>> TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," POLITICAL GURU ADAM RILEY JOINS ME TO BREAK DOWN MAYOR MICHELLE WU’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.

THEN WE HEAR FROM TWO HOUSING ASPECTS ON THE -- HOUSING EXPERTS ON THE MAYOR’S PLAN TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS.

AND THE MOST CURIOUS EVENTS COMING UP IN 2024.

>> THE STATE OF OUR CITY IS STRONG.

>> MAYOR MICHELLE WU GAVE HER SECOND ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ON TUESDAY, AND OF COURSE, IT IS THE TIME TO TALLY UP THE WINDS AND NOT THE LOSSES BUT THE CHALLENGES FACING BOSTON AND WHAT SHE WILL TACKLE.

GBH NEWS REPORTER AND "TALKING POLITICS" HOST ADAM REILLY JOINS ME TO GO OVER IT ALL.

IT DOES SOUND A LITTLE LIKE A PEP RALLY, BUT MAYBE THAT’S THE WAY IT GOES EVERY YEAR.

>> THERE WAS A BIT OF A TRIUMPHAL TONE, AND I THINK THERE USUALLY IS, NOT JUST EMPHASIZING THE POSITIVE, BUT WHERE UNIQUE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW MASSACHUSETTS HAS A SPECIAL ABILITY TO DO REMARKABLE THINGS TO INSPIRE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AND WE HEARD SOMETHING SIMILAR FROM MICHELLE WU LAST NIGHT, TALKING ABOUT HOW BOSTON WAS A CITY THAT WAS CAPABLE OF INNOVATING AND REFORMING AND LEAVING IN A WAY THAT SHOWED POSSIBILITY AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE POSSIBILITY IS BEING CONSTRAINED.

>> AND SHE DOES HAVE A WAY OF SELLING THAT MESSAGE.

SHE MANAGES TO DRIVE IN THE EMOTION.

IT IS A SKILL.

>> IT IS.

NO QUESTION.

ONE REASON SHE IS MAYOR.

>> SHE DID HAVE A FEW ISSUES THAT SEEMED LIKE MAYBE SHE GLOSSED OVER.

LET’S LISTEN TO WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> OUR TEAMS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IN MASS AND CAST AND BUILT MORE BEDS AND SERVICES CITY WITH UNPRECEDENTED COORDINATION, WE DELIVERED UNPRECEDENTED RESULTS.

TODAY, THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE GONE AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HOUSED AND ON THE PATH TO RECOVERY.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PICTURE.

WHAT’S MISSING?

>> WHAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THAT WAS IT WAS NOT JUST SHE PUT A REALLY POSITIVE SPIN ON THE SITUATION WHICH HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC GOING BACK MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT SHE MADE IT THE LEAD ITEM WHEN SHE CHECKED OFF HER LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THAT WAS THE FIRST THING SHE CHOSE TO TALK ABOUT.

I THINK THERE IS AGREEMENT AMONG PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THAT SPACE AND PEOPLE WHO COVER LIKE THE MAYOR HAS APPROACHED THE PROBLEM DIFFERENTLY THAN SOME OF HER PREDECESSORS AND THAT SOME GENUINE GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE.

WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS SHE DID NOT QUITE SAY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE WAS STILL PROGRESS TO COME.

THE HYPE VIDEO BEFORE HER SPEECH .

SHE REALLY SAID ESSENTIALLY THINGS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND WILL CONTINUE GOING ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

WE HAVE SEEN IN THE ENCAMPMENTS PEOPLE HAVE COME BACK AND SOME REAL PALPABLE HUMAN MISERY ON DISPLAY.

THAT WAS THE SORT OF CLIP WHERE IF THINGS WERE TO GET BAD IN MAY OR JUNE THIS YEAR, I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE REACHING BACK LOOKING FOR THE POSITIVE GLOSS THE MAYOR OFFERED IN HER STATE OF THE CITY AND CONTRASTING IT WITH REALITY, BUT MAYBE THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

MAYBE SHE HAS CRACKED THE CODE.

>> ANOTHER ITEM SHE DROPPED IN THE SPEECH WHICH TO SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SEEM LIKE A SMALL THING, AND THIS IS ANNOUNCING FREE ACCESS TO MUSEUMS.

LET’S SEE WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> STARTING IN FEBRUARY, ON THE FIRST AND SECOND SUNDAYS OF EACH MONTH, BPS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL GET FREE ADMISSION AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART, THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, THE BOSTON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM, AND THE FRANKLIN PARK ZOO.

