>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER WANTS TO MAKE AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER SALES TAX-FREE AS A WAY TO HELP SHOPPERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC, BUT SOME LEGISLATORS AREN'T SO SURE, INCLUDING STATE SENATOR ADAM HINDS.

HE AND JON HURST, PRESIDENT OF THE RETAILERS ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS, DEBATE.

THEN, LATER, A NEW POLL HAS MICHELLE WU AND KIM JANEY LEADING THE PACK IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR OF BOSTON.

THE MAN BEHIND THE NUMBERS, DAVID PALEOLOGOS, JOINS ME ON THAT, PLUS WHAT THE POLL SAYS ABOUT RACE IN THE CITY AND FORMER MAYOR MARTY WALSH.

AND, FINALLY, THE PHOTO ANGEL, AS SHE'S KNOWN, ON HER WORK REUNITING OLD PHOTOS WITH DESCENDANTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THEM.

♪♪ >> Braude: IT'S LIKE THE ANNUAL TAX-FREE WEEKEND ON STEROIDS.

GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER IS PROPOSING THE STATE GO SALES TAX-FREE FOR ALL OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, CITING NEARLY $4 BILLION IN UNEXPECTED REVENUE ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO LAST WEEK.

>> I THINK WE OWE SOME OF THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS AND TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

THEY'VE HAD A TERRIBLE YEAR.

>> Braude: BUT DON'T PUT TOGETHER THAT SHOPPING LIST JUST YET BECAUSE IT'S NOT CLEAR THE GOVERNOR WILL GET HIS WAY.

HERE IS THE SENATE PRESIDENT, KAREN SPILKA, ON B.P.R.

A DAY LATER.

>> THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE ALREADY PASSED THE TWO DAYS FOR AUGUST 14TH AND 15TH.

WE PROBABLY WILL DEFER TO TAKE UP THE GOVERNOR'S BILL ON THE TWO-MONTH.

THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH NEED OUR HELP TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND TAX REVENUE DOES HELP US WITH THE VERY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT HELP.

>> Braude: SO, TO TAX OR NOT TO TAX, FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THAT IS -- THAT IS THE QUESTION.

HERE TO ANSWER ARE JON HURST, THE PRESIDENT OF THE RETAILERS ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS -- HE'S FOR THE TWO-MONTH REPRIEVE -- AND STATE SENATOR ADAM HINDS, WHO ARGUES THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY.

>> Braude: SENATOR AND JON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT IT.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Braude: JON, WHY IS IT A GOOD IDEA, QUICKLY.

>> I THINK ANY TIME WE CAN RETURN DOLLARS TO CONSUMERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE DURING THE COVID CRISIS, IS A GOOD THING.

THE SALES TAXES ARE AN AGGRESSIVE TAX, AND LET'S FACE IT, UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE ALL BEEN SPENDING THROUGH OUR SMARTPHONES AND DOLLARS HAVE BEEN LEAVING THE STATE, NOT SEEING IT SPENT ON MAIN STREET DURING THE CRISIS.

>> Braude: JON, EVERY QUOTE I'VE READ ON THIS ISSUE FROM YOU HAS TALKED ABOUT THE BENEFIT TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

WHY SHOULDN'T WE ASSUME THIS IS ALL GOING TO GO TO BIG BOX STORES HEADQUARTERED IN ALABAMA?

WHY IS IT GOING TO GO TO LOCAL BUSINESSES?

>> FRANKLY, JIM, THOSE ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE GOTTEN IT SINCE WE CLOSED DOWN FOR COVID, SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

NOW IT IS TIME TO -- WHETHER IT IS A TWO-DAY SALES TAX, A TWO-MONTH SALES TAX, SOME SORT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO REDIRECT THESE CONSUMERS.

WE'VE ALL GOT IN BAD HABITS.

