Latest news with #Kraft
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Josh Kraft is defining himself — the wrong way
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up It makes what was already an uphill climb against an incumbent mayor an even tougher battle for Kraft — one that if she wins, will leave Wu with an even loftier platform than she had after her testimony last March in Washington. The mayor who faced down Republican lawmakers on the hot topic of immigration with Advertisement Kraft, who has never before run for political office, has squandered much of his reputation as a decent guy who did good things for young people in Boston as the head of the nonprofit Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Instead of emphasizing that positive story from the start, he went on the attack. The topics — from bike lanes and school safety to the cost of Wu's White Stadium renovation plans and lingering drug and homeless problems at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard — are fair game. But too often, Kraft's proffered solution is further study rather than a substantive alternative. Advertisement Meanwhile, he tapped into Meanwhile, by accepting the money that flows to a political action committee through his father's connections, Josh Kraft gets the baggage that goes with it, too. As Wu puts that baggage before Boston voters, no one can say she is taking reelection for granted. Advertisement The Kraft campaign It is true, as the Kraft campaign has also noted, that Wu has her own transparency problems. She has been less than forthcoming about estimated costs for the White Stadium renovation. Information about other city matters, such as the death of a 5-year-old boy who was hit and killed by a Boston school bus, is also slow in coming. That is Kraft's case to make. But despite the millions at his disposal and the name recognition that goes with his family, so far he has not been able to do it in a way that makes a difference in this race. Advertisement The poll that put Wu 30 points up also asked those surveyed to respond to this statement: 'Michelle Wu has had some challenges, but Josh Kraft is not the answer.' Sixty percent agreed. Just 25 percent did not. Only Kraft can change that conclusion and it's getting late for that. Joan Vennochi is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Day 1 of Patriots training camp, at least for a while, goes to the dogs
Patriots owner Robert Kraft credited his dog, Heisman, as the inspiration for the event. Heisman was gifted to Kraft by a friend for his 80th birthday in 2021, and he was nearby throughout practice. Advertisement '[Heisman] rules the house. He hasn't taken over the Patriots yet, but in most other areas, he's done that,' said Kraft. 'Having Heisman in our lives brought so much love, and dogs only know love. I never would have believed the influence he could have in our family, so that's really how this day came about.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Patriots owner Robert Kraft, wife Dana Blumberg, and their dog, Heisman, who was gifted to Kraft for his 80th birthday in 2021. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Hollins delivered Daisy to Dennis Manning and his 15-year-old son, also named Dennis, from Rockland. The family already owns two Labrador retrievers — ages 10 and 3 — and the elder Manning believed Daisy to be a mix of Lab, pit bull, and hound. 'When we brought Daisy out to meet our other dogs, they were all great together,' he said. 'All playing, running, no problem — even with her small size, jumping in the middle of the bunch …. we knew it was perfect for us. Adopting a dog is just a really special experience.' Advertisement The Patriots partnered with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Potter League for Animals, and the Berkshire Humane Society, which brought more than 40 dogs in total. The largest presence was from the ARL, which had 21 dogs available for adoption and successfully paired 17 with new owners. Most of the ARL of Boston's dogs come from Mississippi and are cared for in one of its three local shelters until they find permanent homes. Each adoption cost $600, and after signing paperwork, the new pet parents were able to head home with their dogs. 'We have adoption staff who work in the shelters on hand, so the process is pretty similar to being in a shelter, just at another location,' said Mike DeFina, the ARL of Boston's communications manager. 'It's just about trying to find the best match for both the animal and the people involved. And the enthusiasm we saw today from people was amazing.' Though the new dog owners were the primary focus, Patriots players were happy to do their part in drawing attention to the cause. 'It was a lot of fun,' said linebacker Robert Spillane. 'I grew up with dogs. I love dogs. People should adopt dogs. So I was proud to be able to do that.' Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs shows off his good hands to corral a puppy that momentarily got loose at the team's "Pawtriots" pet adoption event. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Kraft's wife, Dana Blumberg, who is on the ARL of Boston's board, was hopeful that the new owners would have a similar experience as she and Kraft have had with Heisman. Advertisement 'When we come home and we hear the little squeaky noise or the pitter patter, [we feel] the joy it brings us,' Blumberg said. 'So we're just happy to be able to share that with others.' Matty Wasserman can be reached at
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Drake Maye embracing leadership role in his second season, and other observations from Patriots training camp
Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Hunter Henry, Ja'Lynn Polk, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Kyle Williams joined Maye and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs not only for throwing sessions but for dinners, rounds of Spikeball, jet-skiing, and more. 'You miss those guys for a month,' Maye said Wednesday. 'You just want to get back and get a refresher for them, whether that's route-wise, play-wise. I think the most important thing is just bonding together, getting together, going out to eat, having some fun, and getting some work in. I was glad that those guys came out and showed up.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up This offseason represented a marked change for Maye. After spending training camp last year deferring to veteran Jacoby Brissett, not wanting to overstep as a rookie, the 22-year-old Maye has now been thrust into a leadership role. Advertisement Maye said that transition is something he and Vrabel have discussed. 'He does a great job of giving me points where I can improve, points where, 'Hey, maybe do this,' ' Maye said. 'I think he's also letting me go and kind of letting me see where I'm at. I think it's a challenge for me to lead this football team and lead this offense.' Advertisement Wednesday's practice was relatively humdrum — the team isn't practicing in pads yet — but Maye still recognized the importance of setting the tone. He stressed the value in taking every practice seriously, no matter the circumstances. 'I think practice translates to the games,' Maye said. 'It's hard to get this simulation. It's not basketball. You can't go get shots, open 3-pointers. There's nothing like being in the mix of it with a lot of bullets going. So, I'm trying to earn my stripes in practice. And then from there, just try going along and hopefully win some games. And I think that'll help.' The Patriots underwent significant roster turnover this offseason, with close to half of the players being new faces. Of the players returning, Maye said he wants to set an example for the rest of the team — and some have already noticed. 'He's definitely becoming a leader,' Douglas said. 'I feel like this is his team.' Patriots quarterback Drake Maye connected with some of his fans on Day 1 of training camp. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Other notes and observations from the first training camp practice of the year … ⋅ Owner Robert Kraft briefly met with the media before practice to discuss the team's 'Pawtriots' initiative, a dog adoption program that gives fans a chance to take home a pet from the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Kraft spoke only briefly about the upcoming season, saying he's hopeful this camp marks 'the start of a new chapter' after back-to-back 4-13 records. 'I think back to 31 seasons ago and remember being a season ticket-holder,' Kraft said. 'We only had one home playoff game before our family bought it. I remember how I felt in 1978 when we lost to the Houston Oilers [in the divisional round]. Earl Campbell ran for over 100 yards. I dreamt of owning the team and trying to create something special. Except for the last two years, I think we've done really well.' Advertisement Kraft also expressed excitement about the opportunity to reconnect with Vrabel, who played eight seasons in New England and won three Super Bowls. 'He was a little bit tough when he was a player,' Kraft said. 'He represented the union. I remember — this is the only stadium that's fully private — so we had to invest in the land around it to hopefully get economic activity to justify us doing this. He wanted the revenue to go to the union for the [salary] cap. I remember duking it out with him. Now that we have totally aligned interests, I hope he can bring that same spirit and energy.' Although commentary from an eternal optimist such as Kraft can sometimes fall flat, there are reasons to believe the Patriots will improve this season. Vrabel already has set the standard with his no-nonsense approach, while the team addressed some of its key weaknesses in free agency and the draft. 'I feel good about the foundation of what we have now,' Kraft said. 'Now we have to go execute and make that happen.' Patriots owner Robert Kraft, wife Dana Blumberg, and dog Heisman arrive at the field for the opening of training camp. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff ⋅ An initial surprise absence from Wednesday's practice was Polk, who was not on the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) list headed into camp. Polk later made an appearance on a stationary bike but did not participate in team drills. The 2024 second-round pick was a limited participant throughout spring practices while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Advertisement In attendance to watch practice was Ron Wolf, Hall of Fame general manager and the father of executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, as well as quarterback Brian Hoyer. ⋅ After getting cleared to practice fully, Diggs, just nine months removed from his ACL tear, will be managed throughout camp in order to not overload his knee. But he's certainly made an early impression. 'I'm super excited to play football, earning the respect of my teammates, earning the respect of my coaches,' he said. 'That's all I want to do right now. I'm taking it day by day. A lot of people want to throw a lot of anticipation out there, getting excited. You can't get too excited. It's Day 1. I just want to conquer Day 1.' The fact that Diggs was able to practice from the get-go allows him to help build rapport and trust with Maye, along with the rest of the offense. 'He made some plays out here today,' Maye said. 'It's awesome being able to throw to a guy like that. Any time when you feel like he's not open, he's going to go make a play for you.' Advertisement The 31-year-old Diggs also spent time before practice interacting with the crowd and playing catch with cheering kids. He could be on his way to becoming a fan favorite, especially if production follows suit. Related : ⋅ Williams probably had the catch of the day, hauling in a pass with Christian Gonzalez in coverage. The rookie finished with two receptions during 11-on-11 drills. 'He was backside one-on-one with Gonzo,' Maye said. 'He made a big-time catch. Strong hands. I told him to maybe sell it a little more, just try to give him a go-route feel. But I think he's coming along. He's looking good.' Williams developed a reputation in college for his ability to make contested catches and win one-on-one matchups — and, so far, he has delivered. Reeling in a catch over Gonzalez makes the play all the more impressive. 'Good for a rookie to make a play like that,' Maye said. 'I think he is just going to get better and better.' ⋅ The left guard competition is underway, with 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace, 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange, and rookie Jared Wilson in the mix. Strange appears to be the leader for the starting job, as he has the most experience at the position and also took snaps with the first team during the spring. Wilson, meanwhile, took additional reps as a backup center to Garrett Bradbury. Left guard remains the biggest question mark across the offensive line, but there is pressure on the unit as a whole. The Patriots are still practicing without pads, so it's difficult to comprehensively evaluate the line. Nicole Yang can be reached at
Politico
11 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Tax talks in Boston mayor's race
TAX TALK — Recent polling shows Michelle Wu crushing the competition in Boston's mayoral race. Her campaign is still keeping up the pressure. A gaggle of campaign surrogates held a press conference outside the JFK federal building Tuesday, calling on Josh Kraft, Wu's main competition in the race, to release his tax returns. 'He wants to be the mayor of Boston, and we're asking him to be totally transparent about where all of his money and all of his interests are going,' state Sen. Lydia Edwards said. 'He's not Trump, … but he's acting Trump-like when you don't disclose where your money's going. All we're asking for is a fundamental, basic level of transparency.' Wu wasn't there herself — she's in Maine until Sunday with family, according to her office — but she chimed in via a video she posted to social media. A spokesperson for Kraft said he applied for an extension for his 2024 tax return and will be releasing information before the Sept. 9 preliminary election. Yesterday's call for Kraft to disclose his financial details was in line with other attacks Wu and allies have leveled against Kraft, the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in a campaign that's become heavily focused on money. Wu has accused him of trying to buy the office and regularly points out that the super PAC backing him is funded in part by Republican donors. The Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll that was released this week shows those attacks seem to be sticking. Wu led Kraft 60-30 percent in the survey, and more than 42 percent of likely Boston voters said they had an unfavorable view of Kraft. The results prompted columns in both the Boston Herald and The Boston Globe questioning how Kraft can forge a path forward. Kraft went on the offensive early. His campaign, at least for now, is sticking with the strategy. In response to the Wu campaign's calls to release his tax returns, a Kraft spokesperson sent a lengthy statement knocking Wu over transparency within City Hall. 'Rather than talk about the issues that people actually care about and how she has failed to make the city work for everyone, from housing to schools to making City Hall more transparent and responsive to residents' concerns, Michelle Wu is trying to change the conversation while overseeing the least transparent City Hall in generations,' Kraft's spokesperson Eileen O'Connor said in a statement. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey chairs a Governors Council meeting at noon at the State House. Rep. Ayanna Pressley holds a press conference defending DEI at noon in D.C. THE MONEY VEEP WATCH — Vice President JD Vance raised $3 million at his Nantucket fundraiser Tuesday night, per the New York Post, a record for a fundraising event on the island. SPOTTED — at the fundraiser: Stefan Passantino, Mike Minogue Colin Greenspoon, Henry Howard, Kristan Nevins and Ozzie Palermo. DATELINE BEACON HILL — Healey says officials need to 'live within our means.' She's also giving managers in her administration $10 million in raises. by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: 'When she signed Massachusetts' $61 billion state budget, Governor Maura Healey touted taking several cost-saving steps amid 'tight and uncertain' times, including halting a planned January pay hike for executive branch managers. … Left unsaid at the time: Healey is giving those same managers — 3,600 in total — a separate raise this month, a 2 percent increase her administration estimates will cost roughly $10 million this fiscal year. Members of Healey's Cabinet, most of whom were making more than $202,000 a year, are also eligible for the increase, which would boost their pay by more than $4,000 apiece. The raise would mark the second time in six months Healey has given administration managers and Cabinet members a salary bump.' FROM THE HUB — Massachusetts revenue commish disputes claims that Boston is 'secretly penalizing' commercial properties with tax spikes by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'The head of the state's Department of Revenue said he's found no evidence to support claims raised by a watchdog group that the City of Boston has been increasing the assessed value, and taxes, of commercial properties that file appeals. DOR Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder said he directed his staff to look into the matter following a letter his department received late last month from the Pioneer New England Legal Foundation requesting an investigation into what the watchdog alleged were and unconstitutional' assessment practices by the city.' — Business groups oppose ban on 'captive-audience' meetings by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'Business leaders are strongly criticizing a proposal on Beacon Hill to ban mandatory employer-sponsored meetings on religious and political matters, arguing it would infringe on free speech rights and lead to costly litigation. The proposal, filed by state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, D-Somerville, would prohibit mandatory 'captive-audience' gatherings by public and private employers and allow workers to file lawsuits if they are fired or disciplined