>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY, THAT IS A VERY NICE THING, BUT JUST A SMALL THING.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON IT?

>> SHE BROUGHT THAT UP IN THE CONTEXT OF A BIGGER DISCUSSION ON THE STATE OF PUBLIC K-12 EDUCATION IN BOSTON IN WHICH SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAS BEEN DYSFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM FOR DECADES.

SHE ARGUED THAT IT IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND THAT GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

MORE PREKINDERGARTEN SEATS, NEW ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WHAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THIS MUSEUM ANNOUNCEMENT IS IT IS A REALLY TANGIBLE WAY TO SAY, HERE IS SOMETHING NEW, A NEW EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE AND A WAY TO BRIDGE TWO WORLDS THAT I THINK ARE FREQUENTLY THOUGHT OF AS SEPARATE, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS WORLD OF ELITE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT HELP TO DEFINE THE CITY.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT IS THE SORT OF THING WHERE IF YOU ARE A BPS STUDENT OR BPS PARENT, IT IS A GREAT DEAL AND ALSO HAS TREMENDOUS SYMBOLIC VALUE.

I SHOULD MENTION WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF PUSHBACK.

THEY RELEASED A LETTER SAYING, WHAT ABOUT ALL THE KIDS GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHATEVER THAT PRIVATE SCHOOL MAY BE, SUGGESTING THIS IS UNFAIR, SO WE WILL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS REAL SYMBOLIC VALUE WHEN IT COMES TO BRIDGING TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS.

>> WHICH IS A THEME THAT RESOUNDS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, INCLUDING HOUSING.

WHAT ABOUT WHAT SHE LEFT OUT?

ONE OF THOSE THINGS SEEMED TO BE FOR ME, SHE DID NOT MENTION RENT CONTROL, WHICH DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT HAS A POSITIVE FUTURE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

WHAT ELSE DID SHE LEAVE OUT?

>> IT SEEMED LIKE RENT CONTROL HAD DICEY PROSPECTS AT BEST.

IF YOU GET THE SENSE THERE’S NO FUTURE, THERE IS SORT OF NO REASON TO BRING IT UP AGAIN.

SHE DID NOT MENTION WHAT I THINK WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING STORIES TO FOLLOW, WHICH IS SHE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN ELECTING A HUGE PART OF THE COUNCIL.

SHE FUND RAISED PRIVATELY FOR INCUMBENTS SEEKING REELECTION.

SHE ENDORSED ANOTHER INCUMBENT WHO WAS SEEKING REELECTION AND ENDORSED THREE NEWCOMERS TO THE COUNCIL.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ACTING POTENTIALLY AS A CHECK OR BALANCE ON HER IDEAS AND HER PROPOSALS ARE PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR JOBS THANKS IN PART TO HER, SO HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT IS INTERESTING.

THE NEW CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO MAYOR FUND RAISED FOR SAID WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC NOT A RUBBERSTAMP FOR THE MAYOR.

I THINK THAT WILL BE INTERESTING FOR ANYONE IN POLITICS TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> SUPERFAST, IN 15 SECONDS OR SO, SHE GOES THROUGH A LOT OF WHAT I CALL MAYORAL MATH.

SHE LEFT ABOUT A LOT HOW MANY POTHOLES SHE FELT AND HOW MANY SPEED BUMPS SHE PUT HER.

>> SHE GOT HER START WITH FORMER MAYOR TOM MENINO.

WHEN I HEARD HER SAY WE FILLED 7000 POTHOLES AND PUT DOWN 300,000 SPEED HUBS AND OPENED EIGHT PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS, WHAT I HEARD WAS MENINO’S INFLUENCE ECHOING DOWN THE YEARS.

>> THAT’S WHY WE COME TO YOU FOR THE POLITICAL WISDOM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HOPE WE WILL BE BACK WITH YOU SOON.

AS ADAM JUST TOUCHED ON, MAYOR MICHELLE WU FOCUSED MUCH OF HER ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ON ONE OF BOSTON’S BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

>> HOUSING PRICES THAT ARE SQUEEZING FAMILIES OUT.

>> TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE MAYOR’S PLANS, I’M JOINED BY THE CEO OF MAX HOUSING AND A LECTURER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY AND HOUSING EXPERT.

LET’S START WITH THE.

WHAT WAS THE HEADLINE FOR YOU ON HOUSING?

