Scenes from Mass & Cass: Boston clears tents

Also: New poll finds Mass. voters support free bus service for low-income communities; Katherine Clark shares politics of going gray [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  January 13, 2022 ☁️ Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Good Morning Boston, If you [want to listen to "Be My Baby"]( while reading this morning's newsletter, we not only understand but recommend it. Hit play and let's do this: - Brookline is officially following in Boston's footsteps when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. [As of this Saturday]( anyone going to restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues in Brookline will need to prove they've received at least one dose of the shots. By Feb. 22, patrons will need two doses. - Speaking of Boston's vaccine mandate, it can go into effect as planned, a Suffolk Superior Court judge ruled as of yesterday. Police and fire unions had sued to block it. - By the numbers: Some coronavirus health metrics in Massachusetts are finally [starting to trend in the right direction](. New cases per day are down 34% from last week, to just under 15,000 per day. The seven-day average positive test rate is also down to just under 22%. Keep wearing your well-fitting masks and laying low if you can; hopefully the end of this surge is near. - Good news for student athletes in Boston! Superintendent Brenda Casellius says winter sport practices can resume next week, and games or competitions can start in two weeks – with twice-a-week testing – if the COVID case numbers continue to fall. Sports had been put on hold since last month because of the omicron surge. And in non-COVID news: - A [new survey from the MassInc Polling Group]( out today suggests that voters across the state would support putting money from a proposed tax on millionaires into public transportation. - This proposed tax will be put in front of voters as a ballot question this year. It suggests putting a 4% surtax on portions of income over $1 million. - Another interesting finding from the survey: The majority of respondents also supported low-income fare discounts and free buses in low income neighborhoods. - Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday [announced the commutations]( of two Massachusetts men convicted of first-degree murder. Both men are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, and Baker wants to reduce those sentences to second-degree murder. Why? He said they had "taken responsibility for their actions and paid their debt to the Commonwealth by serving sentences longer than most individuals found guilty of similar actions." - This is a big deal politically because the pair were Baker's first commutations and only the second time a Massachusetts governor has executed that power since 1997. - What we're watching: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is expected to speak today after the city is finished removing the tent encampment from the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. A recent city census suggested that 145 people were living in the tents. As of Wednesday, the city said more than 100 people had been placed in shelters or housing. - Look to [wbur.org]( or listen on air to stay up to date on Wu's plans for what's next in the area. And be sure to read our story below about the clearing process. - Related: Lawmakers on Beacon Hill will consider a bill today that would allow people experiencing homelessness to apply for ID cards, fee free. Applicants would need to submit a proof of residency for a homeless service provider, but it would be a big step in giving people access to essential services needed for every day life. P.S.– "If you were to switch careers and money was no object, what would you do?" That's what WBUR multimedia editor Meghan Kelly asked on Twitter yesterday and [her thread]( has since gone viral. The responses are lovely. So many people just want to do something creative or build up their community – and that just warms my heart. For me, I'd be a part-time CrossFit coach, part-time service dog trainer, and write newsletters about niche things that spark curiosity and joy on the side. So what would you do? [Join the conversation here.]( Meagan McGinnes Senior Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [As city clears tents from 'Mass. and Cass,' some say they still have no where to go]( Starting Wednesday morning, city workers went tent to tent, talking with those living in them about Mayor Michelle Wu's deadline to clear these temporary homes from streets in the so-called "Mass. and Cass" area by the end of the day. [Read more.]( [As city clears tents from 'Mass. and Cass,' some say they still have no where to go]( Starting Wednesday morning, city workers went tent to tent, talking with those living in them about Mayor Michelle Wu's deadline to clear these temporary homes from streets in the so-called "Mass. and Cass" area by the end of the day. [Read more.]( [Forced to improvise COVID policies, school nurses are reaching a 'breaking point']( As WBUR’s Gabrielle Emanuel reports, much of the burden has fallen on school nurses, who say they are having to come up with policies on the fly. [Read more.]( [Forced to improvise COVID policies, school nurses are reaching a 'breaking point']( As WBUR’s Gabrielle Emanuel reports, much of the burden has fallen on school nurses, who say they are having to come up with policies on the fly. [Read more.]( [More than 1 million fewer students are in college, the lowest enrollment numbers in 50 years]( People are sitting out college in droves. During the pandemic, undergraduate enrollment has dropped nearly 7%. The long-term effects of this decline could have a dramatic impact on the economy. [Read more.]( [More than 1 million fewer students are in college, the lowest enrollment numbers in 50 years]( People are sitting out college in droves. During the pandemic, undergraduate enrollment has dropped nearly 7%. The long-term effects of this decline could have a dramatic impact on the economy. [Read more.]( [Coronavirus FAQ: Why are some folks hacking home COVID tests by swabbing their throat?]( The FDA-authorized tests call for a nasal swab. Some doctors are tweeting that they're doing a throat swab too — though they don't recommend this step to the public. Here's a look at the swab debate. [Read more.]( [Coronavirus FAQ: Why are some folks hacking home COVID tests by swabbing their throat?]( The FDA-authorized tests call for a nasal swab. Some doctors are tweeting that they're doing a throat swab too — though they don't recommend this step to the public. Here's a look at the swab debate. [Read more.]( [Far from home, a big, rare sea eagle finds devoted fans on the coast of Maine]( The Steller's sea eagle, one of the largest raptors in the world, has traveled across the globe with recent stops in Massachusetts and Maine, captivating birders from around the country. [Read more.]( [Far from home, a big, rare sea eagle finds devoted fans on the coast of Maine]( The Steller's sea eagle, one of the largest raptors in the world, has traveled across the globe with recent stops in Massachusetts and Maine, captivating birders from around the country. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - I naively believed my decision to stop coloring my hair was personal, writes Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House Katherine Clark [in this commentary](. But as an elected official, it quickly became political. - No, you're not trapped in the movie "Groundhog Day." Grocery store shelves really are bare again and shortages are back. [Here are some of the reasons why.]( - Love watching movies? Here are [six Greater Boston film festivals]( check out this winter. - From a tattoo-inspired exhibit at the MFA to a winter art market, here are [five things to do this weekend.]( What We're Reading 📚 - Stop Fetishizing Old Homes ([The Atlantic]( - The Agony of Parents With Kids Under 5 ([Slate]( - Opinion: The Landlord’s Worst Nightmare Is a Basic Human Right ([The New York Times]( Tell Me Something Good [22 tips for 2022: Spend less by choosing what'll bring you lasting joy]( Impulse shopping feels good in the moment, but it can impede your long-term savings goals. This shopping tip will help separate fleeting fun from sustained satisfaction. [Read more.]( [22 tips for 2022: Spend less by choosing what'll bring you lasting joy]( Impulse shopping feels good in the moment, but it can impede your long-term savings goals. This shopping tip will help separate fleeting fun from sustained satisfaction. [Read more.]( Before you go: The [plot thickens]( in the case of the[yard sale casket.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.](   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2021 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.