♪ ADAM: TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, THE NEWTON TEACHERS STRIKE IS ON THE BOOKS, BUT ARE THERE OTHERS IN THE HORIZON?

IT COST UNIONS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN FINES BUT STATE LAWMAKERS ARE APPROACHING TO MAKE THEM LEGAL.

SEVERAL STATE TROOPERS ARE FACING BRIBERY CHARGES FOR A YEAR-LONG COMMERCIAL LICENSE GIVE SCHEME, KATIE LANNAN JOINS ME TO BREAK IT DOWN.

♪ 11 SCHOOL DAYS LATER KIDS IN NEWTON ARE BACK IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AFTER THE TEACHERS UNION AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE PASSED A DEAL TO END THE LONGEST TEACHER STRIKE THE STATE HAS SEEN IN DECADES, THE UNION FACES AS MUCH AS $1 MILLION OF FINES BUT A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS ARE PUSHING TO CHANGE THAT THAT WOULD LEGALIZE TRACKING FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

DOES ALL OF THIS SIGNAL MORE FUTURE STRIKES TO COME?

I AM JOINED BY ONE OF THE BILL’S SPONSORS ERIKA UYTERHOEVEN AND THE GLOBAL OPINION COMMUNIST SCOT LEHIGH.

YOU ARE ON THE PICKET LINE WITH THE TEACHERS IN NEWTON, THEY GOT SOME GOOD BENEFITS?

THIS WAS ALL FINISHED.

I WANT TO RUN THROUGH WHAT.

THEY GOT AFTER STRIKING.

12.6% COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE, 60 DAYS OF PARENTAL LEAVE, MORE SOCIAL WORKERS IN SCHOOLS, INCREASED WAGES FOR CLASSROOM AIDES AND SOME DUDES, AND IT WILL COST THE DISTRICT ABOUT $53 MILLION MORE THAN THE LAST CONTRACT.

FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT, WHY DID THEY HAVE TO STRIKE TO GET THAT DEAL?

ERIKA: WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE IS THEY ARE NEEDING TO STAND UP TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS AND MOST NOTABLY, THE SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORKERS WAS A HUGE ONE, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREDIBLE NEED.

FINDING ALL THE INEQUITIES IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS ENSURING THAT TEACHERS ARE PAID A COMPETITIVE WAGE TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO VACANCIES AND THEY ARE FILLED WITH THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND TO ENSURE THAT PARAPROFESSIONALS AND EDUCATOR AIDES ARE BEING PAID A LIVING WAGE.

$20,000 A YEAR WHICH WHERE NEWTON WAS AT FOUR PARAPROFESSIONALS IS UNFORTUNATELY SHAMEFUL AND THERE IS STILL OTHER DISTRICTS THAT THEY AS LOW AS 14 K OR IN THE TEENS AND THAT IS NOT A LIVING WAGE ANYWHERE.

ADAM: THEY HELPING THE TEACHERS WITH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?

ERIKA: WORKING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

ADAM: I WANT TO RE-ASK MY QUESTION OF WHY A STRIKE WAS NECESSARY TO DO THIS, DUE TO THE ADVOCACY THAT THEY DESCRIBED?

WHY COULD THAT NOT BE DONE IN A BARGAINING AT NO SCHOOL DAYS MISSED?

THE GAINS BEING MADE BY TEACHERS AS JUST DESCRIBED?

ERIKA: LOOK AT THE CONTEXT PRIOR TO THIS, 16 MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR A THREE YEAR-LONG CONTRACT.

WHILE WE HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE HAD TO USE THIS VERY LAST RESORT EXTREME MEASURE TO GO ON STRIKE, WE HAVE SEEN THESE STONEWALLING TACTICS, BAD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, NOTABLY, IT INCLUDES NOT COMING TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE BUT ALSO SUBSTITUTING.

INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY NEGOTIATING GOOD FAITH, HIRING ANTIUNION LAW FIRMS AND COMMUNICATION CONSULTANTS TO RESOLVE THINGS RATHER THAN SITTING DOWN AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND FIGURING IT OUT.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MY LEGISLATION REALLY TRIES TO ADDRESS.

I BELIEVE WE WOULD SEE FEWER STRIKES IF THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED.