QUICKLY HEADLINE ON HOUSING WAS AS MUCH ABOUT OTHER THINGS THEY HAVE DONE AS IT IS ABOUT TRYING TO CONTINUE TO CHIP AWAY AT THE PROBLEM.

>> AND IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.

FELIX, FOR YOU?

>> I AGREE WITH WHAT CRYSTAL SAID.

IT IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE’S MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THE PATH.

>> ONE THING I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT IS PUBLIC HOUSING.

WE HAVE WALKED THROUGH A LOT OF BUILDINGS AND TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE STATE OF DISREPAIR AND ELEVATOR ISSUES.

HERE IS WHAT THE MAYOR HAD TO SAY ABOUT PUBLIC HOUSING IN BOSTON.

>> I’M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS YEAR, WE WILL IDENTIFY LOCATIONS FOR NEARLY 3000 NEW PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS TO BUILD OVER THE NEXT DECADE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE MORE THAN $100 MILLION A YEAR TO MAINTAIN THE.

>> THAT MAINTENANCE IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG PIECE OF THIS.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR THERE?

>> THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST ALREADY, AND WHAT I HEARD IS THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IS GOING TO TURBOCHARGE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THOSE PROGRAMS.

>> FELIX, YOUR INPUT?

>> I AGREE.

GIVEN THE START OF MY CAREER WITHIN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, I SEE THE NEED VERY MUCH SO.

>> THE NEEDS ARE SO DEEP, THE REPAIR NEEDS ARE SO DEEP.

DOES THAT SOUND LIKE ENOUGH AT THIS POINT TO YOUR EAR?

>> IT IS NOT ENOUGH AT THIS POINT.

THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT.

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF POLICY THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY YEARS, FROM PRETTY MUCH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FORWARD.

THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING NEW IDEAS, EXPANDING PROGRAMS, WAYS TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE PUBLIC HOUSING AND DIFFERENT MEANS TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT LEARNS LESSONS FROM THE PAST.

>> CRYSTAL, MAYBE YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS.

THERE HAS BEEN AN SAID ABOUT THE REINVENTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND PERHAPS CREATIVE HYBRID SOLUTIONS.

WHAT IS THE MAYOR TALKING ABOUT EXACTLY WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT BUILDING MORE PUBLIC HOUSING?

>> YOU HIT THAT RIDE ON THE HEAD.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE HOUSING CHALLENGE IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE CHALLENGE THAT IS DIFFERENT THAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE DECADES IS THAT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY IT AND NOT JUST PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS.

THE INITIAL VISION OF PUBLIC HOUSING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL WAS ABOUT IT BEING MIXED INCOME AND PEOPLE MOVING USING THE PHRASE "UP AND OUT."

BOSTON, AS FELIX ALLUDED TO, HAS BEEN A NATIONAL LEADER IN THINKING ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN INVEST IN ITS PUBLIC HOUSING TO NOT JUST MAINTAIN WHAT IT IS BUT TO CONTINUE TO UPGRADE IT AND ADD TO IT THAT’S NOT JUST PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, BUT ALSO UNITS FOR OTHER INCOME SO WE CAN HAVE A MORE DIVERSE -- ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

>> ANOTHER IDEA SHE HAD ON AS A BIG PART OF HER HOUSING ELEMENT IN HER SPEECH WAS A SMALL IDEA, THE ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNITS -- LITERALLY SMALL IDEA -- THAT REALLY MAYBE HAS BIG IMPACT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?

>> TO GO BACK TO THE LAST QUESTION REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE I GO TO THIS, IT ALSO BUILDS ON -- I APOLOGIZE.

THE LIGHT JUST SHUT OFF.

IT ALSO BUILDS ON ANOTHER POLICY THAT MAYOR WU PRESENTED IN RECENT MONTHS AS PART OF OUR INCLUSIONARY ZONING PROGRAM, THAT A CERTAIN PORTION OF DEVELOPMENT HAVE TO ALSO EARMARKED A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF UNITS AS WELL, WHICH GOES TOWARDS EXACTLY WHAT CRYSTAL WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THE ADU’S IS PART OF A NATIONAL DRIVE.

AS YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR HEALY HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ALLOW ADU ’S AS A RIGHT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT NECESSARILY KNOW THE CONCEPT, DO YOU WANT TO DIVE IN AND BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHERE THESE WOULD BE PUT IN WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> IT STANDS FOR "ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT", AND REALLY, IT IS AND ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT THAT IS CONSTRUCTED ON THE SIDE OF THE ORIGINAL DWELLING UNIT, SO IT CAN BE PART OF THE EXISTING HOUSE OR IT CAN BE ON THE SAME LAND THAT THE HOUSE IS ON, SO WE THINK ABOUT THEM AS GRANNY FLATS, RIGHT?

