|
THE MASS BRIEF
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Lead
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Wu Goes to War: Mayor Endorses Collins' Primary Challenger
Mayor Michelle Wu isn't just feuding with state Senator Nick Collins anymore — she's trying to replace him. Wu formally endorsed first-time candidate Latoya Gayle on Wednesday in the race for the First Suffolk Senate seat, making it about as official as a political rivalry can get. It's a genuinely unusual move: sitting mayors don't often parachute into state legislative primaries, especially ones involving a member of their own party in their own city. But Wu and Collins have been at each other's throats for two years, largely over her property tax legislation that Collins helped kill in the Senate — twice.
The stakes here go beyond a grudge match. Wu has real policy ambitions that require Senate cooperation, and Collins has been a reliable obstacle. If Gayle wins, Wu gains an ally. If Collins survives, he comes back with a mandate to dig in harder. Either way, this race is now a proxy war for the direction of Boston Democratic politics — progressive insurgency versus entrenched incumbency — and Wu has made herself the face of that fight.
Gayle is a community organizer and first-time candidate. Collins has held the seat since 2018 and won't go quietly. The Democratic primary is in September, and expect this one to get expensive and personal fast.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
What Else You Should Know
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Legislature's Audit Dodge Is Heading to a Vote
The House votes today on a bill that Speaker Ron Mariano says will bring transparency to Beacon Hill — but State Auditor Diana DiZoglio says it does the opposite, essentially rewriting the voter-approved 2024 ballot question that gave her authority to audit the Legislature. The bill subjects "administrative functions" to audit while shielding "constitutional functions," and doesn't apply the existing public records law to lawmakers themselves. DiZoglio is calling it unconstitutional and says it "negates everything voters approved." Voters will be watching whether the Legislature rewrites the rules of a game voters thought they'd already won.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Lawmakers Play Hardball on the Income Tax Ballot Question
Beacon Hill Democrats sent a pointed message to business groups pushing a November ballot question to cut the state income tax from 5% to 4%: back off, or lose the tax benefits. A $1.56 billion spending bill moving through the House today includes a provision that would block Massachusetts from adopting federal tax code changes — worth real money to a lot of residents — if voters approve the income tax cut. House budget chief Representative Aaron Michlewitz was candid about the intent: protect state revenues. The business community wanted a fight; they've got one.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rent Control Backers Offer a Compromise to Stay Off the Ballot
The coalition behind a strict statewide rent control ballot question is now pitching a softer, legislative alternative — capping rent increases at 10% annually in cities and towns that opt in, rather than the ballot measure's CPI-or-5%-whichever-is-lower formula in all 351 municipalities. It's a significant concession, but real estate industry groups haven't signed on yet, and the legislative calendar is shrinking fast. If no deal materializes, voters decide in November on the original, stricter version.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Multiple Teachers Diagnosed With Breast Cancer at Uxbridge High School
Superintendent David Ljungberg notified families this week that several teachers at Uxbridge High School have been diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions, and investigators are examining potential environmental causes. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will conduct air quality testing at the school Thursday. The water supply has already been ruled out. The school, built in 2012, will remain open during testing — but this is exactly the kind of situation that understandably rattles a community, and families deserve answers quickly.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Massachusetts Is Sitting on $64 Million for EV Chargers — and Has Built Zero
Nearly four years after being awarded federal NEVI funds to build electric vehicle charging stations along major highways, Massachusetts hasn't installed a single one. The state has signed contracts with only two of three selected vendors, and MassDOT won't say what's causing the holdup. Transit advocates are calling the delay "mystifying," especially as the state publicly champions climate goals. This is the kind of bureaucratic gap between stated priorities and actual execution that deserves a hard look from the Healey administration.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
World Cup Traffic Headache Gets a Plan — Finally
With the first match at Gillette Stadium less than two weeks away, Boston and state transportation officials have hammered out a deal on Summer Street closures near South Station. The street will be fully closed to vehicles for four matches (June 13, June 19, June 29, and July 9) and partially open for the other three. The MBTA is withdrawing its temporary eminent domain letter to the city, and Boston will issue the necessary permits. It took longer than it should have, but at least there's a plan before the fans arrive.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Worth Your Attention
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
FY2027 Budget Tracker
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Current stage: Conference committee reconciles
Governor's Budget (H2) — filed House Budget (H5500) | 1744 amendments filed — house_floor Senate Budget (H5501) | 1 amendments filed — conference
📋 No notable actions in the last few days. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
💰 Money Watch
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yesterday's Biggest Contributions
Big Spending This Week
Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This Week on Beacon Hill
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Wednesday, June 03, 10:00 AM FY27 General Appropriation Topic: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget -- Conference Committee Meeting Location: Room 212 (SWM Conference Room), Boston Wednesday, June 03, 11:00 AM None Topic: This is a meeting of the permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Established in Chapter 3 Section 74 of the Massachusetts General Laws by the 2020 law enforcement reform legislation, the Commission has a charge to advance the cause of all persons with disabilities in the Commonwealth. Location: 222 , Boston Wednesday, June 03, 11:00 AM Joint Committee on Public Service (9 bills) Topic: Miscellaneous Public Service Bills Location: B-2 , Boston
Wednesday, June 03, 3:00 PM Protect Act Topic: Protect Act -- Conference Committee Meeting Location: Room 313, Boston Thursday, June 04, 1:00 PM To promote student learning and mental health Topic: Student learning and mental health - Conference Committee Meeting Location: Room 348, Boston Monday, June 08, 9:00 AM Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (3 bills) Topic: Please be advised that the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will be soliciting written testimony for the bill listed below. Location: Written Testimony Only, Boston
Monday, June 08, 4:00 PM None Topic: SPECIAL COMMISSION ON CABO VERDEAN CULTURAL CENTER Location: Virtual Hearing, Boston |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
New on the Ballot
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance: Candidates
Ballot Question Committees
Change of Purposes
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
One More Thing
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Mass Brief publishes every morning. Forward it to someone who should be paying attention.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Mass Brief • Powered by South Shore News
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Get The Mass Brief every morning Massachusetts politics, development, and daily life — straight to your inbox. Powered by South Shore News |
You just read issue #45 of Mass Brief. You can also browse the full archives of this newsletter.