By Mia McCarthy and Kelly Garrity

BREAKING GROUND — It’s been a long time coming, but the building of the new Holyoke Veterans home is underway.

Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Rep. Richard Neal, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jon Santiago and others attended a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday to kick off the $263.5 million grant-funded reconstruction.

On one hand, the groundbreaking for the new facility is a reminder of one of the deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks that killed dozens at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. It’s also a reminder of the state's $56 million lawsuit settlements during the Baker administration following multiple reports and investigations.

On the other hand, the groundbreaking starts a new era for a 234-bed home that will incorporate lessons learned.

“We cannot change what happened in the past, but we can change the future,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jon Santiago told Playbook. “And that is what we are determined to do every day.”

Santiago is one of those changes. The physician, veteran and former statehouse legislator is the first to lead the new Executive Office of Veterans' Services. In the wake of the Holyoke tragedy, Healey bumped the former Department of Veterans Affairs to the executive level within her first few months in office.

Playbook chatted with Santiago following the groundbreaking ceremony to talk about lessons learned from the Holyoke outbreak and what more can be done to ensure quality care for veterans: Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity:

What was learned from the Holyoke Covid outbreak? How are you implementing those lessons into the new veterans home?

JS: Leadership matters and leadership begins with listening. We have completely changed how these homes report to the government and to veterans, through chapter 144, which I voted for as a legislator. As Secretary, part of my task is to verify that veterans homes are hiring staff, following certain protocols, and providing the best care they can. As a physician and as a public health practitioner, I bring a unique skill set to this role — I can speak to the medicine and public health aspect, but I can also speak to being a veteran myself.

What work still needs to be done to improve conditions for veterans in Massachusetts?

JS: Right now we are trying to determine what gaps are in our services and figure out what major issues our veterans are facing. We have an interest in addressing veteran homelessness, mental health and substance use and being inclusive toward the increasingly diverse veteran population. These are priority issues for Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll who also committed large investments to veterans services in the recently passed state budget.

What needs to be done to restore trust in state government after the outbreak?

JS: We need to make a clear message to all stakeholders here — but particularly to veterans and their families — that we hear you, we see you, and we are going to honor you with our actions. Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll have made this clear with their budget, showing up to Holyoke and meeting with veterans and their families that we are going to listen. Our mantra is how can we serve those who have served us and that is what we continue to do as we build this new agency.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

TODAY — Attorney General Andrea Campbell announces Maternal Health Equity Grant recipients and hosts a roundtable discussion on maternal health disparities at 9:30 a.m. in Roxbury. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on GBH Boston Public Radio at noon and delivers remarks at District 8 City Councilor Sharon Durkan’s swearing-in ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Planning a Kowloon wedding? Let us know: Email us at [email protected] and [email protected] and give us a follow at @Reporter_Mia and @KellyGarrity3.

A NEW PODCAST FROM POLITICO: Our new POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy around the world. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and cybersecurity, POLITICO Tech explores how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, innovations and industries that will matter tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY.

— “Healey will seek federal aid to replace just one Cape Cod bridge for now, in major pivot from predecessor,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “In a major shift from her predecessor, Governor Maura Healey this month will begin pursuing federal funds to initially replace just one of the two aging Cape Cod bridges, arguing that seeking aid this year for only the Sagamore Bridge will maximize the state’s chances to cover the larger project’s ballooning price tag. Healey said her administration remains committed to replacing both the Sagamore and Bourne bridges, the 88-year-old arching structures that straddle the Cape Cod Canal and are the only roads on and off the peninsula that sees a huge influx of visitors each summer.”

“While Online Lottery Falters, Third-Party App Connects Players to Tickets,” by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “The Legislature again rejected an attempt to allow the Massachusetts Lottery to sell its products online, but that doesn't mean gamblers can't order Lottery tickets online or on their phones. Courier services that take orders for and then buy Lottery tickets on behalf of their clients have existed for years with various degrees of legitimacy -- Mass. Lottery officials cautioned in 2021 that they were becoming more common and raised the idea of regulating them -- and a new one that frames itself as a helpful ally to the state Lottery launched here in late July with plentiful ads on social media and Red Sox radio broadcasts.”