IF YOU HAVE A PLACE AND THERE IS A SMALL UNIT DOWNSTAIRS IN WHICH TRADITIONALLY GRANDMA LIVED IN, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT AS OUR DEMOGRAPHICS EVOLVE AND OUR HOUSING NEEDS ARE MADE TO FIT NOT JUST LARGE FAMILIES BUT SINGLES AS WELL -- THE EXAMPLE I GENERALLY GIVE IS IT IS MY SON AND I AND WE ARE NOT GROWING, BUT MY SON MOVED, SO HE NEEDS A DWELLING UNIT.

THIS IS MEANT AS MUCH AROUND SENIORS, BUT AROUND HOW WE GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE AND UP-AND-COMING CITIZENS OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE IN BOSTON AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GREAT THINGS IT HAS TO OFFER.

>> THIS IS AN IDEA THAT HAD A LOT OF OBSTACLES RELATED TO ZONING AND THAT SORT OF STUFF THAT HAS TO BE CLEARED AWAY.

HOW BIG A DEAL IS THIS, THESE LITTLE HOUSES?

IS THIS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT?

>> THERE WAS RECENTLY AN ARTICLE I READ IN ONE OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS LOOKING AT THAT VERY QUESTION.

THEY LOOKED AT THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO AREA SPECIFICALLY AND THE IMPACT IT HAS HAD ON SINGLE-MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS IN THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO AREA.

IT MEANT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK, LIVE CLOSE TO THEIR FRIENDS, CLOSE TO THEIR FAMILY WHERE OTHERWISE THEY MAY HAVE TO LIVE OUT TENS OR FURTHER MILES AWAY AND HAVE MULTIPLE BARRIERS TO GET THEM TO JOBS, TO GET THEM TO GOOD QUALITY FOOD, GET THEM TO EDUCATION, TO THEIR FRIENDS.

THESE HAVE BEEN SHOWN ON A NATIONAL LEVEL TO REALLY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES AND PEOPLE’S FUTURE SUCCESSES.

>> I WAS ALSO GOING TO SAY THAT THE THING ABOUT THE MAYOR’S PLAN THAT I APPRECIATED MOST WAS THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT WENT ALONG WITH THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE A HOMEOWNER, PERHAPS YOUR LIFE IS BUSY, EVEN IF YOU ARE AN ELDERLY HOMEOWNER, AND YOU WANT TO DO THIS THING SO YOU CAN LIVE IN THE ADU AND RENT OUT THE REST OF YOUR HOUSE.

IT IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS, SO HAVING THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, I THINK, WILL MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE AND OPEN UP OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER THINK THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

>> MAYOR WU ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS COMPLICATED TO MOST PEOPLE.

THE BOSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

SHE TALKED LAST YEAR ABOUT REFORMING IT.

SHE HAS CHANGED IT.

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS AGENCY THAT MAYOR WU WOULD SAY THEY USED TO JUST FOCUS ON BUILDING BUILDINGS.

WE NEED THEM TO FOCUS ON BUILDING COMMUNITIES.

WHAT DOES THIS ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MEAN FORGETTING TO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> THIS IS HUGE, AND NOT JUST TO GET INTO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT JUST THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT HOW CITIES GET BUILT .

THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS BUILT TO MEET A PARTICULAR NEED DECADES AGO, AND THE CITY HAS CHANGED VERY MUCH, AND IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE AGENCY TO EVOLVE OVER TIME.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO CHANGE A HUGE AGENCY LIKE THAT WITH LOTS OF TENTACLES INTO EVERYTHING, AND IT IS HARD TO DO THAT OVER TIME, SO ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATE, AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT THE MAYOR AND HER PLAN, IS -- HOW IS THE PHRASE?

HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?

ONE BITE AT A TIME.

SHE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BITE AT IT UNTIL WE EAT THE WHOLE THING.

>> ISN’T QUITE A LARGE MEAL NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

SHE HAS VERY HIGH CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO DEAL WITH.

SHE’S GOT ALSO TO THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO FIT INTO THE HOUSING PICTURE -- SHE’S GOT ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO FIT INTO THE HOUSING PICTURE.

