Transportation

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Massachusetts Attempts To Turn The Page

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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has formed an economic reopening advisory board similar to the state advisory panel formed by Governor Charlie Baker. 

The 27-member bench includes some big-name executives as well labor, education, and religious leaders met for its first virtual brainstorming session last Friday. 

Mayor Walsh has been more cautious than Gov. Baker on reopening plans and has been critical of some of the state’s strategies such as the 25 percent capacity for offices. Walsh says although that might be fine for the rest of the state it’s probably too soon for Boston’s crowded downtown area. 

Read more at the Boston Globe: Mayor Marty Walsh appoints group of advisers to help Boston reopen its economy 

Restaurant, Hotel & Tourism Group Outlines Reopening Plans

Tourism and dining are a big part of Boston’s economy as well as the state of Massachusetts as a whole. The industry and its workforce have been especially hard hit over the past few months due to coronavirus-induced restrictions. 

The state is working to strike the right balance between getting the wheels back in motion and not accelerating too quickly. A special panel has been formed to assess the situation and determine the best course of action. The group has been working to develop safety guidelines and rules for reopening. 

Last week we covered some of the details of the state’s four-phase reopening plan.

Restaurants and hotels are scheduled to open in Phase 2. Most tourist attractions such as casinos, museums, stadiums, and performance venues are scheduled to open in Phase 3 or Phase 4. An opening schedule is still being determined for historical sites.

According to a report by Boston.com, members of the panel include:

  • Jonathan Butler, President and CEO at 1Berkshire

  • Steve DiFillippo, CEO at Davio’s

  • Ed Kane, Principal at Big Night Entertainment Group

  • Bob Luz, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association

  • Wendy Northcross, CEO at Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

  • Martha Sheridan, President and CEO at Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

A Phase 2 date has yet to be determined, however, the board has suggested that there might be three weeks of separation between Phase 1 and Phase 2. 

Safety guidelines set in place for restaurants will follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control. Rules require six feet of separation between tables and a maximum of 10 diners per party.

Also, according to Bob Luz of the Mass. Restaurant Association: “There’s going to be good signage, there’s going to be a lot of hand washing, there’s going to be masks on employees to start — all those good things that I don’t think is going to shock anybody.”

And on a side note, as we mentioned last week, recreational cannabis dispensaries are now open in the state and are expected to draw tourists from neighboring states.

RMV Softens Deadlines for License and Registration Renewals

The Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles has extended deadlines for license and registration renewals as well as vehicle safety inspections. The measures are part of the state’s efforts to temporarily reduce the potential for coronavirus transmission. 

Here is the new schedule for drivers license renewals:

  • March, April, May — extended through September

  • June — extended through October

  • July — extended through November

  • August — extended through December

Furthermore, license plates scheduled to expire between March and June now have until the end of July. And inspection stickers expiring between March and May are now good through July.

Visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Boston Cannabis Board to Meet in June

Boston’s new Cannabis Board has scheduled its first meeting for June. The Board experienced a three-month delay as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Among other tasks, the Board is being tasked with reviewing cannabis business license applications within the city of Boston as well as to create an equity program to offer technical assistance and training for entrepreneurs who belong to communities disproportionately targeted by law enforcement. 

Previous to the formation of the panel, cannabis license applications were screened behind closed doors. This resulted in complaints from applicants that the process was opaque and subject to political favoritism. 

Decisions made by the new Cannabis Board will be made public. 

Read more: Boston Cannabis Board to meet for first time in June

Marathoners Will Not Run for First Time in 124-years

One of Boston’s largest tourist attractions, the world renown Boston Marathon has been cancelled. This is the first time in its 124-year history that the event will not take place according to the report in the Boston Globe. Originally, Mayor Walsh had ordered that the event be postponed until mid-September.

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and draws more than 30,000 runners from around the world.

According to Mayor Walsh:

“There’s no way to hold this usual race format without bringing large numbers of people into close proximity. While our goal and hope was to make progress in containing the virus and recovering our economy, this kind of event would not be responsible or realistic on Sept. 14, or anytime this year.”

In an interesting twist, Thomas Grilk, chief executive of the Boston Athletic Association said the group will organize a virtual marathon. Under the proposed plan, runners will be required to complete a 26.2-mile run within a six-hour period and present proof of their time. Participating runners will receive an official race program, T-shirt, medal, and runner’s bib.