WE'VE BEEN SPENDING THAT MONEY ONLINE, AND, FRANKLY, THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE SUPREME COURT DID THE WAYFAIR THAT ALLOWED THEM TO GO AFTER THESE ONLINE PURCHASES.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A BUDGET SURPLUS, BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN SPENDING MONEY ONLINE AND, FRANKLY, OUT OF STATE.

WE NEED THESE DOLLARS BACK IN MASSACHUSETTS.

>> Braude: SENATOR, IN A NORMAL YEAR, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS.

BUT DOESN'T JON HAVE A POINT?

THIS WAS A TERRIBLE YEAR.

SMALL BUSINESSES, WILL GET AT LEAST SOME, WHICH HAD A HORRIBLE YEAR.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAD A HORRIBLE YEAR.

WHY NOT THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, WE ALL AGREE IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS IS A GOOD WAY FOR A POLITICIAN TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS, BUT IT IS BASED ON POOR TAX POLICY, AND, HONESTLY, IT IS NOT THE TOOL WE NEED RIGHT NOW FOR A STRONG RECOVERY.

IF THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE SAVINGS FOR CONSUMERS OR PROVIDE LOW INCOME CONSUMERS WITH HELP, IT IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT.

IF IT IS SUPPORTING BUSINESSES, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE STRONG CONSUMER ACTIVITY ANYWAY.

WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING INFLATION, AND IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP FOR THE RESPONSE THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

ESPECIALLY, AND HONESTLY, AND THIS IS WHY IT IS SURPRISING A LOT OF US, IS THIS THE RESPONSE WE NEED TO THE BIG FLAWS AND CHALLENGES WE'RE CONFRONTING POST-COVID?

I THINK, HONESTLY, NOBODY IN MISE DISTRICT DISTRICTNOBODYIN MY DISTRICT IS COMING TO ME AND CLAMORING FOR THIS.

THEY ARE CLAMORING FOR CHILD CARE.

>> Braude: $900 MILLION IS A TON OF DOUGH, ALMOST A BILLION, AND ISN'T THE SENATOR RIGHT, WOULDN'T THE BUSINESSES YOU'RE REPRESENTING CARE ABOUT THE KINDS OF THINGS THE SENATOR IS MENTIONING MORE THAN HOPING THAT 6 CENTS OFF A DOLLAR -- I'M A BIG-TIME SHOPPER, AND IT WOULDN'T GET ME IN, 40% MIGHT, BUT NOT 6% -- ARE THOSE THINGS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A COUPLE OF EXTRA BUCKS IN THE TILL?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BEACON HILL RETURN SOME DOLLARS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SPENDING DOLLARS ALL ALONG.

OUR EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN HAMMERED WITH A $7 BILLION, WITH A "B," PLUS INTEREST UNEMPLOYMENT SHOWRNSINSURANCE TAX INCREASE, SPREAD OVER 20 YEARS, ALL FOR COVID LAYOFFS THERE WERE THE GOVERNMENT'S FAULT, THE SHUTDOWNS AND BENEFITS.

WE NEED TO SEE SOME SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FROM OUR BEACON HILL LEADERS TO RETURN SOME OF THESE OTHER MONIES TO OUR EMPLOYERS, INSTEAD OF TAXING THEM TO DEATH UNDER U.I.

TAX.

>> WELL --,.

>> Braude: YOU GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR WE HAVE WORK TO TAKE STEPS TO MINIMIZE THE SUDDEN IMPACT FOR THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> Braude: ONE SECOND, JON, IF IF I MAY.

YOU'RE ON A TAX EXPENDITURE COMMISSION.

THAT IS SPENDING MONEY THROUGH THE TAX SYSTEM, TAX BREAKS, BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS, ETC.

I KNOW YOU PROPOSED GETTING RID OF THREE OF THEM, FAIRLY SMALL, NOT USED THAT MUCH, BUT THERE ARE BILLIONS -- HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS, I ASSUME -- DOLLARS IN TAX EXPENDITURES.

WHY ISN'T IT APPROPRIATE TO SPEND -- IT IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE RELIEF, WHICH I'M SURE YOU VOTED FOR, FOR SOME BUSINESSES IN SOME CASES AND CONSUMERS WHO ARE IN NEED.

WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER TAX EXPENDITURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS PERFECTLY FINE WITH?

>> I GUESS BECAUSE WE MAY NOT AGREE ON SOME OF THE KEY POINTS.

YOU SAID CONSUMERS ARE IN NEED, BUT CONSUMER SPENDING WAS HIGHER THAN IN FEBRUARY 2020.

SO IT NEARLY CAUGHT UP TO THE PRE-PANDEMIC TREND.

SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE KEEP THAT UP, QUITE HONESTLY.

WE'RE KIND OF CONFRONTING A RANGE OF CHALLENGES, INCLUDING INFLATION.

LOOK AT T.J.X., THEIR STOCK IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

OVER $74.

THEIR SALES ARE UP OVER 9% OVER 2019.

SO THE QUESTION IS: HOW DO WE KEEP CONSUMER SPENDING GOING.

AND, HONESTLY, I THINK THE ANSWERS ARE THINGS THAT MATTER TO BUSINESSES AS WELL, INCLUDING CHILD CARE AND THE LIKE.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET, WE STILL DO HAVE A TAX-FREE HOLIDAY WEEKEND ON THE BOOKS COMING IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, THE 14th AND 15th.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A USEFUL TIME TO DO THAT FOR TIME TO TIME.

BUT FOR TWO MONTHS, THAT'S A BIG BITE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF BIG BITE, JON HURST, A COLLEAGUE OF MINE LOOKED UP THIS AFTERNOON EVERY SINGLE STATE THAT HAS A TAX-FREE HOLIDAY, I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT 30 OF THEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ONE DAY, TWO DAYS, THREE DAYS.

NOBODY IS ENCLOSE TO IN THIS BALLPARK, WHICH LENDS CREDENCE TO THE NOTION IT IS MORE A POLITICAL GESTURE THAN A SERIOUS ONE, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> NEW HAMPSHIRE IS 365 DAYS, RIGHT?

THE REALITY IS -- AND STILL SOME INTERNET SELLERS ARE 365 DAYS.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR RAISES A GOOD POINT: THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE HERE, JIM.

$5.3 BILLION.

WE HAD EXCESS TAX REVENUES OF NEARLY $4 POLL.

BILLION.

WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY COMING IN FROM WASHINGTON.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MONEY IS SPENT CORRECTLY.

WE NEED TO HAVE EMPLOYERS GET RELIEF ON THIS U.I., AND PLUS A $7 BILLION TAX INCREASE.

AND NOT JUST SEEING 351 GAZEBOS BUILT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE NEED TO SEE SOME IMPORTANT USE OF THIS MONEY.

>> I AGREE WITH JON ON THAT ONE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS SPENT IN THE CORRECT WAY.

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY THE LEGISLATURE IS SETTING IT THROUGH THE WAYS AND MEANS HEARINGS, SO THAT WE HAVE HEAR DIRECTLY FROM BUSINESSES AND WORKERS ON HOW WE SHOULD SPEND THE $5 BILLION IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, AND OUR OWN SURPLUS AT STATE LEVEL THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

INSTEAD OF JUST THROWING IT AGAINST THE WALL.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS, AND MAKING SURE IT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL CHANGE AND LONG-TERM GAIN FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU SAY "GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS," SENATOR, THIS IS A ONE-TIME MONEY.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BEGIN A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT WITH SOMEONE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE IN A FUTURE YEAR, ARE YOU?

>> NO.

BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT, PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO $10 BILLION WE WEREN'T EXPECTING, THAT IS A LOT OF PROJECTS, A LOT OF INVESTMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION, AND WE CAN CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR CHILD CARE SYSTEM IS FACING.

