>> TONIGHT ON TALKING POLITICS, A NEW GOVERNOR, A STEAL BROKEN T -- STILL BROKEN T. WE ARE GOING TO REFLECT ON THE BIGGEST ISSUES OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT 2024 IS GOING TO HAVE IN STORE.

JOIN ME TO DISCUSS, ALBERTO OF EL MUNDO BOSTON.

JOAN AT THE BOSTON GLOBE AND MIK E, REPORTER FOR AXIOS BOSTON.

I WANT TO START BY GOING AROUND THE CIRCLE AND ASKING EACH OF YOU TO IDENTIFY ONE STORY YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE ESPECIALLY BIG HEADING INTO THE NEXT YEAR.

ALBERTO, WHAT IS YOUR PICK?

WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WATCHING AS THE MIGRANT CRISIS UNFOLDS?

>> THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING WHERE THE FOLKS WHO HAVE ARRIVED HERE SLEEP, BASIC.

HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET KIDS INTO SCHOOLS, WHAT IS THE LONG TERM SOLUTION, HOW THEY INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.

WE ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF WHAT THE BORDER STATES HAVE BEEN CLAMORING ABOUT FOR YEARS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME MASSACHUSETTS HAS HAD TO REALLY DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BEDS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE.

THAT'’S A SAYING IN SPANISH.

NO HAY CAMA PARA TANTA GENTE.

ADAM: YOU MENTIONED THE REACTIONS AMONG LATINOS WHO ARE ALREADY IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE VERY MIXED.

>> IT'’S AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION.

FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE MANY YEARS WATCH THE NEWS AND SAY, WHY DOES THE VENEZUELAN HAVE A RIGHT TO SHELTER IMMEDIATELY?

WHY IS THEIR ABILITY TO WORK BEING PROCESSED FASTER THAN OURS?

THERE'’S NO UNDERSTANDING AND THERE'’S A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFLICT.

BUT IS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY NOW, ABSOLUTELY.

ADAM: JOAN, YOU WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT THE STATE'’S LACK OF COMMITMENT TO FINDING SHELTER FOR EVERYONE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS SHAKING OUT?

>> I THINK THIS IS FORCING MASSACHUSETTS TO REALLY LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND DECIDE WHO WE ARE VERSUS WHO WE THINK WE ARE.

IT'’S EASY TO DEMONIZE THE STATES LIKE TEXAS AND FLORIDA AND HOW THEY HAVE DEALT WITH THE MIGRANT SITUATION.

THIS HAS BROUGHT OUT THE BEST AND WORST IN THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS IN TERMS OF WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE RIGHT TO SHELTER LAW AND WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN.

I WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT HOW THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN MASS GENERAL IS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND I GOT AT LEAST ONE EMAIL FROM SOMEONE SAYING, THAT IS THE MIGRANT ISSUE.

IT'’S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE.

ADAM: HOW DO YOU SEE IT PLAYING OUT ON BEACON HILL, MIKE?

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION.

IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET TO PASS.

>> THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION AND LAWMAKERS WAS A BIG FOCUS.

I THINK THEY HAVE MET THAT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ARE A LITTLE MORE SATISFIED WITH KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING HOUSED, WHAT THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION APPROACH IS GOING TO BE.

THE TIES THAT WERE PUT TO THE LAST FUNDING BILL, WHERE HEALY HAS TO REPORT TO THEM.

THERE IS A LITTLE MORE SUPERVISION SO THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WILL KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY IS AND THAT ISSUE ISN'’T GOING AWAY AS WE SEE MORE MONEY PUMPED INTO THE SYSTEM THROUGH THE BUDGET.

ADAM: THESE NUMBERS ARE ALREADY STRAINING THE SYSTEM COST CAPACITY -- PAST CAPACITY.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP GOING UP.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION IS SETTING UP OVERFLOW SHELTER SPACE.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE PUT IN THAT BILL.

ADAM: ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW THE MIGRANT CRISIS MIGHT SHAKE OUT IN 2024?

