1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: It's Night Side with Dan Ray. 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 2: I'm going Boston's new video. 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 3: What to start to the baseball season for the Red Sox, 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 3: roll out the duck boats, warm them up, that is 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 3: for sure. Hey, that's one game down at one hundred 6 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 3: and sixty one to go. And I watched a little 7 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 3: bit this afternoon, and I was very impressed with what 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 3: I saw. They didn't hit much, but they certainly pitched 9 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 3: well and threw a shutout combined shutout, and the starter 10 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 3: Garic Crochet looked like the Garret Crosset of last year, 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 3: which is gonna be darn good. Anyway. My name's Dan 12 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 3: Ray and the host of Knights that we're not talking 13 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 3: baseball tonight. We are talking about four guests in the 14 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 3: first hour. We're going to get to them right away, 15 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 3: and then we're going to be talking at nine o'clock 16 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 3: with the president of Brandeis University about the future of education, 17 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 3: higher education in our world from Upheople to Action, a 18 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 3: new book by President Arthur Levine, the president of Brandeis University. 19 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 3: We also talked later on during the ten o'clock hour 20 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 3: with US Army Major General retired Robert Fd's, former commander 21 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 3: of the US IS rarely combined Task Force for Missile Defense, 22 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 3: and we're going to talk about what's going on in 23 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 3: the Middle East and how what his take on it 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 3: as well. But first I want to say Rob Brooks 25 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 3: is back in the control. He'll take your phone calls, 26 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 3: but not until nine o'clock. We want to start off 27 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 3: with a familiar guest, Luisa Pywanski. Hi, Lisa, how are 28 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 3: you tonight? Welcome back to Night's Side. 29 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 4: Thank you, good evening. It's nice to be back, and 30 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 4: I appreciate your invitation absolutely. 31 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 3: You are a key player with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, 32 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 3: the executive director of what's called the Mega Projects Delivery Office. 33 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 3: Very impressive title and a great responsibility which primarily revolves 34 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 3: around two bridges that people have heard of, the Sagamore 35 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 3: Bridge and the Born Bridge. And you're going to give 36 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 3: us a little bit update as to where that process is, 37 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 3: particularly the Sagamore, which I guess is the first bridge 38 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 3: that the work will be done on. So where are 39 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 3: we since we last spoke. 40 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 4: We have made a lot of progress since we last spoke. 41 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 4: In I'll start with telling you the big news for 42 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 4: this week is that we are officially launching the procurement phase, 43 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:32,279 Speaker 4: meaning a year plus long process of procuring the services 44 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 4: of a design build contractor team a joint venture that 45 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 4: will construct the new Sagamore Bridge. So it all starts tomorrow. 46 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 4: We are ready to go. We're sending out a request 47 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 4: for letters of interest from the contractor and design community 48 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 4: asking who's in, and then we'll start the process of 49 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 4: narrowing down the field and assessing proposals starting this fall. 50 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 4: So it's a big step for us. 51 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 3: I'm assuming there's probably not a lot of companies, well 52 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 3: maybe more than I realized around the company, around the 53 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 3: country who could even take on a project like this. 54 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 4: We expect there'll be teams of contractors and designers taking 55 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 4: on the job. It is a very large project, so 56 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,399 Speaker 4: it will likely take more than one or two companies 57 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 4: to get the job done. But we have noted a 58 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 4: lot of interest within and beyond Massachusetts, so we expect 59 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 4: a very robust competition for it. 60 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 3: Now. I believe from our prior conversations and also from 61 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 3: my just general knowledge that the Sagamore is the first 62 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 3: one that will go, that will be built, and basically 63 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 3: the old Sagamore or the current Sagamore will remain in 64 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 3: use for some period, and the new Sagamore will be 65 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 3: built next to the current Sagamore am I explaining that correctly. 66 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 4: You got it, absolutely right. We will start by building 67 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 4: it's a twin stand, so we're building two bridges right 68 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 4: next to each other, one going to the cape and 69 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 4: one coming from the Cape. So we'll start with the 70 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 4: southbound span going from the Massachusetts mainland to Cape Cod. 71 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 4: It will be significantly larger. So once we finish that span, 72 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 4: we'll take all the traffic off of the existing Sagamore Bridge, 73 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 4: shifted over to that first span, demolished the Sagamore Bridge, 74 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 4: and then build the other side of the bridge and 75 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 4: then split it up. So it will be a complex 76 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 4: construction job, but by about twenty thirty three people will 77 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 4: be driving over the new southbound span. 78 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: Now, so you build the first span, which will carry 79 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 3: traffic from the mainland to the Cape, then you take 80 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 3: down the current bridge while the second part of the bridge, 81 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 3: or the second bridge is being built, which will they 82 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 3: be traffic going both ways on the new bridge. I mean, 83 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 3: I'm assuming that at no point is graphic in one 84 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 3: direction or the other going to be completely obstructed. 