The event is tentatively scheduled to take place between Sept. 7 and Sept. 14.

More of the Latest Massachusetts News

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A Cautious Restart

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House Speaker Robert DeLeo has laid out a to-do list for the state Legislature including bills related to transportation revenue, a review of the state’s budget, and a plan to boost the struggling restaurant sector, among other topics.

But, working out a new budget plan is going to be tricky. According to a report in the Boston Globe:

“Last week, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimated that state tax revenues will fall by $6 billion, or nearly 20 percent, in the next fiscal year, from the revenue outlook that state leaders established in January. DeLeo conceded that the Legislature will likely tap into the state’s $3.5 billion rainy day fund, but he doesn’t want to draw down too much and put the state’s credit ratings at risk.”

New additions to the budget are expected to include a $2 million fund for restaurant recovery. 

Lawmakers have also been targeting an upgrade to telemedicine legislation to ensure “extensive insurance coverage for ‘virtual’ doctor visits, similar to what’s available for in-person visits” as a result of telemedicine becoming an integral part of the post-COVID-19 world. 

Read more on these stories here: DeLeo plans to prioritize transportation, budget, small business

Boston Roads Making Room for Walkways, Bike Lanes & Buses

Boston transportation officials are discussing the possibility of converting some of the real estate on the state’s roadways into bike and bus lanes and walkways.

The city is considering four approaches to extend sidewalks into streets, according to Jacob Wessel, Boston’s public realm director.

These measures are an attempt to facilitate ongoing social distancing.

Read all about it here: Boston eyes turning roads into walkways, bus and bike lanes during coronavirus crisis

Boston Researchers Onto Potential Coronavirus Vaccine

Researchers at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are working on two promising coronavirus vaccine candidates which have both provided immunity to laboratory monkeys. 

A working vaccine is widely seen as necessary for life to return to something resembling what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic

According to the report by NBC Boston:

“In one study, researchers infected 35 adult rhesus macaque monkeys with the new coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2. Twenty-five of them had been given potential vaccines, according to a news release from the hospital, and that group showed much lower levels of the virus than the 10 monkeys that weren't vaccinated. In fact, the virus couldn't be detected at all in eight of the vaccinated monkeys.”

The monkeys in the study showed evidence of having developed "natural protective immunity" against COVID-19 when infected a second time.

Oregon Health & Science University vaccine researcher Dr. Louis Picker told The Boston Globe that the two studies “convinced me that this is an infection that will be controllable with vaccination.”

The complete news report can be found here: Boston Researchers Find That Vaccines Protect Against Coronavirus, at Least in Monkeys

Some Businesses Scheduled for Reopening

Gov. Charlie Baker has provided some details of his four-phase plan to reopen Massachusetts. The governor’s office released a report breaking down schedules and rules for reopening. 

“Phase 1” includes construction and places of worship. Later phases will include bars, movie theaters, and casinos. 

According to the report rules will include mandatory workplace safety standards. Currently open businesses providing essential services have until May 25 to comply with the new standards.

No dates have been assigned for the launch of phases 2, 3, or 4. There will be “at least three weeks” between phases. Nonessential offices in Boston will remain closed until a week after the rest of the businesses in the state.

Here is the list of when businesses are allowed to reopen in Massachusetts.

Boston’s Governor Marty Walsh has made it clear that he is not comfortable with the plan’s 25 percent capacity limit. 

According to a report at Boston.com, Walsh said he is “personally not comfortable with the 25 percent number, to be quite honest with you. And we’re looking at it now,” adding, “25 percent, the first day, is too much.” 

Walsh also expressed concern that the number of residents returning to work could overtax the city’s emergency child care centers.

Gov. Walsh says that the pandemic could last 8 months to a year. 

Recreational Cannabis Restarting with Curbside Pickup

After being closed for two months, Mass. Recreational marijuana shops will be permitted to reopen Monday, May 25. However customers will not be allowed inside. 

Under the rules, all shops that opt to reopen must offer curbside pickup. for curbside pickup. For how long, we don’t know.

According to a report in the Boston Globe, “busy streets and limited parking options have forced company owners to find unique solutions to curbside pickup, creating at-the-door and order-ahead procedures to make the reopening process run smoothly.”