>> THERE'’S GOING TO NEED TO BE MORE SYNERGY IN THE WAY THEY ADDRESS MIGRANTS OVERALL.

THERE ARE MANY WHO COME FROM HAITI AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE BACK OF THE LINE.

FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THAT SYNERGY TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME STARTING PLACE IN LINE AND THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS.

ADAM: THAT'’S NOT HOW THE SYSTEM IS RIGHT NOW.

AND MAY NOT BE HOW IT IS.

>> I LIKE WHAT JOAN SAID.

THIS IS WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH.

ONE THING IS TO SAY YOU ARE ONE WAY.

ANOTHER THING IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

ADAM: RON MITCHELL, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE SECOND CHANCE TO IDENTIFY A STORY YOU ARE WATCHING WITH INTEREST IN THE COMING YEAR.

IT INVOLVES THE CITY AND THE WAY THE CITY MAKES POLICY.

WHAT IS THE STORY?

>> MANY FOLKS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE CITY INTERACTS WITH THE COMMUNITY IN REFERENCE TO THE O'’BRIEN ISSUE AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES, THE NEW WHITE STADIUM MUTUAL USE AGREEMENT WITH THE SOCCER TEAM.

MANY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE FEELING LIKE THE PROCESS HAS NOT INCLUDED THEM.

THE MAYOR DID A GREAT JOB BRINGING IN THE NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER AND THAT YIELDED FRUIT WITH THE POLICE CONTRACT.

IT WAS A GOOD MEDIUM.

EVERYBODY FELT RESPECTED.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT TOP OF'’S -- TYPE OF SYNERGY HAS NOT BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO OTHER ISSUES.

ADAM: WE SHOULD BACK UP.

THE O'’BRIEN IS A SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF BOSTON'’S BLACK COMMUNITY.

MAYOR WU HAS PROPOSED -- THE SCHOOL OF MATH AND SCIENCE.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF EDUCATION.

ADAM: THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED MOVING IT TO WEST ROXBURY.

>> YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE CITY THAT IS KNOWN FOR HIGHER LEARNING.

THERE ARE STILL RESIDUAL ISSUES WITH THE BOSTON LATIN FEELING LEFT OUT OF THAT PROCESS.

NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPOSED TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT'’S BEING VIEWED AS A REMOVAL OF RESOURCES.

OF COURSE THEY HAD AN OF GRADE -- UPGRADE.

MADISON PARK NEEDS MORE SPACE.

IT WAS AN UNFORCED ERROR BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT WAS ROLLED OUT.

THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PROTEST.

IT TURNED INTO A MEETING.

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS ON THE TABLE NOW.

ADAM: WHITE STADIUM HAD PLAYED HOST TO THE CITY'’S FOOTBALL TEAMS FOR DECADES.

GIVEN THE NEW WOMEN'’S SOCCER TEAM BEING ROLLED OUT, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT FOOTBALL TEAMS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FIELD DURING THE WOMEN'’S SOCCER SEASON.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE IT -- I HAVEN'’T HAD A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE RUBBER MET THE ROAD ON THIS ISSUE.

THERE WAS A NICE AGREEMENT FROM THE THEORY, YOU SHARE THE STADIUM WITH THE SOCCER TEAM, IT PROVIDES REVENUE.

ADAM: THEY WERE TOUTING THAT.

>> THEY OVERLOOKED THE FACT THAT IF YOU PLAY FOOTBALL ON THE FIELD WITH CLEATS, YOU CAN'’T PLAY SOCCER THE SAME DAY -- THE NEXT DAY ON THE SAME FIELD.

I'’M NOT SURE WHERE THE MISCOMMUNICATION HAPPENED.

THEY ARE PROPOSING THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS THAT HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED, THAT FOR HALF OF THE SEASON THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PRACTICE IN ANOTHER FIELD.

IT FEELS LIKE A DISCONNECT FROM NOT COMMUNICATING AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.

ADAM: I WANT TO GIVE YOU THREE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS ENOUGH COMMUNITY INPUT SOLICITED BEFORE THESE MOVES WERE FLOATED.

I WAS REMINDED OF THE WAY THE WHOLE OLYMPIC BID SHOOK OUT WHEN MARTY WALSH WAS MAYOR.

THERE WAS A DECISION MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE THE BID, AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT, BY WHICH WE MEAN WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU WHY THE THING WE HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO DO IS A GREAT IDEA.

IS THAT TOO SIMPLISTIC?

OR IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT POLITICIANS HAVE A TENDENCY TO MAKE A DECISION QUICKLY ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK IS GOING TO BE SMART AND PUSH THE COMMUNITY INPUT TO A LATER STAGE.

>> I THINK IT'’S A GOOD ANALOGY, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT MAY EVEN BE WORSE IN A WAY.

THIS REALLY IMPACTS A CERTAIN COMMUNITY.

I DON'’T KNOW IF THE MOVING OF THE O'’BRYANT IS A GOOD OR BAD IDEA, BUT IT'’S BADLY EXECUTED WITH LACK OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING SOMETHING VERY PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE FROM A COMMUNITY THAT DESERVES TO HAVE IT.

I THINK IT'’S A BAD IDEA TO MOVE THE O'’BRYANT.

THE STADIUM IS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED.

I'’M ALL FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAMS BEING ABLE TO PLAY THERE.

I WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'’S LEAGUE COMING TO SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT WITH THE GROUP THAT WANTS TO BUILD A STADIUM IN EVERETT.

YOU DON'’T WANT TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING.

YOU NEED TO SATISFY THE COMMUNITY ON THAT SCORE, BUT DON'’T BE TOO QUICK TO TURN THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT -- ADAM: I WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO FLOAT THEIR BIG STORIES.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD ON THIS TOPIC?

>> I JOKED TO MICHELLE WU AT AN EVENT, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU USED TO BE A PROGRESSIVE.

BECAUSE NOW IT SEEMS LIKE SHE'’S DOING WHAT THE WHITE MALE COUNTERPART WAS DOING EXCEPT SHE'’S LUCKY BECAUSE SHE'’S NOT BEING ACCUSED OF SYSTEMATIC RACISM.

NOW IT'’S JUST MAKING DECISIONS.

ADAM: WHAT WAS THE MAYOR'’S RESPONSE?

>> SHE JUST LAUGHED.

>> I THINK FOLKS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE OPEN TO THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC USE AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK THAT CONCEPT OVERALL IS ONE THAT EVERYBODY IS OPEN TO.

HOW DO YOU EXECUTE IT?

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, THAT IS A BRAND.

IT'’S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE KIDS AND FAMILIES TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF COMMITMENT.

YOU HAVE TO THINK HARD ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU PUT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TOGETHER.

>> IT'’S THE TREND THAT WE SEE WITH EXECUTIVES AND THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE.

WE SEE THIS WITH HEALY AND THE LAWMAKERS, MAYOR WU, MARTY WALSH.

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IS NOT ALWAYS GREAT FOR AN EXECUTIVE TO LAUNCH ONTO CONSTITUENTS LIKE THAT.

ADAM: OUR NEXT TOPIC COMES FROM JOAN.

WE ARE BACK TO THE STATE POLITICAL LEVEL.

WHAT IS THE STORY YOU ARE TRACKING?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA IF IT'’S GOING TO BE A BIG OR NOTHING STORY.

I WAS INTERESTED IN THE REPUBLICANS ON BEACON HILL FLEXING THEIR MUSCLE A LITTLE BIT IN THE VOTE OF A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.

WE HAD REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, BUT THE GRASSROOTS OF REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN DEAD AND THAT WAS REALLY TRUE UNDER JIM LYONS, RIGHTLY MALIGNED HEAD OF THE STATE GOP.

WE HAVE A NEW HEAD, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ENERGY.

WHILE I DON'’T AGREE WITH THEIR AGENDA WHICH WAS BASICALLY TO TRY TO MAKE A BIG ISSUE OUT OF THE MONEY FOR THE SHELTER APPROPRIATION, I DO THINK THERE IS A REAL CAUSE IN DEMANDING THE DEMOCRATS BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND OPEN ABOUT THE WAY THEY DO BUSINESS.

THEY HAVE JUST GOTTEN AWAY WITH A LOT OF ARROGANCE AND DOING THINGS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND IF THAT TINY BAND OF REPUBLICANS CAN CHANGE THAT, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

ADAM: YOU ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN SEEING IF THE CAN MAKE MORE CONCRETE GAINS MOVING FORWARD.

THEY JUST WON THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

WE NEED THREE ITEMS TO ESTABLISH A TREND.

THEY HAVE A SENATE RACE COMING UP.

THEY COULD USE A STRONG CHALLENGER AGAINST ELIZABETH WARREN.

>> I DOUBT THAT, TO BE HONEST.

IT'’S NOT LIKE I'’M ROOTING FOR THEM, I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF IT COULD HAPPEN.

PETER DURANT WON THAT STATE SENATE SEAT.

THERE ARE NOW 24 IN THE HOUSE.

-- REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.

IT WOULD SHOW THE CENTER IS MOVING A LITTLE BIT OR THAT POLITICS IN MASSACHUSETTS IS MOVING A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK WINNING A SEAT IN CONGRESS OR THE SENATE WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY, BUT I COULD BE WRONG.

ADAM: DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS RATHER PESSIMISTIC ASSESSMENT?

>> THERE IS NO ONE REALLY COMING UP.

IF WARREN DOES DRAW A CHALLENGER , IS THAT CHALLENGER GOING TO BE FROM THE TRUMP SIDE OF THE PARTY OR THE CHARLIE BAKER SIDE OF THE PARTY?

THAT WILL INDICATE WHICH WAY THIS CURRENT BATCH OF REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO SUPPORT.

ON BEACON HILL, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THE GOP WILL BE LIKE AS FAR AS THE LOYAL OPPOSITION WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNOR HEALY'’S AGENDA AND TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS RUN THE PLACE WITH.

ADAM: IT OCCURRED TO ME WHEN I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF A THIRD ITEM TO ESTABLISH A TREND OF REPUBLICAN MOMENTUM.

WE HAVE REPUBLICANS WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON THE FAR LEFT FOR THIS BALLOT QUESTION TO AUDIT THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT'’S ANOTHER INTERESTING WRINKLE IN THE WAY THINGS ARE WORKING UNDER AMY CARNEVALE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE HOW THE GOP IS PRIMED TO IF NOT MAKE DEMOCRATS UNCOMFORTABLE, THAT THEY ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

>> I DON'’T KNOW THAT I SHOULD REPRESENT THE GOP PERSPECTIVE IF, BUT FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, THE NATIONAL GOP HAS TANKED SO BAD WITH THEIR TRENDS AWAY FROM WOMEN'’S RIGHTS, CIVIL-RIGHTS, EDUCATIONAL AND LGBTQ RIGHTS, IT WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED FOR ANY REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THIS STATE TO REALLY MAKE INROADS.

THE OVERALL NATIONAL TRENDS ARE SO OVERWHELMING THAT THEY REALLY HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

I THINK MORE TRANSPARENCY OVERALL IS SOMETHING EVERYBODY COULD GET BEHIND.

I THINK THEY HAVE A HARD WAY TO GO BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL TRENDS AND HOW HARD IT IS FOR THEM TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THAT CLOUD.

ADAM: BACK TO THE MIGRANT CRISIS.

>> I'’M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING FROM BACK TO THE FUTURE, IF I COULD TAKE JOAN INTO THE FUTURE, YOU WOULD SEE HOW MANY MORE LATINOS WOULD BECOME REPUBLICANS.

WHY ARE CUBAN-AMERICANS PREDOMINATELY REPUBLICAN?

THAT THEY ARE FLEEING A LEFT-WING GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST GROUP WE HAVE HAD COME IN IN THE MIGRANTS?

VENEZUELANS FLEEING THE SITUATION IN VENEZUELA.

THAT NEXT GENERATION IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE OPEN TO THE REPUBLICAN OR CONSERVATIVE POINT OF VIEW ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

THAT'’S WHY BIDEN WAS PROMOTED AS A SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

THAT'’S GOING TO BE MORE APPEALING TO THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF VENEZUELANS COMING IN.

ADAM: BEFORE YOU GET INTO YOUR PARTICULAR STORY, I WANT TO ROLL A GRAPHIC WE HAVE POINTS OUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT IT COMES TO POLICYMAKING FROM GOVERNOR HEALY AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

IT WAS IN OCTOBER PULL DONE BY UMASS AMHERST.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WAS THE TOP ISSUE THEY WANTED THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS IN 2024.

FIND THAT WE HAD IMMIGRATION AND HOMELESSNESS.

AGAINST THAT BACKDROP, WHAT IS YOUR BIG STORY TO WATCH?

>> IT IS HOW THE HEALY AGENDA COALESCES IN THE COMING YEAR.

THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS IS GOING TO BE A BIG INDICATOR OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY WANTS TO GET DONE THIS YEAR.

THERE IS EXTREMELY LIMITED CAPACITY FOR LAWMAKING ON BEACON HILL THESE DAYS.

IT IS GOING TO BE OVER IN JUNE.

EVERYTHING HAS TO COME DOWN IN THE SPRING.

HOW SHE USES THAT BULLY PULPIT REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THIS YEAR NOTHING REALLY CAME TO A HEAD.

SHE'’S KIND BIDING HER TIME ON SOME OF THE OTHER BIG SWINGS.

IF SHE COMES OUT IN THAT SPEECH AND SAYS SHE REALLY WANTS TO PUSH HER VERSION OF THE HOUSING BILL AND THERE ARE CERTAIN PROVISIONS SHE NEEDS TO GET DONE IN HER PLAN, THAT MEANS THE LEGISLATURE MAY HAVE TO TAKE A BACKSEAT.

THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WHERE LAWMAKERS ARE SO ENTRENCHED IN THEIR OWN CONFLICTS WITH EACH OTHER BUT I DON'’T THINK HEALY COULD REALLY PUSH THEM TO DO ANYTHING THAT SHE WANTS.

IF YOU LOOK AT HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS BEING THE TOP THREE ISSUES, THEY ARE ALL LINKED UP WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE HOUSE PEOPLE AND HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO LIVE HERE.

THAT'’S GOING TO BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR HEALY AND LAWMAKERS.

WE DON'’T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HEALY PLAN OR THE LEGISLATURE'’S PLAN BECOMES LAW.

ADAM: THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT TO DEAL WITH ISSUES AS COMPLEX AS HOUSING.

>> I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW SHE USES THE BULLY PULPIT.

SHE REALLY HASN'’T DONE THAT THIS FIRST YEAR.

I KNOW WHERE SHE STANDS ON ABORTION.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTS TO HAPPEN.

ON OTHER THINGS, I THINK IT'’S LESS CLEAR.

I'’M LOOKING FOR A CHANGE OF STYLE, I GUESS.

I WILL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS.

ADAM: WHEN I SAW THE GOVERNOR PITCHING HER HOUSING PLAN, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOST ANIMATED I HAD SEEN HER ON ANY ISSUE WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF ABORTION AND ABORTION RIGHTS.

DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC WILL BE FRUSTRATED IF BEACON HILL CAN'’T GET SOMETHING BIG DONE ON HOUSING?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE TOUTED IT FROM THE BEGINNING ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO MEDIA.

THIS IS WHAT WE'’VE BEEN WAITING FOR TO SEE.

SO ABSOLUTELY.

>> I THINK SO AS WELL.

HOUSING IS A QUALITY ISSUE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.

THE COST OF LIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS IS SO HIGH THAT NOT COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL.

THE GOVERNOR'’S LEVEL OF FOCUS AND INTENSITY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

WHEN YOU COMMIT THAT MUCH OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL TIME AND EFFORT ON IDENTIFYING AND COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS, I DON'’T THINK IT'’S GOING TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE SOMETHING WILL GET DONE.

TWO WE HAVE FOUR MINUTES LEFT -- ADAM: WE HAVE FOUR MINUTES LEFT FOR A LIGHTNING ROUND.

WE WILL GO AROUND.

THE BOSTON GLOBE RECENTLY NAMED T WRITERS -- RIDERS AS THE PEOPLE OF THE YEAR.

IS THE LETTER TO GOING -- T GOING TO GET BETTER ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE DON'’T NEED TO BE PATTED ON THE HEAD FOR WRITING IT -- RIDING IT?

>> IT WAS NOT IN THE TOP THREE ISSUES:, MAYBE TRANSPORTATION HAS DROPPED OFF IN LIGHT OF THE OTHER ISSUES GOING WRONG IN THE STATE.

THE MBTA IS STILL SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERFUNDED ACCORDING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLANS TO CHANGE IT AND WE NOW HAVE A TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY WHO IS THE LEADING ADVOCATE FOR INCREASING REVENUES WHEN SHE SERVED ON THE T BOARD.

IS THAT GOING TO MAKE IT INTO THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH SPEECH?

WE DON'’T REALLY KNOW.

CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR HAS THINGS SHE WANTS TO GET DONE.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT SHE'’S GOING TO PRIORITIZE.

ADAM: YOU GIVE THE ONLY ANSWER ON THIS ONE.

I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE ELSE.

IS JOE BIDEN GOING TO BE DAMAGED BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY AFTER THE DEMOCRATS TRIED TO DEMOTE NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE REFUSED TO GO WITH THAT?

>> YES, I THINK HE COULD BE HURT BY IT.

HE'’S BEEN HURT BY A LOT OF THINGS LATELY AND THAT'’S ONE MORE THING.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TURN OUT TO WRITE HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT?

IT'’S A CONFUSING SCENARIO THAT DOES NOT HELP HIM.

ADAM: MARIANNE WILLIAMSON AND DEAN PHILLIPS ARE RUNNING AGAINST HIM.

I'’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO TACKLE THIS LAST QUESTION TOGETHER.

WILL THE BOSTON'’S CITY COUNCIL -- BOSTON CITY COUNCIL WHICH HAS SEEN TURNOVERS AND GOTTEN A LOT OF BAD PRESS, WILL IT STOP BEING REGARDED AS A CLOWN SHOW?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THEIR BEHAVIOR.

YOU HAVE A NEW CROP OF FOLKS COMING IN.

A LOT OF THEM RAN ON BRINGING BACK CIVILITY.

YOU HAD HERE ON THE SHOW.

THEY SAID I WANT TO BRING BACK THE ABILITY TO DISAGREE CIVILLY WITHOUT IT GETTING PERSONAL OR RACIAL.

LET'’S BRING THAT BACK, ABSOLUTELY.

>> THE SCRUTINY RECENTLY HAS MOTIVATED THEM TO CHANGE THE TENOR.

IT'’S OK TO DISAGREE, BUT DON'’T BE DISAGREEABLE.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DISAGREEABLE ACTIVITY IN THAT CHAMBER IN THE RECENT PAST.

THEY ARE FOCUSED ON CHANGING THAT ATTITUDE.

ADAM: WE HAVE TIME FOR EACH OF YOU TO WEIGH IN SUPER QUICKLY ON THE BOSTON'’S CITY COUNCIL.

>> I HOPE THEY ARE MORE CIVIL.

I HOPE THEY JUST AREN'’T A RUBBER STAMP FOR THE MAYOR.

I HOPE THEY SHOW INDEPENDENCE.

ADAM: YOU GET THE FINAL WORD.

>> I AGREE.

A LESS CONFLICT ON CITY COUNCIL COULD SIMPLY BECOME THE RUBBERSTAMP FOR THE WU ADMINISTRATION'’S POLICIES.

WHICH COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR IMPACT.

ADAM: THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THAT'’S IT FOR TONIGHT AND THE YEAR.

WE WILL BE BACK ON JANUARY 5.

UNTIL THEN, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

GBH NEWS.ORG/TALKING POLITICS.

SIGN UP FOR OUR POLITICS NEWSLETTER.

FOR NOW, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