ADAM: I NEED TO GET SCOTT IN YOU HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE ON TEACHER STRIKES AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE STRIKES GENERALLY SPEAKING.

.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEWTON STRIKE, DID YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT THAT THE TEACHERS REACHED WITH NEWTON OR IS YOUR PROBLEM MORE WITH THE TACTICS THAT THEY USED?

SCOT: I THINK THAT THE UNION HERE ENDED UP REALLY LOOKING PRETTY SILLY.

OFTENTIMES I THINK THIS IS HAPPENED.

ALL THE UNIONS WHO DO THIS, THEY ARE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION UNIONS, NOT AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, THE OTHER BIG UNION IN THE STATE.

THE STATE IS DIVIDED.

USUALLY THE AFT TEACHERS REPRESENT THE CITIES AND MTA TEACHERS REPRESENT THE SUBURBS AND TO HEAR THE RHETORIC HERE, YOU WOULD THINK THE TEACHERS WERE UP AGAINST A COAL COMPANY OR TESLA OR SOME BIG CONGLOMERATE THAT WAS INTENT ON FINDING THEM BENEATH THEIR BOOTS RATHER THAN THE LEADERS IN THE CITY THAT ARE LIBERAL CITIES, THEY CARE ABOUT EDUCATION AND PAYS ITS TEACHERS IN THE TOP 25% OF TEACHER STATEWIDE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TEACHER ATTENTION, TEACHERS STAY BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO TEACH THERE.

THE RHETORIC GOT ABSURD.

THE UNION LEADERS SAYING THAT I AM SO MAD AT THE CITY LEADERS, THEY DO NOT REALIZE THE HARM THEY ARE DOING ON THE PICKET LINE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WE WOULD BE OUT HERE IF A VOLCANO WAS ERUPTING.

THEY JUST LOOKED SILLY TO MY MIND.

GOING OUT ON ROLES AT NIGHT AND WHEN THE JUDGE DID WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE I THINK ALL ALONG, STRIKES ARE ILLEGAL BY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IN MASSACHUSETTS, THEY SAID YOU ARE GOING TO FACE A SERIES OF FINES.

IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS THEY DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO SETTLE.

I THINK THEY HAVE CAUSED THE KIDS 11 DAYS AND COST THEM THEIR FEBRUARY VACATION AND THEY WILL GO INTO THE SUMMER BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY HAVE DISRUPTED THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THEM AND PAY THEM WELL AND TO ACT AS THOUGH THIS IS -- YOUR CAMPAIGNING AGAINST A COAL MINE OR SOMETHING?

IT IS JUST.

ADAM: I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE OF THE TACTICS AND THE TENOR AMONG THE STRIKERS.

HE SAYS HE THEY ARE NOT GOING UP AGAINST A COMPANY BUT A MUNICIPALITY THAT REPRESENTS PEOPLE OF GOOD INTENT TO VALUE EDUCATION?

ADAM: THERE ARE A FEW THINGS --ERIKA: THERE ARE A FEW THINGS, A LOT OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS SETTLE BEFORE A STRIKE REGARDLESS OF THE FEDERATION THEY ARE A PART OF.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND THE DEMANDS WE HAVE SEEN FROM THESE LOCALS ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT.

THEY ASKED FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AS WELL AS A LIVING WAGE FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS AT A COMPETITIVE WAGE FOR EDUCATORS.

$20,000 IS REALLY ABYSMALLY LOW.

THOSE DEMANDS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT AMONG EDUCATORS, AND THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT WE SEE AT THE NEGOTIATION PRACTICES WE HAVE SEEN EMERGE FROM THE DISTRICTS THAT DO NOT COME TO THE SETTLEMENT AND I THINK AS I SAID EARLIER, 60 MONTHS IS A LONG TIME FOR FIGURING OUT A CONTRACT AND ULTIMATELY THEY SETTLE ON WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THESE SETTLED ON ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT IS WHERE THE ISSUE IS COMING WITH THE NEGOTIATION TACTICS.

EVEN THE JUDGE SAID HE WAS CONCERNED AND EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THESE COERCIVE FINES DO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS TAKING PLACE.

ADAM: HOLD YOUR THOUGHT, I’LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO HOP BACK IN.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR LEGISLATION.

YOU SAID YOU THINK THE BILL THAT YOU FILED WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THESE STRIKES LESS LIKELY BY LEGALIZING THEM?

