>> TONIGHT TALKING POLITICS."

GBH NEWS'’ INTERVIEW WITH THE FIRST EVER HAITIAN-AMERICAN TO HOLD THAT POST.

PLUS A LOOK AT THE BALLOT QUESTIONS FOR A VOTE IN NOVEMBER, POSSIBLY.

JOE BIDEN WILL NOT BE ON THE BALLOT IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.

THAT IS NOT STOPPING SUPPORTERS FOR CAMPAIGNING FOR HIM TO WIN THE STATE.

THE PRESIDENT OPTED OUT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER DEMOCRATS SCHEDULED THEIR CONTEST IN THAT STATE, FLOUTING DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE PLANS TO SOUTH CAROLINA'’S PRIMARY.

BIDEN SUPPORTERS ARE CALLING ON VOTERS TO WRITE HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT ANYWAY.

AMONG THEM, GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY, WHO HAD LED THE CONFERENCE CALL FOR SUPPORTERS THURSDAY NIGHT.

WILL THIS STRATEGY WORK, OR IS NEW HAMPSHIRE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR BIDENS CHALLENGERS?

I'’M JOINED BY ONE OF THE PEOPLE ORGANIZING THE WRITING CAMPAIGN IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND BY CHRISTOPHER GALLERY, PROFESSOR IN POLITICS AT SAINT ANSELL HIM COLLEGE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

JOE, YOU WORKED FOR A BUNCH OF RESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS IN THE PAST.

YOU ORGANIZED THIS CONFERENCE CALL THAT TOOK PLACE THE NIGHT BEFORE.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS IT YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO GO UP TO NEW HAMPSHIRE TO DO?

>> THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ENTHUSIASM THROUGH THE COUNTRY.

THIS LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM IS OFTEN INCREDIBLY UNDERREPORTED.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS COME TO FRUITION WITH EVENTS LIKE LAST NIGHT.

WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTES OF OUR CALL TO ORGANIZE THE EFFORTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE HAD THE CAPACITY LIMIT ON OUR ZOOM.

WE HAD TO INCREASE IT.

>> DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE FROM MASSACHUSETTS?

>> WELL OVER 100 PEOPLE.

>> NOT TO OVER STEER YOU, BUT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED, ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PRESENT.

WHAT IDEALLY WILL MAURA HEALEY, YOU, AND PEOPLE A PART OF THIS, WHAT WILL YOU DO ON ELECTION DAY ITSELF?

>> OUR FIRST NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO HOLD ALL OF THIS MAJOR ENTHUSIASM ENERGY FOR JOE BIDEN INTO EXISTING EFFORTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THE VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP IS ABSOLUTELY SUPERB.

THEY PUT TOGETHER A CRYSTAL CLEAR AND CONCISE GAME PLAN TO HELP FOLKS REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO WRITE IN JOE BIDEN'’S NAME ON THE PRIMARY DAY.

>> SOON THEY WILL BE EDUCATING THEM BEFORE HAND, WRITEINB IDEN.COM.

AND ON THE DAY ITSELF, IT WILL BE THERE?

MAKE SURE TO WRITE IN BIDEN.

DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE.

THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY.

>> EVERY SINGLE TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP -- FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, EVERY TIME HE OPENS HIS MOUTH, IT BECOMES CRYSTAL CLEAR FULL DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE.

IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ELECTION.

THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER.

EVERY FOUR YEARS, EVERYONE SAYS IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF YOUR LIFE.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

>> LET ME ADD CHRIS.

IS IT FAIR TO SAY JOE AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN MASSACHUSETTS, PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS CAMPAIGN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, ARE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM BIDEN CREATED FOR HIMSELF.

THIS DNC PLAN TO DEMOTE NEW HAMPSHIRE TO GET SOUTH CAROLINA, THE FIRST PRIMARY IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE AND OTHER STATES GOING LATER, THAT CAME FROM BIDEN HIMSELF, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THIS IS THE THING THAT WAS AN UNFORCED ERROR ON THE PART OF THE PRESIDENT'’S CAMPAIGN.

SIMPLY BECAUSE NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A SWING STATE.

IT IS A STATE WHERE IN 2012, THEN PRESIDENT OBAMA, IN 2020, DONALD TRUMP, PUT TONS OF EFFORTS INTO THE PRIMARY SO THEY CAN GET A RUNNING START ON ORGANIZING IN THE STATE FOR THE FALL CAMPAIGN.

