Primaries Day 2020 open thread

Did you vote early? Are you voting today? Share your thoughts, observations, endorsements and predictions here. If you’re voting the old fashioned way, check here to be sure your polling location hasn’t changed. If you’ve voted by mail, you can track the...
Paper bags cost a dime again

Paper bags cost a dime again

Newton’s plastic bag and polystyrene bans are back.   As of today, Newton’s previously-suspended plastic bag and polystyrene ordinances are once again in place.  And once again, Newton businesses are required to charge 10-cents per paper bag....

Newton public school reopening plans change

Newton Public Schools Update Two items from Mayor Fuller’s email newsletter… The Newton School Committee finished a meeting a short time ago. We had voted a little over a week ago to give parents and caregivers of all students the option of either some in...

Two election related Globe editorials of note (and an article about endorsments)

Two recent Globe editorials took on issues of imoprtance to the current Congressional campaign…

  1. Delivering on mail-in voting supports City Councilor Becky Grossman’s lawsuit to give voters more time for their mailed ballots to actually reach city or town halls. 
  2. Candidates should ask super PACs to stay positive — and disclose funders in a timely way.  explores actions by several PACs on candiate’s behalf.

But the most consequential story editorial-related piece that I found most interesting is this from CommonWeath: Newspaper Endorsements Becoming Scarce.

VIDEO: BECMA Congressional debate

The candidates running for the 4th Congressional District address business and other economic development issues impacting Black and other minority communities in a forum Tuesday hosted by the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. The forum was moderated by Joyce Ferriabough Bolling of the Boston Herald and Byron Barnett of WHDH-TV.


Pundits: Our next Congressperson could be someone most voters don’t support

From Zane Razzaq at the  MetroWest Daily news…

With eight Democratic hopefuls battling to succeed Rep. Joe Kennedy in Congress, less than 20% of the vote could be enough to win.

 

In other words, the party’s nominee for the 4th Congressional District could be someone the vast majority of voters do not support. Under the current voting system, the candidate who receives the most votes wins. It’s mathematically possible for one of them to win the Sept. 1 primary with just 16% to 20% of the vote.

 

“In races like this one, you could end up with someone winning who does not really reflect the entire district. They may have more money or endorsements that delivered