>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": AHEAD OF JOE BIDEN'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL ADDRESS AS PRESIDENT, I'LL TALK TO SENATOR EDWARD MARKEY ABOUT HIS TAKE ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST 100 DAYS.

PLUS, TAKE TWO FOR HIS GREEN NEW DEAL, EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE SUPREME COURT, AND MORE.

THEN, LATER, GERALD ALSTON, WHO JUST GOT A BIG WIN FROM THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT OVER HIS FIRING FROM THE BROOKLINE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AFTER HE FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT A RACIST VOICEMAIL FROM HIS COMMANDER.

HE JOINS ME, ALONG WITH JESSE MERMELL, A FORMER BROOKLINE SELECT BOARD MEMBER WHO HAS APOLOGIZED FOR HER ROLE IN ALL THIS.

AND, FINALLY, HOW VACCINATED SENIORS ARE EASING BACK INTO LIFE WITHOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING.

.>> WE'RE CLOSING IN ON JOE BIDEN'S 100th DAY IN OFFICE, A SYMBOLIC THRESHOLD THAT SIGNALS THE END OF WHAT'S OFTEN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE PERIOD OF ANY PRESIDENTIAL TERM.

AND IN A COUPLE OF HOURS FROM NOW, BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CROWS, THE PRESIDENT WILL LIKELY CELEBRATE WHAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE SO FAR, AND LAY OUT A VISION FOR THE NEXT 100 DAYS AND BEYOND.

BUT THE WINDOW OF POSSIBILITY FOR THE BIDEN AGENDA WILL CLOSE QUICKLY.

IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY LOSES SEATS IN MID-TERM ELECTIONS, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY LIKELY THIS TIME AROUND, WITH CONGRESSIONAL RE-DISTRICTING BASED ON THE 2020 CENSUS.

AFTER MONTHS OF DAYS, THE CENSUS BUREAU RELEASED ITS LATEST REPORT THIS WEEK, WHICH WILL TRIGGER ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS, COLORADO, FLORIDA, MONTANA, NORTH CAROLINA AND OREGON, MOST OF WHICH WENT FOR TRUMP IN THE LAST ELECTION, WHILE CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA, MANY OF WHICH WENT FOR BIDEN, WILL LOSE SEATS.

BUT MY NEXT GUEST'S SENSE OF URGENCY IS NOT ABOUT ELECTION DATES.

IN A RECENT SPEECH REINTRODUCING THE GREEN NEW DEAL WITH CO-SPONSOR CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, A RESOLUTION OF CLIMATE GOALS AND PRIORITIES, SENATOR EDWARD MARKEY CALLED ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO TAKE BOLD ACTION.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT REQUIRES US TO ACT BIG, THINK BIG, HAVE A PROGRAM THAT MATCHES THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH, AND TO DO SO WITH JUSTICE.

>> Braude: SENATOR EDWARD MARKEY JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: SENATOR, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> OF COURSE.

I ALWAYS LOVE BEING WITH YOU.

>> Braude: I KNOW YOU BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN IS A GOOD FIRST STEP, A MULTI-TRILLION DOLLAR FIRST STEP.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU AND CONGRESSWOMAN OCASIO-CORTEZ HAS SAID IT IS NOT BIG ENOUGH.

TO QUOTE, I THINK IT IS VOLTEAR AND MAYBE OBAMA, ARE YOU NOT LETTING THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD, SENATOR?

>> WELL, WHAT MY GOAL IS AND WHAT THE GREEN NEW DEAL WAS ALL ABOUT, WAS TO MATCH, AGAIN, THE MOMENT TO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM, WHERE WHEN WE'RE FACED WITH A CLIMATE CRISIS, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CREATE MILLIONS OF NEW JOBS, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

NO QUESTION THE BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PROPOSAL, WAS BIG.

NO QUESTION HIS PROMISE AT THE SUMMIT THAT HE HAD WITH OTHER WORLD LEADERS, THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE A 50% TO 52% REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GASES BY THE YEAR 2030.

NOW IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY BILL WE PASS, PASSES MUSTARD AND DOES MEET THOSE VERY HIGH GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN SET FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR IT, BUT SINCE YOU MENTIONED CUTTING THE EMISSIONS 50% BY THE END OF THE DECADE, I ONLY WANT TO SPEND A SECOND ON THIS, BUT WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE LIKE THE TEXAS GOVERNOR, LIKE FOX NEWS, TALK ABOUT HOW YOUR GREEN NEW DEAL WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF RED MEAT EVERY AMERICAN COULD EAT TO FOUR POUNDS A YEAR, IS YOUR REACTION THAT THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY DISINGENUOUS, OR JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> WELL, IT CAN BE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

THE REALITY IS THAT THEY MADE THAT CHARGE ON FOX NEWS, RIGHT-WING REPUBLICANS, OIL AND GAS STATE REPUBLICANS, BACK IN 2009, FEBRUARY, WHEN A.O.C.

AND I INTRODUCED THE GREEN NEW DEAL.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS, THE NEXT WEEK WE WENT OUT TO GET AN ICE CREAM AND WE ATE IT TOGETHER AND PUT OUROUT OUR PICTURE.

AND YOU CAN'T LOVE ICE CREAM AND NOT LOVE COWS AT THE SAME TIME.

WE CLEARLY ARE NOT ATTEMPTING TO BAN COWS.

AND ALL OF THIS MISINFORMATION -- WE ABSOLUTELY NEED AN AQUARIUM FOR ALL OF THE RED HERINGS HERRINGS THAT THE FOX NEWS PUT OUT.

>> Braude: BADA BUM.

>> BUT WE'RE GOING TO CREATE FOUR MILLION TO EIGHT MILLION NEW JOBS WITH THE GREEN NEW DEAL, AND WITH THE BIDEN PLAN, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT WILL LEAD TO THE DEMOCRATS HOLDING ON TO THE HOUSE AND SENATE IN 2022, AND JOE BIDEN GETTING RE-ELECTED OVERWHELMING IN 2024.

AGAIN, IT IS 1933THAT WE'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.

IT IS 1918 FOR THIS PANDEMIC.

AND WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THIS CHALLENGE, AND WE CAN DO IT.

I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE WELL-PAID SPOKES PEOPLE FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PASS, EVEN USING RECONCILIATION, A VERY ROBUST, BIG, BOLD INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.

>> Braude: I WANT TO GET BACK TO RECONCILIATION, MEANING 50 VOTES PLUS ONE IN A MINUTE.

YOU HAD AN OP-ED IN THE GLOBE ABOUT THE CIVILIAN CLIMATE ACCORD, SOMETHING AGAIN THAT JOE BIDEN HAS ENDORSED, AND YOUR PLAN, AGAIN, IS BIGGER.

WHAT'S THE PURPOSE?

>> WELL, IN THE 1930s, THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAM THAT F.D.R.

HAD WAS THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.

THAT WAS FOR WHITE YOUNG MEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO IN THE 21st CENTURY, IT HAS TO BE A MULTI-RACIAL PROGRAM, AND IT CAN'T JUST BE LIMITED TO YOUNG MEN AS WELL.

WE JUST HAVE TO THINK BIG.

WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN EMPLOY 1.5 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY, PUTTING THEM ON A PATHWAY TO UNION JOBS, GIVING THEM THE SKILLS WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO NEED NOT JUST FOR A JOB, BUT FOR A CAREER.

AND WE CAN EMPLOY THEM DOING A LOT OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE DONE IN OUR COUNTRY, IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION AND THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS IN THE 1930s, UNDER F.D.R., LEFT A LEGACY, WHICH WE STILL LOOK BACK AT IN AWE BECAUSE SO MUCH OF IT IS STILL WITH US.

WELL, THAT'S HOW ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ AND I SEE THE CIVILIAN CLIMATE CORPS, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH BIG THINGS IF WE PUT THE FUNDING IN PLACE.

BUT WE REALIZE THAT A VISION WITHOUT FUNDING IS A HALLUCINATION.

THAT'S WHY WE KEEP SAYING IT SHOULD BE BIG, BECAUSE, ULTIMATELY, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF BIG, YOU WANT THE SUPREME COURT TO BE BIGGER.

NINE SEATS CURRENTLY.

YOU FILED LEGISLATION TO BRING THAT TO 13, AND, BY THE WAY, CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO EXPAND OR CONTRACT THE SIZE OF THE COURT.

HERE IS WHAT YOUR GOOD FRIEND TED CRUZ HAD TO SAY ABOUT YOUR PROPOSALS.

>> YOU DIDN'T SEE REPUBLICANS, WHEN WE HAD CONTROL OF THE SENATE, TRY TO RIG THE GAME.

YOU DIDN'T SEE US TRY TO PACK THE COURT.

>> Braude: WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT, SENATOR MARKEY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.

SO, OF COURSE, THEY RIGGED THE GAME.

BACK IN 2016, WHEN THERE WAS A VACANCY, THEY WON'T EVEN GIVE A HEARING TO MERRICK GARLAND.

THEY SAID WE SHOULD NOT FILL A SUPREME COURT VACT VACANCY DURING A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.

AND AS A RESULT, WE HAD AN EIGHT-PERSON SUPREME COURT FOR 14 MONTHS.

BUT THEY PUT THAT OUT AS A PRINCIPLE THAT WAS EMBEDDED SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER IN THE CONSTITUTION BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS.

BUT WE REACHED 2020, UNFORTUNATELY THE GREAT RUTH BADER GINSBURG PASSED AWAY, AND THEN A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION, THEY CONFIRMED AMY CONEY BARRETT TO THE SUPREME COURT, TOTALLY VIOLATING ALL OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT THEY SAID THEY BELIEVED IN SO DEEPLY.

SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THEY SWIPED TWO SUPREME COURT SEATS.

IT IS NOW A 6-3 MARGIN.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING HEALTH CARE BILLS, SILVER CIVIL RIGHTS BILLS, RIGHTS TO PROTECT WOMEN, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ABILITY TO VOTE IN OUR COUNTRY.

WITH A 6-3 MARGIN, WE'RE GOING TO SEE JUDICIAL CARNAGE IN TERMS OF THIS LEGACY FOR TWO GENERATIONS OF PROGRESSIVE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE IT IS BY USING OUR CONGRESSIONAL POWER.

AND AS YOU SAID, THAT'S HOW IT IS DONE, TO ADD FOUR MORE SEATS, SO WE CREATE A 7-6 MAJORITY, THAT SHOULD BE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, THAT ONE-VOTE MAJORITY TO MAINTAIN THAT PROGRESSIVE HISTORY, WHICH WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, SENATOR, BRIEFLY ON THIS TOPIC, NEITHER PELOSI NOR CHUCK SCHUMER HAVE ENDORSED THIS, AND THE PRESIDENT IS RELUCTANT, AT LEAST UNTIL HIS COMMISSION COMES DOWN, MY ASSESSMENT FROM A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES AWAY, IS THAT THE REPUBLICANS PLAY HARDBALL AND THE DEMOCRATS PLAY NICE.

IS THAT AN UNFAIR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE STRATEGIES OF THE TWO PARTIES?

>> WELL, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AFTER THEY'VE SWIPED TWO SUPREME COURT SEATS FROM THE DEMOCRATS, IT'S LIKE BEING AT THE SCHOOL YARD AND LETTING THE BULLY JUST CONTINUE TO TAKE YOUR MILK MONEY.

THERE IS A POINT IN TIME WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO STAND UP AND FIGHT AND SAY NO, AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO RECTIFY THIS INJUSTICE.

THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN I INTRODUCED IT, I INTRODUCED IT WITH GERALD NADLER, THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ALONG WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR, HANK JOHNSON OF THAT COMMITTEE, FROM ATLANTA, AND MONDAR JONES.

SO I THINK THERE IS AN INTERESTING BIT OF POLITICAL D.N.A.

GOING ON, AND AS EACH REALLY TERRIBLE SUPREME COURT IS RENDERED, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A MOVEMENT BUILT ACROSS THIS COUNTRY TO RECTIFY THIS HISTORIC INJUSTICE THAT TED CRUZ AND HIS REPUBLICAN CRONIES WERE ALL A PART OF PERPETRATING ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN RECTIFY THAT INJUSTICE.

>> Braude: SENATOR, I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE FOR THIS, BUT ON A RELATED NOTE, ONE OF MY OBSESSIONS IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, NO CAMERAS IN THE SUPREME COURT.

I KNOW YOU'RE A SPONSOR OF THE SUNSHINE IN THE COURTROOM ACT, WHICH WILL OPEN UP COURTROOMS IN THE COUNTRY, AND I HOPE MOST PEOPLE WATCHING WOULD AGREE, HAD THERE NOT BEEN A CAMERA PERMITTED BY A JUDGE IN MINNESOTA A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE OFF FOR IT.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME BRIEFLY WHY ANYBODY -- EVERY ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES THINKS TRANSPARENCY IS THEIR MIDDLE NAME.

WHAT REASON IS THERE TO OPPOSE A CAMERA IN A FEDERAL COURT, INCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT, IN 2021, SENATOR?

>> WELL, THEY ARE THE SAME ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE WHEN I ARRIVED IN CONGRESS AND THERE WAS NO C-SPAN OR BROADCAST OF SENATE DELIBERATIONS.

ALL OF THE OLDER MEMBERS SAID TO ME AND AL GORE AND OTHERS, OH, YOU'RE GOING TO RUIN THE DLEIBERATIVE PROCESS, FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE FLOOR.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE PUBLIC, WHEN IT SEES CONGRESS, WHEN IT CAN SEE HOW IT OPERATES, BOTH ON THE FLOOR AND IN COMMITTEES, IT ACTUALLY MAKES DEMOCRACY WORK BETTER.

AND MY FEELING IS THAT WE DID WIN, THE YOUNGER MEMBERS, TO FORCE TELEVISION ON TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

AND WE HAVE TO WIN THIS BATTLE AS WELL, BECAUSE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAS TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF DISINFECTANT THAT HAS BEEN THE SUNLIGHT SHINING IN, SO THE PUBLIC CAN BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT GOES ON IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH CAMERAS ON POLICE OFFICERS, AND NOW THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN MANY OF THESE CASES.

NOW WE HAVE THE TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP, TO THE COURTROOM ITSELF, SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE FROM THE MOMENT THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURS, ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL DECISION BY A JUDICIAL PROCESS.

>> Braude: SENATOR, I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, BUT WE DON'T.

I'M GOING TO HAVE A HAMBURGER IN YOUR HONOR TONIGHT.

I HOPE IT IS ENJOYED.

>> I MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER ICE CREAM.

>> Braude: GOOD ENOUGH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS, FIREFIGHTER GERALD ALSTON HAS BEEN BATTLING WITH THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE.

HIS ISSUES WITH THE TOWN STARTED IN 2010, AFTER HIS THEN-COMMANDER, PAUL PENDER, LEFT A RACIST VOICEMAIL ON HIS CELL PHONE, WHICH INCLUDED THE "N" WORD, AND ALSTON FILED A COMPLAINT.

BROOKLINE'S BOARD OF SELECTMEN ULTIMATELY TOOK UP THE COMPLAINT AND VOTED TO GIVE THE COMMANDER WHO LEFT THE MESSAGE JUST A TWO-SHIFT SUSPENSION.

A SLAP ON THE WRIST, AT MOST.

AND AFTERWARD, HE WOULD GO ON TO BE PROMOTED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TWICE.

BUT FOR ALSTON, THE DECADE THAT FOLLOWED LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT.

HE WAS PLACED ON LEAVE IN 2013, AFTER THE TOWN CLAIMED HE MADE THREATENING COMMENTS AT WORK.

TWO YEARS LATER, HE FILED A FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT, ALLEGING A CULTURE OF RACISM AND RETALIATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

AND A YEAR AFTER THAT, IN 2016, BROOKLINE FIRED ALSTON, SAYING HE REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH CONDITIONS FOR HIS RETURN TO WORK.

ALSTON APPEALED THEIR DECISION WITH THE STATE'S CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, WHICH ORDERED HIM TO BE REINSTATED WITH BACK PAY IN 2019, ARGUING THE DEPARTMENT ACTIVELY PROMOTED A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT PAINTED ALSTON AS A PARANOID EMPLOYEE WHO SIMPLY COULDN'T MOVE ON FROM RACIST COMMENTS.

BUT BROOKLINE KEPT FIGHTING, TAKING THE CASE UP TO THE STATE'S SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT, WHICH RULED IN ALSTON'S FAVOR YESTERDAY, ARGUING THAT THE TOWN WAS TO BLAME, WRITING IN PART: "CONSIDERING PENDER'S RACIST COMMENT, THE RETALIATORY ACTIONS, AND THE TOWN'S CONTINUOUSLY INSENSITIVE AND INAPPROPRIATE, IF NOT OUTRIGHT DISCRIMINATORY RESPONSES, THE COMMISSION'S FINDINGS SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT THE TOWN CAUSED ALSTON'S UNFITNESS, PREVENTING HIS RETURN TO WORK."

NOW ALSTON'S FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION SUIT IS THE ONLY BATTLE THAT REMAINS.

AND THIS TIME HE'S GOT A NEW SUPPORTER BEHIND HIM: FORMER CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JESSE MERMELL, WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE BROOKLINE BOARD OF SELECTMEN, NOW THE SELECT BOARD, BACK IN 2010, AND VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PAINFULLY MODEST TWO-SHIFT SUSPENSION.

BUT IN 2019, SHE PUBLICLY APOLOGIZED, TELLING THE "GLOBE'S" ADRIAN WALKER HER VOTE WAS A MASSIVE PERSONAL FAILURE.

GERALD ALSTON AND JESSE MERMELL JOIN ME NOW.

>> Braude: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: GERALD, STARTING WITH YOU, 11 LONG YEARS OF FIGHT, WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU HEARD THE DECISION FROM THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT?

>> IT WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS I JUST WAS TRYING TO GET THE POINT ACROSS.

I WASN'T TRYING TO BE COMBATIVE.

I JUST WAS TRYING TO BE CONSIDERED A HUMAN BEING.

AND THE FACT THAT THE BOARD DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER THAT WAS HURTFUL.

BUT AFTER THIS DECISION, IT APPEARS CORRECTED.

>> Braude: I KNOW THE ELECTED LEADERS IN BROOKLINE WERE NOT WITH YOU.

WERE ANY OF YOUR FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS SUPPORTIVE OF YOU THROUGH THIS DECADE-LONG BATTLE, GERALD?

>> IN THE BEGINNING, HAVE FEW.

BUT AS OF NOW, I CAN HONESTLY SAY TWO.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE FEELS THE SAME WAY AS I DO, BUT BEING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, OR YOU'LL BE IN THE POSITION THAT I'M IN.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT SYSTEM THEY HAVE, SO MAYBE THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE RIDICULED OR CONSIDERED TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, JESSE, YOU DID SOMETHING POLITICIANS ALMOST NEVER DO, YOU APOLOGIZED FOR A VOTE YOU TOOK.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A LITTLE BIT FROM YOUR Facebook POSTING IN 2019.

"I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE TOWN OR MORE FORMER COLLEAGUES ON THE SELECT BOARD, I WILL SAY THIS FOR MYSELF: I FAILED MR. ALSTON, I LACKED THE COURAGE TO SAY THE CONSEQUENCES POTENTIALLY FACED AS A RESULT OF ADOPTING A MORE AGGRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY STRATEGY PALED IN COMPARISON TO THE CONSEQUENCES BORNE BY MR. ALISTONMR.

ALSTON IN THE WAKE OF WHAT HE HAD ENDURED."

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT?

>> A HOST OF REASONS.

IN EARLY 2019, WHAT YOU REFERENCED IN THE OPENING TO THIS SEGMENT CAME OUT, AND I LONG FELT DEEPLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY THAT GERALD'S CASE HAD PLAYED OUT.

I LEFT THE BOARD IN EARLY -- THE FIRST WEEK OF 2013, AND I HAD KEPT AN EYE ON THIS AND WAS UNCOMFORTABLE AND UPSET, BUT DID NOT SPEAK OUT.

AND WHEN I READ THAT 80-PLUS PAGE CIVIL SERVICE RULING, SOMETHING ABOUT SEEING ALL OF IT IN ONE PLACE TURNED MY STOMACH.

AND THEN SHORTLY THERE AFTER, THE TOWN APPEALED THE RULING THAT HAD BEEN IN GERALD'S FAVOR.

TO ME, THAT WAS MUCH TOO LATE.

I FULLY OWN IT, THAT IT WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK.

THERE WAS A TOWNHALL MEETING COMING UP TO APOLOGIZE TO GERALD ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN, AND I FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE, AGAIN, BELATELY, FOR ME TO SPEAK OUT AND OWN WHAT MY ROLE WAS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS COMPLETE MESS, TO UNDERSTATE IT, AND TO PERSONALLY APOLOGIZE TO GERALD AND HIS FAMILY AND TO CALL ON THE TOWN TO JOIN ME IN DOING THAT.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR SINCE I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS AND THESE SORT OF THINGS, JESSE, IN ALL OF THESE INTERVENING YEARS, THE SELECT BOARD, OR WHATEVER IT WAS CALLED AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, COULD HAVE DECIDED TO CHANGE GEARS AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR GERALD ALSTON, CORRECT?

>> YES.

AND RAUL HERNANDEZ HAS STOOD UP AND BEEN VOCAL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE IS IN A MINORITY.

>> Braude: GERALD, YOU REACHED OUT, AND I READ IN ADRIAN WALKER'S FINE COLUMN, THAT AFTER THAT APOLOGY, YOU REACHED OUT TO JESSE.

WHY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS PLAY AN INTRICATE PART OF MY LIFE.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT ME IN SEVERAL WAYS THAT I CAN'T EVEN COUNT.

ONE OF THE THINGS MY MOTHER SAID TO ME GROWING UP WAS, THERE IS NOT ONE PERFECT PERSON IN THIS WORLD.

WE'RE ALL IMPERFECT BY NATURE, ALL OF US.

AND WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.

IT IS NOT ABOUT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE, BUT IT IS WHAT YOU DO AFTER THAT DETERMINES WHO YOU ARE.

AND I TOOK FROM WHAT JESSE SAID AND HOW SHE PRESENTED HERSELF, THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD SHE MADE A MISTAKE.

AND I WANTED TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST JESSE SAYING THIS TO PURSUE ANOTHER ASPECT OF HER LIFE AND PRETEND THAT SHE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH, OR IF THIS IS WHO SHE TRULY WAS.

I COME TO REALIZE, THIS IS WHO JESSE IS.

SO I RESPECT WHAT SHE DID, AND I THANKED HER FOR IT.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, JESSE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, OF RACISM FROM OFFICIALDOME IN BROOKLINE.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I INTERVIEWED A COUPLE OF BLACK POLICE OFFICERS WHO SAID THEY WERE RACIALLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

ULTIMATELY, THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT.

WE MOVE RIGHT ACROSS THE BORDER TO BOSTON, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE FINDINGS THAT WHITE POLICE OFFICERS ARE REWARDED AND PROMOTED WHILE BLACK POLICE OFFICERS ARE PUNISHED AND DISCIPLINED.

MY QUESTION IS: IS THE RACISM SO BAKED INTO OUR GOVERNMENT THAT IT IS ONLY JURIES AND JUDGES THAT CAN RESCUE US?

OR DO WE HAVE AN ABILITY TO RESCUE OURSELVES?

>> FIRST, JIM, LET ME SAY THAT GERALD GERALD ALSTON IS SOMEONE WHO HAS SHOWN ME MORE GRACE AND GENEROSITY THAN ALMOST ANYONE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

HE IS A REMARKABLE MAN.

AND IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO CALL HIM A FRIEND.

AND I AM HERE TODAY SOLELY TO SUPPORT HIM.

>> Braude: GREAT.

>> I THINK THAT RACISM IS BAKED INTO EVERY FABRIC OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, JIM.

IT IS NOT JUST GOVERNMENT.

AND I'VE ONLY BEEN A PART OF BROOKLINE GOVERNMENT AND CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT AS INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS, IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY PAINFUL AND HARD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF WRONG-DOING, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF SYSTEMIC RACISM, WHEN THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE IMAGE THAT YOU HAVE OF YOURSELF, OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE TO FORCE OURSELVES, PARTICULARLY WE AS WHITE PEOPLE, TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT PAIN PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE PAIN THAT GERALD AND OTHER BLACK AND BROWN AND ASIAN AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED.

AND IT IS UP TO US TO DO THAT WORK, IN GOVERNMENT AND OTHER POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP, AND JUST AS HUMAN BEINGS WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BECAME -- THE COMMUNITY, THE SOCIETY, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SAY WE ASPIRE TO BE, UNTIL WE DO THAT HARD WORK AND THAT LEARNING.

>> Braude: GERALD, WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOUR DECISION FROM THE S.J.C.

FROM THE JURY IN MINNESOTA -- ARE YOU HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE?

>> I WAS HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE WHEN THESE PROTESTS STARTED.

THIS GENERATION DID SOMETHING THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN MY LIFETIME.

THEY DIDN'T JUST PROTEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY PROTESTED ACROSS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO THIS GENERATION IS THE START OF SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY BE PREPARED FOR.

THIS CHANGE IS COMING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE WANT IT TO OR NOT.

>> Braude: WELL, I'M GLAD THAT THERE WAS CHANGE IN YOUR SITUATION WITH THE S.J.C.

I WISH YOU A LOT OF LUCK IN THE FUTURE.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU BOTH AGAIN SOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: THEY WERE AMONG THE PEOPLE WITH THE MOST TO FEAR FROM COVID.

AND THEY WERE FIRST IN LINE TO GET THE VACCINE.

NOW THE MAJORITY OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS 75 AND OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND, AS LIZ NEISLOSS FOUND OUT, AFTER A YEAR IN ISOLATION, MANY VACCINATED SENIORS HAVE A COMMON SYMPTOM: SPRING FEVER.

>> Reporter: DOUBLE VACCINATED AND DOING THE TANGO, SUE LONOFF DE CUEVAS IS BACK AT WHAT SHE LOVES BEST.

THE RETIRED ACADEMIC, WHO GIVES HER AGE AS WELL OVER 70, CALLS HERSELF A TANGO ADDICT.

>> Reporter: SOME TYPES OF DANCE DON'T REQUIRE THE CONSTANT CONTACT.

BUT TANGO'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO AT A SOCIAL DISTANCE.

LONOFF DE CUEVAS AND HER PARTNER HERE, TEACHER HERNAN BRIZUELA, COMMUNICATE MOSTLY THROUGH TOUCH.

SHE TRIED CLASSES ONLINE.

BUT, YES, IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO.

>> YOU CAN EXCHANGE SMILES AND IDEAS WITH THEM, BUT THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ACTUAL TOUCH.

>> DON'T MOVE THE NECK... >> Reporter: BUT THE DANCE FLOOR'S NOT YET FULLY OPEN AT MEDFORD'S ULTIMATE TANGO SCHOOL OF DANCE.

GROUP CLASSES ARE STILL VIRTUAL.

IT'S THE SAME AS SENIOR CENTERS AROUND THE STATE.

MOST REMAIN CLOSED, AND IT WILL BE UP TO MUNICIPALITIES TO DECIDE WHEN TO REOPEN.

BUT WITH VACCINES UNDER THEIR BELTS, MANY SENIORS ARE FEELING EMBOLDENED TO TRAVEL.

INDUSTRY ANALYSTS SAY BETWEEN THE VACCINE AND PENT-UP DEMAND, DOMESTIC HOTEL AND FLIGHT BOOKINGS BY THE 65-PLUS ARE WAY UP.

>> RIGHT NOW I FEEL WONDERFUL, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M PROTECTED.

>> I HAVE LAID LOW, AND IN JUNE I WILL GO TO MY SON AND HIS FAMILY FOR MY BIRTHDAY IN COLORADO.

>> Reporter: BUT 84-YEAR-OLD ARTIST JOSEPH CAPARCO ISN'T YET READY TO HOP ON A PLANE.

>> I FEEL MORE PROTECTED, MORE ABLE TO TRAVEL.

JUST A LITTLE.

I DON'T MEAN ON A PLANE YET.

A LITTLE MORE THAT YOU CAN DO, YOU NOW CAN DO AND FEEL SAFE, AS LONG AS YOU WEAR YOUR MASK.

>> Reporter: 67-YEAR-OLD ELIFAH CALLED ANY WORRIES ABOUT THE VACCINE BULL.

>> I FEEL GOOD.

I FEEL SECURE.

I GO WHERE I HAVE TO GO.

BASICALLY, I TAKE THIS FOR MY GRANDBABIES, TO BE WITH MY FAMILY.

THIS WAY HERE, I KNOW WE'RE ALL SAFE.

>> Reporter: BUT WITH SO MANY YOUNGER PEOPLE NOT YET VACCINATED, ELIFAH'S STILL KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE.

EVEN WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE'S OVER 65 VACCINATED AND CASES INC.

THE ELDERLY DROPPING, THEY'VE BEEN RISING AMONG PEOPLE UNDER 30.

>> I FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE SECURE, BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT YET.

>> Reporter: ON HIS WAY TO HIS FIRST VACCINE, 68-YEAR-OLD LANCE SUMMED UP THAT CAUTION.

>> WE GOT TO BE SAFE REGARDLESS, YOU KNOW?

SO -- AND I FEEL -- I FEEL I'LL BE -- I'LL PROBABLY FEEL A LITTLE BIT FREER.

BUT I PROBABLY WON'T ACT A LITTLE BIT FREER (laughing).

>> Reporter: SUE LONOFF DE CUEVAS DOESN'T DANCE AROUND HER FEELING ABOUT THE VACCINE.

>> JUST THE TREMENDOUS RELIEF OF NO LONGER BEING WORRIED THAT YOU STEP OUT THE DOOR AND YOU'RE FELLED BY THIS DISEASE.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

>> Reporter: AND IT ALLOWED HER TO DIP HER TOES BACK INTO LIFE.

LIZ NEISLOSS, GBH NEWS.

>> Braude: EVEN WITH THE MAJORITY OF SENIORS VACCINATED, THERE ARE STILL TENS OF THOUSANDS NOT YET INOCULATED.

WITH VACCINES NOW AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 16, GOVERNOR BAKER IS URGING THOSE REMAINING SENIORS TO GET THE VACCINE.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR MY CONVERSATION WITH FILM MAKER MICHAEL KIRK ON HIS "FRONTLINE" DOCUMENTARY, "THE UNITED STATES OF CONSPIRACY."

PLUS, HOW ATLANTIC PUFFINS ARE OFFERING SOME HOPE WHEN IT COMES TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND TV WRITER NELL SCOVELL AND HER MEMOIR, "JUST THE FUNNY PARTS."

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org