85 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 4: That's correct. Yes, we have committed that there will be 86 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 4: two lanes in each direction at all times throughout the 87 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 4: construction phase. And the reason is that there are only 88 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 4: two bridges connecting Cape Cod to the Massachusetts mainland. That's 89 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 4: an entire region of the Commonwealth connected by these two 90 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 4: ninety year old bridges. So we have committed to the 91 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 4: people of Cape Cod that they will always have two 92 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 4: lanes on and two lanes off on the Sagamore side, 93 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 4: and Borne is a waiting funding. We have full funding 94 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 4: for Sagamore Bridge. We've applied for a major billion dollar 95 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 4: grant on Bourn and are waiting to hear. 96 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 3: So. Okay, so the funding has not been procured, but 97 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 3: has been certainly requested and estimated. Is it? I thought 98 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 3: I saw something in one of your publications today as 99 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 3: I was getting ready to talk with you tonight that 100 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 3: the project of the two bridges. Is it in total 101 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 3: about two point three billion dollars at this point? Is 102 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 3: that the estimate? 103 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's over two billion dollars, but that includes all 104 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 4: of the costs. That includes three hundred million dollars to 105 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 4: relocate utility lines. That includes the cost of property, acquisition, 106 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 4: and design. So all in it's over two billion dollars 107 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 4: per bridge per. 108 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 3: Bridge, okay, so we could be total for six now. 109 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 4: About four point five all told. 110 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 3: Okay for both regis thank you of course, when we 111 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 3: did the Big Dig, and I believe you might have 112 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 3: been in our area when that happened in the eighties, 113 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 3: nineties and into the two thousands. That started off. I 114 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 3: think back in eighty eight as a projection two billion dollars, 115 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 3: and we always keep referring to it ended up about 116 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 3: twenty two to twenty four billion dollars. It was. Wait, 117 00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 3: now that's a different project. Is that is the the 118 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 3: project that you're running right now? Is that going to 119 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 3: be as complicated or is it less complicated than the 120 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 3: Big Dig, which had to put tunnels under water and 121 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 3: all of that sort of stuff. 122 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 4: I would say it's a more straightforward proposition, but the 123 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 4: fact that it's owned by a federal agency, it certainly 124 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 4: has its complications. But I'm glad you raised that point. 125 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 3: Dan. 126 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 4: Many of us were kind of coming up through the 127 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 4: ranks when the Big Dig was being built, and there's 128 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 4: always lessons to be learned, especially with these very large, 129 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 4: complex projects. So we have an outstanding project team led 130 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 4: by a project manager and Canada and many many people 131 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 4: throughout the agency who are working on it, and we've 132 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 4: paid a lot of attention to making sure that we 133 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 4: understood the full cost. We don't want any surprises. We 134 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 4: just did an independent cost estimate with a firm that 135 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 4: had no prior experience with it. We go through very 136 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 4: rigorous cost schedule, risk and now assist to make sure 137 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,239 Speaker 4: we get it right and that we're building in plenty 138 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 4: of contingencies. We don't want any unanticipated overruns. We want 139 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 4: to be able to say it will be built for 140 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 4: this price on this date, all completed. We want people 141 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 4: to be able to trust our words, so we work 142 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 4: very hard to make sure that we thoroughly analyze the 143 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 4: project costs. 144 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 3: Two final quick questions and one somewhat irrelevant, and that 145 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 3: is the collapse of the bridge in Baltimore. Has that 146 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 3: complicated the efforts to procure federal funding for Sagamore and 147 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 3: Born have you been able to keep that separate? 148 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 4: We have procured all the funding that we need for 149 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 4: Sagamore Bridge. I will say there's a difference. The bridge 150 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 4: in Baltimore had the piers in the water. The new 151 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 4: Sagamore and Newborn bridges will have the piers outside of 152 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 4: the water, so they won't be able to be struck 153 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 4: by vessels coming in. So we did look at what 154 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 4: happened in Baltimore and fortunately the design of the kit 155 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 4: coverage is different, so that would not be able to happen. 156 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 3: Is that design as a consequence or is it just 157 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 3: a happy coincidence that someone had actually thought about that 158 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 3: in advance. 159 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 4: Our bridge designers had already thought about that in advance 160 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 4: to get their peers out of the water. 161 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 3: Last question, and I know that this gets a little 162 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 3: bit too a nerve, but how are you doing on 163 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 3: land acquisition? I know that this conversation is going on 164 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 3: with homeowners and eminent domain issues. Has that settled down. 165 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 4: A little bit very much? So, Dan, thanks for asking. 166 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 4: We have acquired eleven of the thirteen homes. We've worked 167 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 4: very closely with the homeowners. Many of them have been 168 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 4: very pleased with the compensation that we've given them. Several 169 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 4: have already found new homes. One moved out this week 170 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 4: into their new homes. So we will continue to support 171 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 4: and work with the homeowners to make sure that they 172 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 4: are fully compensated and well supported throughout their relocation process. 