for reporting or speaking out about any violations of the proposed rules.' FALL RIVER FALLOUT — Fall River fire caused at one of two points of origin by Dan Medeiros, The Herald News: 'State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said one of two factors caused the deadly fire at Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Davine said, based on the available evidence, the fire began with either an electrical or mechanical failure with an oxygen concentrator, or the improper disposal of smoking material, and began in a second-floor bedroom on the left side of the building. Davine said the room contained an oxygen concentrator 'and numerous smoking materials.'' MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — Federal spending data shows Massachusetts companies that work with ICE by Daniel Jackson, MassLive: 'Tactical vehicles, law enforcement badges, a 24/7 transcription and language interpretation service — these are some of the goods and services Massachusetts companies have provided to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. About a dozen companies across the Bay State, stretching from Pittsfield to Plymouth, work with ICE in some capacity, federal records show. A list of companies working with ICE from around the country, drawn from federal spending data, was recently compiled on a map as part of a website called which accuses Citizens Bank of funding a pair of private prisons.' DAY IN COURT — Judge dismisses more than 100 cases amid lawyer work stoppage by Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe: 'Defendant after defendant on Tuesday heard the same message from Boston Municipal Court Chief Justice Tracy-Lee Lyons: ;This case shall be dismissed without prejudice today.' All told, 102 people who had been charged with a wide range of crimes, from the petty to the violent, saw their cases dropped because the government had been unable to provide them a lawyer. Tuesday's hearing marked a remarkable step underscoring the ongoing crisis created by a work stoppage by the private court-appointed attorneys known as bar advocates, who represent most of the state's indigent defendants who otherwise can't afford lawyers. The charges, read out in quick succession by court clerks, spanned from shoplifting and driving on a suspended license to domestic violence, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and drug trafficking.' — Officials face down Republic in court by Caroline Enos, Gloucester Daily Times: 'Leaders of Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody, Canton, Danvers and Malden appeared in court Tuesday afternoon over against Republic Services' lacking service during the ongoing Teamsters' strike. Their lawyers asked a Salem Superior Court judge to issue a preliminary judgement demanding that Republic carry out all contracted services in these communities, as the company has routinely left trash to sit in dumpsters and on curbs days past scheduled collection dates during the strike. Republic has also failed to pick up any recycling in most of these towns since the strike began July 1.' FROM THE DELEGATION — Warren, Social Security chief to meet over agency concerns by Stephen Neukam, Axios: 'Social Security commissioner Frank Bisignano will huddle with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in Washington on Wednesday amid deep Democratic concerns about the agency's cuts to services, Axios has learned. … Warren will have the chance to air grievances about everything from staffing cuts to phone wait times in a meeting that follows incessant pressure from Democrats on Capitol Hill.' FROM THE 413 — Amherst Regional falls short on mandated learning time by 100 hours by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'Amherst school officials are being required by the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to take corrective action after the agency determined Amherst Regional High School students this past school year fell nearly 100 hours short of the required 990 hours of structured learning time.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — City Councilor Haxhiaj to be arraigned Wednesday for assault, interfering in ICE arrest by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: 'The Northwestern District Attorney's Office will prosecute the Worcester Police Department's charges against District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj related to the May 8 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation on Eureka Street. Haxhiaj's arraignment for the counts of an assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with police is slated to take place Wednesday, July 23, at Worcester District Court.' — Who's running for mayor in Fall River? by Emily Scherny, The Herald News: 'Incumbent Mayor Paul Coogan is seeking his fourth term as the city's top executive. He has been mayor since being first elected in 2019. Previously, he served on the School Committee. Running against Coogan are Gabriel 'Boomer' Amaral, Carlos Cesar, Christopher Silvia and Michael J. Vandal.' — Salem City Council approves ordinance to regulate condominium conversion by Michael McHugh, The Salem News. MEDIA MATTERS — GBH to lay off 13 employees from PBS history program 'American Experience' due to federal funding cuts by Aidan Ryan, The Boston Globe: 'GBH is laying off 13 employees from its PBS history program, 'American Experience,' due to 'severe cuts in federal funding for public media,' GBH chief executive Susan Goldberg told staff Monday night. 'American Experience' will air its 37th season — which includes a documentary about Henry Kissinger — this fall as planned, but next year will focus on rebroadcasting the program's best documentaries to give GBH time to 'reinvent, create, and ramp up' the series with a focus on digital platforms, Goldberg said in a Tuesday interview with the Globe.' HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Sen. Kathleen O'Connor-Ives, Meg Montgomery, Vasundhra Sangar, Jeremy D. Goodwin, Mariane Pearl, the Telegram & Gazette's Kinga Borondy, Reynolds Graves, Jane Rayburn of EMC Research and Massachusetts Playbook alum Lisa Kashinsky.