WHY WOULD THAT BE THE OUTCOME?

ERIKA: MY BILL SAYS YOU NEED TO DO SIX MONTHS OF GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS.

IT WOULD BE LAWFUL TO GO ON STRIKE.

SIX MONTHS IT SO THERE IS NOT SOME POWER DYNAMIC OR ABUSIVE POWER, SAYING WE WILL SEND THE COURTS AND THE FINES UP TO PUT IN FORCES FOR SIX MONTHS FOR THE STALLING OR THE PUSHING IT OFF AND HAVING HIRING LAW FIRMS AND CONSULTANTS TO GET IT DONE.

GET TO THE TABLE.

WE SEE IT WITH ANY FAIR LABOR NEGOTIATION PRACTICES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT GET TO THIS IMPASSE.

IT IS THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE.

MOST DISTRICTS GET TO THESE AND THEY ARE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD.

ADAM: IF YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID BEFORE, I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

SCOT: I THINK A LOT OF THESE BENEFITS WERE APPROVED BEFORE THEY WENT OUT.

UNION WILL NEVER SAY WE THOUGHT THAT, THEY DO NOT DO IT.

I THINK WHAT THEY WANT HERE WAS MINIMAL AND WITH DECENT NEGOTIATORS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GET THAT DONE AT THE TABLE.

THEY WALKED AWAY FROM MEDIATION.

THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRED THURSDAY OR OF COURSE WORKING UNDER THE -- EXPIRED, BUT OF COURSE THEY WERE WORKING UNDER THE CONTRACTS.

THAT IS HOW IT WORKS.

I THINK THE NTA, THE STRIKE IS THE GOAL.

THIS IS WHAT SENDS THEM LEFT WITH BARBARA AND WITH OTHERS, AND GENTLY BORN UNIVERSITY SOCIALIST, MAX PAYNE, WHO BELIEVES HE IS SOME GREAT LABOR LEADER TAKING ON A HUGE, GREEDY ENTERPRISE.

HE IS WANTED -- HE HAS WANTED UNIONS TO STRIKE.

YOU CAN WATCH THESE UNIONS, THEY ARE ALL 58 AFFILIATES THAT HAVE GONE OUT.

OVER THE-- MTA AFFILIATES.

YOU WATCHED THEM, THE JUDGE FIND THEM FOR ENCOURAGING THE STRIKE.

THE STRIKE THAT THE JUDGE ORDERED, THE MTA TO STOP ENCOURAGING THESE STRIKES, THIS IS A TACTIC.

ADAM: LET ME ASK YOU, IF YOU BELIEVE, I AM NOT ENDORSING OR REJECTING THIS PROPOSITION, THAT THE STRIKE IS AT THE POINT FOR SOME UNION LEADERS, DO YOU BUY THE IDEA AS A LONG-TERM STUDENT OF GOVERNMENT, DO YOU BUY THE IDEA THAT LEGISLATION LIKE ERIKA UYTERHOEVEN’S AND HER COLLEAGUES BY LEGALIZING STRIKES UP A SIX-MONTH GOOD FAITH BARGAINING PERIOD COULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STRIKES?

SCOT: I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD WORK AT ALL.

I AM A SUPPORTER OF UNIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE THERE ARE A VERY -- WHERE THEY ARE A VERY IMPORTANT COUNTERBALANCE TO POWER.

WE ARE IN A POLITICAL ECONOMY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

WE HAVE DONE WITH TEACHERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IS WE HAVE GRANTED THEM A MONOPOLY ON THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN SERVICES.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A MONOPOLY OF THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION.

YOU CANNOT HAVE A MONOPOLY ON A SERVICE AND THE RIGHT TO STRIKE.

IT MEANS POWER IS DISPROPORTIONATE.

YOU HAVE GIVEN THE UNION THE ABILITY TO DISRUPT CIVIC LIFE AS THEY PRESS THEIR DEMANDS.