173 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 3: Yeah. I appreciate that because you know, if, for the 174 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 3: grace of God goes any one of us, and I 175 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 3: know that a lot of them were very worried about 176 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 3: how they were going to be treated, and if they 177 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 3: if they're happy and satisfied. Uh, it makes me happy 178 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 3: as a as a citizen in Massachusetts. I don't want 179 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 3: to see anyone take it, taken advantage of it. So 180 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 3: thank you, Louis. I appreciate the conversation very much, and 181 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 3: let's keep talking every few months so we can keep 182 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 3: people up to date as to the progress of these 183 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 3: bridges that I'm sure will carry us well those of 184 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 3: how many of us will still be around, But these 185 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 3: bridges are going to last well into the twenty second century, 186 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 3: I suspect, believe. 187 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: It or not. 188 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 4: Absolutely yes, they will. 189 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 3: Thank you, Louisa, Thank you very much. Talk talk soon 190 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 3: when we get back on and talk with Dave mcgilvy, 191 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 3: who'll be running his fifty fourth marathon. He's not someone 192 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 3: who's gonna win the marathon, but he's run fifty four 193 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 3: of them, which is exactly fifty four more marathons than 194 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 3: I have run, and he's also going to be running 195 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 3: this in the presence of some people, including an astronaut. 196 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 3: So interesting conversation with Dave mcgilvy on the other side. 197 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 3: It's nice side with Dan Ray on wb Boston's news radio. 198 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 3: Delighted to be joined by Dave mcgilvery. He's a longtime 199 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 3: director the BAA Boston Marathon, an athlete and author, and 200 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 3: a motivational speaker. Dave mcgilvery, Welcome back to night's side. Dan. 201 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 2: It's always great to talk to you. You're the best. 202 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 3: Well, thank you for having me man. 203 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, you have. 204 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 3: You'll be running your fifty fourth Boston Marathon. I'm trying 205 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:41,079 Speaker 3: to do the math. What year was your Your fiftieth 206 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 3: had to have been I'm guessing in seventy three or 207 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 3: something like that. 208 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 2: Seventy four, seventy three, seventy three four, yeah, yeah, oh 209 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 2: my fiftieth. My first one was seventy three. 210 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, yeah, So this would 211 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 3: be everywhere from the. 212 00:11:57,679 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 2: Nineteen seventy three and I haven't met the year since. 213 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 3: And when you ran it the first time, you were 214 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 3: not in any way, shape or form involved in the 215 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 3: structure of the marathon. This was pre Bill Rogers' days. 216 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 3: Actually believe it or not? So you just went out 217 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 3: and decided you were going to run it. Had you 218 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 3: just to maybe inspire some people? Had had you started, 219 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 3: had you trained adequately? Obviously? I guess you did. What 220 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 3: was your time the first? I've never run a marathon, 221 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 3: so I stand in arm of anyone who does what 222 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 3: was your time the first time? 223 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 5: Out? 224 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 2: Well, Dan, The story goes, I was seventeen, I was 225 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 2: in high school method high school. I decided the morning 226 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 2: of the race to jump in. I call my grandfather, 227 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 2: lived near the course. I told him I was going 228 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 2: to run the marathon. He said he'd meet me at 229 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 2: twenty four miles. I took off and boom down. I 230 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 2: went in the hills and hot break killed. They took 231 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 2: me to the Newton Wellsley Hospital and an ambulance. I 232 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 2: called my grandfather where i'd got home, and there's no 233 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 2: way into Finally, nine o'clock in ninety answer the phone. 234 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 2: I said, Grandpa, where have you been? He says, Dave, 235 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 2: where have you been? I've been waiting for you all night. 236 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 2: Oh man, Kelly goes by street sweepers go by no 237 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 2: day And I said, well, I dropped out. He said, well, 238 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: I'll cut a deal with you. You train for it 239 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 2: next year and I'll be waiting for you here next year. 240 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 2: Two months later he died, and I said, I got 241 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 2: to do this for a grand I got to do it. 242 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 2: So I trained, trained, train, and I got ready for 243 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 2: the next year. Officially registered eighteen years old, took off, 244 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 2: but I was sick that day and I got to 245 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: where I dropped out there before doing the survivor shuffle 246 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 2: at past BC and down I go again. At twenty 247 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 2: one and a half, dropped out of my second boss 248 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: to marathon, and all of a sudden, the defining moment 249 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 2: happened in my life. And I turned around and I said, 250 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 2: this place looks familiar. Dan. I'm sitting in front of 251 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 2: the Evergreen Cemetery and that's where they buried my grandfather, 252 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 2: and this tombstone is right behind me. And that son 253 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: of a gun said he'd be there waiting for me, 254 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 2: and there he was. He wasn't there physically, but he 255 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 2: was spiritually. So I picked myself up. I finished in 256 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 2: four and a half hours, and I said, I'm going 257 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 2: to run this race every year for the rest of 258 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 2: my life and honor a tribute the lesson my grandfather 259 