Have a Happy & Safe Labor Day Weekend
Vol. 20, No. 35
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Voters head to the polls on Tuesday By Barbara Taormina he state primary is next Tuesday, Sept. 4, and because of the timing and the weather, nobody is expecting to see any lines at the polls. Still, there are some big names and big races on the ballot. And voters who are old enough to remember former Gov. Ed King will also remember that taking primary races for granted is never a good idea. Although U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, republicans Geoff Diehl, a state rep from Plymouth; Beth Joyce Lindstrom, former director of the Massachusetts State Lottery; and attorney and businessman John Kingston are competing in the GOP primary. Gov. Charlie Baker is facing a primary challenge from Pastor Scott Lively who, unlike Baker, is an adamant fan of President Donald Trump. Throughout the summer, Baker has maintained a 30-point lead in several polls despite criticism from other Republicans for his moderate positions on hot-button
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City considers local licenses for marijuana By Barbara Taormina he city is still fine-tuning several key aspects of a proposed ordinance to regulate the marijuana industry in Malden. Members of the City Council’s Ordinance Subcommittee met this week to review some of the outstanding issues involved in granting local licenses for marijuana businesses. City officials are trying to balance community concerns about the new businesses with the goal of designing a fair process for license applicants. Initially, the city will grant up to four licenses for cannabis-related businesses that may include retail shops, manufacturing facilities and testing labs. Several Ordinance Committee members seem to favor tapping the city’s three-member Liquor Licensing Board to review and either approve or reject license applications for those businesses. Acquiring a local license would be just one step in a long and rigorous vetting process to qualify for a state license needed to launch a business in Malden.
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Incumbent Jason Lewis and Samantha Hammar will face off in Democratic primary Tuesday for the state Senate seat in the Fifth Middlesex District.
issues and his lack of enthusiasm for Trump. Democrats voting next Tuesday will choose between Jay Gonzalez, a former state secretary of administration and finance under former Governor Deval Patrick, and political activist Bob Massie to decide who will face Baker in the general election. Incumbent Karyn Polito is running unopposed in next Tuesday’s GOP primary for lieutenant governor. However, depending on next week’s vote, she will face either Quentin Palfrey, a former economic development advisor for Barack Obama, or Jimmy Tingle, a political commentator and activist. Although Attorney General Maura Healey is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November she will face either James McMahon or Daniel Shores. Both Republican candidates are lawyers whose campaigns have criticized Healey for using the AG’s office to mount politically motivated lawsuits. For those who love state politics, the race for secretary
of state has been one of the big contests to watch. Democrat William Francis Galvin, who has been the Commonwealth’s secretary of state for what seems like generations, is heading into primary battle with Boston City Councillor Josh Zakim, the son of former Boston civil rights leader Lenny Zakim. Some feel this could be the Bay State’s big surprise in a year of political shake-ups. Either Galvin or Zakim will face republican candidate Anthony Amore, the head of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum in Boston. Although U.S. Congress-
VOTERS | SEE PAGE 15
Friday, August 31, 2018
Although Ordinance Committee members agreed that the Liquor Licensing Board has an established and efficient process of reviewing an applicant’s business credentials and personal history, they acknowledged that the board’s expertise is alcohol, not marijuana. Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe, who is chair of the city’s Cannabis Review Committee, suggested having two members of that committee join the Liquor Licensing Board in reviews of applications for cannabis-related businesses. The Ordinance Subcommittee Chairman, Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley, proposed another possible approach. “We could use the Liquor Licensing Board to provide a recommendation to the City Council, which would issue the final license,� he said. O’Malley adding that the Planning Board provides recommendations to the council on zoning issues which are decided by councillors. “The key thing is to have the follow-up on the license
MARIJUANA | SEE PAGE 2
Breakfast with the Mayor
In keeping with a tradition he established several years ago, the last raffle ticket drawn by Mayor Christenson at the Annual Senior Citizen’s Cookout is the person who joins him at a Malden restaurant as his guest. Ai Di Chen was this year’s lucky winner and she, along with Peter Huang, who attended to assist with translation, enjoyed a fantastic Dim Sum breakfast, courtesy of Mayor Christenson at Ming’s Seafood. Shown, from left, are Peter Huang, Ai Di Chen, and Mayor Gary Christenson.