I TALK ABOUT THEIR RHETORIC AS WELL, WE ARE DOING THIS FOR THE CHILDREN, MAX PAGE TALKS ABOUT TEACHERS HATE TO BE RIPPED AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOMS BUT UNIONS, THE UNIONS GENERALLY REPRESENT, WILL BE APPROPRIATE, IT IS THEIR ROLE, THEY REPRESENT THE ECONOMIC INTEREST OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

IF YOU SAY TO THE UNION YOU CAN GO OUT AND STRIKE LEGALLY WITH NO CONSEQUENCE AND DISRUPT CIVIC LIFE AND INCONVENIENCE PARENTS AND FAMILIES INDEFINITELY UNTIL YOU GET YOUR WAY, YOU WILL HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED THE BALANCE OF POWER AND GRANTED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MONOPOLY DISPROPORTIONATE BARGAINING POWERS.

IT IS BAD POLICY.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO IN THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF THE SITUATION.

ERIKA: AND MONOPOLY EMPLOYEES -- A MONOPOLY IMPLIES THERE IS A SINGLE OWNER.

YOU HAVE THE 97% OF THE VOTE, THE FAST SUPPORT, SPEAKING AS A LEGISLATOR, IT IS CHALLENGING TO GET 90% OF ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE TO AGREE TO SOMETHING.

WHAT IS UNDERLYING THESE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKE UP UNIONS IS NOT ABOUT SOME SINGLE ACT OR OWNER, IT IS THE DEEP INJUSTICES THAT LEADS US TO GET TO THIS POINT OF SAYING WE ARE NOT GETTING THE RESULT THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THRIVING AT OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING WELL RESOURCED AND SUPPORTED AND THE EDUCATORS ARE PUT IN A CORNER TO MAKE MORE WITH LESS.

THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVING THESE STRIKES AND NOT THIS ONE OWNER NARRATIVE AROUND MONOPOLIZATION.

SCOT: LET US SAY THAT YOU ARE A LABOR LEADER AND IF THERE ARE NOT FOUR VEHICLES FOR PEOPLE TO BUY THEY CAN GO BY CHEVYS OR TOYOTAS, IF YOU ARE A TEACHER, A TEACHER’S UNION, MAYBE HALF OF THE TEACHERS DID NOT WANT TO STRIKE OR A THIRD OF THE TEACHERS DID NOT WANT TO STRIKE, ONCE YOU STRIKE, THEY’LL HAVE TO GO OUT.

IF YOU ARE A PARENT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY, IN NEWTON OR IN MELROSE, ANY OTHER PLACE THAT HAS GONE OUT TO STRIKE, THERE IS NOT AN OPTION FOR A PARENT TO SAY OK, WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS PRODUCT.

WE CAN HAVE OUR KIDS EDUCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THERE IS NOT THAT.

IT IS A MONOPOLY EVEN THOUGH THE VOTE MAY NOT BE A MONOPOLY VOTE.

ADAM: I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THE PROSPECTS OF YOUR LEGISLATION WHILE IN THE SENATE.

AS A MAKE SENSE -- DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

IT IS NOT A SLAM ALTHOUGH I THINK OF THE LEGISLATURE AS BEING A SYNTHETIC MAJORITY?

ERIKA: WITH ANY LEGISLATION TO BECOME A LAW THAT REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF POLITICAL WILL AND A GREAT DEAL OF EDUCATION ON THESE COMPLEX ISSUES.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN NEWTON AND ACROSS ALL OF THESE CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE AROUND THIS REQUIREMENT AND NEED FOR THERE TO BE GOOD FAITH TARGETING AND GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS, WE DO NOT EVER HAVE TO RESORT TO THESE LAST MEASURE AT RESORTS AND I WILL SAY EDUCATORS, NOBODY WANTS TO BE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM .

THE DIRE NEED FOR THAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS QUO IS NOT WORKING IS CLEAR.

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE SUPPORT THAN WE HAVE NOW FOR THIS LEGISLATION.

SCOT: DOES HOLD OUT FOR ONE SECOND -- ADAM: LET US TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE MTA SAID SUGGESTING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE MORE STRIKES TO COME.

>> WE TAUGHT EVERY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE STATE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY TRY TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS ON THE BACKS OF OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.

[APPLAUSE] ADAM: THAT IS MY THE STATE, THAT IS THE NTA, INCREASING DISRUPTION FROM THESE STRIKES FROM ONE DAY IN OCTOBER OF 2019, 1 DAY IN BROOKLINE, WE HAVE FOUR DAYS IN HAVERHILL, THREE DAYS IN AND OVERS, DO YOU EXPECT THAT THIS NUGENT STRIKE WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE ACTIONS?