ONE IN SIX CHILD CARE JOBS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED RIGHT NOW.

TWO OUT OF FIVE PROVIDERS THAT STAYED OPEN TOOK DEBT ON TO DO SO.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS WE COULD USE THAT MONEY, BUT WE NEED TO BE DELIBERATE IN HOW WE GO ABOUT IT.

>> Braude: JON, I ONLY HAVE 15 SECONDS.

KAREN SPILKA BASICALLY SAID IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, IS IT?

>> WE'RE TELLING OUR MEMBERS TWO DAYS.

WE PUT A GUN TO THE LEGISLATURE'S HEAD BY DOING A SALES TAX, AND UNDER THE GRAND BARGAIN, WE GOT IT BACK.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS D.U.I.

TAX BURDEN FOR LAYOFFS AND FRAUD.

IT WAS NOT FAULT OF EMPLOYERS; IT WAS THE FAULT OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Braude: JON HURST AND ADAM HINDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE'LL CONTINUE THIS SOON.

BE WELL.

>> Braude: ELECTION DAY IS STILL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AWAY, BUT IF A NEW ""BOSTON GLOBE"/SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY POLL IS ANY INDICATION, THE NEXT MAYOR OF BOSTON WILL BE A WOMAN OF COLOR, BREAKING THE CITY'S NEARLY 200-YEAR RECORD OF ALL-WHITE, MALE CHIEF EXECUTIVES.

IN THE POLL, 70% SAID THEY SUPPORTED ONE OF THESE WOMEN, WITH CITY COUNCILOR MICHELLE WU AND ACTING MAYOR KIM JANEY LEADING THE PACK, BOTH THE FIRST CHOICE FOR MORE THAN ONE-FIFTH OF LIKELY VOTERS.

THE POLL ALSO DIVES INTO ISSUES OF RACE AND POLICE BRUTALITY, AND IF FORMER MAYOR WALSH IS STILL POPULAR AFTER THE POLICE COMMISSIONER DEBACLE.

THE MAN BEHIND THE NUMBERS, DIRECTOR OF THE SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY POLITICAL RESEARCH CENTER, DAVID PALEOLOGOS, JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: DAVID, IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU, AS ALWAYS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: WHY ARE RU WU AND JANEY LEADING THE PACK?

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE WINNING THEIR CORE CONSTIUENTS BIG.

THE FIRDTHE THIRD AND FOURTH PLACE CANDEX, THEY HAVE A CORE CONSTITUENCY, BUT -- >> Braude: 70% OF CAPTURED IN THE POLL BY THESE TWO WOMEN.

THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER.

DOES THAT MEAN A WOMAN IS THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOSTON IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> POLLS ARE A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, BUT THIS POLL STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT YOU NEVER SAY NOTHING IS 100% CERTAIN.

BUT I LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE CROSS-TOWNS FOR A LONG TIME.

IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE GUYS AND YOU'RE IN MID SINGLE DIGITS, YOU HAVE TO VET SO MANY QUALIFIED WOMEN JUST TO GET TO THE TOP TWO, IT WILL BE A BIG SLOG.

>> Braude: AFTER 200 YEARS THERE MAY NOT BE A MALE FOR MAYOR, IT'S REALLY UNFAIR.

ANOTHER POLL AS ESSAIBI GEORGE ATOP THE PACK.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE DISPARITY?

>> WE'RE USING A TIGHT SCREEN.

WHICH MEANS RESPONDENTS HAVE TO BE VERY OR SOME WHAT LIKELY TO VOTE AND THEY HAVE TO NAME THE MONTH OF THE PRELIMINARY.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OVER HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS COULD NOT NAME THE PRELIMINARY, SO THEY DIDN'T GET THROUGH THE SCREEN.

