>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": YET MORE NEW COVID INFECTION RECORDS, DISRUPTING EVERYTHING FROM AIRLINES AND RESTAURANTS TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SOME OF WHICH, INCLUDING HERE, ARE DELAYING A POST-HOLIDAY RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM, THANKS TO STAFFING AND TEST SHORTAGES.

SO AS TESTING AND QUARANTINE GUIDELINES ARE CHANGING AND OMICRON SEEMS TO BE PLAYING BY ITS OWN RULES, WHAT DO CONCERNED PARENTS NEED TO KNOW AS THEY SEND THEIR KIDS BACK IN THIS LATEST WAVE?

AND HOW CAN WE ALL KEEP OURSELVES SAFE?

JOSEPH ALLEN, AN EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT EXPERT AT HARVARD'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, JOINS ME ON THAT, AND EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MASKS BUT HAD NO ONE TO ASK.

THEN, LATER, I'M JOINED BY THE BOSTON-BASED FOUNDER OF NUMARKET, A PLATFORM AIMED AT CROWD FUNDING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES IN A UNIQUE WAY, ALONG WITH THE RESTAURATEURS BEHIND THE NOW LEGENDARY CELESTE IN SOMERVILLE, WHO ARE AIMING TO OPEN A NEW RESTAURANT, WITH NUMARKET'S HELP.

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER SURGE, WITH NEW COVID CASES SETTING NEW RECORDS OVER THE LATEST FEW DAYS, BOTH IN THIS REGION AND ACROSS THE NATION.

AND THAT'S JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO FIND AN OFFICIAL TEST SITE.

WITH REPORTS AROUND THE STATE OF PEOPLE WAITING HOURS AND HOURS TO GET A P.C.R.

TEST, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET ONE AT ALL.

AND THAT'S JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO FIND AN OFFICIAL TEST SITE, WITH THE REPORT AROUND THE STATE OF PEOPLE WAITING HOURS AND HOURS TO GET A P.C.R.

TEST, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET ONE AT ALL.

AND THE MANY WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO AFFORD AND FIND RAPID AT HOME TESTS AREN'T EVEN INCLUDED IN THOSE NUMBERS.

ONE THING IS CLEAR RIGHT NOW: COVID IS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE.

>> I CALL IT A TSUNAMI OF INFECTIONS.

WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY, MANY CASES, EVEN IF THE RATE OF HOSPITALIZATION IS LOWER WITH OMICRON THAN IT IS WITH DELTA, THERE IS STILL THE DANGER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SURGING OF HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT MIGHT STRESS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

>> Braude: AND IT IS NOT JUST HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANS CANCELED, PROMPTING DELTA'S C.E.O.

TO REQUEST A CHANGE IN QUARANTINING PROCEDURES A COUPLE WEEKS BACK.

AND A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT, THE C.D.C.

CUTS A RECOMMENDED QUARANTINE PERIOD IN HALF, FROM 010 DAYS DOWN TO FIVE, FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY SYMPTOMS, A MOVE THAT STIRRED UP CONTROVERSY, BUT THAT DR. ANTHONY FAUCI AND OTHERS ARE DEFENDING.

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT YOU WANT TO GET PEOPLE OUT INTO THE WORKPLACE IF THEY ARE WITHOUT SYMPTOMS.

AND IN THE SECOND HALF OF A 10-DAY PERIOD, THE LIKELIHOOD OF TRANSMISSIBILITY IS CONSIDERABLY LOWER.

THE C.D.C.

IS DOING THEIR VERY BEST IN TRYING TO GET THE RIGHT BALANCE OF GETTING PEOPLE BACK, BUT DOING IT ON A SOLID SCIENTIFIC BASIS.

>> Braude: AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS ANOTHER PIECE TO THIS LATEST SURGE.

>> IT IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE EVER SEEN.

EVEN AT THE PEAK OF THE PRIOR SURGES, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO KEEP OMICRON OUT OF THE SCHOOLS.

NO WAY.

>> Braude: WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME SCHOOLS DEALING WITH STAFF SHORTAGES, STUDENT OUTBREAKS, AND A LACK OF AVAILABLE TESTS THAT ARE FORCING CANCELLATIONS, DELAYS, AND OTHER DISRUPTIONS.

STILL, HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, GOVERNOR BAKER IS STANDING FIRM THAT WE WILL NOT RETURN TO REMOTE SCHOOLING.

>> WE SAID FOR QUITE A WHILE, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, IN FACT, ALL THE WAY BACK TO LAST SPRING, THAT IT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO BE IN SCHOOL FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

>> Braude: THE F.D.A.

DID AUTHORIZE BOOSTER SHOTS TODAY FOR KIDS 12 TO 15, AND SOME IMMUNOCOMPROMISED KIDS.

AND AT THIS POINT LESS THAN 10% OF KIDS AGED FIVE TO 17 HAVE GOTTEN EVEN A SINGLE DOSE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE SAFE IN SCHOOLS?

AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE MASKS.

WHICH ONE AM I SUPPOSED TO WEAR?

I'M JOINED BY JOSEPH ALLEN, HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTHY BUILDINGS PROGRAM AT HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

JOSEPH ALLEN, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> Braude: I'M A BIG MANDATE GUY, VACCINATIONS, MASKS.

AND A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE GOVERNOR JOINED US ON OUR RADIO SHOW, AND WE WERE PART OF THE CHORUS THAT WAS TAKING ISSUE WITH HIM ABOUT HIS REFUSAL TO ENFORCE A STATEWIDE MANDATE.

YOU THINK HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING, WHY?

>> WELL, I THINK IT IS TIME TO UPDATE THE PLAYBOOK FOR 2022, THE VACCINE, AND AT THIS POINT, WE'VE HAD THE VACCINE WIDELY AVAILABLE, AND THAT'S THE NUMBER WUB ONE THING TO PUT PLACE.

MASKS WORK.

UNIVERSAL MASKING CAN BE AFFECTIVE.

AND THE REALITY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN BOSTON IS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T ALWAYS FOLLOWING THIS MASK MANDATE, EVEN WHEN IT IS MANDATED.

AND THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT ONLY SPREAD IS HAPPENING IN PUBLIC PLACES.

I THINK OMICRON IS SPREADING VERY RAPIDLY.

I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTECTED, WHO ARE VACCINATED, ARE PROTECTED AGAINST THE WORST EFFECTS OF THE VIRUS.

>> Braude: SHOULD BAKER BE DOING ANYTHING MORE ON A STATEWIDE BASIS?

MICHELLE WU WILL BE WITH ME TOMORROW NIGHT, JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO DECIDED TO EMULATE NARCOTICNEW YORK AND REQUIRED VACCINATIONS IF YOU WANT TO GO TO GYMS AND RESTAURANTS.

SHOULD BAKER BE DOING THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IS VERY WISE.

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE VACCINES ARE THE PATH OUT OF THIS.

I THOUGHT NEW YORK CITY WAS VERY SMART PUTTING THIS IN BACK OVER THE SUMMER.

IF YOU NEED TO GO TO A RESTAURANT OR A SHOW, TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION.

>> Braude: SINCE YOUR A HEALTHY BUILDING GUY, LET'S GET BACK TO MASKS AND TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS.

YOU ARE, I THINK, PART OF A CATEGORY OF PEOPLE WHO THINK, ALA BAKER, THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD REMAIN OPEN ALMOST AT ANY COSTS.

IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE TESTS -- BY THE WAY, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, NORMALLY IF THERE IS A POSITIVE TEST AND YOU'RE IN CLOSE CONTACT, YOU'RE SENT HOME TO QUARANTINE.

AND HERE IT SAYS IF YOU TEST NEGATIVE EVERY DAY, YOU STAY IN SCHOOL.

AND APPARENTLY IT HAS SAVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL DAYS.

WHAT'S THE MOST VACATION FOR YOUR POSITION?

>> I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN VERY NARROW IN TERMS OF RISKS, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT KIDS IN SCHOOLS.

KIDS, FORTUNATELY, ARE VERY LOW RISK FROM THIS VIRUS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE COST OF KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL HAVE BEEN SEVERE, AND THEY'RE ACCUMULATING.

WE'VE SEEN LOSSES IN LITERACY GAINS.

WE'VE SEEN MILLIONS OF KIDS MISSING ENTIRELY FROM THE SYSTEM.

SCHOOLS ARE THE FIRST PLACE WE DETECT MAL TREATMENT AT HOME.

AN ANALYSIS IN NEW YORK CITY FOUND IN JUST THREE MONTHS, 8,000 CASES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT THAT WERE EXPECTED TO BE REPORTED AND WERE NOT.

