Markey: The resistance is loading

Markey: The resistance is loading WAIT FOR IT — When Donald Trump rolled into the White House in 2017, his rule was met with immediate backlash: women’s marches and protests around the country, celebrities giving him the cold shoulder and Democrats boycotting his inauguration. The president signed an executive order on his first day in office halting federal approvals for offshore wind projects — a move critics of the industry celebrated, but one Markey says is part of an effort to make Massachusetts “dependent upon fossil fuels.” “The full impact of the Trump executive orders will be seen over the coming weeks and months,” Markey said, but the “intention behind it is very clear: it’s to remove the threat to the natural gas industry the offshore wind industry poses.” Markey predicts it won’t be too long before Trump’s actions reverberate. In a letter to Trump, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren leads a group of 20 Democratic lawmakers accusing the Republican of backtracking on a promise to lower supermarket bills by ignoring the key voter issue in scores of executive orders he has signed since being sworn into office last week.” FROM THE 413 — “Valley’s state legislators stress defense at Tikkun Olam observance,” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “State legislators representing Hampshire and Franklin counties signaled that they were prepared to defend protections for immigrants, the environment and transgender people in Massachusetts as the new federal administration under President Donald Trump moves to limit or scrap them.” — “Amherst Board of Health seeks suite of stricter tobacco regs,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Restricting the sale of oral nicotine pouches to adults-only tobacco stores, increasing the minimum price of cigars to be consistent with state regulations, and not allowing a tobacco retailer to move within 1,000 feet of an existing business selling tobacco are among changes being considered for the town’s rules related to sale of tobacco and vape products.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Worcester City Council to take up ‘transphobia’ allegations, Trump’s immigration policies,” by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: “With discourse on gender issues rocking recent City Council meetings, petitions relating to the topic are set for discussion in the Tuesday session. Some of the council has been the target of outrage by the LGBTQIA+ community over allegations of transphobic treatment of nonbinary City Councilor Thu Nguyen.” — “BTA calls for national search for new superintendent,” by Caroline Enos, The Salem News: “The city’s teachers’ union is calling on the Beverly School Committee to conduct a national search for a new superintendent after Suzanne Charochak announced her retirement Wednesday.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Marina Chafa has started as communications director for Reproductive Equity Now. SPOTTED — At Black Lion Strategies New Year’s breakfast reception on Friday: Black Lion Strategies CEO Samuel M. Gebru, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, state Rep. Marjorie Decker, Ruth Zakarin of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, Suffolk County Register of Probate Stephanie Everett, Suffolk County SJC Clerk Allison Cartwright, Medford School Committee Member Aaron Olapade, Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, former Ambassador Alan D. Solomont, Josh Kraft of the New England Patriots Foundation, Thomas O’Brien of HYM Investment Group, Hodan Hashi of AIM, JD Chesloff of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Jon Hurst of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and Jessica Tang of AFT Massachusetts.