As if it were needed, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu provided further confirmation last week that she won’t be “[rolling] out the welcome mat” for the incoming Trump administration if it comes to town and starts trying to deport people.
The Democratic mayor’s comments came after President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for border czar, Tom Homan, dismissed Wu, a two-time Harvard grad, as “not very smart” for her very public defiance, and questioned why any public official would stand in the way of getting criminals off the streets.
“They can not cooperate,” Homan told the cable news channel NewsMax last week, according to The Boston Herald. “But there are certain laws in place that they can’t cross and I hope she doesn’t cross it.”
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Wu fired back in a statement, arguing that Trump and his lieutenants can “say whatever they want about me, but our public safety record speaks for itself: Boston is the safest major city in America.”
The mayor’s tough talk represented the latest escalation in tensions between the Bay State’s top Democrats and the incoming Republican White House as it firms up its plans to use the U.S. military to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally.
If Trump carries through on those plans, tens of thousands of people in Massachusetts also could be deported. However, the effort is expected to face vigorous legal challenges.
Democratic Gov. Maura Healey already has said that the State Police won’t be put to work assisting the new administration.
Read More: A big climate bill is headed to Mass. Gov. Healey’s desk. What’s next? | Bay State Briefing
In an interview with MSNBC earlier this month. Healey noted that “every tool in the toolbox has got to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents, and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law.”
Massachusetts Republican Party Chairperson Amy Carnevale slammed Healey and Wu in a statement last week, saying that it’s “appalling and disgusting” that the two pols are “prioritizing appeasing the most radical elements of their political base over the safety of Massachusetts residents.”
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Carnevale’s statement came in response to the news that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in Boston had arrested two undocumented immigrants on child rape charges and taken another into custody who had been convicted of the same charge in Brazil.
“Parents across the Commonwealth are horrified that individuals charged with such serious crimes are allowed to roam free because local authorities refuse to work with ICE to remove these criminals from our streets,” Carnevale continued.
X boss Elon Musk also weighed in, attacking state policies and Boston’s decade-old status as a sanctuary city.
“Why are ‘sanctuary’ cities protecting child rapists? Unconscionable. Any politician who does so should be recalled immediately,” the billionaire, and close Trump ally, posted to the social media site, WBUR reported.
In that same statement, Wu defended the city’s approach.
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“Our homicide rates are among the lowest of any city nationally, and gun violence has been at an all-time historic low over the last two years here in Boston,” Wu said, according to WCVB-TV in Boston.
“This is no coincidence — it’s a reflection of the trust between our residents and our public safety officials and a result of our daily focus on community policing and coordinating city services. We will continue to focus on that work and have no intention of rolling out the welcome mat for them,” she continued.
At least one Bay State Democrat has acknowledged that the party’s immigration policies are a political liability.
Speaking to business leaders in Boston last week, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-8th District, said the Democrats’ policies have “caused people to be afraid.”
“Our task is to know who is coming into the country — to have an orderly process that does not scare the bejesus out of people of Arizona and New Mexico,” Lynch said.
Democrat Elizabeth Warren speaks to supporters at SoWa Power Station in Boston on Nov. 5, 2024 after the Associated Press declared her the winner in the U.S. Senate race against Republican John Deaton.(Sebastian Restrepo/MassLive)
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Can you hear them now?
There’s no doubt that Election Day went pretty well for Massachusetts Democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris handily carried the state; U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren coasted to reelection, and the party retained its super-majority on Beacon Hill.
Nonetheless, Bay State Dems are engaging in the same kind of group introspection that’s kind of become a cottage industry since Nov. 5.
Party officials announced a “virtual listening tour” last week that will analyze what worked and what didn’t in 2024; gather feedback on areas for improvement, and “foster a collaborative environment where all voices are heard.
“Your voice matters, and this is your opportunity to help us build on our successes and strengthen our movement for the future. Together, we can ensure the Massachusetts Democratic Party continues to represent and advocate for the values that matter most to our communities,” state Democratic Chairman Steve Kerrigan said in a statement.
Details on the sessions, conducted over Zoom, will be coming soon, the party said.
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U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, holds a news conference in Brookline, Mass., on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024 (John L. Micek/MassLive).John L. Micek
The plural of caucus is …
U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, has joined with several of his House colleagues to launch a pro-housing caucus on Capitol Hill. The group has been dubbed the “YIMBY Caucus.” Or “Yes in My Backyard.”
Other members of the bipartisan group include U.S. Reps. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.; Scott Peters and Robert Garcia, both Democrats of California; Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo.; Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., and Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., Auchincloss’ office said in a statement announcing its creation.
“The cost of housing is the greatest economic challenge facing Massachusetts. The answer: build more housing,” the Newton lawmaker said. “At all levels of government, Americans need permitting & land use reforms that unlock more housing production.”
Zzzzz …
If you lost sleep on Election Night, take heart, you’re hardly alone.
Nearly 93% of Americans said the nation’s quadrennial political drama cost them some shut-eye this year, according to a post-election study by SleepCycle.
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The website analyzed more than 593,000 sleep sessions to come up with its results. And if there’s any comfort, Americans slept better in 2024 than they did during the 2020 election, the analysis found.
In Massachusetts, 73% of residents reported some quality shuteye on Nov. 5. And most of you headed to bed around 11:35 p.m., according to the analysis.
Voters in Wyoming got the soundest sleep on Election Day, while Mississippi voters had the roughest night, the analysis found.
Phillip Eng, the general manager of the MBTA walks near a Green Line train at Riverside Station on March 27, 2023. (Chris Lisinski/State House News Service)
They said it
“They continue to deliver on the schedule that we’ve set, and the quality has not shifted. Quality, in fact, has gotten better … All of the learning curve that took place during the Orange Line [car delivery] prior to myself getting here is being factored in, so now the Red Line cars are performing right off the bat.”
— MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng on the improving quality of the T’s newly delivered Red and Orange Line cars after the agency “reset” its contract with Chinese manufacturer CRRC (via State House News Service).
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Massachusetts Republicans are hoping to build on earlier gains during legislative elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 (State House News Service photo).State House News Service
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Turned up to 11
Because, sometimes, you just need to start the work week with Carly Rae Jepsen. Here she is, live, with Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers with a live version of “Tiny Moves,” recorded at Fisher Green Pavilion in Seattle in July.
Your Monday long read
President-elect Donald Trump has been populating his incoming administration with allies and loyalists from the two states he calls home — New York and Florida. On Friday, the Republican named former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his choice for U.S. attorney general.
Writing for The Dispatch, Michael Warren delves into the Sunshine State’s move into the national spotlight.
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Here’s the germane bit:
“No one represents this Florida takeover better than Susie Wiles, the co-chair of Trump’s 2024 campaign who will serve as his White House chief of staff. And Wiles is not just the architect (along with Chris LaCivita) of Trump’s victory this year,” Warren wrote. “She’s a powerhouse in Florida Republican politics, getting a large amount of credit for both Rick Scott’s out-of-nowhere victory in his 2010 run for governor and Ron DeSantis’ win in the 2018 gubernatorial race. Wiles ran the Trump campaign’s Florida operation in 2016, putting the state back in the Republican column for the first time since 2004. In the eight years since, Florida has only tipped further into the GOP’s column, up and down the ballot.”
That’s it for this morning. Tips, comments, and suggestions can be sent to jmicek@masslive.com. Have a good week, folks.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a close call between two commercial flights at Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday morning.
Flight tracking data shows the pilots of Delta Air Lines Flight 2351 aborted their approach for landing around 11:30 a.m. as American Airlines Flight 3161 was accelerating for takeoff on an intersecting runway.
Delta pilots performed an evasive go-around maneuver before the Airbus A319 landed safely and passengers deplaned normally, a Delta spokesperson said in a statement.
The two aircraft got within several hundred feet of each other, according to a CNN analysis of tracking data from Flightradar24.
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An air traffic controller asked the departing American Airlines flight where it was going, to which its pilot said the tower had cleared the aircraft for takeoff, according to air traffic control audio captured by ATC.com. American Airlines deferred questions from CNN to the FAA.
While experts say flying remains an incredibly safe way to travel, Saturday’s close call is the latest in a recent spate of aviation-related incidents the US, including four dramatic plane crashes, the ever-worsening problem of turbulence and strikingly similar close call and go-around investigations.
A go-around, or aborted landing, is an aviation term for discontinuing a landing and beginning an immediate climb, then following further instructions. The safety maneuver is used to prevent runway incursions – when aircraft, vehicles or people are incorrectly positioned on a runway – as well as to counter other hazards, like sudden wind shifts and less-than-ideal approaches.
While go-arounds can feel jarring to passengers, they are still considered common and happen daily in the US, Michael McCormick, a former FAA air traffic manager and an associate professor in air traffic management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, previously told CNN.
“Passengers aren’t told in advance it’s going to happen, but they’ll recognize it when suddenly they’re coming in to land and the aircraft just starts rising back up again,” McCormick said, again noting go-arounds are routine.
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“This is something that pilots practice in flight simulators on a regular basis,” he added.
The Boston Fleet have signed defender Rylind MacKinnon to a one-year contract bringing back the 5-foot-10 defender.
Last season was MacKinnon’s first with the Fleet, whhere she recorded one assist in 28 appearances, and also played in three games.
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According to the Fleet MacKinnon added “grit and physicality to the team’s blue line.”
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The 26-year-old British Columbia product signed as a free agent with the Toronto Sceptres after going unselected in the 2024 PWHL Draft playing 22 games for the Sceptres as a rookie.
Collegiately, MacKinnon was the University of British Columbia’s all-time leading scorer by a defender.
Boston now has 13 players signed including MacKinnon, Loren Gabel, Ella Huber, Laura Kluge, Shay Maloney, Olivia Mobley, Jill Saulnier, Liz Schepers, Sophie Shirley Susanna Tapani Amanda Thiele, Megan Keller, Haley Winn, and Aerin Frankel.
Despite concerns about transportation and crowd management, the region’s biggest World Cup day yet appeared to unfold largely without major problems.
Morocco fans, many of whom celebrated on Shirley Avenue in Revere, rejoiced after their win against Scotland.
“We’re going to go very far in this World Cup,” predicted David Lalou, a Moroccan fan from Casablanca who saw the game live.
Here’s how Friday’s festivities unfolded.
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The drinks continued flowing
Mayor Michelle Wu announced Thursday that in two zones in the city – the Temple Place Social District and the Union-Marshall Street district – it would be legal for patrons to consume alcohol outdoors.
The measure took effect Friday, and bygame time the two zones hadquickly become lively block parties, complete with live music and hearty Scottish accents.
Zachary Lobel, 22, of Newton, and Ruairidh Davidson, 24, of Inverness, Scotland, independently brought their bagpipes to Union Street. The pair found each other, and acrowd of people gathered to watch them play.
Zachary Lobel (left) and Ruairidh Davidson, both carrying a set of bagpipes, meet at a World Cup street party.Ariela Lopez
George Comeau, a senior event manager with the Downtown Boston Alliance, organized the outdoor alcohol consumption zone on Temple Place. He estimated at 6:30 p.m. that 4,000 fans were watching the Scotland-Morocco game from the party there.
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Onthe Common, a free watch party attracted fans of every competing team.
Stan Abraham, 38, of Jamaica Plain, came with friends to support Haiti in itsmatch against Brazil.
“I just got to be around my people, around the energy,” he said.
Stan Abraham, 38, waves a Haitian flag at Boston Common.Ariela Lopez
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, who isup for reelection this year, shook hands and posed for pictures with gleeful Scottish fans outside The Dubliner, the popular Government Center bar.
“I would’ve said it was impossible to drink Boston dry, but clearly [the Scots] are here and they are testing the capacity of the city to serve them,” Markey said. “It’s just a happy week.”
Scotland fans wear jerseys as they wait outside The Dubliner bar before a FIFA World Cup watch party June 13 in Boston.Mel Musto/Getty
In the Boston Public Market, which extended its hours for FIFA Fan Fest, thirsty Scottish fans did just that, lining up through the narrow Boston Beer Alley, their arms filled with as much alcohol as they could carry.
“I don’t think we’ll last all night,” said owner Dawa Sangpo.
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Also in the Public Market were Moroccan fans, many of whom frequented Mo’Rockin Fusion, a fast-casual restaurant where the food is inspired by owner Morad Bouzidi’s childhood in Morocco.
“It’s 100 percent the Moroccan experience,” Bouzidi said.
Yes, the World Cup is in Boston, but, like, not actually in Boston.
As was the case before last week’s game, South Station was packed, but some fans reported an easier commuting experience this time and Globe reporters observed a quick-moving queue.
“I had a pretty smooth experience,” said James Pennie, who is visiting from Vancouver but is originally from Scotland.
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Near 3 p.m., as a final few fans jogged through the queue to enter South Station, MBTA employees yelled out encouragement.
“No Scotland, no party!” they said.
Members of the Tartan Army sing and cheer together as they take a school bus to Boston Stadium in Foxborough for Scotland’s World Cup game against Morocco on Friday.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Richard Sullivan, the Transit Police superintendent, said the fans were “a very orderly crew.” The MBTA sold over 19,000 tickets to and from Foxborough as of 3 p.m. Friday.
“The queues were very minimal,” said Phil Eng, the MBTA’s general manager. “We got everyone through.”
But not everyone took the commuter rail. A Globe photographer witnessed a convoy of 12 school buses, packed to the brim with Scottish fans, pulling into South Bay to pick up online alcohol orders, before going on to Foxborough.
Members of the Tartan Army stop at South Bay to load up on alcohol as they take a school bus to Foxborough for Scotland’s World Cup game against Morocco on Friday.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
A duck ? Leading a parade? And what was that about Gronk?
Patriots legends Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman appeared on Fox’s pregame show wearing kilts, accompanied by a man playing bagpipes.
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Edelman and Gronkowski applauded the Scots’ drinking prowess after they drank some Boston bars out of beer over the last week.
“The last time it happened was after we won the Super Bowl in 2015 against the Seattle Seahawks,” quipped Gronkowski.
And in Providence, a famous duck named Dawn led Scottish fans on a very orderly march. In a video shared on Dawn’s Tiktok page, the little creatures waddles forwards, a small Scottish flag on its back, while leagues of kilted men with bagpipes march behind it.
Jessica Rinaldi, Omar Mohammed, and Amin Touri of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Globe correspondents Ariela Lopez, Aayushi Datta, Lauren Albano, Audrey Tomlin, Jaden Perry, and Emily Spatz also contributed.
Truman Dickerson can be reached at truman.dickerson@globe.com.