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Boston's Morning Newsletter
What to know about the Mass. compromise on shelter spending, stay limits and takeout drinks
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Grab a layer; the next few mornings will be as chilly as the shooting from the Celtics’ supporting cast last night. (On the bright side, the Bruins took a crucial 2-1 lead in Toronto.)
To the news:
We have a deal: After over a month of bargaining, Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts State House agreed on a compromise bill to keep the state’s shelter system funded through the end of June. The bill would also limit how long people can stay in shelters. The House and Senate are both slated to vote on the deal today, so let’s quickly go over the key parts:
- Funding: The deal calls for pulling $251 million from a surplus fund to keep the system running through June. It would also let Gov. Maura Healey’s administration take another $175 million from the fund next fiscal year, which starts July 1, if necessary.
- Time limits: Families would face a new nine-month limit on how long they can stay in the shelter system — a move intended to keep down the program’s ballooning costs. However, they could get up to two 90-day extensions if they meet certain criteria.
- The big picture: This is the second time in less than six months lawmakers have needed to bail out the system, which is seeing record numbers of unhoused families and migrants who are guaranteed shelter under the state’s unique right-to-shelter law.
- One more (unrelated) compromise: Lawmakers found an interesting middle-ground on the debate over takeout drinks as part of the bill. It would permanently allow restaurants to resume selling mixed drinks and cocktails with to-go food orders, but they would no longer be able to sell takeout beer or wine.
Happening overnight: Boston police cleared out a pro-Palestinian encampment by Emerson College students in an alley off Boston Common last night. Police say 108 arrests were made and several officers were injured, as the two sides clashed. You can see footage of the chaotic scenes here and here.
- Why was the encampment cleared? While the Boylston Place alley is owned by Emerson, it’s considered a public right-of-way since it provides access to several businesses. Police say the encampment was violating city ordinances by blocking pedestrian access, as well as public noise violations.
- Zoom out: A wave of pro-Palestinian protests have spread at colleges across the country after Columbia University’s contentious crackdown on an encampment at its New York campus. Our education team has the full story below on the encampments that have popped up around here, including at Harvard.
On the clock: The NFL Draft begins tonight, and the New England Patriots have a big, franchise-altering decision to make. (No pressure.) The team has the third overall pick. That’s the highest-ever draft pick under owner Robert Kraft. And after moving on from Mac Jones — and more notably, Bill Belichick — this offseason, ESPN reporter Mike Reiss tells WBUR’s Rupa Shenoy that people inside the organization say they’re “locked in” on taking a quarterback.
- Three names to know: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy — though the choice partly depends on who the Washington Commanders take first (they have second pick and also need a quarterback). The betting odds point to Maye being the Patriots’ most likely pick.
- There’s always the possibility the Patriots could trade their pick to get additional later picks or players, as Belichick liked to do. But new coach Jerod Mayo has said it would require a big offer.
A recipe for resurgence: Less than six months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Clover Food Lab is eyeing expansion. The Boston-based vegetarian fast food chain say it’s aiming to add 47 more locations across New England over the next five years. Additionally, CEO Julia Wrin Piper tells WBUR’s Zeninjor Enwemeka that all 13 of Clover’s current locations are “on track” to be profitable this spring.
- How’d they do it? The company credits a fast-tracked bankruptcy process tailored for small businesses and renegotiated deals with landlords and suppliers. Zeninjor has more details on the turnaround.
P.S.— Yesterday was a tough day at WBUR, as station leaders officially announced that some of our colleagues will be laid off. In total, we’re saying goodbye to about 30 employees, through a combination of buyouts and layoffs. (These cuts are intended to offset a steep decline in on-air sponsorships.) You can read more here about the cuts, and how on-air news updates and podcasts will be affected.