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: taught me about earning the right to do these things, 260 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:06,719 Speaker 2: and that's why I've run it the last fifty three 261 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 2: years in a row. 262 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:11,719 Speaker 3: That is a great, great story, and you're going to 263 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 3: be running it this year with three of your children, 264 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 3: also astronauts. Sunny Williams from I believe she's from me them. 265 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 3: How did you end up with the astronauts as a 266 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 3: running made here? 267 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 2: Well, that's a long story too, but shortly, I mean, 268 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 2: she originally from Falmouth and I met her in Fallmouth 269 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 2: and then she went up in the ISS a number 270 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 2: of years ago, like ten years ago or so, and 271 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 2: I thought, you know, I stayed in touch with her. 272 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: I was calling her on the cell phone and texting 273 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 2: her up in the ISS, and I said, hey, you know, 274 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 2: in the next few days it's the Boston Marathon. You 275 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 2: have a treadmill up there. You want to run the 276 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 2: Boston Marathon on the treadmill? She says, yeah, sure, And 277 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 2: I emailed her her bid number up in the ISS 278 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 2: and she ran the Boston Marathon on a treadmill in 279 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 2: the ISS. So then this past year. 280 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 3: Well circling Well, circling the globe. 281 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 2: By the way, well circle two fifty miles north and 282 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 2: we're all on planet Earth and she's up there. So 283 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 2: then when she got back from her nine months you 284 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 2: know hiatus, we connected again and she said she'd like 285 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 2: to run the marathon on Earth just time. So of 286 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 2: course we you know, we got her involved and she's 287 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 2: running for my Finished On foundation, and so she's going 288 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 2: to run with me and my three kids. 289 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 3: Wow, that's such such a great story. Are you folks 290 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 3: going to run together? Will people be able to see 291 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 3: you guys together? Or will you run a couple of 292 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 3: miles and then it's all everyone for themselves. 293 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 2: I'm seventy one, my son's nineteen. You guess what's going 294 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 2: to happen there. So we'll take off together and then, 295 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 2: you know, it's a matter so everyone really needs to 296 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 2: run their pace so that they can be as short 297 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 2: of finishing, So we'll split up, I'm sure somewhere down course. 298 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 2: But as long as everyone's safe and has a good 299 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 2: time and finish the race, that's all that matters. 300 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 3: So give us, give us some of the hits runs 301 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 3: and eras this year, how many runners absent pirates will 302 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 3: be running back to like twenty thousand runners, No. 303 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 2: Thirty two thousand. Yeah, and we have a self imposed 304 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 2: sale size limit because there's only so much space and 305 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 2: so much time. Right again, people have to realize this 306 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 2: still is on a Monday. It's on a Saturday. It's 307 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: not a Sunday. It's a Monday. People need to get 308 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: to work and whatever. So, you know, we only have 309 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 2: so much time on the road, and we only have 310 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 2: so much space, especially out at the start. So we 311 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 2: limited the thirty two thousand. But you know, if we 312 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 2: opened this up to anyone and everyone who ever wanted 313 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 2: to run, we have over one hundred thousand people running 314 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 2: in this way. 315 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 3: You have a lot of people about the ambulances who 316 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 3: wouldn't train properly as well. That's mean true. The point 317 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 3: did some of the years when you ran the marathon, Dave, 318 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 3: some of the years is, if I recall correctly, it 319 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: would be in the lead truck, you get to the 320 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 3: finish line, you fulfill your duties as the as the 321 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 3: director of the BA Boston Marathon, and then you would 322 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 3: go back to the start line and run the race 323 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 3: at night, or would you run it backwards and run 324 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 3: it from Boston out to hopit. 325 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, you know again. I made a promise to 326 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 2: myself and my grandfather the run it every year. In 327 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,479 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty eight, I got the job of helping to 328 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 2: direct it. So I did that, you know, and get 329 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 2: in the lead vehicle and the hope it cut to 330 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 2: the finish on High Five and all the runners, and 331 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 2: I just had this pit in my stomach, and I said, 332 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 2: I was full of something I tell everyone never to 333 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 2: be full of, and that's self pity. I was full 334 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 2: of self pity that I hadn't run. So I tapped 335 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 2: the state police cooper on the shoulder. I said, ostin 336 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 2: to me. He goes what I said, Well, you drive 337 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 2: me back to the start. He goes, why should I 338 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 2: got something? I said, yeah, forgot to run. So he 339 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 2: drove me back to the start eight o'clock at night, 340 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 2: and I ran the whole thing on the police escort 341 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 2: by myself. Finished eleven o'clock at night, dead last, and 342 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 2: I ran it that way for thirty six years in 343 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:08,640 Speaker 2: a row at night. 