VOL. 124 - NO. 34 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AUGUST 21, 2020 $.35 A COPY Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s COVID-19 Press Briefi ng AS OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 Status of COVID-19 in Boston: access across Boston, main- safe and in-line with all pub- 26th. The City will process every The Mayor provided an update taining more than 20 active lic health guidance. BPS has request received by that date. on the overall trends we’re see- testing sites. implemented extensive health Everyone can track their ballot ing in Boston. The uptick seen For the last full week ana- and safety precautions. All BPS request at: trackmyballotMA. in the second half of July has lyzed, there was an average protocols meet the require- com. leveled off, but the City is still of more than 1,600 tests con- ments of the State, and the The City has placed a ballot watching the data closely, ex- ducted per day, up 8.6% com- guidance of the Boston Public drop-box in the lobby of City panding testing, and continuing pared to the previous week. Health Commission. Hall. It is available Monday contact tracing. Mobile Testing Team will be For the latest draft of the through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to The positive test rate for the at Jubilee Christian Church fall plan, BPS worked with the 5:00 p.m. No appointment week ending August 10th was in Mattapan. At this site the Boston Teachers Union in task is needed, but voters will be 2.6%, down from 2.8%. City offers testing to anyone forces made up of teachers, screened for COVID symptoms Visits to Boston Emergency who wants it, at no cost, and school leaders, and central upon entering the building. You Rooms for COVID-like illness regardless of symptoms. The office leaders. They worked can drop off either your bal- are down somewhat and stable pop-up site will run this week together on key issues like lot request (by August 26th) or over time. ICU usage at Boston from Thursday, August 20th to connecting with families using your completed mail-in ballot hospitals is down to 74% from Saturday, August 22nd; and next home visits and technology; by September 1st. You can also 82% of normal capacity. week from Tuesday, August 25th Preventing the spread in making up for lost time in drop off your mail-in ballot at The daily average number to Saturday, August 29th. Boston: The Mayor said that school; addressing social and Early Voting locations during of positive tests has stayed up The Mayor encourages every- the entire Boston community emotional struggles; and mak- the Early Voting period. around 40 cases. Some of that one to get tested regularly. You needs to stay focused and vigi- ing sure the school day is age- The Mayor addressed the increase is a result of increased can fi nd information, including lant to help prevent the spread appropriate for all students. White House’s threats to under- testing. hours for all the testing sites of the coronavirus. He reminded The City will also continue to mine operations of the U.S. Update on testing: The City in the City, at: boston.gov/ everyone to continue frequent coordinate with childcare and Postal Service. continues to increase testing coronavirus. hand washing, avoiding large afterschool programs. The Mayor’s administra- gatherings, staying 6 feet away Preparations for this year’s tion has been in contact with from other people, and wearing elections: The Mayor discussed Secretary of State Bill Galvin, masks. the unique challenges associ- with Attorney General Maura News Briefs The Mayor compared masks ated with this year’s elections. Healey, and members of to seatbelts, reminding peo- The State Primary Election Congress about this. by Sal Giarratani ple that years ago, seatbelts is September 1st, and the Congressman Stephen Lynch were unpopular and people General Election is November and Congresswoman Ayanna Medical Conditions Unmasked? found them uncomfortable 3rd. The registration dead- Pressley are on the Oversight Recently, a newspaper commentary lashed out at and restrictive, but now people line for the primary is this and Reform Committee, how many folks are walking around in stores without understand their value and Saturday, August 22nd. and they acted quickly to wearing facial covering and keeping their distance using them is the norm. Residents can look up their launch hearings. The Mayor from each other. The writer apparently thinks people Update on the Boston Public voting status at: boston.gov/ thanked the Massachusetts are faking medical conditions to not wear a mask. You Schools: On Friday, BPS sub- election. Congressional delegation for after all don’t have to prove their claims. mitted plans to DESE that meet Boston will have in-person their swift response. The writer seemingly wanted those folks who can’t all State public health guide- voting for all elections with The Mayor closed with this wear masks to have someone else shop for them. She lines. This latest draft of the safety protocols and PPE. refl ection: “As a local govern- thinks those two words — medical condition — are the plan is available online to the Some polling locations have ment, we are doing all we can bullet in this game of Russian roulette. public at: bostonpublicschools. been moved out of senior build- to make voting safe and acces- I guess if she thinks she’s playing a game of Russian org/reopening. ings for residents’ safety. The sible. We call on the federal roulette, she’s the one who should stay out in the Boston has asked the State City is notifying registered vot- government to protect and parking lot and let someone else shop for her. Don’t for permission to push the ers if they have been impacted support the Postal Service at newspapers have better things to fi ll their op-ed pages? fi rst day of school back from by polling location changes. this critical time. Postal work- President Trump September 10th to September Boston is also holding Early ers have been a lifeline for many 21st for most students and to Voting, and it begins this com- residents in this crisis, and Ignores Reporter’s Lying Question September 23rd for pre-K and ing weekend. For the Primary: now they are helping to protect President Trump was a half hour into his coronavirus kindergarten students. This Early Voting is August 22nd our democracy. I thank them. briefi ng when he called upon HuffPost’s White House would give teachers and admin- – 28th at a total of 18 locations Elections are a cornerstone correspondent S.V. Dáte, who asked him if he regretted istrators more time to plan, and across the City, including City of our democracy, and access all the lying he’s done to the American people. Trump give the City more time to moni- Hall. For the General Election, to voting is a fundamental looked at him and said “What?” “All the lying,” the tor the data. it will be October 17th – 30th. right. Today marks the 100th reporter repeated. When Trump said “Who’s done?” The Mayor said that soon, For information about elections, anniversary of the ratifi cation “You’re done,” the reporter fi red back. the City will make a decision on including early voting locations, of the 19th Amendment to the Trump simply without skipping a heart beat called whether to open with all-remote visit: boston.gov/election or call U.S. Constitution. It made on another reporter without answering anymore of learning or a hybrid model. He 311. women’s right to vote the law that line of questioning. The reporter seemed more reiterated that every family has The City of Boston has also of the land. Boston women interested in being the subject of a story rather than the choice to begin the year worked to make voting by mail led that movement, including just reporting on briefi ng. remotely if they want. widely and easily available. In Black women who had to keep Of course it went viral on Twitter because the Anti- The Mayor said that BPS’s fall July, the State sent applications fi ghting for decades to make Trump folks like the Washington Post’s Fact Checker planning is focused on safety, for mail-in ballots to every regis- that right a reality. We take claimed that Trump has made more than 20,000 false quality, and equity. The City’s tered voter in Boston. The City voting rights and voting access or misleading statements while in offi ce. decision making will be guided has sent out over 60,000 ballots seriously in Boston. We have What’s this country coming to when reporters attend by science and data, and will to registered voters and contin- fought for it, and we’ll fi ght for briefi ngs just to interrogate the president every chance not bring students or staff into ues to process those requests. it today. I can assure you that (Continued on Page 10) buildings that are not safe. For the Primary, applications we will do everything within our The City is working every for a mail-in ballot must be power to make sure your vote is day to make school buildings received by Wednesday, August counted.” THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON This offi ce is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, AUGUST 21, 2020 Res Publica by David Trumbull President Donald J.