Read the report here: Here’s what curbside recreational marijuana sales will look like at Boston-area pot shops

More of the Latest Massachusetts News

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Silver Lining Begins to Appear for Mass Residents

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Yes, coronavirus still dominates the news in Massachusetts and across the globe. You’re probably already aware that there are now more than 80,000 cases of COVID-19 in the Bay State and more than 5,000 deaths according to health officials. And the most recent models predict total deaths in Mass. due to COVID-19 to increase by 50 percent over the next four weeks approaching 8,000 by mid June.

Meanwhile, closures in the state have resulted in more than 1 million unemployment claims in Mass. since March 15. That’s more than one quarter of the state’s entire labor force.

Some good news is starting to percolate up, however. 

First, Governor Charlie Baker has announced plans to significantly increase testing for coronavirus in Mass. We’re not talking about incremental increases. The governor claims that the proposed plans will increase testing in Mass. to the highest per capita testing rate in the world with upwards of 45,000 tests per day by the end of July and 75,000 per day by the end of December.

Currently, the state has the capacity to test around 35,000 residents per day. And as of the middle of this past week, more than 400,000 people have been tested for the virus.

Moreover, Gov. Baker outlined a four-phase reopening plan for the state. The plan calls for a gradual reopening of the economy beginning as early as May 18.

And there’s more good news. 

According to a report in the Boston Globe, deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 may be trending downward in Massachusetts.

Businesses Express “Guarded Optimism”

The Globe also reports that polls conducted by two business groups in the state are showing “guarded optimism.”  

“No one expects the boom times we enjoyed as recently as a few months ago to return anytime soon,” writes the report’s author. “And few business leaders seem eager to rush their employees back to the office, either, even if Governor Charlie Baker gives the green light on Monday. But most are planning for stable or growing employment, not more job cuts, if these poll results are to be believed.”

The reporter made a point of mentioning that only a small number of respondents come from the retail and hospitality sectors, “two of the hardest hit by the pandemic.”

More than half of the respondents said they are currently operating. And 51 percent of companies that laid off or furloughed employees say they plan to bring all of those employees back.

Source: U.S. Labor Department, Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (Callum Borchers/WBUR)

Residents Experiencing “Quarantine Fatigue”

Travel is also on the rise and Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack attributes the rise in miles traveled by car to a new form of cabin fever.  

"There is a phenomenon that has been dubbed 'quarantine fatigue' in which people are sort of getting tired of being home. This may indicate that we are seeing some quarantine fatigue because we are seeing an uptick in travel even though we have not begun to open the Massachusetts economy."

Travel is still down 50 to 70 percent in Massachusetts according to MassDOT data, says Pollack. 

Maine Regulators Approve Energy Pipeline

Maine regulators have approved a $1 billion utility transmission project that will facilitate the flow of 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower into the New England power grid. We’ve written about this project in previous reports.

Although most of the 145-mile (233-kilometer) power line will follow existing utility corridors, the state will need to clear a 50-mile swath of wilderness owned by Central Maine Power in western Maine.

According to the report, under the proposed plan, “the Department of Environmental Protection’s permit requires Central Maine Power to take measures to mitigate the visual and wildlife impact, and to permanently conserve 40,000 acres to offset the environmental impacts,” adding that the permit also requires “nearly $1.9 million for culvert replacement projects, the conservation of 700 acres of deer wintering habitat, and a prohibition on herbicides.”

Supporters of the project say it will “reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and stabilize electricity costs across the region — at no cost to Mainers.”

Critics, however, say “the environmental benefits are overstated and the project would do irrevocable harm to a large swath of Maine wilderness.”

Mass. Inches Closer to Recreational Cannabis Delivery

As we’ve also been reporting for several weeks now, recreational marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts have been shuttered during coronavirus outbreak. However, state officials have announced that they will soon be permitting home delivery of recreational cannabis products in Mass.

According to a report in the Globe, the Cannabis Control Commission will make delivery license applications available starting May 28. 

Applications will be available to third-party delivery operations as well as “marijuana micro-businesses hoping to deliver their own product.” 

More of the Latest Massachusetts News

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More Bad News Still to Come

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In what seems like an eternity, the first coronavirus case in Massachusetts was reported just six weeks ago. In just the past week the number of confirmed cases has jumped from about 9,000 to nearly 19,000 with just over 500 deaths reported so far. And the state is just starting to reach its peak, according to experts.