EXPRAPEXTRAPOLATE THAT OUT, AND THAT'S THOUSANDS OF KIDS.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

IT EXTENDS TO WORKING WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED FROM HAVING KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, DROPPING OUT OF THE LABOR-FORCE AT HIGHER RATES THAN MEN.

SOMETIMES AT THE EXCLUSIVE FOCUS OF COVID, WE NEGLECTED ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU SAY IT IS LOW RISK, HAVING HOSPITALIZATIONS -- HAVEN'T PEDIATRIC HOSPITALIZATIONS GONE UP DRAMATICALLY DURING OMICRON?

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASK.

I TALKED ABOUT, IN A "NEW YORK TIMES" PIECE, THAT THE OMICRON IS AT OUR LESS THAN ONE PER 100,000.

THAT IS VERY LOW.

IF YOU READ THAT THE HOSPITALIZATION LEVEL HAS DOUBLED, THAT MIGHT BE RIGHT, BUT IF IT GOES FROM POINT 2 TO POINT 4, THAT IS DOUBLING.

>> Braude: ONE THING ABOUT SCHOOLS, BEFORE WE MOVE BACK TO MASKS: YOU TWEETED SOMETHING THE OTHER DAY ABOUT AN INCONSISTENCY ABOUT SOMETHING I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE REDUCTION ACROSS THE BOARD FROM 10 DAYS TO FIVE DAYS FOR THIS ISOLATION PERIOD, AND FINALLY, TO FAUCI'S CREDIT, HE SUGGESTED OVER THE WEEKEND A NEGATIVE TEST WOULD BE A NICE THING,, I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN THAT AREA-BUT YOU -- BUT YOU POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A C.D.C.

GUIDANCE THAT THERE IS A 10-DAY PERIOD IF YOU TEST POSITIVE IN A SCHOOL.

FIVE DAYS IN THE PUBLIC, AND 10 DAYS IN A SCHOOL.

HOW DOES THE C.D.C.

EXPLAIN THE DISTINCTION?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT REMINDS ME THAT THEY SET A LIMIT ON MASKING FOR ADULTS, AND DIDN'T SET SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS.

SAME THING HERE.

WE HAVE ONE SET OF GUIDANCE FOR ADULTS, AND A SEPARATE SET OF GUIDANCE FOR KIDS.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SCHOOL NURSES, AND THEY'RE CONFUSED.

IF PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED, IT IS BAD GUIDANCE.

I TOTALLY AGREE ON THE TEST RETURN STRATEGY.

MOST PEOPLE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AGREE YOU TO TEST NEGATIVE BEFORE YOU COME BACK.

BUT THERE ARE FEW RAPID TESTS AVAILABLE, AND IMPLEMENTING THIS AT SCALE WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT, RIGHT NOW.

>> Braude: YOU WERE HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

AND HERE IS YOUR TWEET -- A PIECE OF YOUR TWEET -- ABOUT THAT.

DOUBLE MASKS, YOU'RE NOT ALONE, HERE IS MY 90-SECOND EXPLAINER.

NEARLY HALF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE VIEWED YOUR 90-SECOND EXPLAINER, SO IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISAPPROVE THERE ARE NO SECOND ACTS, COULD YOU DO ANOTHER 90 SECONDS WITH WHATEVER UPDATE YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE SINCE THERE IS A MASK FOCUS RIGHT NOW, JOSEPH ALLEN?

>> YEAH.

THE PRESSURE IS ON.

AND I HIT THE SAME NOTES.

THE VALUE OF MASKS DEPENDS ON THE TWO "F," FILTRATION AND FIT.

YOU WANT ONE OF THE BETTER MASKS, AN N-95, OR A KF-94, THESE ARE THE HIGHEST.

THE KN-95, THERE ARE STILL COUNTERFEITS.

THE ONE OUT OF KOREA, I LIKE TO WEAR.

AND K KN-95s, DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

YOU CAN HAVE A SURGICAL MASK AND A CLOTH MASK WITH THAT.

AND AFTER THAT, A THREE-LAYER CLOTH MASK.

IF IT IS HANGING OFF YOUR NOSE, IT ISN'T GOING TO BE THAT AFFECTIVE.

YOU WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON FIT.

THAT'S WHERE THE DOUBLE MASKING CAME IN.

NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE N-95s.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE INTERIM?

USE THE CHEAP MASKS, A CLOTH MASK ON TOP TO IMPROVE THE FIT, AND THAT WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MASK.

>> Braude: EXCELLENT.

ALMOST AS GOOD AS NEXT YEAR.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, CLOTH MASKS, WHICH YOU PUT IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIER, NOT DOUBLE MASKING, MOST OF THE EXPERTS ARE SUGGESTING CLOTH MASKS, OTHER THAN TO COVER A SURGICAL MASK, ARE VIRTUALLY WORTHLESS.

DO YOU NOT ASCRIBE TO THAT?

>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT CLOTH MASKS, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE ENTIRELY INEFFECTIVE.

LET'S SAY THAT HAVE A 50% EFFECTIVENESS, AND YOU AND I BOTH WEARING ONE, THAT IS 75%.

AND SO IT IS NOT THAT THEY'RE TOTALLY WORTHLESS.

AND I ALSO THINK CONTEXT MATTERS.

WE TALK ABOUT FILTRATION, THE TWO "F"s. AND THE CONTEXT MATTERS.

IF I'M IN A HIGH-RISK SETTING, I'M IN AN I.C.U., I WANT AN N-95 THAT IS WELL-FITTED.

IF I'M WITH MY FRIENDS THAT ARE FULLY VACCINATED, I ACTUALLY THINK WE DON'T NEED TO WEAR MASKS, SO A THREE-LAYER MASK OR CLOTH MASK WOULD BE OKAY.

>> Braude: HOW DO I DETECT A KN-95 COUNTERFEIT MASK?

>> I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, AND OSHA HAS WARNED ABOUT THIS, YOU CAN GO TO THE C.D.C.

WEBSITE, AND THEY HAVE DONE SOME TESTING.

SOME CAN BE GOOD, BUT WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY COUNTERFEITS.

THERE ARE MILLIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE U.S.

EARLY ON THAT ARE STILL IN CIRCULATION.

CHOOSE AN N-95 IF YOU CAN FIND IT, AND THE KF- 94 OUT OF KOREA.

>> Braude: I USE KF-94s, AND I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF THING'S ABOUT REUSING THEM.

THEY'RE ABOUT A BUCK A PIECE.

I READ YOU PUT IT IN A PAPER BAG, SHUT THE BAG, AND LET IT SIT THERE FOR A WEEK, AND YOU CAN ULTIMATELY REUSE IT UP TO 40 HOURS WORTH OF USE.

IS THAT CLOSE TO RIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE FILTRATION EFFICIENCY IS GOING TO STAY PRETTY GOOD.

ONCE THE FIT STARTS TO DEGRADE, THAT'S WHERE I THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

SOME PEOPLE ARE CYCLING IN MASKS, ONE OR TWO DAYS.

IF YOU PUT IT IN A BAG ON THE SIDE, I WOULDN'T SEAL IT UP, LET IT AIR OUT.

I USE MY KN-94 OVER AND OVER.

IF I'M EIGHT HOURS AT THE HOSPITAL, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DIFFERENT.

IF I'M USING IT WHEN I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, I WILL USE IT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Braude: YOU MENTIONED THE TWO "F"s. IF I CAN ADD A THIRD, I BELIEVE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS "F"ED THE PUBLIC ON THIS.

THERE MAY BE A CONTRACT SIGNED TO HAVE A HALF BILLION TESTS PROVIDED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, ASSUMING THEY CAN GET THEM TO US, THEY WILL LAST ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF.

ON THE MASK FRONT, SHOULDN'T THE GOVERNMENT BE PROVIDING BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF MASKS, LIKE A KN-94, FOR EXAMPLE, FREE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC?

ISN'T THAT THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THE MASK ISSUE?

>> TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THESE ARE MAJOR SCREW-UPS.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLE WE FIND OURSELVES IN JANUARY NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A RAPID TEST.

SAME THING ON THE MASK FRONT.

IT WAS CLEAR EARLY ON THAT WE COULD HAVE BETTER MASKS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS YEAR.

THESE THINGS ARE CHEAP AND EASY TO PRODUCE.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DELIVERING HIGH-EFFICIENCY MASKS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE SAME OLD N-95s.

YOU'RE TELLING ME THE GOVERNMENT COULDN'T DEVELOP EFFECTIVE MASKS THAT LOOK COOL AND ARE BREATHEABLE FOR ADULTS AND KIDS?

>> Braude: THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND TUTORIAL.

JOSEPH ALLEN, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS, JIM.

>> Braude: ONE BOSTON ENTREPRENEUR IS HOPING HIS INNOVATION WILL HIP.

IT IS A CROWD FUNDING THAT HELPS PEOPLE SUPPORT THEIR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES.

THE BEST PART: YOU ACTUALLY GET BACK MORE THAN YOU GIVE AS ITS FOUNDER WILL EXPLAIN IN A MINUTE.

ALREADY IT IS WORKING.

IF YOU'VE ENJOYED THE FANTASTIC NEW LOCATION IN BROOKLINE, YOU CAN THANK NUMARKET FOR THAT.

THEY OPENED UP IN AUGUST, AFTER THEY EXCEEDED THEIR 180,000 DOLLAR GOAL.

AND THEY HAVE A SECOND RESTAURANT IN THEIR SECOND HOME IN VERMONT, ESMERELDA, IS HOPING THEY'LL HELP THEM OFFER THEIR NEW SPOT WITH THE SAME INGREDIENT THEY TOLD ME IN PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES THAT THEY RELIED ON.

>> WE COOK WITH LOVE.

WE WANT TO SHARE LOVE.

WE WANT TO RECEIVE LOVE.

IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE.

>> Braude: AND JOINING ME TO KEEP THE LOVE ALIVE, I HOPE, IS JUANMA CALDERON, AND MARIA, AND WE'RE JOINED BY ROSS CHANOWSKI.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> LOVELY TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO BE HERE, JIM.

>> Braude: GREAT TO SEE YOU.

MARIA, CELESTE FOUR PLUS YEARS AGO RECOGNIZED AS BEST NEW RESTAURANT, AND ESMERELDA, ONE OF THE BEST NEW RESTAURANTS.

WHY LA ROYAL?

WHAT DOES IT DO THAT THE OTHERS DID NOT?

>> THIS ONE REALLY FEELS THE CLOSEST TO HOME.

ALTHOUGH CELESTE EMANATED FROM OUR HOUSE.

THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS WHERE WE'VE BEEN LIVING FOR 10, 15 YEARS.

THIS IS WHERE WE BUILT OUR LIFE.

OUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL DOWN THE BLOCK.

WE KNOW A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA HAVE A SPACE THAT IS HALF A BLOCK FROM WHERE WE LIVE, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE, THAT ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS VERY, VERY SPECIAL TO US.

>> Braude: MARIA, I NOTICE THERE ARE 48 SEATS IN LA ROYAL PLANNED.

THERE WERE 24 SEATS IN ESMERELDA AND 24 SEATS IN CELESTE.

I'M THERE A LOT, SO I KNOW.

WHAT IS WITH THE MULTIPLES OF 24?

>> THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE GOLDEN RULE.

SO 12, 24 -- ANY MULTIPLE THERE OF HAS BEEN A VERY LUCKY NUMBER FOR US.

>> Braude: I HAVE A FEELING THERE IS MORE TO IT AND YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME.

SO THE CRITICAL QUESTION OF THE NIGHT: IS LOVE STILL THE SECRET SAUCE IN ALL YOU'RE DOING?

OR WHAT'S THE DEAL?

>> YEAH.

LOVE -- IT HAS TO BE LOVE, YEAH.

>> Braude: AND YOU FEEL -- I HAVE TO SAY -- I HATE TO SOUND SOMETHING, BUT YOU WALK INTO CELESTE AND YOU SEE IT IS AN OPEN KITCHEN.

YOU FEEL SOMETHING SORT OF -- YOU FEEL PART OF SOMETHING AS SOON AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.

THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL, RIGHT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

FOR US BEING AT THE HEART OF IT, AND BEING ALWAYS PART OF WHAT IS GOING ON, IT IS CRITICAL.

>> Braude: SO LA ROYAL ENTER NUMARKET.

ROSS, THIS NUMARKET THING IS A CREATURE OF THE PANDEMIC.

DESCRIBE THE GENESIS TO US.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT IS A CREATURE OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT IT IS A SENTIMENT THAT HAS LONG BEEN HELD BY PEOPLE IN THE BOSTON AREA AND ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHICH IS THAT WE LOVE PEOPLE LIKE MARIA AND JUANMA.

WE LOVE PLACES LIKE CELESTE.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THOSE PLACES, GET MORE BACK, AND HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INCREDIBLY VIBRANT, DIVERSE, AND IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS COMMUNITIES.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU SAY "GET MORE BACK," I DIDN'T DESCRIBE HOW THAT WORKED.

IT IS PRETTY CREATIVE.

EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE HOW THEY GET MORE BACK BY GIVING.

>> SURE.

WHEN YOU FUND A BUSINESS LIKE LA ROYAL OR CELESTE, YOU WILL BE GETTING BACK 120% OF WHAT YOU PUT IN BACK AS CREDITS TO USE TOWARDS THE BUSINESS OVER TIME.

SO IF YOU LOVE CELESTE AND YOU WANT TO GO IN AND GET PIECEGO AND SOME OF OUR FAVORITE THING'S, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE THOSE CREDITS FOR ALL OF THAT, AND ALL OF THE THINGS YOU LOVE AT A LOT OF THE PLACES THAT YOU LOVE.

>> Braude: WE TALKED A LOT ON THIS SHOW AND OUR RADIO SHOW ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF SMALL BUSINESSES DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND NOT JUST RESTAURANTS, EVEN THOUGH RESTAURANTS OBVIOUSLY HAVE TAKEN A SERIOUS HIT.

YOUR EFFORTS ARE NOT JUST TARGETED AT RESTAURANTS, IS IT, OR IS IT NOT?

>> IT IS NOT.

IT IS FOR INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES INVOLVED WITH THEIR COSTUMERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE HAD EVERYTHING FROM MUSHROOM DELIVERY TO YOUR DOORSTEP, WHICH IS A GREAT BUSINESS, TO LA ROYAL RESTAURANTS AND APPAREL BUSINESSES THAT ARE BOTH IN-STORE AND ONLINE.

ALL OF THE THING'S THAT THINGS THAT MAKE UP VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, BEING ABLE TO SHIP AND DELIVER TO OUR HOMES.

>> Braude: MARIA, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU WHEN SOMEBODY WHO YOU KNOW, WHO LOVES WHAT YOU BOTH DO AND YOUR COLLEAGUES DO DECIDES TO GIVE TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR WORK?

>> FOR US, IT IS -- WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT.

ALL OF THESE YEARS, WE HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AND WE HAVE COSTUMERS THAT HAVE BECOME VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT BECAUSE THAT'S -- WE SUPPORT MANY EMPLOYEES.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE -- THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

AND ANY SUPPORT THAT WE GET, WE CAN TRANSLATE BACK BY SUPPORTING PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH US, WHO REALLY HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE OPERATE.

SO -- >> Braude: I'M SORRY.

JUANMA, I KNOW CELESTE IS PERUVIAN, AND ESMERELDA IS PART PERUVIAN, AND YOU HAVE GUEST CHEFS, SO I GUESS IT IS A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

SO IN TERMS OF FOOD, WHAT IS GOING TO SET IT APART?

>> IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MENU, COMPARED TO CELESTE.

WE'RE TRYING TO GO A LITTLE BOLDER WITH THE PERUVIAN FOODS.

MOST OF THE PERUVIAN FOODS ARE COMING FROM LIMA, THE CAPITAL.

SO IN THIS RESTAURANT, WE TRIED TO COVER DIFFERENT REGIONS OF PERU, LIKE THE JUNGLE, THE ANDES, AND THE COAST.

>> Braude: ROSS, BACK TO YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE DONE THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS -- I KNOW YOU'VE EXISTED LESS THAN A YEAR -- DO PEOPLE WHO GIVE GIVE BECAUSE OF THE QUOTE PROFIT?

DO THEY GIVE BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THE JUANMAs AND THE MARIAs OF THE WORLD?

WHAT IS THE MOTIVATOR?

>> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF A RETROSPECTIVE, AND WE FOUND A MIX OF BOTH.

YOU HAVE FOLKS WHO REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT WHATEVER IT IS THAT MARIA AND JUANMA ARE DOING.

AND THEN THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY, REALLY LOOKING FOR THAT 20% BACK.

BOTH WORK, BOTH ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE THINK IT IS A GREAT WAY TO CREATE A NEW KIND OF ECONOMIC ENGINE, BUILT ABOUT THE STEEL PRISTINE OF THE NIGHT, BUILT AROUND LOVE AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> Braude: AND THE ONLY WAY YOU DON'T GET THAT RETURN -- AND I HATE TO BE CRASS ABOUT IT -- IS IF THE THING YOU'RE INVESTING IN DOESN'T MAKE IT.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, YOU'RE GETTING 120% BACK ON YOUR ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION AND INVESTMENT?

>> RIGHT.

WE SEND THE CREDITS BACK MONTHLY, STARTING 30 DAYS LATER.

SO YOU START GETTING THESE CREDITS TO USE SUPER QUICKLY.

SO YOU CAN GO INTO LA ROYAL, TO CELESTE, ORDER ONLINE, WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO BE DOING, AND YOU CAN DO THAT EXTREMELY FAST.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL GO IN, SPEND THOSE CREDITS, SPEND THEM, AND IT CREATES AN INTERESTING NEW ENGINE FOR BUSINESSES AS WELL, WHERE IT IS AS MUCH COMMUNITY LOYALTY AS IT IS FUNDING.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, ROSS, STAYING WITH YOU -- YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, BUT WHY NOT?

I'LL TRY ANYONE.

YOUR IDEA IS SO OBVIOUS TO ME.

I DON'T MEAN THAT AS A CRITICISM.

I MEAN THAT AS A COMPLIMENT AND AN OBSERVATION.

IS THIS BEING DONE ELSEWHERE, OR ARE YOU IT?

>> JIM, IF YOU HAVE CRITICISM, WE'LL TAKE THAT, TOO.

WE LOVE SOME GOOD FEEDBACK.

>> Braude: I DON'T.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PIECES OUT THERE THAT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THIS BIG UMBRELLA FOR FUNDING FOR INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.

WE, RIGHT NOW, ARE FOCUSED ON THAT CREDIT MODEL.

IF IT IS NOT THE RIGHT FIT FOR ANY BUSINESSES, WE TRY TO POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR A MODEL THAT DOES WORK, WHETHER IT IS A DIFFERENT REGION, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FINANCING.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A NEW ONE.

>> Braude: MARIA, BEFORE YOU GO, BEFORE I MET YOU AND JUANMA, BEFORE I HAD BEEN TO YOUR RESTAURANT, I HAD READ ABOUT CELESTE IN "THE BOSTON GLOBE" OR SOMETHING -- MAYBE IT WAS THE "NEW YORK TIMES," I'M NOT SURE.

WHAT SHOCKED ME WAS AS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL AS YOUR OPENING WAS, ONE OF THE THING'S YOU THINGS YOU ANNOUNCED WAS WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THIS IN FIVE YEARS, IT IS A SHORT-TERM PROJECT.

HERE IS WHAT YOU SAID.

>> IT IS KIND OF WHAT KEEPS US GOING, WHEN WE'RE EXHAUSTED.

IT IS LIKE -- I THINK THE PLAN IS THIS WILL SHUT DOWN AND WE WILL POSSIBLY DO IT ELSEWHERE.

WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING MORE.

>> Braude: MY UNDERSTANDING IS SHUT DOWN NO MORE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE STAYING.

THE PANDEMIC PROBABLY REALLY ROOTED US IN A WAY WE NEVER THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.

OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT WAS SO STRONG.

THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED WITH US MADE IT ALL HAPPEN.

WE PULLED TOGETHER.

WE CAN'T JUST WALK AWAY.

SO FOR US IT IS IMPORTANT TO STICK AROUND.

THE IDEA OF TRAVELING NOW HAS BECOME A LITTLE LESS PRESSING BECAUSE WE FOUND A PLACE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER THAT WE FELL IN LOVE WITH.

>> Braude: BEFORE YOU GO, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW YOU, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE AUDIENCES COME IN AND DO, YOU'RE AN ARCHITECT BY TRADE.

JUANMA IS A FILMMAKER.

I KNOW YOU MADE A FILM TOGETHER.

JUANMA, DO YOU MISS THAT, OR IS THIS YOUR LIFE?

THIS IS IT?

>> FUNNY YOU MENTION THAT.

>> I HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE BOSS.

ONEONE YEAR CAN TAKE CARE OF MY PROJECTS.

>> Braude: ROSS, IT IS GOOD TO MEET YOU.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EFFORT.

MARIA AND JUANMA, GOOD LUCK.

>> WE HAVE ONE MORE DAY LEFT FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO ENDS.

SO ANY SUPPORT WOULD BE AMAZING.

>> Braude: GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL THREE OF YOU.

TAKE CARE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW ADVENTURE, HEAD TO numarket.Co --no "M" ON THE END.

AND MAYOR MICHELLE WU WILL JOIN US TOMORROW, WITH THE LATEST ON HOW TO SOLVE THE MASS AND CASS PROBLEM.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW, 7:00 P.M.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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