THIS STANDOFF BETWEEN NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATS AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT ON ONE HAND AND THE DNC ON THE OTHER HAS FORCED THE PRESIDENT'’S CAMPAIGN TO BE IN IDLE MODE WHILE THE PRIMARY IS GEARING UP.

I THINK IT IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

THE REASON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A WRITE IN CAMPAIGN AND WHETHER IT CAN SUCCEED IS REALLY THE RESULT OF THAT DECISION.

>> LET ME ASK YOU WHETHER IT CAN SUCCEED.

AND WE WILL GO BACK TO YOU JOE.

I KNOW THAT YOUR COLLEAGUE DID SOME POLLING RECENTLY ON THE PLANS PEOPLE HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO -- IF THE PRIMARY WERE TODAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

WE CAN PULL UP A GRAPHIC.

THE BIG TAKE AWAY IS THE POLL CONDUCTED IN DECEMBER SHOWS ONLY 50% OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LIKELY PRIMARY VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY VOTERS, SAY THEY WOULD PLAN TO WRITE IN BIDEN.

AREN'’T SURE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

SOME SMALLER NUMBER INTERESTED IN WILLIAMSON.

FOR ME, THAT RAISES THE QUESTION CAN JOE GET PEOPLE TO WRITE IN THE PRESIDENT?

DO YOU THINK 50% IS WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO LAND, OR CAN THEY GET THE NUMBER TO A MORE RESPECTFUL LEVEL?

>>>> THE BIG CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE GETTING PEOPLE TO TURN OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THIS IS A STANDALONE PRIMARY.

THE ONLY THING ON THE BALLOT IS THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.

WE DON'’T HAVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD COME OUT TO VOTE IN A PRIMARY FOR SENATOR, GOVERNOR, OR SOME OTHER OFFICE.

YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO GET UP ON A SNOWY JANUARY MORNING, GEORGE TO THE POLLS, AND RIGHT IN THE GUY WHO DID NOT FILE BECAUSE HIS PLAN TO GET RID OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION STATUS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE DID NOT QUITE COME TO FRUITION.

I DON'’T EXPECT THE PRESIDENT TO LOSE THIS PRIMARY.

I WOULD BE A CERTAIN AIRILY SURPRISED IF WILLIAMSON AND PHILLIPS PULLED MUCH BETTER THAN THE NUMBERS SHOWED.

I THINK THE BIG GREAT CHUNK OF NOT SURE PEOPLE, THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THEY'’RE GOING TO WRITE IN BIDEN.

THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THEY WILL MAKE TIME TO GO TO THE POLLS ON JANUARY 23.

>> WHAT WOULD A WIN FOR BIDEN, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE VOTES THAN THE OTHER CANDIDATES, WHICH SEEMS HE'’S GOING TO, BUT IN TERMS OF GETTING A PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE, WHAT WOULD A WIN LOOK LIKE?

>> TO START, THE POLLS GO UP AND THEY GO DOWN, THERE IS SIMPLY A SNAPSHOT IN TIME.

SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY WONDERFUL THIS MORNING.

MORE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WOKE UP AND WENT TO WORK THAN EVER BEFORE.

THE ECONOMY ADDED 216,000 JOBS IN DECEMBER.

SENIORS PAY LESS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TODAY THAN BEFORE THE PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE.

INFLATION IS WELL UNDER CONTROL.

THIS IS ALL SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS RACE, VOTERS ARE MORE COGNIZANT OF WHAT IS AT STAKE.

TRYING TO GUESS WHAT IS A WIN, WHAT IS NOT.

TSITSIPAS ONE IS ALL IT TAKES TO BE VICTORIOUS ON THAT DAY.

>> LET'’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE MESSAGING COMING FROM THE CANDIDATES YOU ARE TRYING TO WORK AGAINST, THE CANDIDATES YOU SAID YOU DON'’T SEE GETTING A TON MORE SUPPORT THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY GETTING.

LET'’S LOOK FIRST AT HOW DEAN PHILLIPS, THE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM MINNESOTA, LET'’S LOOK AT MARIAN WILLIAMSON, WHO IS MORE FAMILIAR SINCE SHE RAN A COUPLE CYCLES AGO.