I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME WITH BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP, 2024 WILL BE AT LEAST IN SOME WAYS A VERY CURIOUS YEAR.

SO SAYS MY COLLEAGUE, THE GUY BEHIND GBH’S "CURIOSITY DESK," WHO JOINS US NOW WITH SOME OF THE ODDITIES ALREADY PICKING HIS INTEREST -- ALREADY PIQUING HIS INTEREST.

>> ONE BEING THAT IT IS A LEAP YEAR.

WE ARE NOT QUITE 365 TO GET AROUND, THERE IS A LITTLE EXTRA, SO WE HAVE TO ADJUST THE CALENDAR.

THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF IODIZED SALT.

DEFEATING GOITER 100 YEARS AGO IN MICHIGAN.

AND KING CHARLES III, HIS FACE WILL BE ON BANKNOTES COMING INTO CIRCULATION IN THE U.K.

THESE ARE ALL SORT OF CURIOUS THINGS, BUT THERE’S TWO IN PARTICULAR THAT I HAVE HERE THAT I THINK ARE REALLY STAND OUT MOMENTS, AND I THOUGHT WE COULD PLAY A LITTLE GUESSING GAME SO YOU CAN GUESS THESE TWO ITEMS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN 2024 THAT I THINK MAKE IT EXTRA CURIOUS.

SEE IF YOU CAN TELL WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 SPECIES OF THIS PARTICULAR CREATURE OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.

IN THE U.S., WE ORGANIZE SPECIES INTO BROODS.

12 OF THESE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER 17.

THREE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER 13.

WHAT IS THIS CREATURE I’M TALKING ABOUT?

>> I’M GOING TO HORRIFY AND A SIXTH GRADE TEACHER, SEVENTH THERE BECAUSE I’M THINKING BROODS, GAGGLE OF GEESE, PRIDE OF LIONS.

BROOD.

>> THINK BUGS.

EVERY 17 YEARS.

>> LOCUSTS?

>> CICADAS, WHICH SOMETIMES ARE CALLED LOCUSTS.

WHY IS 20/20 FOR AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR CICADAS?

THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT HAPPENING.

17-YEAR BROODS, 13-YOUR BROODS, THEY ARE NOT ON THE SAME CYCLE, BUT EVERY 221 YEARS, THE 13 AND 17 YEARS EMERGE IN THE SAME YEAR, SO THAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2024 IN THE SUMMERTIME.

WHAT’S INTERESTING IF WE CHECK OUT THIS MAP, THE WAY THESE ROUTES WORK AS THEY DO NOT HATCH ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AT THE SAME TIME.

WHAT MAKES THIS A SPECIAL BESIDES THE FACT IT’S ONLY HAPPENING ONCE EVERY 221 YEARS IS THE FACT THAT THESE TWO SPOTS WHERE THEY ARE EMERGING ARE ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, WHICH MEANS IN ONE VERY SPECIFIC SPOT, IF YOU ARE IN, SAY, IN AND AROUND ILLINOIS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE 13-YEAR CICADAS AND THE 17-YEAR CICADAS ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A NOISY YEAR.

>> IT’S GOING TO BE A VERY NOISY HERE.

SCIENTISTS, THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THIS IS A CO-EMERGENCE, AND IT’S HAPPENING IN A SPOT WHERE YOU WILL HAVE ALL THE SPECIES AT THE SAME TIME.

IT IS A NATURAL EXPERIMENT, WHICH DOES NOT HAPPEN A LOT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT PROFESSOR I SPOKE WITH SAID WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE, WILL THEY INTERBREED?

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN?

WE DON’T REALLY KNOW.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT’S A BIT OF A LONG-TERM EXPERIMENT TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT, BUT THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR SCIENTISTS.

>> AS I FIND CREATURE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE FANS.

>> IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE WILL NOT SEE CICADAS THIS YEAR, BUT WE HAVE A VERY SMALL BROOD WHICH HAPPENS EVERY 17 YEARS OUT ON THE CAPE AND SOUTH SHORE.

NEXT YEAR, 2025, WILL BE THAT BROOD’S EMERGENCE.

>> BROODS ARE JUST FOR CICADAS OR INSECTS IN GENERAL?

>> IN THIS CASE, IT IS THE WAY WE CLASSIFY CICADAS, SPECIFICALLY PERIODICAL CICADAS BECAUSE ARE -- THERE ARE BREEDS THAT COME OUT EVERY SUMMER, BUT THE PERIODICAL CICADAS, WE DECIDED TO CLASSIFY THEM INTO BROODS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC POPULATIONS.

>> WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I DID NOT THINK I WAS GOING TO HEAR THE PHRASE PERIODICAL CICADAS.

>> THAT’S WHAT I’M HERE FOR.

>> THANK YOU.

WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?

>> BASICALLY ON ANY GIVEN SPOT ON EARTH, THE CHANCES THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN ON AVERAGE IS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 400 YEARS, OK?

HERE IN NORTH AMERICA, 2024, THIS YEAR WILL REMARKABLY BE THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS THIS OCCURS AND CAN BE OBSERVED.

THE FIRST KNOWN OCCURRENCE OF THIS PHENOMENON WAS AROUND 1300 BCE IN PRESENT-DAY SYRIA.

ANY IDEA WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE LAST REFERENCE YOU MADE, 13 -- >> HUNDRED BCE.

>> COULD BE MATHEMATICAL.

COULD BE ASTRONOMICAL.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE RATHER ANCIENT.

>> YES.

>> WE HAVE ANCIENT RECORDS FOR.

I AM GOING TO SAY IT IS AND ASTRONOMICAL EVENT.

THE METEOR SHOWER, NOT BIG ENOUGH, BUT ECLIPSE?

>> THERE IT IS.

A FULL SOLAR ECLIPSE WHICH WILL BE VISIBLE FROM NORTH AMERICA.

WE HAVE ONE OF THESE IN 2017, AND AMAZINGLY, IT IS JUST REALLY UNIQUE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN 2024 PEER THE WAY THIS WORKS, TO BE IN A SPOT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE ACTUAL FULL SOLAR ECLIPSE, YOU GOT TO BE ON A VERY SPECIFIC PATH.

THE PATH OF THIS PARTICULAR ECLIPSE GOES FROM SOUTHWEST MEXICO UP THROUGH THE UNITED STATES AND OUT INTO EASTERN CANADA.

THE INTERESTING THING HERE IS THERE’S A BUNCH OF BIG CITIES WHICH ARE ON THE PATH OF TOTALITY LIKE DALLAS, INDIANAPOLIS.

IF YOU CAN GET TO NORTHERN VERMONT OR NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU WILL SEE THE FULL , FULL ECLIPSE, WHICH IS TO SAY YOU WILL SEE THE ENTIRE SUN COVERED.

>> WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.

MOST OF US IN MASSACHUSETTS OR ARE WE OUTSIDE THAT BELT?

>> WE ARE.

I DON’T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER 2017, BUT IT WAS PRETTY SPECTACULAR HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WHAT WE GOT FROM OUR ANGLE THEN WAS 62 PERCENT, 63% TOTALITY.

ABOUT 62% OF THE SUN WAS COVERED.

THIS TIME, WE ARE EVEN CLOSER TO THE MIND OF TOTALITY, WHICH MEANS WE WILL SEE SOMETHING LIKE 92%, 93% OF THE SUN GET COVERED, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD.

THIS IS APRIL 8.

IT IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR.

I SPOKE WITH A CONSULTING EDITOR AT SKY AND TELESCOPE MEDICINE -- MAGAZINE WHICH IS BASED RIGHT HERE IN CAMBRIDGE.

HE SAID IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS, IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY, GET INTO THE PATH OF TOTALITY.

HE’S LIKE, IT’S COOL IT’S GOING TO BE 92%, 93% HERE, BUT HE SAID THERE ARE FEW THINGS ON EARTH AT THAT ARREST INDESCRIBABLE AND INTERESTING AS EXPERIENCING A FULL SOLAR ECLIPSE.

HE WAS, LIKE, STUMBLING OVER HIS WORDS WITH EXCITEMENT.

AND IT’S PRETTY CLOSE, WESTERN NEW YORK, NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IF YOU CAN GET THERE, TABLE EIGHT, THAT’S WHERE IT IS HAPPENING.

PRAY FOR SUNNY SKIES.

THE DANGER IS THAT IT WOULD BE A CLOUDY DAY AND YOU MISS IT.

PRETTY SPECTACULAR STUFF.

>> GETTING INTO THE PATH OF TOTALITY, ALL THAT GREAT WISDOM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IT IS THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON.

WE GOT THAT GOING.

>> YEAH, SO LET’S GET THAT GOING, TOO.

IT’S GOING TO BE A CURIOUS YEAR ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, I PROMISE.

>> WE HOPE TO CHECK BACK WITH YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.