Mass. hospitals are preparing for the expected surge of coronavirus cases between April 10 and April 20. As we reported last week, the convention center in South Boston is being converted into a temporary field hospital to help with an overflow of patients.

According to a story by the Boston Herald, “at least 140 of the state’s more than 1,000 long-term care facilities have now reported at least one case of COVID-19… and 1,236 residents and health care workers have been sickened.” And in Wilmington, AdviniaCare reports that 77 of the 91 residents have been battling the disease and seven have died.

Although lower this week than the week prior, new unemployment claims are approaching the half-million mark since mid-March. Economists warn that the Mass. unemployment rate could hit a staggering 25 percent by June — that’s 15 percent higher than Great Depression figures.

Channel 5 has compiled a collection of COVID-19 infographics with regional demographic data related to the epidemic. 

Four Hospitals to Begin Trials of Sanofi Drug to Fight COVID-19 

The Boston Globe reports that an unspecified number of patients admitted to four Massachusetts hospitals are receiving an FDA approved rheumatoid arthritis drug in an effort to determine its efficacy in treating acute respiratory distress. The drug, Kevzara, is thought to suppress the inflammatory response in patients’ lungs. 

Participating Mass. hospitals include Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. More than 50 hospitals nationwide and about 1,000 patients are taking part in the study. Preliminary results of the trial are expected by the end of April. 

Progress on Transportation & Climate Initiative Stymied by Pandemic Response 

The economic fallout caused by plunging gas prices and social distancing measures has added uncertainty to the fate of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI).

Discussions are continuing by email, phone and video conference despite the pandemic and a final memorandum of understanding between 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, originally expected to be unveiled before summer,  might now be pushed back to the fall. 

The TCI seeks to set a cap on emissions from cars, trucks and other vehicles and require fuel suppliers to buy allowances at auction for every ton of carbon dioxide their fuel will generate beyond that cap. 

An estimated $5 billion to $7 billion in annual proceeds would go back to the states for upgrading public transit, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other projects. 

The program was originally expected to launch in January 2022. 

Read more on this story at Energy News Network.

Massive Spike in Marijuana Patients Attributed to Shuttering of Recreational Pot Shops

Applications for Mass. medical marijuana cards have jumped substantially since the coronavirus outbreak began. WBUR reports that 1,300 new medical marijuana patients were registered in just over a week from March 23 and April 1. That’s 800 more new patients than were approved in the prior 10-day period. 

The sudden rise is attributed to the fact that the state has deemed recreational marijuana shops to be non-essential and subject to shut down during the crisis, whereas medical dispensaries have been allowed to continue to do business. 

In order to apply for a medical marijuana card in Mass. patients must first be approved by a state-certified physician. Prior to the crisis, this step had to be done in person with a visit to the doctor’s office. 

However, in order to promote social distancing, the commission has temporarily permitted the use of telehealth services allowing patients and doctors to consult via phone or video conference.

A group of adult-use dispensary operators have initiated a lawsuit claiming that Governor Charlie Baker’s decision to close down recreational cannabis operations was illegal and might endanger public health by forcing consumers into the illicit market.

Cannabis Sales Projected to Pass $1 Billion by 2024

Boulder, Colorado-based BDS Analytics, a leading cannabis industry market research company, is predicting marijuana sales in Mass. will reach $1.35 billion in 2024. Sales are expected to exceed $745 million in 2020 with $157 million in sales being reported for the first quarter of 2020, according to data from the Cannabis Control Commission. Mass. Live has more on this story.

More of the Latest Massachusetts News:

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This is Only the Beginning

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The coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate Massachusetts news this week as global COVID-19 cases break through the 1 million mark with the worst yet to come. As of the beginning of April, the number of documented cases was approaching 9,000 with more than 150 deaths. 

Gov. Baker held a news conference Tuesday to update residents on the situation in Massachusetts. A stay-at-home advisory is still in effect until the end of the month. 

The New York Times has published infographics tracking Mass. COVID-19 cases statewide and by county. 

Planning ahead for the upcoming rash of new cases, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the development of a 1,000-bed field hospital at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. 

According to the Boston Globe, there are plans for “500 beds for the city’s homeless and 500 for overflow patients coming from the city’s hospitals.” The city has launched a request for proposals to operate the facility from health care providers.