344 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 3: For you. Well I have. When I was in TV Dave, 345 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 3: I did some stories on some of the runners who 346 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 3: are coming in at eight nine o'clock at night, and 347 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 3: some of those stories are just as inspirational as the 348 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 3: people with who actually you know, win the race. But look, 349 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 3: this is going to be a great event upcoming. How 350 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 3: can folks support the found the Finished Strong Foundation. I'm 351 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 3: sure you have no BIB numbers you can give out, 352 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 3: but how can they contribute? How can they in effect 353 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 3: be with you at least metaphysically. 354 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, well, you know, like all the runners wo 355 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: are running for charity where you know, raising money for 356 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 2: the foundation Dave mcgillray Foundation dot org. So people feel 357 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: compelled they can log on and see the site and 358 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 2: see what we're all about and what the foundation does 359 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 2: and make a contribution. That's just unbelievably appreciated. So, and 360 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 2: we're putting on the Fenway Park Marathon in at the 361 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 2: end of May, so that's going to benefit the foundation 362 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 2: and the Red Sox Foundation. So we're bringing that back. 363 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 2: We started in twenty seventeen and had fifty runners running 364 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 2: one hundred and thirteen laps around Frienway Park and on 365 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 2: the Wanting Track, and we're bringing that back to raise 366 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:17,120 Speaker 2: money for the foundation too. 367 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 3: Wow, and that's that would be that's a maratha. That 368 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 3: distance is a marathon. 369 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 2: Actually yeah, well yeah, yeah, so one hundred and thirteen 370 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 2: laps around the Wanting track is the marathon, but we're 371 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 2: offering a half marathon distance and a relay, so a two, three, 372 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 2: four or five person relays. So people who always would 373 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 2: have loved to be on the field at the way 374 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 2: and let let alone run laps around the Wanting track 375 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 2: now have an opportunity to do that. So they can 376 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 2: look at inside Theeparkmarathon dot com and see what that's 377 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 2: all about. 378 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 3: Well, it makes sense if it's one hundred and thirteen laps, 379 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 3: that's about a quarter of a mile around, Because I 380 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 3: did you go to the division in my head and 381 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 3: now I know how much it's their comfort. 382 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 2: So you were a mathemat No I wasn't. 383 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 3: No, I wasn't. But sports and distances I can figure 384 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 3: out in my head. Dave mcgilvery always great to talk 385 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 3: to you. A great friend. We've had plenty of laughs 386 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 3: over the years and I always enjoy talking to you. 387 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 3: Thanks for coming back tonight and we'll do it again. 388 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 2: Okay, thanks appreciate it. 389 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 3: I'll get back to you at the other best we 390 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 3: get back on to talk with Mary Connaughton Conordon. I 391 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,479 Speaker 3: think it's the correct pronunciation, Director of government transparency at 392 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 3: the Pioneer Institute in Boston. You probably, I know, I 393 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 3: have never heard of this, the gas tax refund for 394 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 3: mass Pike drivers. In theory, you can get it, but 395 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 3: it won't be easy. Mary Conordon coming back on Night Side. 396 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 3: It's Night Side with Dan Ray, Boston's News Radio. Thank 397 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 3: you very much, Ben Parker, as we move ahead here 398 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 3: and talk to our next guest, Mary Connordan. She is 399 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 3: with the Pioneer Institute. Mary was at one point a 400 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:07,479 Speaker 3: member of the state legislature, and she also has I believe, 401 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 3: if I'm calling correctly, Mary ran for state treasurer. I 402 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 3: forget what year it was, but I remember that race. 403 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 5: How are you, tonite, I'm doing well. It was twenty 404 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 5: ten and I ran for a state auditor State AUDITORI yes, 405 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 5: I was on the Turnpike Authority Board, not in the 406 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 5: state Legislature, the Turnpike Authority Board, which gave me great 407 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 5: insight and the way things operate in Massachusetts. 408 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 3: For some reason, I thought you had been elected to 409 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 3: the Great and General Court as well. Okay, well, no, 410 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:44,679 Speaker 3: I stand corrected. So you have discovered that a little 411 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 3: known I Guess Statute, which in theory provides would provide 412 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 3: some sort of a tax rebate for for individuals who 413 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 3: drive on the Massachuset Turnpike. But it's not like something 414 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 3: you call up and they send you the money right away. 415 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 3: This is this is a lot of work to. 416 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 5: Get from money. Yeah, I can't say that I discovered 417 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 5: it or found It's been around for a long time. 418 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 5: The thought was that if you're already paying a toll 419 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 5: and the tolls to be used on that road on 420 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 5: the turnpike, you shouldn't be paying gas tax at the 421 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 5: same time to subsidize other state projects the rest of 422 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 5: the state. So it's an equity issue. You shouldn't be 423 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 5: tax rights for the same service. So what they do 424 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,959 Speaker 5: is they say, all right, you can get your you 425 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 5: can get your twenty four cents a gallon gas tax 426 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 5: back for the time for the miles that you are 427 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 5: on the pike. Sounds good, sounds easy, right, So it's 428 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 5: not doubling up costs. But it doesn't work that way. 429 00:22:55,440 --> 00:23:00,719 Speaker 5: It's owner's form. You have to fill out this form GGNEB, 430 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 5: which is great for a boting name if you asked me. 431 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 5: And the way it worked this so you first have 432 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 5: to get all your your gas tax your gas