HOWEVER, OTHER POLLING MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE -- I WON'T SAY LAX, BUT WITH MORE OF AN OPEN SCREEN PROCESS, ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE IN WHO MAY NOT VOTE IN SEPTEMBER.

>> Braude: YOU ASKED PEOPLE WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WOULD AFFECT YOUR VOTE FOR MAYOR, HOUSING WERE YOU NUMBERWAS NUMBERONE, RACISM, HOUSING AND EQUALITY, ALL VIRTUALLY IN THE SAME VOTE.

WHEN THERE IS THAT KIND OF CLUMPING TOGETHER, WHAT IS THE TAKE-AWAY?

>> IF YOU'RE A SERIOUS CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GREAT POLICIES FOR EACH OF THESE THREE ITEMS.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CURRENTLY IN THE TOP FOUR.

EDUCATION BUBBLING UP TO THE THIRD PLACE, BEING IN THE STATISTICAL MARGIN OF ERROR SPEAKS STRONGLY ABOUT HOW DIRE THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION IS IN BOSTON.

RACIST AND JUSTICE EEQUALITYEQUALITY IS NOT SURPRISING, AND HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

>> Braude: IF I WAS A POLLSTER AND I SAW A NUMBER LIKE THE NEXT ONE, I WOULD SAY LET ME DOUBLE CHECK THIS.

I'M STUNNED BY THIS NEXT NUMBER.

WOULD YOU SAY RACE RELATIONS BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK RESIDENTS ARE VERY OR SOMEWHAT GOOD, VERY OR SOMEWHAT BAD.

ASIAN RESIDENTS OF BOSTON ARE OUTLISE.

OUTLIERS.

AND IF YOU TAKE AWAY ASIANS, BLACK, WHITE, AND HISPANIC EXACTLY THE SAME VIEW OF HOW RACE RELATION BETWEEN WHITES AND BLACKS ARE -- IS THAT NOT SHOCKING TO YOU?

>> IT IS SURPRISING THAT ITTHIS CLASS DIDN'T CUT ON RACE.

IT WAS A WINNER ON BOTH GOOD AND BAD.

IT WAS A SOMEWHAT KIND OF A RESPONSE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, LUKE WARM.

IT IS NOT HOT AND NOT COLD.

BUT, YOU'RE RIGHT.

ASIAN-AMERICANS, FOR GOOD REASON, YOU KNOW, RESPONDED THE WAY THEY DID IN THE SURVEY.

>> Braude: BUT BLACK AND WHITE EXACTLY THE SAME, 54 TO 39, 54 TO 31.

AND YOU ASKED: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU THAT BOSTON ELECTS A BLACK MAYOR OR ANOTHER PERSON OF COLOR.

TWO TO ONE.

AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU THAT BOSTON ELECTS A WOMAN FOR MAYOR, 65 TO 34.

DOES THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING?

>> IT REFLECTS EXACTLY WHO IS WINNING.

THE TOP FOUR ARE EXACTLY WHAT THAT POLL QUESTION SAYS.

I THINK TO SORT OF BROAD-BRUSH AND GENERALIZE WHERE IS THE WHITE VOTE IN BOSTON GOING TO GO, IT IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE 65% OF WHITE PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY SAYING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PERSON OF COLOR.

>> Braude: AND WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

>> I THINK BECAUSE YOUR CENTER LEFT IN BOSTON.

MOST PEOPLE ARE IDENTIFYING AS LIBERAL OR VERY LIBERAL.

SO IN THAT CAPACITY, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IT IS TIME.

YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE LIVED THROUGH KEVIN WHITE AND RAY FLINN AND MAYOR MENINO AND MAYOR WALSH, AND WE'VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO SEEING THESE SAME WHITE MEN WINNING.

THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS POLL IS AMAZING AND IS A HUGE FINDING.

>> Braude: I WASN'T EVEN BORN WHEN KEVIN WHITE WAS MAYOR, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

>> C'MON!

>> Braude: I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SURPRISING OR NOT, THE MOST FAVORABLE/UNFAVORABLE SPLIT IS NOT ONE OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING, BUT THE PRIOR GUY, MARTY WALSH.

62% FAVORABLE, AND 22% UNFAVORABLE.

WE'RE BEEN TREATED TO ALMOST NON-STOP COVERAGE OF THIS DEBACLE OF DENNIS WHITE.

DOES THAT MEAN, OR DO YOU KNOW, THEY LOVE MARTY WALSH REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE DOES, OR THEY DON'T GIVE A DAM ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE BEEN READING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE COMMISSIONER ISSUE?

>> IF HE WAS CURRENTLY THE MAYOR, I WOULD SUSPECT THOSE NUMBERS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

BUT THIS IS KIND OF A FOND FAREWELL POLL FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW, NOW THAT HE HAS NEW DIGS.

PLUS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S ATTENTION SPAN, OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS -- PEOPLE WANT TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE.

THEY'RE NOT TUNED INTO POLITICS.

I DON'T THINK ANYTHING AND SO THOSE STORIES MAY NOT HAVE RESONATED AS THEY WOULD HAVE RIGHT BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER ELECTION.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF THE SUMMER, YOU -- THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED YOU, YOU DID AS ANY RESPONSIBLE POLLSTER DOES, IT IS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME NOW.

HOW MUCH ROOM IS FOR THESE NUMBERS TO CHANGE, NOT JUST A LITTLE, BUT DRAMATICALLY, BETWEEN NOW AND MID-SEPTEMBER IN THE RUNOFF?

>> I THINK IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH PLACE FINISHES WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION.

IF YOU'RE ESSAIBI GEORGE, IF CRIME BECOMES A MAJOR ISSUE, HER NUMBERS WILL GO UP.

I HOPE THERE ARE NO ANY SHOOTINGS IN BOSTON, BUT IF THE ISSUE OF CRIME DROPS FROM FIFTH MOST IMPORTANT TO FIRST, HER NUMBERS WILL JUMP UP AS WELL.

THAT COULD MAKE THIS A CLOSER RACE.

ANDREA CAMPBELL IS POISED BORNEBETTER THAN GEORGE.

IF KIM JANEY DROPS, MUCH OF HER BLACK SUPPORT WOULD ROTATE TO CAMPBELL.

IF MICHELLE WU DROPS, GUESS WHO HER SECOND MOST FAVORITE POLITICIAN IS IN THIS RACE?

ANDREA CAMPBELL.

SO CAMPBELL WOULD BENEFIT WITH EITHER WU OR JANEY DROPPING.

SO THEY STILL HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING BUNCHED UP.

>> Braude: KEEP ASKING THE QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL KEEP INVITING YOU BACK.

DAVID PALEOLOGOS, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOUMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, SHE'S LIKE A SHERLOCK HOLMES FOR MEMENTOS AND FAMILY PHOTOS.

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, KATE KELLEY, A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FROM ATTLEBORO, HAS BEEN BUYING UP OLD, UNCLAIMED PICTURES SHE CAN FIND AT ANTIQUE STORES IN THE AREA.

THEN SHE GETS TO WORK, LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THEM SO SHE CAN REUNITE THE THE PHOTOS WITH THEIR SUBJECTS' DESCENDANTS.

SHE TOLD THE "BOX GLOBE'S" STEVE ANNEAR SHE'S RETURNED ABOUT 100 PHOTOS SO FAR TO FAMILIES THEY CAME FROM, CHRONICLING HER EFFORTS ON HER Facebook PAGE, THE PHOTO ANGEL.

KATE KELLEY JOINS ME NOW.

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

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING METEOR I'M REALLY EXCITED.

>> Braude: GREAT.

SO AN ODD BUT WONDERFUL HOBBY.

HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?

>> SO MY MOM AND I WERE GOING THROUGH SOME OLD FAMILY PICTURES.