>> THINGS THAT WERE AFFORDABLE ARE NO LONGER, MORTGAGE RATES GOING UP, FUEL AND FOOD ARE TOO EXPENSIVE.

>> I'’M ON A MISSION TO DO TWO THINGS.

TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE U.S., AND CHANGE THIS INCREDIBLY DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM.

I'’M ALSO ON A MISSION TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR POLITICS.

>> THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE, DECIDED THEY WOULD NOT HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

THEY SAID JOE BIDEN IS THE WINNER.

THE DESTRUCTION OF DEMOCRACY IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE RIGHT.

IT IS HAPPENING IN FRONT OF OUR EYES AND IN FLORIDA RIGHT NOW.

IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE, A NEW GENERATION.

>> DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION, IT HAD BECOME CLEAR WE MUST BECOME RADICAL FOR A GENERATION.

RADICAL IS NOT THE WORD WE SHOULD FEAR.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS RADICAL.

THE RADICALISM WE SHOULD FEAR IS THE RADICALISM OF THE LAST 50 YEARS.

IT IS RADICAL WE'’VE ALLOWED CORPORATE FORCES TO DOMINATE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE WAY WE HAVE.

>> THERE ARE THE TWO BEST, THE TWO BEST-KNOWN CHALLENGERS.

CHRIS, WHAT IS IT THAT PHILLIPS AND WILLIAMSON ARE NOT DOING THAT PERHAPS THEY COULD TO BE MORE VIABLE THAN THEY SEEM TO BE, OR IS THERE NOTHING?

THEY ARE DESTINED TO BE FRENCHY CANDIDATES GIVEN THE UNUSUAL NEIGHBOR -- NATURE OF THIS PRIMARY?

>> CHALLENGING A SITTING PRESIDENT IN YOUR OWN PARTY'’S PRIMARY IS ALWAYS AN UPHILL BATTLE WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS.

IT IS GENERALLY SOMETHING OF A FOOLS ERRAND.

THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY A REFLECTION ON THE CHALLENGERS THEMSELVES.

BUT USUALLY SOMEONE WHO HAS GOTTEN THEMSELVES ELECTED PRESIDENT MEANS THEY GOT NOMINATED BEFORE.

THEY DO IT FOR A REASON.

I DON'’T THINK PHILLIPS OR WILLIAMSON HAVE REALLY ARTICULATED A CLEAR REASON THAT SHOULD BE PERSUASIVE TO DEMOCRATS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THE DEAN PHILLIPS CLIP IS HE MANAGES TO INCLUDE SOME CRITICISM YOU EXPECT TO COME FROM BIDENS LEFT AND SOME SOUNDS SIMILAR TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ON HIS RIGHT.

I'’M NOT SURE EITHER HAS A HUGE CONSTITUENCY IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.

>> THAT SEEMS ECO TRICKY BALANCE, FINDING IT BOTH WAYS AND ATTRACTING PEOPLE VOTING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AS YOU COME AT THE SITTING PRESIDENT FROM BOTH ANGLES.

I THINK YOU WILL GET THE LAST WORD HERE.

CHRIS MENTIONED NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A SWING STATE.

YOU WANT TO STRONG OUTCOME FOR THE PRESIDENT.

THEN THERE IS THE QUESTION OF WHO CARRIES THE STATE IN NOVEMBER.

ARE YOU WORRIED THE PRESIDENT'’S APPROACH TO THE PRIMARY CYCLE, THE FACT YOU ARE LEADING, ARE YOU WORRIED IT WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO CARRY THE STATE IN NOVEMBER AND COULD END UP BE DECISIVE IF IT IS A RAZOR CLOSE ELECTION?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE SHOULD TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED AND TALK TO VOTERS ABOUT WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN FOR A SECOND TERM.

I DON'’T THINK THE INTRAPARTY POLITICS WILL WEIGH IN IN THE CALCULUS OF VOTERS AS THEY MAKE THEIR DECISION.

NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A WONDERFUL PLACE.

VOTERS VALUE THEIR BALLOT.

I THINK THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

WHEN YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK, WHEN YOU STEP BACK AND YOU LOOK AT THE FIELD OF CANDIDATES, IT BECOMES CLEAR JOE BIDEN IS THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY FOR FOUR MORE YEARS.

