1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: It's Night Side with Dan Ray on ws Boston's news radio. 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 2: I am not easily shocked, Thanks very much, Dan Watkins. 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: I am not easily shocked. But as I looked at 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 2: the front page of the Boston Herald today, the headline 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 2: is scharn syringe city hub hands out four point five 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 2: million needles. It's are you kidding me? Four point five 7 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: million needles? Now, let's I want to hear. If you 8 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: disagree with me, bring it on, that's fine, but this 9 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 2: number is to me astonishing. The piece is written by 10 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 2: Gayla Cawley. She's a reporter for the Herald. The headline 11 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: needle number shock. I was shocked four point five million. 12 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 2: Boston hands out millions of needles during Mayor Woo's tenure, 13 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 2: So going back to twenty twenty two, which would be 14 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 2: the mayor's first term in office. She was elected in 15 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: the fall of twenty twenty one, and I spec I 16 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: suppose I'm not blaming her per se, but I am 17 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 2: suggesting that I'm sure this is a set of circumstances 18 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: that she inherited, but it doesn't look like it's gotten 19 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 2: much better. In twenty twenty two, they handed out one million, 20 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: two hundred seventy nine thousand, five hundred and eighty four needles, 21 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three one million, two hundred fifty six thousand, 22 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: four hundred and twenty four needles. I mean they keep 23 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: track of this, I hope. Twenty twenty four, last year 24 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: one million, one hundred fifty two thousand, one hundred ninety 25 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: two needles, and this year, so far through October thirtieth, 26 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: they're already at eight hundred forty five thousand, seven hundred 27 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: and twenty needles. Now, each year that it is dropped 28 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: a little bit, not a lot, but a little bit. 29 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: There was a pretty could drop off between twenty twenty, 30 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four, about one hundred 31 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 2: thousand fewer needles. This year it will get up over 32 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 2: a million needles. Again, I would suspect, but the internals 33 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: of the story are what is shocking. Now. If this 34 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: number does not shock you, and I'm naive, please feel 35 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 2: free to let me know that I'm naive, Okay, but 36 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 2: I want to I want to hit some of the 37 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 2: story here. The Boston Public Health Commission disclosed its medium 38 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: syringe distribution per month for twenty twenty two through Halloween. 39 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 2: Our last month, and I just ran through the numbers. 40 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: The bottom line is it's four point five million needles. Okay. Now, 41 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: the Boston Public Health Commissioner by Sola Oshikutu, I hope 42 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 2: I pronounced that name correctly. Basically, according to this Herald article, 43 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: did understate slightly the average per number of needles that 44 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: are given out to drug users. The boss the Boston 45 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: Public Health Commission, according to the article in the Herald, 46 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: in its records in its records response, declined to provide 47 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 2: figures for how much the city is spending on distributing 48 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 2: needles to drug users each year, but said it collects 49 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: more syringes through various programs that it distributes. Well, that's 50 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: good news, hall great. I don't know how this happens. 51 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 2: I mean, if they if they have people walking the 52 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: streets of Boston asking people if they want a needle, 53 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: if there are certain places that the uh, the addicts 54 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: and and I have. Let me tell you anybody who's 55 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 2: an addicted who's addicted to the needles, UH, to heroin, fentanyl, 56 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: and if they can beat that, God love them. But 57 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: I don't know that this is going to help people 58 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: beat it. It sounds to me like we have come. 59 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 2: We have met the enemy and they is us, and 60 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: they have said we will just give needles to people 61 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: to keep them healthy until they overdose. This is you 62 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: talk about transparency here and again, I know numbers are tough, 63 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: but please try to stay with me here if you can. 64 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: According to the Herald regarding yearly distribution cost, the Boston 65 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: Public Health Commissioner does not receive city appropriated funds for 66 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: the purpose of syringe distribution. The Assistant General Counsel wrote, 67 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 2: the funds that we use come from the Carmalta Massachusetts 68 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: and therefore we do not have any responsive records. So 69 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 2: we get the money from the Carmalta Massachusetts, but we 70 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: don't keep any records. Okay, that's that's pretty transparent. If 71 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: the Commission's budget line for quote risk reduction and overdose 72 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: prevention was approved just north of two million for this 73 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: fiscal year. With the year in which we're currently in 74 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: FY twenty six, the Boston Health Commission sent out a 75 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 2: request for proposals for harm reduction supplies in May of 76 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four that noted the annual expenditure on supplies 77 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: is approximately in the range of one million, so we're 78 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 2: going up. We're going up from a million to two 79 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: million since fiscal year twenty twenty three, which would be 80 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: really twenty twenty three into twenty twenty four, excuse me, 81 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 2: would be twenty twenty two into twenty twenty three. The 82 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: City of Boston's received millions of dollars from the state 83 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: for its harm reduction, treatment and recovery experts efforts as 84 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 2: part of an opioid settlement with pharmaceuticals companies. Okay, so 85 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 2: the pharmaco pharmaceutical companies are paying for a lot of this. 86 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: The city will receive at least forty million dollars through 87 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: twenty thirty nine. That's going to be pretty close to 88 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 2: a million, maybe a million points something per year, and 89 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: that includes more than fourteen point seven million from FY 90 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 2: twenty three through the current fiscal years. So these are 91 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: in addition to the needles, the cost of the needles. 