receipts, 433 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 5: paper receipts. You have to maintain those, you have to 434 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 5: attach them to the form. You have to prove that 435 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 5: you used the gas within three days on the pike. 436 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 5: So if you filled up on a Sunday and you're 437 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 5: on the pike on Saturday the following Saturday, can't can't 438 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 5: claim those those miles on the pike. And then what 439 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:36,959 Speaker 5: they do is they say, all right, we'll get you 440 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:40,400 Speaker 5: just twenty four cents back per mile, you know, within 441 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 5: three days at the time you purchase gas, but for 442 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 5: that gas, instead of charging you a gas tax, we're 443 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 5: going to charge you basically sales tax. So they met 444 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:57,159 Speaker 5: six point of the gas that you purchased against the 445 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 5: twenty four cents, So so you wind up almost with nothing. 446 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 3: Why is why is my head hurting right at this moment, Mary, I. 447 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 5: Mean because in form named GTST nine TB before give headaches. 448 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,199 Speaker 5: So that's the intended result, Dan, They want to. 449 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 3: Think it was interesting. There was one article that I 450 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 3: read that I think you participated in with a CBS 451 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 3: Boston and said something to the effect that the turnpile 452 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 3: the Department of Revenue, and you know, it's so easy 453 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 3: to get through to someone the Department of Revenue. Good 454 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 3: luck with that declined an interview, but CBS Boston learned 455 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 3: that out of the million drivers who used the pike, 456 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 3: they were two hundred and thirty souls who got some 457 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 3: sort of a refund. I can't imagine. First of all, 458 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 3: you first of all, you have to have your gas receipts, 459 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,959 Speaker 3: so when you go to the gas pump, you got 460 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 3: to get a gat. So I assume you're probably going 461 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,920 Speaker 3: to have to pay with credit card, and then you're 462 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 3: going to have to I guess, keep your your receipts. 463 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:18,360 Speaker 3: I don't even know if you get receipts. 464 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:22,120 Speaker 5: I have a transponse, Well you have to ask, you know, well, 465 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 5: I guess now instead of keeping your total receipts, you 466 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 5: can use your your easy pass account to show that 467 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,400 Speaker 5: you are on the pipe. You still have to detail 468 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 5: it out. You have to detail every single trip out 469 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,639 Speaker 5: on this form, so you have to show So it's 470 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 5: basically it's crazy. It's very onerous. 471 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 3: I love the story, and I know that that you 472 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 3: and I see the world in a fairly similar way. 473 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 3: But I love the story. The other day, when I 474 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 3: guess it's a possibility that we might be able to 475 00:25:56,160 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 3: vote ourselves a tax decrease if the the initiative petition 476 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,959 Speaker 3: which would reduce the state sales tax from five percent 477 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 3: to four percent, were to pass. But I guess someone 478 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 3: asked some of the legislative leaders at the state House, 479 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 3: what would be the consequence of that that tax cut passing? 480 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 3: Similar in fashion to the way the since you were 481 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:25,159 Speaker 3: in for state auditor, that the state auditors should be 482 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,440 Speaker 3: allowed to audit the legislature, and the the legislature said, well, 483 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 3: we'll just have to raise people's taxes. You must have 484 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 3: seen this. No, but you must have seen that story. 485 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 3: It's like they could care less what people think. They 486 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 3: proved it to poor. To Diane to Zaglio, who is 487 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 3: the uh, the most honest Democrat in Massachusetts in my opinion, 488 00:26:54,600 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 3: she's unbelievable and she has in her little finger. Then 489 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 3: then most of the leadership, the Democratic leadership and I'm 490 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 3: speaking of the Senate President and the House Speaker have combined. 491 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 3: She's she's just been fabulous. I think you would have 492 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 3: been a great auditor too if you had been elected, 493 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 3: because I know that you're very hipped on these sorts 494 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:24,199 Speaker 3: of things. How was this brought to you. Did you 495 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 3: hear about this? It was this brought to your attention. 496 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 3: I see that the Dave Lensky, who's a Democrat from Natick, 497 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:34,360 Speaker 3: apparently files a piece of legislation on a regular basis, 498 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 3: if not every year, which of course goes nowhere. It 499 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 3: gets referred to some committee where good pieces of legislation 500 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:41,920 Speaker 3: go to die. 501 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 5: Exactly. Yeah, I know this has been floating around on 502 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 5: and off for years now, and again it doesn't accomplish 503 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 5: what it's supposed to. Well, maybe it does accomplish where's 504 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 5: opposed to, and that's keep the money in the states, 505 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 5: Hans citizen, right, right, it's unbelievable. You have to complete 506 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 5: this form you attached the receipts, you have to sign 507 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 5: under the pains and penalties of perjury. Then you have 508 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 5: to mail it in, nail it in. There's no way 509 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 5: to do this online. And they say you need to 510 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 5: keep your records for three years because it's going to 511 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,159 Speaker 5: be subject to audit. And I think the most anyone 512 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 5: ever's gotten back from this is about one hundred bucks. 