AND WE NOTICED THERE WAS -- THERE WERE QUITE A FEW THAT WERE NON-RELATIVES.

AND WE THOUGHT, OOH, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET THESE PICTURES BACK TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THAT IS KIND OF HOW IT STARTED.

I MET WITH SUCCESS WITH A FAMILY IN TENNESSEE, WHO WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF GETTING THE PHOTOS FROM ME.

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL, I HAD VISITED ANTIQUE STORES AND FLEA MARKETS IN THE PAST, AND IT MADE ME SAD TO SEE DISCARDED FAMILY PHOTOS IN BOXES.

OH, MY GOODNESS, THOSE ARE SOMEONE'S RELATIVES.

THEY DON'T BELONG IN A DUSTY BOX.

SO THAT BECAME NI MY MISSION TO RESCUE THOSE AND SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Braude: ARE YOU A MAYFLOWER CHILD, TOO?

>> YES.

I COME FROM A FAMILY OF HISORY BUFFS, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO TRACE MY FAMILY FROM THE MAYFLOWER.

>> Braude: IF YOU EVER FIND ANY PICTURES OF THE PILGRIMS, LET ME KNOW.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS.

TO GET THIS GOING, YOU NEED SOME DATA.

THERE HAS TO BE A NAME OF SOME SORT, A LOCATION.

AND THEN, FROM WHAT UNDERSTAND, YOU GO TO ANCESTRY.COM OR GRAVES ARE US -- WHAT'S THAT CALLED?

>> FIND A GRAVE.

>> Braude: OKAY.

AND THEN Facebook.

YOU'RE LIKE A DETECTIVE, ESSENTIALLY, AND YOU MAKE THE CONNECTION.

IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> THAT IS 100% ACCURATE.

IT IS HIT OR MISS, BUT THE MORE INFORMATION ON THE PHOTO USUALLY LEADS WITH MORE SUCCESS.

>> Braude: I WANT TO PULL UP A FEW AND YOU CAN TELL A SENTENCE OR TWO ABOUT THE STORY.

HERE IS LIL AND HAZE EMERSON, FROM NORTH WATERBORO, MAINE.

WHEN YOU CONNECTED THAT PHOTO TO THEIR GRAND NIECE, WHAT DID THE GRAND NIECE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE PICTURE?

>> OH, SHE WAS SO EXCITED.

THERE WAS A FAMILY FIRE -- A FIRE IN THE FAMILY, RATHER -- AND SHE WAS JUST THRILLED TO HAVE THE PICTURE BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY EXISTING PHOTO OF HER GREAT AUNT AND UNCLE.

>> Braude: I LOVE THAT.

THESE ARE THE JERIWITCHES.

WHEN YOU CONTACTED THE DESCENDDANT, SHE SAYS THERE IS NOT JUST TWO PEOPLE IN THIS PHOTO, BUT THERE IS A THIRD PERSON.

WHO IS THE THIRD PERSON, KATE?

>> THE THIRD PERSON WAS HIS FATHER.

HIS GRANDMOTHER WAS PREGNANT WITH HIS FATHER, SO THAT WAS REALLY CUTE.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU DO THE RESEARCH AND THE DETECTIVE WORK AND YOU REACH OUT TO PEOPLE, AND YOU GET THE CONTACT BACK, WHY DOES THAT MOMENT FEEL LIKE FOR YOU?

>> IT IS JUST ABSOLUTE JOY.

IT IS EXCITEMENT.

IT'S JUST -- IT JUST FEELS SO GOOD TO HELP SOMEBODY PIECE TOGETHER THEIR FAMILY HISTORY.

>> Braude: YOU SAID IN THE "GLOBE" STORY, NOT SURPRISINGLY, WERE THRILLED, BUT SOME PEOPLE WERE, AND I'LL QUOTE FROM THE STORY, "NOT ALL THAT INTERESTED," TO WHICH I SAID, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?