More Massachusetts Coronavirus News

IN OTHER NEWS:

Clean Peak Energy Standards Draft Released

The Mass. Department of Energy Resources has finalized a major rule for promoting clean energy during the most expensive hours of electricity production. The measure involves credits for clean energy delivered during peak hours. 

According to a report in Mass. Green Tech:

“Utilities in the state must obtain clean peak credits equal to a percentage of total electricity delivered in the year, starting at 1.5 percent in 2020 and growing annually.”

The new Clean Peak Standard regulations, originally called for in legislation passed in 2018, will now be open for a 30-day review period and is expected to take effect in June.

The brownfield redevelopment investment envisioned by Commercial Development Company (CDC) is becoming a reality as the site evolves towards becoming a logistics and manufacturing center, renewable energy hub and port.

Plan to Import Canadian Hydropower Now Uncertain

A plan to bring Canadian hydropower into Massachusetts via a Central Maine Power Company faces opposition from activists. The $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect project calls for delivering 9.4 million megawatt-hours per year of hydropower over the next two decades — roughly 17% of the state’s peak electricity needs.

Under the plan, electricity generated by Hydro-Québec’s hydroelectric dams would traverse a 145-mile transmission line that would cut through western Maine. Opponents of the plant complain that the lines would damage recreational forest land leading to a loss of recreational tourism in Maine.

According to Salem News, enough signatures have been gathered to put the project before the state’s voters in November. Should voters shoot down the initiative it will put a damper on Mass. clean energy plans. 

Transit Relief on the Way

Massachusetts public transit is set to receive roughly $1 billion in federal emergency aid intended to keep bodies moving during the coronavirus crisis. The package, part of a $2 trillion relief bill signed by President Trump on Friday, includes $25 billion in grants for mass transit nationwide.

The funds will be divided between the MBTA and the state’s 15 regional transit authorities. 

The Worcester Telegram reports:

“At the T, their budget cycle is from July 1, and they would have been facing a gaping operating deficit,” said Eric Bourassa, director of transportation for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. “This really is a lifeline for the MBTA and the regional transit agencies.”

The MBTA is currently running under a reduced schedule.

No Movement On Recreational Cannabis

In cannabis news, Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration decided that medical marijuana dispensaries are considered pharmacies and are therefore essential and may continue to operate during the crisis. Recreational facilities, on the other hand, still remain closed until the end of the state at home advisory, April 30th.

As a result, small cannabis businesses are warning that they may not survive if their non-essential classification drags on. From a Boston Globe report:

“These businesses are in a pretty dire situation,” said Laury Lucien, a Boston lawyer and consultant who works with small cannabis firms. “If what you sell is federally illegal, you don’t have access to those funds. It really is unjust, especially for stores that just opened."

Gov. Baker has labeled calls to reopen recreational marijuana shops a ‘non-starter,’ according to the Globe. 

Innovative Industrial Properties Acquires Athol Plant

Pioneering real estate investment trust (REIT) Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIP), has announced the acquisition of a 199,000 square feet of industrial space in Athol, Mass for approximately $26.8 million - slated for use as a cannabis cultivation facility. 

According to Yahoo Finance:

“Concurrent with the closing of the purchase, IIP entered into a long-term, triple-net lease agreement with a subsidiary of Ascend Wellness Holdings, LLC (AWH) for continued operation as a licensed cannabis cultivation and processing facility. AWH is expected to complete tenant improvements for the property, for which IIP has agreed to provide reimbursement of up to approximately $22.2 million. Assuming full reimbursement for the tenant improvements, IIP’s total investment in the property will be $49.0 million. The lease provides for an initial annualized aggregate base rent of 13.5% of the sum of the initial purchase price and tenant improvement allowance, subject to a phase-in of the base rent associated with the tenant improvement allowance at the beginning of the term.”

More of the Latest Massachusetts News:

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Coronavirus Scrambles Mass Politics

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Who could have foreseen a global novel coronavirus pandemic?

Well, apparently Bill Gates, for one. Now that it’s here, however, foresight is being thrown around left and right in the Bay State.

As the pace of coronavirus testing picks up in Massachusetts, the number of cases has more than doubled from just two days earlier. 

By Thursday, the coronavirus had claimed 25 people and infected more than 2,400 people statewide — more than double the numbers from just two days prior. However, infectious disease experts warn that as testing expands it’s likely that the state will find that more than ten times that number are infected.