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Can the Josh Kraft campaign be saved?
I certainly wasn't surprised to see that Kraft's campaign isn't getting significant traction with voters. But for a candidate with a war chest in the millions of dollars, name recognition, and an attack-dog PAC in his corner to be doing so poorly is shocking. I would have guessed he was down 20 points, not 30. Advertisement Before I get to the underwhelming Kraft campaign, let's give Wu her due. Her She has since moved very effectively to consolidate her support within a broad swath of constituencies. If you heard a few months ago that And her attacks on Kraft as a Advertisement I've never thought of Wu as enjoying Menino-level popularity or popular affection, but maybe that perception is outdated. She's never felt the love she's getting right now. Her campaign could hardly be going any better. Team Kraft responded to the bombshell poll with standard campaign bravado. 'Josh didn't get into the Mayor's race because of what polling says, and nothing has changed his focus on continuing to show up in Boston neighborhoods, talk to residents, and listen to the concerns of many people who are disappointed with this Mayor and the direction the city is going,' his campaign said in a statement. 'The entire campaign team is confident that as residents learn more about Josh, his background of service, and his ideas for the future of Boston, the numbers will move in his direction.' Note that nowhere does this statement dispute the poll's findings. What this poll lays bare is that nothing the Kraft campaign is doing is working. From the outset, it has placed its faith in the belief that Wu is unlikable. And that there is enough disgust around issues like bike lanes and the But they are clearly misreading the moment. Yes, Bostonians hate the city's terrible traffic. But they don't think Michelle Wu invented it, and they are clearly unmoved by Kraft's promise to freeze bike lanes. Along the same lines, Team Kraft has also been unable to whip up hysteria over crime. Wu likes to say we live in the safest big city in the country; experts say the superlative 'safest' is disputable. But what matters in this debate is that voters don't view violent crime as an urgent problem in need of fixing. Advertisement Ultimately, fear of crime isn't statistical; it's something voters feel in their bones. Boston residents don't feel unsafe. So Kraft hasn't found an effective line of attack. It's not that people think Wu is some perfect mayor - of course they don't. But they believe in where she's leading the city, and they don't see why Kraft would be an upgrade. Finally, voters appear to be wary that Kraft is trying to use his wealth to buy his way into office. According to campaign finance records, Kraft has raised well over $3 million for this race, not counting the millions a Super PAC - 'Your City, Your Future' - has raised to blanket the airwaves with anti-Wu ads on Kraft's behalf. Wu has attacked him relentlessly for trying to buy City Hall, and that seems to be effective. I firmly believe Kraft's camp erred by going so negative so early. Aggressively attacking Wu before voters had any sense of Kraft wasn't just ineffective - I think it rallied support for her. That partly explains why his numbers are so remarkably low. His campaign has been great - for Wu. The worst number in this poll for Kraft: Seven. That's the percentage of remaining undecided voters. That is the number that might force him to rethink this entire venture. Because if you're down 30 points and most voters have made up their minds, where do you go for your votes? Advertisement I'm not saying I expect Kraft to drop out. But the questions facing this campaign today are truly existential. Robert Kraft is a man who despises losing and hates throwing away money. He can't relish the prospect of dumping millions of dollars into a blowout loss, and I'm sure he has trusted people on his payroll who know how to analyze a poll. Josh Kraft is a dedicated, well-meaning civic figure. But what he isn't, to date, is much of a mayoral candidate. Yes, he has millions of dollars left to spend on this race. But all his riches haven't bought him much so far. Maybe this would be a good time to ask himself why that's likely to change. Adrian Walker is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