513 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 5: Maybe maybe it's a lot of work. And oh this 514 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 5: is a good part because it's offset by basically the 515 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 5: sales tax on the price of gasoline. As gasoline goes up, 516 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 5: that portion that amount goes up along with it. So 517 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 5: by the time if gas is four dollars a gallon, 518 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 5: it nets out to zero. So you won't you don't 519 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 5: wind up with a penny. You don't wind up with 520 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 5: a penny from this because they have this alternative method 521 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 5: of charging you. 522 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 3: So, as I have said on many occasions on this 523 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 3: prom and also when I speak publicly, many people in 524 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 3: Massachusetts thinks that think we are taxed too much in Massachusetts, 525 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,719 Speaker 3: and that is just not true despite all of the 526 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 3: concerns that you have and I have, because there are 527 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 3: only two things that are taxed in Massachusetts, anything that 528 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 3: moves and anything that doesn't move. They couldn't make it 529 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 3: more simpler, more. 530 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 5: Very simple, very simple. And you know, people that's rocking 531 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 5: from state free. 532 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 3: Oh absolutely. I've read a post today on one of 533 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 3: the community billboards. Some person just was frustrated and said, 534 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 3: that's it. I'm out of here. So that's that's what's 535 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 3: going on in Massachusetts. And as I have said to 536 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 3: my listeners, and I mean this honestly, just as we 537 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 3: need a two newspaper town and we always have to 538 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 3: have two major newspapers in the city the size of Boston. 539 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 3: We also need two functioning political parties. In Massachusetts. At 540 00:29:55,840 --> 00:30:00,080 Speaker 3: this point, the Democrats rule the roost, and I I 541 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 3: think I would hope that the Republicans can maybe get 542 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 3: their act together. And again, I know that you have 543 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 3: tried a lot, and I know others have tried a lot, 544 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 3: but the biggest party in Massachusetts is not the Democrats 545 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 3: of the Republicans. It's the Unan roy right. 546 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 5: It's ablutely correct. 547 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 3: That's something people don't understand. Mary Connor. Is great to 548 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 3: hear your voice, great to talk with you. I can 549 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 3: remember when we would be in studio at WBZ on 550 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 3: Soldiers Field Road back when you were running, and it's 551 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 3: nice to at least talk and chat and bring something 552 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 3: as insane as this to the intention of Massachusetts. 553 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 2: It is insane. 554 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 5: It is insane, and Dan, it's always great to talk 555 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 5: to you. 556 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 3: Mary Connor, thanks so much. All Right, when we get back, 557 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:49,239 Speaker 3: we're going to talk about something that all of us 558 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 3: need to be concerned about, and that is asteroids. Yeah, asteroids. 559 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 3: They are lighting up skies across America, and some of 560 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 3: them are crashing into people's homes, but there are people 561 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 3: out there monitoring this stuff. We're going to talk with 562 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 3: Professor Julian DeWitt of Planetary Science at MIT, back on Nightside. 563 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 3: Right after this, you're on Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZ, 564 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 3: Boston's news radio. All right, all of us have seen 565 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 3: the stories recently of asteroids stuff streaking across the sky 566 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 3: during the day and at night, and with us now 567 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 3: is someone who can give us a lot of good 568 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 3: information on that, Professor Julian DeWitt. He's a professor of 569 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 3: planetary science at MIT. Professor DeWitt, Welcome to Nightside, Thanks 570 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 3: for joining us, Thanks for having me. 571 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 1: I am delighted to have you talk with us because 572 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: there was recently, I guess, a fireball that that crashed 573 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: into a family home in Ohio. 574 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,719 Speaker 3: There have been others and other parts of the world. 575 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 3: Is this something that's increasing or are these just these 576 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 3: these little fireballs can buy every once in a while. 577 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 6: Yeah, let's say both pretty good, come buy every time 578 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 6: in a while. So these are you know, two to 579 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 6: six feet long or so, so they come by tens 580 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 6: of times a year that just so happened to be 581 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 6: usually in places that are not populated, so we don't 582 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 6: get to have news of them, but as more and 583 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 6: more people have phones, we get to see them over 584 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:26,960 Speaker 6: the news from times to time. 585 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 3: Now there's there's as I understand that I'm not the 586 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 3: most scientifically astute individual that you that you will ever 587 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 3: speak with, since of course you're an m I T. 588 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 3: Although I have a son in law who teaches over 589 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 3: at m I T. A team of MIT researchers are 590 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,719 Speaker 3: on what they're calling the Space Case and developed a 591 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:52,960 Speaker 3: new way to mitigate threats. What what are we talking about? 592 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 3: How do we mitigate these threats? Because can we actually 593 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 3: stop these things from hitting populated areas? 