Hospitals in Massachusetts are already overwhelmed with critically ill patients. On the front lines of the battle to save as many lives as possible so far, more than 150 Boston hospital employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

The state is now seeking federal disaster assistance while seeing a twentyfold increase in filings for unemployment and epidemiologists telling the public that we probably won’t be ending this crisis anytime soon.

Aside from some light at the end of the tunnel with the passage of the $2 trillion economic rescue plan, here are some of the other ways COVID19 is impacting Mass. residents: 

Bikes Considered “Essential” Mode of Transportation

Gov. Baker ordered “nonessential” businesses to close on Tuesday for obvious reasons. However, many bike shops will apparently remain open as the service has been officially deemed essential. 

According to Streets Blog Mass:

“...in its definition of “essential services” that are allowed to remain in business, the Governor’s order includes ‘employees who repair and maintain vehicles, aircraft, rail equipment, marine vessels, and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass movement of cargo and passengers.’”

Some bike shops have chosen to remain closed, however.

In related news, Boston and 4 other Massachusetts communities have offered hospital staff one month of free Bluebikes.

Emissions Are “Slightly” Down

“People still driving to work face a surreal scene on their commutes: no traffic,” writes WBUR reporter Barbara Moran. She quotes Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack saying that traffic has "in many cases literally evaporated overnight." 

Recent data from MassDOT shows average travel times are about a third shorter than usual on I-93, and about half as long on I-90 west of Boston.

Interestingly, scientists at Boston University and Harvard claim the decrease is only slight. There has been “no significant decrease in carbon dioxide (CO2) or carbon monoxide (CO) emissions around Boston.”

Medical Marijuana: Essential; Recreational Cannabis: Not So Much

The governor’s emergency order to close down all non-essential services does not apply to medical marijuana shops according to a report in the Globe. 

Unfortunately, for many casual users of the drug, the state’s 14 recreational pot shops are apparently considered non-essential by the governor. Cease and desist orders were even sent out. Recreational shop owners have protested the decision. Stay tuned.

National Guard Mobilized

Delivery services are becoming ubiquitous in the fight to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Even the Massachusetts National Guard has been called upon to deliver. Gov. Charlie Baker ordered the activation of up to 2,000 National Guard members, according to an article on MassLive.com.

Transportation units are now delivering supplies to hospitals and setting up screening tents at correction facilities. 

Coronavirus Text Alert System Launched

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has announced the launch of a text alert system for important coronavirus news. Subscribers will receive one or two alerts a day about news, updates, public health tips and alerts on services, the governor said.

Residents can text “COVIDMA” to 888777 to sign up. 

In other news

Bill Weld Throws in the Towel

Bill Weld, whom most of you know is a former Massachusetts Governor has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race clearing the field for President Trump’s reelection campaign. 

Weld said in a statement:

"I hereby announce that I am suspending my candidacy for president of the United States, effective immediately. I am immensely grateful to all the patriotic women and men who have stood with me during the past eleven months in our effort to bring better government to Washington, D.C. Two years ago I became concerned enough about the future of this country to begin exploring the possibility of running for president. It is a job I feel certain I have the experience and vision to do."

The move comes following last Tuesdays’ Republican primaries in Florida, Arizona, and Illinois primaries in which Trump officially clinched the Republican nomination.

That Time Senator Elizabeth Warren Reshaped the Democratic Race

Senator Elizabeth Warren, after placing third in the Mass. Primary, has refocused on her US Senatorial duties. 

Some say a particular moment in her campaign brought a change in tide to the Democratic race. 

According to a post in the Globe:

“...history may most remember her candidacy… for her political disembowelment on national TV of billionaire Mike Bloomberg... She effectively ended his campaign in about 40 seconds. Her takedown of the eighth-richest man in the world not only made for exciting television, but it also instantly altered the political terrain and contributed to the rapid winnowing in the field’s moderate lane in favor of former vice president Joe Biden.”

Mass. Libertarian Party Ranks Swell

The Massachusetts Libertarian Party is apparently growing faster than any other party. According to the Eagle-Tribune, the party had 19,851 members as of Feb. 12., “a more than 130% increase from 2017 when it regained its party status, according to Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office.” 

The article credits dissatisfaction with the ruling parties as the reason for the surge in membership. Growth notwithstanding, Libertarians still account for only 0.43% of the Mass. electorate.

More of the latest Massachusetts news: