Governor Charlie Baker – Everett Leader Herald

Politics is always remaking itself; nothing lasts forever

By Josh Resnek

Most of us who pay attention to politics had one opinion or another about the announcement last week that Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will not be seeking re-election.

To those who know the governor well, this announcement has been a long time coming- and even though Baker referred to it as a “complex decision,” it was, after all, a decision that required only one thing – a yes or a no.

His answer – a resounding no.

Baker and Polito have done a good job during their tenure in the State House.

These are smart, decent, honest people who were well off before they went to the State House, and who did not enrich themselves while they served.

In other words, their hands were not out.

They are not takers – and now they are leaving.

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Polito applauds state for new law enforcement reform bill

Official Massachusetts portrait of Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. (Courtesy of Mass.gov)

Governor Charlie Baker signed “An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth,” which creates a mandatory certification process for police officers, increases accountability and transparency in law enforcement, and gives police departments a greater ability to hire or promote only qualified applicants.

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Disregarding the governor and his duties

The mayor’s trip to Aruba last week is the surest sign hat the mayor’s need to satisfy himself goes way beyond his desire to do his job and to stand side by side with his constituents during a difficult time.

Anyway, one wishes to look at it, leaving for a trip on an airplane during the height of a pandemic and returning as though he went to the corner store is not a preferred thing to do for the mayor of a besieged city of almost 60,000 people.

In addition, the mayor’s futile effort to make believe he didn’t go to Aruba fooled more than a handful of people, including some of his closest allies.

Going to Aruba when the city is in the grips of a health catastrophe that also impacts business interests and the city’s finances, is par for the course for the mayor.

Covering up the trip as though it didn’t happen is also par for the course for this mayor.

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Boston Herald predicts Gov to hand office to Polito

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito listens to Gov. Charlie Baker during a daily Coronavirus briefing held at the Gardner Auditorium at the State House. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

By JOSH RESNEK

Talk is swirling about that Governor Charlie Baker may not seek a third term and he is pondering handing the position to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, according to the Boston Herald political columnist Joe Battenfield.

Polito has been one of the highest-profile, hardest working Lt. Governors in modern history.

Many had been expecting that Baker won’t go for a third term and that he would support a Polito bid for governor.

Battenfeld’s Monday opinion piece emphasized that and noted as well that Baker has not raised much money for his political account, raising only $885 last month.

He also noted that Polito has more than $2 million in her campaign account.

Baker, for almost 7 years, has been the most popular governor serving in the United States.

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$49M grant program to bolster small businesses impacted by Covid-19

Underrepresented groups to benefit from relief, aid package

The Baker-Polito Administration announced that nearly $49 million in grants to small businesses will be awarded through the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. In October, the $50.8 million grant program was announced as a key component of Partnerships for Recovery, the Administration’s comprehensive plan to get people back to work, support small businesses, foster innovation, revitalize downtowns, and ensure housing stability.

Of the businesses being notified of their successful applications, each meets the preferred criteria of being owned by women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, or that identify as LGBTQ. Additionally, every completed application received from a qualified minority-owned business that has not been able to receive prior aid from federal, state, or local programs established to support businesses during the pandemic will be receiving relief.

“Our administration is proud to announce almost $50 million in grants to support historically under-represented small business owners as they navigate the pandemic,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. We thank Mass Growth Capital Corporation for their partnership to distribute these funds quickly, and look forward to continuing to work with business and community leaders to ensure a strong, equitable recovery from COVID-19.

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