594 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 6: Yeah, thanks for asking, So let's actually have teams. So 595 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 6: I'm more than happy to talk about that basa. This 596 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 6: is close to home, so you know, maybe we can 597 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 6: put this into perspective. When people think about asteroids and Earth, 598 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 6: they tend to think of the kind of thing that 599 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 6: white ties the dinosaurs, right, curometer size asteroids that comes back. 600 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,720 Speaker 3: That's what I'm told. I haven't seen any film to 601 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 3: substantiate that, but that is what I am told. 602 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 6: Ahead, Yeah, and do things that you know, they come 603 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 6: every hundreds of millions of years or so so they 604 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 6: don't come that often. But when you go to much 605 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 6: smaller sizes like the size we just talked about, they come, 606 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 6: you know, tens a year, but they just burn in 607 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 6: the atmosphere. So there is a middle ground here between 608 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 6: the big ones that are extension levels that we really 609 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 6: care about, and then the smaller ones. And so the 610 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 6: technique is actually to find the one in between that 611 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:56,400 Speaker 6: are more bus size and above. And this one comes 612 00:33:56,520 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 6: every decade or so. One that we've all heard about 613 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 6: in twenty thirteen was in Shanya base of Russia, and 614 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 6: those other kind of dodgists, you know, big enough that 615 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 6: we should be considering them, and we've developing the technology 616 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,480 Speaker 6: here at NIT to find them and then track them 617 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 6: and understand if we should be caring about them, meaning 618 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 6: if they're coming for Earth or the Moon, we can 619 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:18,800 Speaker 6: tell about the moon right after or not. 620 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 3: How what can we do? Obviously, if there's something that 621 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 3: that's going to hit us that is, you know, the 622 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:29,840 Speaker 3: size of Earth and knock us off our axes, well 623 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 3: we might as well all just have a drink and 624 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:35,560 Speaker 3: say good night. And if it's a small one that 625 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:38,239 Speaker 3: burns up, that's okay. What do we do. I saw 626 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 3: one today. There was a woman. I forget where it was, 627 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,400 Speaker 3: but it had gone through the roof of her home 628 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 3: and had actually penetrated I think down to from one 629 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 3: floor into the sec into the first floor. I mean 630 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 3: that is not uncommon, it's not it's obviously I assume 631 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:59,040 Speaker 3: a thousand to one shot when that hits Earth, it's 632 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 3: actually going to strike the car. I mean, there's mathematical 633 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 3: probabilities involved here, but there's not much we could do 634 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 3: about that. 635 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:11,879 Speaker 6: Yeah, so thanks for asking. So, so what's left these 636 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:14,840 Speaker 6: tiny piece that went through that woman's home. It's a tiny, 637 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 6: tiny piece of something that was about the size of 638 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:19,880 Speaker 6: a car or a small truck that blew up in 639 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,640 Speaker 6: the atmosphere. Right, It's a tiny, tiny fraction of what's left. 640 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 6: And so for those kind of objects, there really isn't 641 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 6: anything we need to do because the bulk of it 642 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 6: is going to burn in the atmosphere. So so we 643 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 6: find it's not worth the effort. What is worth the efforts, though, 644 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,560 Speaker 6: are objects that could pose a threat to a freet 645 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,719 Speaker 6: of satellite, because you know, the middle Gram was talking 646 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 6: about the large ones that could lead to direct casualty 647 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 6: death here on the ground. They don't come that often 648 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 6: that we should care. It's more like a planetary defense 649 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,720 Speaker 6: at the teritable to some extent. But the middle gram 650 00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:55,279 Speaker 6: referring to are the aspract that can damage our feet 651 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 6: of satellite. And as we know, every time you, you know, 652 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:01,719 Speaker 6: use your GPS, or you sometimes to payment with a 653 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:04,399 Speaker 6: credit card, all of that goes through subatellite. And so 654 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 6: this is what we're caring about now, practical planetary defense. 655 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 3: Adamiti, Well, the next time that my GPS isn't working, 656 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:16,399 Speaker 3: I'm going to blame it on an asteroid. I won't 657 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 3: fix my GPS, but it will make me feel better. Professor, 658 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 3: thanks so much for joining us. You folks over at 659 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 3: MIT are really smart, really smart, and I'm always a 660 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 3: little intimidated whenever i have a professor from MIT on. 661 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 3: But you seem like a really regular person who has 662 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 3: a good conversation about something that interests all of us, 663 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,239 Speaker 3: because frankly, most of us who aret an MIT don't 664 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 3: understand any of this stuff. Thanks so much. I'd love 665 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,439 Speaker 3: to have you back. Thanks for having me, buddy, You're 666 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 3: very welcome. All Right, we are done with our eight 667 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:49,800 Speaker 3: o'clock hour, four interesting guests, and when we come back. 668 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:53,920 Speaker 3: We're going to be talking with the president of Brandais University. 669 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:58,640 Speaker 3: He is Arthur Levine, who has been a guest on 670 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 3: this program fairly recently. We had him in an eight 671 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:04,359 Speaker 3: o'clock hour, and I want to talk at some length 672 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:06,759 Speaker 3: about his new book, which he co authored with The 673 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:10,600 Speaker 3: Gentleman and Scott Van Pelt, From a People to Acts Action, 674 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,399 Speaker 3: What works in the in changing higher education. We'll get 675 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:15,799 Speaker 3: to all of that, and I hope some of you 676 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:20,800 Speaker 3: will participate and ask questions of the president of Brandeis University. 677 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:22,560 Speaker 3: Not every night you get a chance to talk to 678 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:25,839 Speaker 3: a university professor, particularly one from a school as great 679 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:28,040 Speaker 3: as Brandeis. My name is Dan Ray. This is Nightside. 680 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:30,440 Speaker 3: Rob Brooks is in the control room. Give us a 681 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:31,520 Speaker 3: call back right after this