THAT'S NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT: THE STATE WE'RE IN" POINT: THE STATE WE'RE IN" "C.P.." "C.P.." I AM EXCITED THAT WITH PARTNERS I AM EXCITED THAT WITH PARTNERS LIKE WGBY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LIKE WGBY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN DRIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MAKE NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MAKE OUR REGION THE PLACE TO BUILD A OUR REGION THE PLACE TO BUILD A BUSINESS AND MAKE A LIFE.

>> AS A REGIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY, WE'RE INSURANCE COMPANY, WE'RE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN OUR AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

WGBY SHARES OUR COMMITMENT BY WGBY SHARES OUR COMMITMENT BY PROVIDING QUALITY PERFORMING PROVIDING QUALITY PERFORMING THAT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF MANY.

THAT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF MANY.

PLEASE JOIN HELP NEW ENGLAND BY PLEASE JOIN HELP NEW ENGLAND BY SUPPORTING WGBY.

SUPPORTING WGBY.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CONNECTING POINT: THE STATE "CONNECTING POINT: THE STATE WE'RE IN" "C.P.." WE'RE IN" "C.P.." JOINING ME TO GIVE INSIGHT AND JOINING ME TO GIVE INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ANALYSIS OF THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ARE MIKE DOBB, MANAGER EDITOR OF ARE MIKE DOBB, MANAGER EDITOR OF THE REMINDER ROB RIZZUTO, MASS THE REMINDER ROB RIZZUTO, MASS LIVE AND REPUBLICAN ASSISTANT LIVE AND REPUBLICAN ASSISTANT DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR.

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR.

WELCOME, GENTLEMEN.

WELCOME, GENTLEMEN.

WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE ANNOUNCE WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE ANNOUNCE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RUN FOR THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RUN FOR STATE OFFICE AGAIN, SPECIFICALLY STATE OFFICE AGAIN, SPECIFICALLY REPRESENTATIVE KULICK AND REPRESENTATIVE KULICK AND CYBECK.

CYBECK.

IT'S POSSIBLE WE WILL LOSE A KEY IT'S POSSIBLE WE WILL LOSE A KEY SEAT ON THE JOIN COMMITTEE OF SEAT ON THE JOIN COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS, WHICH HE WAYS AND MEANS, WHICH HE ASCENDED TO A LEADERSHIP POST ASCENDED TO A LEADERSHIP POST THERE.

THERE.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S CONCERN IF DO YOU THINK THERE'S CONCERN IF WHEN HE LEAVES, WE WILL LOSE WHEN HE LEAVES, WE WILL LOSE THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION?

THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION?

>> I THINK ANY TIME SOMEONE FROM >> I THINK ANY TIME SOMEONE FROM WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS DECIDES WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS DECIDES TO -- NOT TO RUN AND THEY'RE IN TO -- NOT TO RUN AND THEY'RE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION, THIS IS A LEADERSHIP POSITION, THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL GET A SOMETHING WE CAN ALL GET A LITTLE BIT CLENCHED UP ABOUT.

LITTLE BIT CLENCHED UP ABOUT.

>> ESPECIALLY WAYS AND MEANS, >> ESPECIALLY WAYS AND MEANS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE MONEY.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE MONEY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND THAT'S WHY IT'S AN >> AND THAT'S WHY IT'S AN IMPORTANT COMMITTEE.

IMPORTANT COMMITTEE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> EXACTLY.

AND MY FEELING IS THAT WE AND MY FEELING IS THAT WE STRUGGLE ENOUGH TO TRY TO GET STRUGGLE ENOUGH TO TRY TO GET ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THIS END OF ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THIS END OF THE STATE.

THE STATE.

HAVING A GUY LIKE THAT LEAVE HAVING A GUY LIKE THAT LEAVE THAT POSITION CREATES A VACUUM THAT POSITION CREATES A VACUUM THAT'S GOING TO BE FILLED NOT BY THAT'S GOING TO BE FILLED NOT BY ANOTHER WESTERN MASS GUY BUT ANOTHER WESTERN MASS GUY BUT SOMEONE FROM THE EASTERN PART OF SOMEONE FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, AND WE'RE BACK TO THE STATE, AND WE'RE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.

WHERE WE WERE.

>> ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO >> ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO SORT OF GREASE THE WHEELS FOR SORT OF GREASE THE WHEELS FOR FOLKS HERE IN WESTERN MASS TO FOLKS HERE IN WESTERN MASS TO HELP ASSURE WE WILL END UP WITH HELP ASSURE WE WILL END UP WITH THAT POSITION BACK?

THAT POSITION BACK?

OR IS IT JUST CROSS YOUR FINGERS OR IS IT JUST CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND PRAY?

AND PRAY?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO CROSS OUR >> I THINK WE HAVE TO CROSS OUR FINGERS A LOT BECAUSE THERE'S A FINGERS A LOT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT UP IN THE AIR.

LOT UP IN THE AIR.

THIS COMES IN THE SHADOW IN THE THIS COMES IN THE SHADOW IN THE QUESTION OF SENATOR ROSENBERG'S QUESTION OF SENATOR ROSENBERG'S FUTURE.

FUTURE.

HE'S TEMPORARILY STEPPED DOWN AS HE'S TEMPORARILY STEPPED DOWN AS SENATE PRESIDENT.

SENATE PRESIDENT.

WILL HE RETURN AS SENATE WILL HE RETURN AS SENATE PRESIDENT?

PRESIDENT?

DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, THAT DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, THAT SEEMS RELATIVELY UNLIKELY.

SEEMS RELATIVELY UNLIKELY.

AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, WILL AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, WILL HE RUN AGAIN?

HE RUN AGAIN?

THAT'S UP IN THE AIR AND AS OF THAT'S UP IN THE AIR AND AS OF YET UNANSWERED.

YET UNANSWERED.

JUST HIM STEPPING DOWN FROM THE JUST HIM STEPPING DOWN FROM THE PRESIDENCY PUTS WESTERN MASS IN PRESIDENCY PUTS WESTERN MASS IN A REALLY TOUGH SPOT CONSIDERING A REALLY TOUGH SPOT CONSIDERING IT TOOK US AN AWFULLY LONG TIME IT TOOK US AN AWFULLY LONG TIME TO HAVE THAT VOICE AT THE TO HAVE THAT VOICE AT THE LEADERSHIP POSITION OF THE LEADERSHIP POSITION OF THE SENATE.

SENATE.

>> AND THE REASON HE'S >> AND THE REASON HE'S TEMPORARILY STEPPED DOWN, JUST TEMPORARILY STEPPED DOWN, JUST TO REMIND FOLKS, IS THAT HIS TO REMIND FOLKS, IS THAT HIS HUSBAND HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SOME HUSBAND HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SOME SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND THERE'S SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND THERE'S QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HIS HUSBAND PROMISED THAT HIS HUSBAND PROMISED THAT SENATOR ROSENBERG'S INFLUENCE SENATOR ROSENBERG'S INFLUENCE COULD BE WIELDED AMONG THOSE COULD BE WIELDED AMONG THOSE FOLKS THAT BRIAN HEFRAN WAS FOLKS THAT BRIAN HEFRAN WAS DEALING WITH.

DEALING WITH.

NOW THERE'S AN ETHICS COMMITTEE NOW THERE'S AN ETHICS COMMITTEE LOOKING INTO THE ALLEGATIONS LOOKING INTO THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIS HUSBAND.

AGAINST HIS HUSBAND.

SO NOTHING AGAINST THE SENATOR SO NOTHING AGAINST THE SENATOR SPECIFICALLY BUT HIS HUSBAND.

SPECIFICALLY BUT HIS HUSBAND.

>> CORRECT.

>> CORRECT.