>> PEOPLE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK, I FOUND MYSELF IMAGINING TALKING TO VOTERS.

I COULD GO THERE TODAY AND FIND SOMEONE WHO TOLD ME THEY STILL HAD NOT HEARD ENOUGH FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN OR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IT IS A CLASSIC NEW HAMPSHIRE APPROACH.

WE NEED TO HEAR MORE FROM CANDIDATES.

CHRIS AND JOE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US ON THIS COMPLICATED SITUATION.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> NEXT, THE CONVOLUTED PROCESS REPORTING BALLOT QUESTIONS.

ANOTHER KEY PROCEDURAL MOMENT THIS WEEK.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCED SUPPORTERS OF SEVEN PROPOSED LAWS HAVE GATHERED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO SEND PROPOSALS TO THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH CAN LEGISLATE ON THE ISSUES IN QUESTION OR TAKE A PASS, IN WHICH CASE THE PROPOSED LAWS WILL LIKELY GO COMING NOVEMBER.

BUT NOT DEFINITELY.

JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THE IDEAS AND WHAT IS TO DO NEXT IS KATIE LANNON.

SHE COVERS THE STATE FOR GBH NEWS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST IN THIS SPACE, THERE WERE DOZENS OF QUESTIONS.

DID I GET THAT NUMBER RIGHT?

SEVEN?

>> YES AND NO.

>> LET'’S ACCENTUATE THE PROCESS.

>> THERE ARE SEVEN DIFFERENT PETITIONS THE SECRETARY OF STATE FORWARDED TO THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.

THERE ARE THREE MORE HE'’S EXPECTED TO CERTIFY FOR A TOTAL OF 10, WHICH IS A LOT OF NUMBERS FOR A LOT OF MINUTIA HERE.

FIVE OF THE 10 QUESTIONS ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SAME PROPOSAL.

THAT IS THE PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTION THAT WOULD RESHAPE THE RELATIONSHIP -- REDEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLATFORMS LIKE UBER AND LYFT AND THEIR DRIVERS.

DEALING WITH THEIR BENEFITS.

>> WHAT ARE THE OTHER ONES?

>> ANOTHER RIDE SURE QUESTION THAT COMES FROM THE OPPOSITE ANGLE TO UNIONIZE.

WHEN THAT WOULD LEGALIZE PSYCHEDELICS.

THE STATE AUDITOR IS HOPING TO BE OFFICIALLY GRANTED THE POWER TO AUDIT THE LEGISLATURE.

SOMETHING TOP LAWMAKERS HAVE RESISTED.

THERE IS A BID TO SCRAP THE USE OF THE MCAS TEST AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS.

>> A REALLY INTERESTING ONE.

>> AND THERE IS A BID TO ELIMINATE THE LOWER MINIMUM WAGE FOR TIPPED WORKERS.

I THINK THAT IS EVERYTHING.

I WAS NOT COUNTING.

>> I WAS NOT COUNTING SINCE YOU HAD THE HARD JOB AND I HAD THE EASY ONE.

I THINK WE'’VE GOT EVERYTHING.

HOPEFULLY WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE IF WE DON'’T.

THE PROCESS.

NOW THAT THESE SEVEN TO 10 QUESTIONS EITHER HAVE HAVE ADVANCED OR ARE LIKELY TO ADVANCE, THEY GO TO THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH GETS A CHANCE TO ACT ON THESE TOPICS.

IF A LEGISLATURE DOES NOT ACT ON THEM, DOES NOT LEGISLATE ON THESE QUESTIONS, THEY WILL PROBABLY BUT NOT NECESSARILY BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

WHAT CAN DERAIL THEM?

LET'’S SAY THEY DON'’T ACT ON ANY OF THESE?

>> I SHOULD NOTE THAT AT BASE DRIVERS EMPLOYMENT STATUS QUESTION, NOT ALL FIVE OF THOSE ARE GOING TO END UP BEFORE VOTERS.

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT YOU WILL BE DECIDING THEM A NEW SHOW OF WHICH VERSION OF BENEFITS THEY GET.

THAT CAMPAIGN WILL PUT FORWARD ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

THAT IS ONE WAY.

THERE IS ANOTHER SIGNATURE GATHERING THRESHOLD.

THEY HAVE TO GET MORE THAN 12,000 ADDITIONAL VOTER SIGNATURES OVER THE SUMMER.

>> EASIER THAN THE ONE THEY JUST HIT.

>> A MUCH LOWER LIFT.

EXACTLY.

AND A CAMPAIGN MIGHT DECIDE TO DROP IT.

ANOTHER NATIONAL OR STATE POLICY DEVELOPMENTS.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN POLITICALLY IN A MATTER OF MONTHS.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A CAMPAIGN POTENTIALLY DROPPING, ONE THING I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN, BUT I JUST NOTICED IT IN THIS CYCLE, THERE'’S OFTEN A SPLIT BETWEEN ACTIVISTS WHO LIKE A PARTICULAR IDEA OF RENTABLE.

THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE IT, BEST WAY TO MAKE A NEW LAW IS TO PUT IT BEFORE VOTERS AS A BALLOT QUESTION OR HAVE THE LEGISLATURE TAKE ACTION.

THE STATE REP'’S FAILED PUSH TO RENT CONTROL.

NOW WE SEE THE LEGALIZATION OF PSYCHEDELICS QUESTION YOU TALKED ABOUT AS WELL.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE THAT IDEA WHO WANT IT TO GO TO VOTERS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'’T.

WHY MIGHT IT BE PREFERABLE IF YOU HAVE A BIG NEW IDEA TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AS OPPOSED TO THE PUBLIC?

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A BALLOT QUESTION, IT IS A YES OR NO VOTE IN YOUR POLLING BOOTH.

VOTERS CAN'’T AMEND THE PROPOSAL BEFORE THEM.

IF PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA BROADLY, LEGALIZING PSYCHEDELICS, BUT DON'’T CARE FOR THIS ONE PARTICULAR APPROACH, THAT IS THE DYNAMIC HERE.

IT IS A DC-BASED GROUP THAT HAS DONE WORK NATIONALLY ON THIS ISSUE BEHIND THE BALLOT QUESTION.

AND THERE IS A LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUP TAKING A GRASSROOTS APPROACH WITH DECRIMINALIZATION MEASURES THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING.

THEY HAVE BEEN WARY OF THE POTENTIAL COSTS FROM A REGULATORY HEAVY APPROACH.

THEY'’VE GOT A RALLY PLANNED NEXT WEEK PUSHING BACK AGAINST WHAT THEY SAY IS A CORPORATIZATION MOVEMENT.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING.

AS YOU MAKE THAT POINT.

YOU ARE HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO SOMETHING, IT IS EASY TO OPPOSE IT IF YOU SAY IT IS A NATIONAL GROUP TRYING TO DO THIS IN 10 OTHER STATES.

THEY ARE NOT ATTUNED TO THE PARTICULAR REALITIES WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IN MASSACHUSETTS.

IT IS TOO BROAD OF A BRUSH.

THAT IS AN ARGUMENT TO MAKE AGAINST A VALID QUESTION.

>> EVEN IF YOU LIKE THE PRINCIPLES, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO ABOUT IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK FOR A LONG TIME ARE FOCUS ON IT.

>> WE'’VE GOT ABOUT 1.5 MINUTES TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

OF THESE ISSUES FLOATING AROUND, WHICH IS THE LEGISLATURE MOST LIKELY TO ACT ON.

BY THE END OF APRIL.

THEY DON'’T HAVE A TON OF TIME.

>> HAVE UNTIL THE END OF APRIL TO PASS IT ON THEIR OWN.

SOMETIMES YOU SEE NEGOTIATIONS TO DROP A QUESTION IN LIEU OF SOMETHING ELSE.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE GRAND BARGAIN A FEW YEARS AGO THAT KNOCKED OFF SEVERAL BALLOT QUESTIONS.

BUT I THINK THE EMPLOYMENT STATUS QUESTION IS ONE BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WITH TWO DIFFERENT GOALS, THAT ONE IS RIGHT FOR A LEGISLATIVE COMPROMISE.

ALSO, IT IS AN ISSUE THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO ACT ON AND HAS NOT.

>> IT SEEMS IT HAS BEEN FLOATING AROUND FOREVER.

YOU MENTIONED THE GRAND BARGAIN.

ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT WERE GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT WERE TIED TOGETHER LEGISLATIVELY AND DISPOSED OF.

COULD WE SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR WHERE YOU'’VE GOT LEGALIZATION PSYCHEDELICS AND THE STATUS OF RIDE-SHARE DRIVERS AND ONE OF THE MANY THINGS YOU NAMED EARLIER THAT I'’M FORGETTING WHERE THESE THINGS THAT DON'’T GO TOGETHER ARE COBBLED TOGETHER?

WHAT HAPPENED IN 20, A LOT HAD TO DEAL WITH LABOR AND THE RETAIL SECTOR.

IT WAS A SALES TAX QUESTION, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, MINIMUM WAGE, PHASING OUT TIME AND A HALF ON HOLIDAYS.

THOSE INVOLVED A LOT OF THE SAME INTEREST GROUPS.

HERE YOU HAVE A MUCH BROADER ARRAY OF INTERESTED PARTIES.

I DON'’T WANT TO RULE ANYTHING OUT.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN A MATTER OF MONTHS.

IT WOULD BE HARDER TO COBBLE SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT SATISFIED EVERYONE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OVERVIEW, I LEARNED A TON.

KATIE LYNN, APPRECIATE IT.

IT IS A NEW YEAR AND THE BOSTON'’S CITY COUNCIL HAS A NEW PRESIDENT.

THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS AND HISTORIC, MAKING HER THE FIRST HAITIAN-AMERICAN TO HEAD UP THE COUNCIL.

SHE SAT DOWN WITH CRYSTAL HAYNES EARLIER THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT HER VISION FOR THE JOB AND OTHER MATTERS.

HERE'’S PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

YOU ARE COMING IN AFTER WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A TUMULT WAS HERE ON THE COUNCIL.

AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO COME IN AND WRITE THE SHIP?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE IN TERMS OF HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THOUGHTS, THAT WE DID NOT SEE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS?

>> NOT ALL WAS LOST.

ESPECIALLY THE STORIES PICKED UP CAN GET THE MOST CLICKS AND ATTENTION.

WE DID REDISTRICTING, WHICH IS A POLITICALLY INTENSE PROCESS.

WE ARE COMING OUT OF COVID, WE PRESENTED THE COLLEGIALITY TO HELP BLOCK IT.

WE HAD SOME STAFF CHANGEOVERS AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL.

OTHER PEOPLE RUNNING FOR DIFFERENT OFFICES.

CREATING TENSION THAT I'’M HOPING WE CAN RETURN TO BASICS.

POLITICS CAN BE A HARD PLACE.

IT IS A HARD ARENA.

I HAVE AN AUNT WHO IS A NUN.

SOMEONE SAID IF YOU WANTED IT TO BE ONE BIG FAMILY, YOU SHOULD HAVE JOINED THE CONVENT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES.

WE ARE A BIG CITY.

WE MIGHT DISAGREE ON THE PACE OF EQUALITY AND PROGRESS.

THAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE CAN DO THAT WHILE STILL SAYING HIGH TO EACH OTHER WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY.

WHILE STILL NOT TRYING TO TAKE EACH OTHER DOWN.

I DON'’T BELIEVE THIS IN ANY WAY.

IF YOUR EQUATION FOR SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT ON TAKING SOMEONE ELSE DOWN, YOU SHOULD FIND A NEW JOB, YOU SHOULD FIND A NEW INDUSTRY.

IT SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ON TAKING SOMEONE ELSE DOWN.

YOU SHOULD SHINE IN YOUR OWN GLORY.

THOSE WHAT I TRY -- THAT IS WHAT I TRY TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES, THEY ALL BRING THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS, HUMOR, THEIR BACKGROUND AS A FAMILY IN PUBLIC SERVICE OR A NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANT GROWING UP IN PUBLIC HOUSING, THEY HAVE THEIR SKILLS AND BACKGROUNDS AND I HOPE TO BRING IT OUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WANT TO GET DONE.

HOUSING BEING ONE OF THEM.

THE AVERAGE NUMBER MONTHLY RENT INCREASE BETWEEN JULY 2022 AND 2023 WAS REALLY HIGH.

A ONE BEDROOM JUMPED FROM ABOUT 20 TO $50 TO ABOUT $2595.

THIS IS BECOMING -- WE HAVE SAID IT IS A CRISIS, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE REACHED A FEVER PITCH.

>> IT HAS.

THAT IS EXACTLY AND UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT.

THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE CITY TO RENT.

THERE IS A HIGH BARRIER.

65% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS.

I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP, MAKING THAT OUR REALITY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF RENTERS.

WHICH IS WHY WE ARE WORKING ON EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THE COST OF HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.

WHETHER IT IS USING CITY-OWNED LAND, MAKING SURE WE HAVE A CITY WITH A STRONG BOND THAT WE CAN BUILD MORE HOUSING.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ADVOCATED RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT I'’M EXCITED BY NEW LEADERSHIP OF THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH PUTTING OUR HEADS TOGETHER.

THERE WILL NOT BE ONE THING THAT SOLVES IT.

WE HAVE THE BILL THAT WOULD CREATE AN ADDITIONAL POOL OF MONEY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

MONEY WE ARE LEAVING ON THE TABLE.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ACT, PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW TENANTS IN BUILDINGS TO PURCHASE THE BUILDING, WHICH MAY SOUND IMPOSSIBLE.

IF YOU'’RE RENTING, HOW DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A BUILDING?

THAT IS WITH THE WORK WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMES IN.

WITH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS WHO CARE ABOUT STABILITY IN COMMUNITIES AND PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT.

>> AND THEY DO THAT IN OTHER CITIES, AS WELL.

TENANTS PURCHASING THE BUILDING.

>> EXACTLY.

WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM OTHER CITIES.

WE HAVE A RENT STABILIZATION BILL BEFORE THE STATEHOUSE THAT WOULD PREVENT RENT INCREASES.

BUT IT WOULD MAKE IT SO OUR WAGES, LIVING WAGES ARE NOT INCREASING BY 50% A YEAR.

IT IS NOWHERE NEAR THAT.

SOME PEOPLE SEE RENT INCREASES IN THAT AMOUNT.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO ATTACK THAT.

LOOKING AT CITY-OWNED LAND TO SEE HOW WE BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS AND PROPERTIES.

SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAVE TO DO TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

ONE WE DID LAST YEAR, INCREASING IF THERE IS A DEVELOPER BUILDING PROPERTY IN BOSTON OF SEVEN OR MORE UNITS, INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE UNITS THAT HAVE TO BE AFFORDABLE.

ALSO DEEPENING THE AFFORDABILITY, LOWERING THE THRESHOLD AT WHICH PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE UNITS.

WE KNOW OFTEN TIMES, WHAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR ONE IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE BROAD SO PEOPLE OF COLOR, WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO APPLY AND SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVE ONE OF THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

>> I HOPE SOMEONE ASKS YOU SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CITY COUNCIL, BUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH CONCERNS ABOUT DNI AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE, ESPECIALLY AT HARVARD.

WE KNOW A HAITIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, THE FIRST HAITIAN-AMERICAN BLACK WOMAN IN THAT POSITION.

AS SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO A FIRST, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SITUATION?

HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO SEE HER RESIGN AND LEAVE THAT POSITION?

>> SUCH A POINT OF PRIDE FOR THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY TO BE IN THAT ROLE.

I REMEMBER BEING AT HER INAUGURATION AND BEING SO PROUD AS A BOSTONIAN, AS I HAITIAN, AS A GRADUATE OF HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND THE CAN BE SCHOOL.

IT WAS AMAZING.

I FEEL SADDENED AND I FEEL HEARTBROKEN.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COMMITTED ME A BECOMING PRESIDENT OF BOSTON'’S CITY COUNCIL.

SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HAVE THAT COUNSEL.

AND THAT FIRST EXPERIENCE, A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES AND SETBACKS, PEOPLE TRYING TO PREVENT THAT FIRST FROM EVEN HAPPENING.

SO I COMMEND DR.

GAY FOR BEING IN THE RING.

AND WE KNOW FOR A WOMAN OF COLOR, BEING IN THE RING IS AN EVEN HARDER TASK.

BUT THERE IS A LEGACY EVEN IN AN ATTEMPT.

IN SO MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE OF ISSUES AND LEGACIES OF RACISM AND EXCLUSION, OUR LEGACIES CAN BE FOUND IN THE ATTEMPT, AND THERE IS VALUE IN THAT.

I WANT TO HONOR THAT FOR HER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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