SCOT: I THINK, AGAIN, ON BEACON HILL, THE WORD IS ALREADY COMING DOWN CLEARLY THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THE STRIKE WILL ONLY REINFORCE THAT SENSE.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED HERE IS THE JUDGE NEEDS TO DO WHAT JUDGES DO, START WITH AND KEEP ESCALATING FINES.

THAT WAS THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE HERE.

IF JUDGES STICK TO THE PATTERN OF CRIPPLING FINES AS THE STRIKE GOES ON I DO NOT THINK YOU WILL SEE LONGER STRIKES.

WHEN PEOPLE ANALYZE THIS AND SEE THAT THE TEACHERS DID NOT GET THAT MUCH FOR IT, THEY WILL SAY THIS WAS KIND OF DUMB.

ADAM: IF THIS TREND DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR LEGISLATION AS YOU HOPE IT WILL, DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE STRIKES ALONG THESE LINES?

ERIKA: WE ARE UNDER FUNDING SCHOOLS AND FORCING EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS TO HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

IT WILL SEE A CONTINUATION OF THIS IMPASSE AND THE DEMAND TO CONTINUE ACROSS DISTRICTS.

WE WILL KEEP SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THESE CONTRACTS WITH FAIR PAY AND LIVING WAGES AS WELL AS FULL FUNDING ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, MEDICAL LEAVE, ALL OF THAT BE INCLUDED IN MORE CONTRACTS.

WE CAN SEE THERE ARE INEQUITIES EMERGING ACROSS THE ENTIRE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE HOPE THAT ENSURES THAT WE HAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS EVERYONE DESERVES.

ADAM: THAT IS ERIKA UYTERHOEVEN SCOT LEHIGH AND SCOT LEHIGH, THANK YOU BOTH -- AND SCOT LEHIGH, THANK YOU BOTH.

PROSECUTORS SAY STATE POLICE PROSECUTED BRIBES IN RETURN FOR PASSING GRADES ON COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE TESTS FOLLOWING A LONG LIST OF SCANDALS FOLLOWING THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE.

KATIE LANNAN JOINS ME NOW WITH MORE.

AS I MENTIONED, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DYSFUNCTION SURROUNDING THE STATE POLICE IN RECENT YEARS, IT HAS ALL BLURRED TOGETHER, CAN YOU GIVE A RECAP ON THE LATEST SCANDAL?

KATIE: ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT THAT CAME DOWN LAST WEEK, THIS INVOLVED TROOPERS WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO THE COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE UNIT AND THEY WERE TEXT MESSAGES AMONG THEMSELVES DESCRIBING GIVING A CERTAIN APPLICANT HE FIRST SKILLS TEST, A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE OR A GOLDEN TREATMENT AND THAT WAS THEIR INTERNAL CODE WORD FOR PASSING SOMEONE EITHER WITHOUT GIVING THEM THE WHOLE TEST OR IN SOME CASES, THE TEST AT ALL.

ADAM: AND DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A GOOD INTERNAL -- IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A GOOD INTERNAL CODE WORD.

IT IS RATHER SUGGESTIVE.

KATIE: A LOT OF EMOJIS AS WELL, HE REMINDED ME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I AM TEXTING AND IF THEY WILL END UP IN A COURT DOCUMENT!

IN THIS CASE, THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY RECEIVING, ONE TROOPER WAS ALLEGED TO RECEIVE A NEW SNOWBLOWER OR DRIVEWAY.

A NEW MAILBOX AT HIS HOUSE.

CASES OF BOTTLED WATER AND COFFEE, ICED TEAS, A VULNERABLE WATER COMPANY -- A BOTTLED WATER COMPANY, ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES INDICTED IN THIS AS WELL.

ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, HE WAS ARRANGING THESE GIFTS TO THEM IN EXCHANGE FOR A GOLDEN PATHWAY FOR DRIVERS AFFILIATED WITH THE COMPANY.

ADAM: YOU TALK ABOUT A NEW DRIVEWAY, THAT IS VALUABLE, I’M NOT SURE HOW VALUABLE BOTTLED WATER IS.

LOW STAKES GAINS AND MASSIVE RISK UNDERTAKEN WITH TEXT MESSAGES.

WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A SENSE OF IMPUNITY.

