WHERE TO PEE IN BOSTON DIGBOSTON.COM | 07.15.21 - 07.29.21 DIGBOSTON.COM FEATURE: DRAINING SWAMPSCOTT THE PROSECUTION OF A PROGRESSIVE PROTESTER PLUS: BELOVED DIG ALUMS DROP BOOKS, ALBUMS 2 DIGBOSTON.COM | 07.15.21 - 07.29.21 ENTERTAINMENT Like Never before! DEAR READER WELCOME TO BOSTON, NOW VOL 23 + ISSUE 12 JUL 15, 2021 - JUL 29, 2021 WALK THIS WAY BUSINESS PUBLISHER John Loftus ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS What do you tell people they should eat, see, and do when they tell you they’re Chris Faraone coming to Boston? Assuming they asked, because only horribly annoying people offer Jason Pramas unsolicited travel advice (“You absolutely have to try the P.F. Chang’s in Houston,” SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dawn Martin someone once informed me unprompted). BUSINESS DEV. DIRECTOR But what if they really are looking for tips? After all, the internet is only good for Graham Wilson leading wanderers toward shameless advertorials, so as a local maybe you can help. FOR ADVERTISING And to those ends, should you lead them toward historic Quincy Market and the INFORMATION [email protected] gorgeous Rose Kennedy Greenway? Or steer them clear of the collegiate crowd that gathers in the bars around that area to shout lines from Seth Rogen movies at each EDITORIAL other over Nickelback and picklebacks? EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Faraone Given the task of playing tour guide, do you send them down the Freedom Trail EXECUTIVE EDITOR and to that silly Boston Tea Party museum? Or do you recommend a road less traveled Jason Pramas like the Black Heritage Trail around Beacon Hill? How about the nearby Boston MANAGING EDITOR Journalism Trail? Mitchell Dewar Are you one of those people who insists that travelers venture outside of FILM EDITOR Jake Mulligan downtown? I certainly do, and often tell friends to train it out to Eastie or Jamaica NEW at R1 THEATER EDITOR Plain, especially if they are looking for eclectic cuisine served from behind a counter, Christopher Ehlers as I do when I’m on the move. FOOD + DRINK EDITOR Do you still tell people visiting the area to check out Harvard Square? I don’t, J.Q. Louise unless they’re looking for an ATM or passing through on their way to or back from COMEDY EDITOR Dennis Maler Somerville or Central Square. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT What about our natural beauty? Do you ship ’em up to Gloucester for lobster? Shira Laucharoen What about the Cape for crabs? Or the Blue Hills for an unparalleled panoramic CONTRIBUTORS view? And I shouldn’t forget the Boston Harbor Islands, even though I’ve only made it Zakiya Alake, Sarah Betancourt, Tim Bugbee, Patrick Cochran, Monica Castillo, Mike Crawford, out there once in 20 years of living here. I mean, I’m no commodore or captain; still, Rob Duguay, Iñaki Estívaliz, Jordan Frias, I encourage people to experience Boston from one of the many available kayaks or Haley Hamilton, Keiko Hiromi, Nate Homan, cruises if that floats their boat. Zack Huffman, Mark Hurwitz, Nyadenya Inyagwa, C. Shardae Jobson, Heather Kapplow, I don’t typically steer welcome wagons, but I have been circling this topic for a Laura Kiesel, Derek Kouyoumjian, Dan McCarthy, while since next week the Dig is hosting friends from all across the country for the Rev. Irene Monroe, Jane Regan, Noah Schaffer, annual Association of Alternative Newsmedia convention. I have some ideas about Maya Shaffer, Claire Sadar, Citizen Strain, Grace Symes, Jean Troustine, Eric Twardzik, attractions they may want to seek out, but mostly I’ll tell them what I tell anyone who Karine Vann, Derek Welcome wants to know what’s up around these parts—read the Dig. If you can't find a show INTERNS to watch, a hill to climb, or a gallery, record shop, or bookstore to browse in our pages, Nancy Jiang, Hongyu Liu, Meg McCarney then I guess you will be happy to know that there is a P.F. Chang’s one block away from Boston Common. AND MORE! DESIGN I recommend the lettuce wraps. DESIGNER Scott Murry CHRIS FARAONE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LET US BOOK [email protected] LAYOUT Svei Grundlick COMICS YOUR NEXT Patt Kelley, Cagen Luse, Bruce Quest DigBoston Need more Dig? 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ANYONE REMOVING PAPERS IN BULK WILL BE PROSECUTED ON THEFT CHARGES TO THE FULLEST www.r1indoorkarting.com STREET EDITION 3 This product contains zero THC 4 DIGBOSTON.COM | 07.15.21 - 07.29.21 NEWS TO US POLES, POLLS, AND MORE POLS A rare update on the horse race since most other news is behind paywalls and our readers need to know about this shit BY ZACK HUFFMAN LOCAL votes have enabled the frontrunners during the pandemic, and conservative There are only about two months left to differentiate themselves from the criticism over taking any precautions at before the field of six Boston mayoral competition. all. candidates is narrowed to two final At a recent council meeting, Wu and If Baker chooses to run again, he will contenders, and one in five voters is still Campbell voted against Janey's proposed face a primary challenge from former LOCAL not sure who to support. budget for the city over the lack of police state senator and US Senate also-ran Geoff From the few polls that have been made cuts, while Campbell also opposed the Diehl. available, the leading two finalists are City school budget. Essaibi George was one Diehl, who co-chaired Donald Trump’s Councilor Michelle Wu, the only candidate of five councilors who voted in favor 2016 campaign in Massachusetts, only just to announce before Marty Walsh was of increasing funding for the police announced in the beginning of July, but tapped by Joe Biden for a cabinet position department's Boston Regional Intelligence so far his platform appears to be about leaving an acting mayor behind, and Kim Center. attacking Baker for attempting to curb the Janey, the Council President who ascended Thus far, the election, which many had spread of COVID-19. to the role. expected to involve Marty Walsh until Joe As current at-large councilors, Wu Biden’s win last fall, has featured little NATIONAL and Annissa Essaibi George have the heat between candidates, but that is President Joe Biden may only be halfway advantage of having already appealed to likely to change as weaker hopefuls get through his first year in office, but so far a citywide electorate in previous election desperate over the next few weeks. he and the Democrats in the House and years. Mattapan City Councilor Andrea Senate continue to water down almost Campbell has also cultivated a reputation STATE every legislative agenda item that Biden with a wide range of constituents after The race for governor is still over a year promised on the campaign trail. serving as council president for two years out, but this is the point when potential Most recently, Biden announced that before Janey took over. candidates begin to set themselves up for his fellow Democrats in the Senate The most recently published poll, from a contentious 2022. had reached a compromise deal with 11 Suffolk University and the Boston Globe, Thus far, three Democratic candidates Republicans on an infrastructure bill that shows that Wu currently leads the pack have announced runs, including Harvard cut everything out of his original proposal STATE with 23.4%, followed closely by acting professor Danielle Allen, former state Sen. with the exception of actual roadwork and mayor Janey with 21.6%. Next is Essaibi Ben Downing, and current state Sen. Sonia bridge improvements. George with 14.4%, Campbell with 10.8%, Chang-Diaz. The new compromise ignores the need state Rep. Jon Santiago with 4.6%, and Attorney General Maura Healey has to address climate change, even after John Barros at 1.8%. been long-rumored as a candidate, and extreme heat decimated utility lines and The poll also showed that 21.6% of would likely be a Democrat front runner, roadways in the Pacific northwest during voters are still undecided, while there is but she has yet to officially announce. This the recent heat wave. about a 4% margin of error, undercutting despite an amassing of about $5 million The first midterm election of a new any predictability this poll might generate in campaign funds—about six times as presidency often results in a loss for for September's election. much as what Gov. Charlie Baker has on that president’s party in congressional Wu and Campbell, who were considered hand. seats. In 2022, 34 seats in the Senate early frontrunners before Janey The governor, meanwhile, has yet to will be contested.