THE MASS BRIEF

Saturday, September 26, 2026

The Lead

Two mayors, two courtrooms, one very bad week for municipal leadership in Massachusetts.

Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues pleaded not guilty Friday in Hingham District Court to a single count of assault and battery, stemming from an allegation that he inappropriately touched a then-17-year-old girl on the shoulder and waist during a May parade while she marched with the Brockton High School band. Rodrigues came out swinging afterward, calling the case "the flimsiest of cases" and "nonsense," and suggesting — without much elaboration — that racial and political animus are driving the prosecution. His attorney, Mark Lawton, went further, calling the whole thing "a shakedown" tied to a $150,000 demand letter sent to the city in August. The alleged victim's attorney, Alex Grant, pushed back hard on that framing: "All she really wanted from the beginning is to be left alone."

Meanwhile, up in Lawrence, Mayor Brian DePeña's legal troubles just multiplied. Already under federal indictment for pandemic loan fraud and money laundering, DePeña was hit Thursday with a 15-count state indictment — 14 counts of illegally distributing wiretapped communications and one count of witness intimidation. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell's office alleges DePeña secretly installed audio-recording security cameras in his City Hall office, captured a private conversation between two employees last March, then shared it with 14 people and later tried to intimidate a witness. This is on top of the federal fraud case already hanging over him.

Neither case is really "about" the other, but together they raise the same uncomfortable question for voters in two of the state's largest Gateway Cities: what happens to a city's business when its chief executive is fighting criminal charges instead of running the place? Brockton and Lawrence both have real, unglamorous municipal problems — schools, budgets, housing — that don't pause for arraignments. Watch for city council dynamics in both places to shift as these cases drag on, and don't be surprised if calls for resignation get louder if either mayor is indicted on additional charges.

Full story at Boston Globe →

What Else You Should Know

Nor'easter socks the South Shore and Cape this weekend. Saturday evening into overnight brings the worst of it — gusts up to 60 mph on the Cape and south coast, 2 to 5 inches of rain on the Islands, and a real chance of downed trees and power outages since leaves are still on. The Hingham-Hull ferry is cancelled for the whole weekend, and the T is warning that buses, subway, and commuter rail could all see disruptions. WCVB →

Heating oil just hit a record $6.15 a gallon statewide — up more than 70% from last year. AAA's Mark Schieldrop says New England, where a huge share of U.S. households still burn heating oil, is "in a bad place" heading into winter, and prices aren't expected to come down soon. If you're on a fixed income or tight budget, now's the time to look into fuel assistance programs before the cold really sets in. Boston.com →

A nine-day Green Line shutdown starts today. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng says the signal upgrades — running between North Station and the ends of the B, C, D, and E lines — are "essential" before the new Type 10 train cars can roll out in 2027. Shuttle buses will cover the gap; expect at least 20 extra minutes on your commute. CommonWealth Beacon →

New Bedford hits pause on Flock cameras. The City Council voted 8-3 Thursday for a temporary ordinance barring the license-plate reader technology as its contract nears a November 12 expiration, giving the council time to write permanent rules. Mayor Jon Mitchell isn't thrilled but says he'll work with councilors on a policy that balances privacy and public safety. New Bedford Light →

Springfield asks for help after a rough stretch. Mayor Domenic Sarno is seeking state and federal aid to cover costs from an August storm and a cyberattack that hit Springfield Public Schools — a reminder that municipal budgets are getting squeezed from all directions these days, weather and hackers included. WWLP →

A conservative think tank wants Healey to scrap her project labor agreement order. A new cost study is pushing Governor Maura Healey to rescind her executive order encouraging project labor agreements on state construction, arguing it drives up costs. Healey's office isn't budging yet, but expect this fight over public construction costs to keep simmering. WWLP →

Worth Your Attention

• Voter registration deadline is October 24 for the November 3 general election — the biggest ballot in decades, with the most ballot questions since 1994. Early voting runs October 17-30. Boston.com →
• Alexander Tine, the Middlesex corrections officer charged with assaulting an inmate and faking a report, is arraigned September 30 in Middlesex Superior Court. Boston Globe →
• A Central Mass. high school building committee faces a packed October, culminating in a preferred design submission to the MSBA by October 22 — a key checkpoint for any town watching its school building costs. MassLive →

Track all bills →

Yesterday's Biggest Contributions

Big Spending This Week

Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance

Full hearing schedule →

Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance:

Candidates

• Marcus Coward (Democratic) — City Councilor, New Bedford — Filed: 9/21/2026

PACs

• Recall Mayor Brian Depena Political Action Committee — N/A, N/A — Filed: 9/24/2026

Ballot Question Committees

• Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Policy — N/A, No office — Filed: 9/23/2026

OCPF →

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