92 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 2: It goes on to say that, oh, they also hand 93 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 2: out a lot of other supplies condoms and dental dams 94 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: for safer sex, tourniquets, cotton pellets, saline and personal hygiene items. 95 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 2: The Public Health Commission, while including an extensive list of 96 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 2: harm reduction supplies in its request for proposals took issue 97 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 2: with The Herald's request for data on how many crack 98 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 2: pipes and other drug paraphernalia it distributes. Remember, there was 99 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 2: this whole big story that crack pipes were being distributed 100 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 2: and the city said no about a year ago, and now, 101 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 2: of course they are. Everyone understands it's true. Rather than 102 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: provide the information as part of its records response, the 103 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 2: Public Health Commission, according to The Herald, belittle the Herald's 104 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 2: chosen language quote. Boston Public Health Commission objects to the 105 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: use of the terms crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia. 106 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 2: Smoking pipes is an overdose prevention strategy that makes it 107 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 2: less likely for people to overdose compared to injections. Oh, 108 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: smoking crack better than injections. Okay, at least we know 109 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: that now. Pipes are also better for public safety because 110 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: they do not pose a biohazard risk to the public 111 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: if discarded improperly. Also, to the extent that you're requesting 112 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: pipe distribution information, Boston Public Health Commission does not have 113 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,559 Speaker 2: reliable data to report accurate figures. Not much transparency there, 114 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 2: which are available in limited numbers, adding that the lawyer 115 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 2: was rejecting the request for other drug paraphernalia due to 116 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: it being vague and broad. Well, lawyers are good. It's 117 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 2: saying that's vague and broad. I can't answer that question now. 118 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: Of course, we all know about mass and casts, and 119 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: I wonder if passing out syringes over the last four 120 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: years four point five million syringers has helped mass and casts. 121 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: My suspicion is probably not, but I could be wrong. 122 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: Residents and how dear these residents in the South End 123 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 2: complain about the health and safety risk of discarded needles. 124 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: I mean it's their kids in the parks and playgrounds 125 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 2: that they're concerned about. I mean they don't see the 126 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 2: big picture. And their dogs also have a matter of fact, 127 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 2: one dog a guy had to knock can his dog. 128 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 2: According to The Herald, Ohikuto defended the city's harm reduction 129 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: approach at a city council meeting in early September as 130 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 2: key defending off HIV and other diseases that are commonly 131 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: spread through shared needles used for drug injection. If you 132 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 2: consider the number of times someone is using fentanyl, here's 133 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 2: a shocker, ten to fifteen injections per day. I thought 134 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 2: fentyl in small amounts can kill you. That's what we're told. 135 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: We're trying to decrease the risk of HIV exposure with 136 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: ten to fifteen injections of fentanyl. Wow, she said. The 137 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: city's Public Health Commission has identified a cluster of HIV 138 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 2: cases in the Boston region. Most of the more than 139 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 2: two hundred HIV cases in the region are connected to 140 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 2: mass and cast drug injection. I'm not surprised by that, 141 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: Ojakutu said, adding that the number would be higher without 142 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: the city's harm reduction approach. I'm simply going to open 143 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 2: up the phone lines. I don't care if you live 144 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 2: in Boston or wherever you live. But how have we 145 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: as a society degenerated to the point that we are 146 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 2: going to distribute four point five million needles. There's no 147 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 2: way that four point five million needles are being distributed 148 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: at safe injection sites because we don't have that many 149 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 2: safe injection sites in Boston, and even if we did, 150 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 2: you can't fit that many people into safe injection sites. 151 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 2: They must be handing these out like that the tobacco 152 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 2: companies used to hand out little packets of cigarettes to people. 153 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 2: Remember that it hands you into the new mentals. Yeah, 154 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 2: Try these, you'll like these. Try these, you'll like these. 155 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: It's the same principle, give them what they want, give 156 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 2: them what they want. But this is a sad commentary 157 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 2: on where we as a society are. Uh. And if 158 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: you disagree with me, and you'd like to make the 159 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 2: point that this is necessary, I'm happy to hear from 160 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 2: you as well on that, feel free to make your point. 161 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 2: But this is I think it's appalling. You know, if 162 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 2: you said that we had given out one hundred thousand 163 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 2: needles in the last four years, I would say something like, 164 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: that's kind of high. But you know, if it saves 165 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,839 Speaker 2: a few lives, okay, But four point five million needles? 166 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 2: What are we are? We are we the drug capital 167 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 2: of America, the fentanyl, the heroin capital of America. Six 168 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 2: one seven two five four ten thirty lines were already 169 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 2: filling up six one seven nine three one ten thirty. 170 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 2: Someone who tried to get in all last night, UH 171 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 2: told me today that she had been calling six one 172 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,439 Speaker 2: seven two five four ten thirty and got a busy signal. Well, 173 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 2: the other line is just as good, folks. Six one 174 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 2: seven nine three one ten thirty. Write that one down. 175 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 2: It's sometimes it's easier than the six one, seven, two, five, 176 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 2: four to ten thirty. I'd love to hear from you, 177 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: and if you're a big proponent of this, and you 178 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 2: think that this program should be expanded and maybe a 179 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 2: couple of years from now, instead of giving out a 180 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 2: million hypodermic needles a year, we can give out to 181 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 2: a three million hypodermic needles a year. You know, just 182 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 2: just turn the lights out when you leave, Okay, and 183 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 2: uh and leave, leave all the addicts and leave as 184 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 2: many hypodermic needles as you want. This is, I think insane. 185 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 2: These people need help. They do not need I think, 186 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 2: you know, encouragement, uh for a lifestyle that is totally 187 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 2: destructive and is eventually going to kill them. And I 188 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 2: say that as someone I stand it. I stand behind 189 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 2: no one in my admiration. And I have a lot 190 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: of friends of mine who have beat addictions, whether it's 191 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 2: alcohol or or drugs. A lot of people don't be 192 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 2: fentanyl because fentanyl wins a lot in the end. Sadly, 193 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 2: join the conversation, coming right back on night Side. 194 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: It's night Side with Yon's News Radio. 195 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 2: All right, So four and a half needles Hyperdemic hyperdemic 196 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 2: hypodermic Uh, Sirryn syringe needles just distributed free of charge 197 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 2: here in Boston. What does that say about our society? 198 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 2: I mean, there can't be that many true addicts. How 199 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 2: many addicts can there be? I don't know. That would 200 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 2: suggest a lot more than I realized. We'll go to 201 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 2: Jerry in West Roxbury. Jerry, you are first this hour 202 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 2: and nights. I appreciate you calling in your thoughts. Jerry, 203 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 2: go right. 204 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 3: Ahead, Hey Jan happy Thanks shivn uh right back at 205 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 3: you first. 206 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:37,599 Speaker 4: You know, when only when on? 207 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 5: We just do what the best governor of all time 208 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 5: and the best mayor of Boston, Mayor wou and our 209 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 5: best governor of all time, Healy, It just blamed Trump 210 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 5: and the problem goes away. 211 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 2: I never thought of that. But that's not a bad suggestion. 212 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 2: That's not. 213 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 4: Blame Trump. 214 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 5: Blame Trump and a problem will go away. 215 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. Unfortunately the problem is that Trump has closed 216 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 2: off the border, which I think is probably going to 217 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 2: make it more difficult to get to get fentamol. And 218 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 2: he's blown up a bunch of boats that are carrying 219 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 2: drugs up from Venezuela. Uh yeah, but did you did that? Number. Shock. 220 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: It really shocked me. Four point five million. There's only 221 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 2: six million people or seven million people in Massachusetts. Now, 222 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 2: I know that it's a limited number of people, but 223 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 2: how many needles does it addict need on any given day? 224 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 4: Unbelievable. 225 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 3: You know, Apgiving, well. 226 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 2: You have a happy Thanksgiving. And I hope that somehow, 227 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 2: some way the city can actually come up with a solution. 228 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 2: We have basically, you know, opened up a Pandora's box here. 229 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: That's exactly what we have done. I remember when they 230 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 2: were discussing this and the idea of giving out needles, 231 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 2: and initially they said, well, we'll give them out in 232 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 2: safe injection sites like Vancouver. Larry is in Hingham. Hey, Larry, 233 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 2: welcome next on nightside. 234 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 4: H good evening. You know, when daval Patrick was the governor, 235 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 4: it was his administration and his suggestion that you don't 236 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 4: need a prescription any longer to get a needle a 237 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 4: hypodermic instrument. And prior to that, it was it was 238 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 4: a crime to be in possession of a hypodermic instrument 239 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 4: without a prescription. But Patrick decriminalized that, and. 240 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 2: Well, all of that stuff has to be a step 241 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 2: at a time. We you know, decriminalize it or whatever, 242 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 2: and then or you can have it, and then we 243 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 2: make it available, We make it easily available. This number 244 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 2: stuns me. Four point five million, call me naive. 245 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 4: Well, you know, it seems like about six months ago 246 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 4: you had a youth football coach on your show talking 247 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 4: about the needle problem. 248 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 2: Yes, Domingo's DeRosa. He was a candidate from mayor uh. 249 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 2: He actually finished third in the primary, and then they 250 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 2: did not allow him to be on the ballot after 251 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 2: Josh Kraft withdrew from the race, who had finished second. 252 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 2: It might have been interesting to see what sort of 253 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 2: a vote Domingo de Rosa would have gotten on the 254 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 2: ballot in a head to head with Mayor WU. But 255 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: that was not to be, and I think the Mayor's 256 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 2: office was not hal We did not look forward to 257 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 2: that prospect. 258 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 4: Things have not gotten any better. And you said earlier 259 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 4: you weren't necessarily blaming the mayor, Well, who do you 260 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 4: blame you? 261 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 2: I blame everybody here, the leadership across the state. I mean, 262 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 2: I have to assume that they're all drinking the same 263 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 2: kool aid, because if you live in a district, let's 264 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 2: say a congressional disc trick that you're not impacted by this. 265 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 2: Uh you probably say, well, it doesn't really matter to me, 266 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: but I kind of imagine. I just think that there 267 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 2: is a push within the Democratic Party on a number 268 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 2: of fronts, and you you have to stay in line. 269 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 2: Everybody has to run a sanctuary city. 270 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 6: Uh. 271 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 2: We we don't want to cooperate and get illegal criminals, 272 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 2: criminals who are here who have committed crimes while they're 273 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: here or have come here, and there serious criminals. We 274 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 2: we want to always focus on, uh, the mom and 275 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 2: her and her child, and and those are all wonderfully 276 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 2: sympathetic cases. And there can be exceptions to the rule. 277 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 2: But look at you see what Look at what what 278 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 2: happens in Chicago. 279 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 4: You know the people who are who. 280 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: Are being burnt alive on on you know, trains, and 281 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 2: what happened to that woman down in Sharp, North Carolina. 282 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 2: And then when they went into Charlotte this week to 283 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 2: uh to to have a presence of ice. All those 284 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 2: folks are out there protesting. They didn't protest when the 285 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 2: guy stabbed and killed the Ukrainian woman on the on 286 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 2: the train in cold Blood. I don't understand the priorities 287 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 2: of these people. Who I assume are relatively intelligence to 288 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 2: you intelligence. 289 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:24,239 Speaker 4: I will tell you that. I will tell you this. 290 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 4: A lot of people in your business have politicians on 291 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 4: the show this shows and they talk all about this problem, 292 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 4: but nobody does nothing. And I'm not going to mention 293 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 4: any names about Boston councilors, but they're always on the radio. 294 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,719 Speaker 4: The bottom line, they do nothing. 295 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 2: Well Boston. Well, Boston is a city. Comes back to 296 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 2: your question. Boston is a city where the mayor is 297 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 2: an incredibly powerful Tom Manino was a powerful mayor. Marty 298 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,239 Speaker 2: Walsh was a powerful mayor. There are some cities that 299 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 2: are set up so that the city council is is 300 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 2: the mayor is more of a figure. That's not so 301 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 2: in Boston. Uh. You know, I do think that to 302 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 2: getting back to your original question, that I think Mayor 303 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 2: Wu has to be feel some responsibility for this, But 304 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 2: at the same time, it's a problem that she inherited. Uh, 305 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 2: and it's a problem that the National Democratic Party seems 306 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 2: to seems not to care about. I almost think to 307 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: some extent that a lot of the leading politicians, particularly 308 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: in the Democratic side, uh, look at these poor human 309 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 2: beings as collateral damage, meaning that it's better for us 310 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:46,640 Speaker 2: to to to express our support and opinion and really 311 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 2: do nothing for them, and they're probably going to die. 312 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 2: But by by virtue signaling, we're going to pick up 313 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 2: more votes than we would. It's there's an agenda here 314 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 2: in my opinion, Larry, and it's not good for the addicts. 315 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 2: It's not good for the people who live in the 316 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 2: communities that the addicts now thrive in. 317 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 4: And maybe it's I think society. But the mayor was 318 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 4: too busy picking out Christmas trees and playing the piano 319 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 4: to people. How they're with this stuff? 320 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 2: Well, I think you can make that point. I mean 321 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 2: she she had a lovely family trip to Nova Scotia, 322 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 2: and I thought that she did very well with the 323 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 2: photo ops up there. And yeah, so, I mean, I 324 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 2: don't think that she's looking at this number tonight and 325 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: talking about it with either her family or friends and saying, 326 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 2: we got to get this number down because four point 327 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 2: five mil. We've reached the tipping point where you know, 328 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 2: how many needles can we give out? I mean, it's 329 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 2: do we give out? Do we eventually give out three 330 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 2: million a year, two million a year? What do we do? 331 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 4: I don't know, Well, if you lived over there and 332 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 4: one of your children had sandals on or something in 333 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 4: the steps on one of these things, the kick could 334 00:20:58,400 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 4: have a major health problem. 335 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 2: No more. Well, I will say this, and maybe I'll 336 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 2: go to upset some people with this. I've done several 337 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 2: hours on this story from the point of view of 338 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 2: the residents and mass and Casts, and there are a 339 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 2: lot of really brave people in Mass and Casts will 340 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 2: come on this program in that South End area. But 341 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 2: you know, Mayor WU carry the South End, So apparently 342 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 2: the majority of people in the South End must be 343 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 2: pretty happy with their policies. Don't you think. 344 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 4: Sounds that way The people have spoken. 345 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's well, of course the voter turnout wasn't great, 346 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 2: but there were probably a lot of people who figured, 347 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 2: well this this this race is is concluded, and if 348 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 2: they're not going to take the time to go vote, 349 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 2: that's that's their problem. Larry, I appreciate your input, I 350 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 2: really do, and I hear the disappointment in your voice. 351 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 2: I wish there was something that I could turn around 352 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 2: and do. All I can try to do is open 353 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 2: this up for conversation and give people an opportunity to 354 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 2: express themselves and I'll see. I'll see what sort of 355 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: response we get after this news at the bottom of 356 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 2: the hour. 357 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 4: Thanks a prey, Thanksgiving, Dan, Happy Thanksgiving. 358 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 2: Same to you, my friend. Thank you much. All Right, 359 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,199 Speaker 2: we got open lines here, and if this does not 360 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 2: bother you, maybe it'll come to your neighborhood if you 361 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 2: live in the South End. 362 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:13,959 Speaker 5: Uh. 363 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 2: I never imagined four point five million needles being given 364 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 2: away for free. I mean it's like the city becomes 365 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 2: an accessory to the drug abuse, is what it comes 366 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 2: down to. It's as simple as that. Now. I know 367 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 2: that there were some of you out there who say, well, no, 368 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 2: we need to keep people safe and give them their 369 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 2: individual needs. I understand that argument, but what about trying 370 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 2: to actually work and get people off this stuff. There 371 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: are people who have beaten it. And if you've beaten 372 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 2: it and you want to talk about it, I have 373 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 2: wide open lines here, which is always discouraging. It says 374 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: to me, if you don't care about the problem, we'll 375 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 2: move on to something else. Six one, seven, two, five, 376 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 2: four ten thirty six one seven, nine, three one ten 377 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 2: thirty lines are open. We can talk about this, or 378 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 2: we'll talk about something else. Coming back on the other side, 379 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 2: after nights that if you live in Boston, this should 380 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 2: worry you. Trust me, it should worry you. 381 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: Night side with Dan Ray, I'm telling you Boston's news radio. 382 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:16,199 Speaker 2: We're talking about it really an unbelievable number, although I 383 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 2: believe it's a believable number that Boston in the last 384 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 2: three plus years, nearly four years, in fairness, have given 385 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 2: out four point five million, four and a half million 386 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 2: needles hypodermic needles to drug users. I guess in an 387 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 2: effort to keep them safe. But I'm wondering if keeping 388 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 2: them safe in the short term is worth the long 389 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 2: term impact. Let me go to Kevin in Webster, Massachusetts, 390 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 2: far away from Boston, but I know where Webster is. Hi, Kevin, 391 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 2: how are you. 392 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 7: I'm doing well, Dan, thank you. I hope you can 393 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 7: hear me. Okay, I'm on the highway. 394 00:23:58,840 --> 00:23:59,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I hear you perfectly. 395 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 6: Go great. 396 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 7: I'm actually driving out of Boston going back to central 397 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 7: mass So it's a little topical and I only caught 398 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 7: the tail end of that exchange. But I think there 399 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 7: are two points, and I think the first point is 400 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 7: probably more important. One is with this program with the 401 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 7: clean needles, I'll say personally, I support it because I 402 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 7: do think, you know, keeping people healthy in general probably 403 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 7: a good thing to the alternative, but it really doesn't 404 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 7: solve source the problem. It's treating the symptom of use 405 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 7: and eating those needles in the first place. So I think, 406 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:38,360 Speaker 7: on the one hand, it's not really doing anything, I'll 407 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 7: say honestly, But I think that the second point is 408 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 7: where does the buck stop? Who does take responsibility to 409 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 7: these sorts of things? The Clean Needle program is great, 410 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:48,919 Speaker 7: but what's the follow up? 411 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 2: Well, I don't know that there's a follow up. Here's 412 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 2: my question to you. I don't know if you're a 413 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 2: numbers guy, but numbers on the radio are tough. But 414 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 2: if if you had no listen to the show tonight 415 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 2: and I had said to you, how many clean needles 416 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 2: do you think Boston had distributed two people in the 417 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 2: last say three and a half years, do you think 418 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 2: you would have given me a number anywhere close to 419 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 2: four point five million? 420 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 7: YEA, Honestly, it probably would have been guessed, but it 421 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 7: wouldn't have been that high. I guess definitely would have 422 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 7: been that high. 423 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 2: Is a overstarishing figure. I mean, how many how many 424 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 2: fentle addicts are there in Boston. Okay, I mean, I 425 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 2: don't know. If there are five thousand fental atticts in 426 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 2: Boston who were roaming the streets, you multiply that by 427 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 2: three hundred and sixty five days a year, and then 428 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 2: you multiply that by four. I'm going to do the 429 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:50,360 Speaker 2: math in the next break here. But four point five million? 430 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 2: Oh my god? Are they handing them out like in 431 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 2: you know when you when you go and buy a 432 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 2: case of beer, you get twenty four beers, but it's 433 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 2: one case of beat who but it's twenty four? It's 434 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 2: twenty four beers. Are the handing out needles in packets 435 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 2: of twenty four? How do you get to four point 436 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 2: five million? 437 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 7: Well, I'll tell you what I used to work off 438 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 7: of the other side of mass and cast. But you know, 439 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 7: people walk down the street and having seen it, having 440 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 7: driven by it, you know, for weeks, day after day. 441 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 7: I can't say I'm too surprised with the numbers, but yeah, 442 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 7: how do you even wrap your head around it? How 443 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 7: do you move forward from that? I think. 444 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 6: I don't know. 445 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 7: Honestly. I had a crazy idea the past couple of 446 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 7: days that I've been thinking about since very topable but 447 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 7: I almost think if we want to stop that, you 448 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 7: need to bring back to the old way of doing 449 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 7: things with the state institutions, you know, statesylums. I guess 450 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 7: the word for it sounds like that word, but you know, 451 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 7: if someone can. 452 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 2: Well, we had stated we had state senator, a state 453 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 2: Senator from South Boston, Nick Collins, on and last week 454 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:06,239 Speaker 2: and and he's he's talking about a program UH that 455 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:10,399 Speaker 2: UH that is really very interesting when you think about it. 456 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 2: What that program would do is, uh, it would force 457 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 2: people into into programs where they would have to participate. 458 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 2: And and he's also talking about purchasing a cruise ship. 459 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 2: The city would purchase a cruise ship. I don't know 460 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 2: if you remember, I had forgotten about it, but there 461 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 2: was a huge gas explosion back north of Boston up 462 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 2: in kind of mac Valley area, UH and there were 463 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 2: I think thirty five hundred people who were brought in 464 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 2: here to UH to to fix the lines and just 465 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 2: an incredible workload. They brought a cruise ship in UH 466 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 2: and and basically that was their headquarters where they where 467 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 2: they stayed. They didn't have enough hotel. So it was 468 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 2: an innovative idea that Nick Collins has come up with, 469 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 2: and I think it's I think it would be critical, 470 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,400 Speaker 2: critical to at least consider it in view of this. 471 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 2: This is this is an astonishing figure to me. But Kevin, 472 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 2: I very much appreciate your approach and disagree with me 473 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 2: in such a gentlemanly fashion. And I thank you for calling. 474 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:19,200 Speaker 2: Have you called before? Says your first time. 475 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 7: I've actually called before. It's probably a year year and 476 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 7: a half ago. As energy we were talking about. I 477 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 7: made a call on about pro nuclear energy. 478 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 2: Well, do me a favor, don't be a stranger, come 479 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 2: back more often, a thoughtful call. Appreciate it very much. 480 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 7: Yeah, I appreciate it. Thanks Dan, Thanks Kevin. 481 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 2: Talk to you soon, quick break, coming right back here 482 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 2: on Nightside. We will finish up. We will probably switch 483 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 2: topics at ten, So if you want to get in, 484 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 2: get in now six one seven, five four ten thirty 485 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 2: or six one seven, nine three thirty all points of view, 486 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 2: All welcome. 487 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: You're on night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio. 488 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: And the phone lines got hot here, going to go 489 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 2: quickly to Sandy and West Rocks. Sandy, thank you for 490 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 2: calling in as a Boston resident. I'm appalled. I'm stunned 491 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 2: at this number. 492 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 8: Yeah, it is pretty frightening. Sometimes I think, rather than 493 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 8: have a city council which is pursuing the the aims, 494 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 8: not I don't think of the majority of the people, 495 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 8: but they should just let put all of these things. 496 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 8: I mean, my my tax dollars, they are tax dollars, 497 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 8: everybody's tax dollars, you know, instead of pointed to places 498 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 8: where they really needed, this is where the money is going. 499 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:37,719 Speaker 8: And they should just put out a you know, put 500 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 8: everything on of the out let. People vote on this. 501 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 8: I can't imagine that. 502 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 2: The problem city is people look at look at West Roxbury, 503 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 2: West Roxbury. Uh, you had the bike lanes there and 504 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 2: uh and Mayor Will carried West Roxbury. So I guess 505 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 2: the majority of people in West Roxbury are happy with 506 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 2: the bike lanes. 507 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 8: Well, she didn't carry it by all that much. Not 508 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 8: what's wrong unless I'm wrong, But I remember reading the numbers, 509 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 8: and it's people. 510 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 7: I don't think. 511 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, the fact that she carried it at all is 512 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 2: stunning to me. I mean, I remember the outage, you know, 513 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 2: the bike lane, and I know that it's made the 514 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 2: businesses on Santa Street have been miserable for them and 515 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 2: I just it's awful. 516 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 8: I mean, you know, I I think people have just 517 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 8: given up or they're just not thinking. 518 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 2: You know. 519 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 8: That's yeah, because I can't think that anybody. I don't 520 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 8: want to say things like that, but I just don't 521 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 8: understand how people don't the way they do anymore. 522 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 2: There are some elections when I'm shaking my head. But 523 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,040 Speaker 2: you know what, we all live in a democracy, and 524 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 2: we got we gotta deal with those issues. It's as 525 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 2: simple as that. Hey, let me let me run, Sandy, 526 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 2: Thank you for calling in. I want you to call 527 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 2: it more often. I need you. I need your support. Okay, thanksy, 528 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 2: I take him talk. So let me go to my friend, 529 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 2: my good friend, Harvey, Silverglade and Cambridge. I suspect Harvey 530 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 2: might disagree with me. Harvey, go right ahead. 531 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 6: I suspect you know my position on our non prescription 532 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 6: archacterratist I do they should? 533 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 4: You should all be legalized. 534 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 6: What that would do immediately is number one, it would 535 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 6: provide it would turn a legal problem into a medical 536 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 6: problem and let the doctors deal with it. Number two, 537 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 6: it would put the NARCO states out of business. Number three, 538 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 6: it would reduce corruption law enforcement corruption by a huge factor. 539 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 6: I've spent the whole career arguing against my own self 540 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 6: interest on this, and yet it doesn't happen. And I 541 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 6: think the reason that doesn't happen is there was so 542 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 6: much money to be made that it will just never 543 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 6: legalizers drugs. 544 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 2: Harvey, let me ask you a real quick question, just 545 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 2: focusing for a moment on the distribution over the last 546 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 2: three and three quarter years of four and a half 547 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 2: million hypodermic needles. That says to me, it's a frightening 548 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,280 Speaker 2: number that there are that many people out there who 549 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 2: need needles on the street. I mean, I'm stunned by 550 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 2: that number. I'm assuming you're going to tell me it 551 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 2: doesn't surprise you. 552 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 6: It doesn't surprise me at all. 553 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 2: How many Let me ask you, how many addicts do 554 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 2: you think of roaming the streets of Boston using that 555 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 2: number as either a denominator or a numerator. 556 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 6: Well, of course I haven't a way of knowing, but 557 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 6: it's clearly in the tens of thousands. 558 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, and that to me, I mean, when 559 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:08,960 Speaker 2: we're talking about fentanyl, that's a killer drug. Yeah, people 560 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 2: have died, but. 561 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 6: It can't be dealt whether there's a law enforcement issue. 562 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 6: It's a health issue. 563 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 2: Yep. Okay, well, look, I'm glad that you weigh in 564 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 2: with that point of view because it's a different point 565 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:22,480 Speaker 2: of view. You're always welcome here on Nightside, and I 566 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 2: thank you. I got a bunch of lines. We're going 567 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 2: to try to get a give a few seconds to 568 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 2: a few callers here. Believe it or not, we got 569 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 2: the lines really hot right now. Thanks Harvey. People will 570 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:35,160 Speaker 2: let's see what they have to say about your your 571 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 2: comment on it. 572 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 4: Okay, all right, thanks. 573 00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 2: Thanks Harvy. Let me go to Ted and Everett. Ted, 574 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 2: you're next on Nightside. We're going to get you in 575 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 2: and maybe one or two more and go ahead. 576 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 3: Ted, Hey a long time. This is the second time 577 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 3: I've called where I had a follow up after Harvey. 578 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 3: That's like being a comment going up against Seinfeld. I'm 579 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 3: not nearly as smart as. 580 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 2: You, so you believe that your point of view is 581 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 2: important to me, Go right ahead. 582 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 3: I do agree with him more of a health issue 583 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 3: than a law enforcement issue, because the day that this 584 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 3: country goes after the bankers that launda the drug money 585 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 3: will show me that we're serious. I mean, how long 586 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 3: did it take us to get the money out of 587 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:16,800 Speaker 3: Purdue Fama, which we clearly know led to the fentanyl crisis. 588 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 3: What I would like to see is, instead of giving 589 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 3: needles out, how about city run places. So let's say 590 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 3: I'm a hero, I'm out of God forbid. Yeah, I 591 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 3: go in there. They keep a register of it. But 592 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 3: then maybe after my third time going in, they say, look, Ted, 593 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 3: you've got to get into substance abuse recovery something, because 594 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 3: the point you made is right, this is just leading 595 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:42,800 Speaker 3: to death. And I'm curious does the state release figures 596 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 3: because you know, besides Boston, you have Lawrence, which is 597 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 3: a big area of Brockton Cape cod has had a 598 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,239 Speaker 3: terrible issue for ten years, so much so they made 599 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:52,440 Speaker 3: a TV series about it. 600 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:55,320 Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know the answer to that question. 601 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 2: And I don't know. It would take you know, one 602 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 2: of the you know, major TV stations or major newspapers 603 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 2: to expend a lot of reporter shoe leather to gather 604 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 2: those information, uh, gather all of that information. And if 605 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 2: Boston is the epicenter, you're right, there's there's some other 606 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 2: little communities out there that are dealing with the same issue. 607 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:18,920 Speaker 2: Simple as that. 608 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,400 Speaker 3: But then I love what you said about Collins. I 609 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:24,440 Speaker 3: didn't hear that show, but that's that's a thinking out 610 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:25,400 Speaker 3: of the box idea. 611 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:27,279 Speaker 2: That is a great think Yeah the box. You can 612 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:28,920 Speaker 2: go listen to it and you go to Nightside and 613 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 2: demand if you want. It was last Tuesday the eighteenth 614 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 2: at nine o'clock. It was a good out. 615 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 4: I'll do that. 616 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 3: Thank you, Ed, I appreciate it. 617 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 2: Let me get at least one more in here. Kevin 618 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 2: is in Philadelphia. Kevin, you were next on Nightsiger. 619 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,359 Speaker 9: Right ahead, Yeah, getting me Dan. Thank you so much 620 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:47,600 Speaker 9: for taking my call. And I'm glad I'm not selling 621 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 9: Harvey because he sounded like he was in your profession. 622 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 4: Yes, so. 623 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:58,320 Speaker 9: Some time ago, I don't know what year, but sixty 624 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,360 Speaker 9: minutes did a program on the exact subject you're talking about. 625 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 9: So there was a brain surgeon for decades, I believe 626 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 9: it was John Hopkins, you know, and and operated on 627 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 9: the brain surgery. So then I don't know how he 628 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 9: found out, but he started treating drug patients with a 629 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 9: treatment through It was monitored on the computer with ultrasound, 630 00:36:25,480 --> 00:36:29,760 Speaker 9: and all of them pretty much were weaned off of drugs. 631 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,400 Speaker 9: One cheated, he was kicked out of the program, and 632 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:35,800 Speaker 9: he also had one elderly gentleman that was I believe 633 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 9: it was dementia. It wasn't fully cured. And you know 634 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:41,719 Speaker 9: that there was an episode about his you know, with 635 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:43,560 Speaker 9: his wife that he couldn't find something. 636 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:48,480 Speaker 2: I'm getting tired, but anyway, I never saw follow upp. 637 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 9: Maybe you can have one one time do. 638 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:52,160 Speaker 2: Me a favorite if you could track him down for me, 639 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:53,920 Speaker 2: and I would appreciate it. Rob will give you my 640 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,680 Speaker 2: direct email or my direct number, and I'll try to 641 00:36:57,719 --> 00:36:59,319 Speaker 2: find him. But at the same time you might have 642 00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 2: a better sense of it, and so I'd love to 643 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:05,120 Speaker 2: make you. Rob will give you my female and my 644 00:37:05,239 --> 00:37:07,879 Speaker 2: direct phone number. Folks, we have a guest coming up 645 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 2: on the other side of the ten. So for those 646 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 2: of you who are holding on, thank you for calling 647 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:16,600 Speaker 2: and very appreciative. But we got to change topics. We're 648 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:20,279 Speaker 2: going to talk next hour about the cost of Thanksgiving, 649 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:23,879 Speaker 2: which to me, I thought was a little overrated this year. 650 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 2: I will explain, but first we'll talk with David Linsky. 651 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 2: He's a state representative from Natick, and he says there's 652 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 2: only two days a year when you cannot buy alcohol 653 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:37,200 Speaker 2: liquor of wine in Massachusetts at package stores Thanksgiving and Christmas, 654 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 2: and he thinks that he will hears some thoughts. We'll 655 00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 2: be back right after the ten o'clock news