AND AS HE STEPPED ASIDE TO ALLOW AND AS HE STEPPED ASIDE TO ALLOW THAT INVESTIGATION TO PROCEED, I THAT INVESTIGATION TO PROCEED, I THINK WHAT WE IMMEDIATELY SAW THINK WHAT WE IMMEDIATELY SAW WAS THE BLOOD IN THE WATER, IF WAS THE BLOOD IN THE WATER, IF YOU WILL, AND FOLKS LOOKING TO YOU WILL, AND FOLKS LOOKING TO GRAB THAT SENATE PRESIDENT GRAB THAT SENATE PRESIDENT POSITION.

POSITION.

AND THEY'VE STAYED WITH MISS AND THEY'VE STAYED WITH MISS CHANDLER, WHO WAS THE TEMPORARY CHANDLER, WHO WAS THE TEMPORARY SENATE PRESIDENT FOR THE SENATE PRESIDENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR, WHICH REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR, WHICH OPENED THINGS UP UNTIL NEXT OPENED THINGS UP UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

WEEK.

>> AND SENATOR LESTER IS >> AND SENATOR LESTER IS CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO TOSS HIS RING INTO THE HAT FOR TOSS HIS RING INTO THE HAT FOR NOT AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY NOT AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY ELSE WE HEARD FROM IS OUT IN THE ELSE WE HEARD FROM IS OUT IN THE EASTERN PAST OF THE STATE.

EASTERN PAST OF THE STATE.

BUT THE SENATOR HAS NOT MADE A BUT THE SENATOR HAS NOT MADE A DECISION THERE.

DECISION THERE.

HE TOLD US LAST WEEK.

HE TOLD US LAST WEEK.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE >> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE EYEING THAT POSITION.

EYEING THAT POSITION.

I THINK THE SAME IS GOING TO BE I THINK THE SAME IS GOING TO BE TRUE WITH ANY SPOT ON THE WAYS TRUE WITH ANY SPOT ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS OPEN UP, EVERYONE LOOKS OPTIONS OPEN UP, EVERYONE LOOKS AT THEIR OWN POLITICAL FUTURE, AT THEIR OWN POLITICAL FUTURE, CHECKS THEIR POLITICAL CAPITAL CHECKS THEIR POLITICAL CAPITAL AND SEES IF THEY HAD WHAT IT AND SEES IF THEY HAD WHAT IT TAKES TO MAYBE TAKE THAT NEXT TAKES TO MAYBE TAKE THAT NEXT STEP ASCENDING, GRAB A LITTLE STEP ASCENDING, GRAB A LITTLE MORE CONTROL POWER.

MORE CONTROL POWER.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO >> WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTATIVE SIGH BECK, HE REPRESENTATIVE SIGH BECK, HE SITS ON THE JOINT COMMITTEE FOR SITS ON THE JOINT COMMITTEE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, AND HE'S BEEN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND HE'S BEEN REALLY I STRAMENTLE ON MOVING REALLY I STRAMENTLE ON MOVING THE NEEDLE ON BULLYING ISSUES.

THE NEEDLE ON BULLYING ISSUES.

WE HAD HIM ON THE SHOEFRL TIMES WE HAD HIM ON THE SHOEFRL TIMES TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

NOT NECESSARILY A KEY LEADERSHIP NOT NECESSARILY A KEY LEADERSHIP LOSS THERE BUT A LOT OF YEARS OF LOSS THERE BUT A LOT OF YEARS OF SERVICE.

SERVICE.

>> WHENEVER YOU HAVE ONE OF >> WHENEVER YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE VETERAN LECTERS WHO KNOW THESE VETERAN LECTERS WHO KNOW HOW THINGS WORK LEAVE, THERE'S A HOW THINGS WORK LEAVE, THERE'S A VACUUM.

VACUUM.

AND IT'S A RESTART BUTTON THAT'S AND IT'S A RESTART BUTTON THAT'S THEN PUSHED.

THEN PUSHED.

UNFORTUNATELY IN TERMS OF UNFORTUNATELY IN TERMS OF PRACTICAL STATE POLITICS, YOU PRACTICAL STATE POLITICS, YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHEN YOU PRESS HAVE TO WONDER WHEN YOU PRESS THAT RESET BUTTON HOW MUCH THAT RESET BUTTON HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE IN THE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE IN THE DISTRICT, HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DISTRICT, HOW MUCH INFLUENCE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE, HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE, HOW MUCH CAPACITY AS YOU SAY TO PUSH A CAPACITY AS YOU SAY TO PUSH A NEEDLE FORWARD ON A PARTICULAR NEEDLE FORWARD ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE.

ISSUE.

BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF POLITICS, UNFORTUNATELY.

POLITICS, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> SO SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING >> SO SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING HERE ON THE SHOW IN RECENT WEEKS HERE ON THE SHOW IN RECENT WEEKS IS LOOKING AT 2018 PRIORITIES.

IS LOOKING AT 2018 PRIORITIES.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS WE HAD A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS ON FROM THE WESTERN PART OF THE ON FROM THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE TO DISCUSS WHAT THEIR STATE TO DISCUSS WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.

PRIORITIES ARE.

WE ALSO PUT OUT CALL TO WE ALSO PUT OUT CALL TO QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAS BEEN COMING QUESTIONS THAT HAS BEEN COMING UP FOR ME TO POSE TO OUR UP FOR ME TO POSE TO OUR LEGISLATORS HAS BEEN ABOUT LEGISLATORS HAS BEEN ABOUT MARIJUANA.

MARIJUANA.

MIKE, YOU WROTE ABOUT THAT THIS MIKE, YOU WROTE ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK.

WEEK.

AND YOU SAID, QUOTE, PERHAPS WE AND YOU SAID, QUOTE, PERHAPS WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THAT ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THAT PROHIBITION, CONTINUING TO KEEP PROHIBITION, CONTINUING TO KEEP MARIJUANA LEGAL ISN'T HAPPENING MARIJUANA LEGAL ISN'T HAPPENING ANYMORE.

ANYMORE.

HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THAT HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THAT DECISION?

DECISION?

>> I WAS SITTING AT A CITY >> I WAS SITTING AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THEY WERE COUNCIL MEETING AND THEY WERE DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT INTO THE ORDINANCE FOR INTO THE ORDINANCE FOR DISCUSSION A PIECE OF DISCUSSION A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SIMPLY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SIMPLY AFFIRM THE FACT THAT THE POLICE AFFIRM THE FACT THAT THE POLICE IN THE CITY OF CHICK ADY WOULD IN THE CITY OF CHICK ADY WOULD ENFORCE STATE LAW CONCERNING ENFORCE STATE LAW CONCERNING MARIJUANA.

MARIJUANA.

AND THIS OPENED UP A VERY AND THIS OPENED UP A VERY NICE -- AT LEAST FOR ME AS A NICE -- AT LEAST FOR ME AS A REPORTER -- PANDORA'S BOX ABOUT REPORTER -- PANDORA'S BOX ABOUT CITY COUNSELORS WHO REALLY DID CITY COUNSELORS WHO REALLY DID REVEAL THAT, A, THEY DON'T WANT REVEAL THAT, A, THEY DON'T WANT LEGAL MARIJUANA IN THE CITY, LEGAL MARIJUANA IN THE CITY, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE CITY.

CITY.

B, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT B, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT TRUMPS STATE LAW, STATE LAW TRUMPS STATE LAW, STATE LAW VERSUS FEDERAL LAW.

VERSUS FEDERAL LAW.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS AS A IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS AS A REPORTER YOU REALLY SORT OF REPORTER YOU REALLY SORT OF ENJOY TO BE ABLE TO SIT THERE ENJOY TO BE ABLE TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO THIS.

AND LISTEN TO THIS.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT UNTIL THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNTIL THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DECIDES THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING DECIDES THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ENFORCE FEDERAL MARIJUANA TO ENFORCE FEDERAL MARIJUANA LAWS, AND THIS IS APPARENTLY LAWS, AND THIS IS APPARENTLY BEING LEFT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL BEING LEFT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL U.S.

ATTORNEYS IN THE STATES -- U.S.

ATTORNEYS IN THE STATES -- >> AND WE HEARD HERE ANDREW >> AND WE HEARD HERE ANDREW ELLING, THE U.S.

ATTORNEY IN ELLING, THE U.S.

ATTORNEY IN CHARGE, IS GOING TO LEAN MORE CHARGE, IS GOING TO LEAN MORE TOWARDS OPIOIDS THAN MARIJUANA TOWARDS OPIOIDS THAN MARIJUANA BUT THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION HOW BUT THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION HOW HEAVILY HE MIGHT ENFORCE, GIVEN HEAVILY HE MIGHT ENFORCE, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND DISCRETION HE'S NOW LEVEL AND DISCRETION HE'S NOW BEING GIVEN.

BEING GIVEN.

IF YOU LOOK AT STATES LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT STATES LIKE COLORADO, TRADITIONALLY WHAT COLORADO, TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN THERE IN THE ROLLOUT WE'VE SEEN THERE IN THE ROLLOUT IN THE YEARS SINCE THEY IN THE YEARS SINCE THEY LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IS THERE'S LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IS THERE'S SORT OF A BLIND EYE TURNED.

SORT OF A BLIND EYE TURNED.

THE STATES COME IN WITH THEIR THE STATES COME IN WITH THEIR RIGHTS AND THEY LEAD THIS ISSUE RIGHTS AND THEY LEAD THIS ISSUE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST AGREES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST AGREES TO DISAGREE WITH THE ISSUE.

TO DISAGREE WITH THE ISSUE.

>> THE PROBLEM HERE IS SO MANY >> THE PROBLEM HERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ANTICIPATING PEOPLE ARE ANTICIPATING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS GOING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS GOING TO BE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE.

ENGINE.

SO THERE'S NOW THIS SO THERE'S NOW THIS ADDITIONAL -- THERE'S A ADDITIONAL -- THERE'S A CONFUSION, LEGAL CONFUSION, A CONFUSION, LEGAL CONFUSION, A MORAL AND ETHICAL CONFUSION.

MORAL AND ETHICAL CONFUSION.

YOU TAKE THE SUBURBAN YOU TAKE THE SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND SPRINGFIELD, AND ALL OF THEM DO SPRINGFIELD, AND ALL OF THEM DO NOT WANT POT SHOPS IN THEIR NOT WANT POT SHOPS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITIES.

HOLYOKE IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY HOLYOKE IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY HERE IN THE VALLEY THAT HAS HERE IN THE VALLEY THAT HAS EMBRACED THE IDEA OF HAVING EMBRACED THE IDEA OF HAVING MARIJUANA AS SOMETHING THAT MARIJUANA AS SOMETHING THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SPUR JOB GROWTH.

WOULD ACTUALLY SPUR JOB GROWTH.

SO IT'S -- I THINK THE PEOPLE SO IT'S -- I THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THE AMERICAN HISTORY AND REALIZE AMERICAN HISTORY AND REALIZE THAT PROHIBITION DOES NOT WORK THAT PROHIBITION DOES NOT WORK AND WE HAVE TO COME TO SOME AND WE HAVE TO COME TO SOME RESOLUTION ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING RESOLUTION ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE THIS.

TO HANDLE THIS.

>> CERTAINLIED ADVOCATES FOR >> CERTAINLIED ADVOCATES FOR MARIJUANA THIS WEEK WOULD BE IN MARIJUANA THIS WEEK WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU.

AGREEMENT WITH YOU.

THEY HAD AN EVENT AT THE THEY HAD AN EVENT AT THE STATEHOUSE WHERE THEY SAID IT STATEHOUSE WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS A COORDINATED INTIMIDATION WAS A COORDINATED INTIMIDATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANNABIS, CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANNABIS, POINTING SPECIFICALLY TO POINTING SPECIFICALLY TO GOVERNOR BAKER AND ATTORNEY GOVERNOR BAKER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HEALY AND THE HEAD OF GENERAL HEALY AND THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WHO HAVE ALL COME OUT IN RECENT WHO HAVE ALL COME OUT IN RECENT WEEKS SAYING WE THINK IT SHOULD WEEKS SAYING WE THINK IT SHOULD BE A PHASED ROLLOUT, THE BE A PHASED ROLLOUT, THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION CAN BE DONE THROUGH DISTRIBUTION CAN BE DONE THROUGH POT SHOPS BUT HOLD OFF ON CAFES, POT SHOPS BUT HOLD OFF ON CAFES, YOGA STUDIOS, DOG WALKING YOGA STUDIOS, DOG WALKING FACILITIES, WHATEVER FOLKS COME FACILITIES, WHATEVER FOLKS COME UP WITH, AND DO THE PHASED UP WITH, AND DO THE PHASED ROLLOUT.

ROLLOUT.

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE'S SUCH WHY DO YOU THINK THERE'S SUCH ANGER AMONG ADVOCATES THIS WEEK?

ANGER AMONG ADVOCATES THIS WEEK?

>> I THINK A BIG PART OF THIS IS >> I THINK A BIG PART OF THIS IS THIS WAS PASSED VIA BALLOT THIS WAS PASSED VIA BALLOT INITIATIVE, WHICH LEAVES A LOT INITIATIVE, WHICH LEAVES A LOT OF THINGS WIDE OPEN AS FAR AS OF THINGS WIDE OPEN AS FAR AS PROCESS.

PROCESS.

I REMEMBER BACK WHEN GOVERNOR I REMEMBER BACK WHEN GOVERNOR BAKER WAS RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND BAKER WAS RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND THE CONVERSATION BACK THEN WAS, THE CONVERSATION BACK THEN WAS, IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS WAS IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS WAS TACKLED LEGISLATIVELY SO IT TACKLED LEGISLATIVELY SO IT WASN'T LEFT TO BE A BOLT WASN'T LEFT TO BE A BOLT QUESTION, WHICH LEFT ALL OF QUESTION, WHICH LEFT ALL OF THESE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, AND, THESE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE QUESTION YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE QUESTION MARKS UP IN THE AIR.

MARKS UP IN THE AIR.

AND NOW I THINK WHAT YOU'RE AND NOW I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE ADVOCATES SAYING, SEEING IS THE ADVOCATES SAYING, LOOK, WE GOT THIS FAR AS FAR AS LOOK, WE GOT THIS FAR AS FAR AS LEGALIZATION GOES AND THEY'RE LEGALIZATION GOES AND THEY'RE SAYING IT'S NOT RIGHT TO KIND OF SAYING IT'S NOT RIGHT TO KIND OF METER THE ROLLOUT.

METER THE ROLLOUT.

JUST LET IT BE AND YOU HAVE JUST LET IT BE AND YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS AND OTHER FOLKS THAT LAWMAKERS AND OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE UP TO THE LINE BUT HERE, WE'RE UP TO THE LINE BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR TIME WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR TIME WITH THIS.

WITH THIS.

DO IT THOUGHTFULLY AND MAKE SURE DO IT THOUGHTFULLY AND MAKE SURE WE MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL WE MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS.

YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO I THINK YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO I THINK HAVE THAT DUALITY.

HAVE THAT DUALITY.

>> I THINK IF YOU'RE SITTING IN >> I THINK IF YOU'RE SITTING IN THE ADVOCATE'S CHAIR, THE STATE THE ADVOCATE'S CHAIR, THE STATE HAS ALREADY DELAYED THIS BY SIX HAS ALREADY DELAYED THIS BY SIX MONTHS.

MONTHS.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN JANUARY.

JANUARY.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A JULY NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A JULY START.

START.

BUT WITH THE CANNABIS CONTROL BUT WITH THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION GOING AROUND THE COMMISSION GOING AROUND THE STATE AND DISCUSSING THE DRAFT STATE AND DISCUSSING THE DRAFT REGULATIONS THAT ARE NOW ON THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE NOW ON THE TABLE, TAKING MORE PUBLIC TABLE, TAKING MORE PUBLIC FEEDBACK, WE'RE HEARING FROM FEEDBACK, WE'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INTO THIS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY, LOOK, YOU'RE MAKING IT INDUSTRY, LOOK, YOU'RE MAKING IT TOUGH FOR EVEN FOR US TO HAVE TOUGH FOR EVEN FOR US TO HAVE PRODUCT READY BY JULY TO SELL TO PRODUCT READY BY JULY TO SELL TO PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S FOUR TO FIVE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS TO CULTIVATE THE CROP AND MONTHS TO CULTIVATE THE CROP AND THEN GET IT OUT THERE TO FOLKS.

THEN GET IT OUT THERE TO FOLKS.

SO NOW THERE'S THE QUESTION OF, SO NOW THERE'S THE QUESTION OF, ARE WE EVEN GOING TO MAKE THE ARE WE EVEN GOING TO MAKE THE JULY DEADLINE?

JULY DEADLINE?

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

>> I WOULDN'T BET THAT WE WERE >> I WOULDN'T BET THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THE JULY DEADLINE.

GOING TO MAKE THE JULY DEADLINE.

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO >> BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO CRAZY IF WE DON'T?

GO CRAZY IF WE DON'T?

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE PEOPLE >> I THINK THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE PROTESTING IN BOSTON WHO WILL BE PROTESTING IN BOSTON AT THE STATEHOUSE AND THAT TIECH AT THE STATEHOUSE AND THAT TIECH OF THING, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS OF THING, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF THE STATE WANTS TO DELAY IT, IF THE STATE WANTS TO DELAY IT, IT'S GOING TO BE DELAYED.

IT'S GOING TO BE DELAYED.

YOU'VE GOT INDIVIDUAL YOU'VE GOT INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES HERE WHO ARE MUNICIPALITIES HERE WHO ARE SITTING AND WAITING FOR THE SITTING AND WAITING FOR THE STATE TO MAKE A DECISION, SO STATE TO MAKE A DECISION, SO THEY CAN THEN MAKE THEIR OWN THEY CAN THEN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

DECISIONS.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A TERRIBLE WAY IT'S REALLY BEEN A TERRIBLE WAY TO ROLL OUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

TO ROLL OUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S ONLY GOING AND I THINK THAT IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE IF THE STATE SAYS, TO GET WORSE IF THE STATE SAYS, WELL, LET'S WAIT ANOTHER SIX WELL, LET'S WAIT ANOTHER SIX MONTHS BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET OUR MONTHS BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET OUR ACT TOGETHER.

ACT TOGETHER.

>> ANOTHER PRIORITY THAT WE >> ANOTHER PRIORITY THAT WE HEARD FROM FOLKS IN THE LAST HEARD FROM FOLKS IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING ON THE SHOW WAS DISCUSSING ON THE SHOW WAS TRANSPORTATION, OBSERVE TRANSPORTATION, OBSERVE OBVIOUSLY EAST-WEST RAIL GETTING OBVIOUSLY EAST-WEST RAIL GETTING A LOT OF BUZZ NOW, IS IT GOING A LOT OF BUZZ NOW, IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

TO HAPPEN?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO STUDY IT?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO STUDY IT?

THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION CAME OUT THIS TRANSPORTATION CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND MASS LIVE WAS AMONG THE WEEK AND MASS LIVE WAS AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT REPORTED THAT THE PEOPLE THAT REPORTED THAT THE JOINT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED JOINT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED PASSING A BILL TO STEADY THE PASSING A BILL TO STEADY THE COSTS AND IMPACTS OF RAIL COSTS AND IMPACTS OF RAIL SERVICE FROM BOSTON TO THE SERVICE FROM BOSTON TO THE BERKSHIRES AND SENATOR LESSER BERKSHIRES AND SENATOR LESSER HELPED TO LEAD THAT EFFORT.

HELPED TO LEAD THAT EFFORT.

BUT IS THIS DEJA VU ALL OVER BUT IS THIS DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN?

AGAIN?

BECAUSE IN 2016 WE HAD SENATOR BECAUSE IN 2016 WE HAD SENATOR LESSER CHAMPION A FEASIBILITY LESSER CHAMPION A FEASIBILITY STUDY BUT THEN GOVERNOR BAKER STUDY BUT THEN GOVERNOR BAKER CAME OUT AND SAID NO, WE'RE NOT CAME OUT AND SAID NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

GOING TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKING COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE.

DO YOU THINK BAKER WILL COME IN DO YOU THINK BAKER WILL COME IN AND HAVE HIM TAP THE BRAKES ON AND HAVE HIM TAP THE BRAKES ON THIS AGAIN?

THIS AGAIN?

>> WELL, LIKE I SAID, THAT >> WELL, LIKE I SAID, THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I THINK THAT IT'S -- CHANCES ARE I THINK THAT IT'S -- CHANCES ARE THAT THAT VERY WELL COULD THAT THAT VERY WELL COULD HAPPEN.

HAPPEN.

WITH THE MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, POWER AND DIFFERENT INTERESTS POWER AND DIFFERENT INTERESTS THAT ARE ALL KIND OF SWIRLED THAT ARE ALL KIND OF SWIRLED INTO THIS DEBATE OVER, WHAT'S INTO THIS DEBATE OVER, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET FROM WESTERN THE BEST WAY TO GET FROM WESTERN MASS TO BOSTON, I THINK THERE'S MASS TO BOSTON, I THINK THERE'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT THIS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT THIS PROPOSAL COULD BE ALTERED, IT PROPOSAL COULD BE ALTERED, IT COULD BE DEEP SIXED.

COULD BE DEEP SIXED.

A LOT OF THINGS COULD HAPPEN.

A LOT OF THINGS COULD HAPPEN.

AS FAR AS THE TRAIN FROM AS FAR AS THE TRAIN FROM SPRINGFIELD OR EVEN THE SPRINGFIELD OR EVEN THE BERKSHIRES TO BOSTON, DESPITE BERKSHIRES TO BOSTON, DESPITE THE LEVEL OF ADVOCACY, I THINK THE LEVEL OF ADVOCACY, I THINK THERE IS A -- I MEAN, THERE'S A THERE IS A -- I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS GOING UP AGAINST LOT OF FACTORS GOING UP AGAINST IT, COSTS, SPECIAL INTERESTS, IT, COSTS, SPECIAL INTERESTS, MONEY.

MONEY.

MONEY'S PART WHETHER IT'S ON THE MONEY'S PART WHETHER IT'S ON THE ADVOCACY OR ANTI-ADVOCACY PART ADVOCACY OR ANTI-ADVOCACY PART OR THE ACTUAL COST OF THE OR THE ACTUAL COST OF THE PROPOSAL.

PROPOSAL.

IT'S A TOUGH SELL.

IT'S A TOUGH SELL.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, MASSDOT CAME >> WELL, YOU KNOW, MASSDOT CAME OUT WITH ITS BIG TRANSPORTATION OUT WITH ITS BIG TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND IT HAD TWO TIERS AND PLAN AND IT HAD TWO TIERS AND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS ON THE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS ON THE SECOND TIER.

SECOND TIER.

AND THAT WAS VIEWED AS A AND THAT WAS VIEWED AS A VICTORY.

VICTORY.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE PRIORITY ONE >> RIGHT, BECAUSE PRIORITY ONE IS, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO IS, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO IT SOON.

IT SOON.

PRIORITY TWO IS WE'RE HOPING TO PRIORITY TWO IS WE'RE HOPING TO GET TO IT SOONISH.

GET TO IT SOONISH.

PRIORITY THREE IS, LET'S KIND OF PRIORITY THREE IS, LET'S KIND OF FORGET ABOUT IT ALL TOGETHER.

FORGET ABOUT IT ALL TOGETHER.

I'M BEING A LITTLE BIT SHORT ON I'M BEING A LITTLE BIT SHORT ON THOSE BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE THOSE BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE SHORTHAND -- SHORTHAND -- >> THAT'S BASICALLY HOW IT >> THAT'S BASICALLY HOW IT ROLLS.

ROLLS.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

THE PRIORITY ONE, FIRST TIER THE PRIORITY ONE, FIRST TIER PROGRAMS ON THIS REPORT ARE PROGRAMS ON THIS REPORT ARE WHAT'S KNOWN AS SHOVEL READY WHAT'S KNOWN AS SHOVEL READY PROJECTS.

PROJECTS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, A FEASIBILITY NEEDLESS TO SAY, A FEASIBILITY STUDY ISN'T SHOVEL READY.

STUDY ISN'T SHOVEL READY.

THEY HAVE TO DO THE WORK AND THEY HAVE TO DO THE WORK AND THEY HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE, ET THEY HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

CETERA, ET CETERA.

THAT WAS SEEN AS THIS BIG THAT WAS SEEN AS THIS BIG VICTORY.

VICTORY.

BUT MASSDOT HAS NOT COMMITTED TO BUT MASSDOT HAS NOT COMMITTED TO DOING IT AS OF YET.

DOING IT AS OF YET.

SO REALLY, I THINK WE'RE IN THE SO REALLY, I THINK WE'RE IN THE SAME POSITION THAT WE'VE BEEN SAME POSITION THAT WE'VE BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THIS.

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THEY WANT TO SEE AT LEAST A THEY WANT TO SEE AT LEAST A STUDY BE DONE.

STUDY BE DONE.

BUT WHETHER OR NOT IT GETS DONE BUT WHETHER OR NOT IT GETS DONE IS IS IT PROBLEMATICAL.

IS IS IT PROBLEMATICAL.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, >> WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, RIGHT.

RIGHT.

SO WE HEARD BACK -- WE WILL GIVE SO WE HEARD BACK -- WE WILL GIVE IT BACK TO RACES, SENATOR WARREN IT BACK TO RACES, SENATOR WARREN CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND GAVE A CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND GAVE A SPEECH AT THE NATIONAL CONGRESS SPEECH AT THE NATIONAL CONGRESS FOR AMERICAN INDIANS AND THIS IS FOR AMERICAN INDIANS AND THIS IS NOW BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN NOW BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN THIS QUESTION ABOUT WHEN SHE THIS QUESTION ABOUT WHEN SHE DECIDED TO NOTE THAT SHE HAS DECIDED TO NOTE THAT SHE HAS NATIVE-AMERICAN DECENT, THERE NATIVE-AMERICAN DECENT, THERE WAS QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR WAS QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SHE WAS TRYING TO USE THAT NOT SHE WAS TRYING TO USE THAT FOR HER POLITICAL -- NOT FOR HER POLITICAL -- NOT POLITICAL GAIN BUT CAREER GAME POLITICAL GAIN BUT CAREER GAME AND THE PRESIDENT HAS COMED OUT AND THE PRESIDENT HAS COMED OUT IN RECENT WEEKS CALLING HER A IN RECENT WEEKS CALLING HER A DEROGATORY FORM, CALLING HER DEROGATORY FORM, CALLING HER POCAHONTAS.

POCAHONTAS.

THAT'S WHAT HE CALLED THE THAT'S WHAT HE CALLED THE SENATOR.

SENATOR.

WHEN SENATOR WARREN BROUGHT THE WHEN SENATOR WARREN BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP, WERE YOU SURNED TO ISSUE UP, WERE YOU SURNED TO HEAR IT AGAIN?

HEAR IT AGAIN?

>> WHEN I FIRST HEARD SHE WAS >> WHEN I FIRST HEARD SHE WAS GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL ON NATIVE-AMERICANS, I COUNCIL ON NATIVE-AMERICANS, I WAS SURPRISED.

WAS SURPRISED.

I WAS SURPRISED AT FIRST.

I WAS SURPRISED AT FIRST.

AND THEN ONCE I READ A COPY OF AND THEN ONCE I READ A COPY OF HER SPEECH KIND OF SAW WHERE SHE HER SPEECH KIND OF SAW WHERE SHE WAS GOING WITH IT.

WAS GOING WITH IT.

AND SHE TOOK SOMETHING THAT AND SHE TOOK SOMETHING THAT LATER DOWN THE LINE, PERHAPS A LATER DOWN THE LINE, PERHAPS A POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL RUN, POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL RUN, COULD HAVE BEEN POLITICAL COULD HAVE BEEN POLITICAL BAGGAGE, AND SHE EVENED IT.

BAGGAGE, AND SHE EVENED IT.

>> YOU THINK SHE'S OPENING UP A >> YOU THINK SHE'S OPENING UP A LANE FOR A 2020 RUN FOR LARGER LANE FOR A 2020 RUN FOR LARGER THINGS?

THINGS?

>> I THINK SHE'S ALWAYS KEEPING >> I THINK SHE'S ALWAYS KEEPING HER OPTIONS OPEN.

HER OPTIONS OPEN.

SHE HAS A LOT OF POLITICAL SHE HAS A LOT OF POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM DIFFERENT FOLKS PRESSURE FROM DIFFERENT FOLKS THAT WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER RUN, THAT WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER RUN, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING IN THEIR ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING IN THEIR MIND THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE MIND THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE COUNTRY TODAY.

COUNTRY TODAY.

SO I THINK SHE'S DEFINITELY SO I THINK SHE'S DEFINITELY KEEPING HER OPTIONS OPEN, AND KEEPING HER OPTIONS OPEN, AND SHE'S MOVING ACCORDINGLY.

SHE'S MOVING ACCORDINGLY.

SHE'S ALWAYS PLAYING CHESS, TWO, SHE'S ALWAYS PLAYING CHESS, TWO, THREE STEPS AHEAD.

THREE STEPS AHEAD.

SHE'S NOT PLAYING CHECKERS.

SHE'S NOT PLAYING CHECKERS.

SO I THINK THIS WAS A STRATEGIC, SO I THINK THIS WAS A STRATEGIC, CALCULATED MOVE.

CALCULATED MOVE.

AND WITHIN THAT SPEECH, SHE TOOK AND WITHIN THAT SPEECH, SHE TOOK THE PRESIDENT CALLING HER THE PRESIDENT CALLING HER POCAHONTAS AND CRYSTALIZED JUST POCAHONTAS AND CRYSTALIZED JUST WHO POCAHONTAS WAS, SHE'S NOT WHO POCAHONTAS WAS, SHE'S NOT ANOTHER DISNEY PRINCESS.

ANOTHER DISNEY PRINCESS.

>> THE ACTUAL STORY, THE ACTUAL >> THE ACTUAL STORY, THE ACTUAL STORY WHICH IS BRUTAL AND STORY WHICH IS BRUTAL AND HORRIBLE.

HORRIBLE.

>> HORRENDOUS.

>> HORRENDOUS.

AND I THINK THROUGH TELLING THAT AND I THINK THROUGH TELLING THAT STORY AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE, STORY AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE, SHE DID IT IN THE WAY SHE DOES SHE DID IT IN THE WAY SHE DOES WITH SO MANY TOPICS, SHE TAKES WITH SO MANY TOPICS, SHE TAKES SOMETHING RATHER DIFFICULT AND SOMETHING RATHER DIFFICULT AND SHE CRYSTALLIZES IT INTO SHE CRYSTALLIZES IT INTO SOMETHING SIMPLE AND SHE MAKES SOMETHING SIMPLE AND SHE MAKES IT IMPACTFUL.

IT IMPACTFUL.

I THINK MAYBE THAT COMES FROM I THINK MAYBE THAT COMES FROM HER TIME AS A PROFESSOR.

HER TIME AS A PROFESSOR.

BUT WHEN SHE DOES THIS, SHE BUT WHEN SHE DOES THIS, SHE REALLY REACHES A WIDE AUDIENCE, REALLY REACHES A WIDE AUDIENCE, AND SHE WALKS AWAY WITH MORE AND SHE WALKS AWAY WITH MORE POLITICAL CAPITAL THAN SHE POLITICAL CAPITAL THAN SHE WALKED IN WITH.

WALKED IN WITH.

I THINK THAT'S HOW THIS ENDED.

I THINK THAT'S HOW THIS ENDED.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID IN >> ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID IN THE SPEECH WAS, QUOTE, WE MUST THE SPEECH WAS, QUOTE, WE MUST STAND WITH EVERYONE WHO'S GOTTEN STAND WITH EVERYONE WHO'S GOTTEN THE SHORT END OF THE STICK FROM THE SHORT END OF THE STICK FROM WASHINGTON OVER AND OVER AND WASHINGTON OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

OVER.

WE MUST WEAVE OUR VOICES WE MUST WEAVE OUR VOICES TOGETHER TO MAKE THEM STRONG.

TOGETHER TO MAKE THEM STRONG.

WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO WRITE A WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO WRITE A NEW STORY, NOT JUST FOR NEW STORY, NOT JUST FOR NATIVE-AMERICANS, BUT FOR ALL NATIVE-AMERICANS, BUT FOR ALL AMERICANS.

AMERICANS.

>> IT JUST SOUNDS TO ME LIKE >> IT JUST SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SHE -- SHE'S LEARNED A VERY SHE -- SHE'S LEARNED A VERY VALUABLE LESSON FROM THE LAST VALUABLE LESSON FROM THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL RACE THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS TO REDEFINE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS TO REDEFINE ITSELF AND GO BACK TO WORKING ITSELF AND GO BACK TO WORKING CLASS ROOTS, WORKING PEOPLE CLASS ROOTS, WORKING PEOPLE ROOTS.

ROOTS.

THEY HAVE TO BE THE CHAMPIONS OF THEY HAVE TO BE THE CHAMPIONS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THIS ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THIS COUNTRY.

COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE TO BE THE CHAMPIONS OF THEY HAVE TO BE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE UNIONS.

THE UNIONS.

AND I THINK THAT SHE'S TRYING TO AND I THINK THAT SHE'S TRYING TO GO BACK AND SAY THIS IS WHAT THE GO BACK AND SAY THIS IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALL ABOUT.

DEMOCRATS ARE ALL ABOUT.

I THINK IT'S A VERY INTERESTING I THINK IT'S A VERY INTERESTING APPROACH.

APPROACH.

I THINK IT'S A VERY NECESSARY I THINK IT'S A VERY NECESSARY APPROACH FOR THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A PARTY, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH CENTRISTS DISSATISFIED WITH CENTRISTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT SORT OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT SORT OF LOOKS LIKE, WELL, IT MAKES IT LOOKS LIKE, WELL, IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE WHAT REPUBLICANS WERE LOOK LIKE WHAT REPUBLICANS WERE LIKE IN THE 1950'S UNDER LIKE IN THE 1950'S UNDER EISENHOWER.

EISENHOWER.

THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS LOOK LIKE.

THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS LOOK LIKE.

AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT IS AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT IS NOT DOING THE JOB.

NOT DOING THE JOB.

>> LET'S PIVOT AND TALK ABOUT >> LET'S PIVOT AND TALK ABOUT THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE IN FLORIDA THIS WEEK, ANOTHER MASS FLORIDA THIS WEEK, ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING AT A SCHOOL, 17 PEOPLE SHOOTING AT A SCHOOL, 17 PEOPLE ARE DEAD FOLLOWING THE THE ARE DEAD FOLLOWING THE THE SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL.

DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL.

WE SAW HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS ON WE SAW HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS ON THURSDAY AT THE STATEHOUSE A THURSDAY AT THE STATEHOUSE A GROUP OF GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS GROUP OF GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES AND GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES GATHERED TO ADVOCATE FOR A BILL GATHERED TO ADVOCATE FOR A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT IF YOU THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT IF YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM OR HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM OR CHALLENGE, THAT YOUR GUNS COULD CHALLENGE, THAT YOUR GUNS COULD BE CONFISCATED FROM YOU AND BE CONFISCATED FROM YOU AND SHERIFF SHOW ENBERG REPORTED SHERIFF SHOW ENBERG REPORTED ABOUT THIS ON "MASS LIVE," ABOUT THIS ON "MASS LIVE," ATTORNEY GENERAL HEALY IS IN ATTORNEY GENERAL HEALY IS IN SUEPORT OF THIS.

SUEPORT OF THIS.

DO YOU THINK THIS WILL GO DO YOU THINK THIS WILL GO ANYWHERE?

ANYWHERE?

PEOPLE OFTEN SAY IN PEOPLE OFTEN SAY IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE HAVE PRETTY MASSACHUSETTS, WE HAVE PRETTY STRONG GUN LAWS AS IT IS.

STRONG GUN LAWS AS IT IS.

>> I THINK THIS HAS A GOOD >> I THINK THIS HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF MOVING FORWARD HERE IN CHANCE OF MOVING FORWARD HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

JUST LIKE THE BUMP STOCK BAND JUST LIKE THE BUMP STOCK BAND AFTER THE MASS SHOOTING IN LAS AFTER THE MASS SHOOTING IN LAS VEGAS.

VEGAS.

AS WE KIND OF DISCUSSED AS WE KIND OF DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY TO THE SHOW, I DON'T PREVIOUSLY TO THE SHOW, I DON'T THINK THE ANSWER TO THIS THINK THE ANSWER TO THIS NECESSARILY LIES IN NECESSARILY LIES IN MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

WE TACKLE THESE THINGS AS THEY WE TACKLE THESE THINGS AS THEY COME UP AND HAVE A GOOD CHANCE COME UP AND HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF MAKING PROGRESS ON THE STATE OF MAKING PROGRESS ON THE STATE LEVEL.

LEVEL.

BUT AS YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER, BUT AS YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER, MIKE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MIKE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NATIONAL ISSUE.

NATIONAL ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, THE MASSACHUSETTS, YOU KNOW, THE MASSACHUSETTS, THIS IS KIND OF AN EXTENSION THIS IS KIND OF AN EXTENSION OF -- THERE'S A LAW IF POLICE OF -- THERE'S A LAW IF POLICE ARE CALLED TO YOUR HOUSE FOR ARE CALLED TO YOUR HOUSE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TYPE ISSUE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TYPE ISSUE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO TEMPORARILY CONFISCATE YOUR TEMPORARILY CONFISCATE YOUR GUNS.

GUNS.

IT'S KIND OF AN EXTENSION OF IT'S KIND OF AN EXTENSION OF THAT.

THAT.

AND IN THE SAME VAIN I THINK IS AND IN THE SAME VAIN I THINK IS AN EASY SELL HERE, I THINK FOLKS AN EASY SELL HERE, I THINK FOLKS WILL GO FOR IT.

WILL GO FOR IT.

BUT THE QUESTION IS WILL BUT THE QUESTION IS WILL ANYTHING EVER HAPPEN NATIONALLY ANYTHING EVER HAPPEN NATIONALLY REGARDING ANY TYPE OF GUN REGARDING ANY TYPE OF GUN CONTROL IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY AS CONTROL IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY AS LONG AS THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY LONG AS THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AND SPECIAL INTERESTS.

AND SPECIAL INTERESTS.

>> EXPECTING PUSHBACK FROM THE >> EXPECTING PUSHBACK FROM THE N.R.A.

BUT MORE OPENLY THE N.R.A.

BUT MORE OPENLY THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION LEAK AND GOVERNOR'S ACTION LEAK AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEN WALLACE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEN WALLACE SAID IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH SAID IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND YOU GO AWAY AND CHALLENGES AND YOU GO AWAY AND TAKE AWAY THEIR GUNS, HE'S TAKE AWAY THEIR GUNS, HE'S CONCERNED YOU WILL ELEVATE THE CONCERNED YOU WILL ELEVATE THE RISK THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANGRY RISK THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANGRY AND DO SOMETHING WRONG.

AND DO SOMETHING WRONG.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE GUY IS A >> I DON'T KNOW IF THE GUY IS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

I'M NOT A MENTAL HEALTH I'M NOT A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

PROFESSIONAL.

SO TO MAKE A STATEMENT LIKE THAT SO TO MAKE A STATEMENT LIKE THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE.

DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE.

I HAVE DONE A LOT OF ROSHTING I HAVE DONE A LOT OF ROSHTING ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND IT ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND IT DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE IF DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE IF THERE'S A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THERE'S A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, THAT THE REMOVAL OF SITUATION, THAT THE REMOVAL OF WEAPONS FROM THE HOME IS WEAPONS FROM THE HOME IS SOMETHING THAT CAN PREVENT A SOMETHING THAT CAN PREVENT A DEATH.

DEATH.

AND THAT SEEMS TO MAKE A LOT OF AND THAT SEEMS TO MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

SENSE.

I THINK THAT PUSHING IT IN THAT I THINK THAT PUSHING IT IN THAT OTHER DIRECTION IS JUST SORT OF OTHER DIRECTION IS JUST SORT OF A HYPERBOLIC STATEMENT THAT HE'S A HYPERBOLIC STATEMENT THAT HE'S PREACHING TO THE CHOIR ON, AND PREACHING TO THE CHOIR ON, AND THAT HE'S EXPECTED TO MAKE THAT HE'S EXPECTED TO MAKE INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THAT'S INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY REALISTIC.

ACTUALLY REALISTIC.

>> SO N.P.R.

DID A REPORT, THEY >> SO N.P.R.

DID A REPORT, THEY INTERVIEWED A YOUNG REPORTER AND INTERVIEWED A YOUNG REPORTER AND SHE'S 23 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS SHE'S 23 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS THE THIRD MASS SHOOTING SHE'S THE THIRD MASS SHOOTING SHE'S REPORTED ON.

REPORTED ON.

SHE'S WITH THE PALM BEACH POST SHE'S WITH THE PALM BEACH POST AND HER NAME IS LULU RAMADAN.

AND HER NAME IS LULU RAMADAN.

SHE SPOKE ELOQUENTLY AS A SHE SPOKE ELOQUENTLY AS A JOURNALIST COMING THROUGH SHE JOURNALIST COMING THROUGH SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD REPORT ON THOUGHT SHE WOULD REPORT ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS ONCE IN HER SOMETHING LIKE THIS ONCE IN HER CAREER AND HERE SHE IS THE THIRD CAREER AND HERE SHE IS THE THIRD TIME AROUND.

TIME AROUND.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS YOU THINK AS ARE THERE QUESTIONS YOU THINK AS JOURNALISTS YOU THINK WE SHOULD JOURNALISTS YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE ASKING?

BE ASKING?

WE'RE VERY SHORT ON TIME BUT WE'RE VERY SHORT ON TIME BUT JUST QUICKLY.

JUST QUICKLY.

>> I THINK ULTIMATELY IT'S ALL >> I THINK ULTIMATELY IT'S ALL ABOUT MOTIVATION, IT'S ALL ABOUT ABOUT MOTIVATION, IT'S ALL ABOUT WITH THE SHOOTER, WHAT MOTIVATED WITH THE SHOOTER, WHAT MOTIVATED THIS PERSON TO DO IT.

THIS PERSON TO DO IT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S MORE OF AND I THINK THAT THAT'S MORE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY THAN PERHAPS OUR RESPONSIBILITY THAN PERHAPS ANYTHING ELSE.

ANYTHING ELSE.

>> ANYTHING QUICKLY, ROB?

>> ANYTHING QUICKLY, ROB?

>> I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION >> I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION AS JOURNALISTS TO KEEP ASKING AS JOURNALISTS TO KEEP ASKING THE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, OF THE THE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, OF THE PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY THE PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY THE LEGISLATORS.

LEGISLATORS.

OK, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A ROLE TO OK, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.

PLAY.

IS THERE ANY ROLE THAT YOU IS THERE ANY ROLE THAT YOU INTEND TO PLAY?

INTEND TO PLAY?

>> ROB RIZZUTO OF MASS LIVE AND >> ROB RIZZUTO OF MASS LIVE AND THE REPUBLICAN AND MIKE DOBBS THE REPUBLICAN AND MIKE DOBBS WITH THE REMINDER.

WITH THE REMINDER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS >> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS WEEK.

WEEK.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND US REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME AT ONLINE ANY TIME AT WGBY.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

WGBY.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

THE BRAND-NEW SEASON OF THE BRAND-NEW SEASON OF "CONNECTING POINT: THE STATE "CONNECTING POINT: THE STATE WE'RE IN" BEGINS MONDAY, WE'RE IN" BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH AND WE HOPE YOU FEBRUARY 19TH AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US THEN AT OUR NEW WILL JOIN US THEN AT OUR NEW TIME, 7:00 P.M.

TIME, 7:00 P.M.

HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE ALL-NEW EXPECT FROM THE ALL-NEW "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

>> "CONNECTING POINT" HAS ALWAYS >> "CONNECTING POINT" HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT PROFILING THE PEOPLE, BEEN ABOUT PROFILING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND IDEAS THAT MATTER PLACES AND IDEAS THAT MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

AND FOR THIS NEW SEASON, WE'RE AND FOR THIS NEW SEASON, WE'RE RECOMMITTING TO THAT IDEA IN A RECOMMITTING TO THAT IDEA IN A VERY BIG WAY.

VERY BIG WAY.

WE'RE COMING TO YOU FIVE NIGHTS WE'RE COMING TO YOU FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK, CARRIE SALDO IS BACK, A WEEK, CARRIE SALDO IS BACK, ALONG WITH A CREW OF PRODUCERS ALONG WITH A CREW OF PRODUCERS AND REPORTERS, WOULD WILL BE AND REPORTERS, WOULD WILL BE DIGGING DEEP TO FIND THE ISSUES DIGGING DEEP TO FIND THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT MATTER MOST TO AND CONCERNS THAT MATTER MOST TO THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THE REGION THAT WE LIVE MAKE UP THE REGION THAT WE LIVE IN.

IN.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT >> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE SEE US NOT AS A THAT PEOPLE SEE US NOT AS A PLACE WHERE THEY JUST COME TO PLACE WHERE THEY JUST COME TO WATCH AND HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON WATCH AND HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO IT'S IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO IT'S AN ACTIVE CONVERSATION.

AN ACTIVE CONVERSATION.

>> DO YOU THINK THE STATE OF THE >> DO YOU THINK THE STATE OF THE STATE THIS WEEK WAS A VICTORY STATE THIS WEEK WAS A VICTORY LAP FOR BAKER?

LAP FOR BAKER?

>> I DO.

>> I DO.

>> WE WANT TO HEAR THE THINGS >> WE WANT TO HEAR THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO YOU.

THAT MATTER MOST TO YOU.

WE WANT TO HEAR THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HEAR THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE LEARNING YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE LEARNING ABOUT, DISCUSSING.

ABOUT, DISCUSSING.

THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ASKING ON YOUR BEHALF.

ASKING ON YOUR BEHALF.

>> WE WANT TO DIG DEEPER.

>> WE WANT TO DIG DEEPER.

REPORTING FACTS IS WONDERFUL AND REPORTING FACTS IS WONDERFUL AND VERY IMPORTANT.

VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT ARE THE HOWS AND WHYS BEYOND THE ARE THE HOWS AND WHYS BEYOND THE FACTS.

FACTS.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

WHY ARE WE HERE?

WHY ARE WE HERE?

AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE RESOLUTIONS.

RESOLUTIONS.

WHAT WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD TO WHAT WE CAN DO MOVING FORWARD TO GROW AND CHANGE.

GROW AND CHANGE.

>> STORIES THAT REALLY TOUCH >> STORIES THAT REALLY TOUCH PEOPLE LIKE THE OPIOID CRISIS.

PEOPLE LIKE THE OPIOID CRISIS.

WE WERE ABLE TO INTERVIEW A WE WERE ABLE TO INTERVIEW A WONDERFUL FAMILY FROM WEST WONDERFUL FAMILY FROM WEST SPRINGFIELD WHO LOST THEIR SON, SPRINGFIELD WHO LOST THEIR SON, AND HE REALLY SHARED WITH US THE AND HE REALLY SHARED WITH US THE HEARTBREAK AND THE PAIN AND WE HEARTBREAK AND THE PAIN AND WE WERE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO TELL WERE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO TELL HIS STORY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HIS STORY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO REACH OUT TO OTHER PARENTS TO REACH OUT TO OTHER PARENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS, LET THEM KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS, SO THAT THEY DON'T GO THROUGH SO THAT THEY DON'T GO THROUGH WHAT HIS FAMILY HAS GONE WHAT HIS FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH.

THROUGH.

SO HAVING A FORMAT L SO HAVING A FORMAT L LIKE "CONNECTING POINT LIKE "CONNECTING POINT OOPS "ALLOWED US TO HAVE TIME OOPS "ALLOWED US TO HAVE TIME WITH HIM AND SHARE THAT TO OUR WITH HIM AND SHARE THAT TO OUR VIEWERS.

VIEWERS.

>> I LIKE TO TELL THE STORY AND >> I LIKE TO TELL THE STORY AND GO OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE IN GO OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT.

THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT.

I'M AMAZED AT OPEN PEOPLE ARE I'M AMAZED AT OPEN PEOPLE ARE AND HOW WILLING THEY ARE TO AND HOW WILLING THEY ARE TO SHARE THEIR STORY.

SHARE THEIR STORY.

THEY DON'T KNOW ME BEFORE I EVER THEY DON'T KNOW ME BEFORE I EVER MET THEM AND WHEN I EXPRESS AN MET THEM AND WHEN I EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN SHARING THEIR STORY, INTEREST IN SHARING THEIR STORY, I'M AMAZED AT HOW GRATEFUL THEY I'M AMAZED AT HOW GRATEFUL THEY ARE THAT I WOULD EVEN WANT TO DO ARE THAT I WOULD EVEN WANT TO DO THAT.

THAT.

TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT ON A TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT ON A PROGRAM LIKE "CONNECTING POINT" PROGRAM LIKE "CONNECTING POINT" AND SHARE THAT WITH OUR VIEWERS AND SHARE THAT WITH OUR VIEWERS IS REALLY SPECIAL.

IS REALLY SPECIAL.

>> YOU KNOW, EACH DAY YOU COME >> YOU KNOW, EACH DAY YOU COME IN AND IT'S READ, RESEARCH, LOOK IN AND IT'S READ, RESEARCH, LOOK FOR TOPICS, THINK OF THINGS THAT FOR TOPICS, THINK OF THINGS THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO ME THAT I ARE OF INTEREST TO ME THAT I HOPE WILL BE OF INTEREST TO YOU HOPE WILL BE OF INTEREST TO YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM.

AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM.

THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BRINGING BACK STORIES THAT WILL BRINGING BACK STORIES THAT WILL ALSO FOLD INTO THE SHOW.

ALSO FOLD INTO THE SHOW.

>> A LOT OF THE STORIES THAT I >> A LOT OF THE STORIES THAT I WILL BE DOING ARE FOCUSED ON WILL BE DOING ARE FOCUSED ON SPRINGFIELD AND WHAT'S HAPPENING SPRINGFIELD AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS AND ALSO LOCAL IN THE SCHOOLS AND ALSO LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND THEIR PASSION ENTREPRENEURS AND THEIR PASSION BEHIND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

BEHIND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THIS IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR ME THIS IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR ME STARTING OFF AS AN INTERN HERE STARTING OFF AS AN INTERN HERE AT WGBY.

AT WGBY.

NOW BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE, I NOW BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE, I NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED THIS NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED THIS HAPPENING.

HAPPENING.

>> IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.

>> IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.

EVERYBODY'S WORKING TOGETHER TO EVERYBODY'S WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WEE WE'RE BRINGING THE MAKE SURE WEE WE'RE BRINGING THE BEST SHOW POSSIBLE TO THE BEST SHOW POSSIBLE TO THE VIEWERS EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK.

VIEWERS EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK.

WE'RE BUILDING A CLOSER, MORE WE'RE BUILDING A CLOSER, MORE INFORMED WESTERN NEW ENGLAND INFORMED WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE AT WGBY COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE AT WGBY WITH AN ALL-NEW "CONNECTING WITH AN ALL-NEW "CONNECTING POINT."

POINT."

I'M CARRIE SALDO AND I'M I'M CARRIE SALDO AND I'M THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THIS THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THIS NEW SET AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, NEW SET AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WGBY'S RECOMMITMENT TO QUALITY WGBY'S RECOMMITMENT TO QUALITY JOURNALISM.

JOURNALISM.

NOW FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK, YOU WILL NOW FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK, YOU WILL GET INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS ABOUT GET INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO YOU.

YOU.

TUNE IN TO "CONNECTING POINT" TUNE IN TO "CONNECTING POINT" FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK STARTING FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK STARTING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH AT A NEW MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH AT A NEW TIME, 7:00 P.M., RIGHT AFTER THE TIME, 7:00 P.M., RIGHT AFTER THE PBS NEWSHOUR.

PBS NEWSHOUR.

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS AND BY -- CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS AND BY -- >> FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, THE >> FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, THE SPRINGFIELD'S REGIONAL CHAMBER SPRINGFIELD'S REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS BEEN AT THE OF COMMERCE HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

HEART OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AT A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED AT A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AND VIBRANT FUTURE AHEAD, GROWTH AND VIBRANT FUTURE AHEAD, I AM EXCITED THAT WITH PARTNERS I AM EXCITED THAT WITH PARTNERS LIKE WGBY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LIKE WGBY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN DRIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MAKE NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MAKE OUR REGION THE PLACE TO BUILD A OUR REGION THE PLACE TO BUILD A BUSINESS AND MAKE A LIFE.

>> AS A REGIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY, WGBY SHARES INSURANCE COMPANY, WGBY SHARES OUR INTENTION FOR ENRICHING THE OUR INTENTION FOR ENRICHING THE LIVES OF MANY.

LIVES OF MANY.

MUCH PLEASE HELP OUR COMMUNITY MUCH PLEASE HELP OUR COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING WGBY.