THEY DID NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THIS.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM POLITICIANS AT THE STATEHOUSE WHO ARE CAPABLE OF EXERCISING OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY?

KATIE: I WILL SAY FROM THE JUMP YOU HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF CLAMBERING WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE FOR SOME SORT OF CRACKDOWN OR REFORMS AT THE STATE POLICE.

I THINK THAT IS THIS IS CLEARLY ACCEPTING BRIBERY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY AGAINST THE LAW.

THE STATE POLICE HAS COME OUT WITH A LIST OF THINGS THEY DID TO KIND OF RESPOND TO THIS.

THEY AUDITED THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE UNIT, THEY PUT IN SOME NEW TRAINING, MODERNIZED RECORDKEEPING, DOING THINGS LIKE HAVING SUPERVISORS DROP IN FOR UNANNOUNCED VISITS MORE FREQUENTLY.

THEY CAME RIGHT OUT FRONT AND SAID HERE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND UP.

THEY SEEM TO BE THE MOST ACTIVE IN THAT FRONT, INTERNALLY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

ADAM: AM I RIGHT THAT THIS IS CONNECTED TO AN INVESTIGATION STARTED UNDER GOVERNOR HEALY WHICH WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL HALEY?

KATIE: AND STARTED WHILE SHE WAS AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S -- IT STARTED WHILE SHE WAS AT THE ATTORNEY’S GENERAL’S’S OFFICE.

SHE KNEW OF IT BECAUSE OF THAT, SHE WAS PLEASED TO SEE THIS AND IT DOWN BECAUSE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE PARAMOUNT.

ADAM: SHE IS IN SOMETHING OF A TRICKY POSITION.

SHE TRAVELS WITH THE STATE POLICE DETAIL?

KATIE: SHE DOES AND WHEN SHE WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL THERE WERE TROOPERS ASSIGNED TO HER OFFICE AS WELL, SHE WOULD CLOSELY INTERACT WITH THE STATE POLICE AND SHE HAS ALSO GOING TO SOON BE AT SOME POINT NAMING THE NEXT HEAD OF THE STATE POLICE.

THAT IS OPERATING UNDER THE INTERIM KERNEL FOR OVER A YEAR OR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

ADAM: IT IS IMPORTANT AND I THINK I WAS ABOUT TO FORGET IT, WHY HAS THERE BEEN AN INTERIM KERNEL RUNNING THE STATE POLICE?

KATIE: THERE HAVE BEEN, DURING THIS PERIOD OF TURMOIL THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL KIND OF LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT THE STATE POLICE THE LAST SUPERINTENDENT STEPPED DOWN AND RETIRED A YEAR AGO.

CAPPING OFF THE END OF HIS CAREER.

THERE WAS AN INTERIM HEAD WHILE CONDUCTING A BROADER SEARCH.

ADAM: SHE WILL BE ABLE TO HIRE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE POLICE?

DUE TO SOME OF THE PAST INCIDENCES?

I THINK THERE WAS A LAW CHANGED UNDER GOVERNOR BAKER?

KATIE: THE 2020 POLICE REFORM PACKAGE, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT LAWS AROUND POLICE AND WHAT REFORMS MIGHT BE NEEDED AND THE LAW IN MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDED SEVERAL CHANGES AT THE STATE POLICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF, ONE OF THOSE IS ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT TO, THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT TO COME NOT JUST FROM WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE STATE POLICE BUT THEY CAN BE HIRED FROM OTHER AGENCIES AS WELL IF THEY MEET CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS.

NOT JUST ANYONE CAN COME IN.

THERE WAS A CHANGE THAT BAKER HAD PUSHED FOR -- THAT WAS A CHANGE THAT EGGER HAD PUSHED FOR, THE OVERTIME FRAUD SCANDAL, THEY WERE COLLECTING PAY FOR SHIFTS THEY DID NOT WORK.

ADAM: THE OVERTIME SCANDAL, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SCANDALS BEFORE WE WAKE WRAP UP?

KATIE: THE OVER TIME FRAUD SITUATION WAS THE BIGGEST, DOZENS OF TROOPERS IMPLICATED.

THERE WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE AN ARREST REPORT WAS REWRITTEN TO COVER UP SOME COMMENTS FROM THE JUDGE’S DAUGHTER WHILE SHE WAS BEING ARRESTED.

THAT HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT PENTACLES GOING ON BEYOND IT.

THERE WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE A FORMER HEAD OF THE UNION OF THE STATE WHICH WAS CHARGED WITH ACCEPTING KICKBACKS.

MISUSING UNION FUNDS.

IN THIS CASE, THE CDL SCANDAL IS OUTRIGHT WITH A STATEMENT EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT AND SAYING THEY WANT TO LET THE JUDICIAL PROCESS PLAY OUT AND DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE FROM TROOPERS.

ADAM: THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR.

THANK YOU FOR BREAKING DOWN THIS COMPLICATED STUFF.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, COME BACK FOR TOMORROW, BOB WILL JOIN TO TALK ABOUT YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE T AND CELESTE NG DISCUSSES HER NOVEL 14 DAYS COWRITTEN BY MARGARET ATWOOD AND MORE THAN 30 OTHER AUTHORS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪ ♪ >> EDGAR HERE, YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND I FIND THE ANSWERS.

WE ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT THE RULES OF THE ROAD IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THEY CAME TO US FROM MARIANNE.

♪ DRIVERS IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY LUCKY THAT THEY CAN TURN RIGHT ON RED AT ANY INTERSECTION.

RELATIVELY RECENT PHENOMENON AND IT CAME TO PASS BECAUSE OF ALL THINGS, UNREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE 1970’S.

THAT YOU DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.

THE 1973 OIL CRISIS PUSHED GAS PRICES SKYHIGH SO CONGRESS PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD STATES TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO REDUCE GAS CONSUMPTION.

THEY WHAT OFFER MONEY -- THEY WOULD OFFER MONEY TO STATES WHO GOT THAT PLAN OFF OF THE GROUND, STATES HAD TO HAVE A TRAFFIC LAW OR REGULATION WHICH TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT TRACTABLE CONSISTENT WITH SAFETY PERMITS THE OPERATOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE TO TURN VEHICLE RIGHT AT A RED STOPLIGHT AFTER STOPPING.

>> THE THINKING WAS THAT ALLOWING RIGHT TURNS ON RED WOULD MEAN LESS IDLING AND LESS GAS CONSUMPTION AND AS A BONUS IT MIGHT ALSO REDUCE EMISSIONS.

SOME STATES ALLOW A RIGHT TURN ON RED, CONGRESS WANTED EVERY STATE TO ALLOW IT AND THE LAST STATE TO COMPLY WAS MASSACHUSETTS.

WE DID SO GRUDGINGLY.

WHEN IT BECAME LEGAL HERE IN 1980, SOME 90% OF THE STATE’S TRAFFIC SIGNALS WERE OUTFITTED WITH A NO TURN ON RED SIGN.

THEN AND NOW COME OFFICIAL IN EACH CITY AND TOWN DECIDE WHICH INTERSECTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SHOULD GET A NO TURN ON RED SIGN.

IN WATERTOWN ONE OF THOSE IS STEVE MAGOON, HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE ARE THREE REASONS HE MIGHT CHOOSE TO RESTRICT A RIGHT-HAND TURN ON RED.

>> THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, THE TIMING OF NEARBY TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

>> IF PEOPLE MADE A RIGHT TURN ON RED, BUT THEN HAD TO STOP VERY SHORTLY AFTER THAT AND BACK UP INTO THE INTERSECTION.

>> INSTRUCTIONS, SOMETHING LIKE A BUILDING MIGHT PREVENT A DRIVER FROM SEEING ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

THE MOST COMMON REASON IS PROTECTING PEDESTRIANS.

>> IF YOU ALLOW SOMEONE TO TURN RIGHT ON RED AND THAT PERSON IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE ON THEIR LEFT THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PEDESTRIANS ON THEIR RIGHT.

>> A QUICK NOTE OF IRONY ALLOWING THE RIGHT TURN ON RED DOES NOT REDUCE EMISSIONS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS PREFER TO RESTRICT THE RIGHT TURN ON RED BECAUSE IT PROTECTS PEDESTRIANS.

ANOTHER WAY TO REDUCE EMISSIONS IS DO NOT GET INTO THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

DID NOT FORGET TO LIGHT, SUBSCRIBE, AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT -- DO NOT FORGET TO LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT.

THANK YOU.

♪