YOU SEEM TO BE A LITTLE NICER THAN I AM, SO I KNOW YOU'LL BE KIND.

WHAT DID SOMEONE SAY TO YOU -- GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEBODY WHO WAS, QUOTE, "NOT ALL THAT INTERESTED" IN CONNECTING WITH A PHOTO OF THE PEOPLE THEY CAME FROM?

>> SURE.

WELL, I'VE HAD A FEW INSTANCES, RARE INSTANCES, WHERE PEOPLE WILL SAY TO ME, OH, CAN I JUST HAVE A DIGITAL COPY OF THE PHOTO, RATHER THAN THE HARD COPY.

SO I'VE RUN INTO THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

BUT MOST PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AND EXCITED.

>> Braude: BUT HAS ANYBODY SAID TO YOU, DON'T BOTHER, I'M NOT INTERESTED, OR NO?

>> NO.

BECAUSE I'M GOING THROUGH ANCESTRY, SO THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THEIR ANCESTORS.

>> Braude: I SEE.

>> I'M JUST NOT GOING THROUGH GOOGLE TO TRY TO FIND PEOPLE.

BECAUSE I AUTOMATICALLY KNOW THEY'LL BE INTERESTED GOING THROUGH ANCESTRY.

>> Braude: DO YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF PHOTOGRAPHS THAT YOU'RE OBSESSED WITH, AND YOU HAVEN'T REACHED THE CONNECTION POINT YET, BUT YOU HAVE DECIDED, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, I'M DOING THIS?

>> I DO.

I HAVE A FOLDER OF MARK'S CHALLENGES, AND I THINK HOW ELSE CAN I TRY TO LOCATE THE RELATIVES.

AND IT'S TOUGH.

I HAVE ONE, A DEPUTY SHERIFF FROM WARREN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, WHO I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE THE CONNECTION WITH.

SO I E-MAILED THE CURRENT DEPUTY CHIEF, JUST TO SEND HIM THE PICTURE, AND HE THOUGHT THAT WAS COOL.

AND I PUT IT ON THEIR CITY WEBSITE TO SEE IF MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> Braude: DON'T GIVE UP.

I READ IN THE "GLOBE" YOU SPEND THREE HOURS A NIGHT, WHICH IS A HELL OF A LOT OF TIME.

WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THOSE THREE HOURS BEFORE APRIL?

WHAT WERE YOU DOING ALL THE TIME?

>> I'M A TEACHER, SO I WAS BUSY DOING TEACHING.

>> Braude: HEY, KELLEY, THIS IS A GREAT STORY, AND HOW WONDERFUL FOR THOSE FAMILIES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Braude: FINALLY TONIGHT, A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SENDING IN AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

CHARLOTTE SAID SHE PAINTED THIS SIGN WITH HER GRANDSON FOR THE TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD, WARNING DRIVERS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO SLOW DOWN.

GOOD FOR YOUR GRANDSON, CHARLOTTE.

ANGELA TOLD US HER GRANDDAUGHTER, KEIRAH, DREW THIS CHALK TRIBUTE FOR HER TWO SISTERS AFTER READING THE BOOK "SISTERS FIRST," BY JENNA BUSH HAGER AND BARBARA PIERCE BUSH.

EVEN AS AN ONLY CHILD, I CAN APPRECIATE THIS, ANGELA.

AND, FINALLY, DAVID SENT IN THESE PHOTOS HE SNAPPED WHILE KAYAKING ALONG THE CHARLES RIVER.

THAT LOOKS VERY PEACEFUL, DAVID.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SENDING THESE IN.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE SEND IT TO THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS AND SETH MOULTON JOIN ME ON ALL THINGS PARTISAN GRIDLOCK AND HOW THEY, BOTH FORMER MARINES, FEEL ABOUT PULLING TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

PLUS, THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FACING RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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