. He sent us a private message on May 30:

These are the photos, sent to use by someone at the protest, Woodis-Pina was concerned about:

Woodis-Pina states that he was shot last year and posted about going to court in March:

Woodis-Pina messaged us in October, telling us that his uncle shot him.

Since the death of George Floyd the vast majority of Black Lives Matters protesters in New Bedford and throughout the south coast, Massachusetts area have been peaceful. Black Lives Matter groups in places like New Bedford are unofficially organized and anyone can step up to be a leader. According to the Black Lives Matters New Bedford’s page transparency, two people run the page and since Tyrell Woodis-Pina went live from the page, he is one of them. While Tyrell Woodis-Pina is not the leader of the New Bedford Black Lives Matter movement, he is a leader in the movement with over 1,600 Facebook followers and active in the protests.

Katie Lannan
State House News Service

New state guidance set to take effect Monday outlines what youth and adult amateur sports activities will be allowed to take place — and with what safety precautions — during the current phase of the state’s reopening plan.

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs said its guidance “applies to K-12 school and other youth sports activities,” and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association said in a statement posted to Twitter that it is awaiting “accompanying guidelines from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.” The document categorizes sports into three levels of COVID-19 transmission risk, based on the amount of close contact required or expected, with different limitations for each.

Lower-risk activities, like tennis, golf, gymnastics and cross country, can hold individual or socially distanced group activities, competitive practices, competitions and outdoor tournaments. For the other two risk levels, competitive practices and competitions are only allowed with modifications in place. They can participate in individual or distanced activities like non-contact workouts, aerobic conditioning and drills the way the sport is traditionally played. Sports including baseball and softball, team swimming, volleyball and field hockey are deemed moderate risk. The higher-risk category includes football, basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and ultimate Frisbee.