— “Home prices in Boston keep going up despite — and because of — interest rates,” by Andrew Brinker, Boston Globe: “That dream house, or any house for that matter, is drifting further away for most would-be homebuyers around here. Home prices in Greater Boston continued to march upward in July, notching a new record high for the second time in three months. The median-priced single-family home in the region sold for $910,000, an 8.3 percent increase from the same month last year, according to figures out Monday from the Greater Boston Association of Realtors.”

— “Three Boston city councilors ‘bullied,’ ‘harassed’ me, council attorney says,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald; “An attorney for the Boston City Council filed an internal complaint against three city councilors, alleging that she was “intimidated, ridiculed, harassed and bullied” by them after she provided advice on a redistricting matter at an April meeting.”

— “Boston’s ‘Cop Slide’ became so popular that the city had to put up barricades at night,” by Spencer Buell, Boston Globe.

— “Black Boston takes the convention stage,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine.

— “City’s Forest Park Association to host a meet-the-candidates event,” by Jonah Snowden, MassLive.

— “Planned Parenthood's politics arm jumps into District 3 race as endorsements roll in,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: “The political campaign arm of Planned Parenthood Massachusetts is wading into the race for the District 3 Council seat, the latest in a slew of endorsements the various candidates are picking up ahead of the Sept. 12 preliminary. Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts (PPAF) said it’s backing Savin Hill labor lawyer Matt Patton in the seven-way preliminary. The field will be winnowed to two people seeking to replace Frank Baker, who is leaving in January after 12 years in the job.”

DON’T MISS POLITICO’S TECH & AI SUMMIT: America’s ability to lead and champion emerging innovations in technology like generative AI will shape our industries, manufacturing base and future economy. Do we have the right policies in place to secure that future? How will the U.S. retain its status as the global tech leader? Join POLITICO on Sept. 27 for our Tech & AI Summit to hear what the public and private sectors need to do to sharpen our competitive edge amidst rising global competitors and rapidly evolving disruptive technologies. REGISTER HERE.

— “The upcoming retirement of Judge John Agostini creates a vacancy on the Berkshire Superior Court bench. But who will fill it?” by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle.

— “She could have been Northampton’s only Councilor in public housing — why did she drop out?” by Juliet Shulman-Hall, MassLive: “Quaverly Rothenberg and Jo Ella “Jada” Tarbutton-Springfield have been friends and practically family to each other for years, and decided that they did not want to run against each other for the Ward 3 Northampton City Council position.”

— “Haverhill residents remain displaced by sinkhole as state of emergency continues,” by Ross Cristantiello, Boston.com: “Days after severe weather created a massive sinkhole and prompted Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini to declare a state of emergency, more than 20 residents remain displaced. On Monday, Fiorentini’s office announced that the sinkhole had been ‘back-filled and stabilized,’ but the five-unit apartment building nearby will remain inaccessible until Wednesday.”

— “After uproar in Littleton, gun vendors seek new home. Nearby towns are wary of them,” by Sarah L. Ryley, Boston Globe.

— “Transportation bill to fund $375M for local roads, bridges, other projects,” by Domenic Poli, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Area lawmakers are lauding Gov. Maura Healey for signing the Chapter 90 conference committee bill to authorize $375 million in reimbursements to cities and towns for bridge and road maintenance and funding for transportation-related infrastructure grants.”

— “Former Texas congressman campaigns in Derry,” by Katelyn Sahagian, The Eagle-Tribune: “Will Hurd, a former congressman from Texas and self-proclaimed dark horse in the Republican race for president, is touring New Hampshire to try to raise enough money and support to appear on the debate stage in Milwaukee on Aug. 23. Standing at his side was Gov. Chris Sununu, who introduced Hurd to the crowd — whether they were there to see him or not. Sununu has said he would support anyone who is running against former President Donald Trump.”

TRANSITIONS — Sarah Hong is now a senior operations manager at Benchmark Strategies.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Mary Serreze, Mary Elizabeth Taylor and Gabe Mulley.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: [email protected].

Follow us on Twitter

Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family

Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook

View all our politics and policy newsletters

Follow us

To change your alert settings, please log in at https://www.politico.com/_login?base=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com/settings

This email was sent to [email protected] by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe.