♪ TORI: I AM TORI BEDFORD.

TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, TOWNS THAT FALL UNDER THE CONTROVERSIAL MBTA COMMUNITIES LAW ARE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR ABILITIES TO BE THE LAW’S REQUIREMENTS.

PLUS, FROM LIVE MUSIC TO LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, CAMBRIDGE’S PARK HAS PLENTY GOING ON.

ONE FILM MAKER DECIDED TO INTERVIEW THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT SO LIVELY.

AND THEN, IS IT "SELL-TIC" OR "KEL-TIC?"

EDGAR B. HERWICK III’S ANSWERS ONE OF BOSTON’S OLDEST DEBATES.

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL IS HOPING TO TAKE HER CASE AGAINST MILTON FOR VOTING TO DEFIES STATE HOUSING LAW STRAIGHT TO MASSACHUSETTS’ HIGHEST COURT.

CAMPBELL IS LOOKING TO QUOTE, SEND A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW TO THE UNDER 100-PLUS CITIES AND TOWNS IMPACTED BY THE LAW WHICH REQUIRES A SO-CALLED MBTA COMMUNITIES TO ALLOW FOR MORE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING.

AS SARAH BETANCOURT REPORTS, THERE ARE OTHER THREATS.

SARAH JOINS ME NOW ALONG WITH JIM BOUDREAU, TOWN ADMINISTRATOR IN SCITUATE.

THANK YOU.

SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

.

SARAH, HOW DID YOU FIND THE STORY?

I WAS THINKING IT WAS THE SEWAGE STORY INITIALLY LOOKING INTO INFRASTRUCTURE IN THESE TOWNS AND THE SMALLER DETAILS THAT MIGHT IMPEDE THEM FROM BUILDING UP ALL THIS DESPERATELY NEEDED HOUSING.

HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS THIS AND BEGIN REPORTING ON IT?

SARAH: ABOUT A YEAR AGO I FILED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST WITH THE STATE, JUST ASKING FOR THE TOWN’S ACTION PLANS TO THE STATE TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD COMPLY WITH THE MBTA ZONING LAW.

AND I NOTICED A TREND IN ONE OF THE COMMENTS SECTION THAT OVER 20 TOWNS ARE MENTIONING, HEY, WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE ISSUE WITH THE STORY WAS NEVER ABOUT COMPLIANCE.

WE SAY IT VERY CLEARLY IN THE STORY WHAT THE MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT IS.

YOU DO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD.

IF YOU SUDDENLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE ALL OF THIS MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, YOU NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

TORI: AND JIM, YOU ARE NOT OPPOSED TO BUILDING MORE HOUSING.

WHAT ARE YOU COMING UP AGAINST?

JIM: SCITUATE IS ZONED FOR 12 UNITS PER ACRE AROUND MBTA STATIONS.

SO IT IS NOT A BIG CHANGE.

WE WE LOOK AT THE ADOPTION OF THE MBTA COMMUNITIES AS A TECHNICAL CHANGE TO OUR CURRENT ZONING.

HOWEVER ONCE YOU DO THE ZONING, YOU CANNOT DO THE BUILDING.

AN EXAMPLE IS AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, ABOUT 70 APARTMENTS AND RETAIL ON THE MBTA PARKING LOT AT GREENBUSH.

THEY WANTED TO BUILD IT.

WE DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY PER IT IT WOULD NOT HAVE BUILT -- CAPACITY.

IT WOULD NOT HAVE FIT WITHIN OUR SEWER SYSTEM.

WE GOT A $2.2 MILLION MASS WORKS GRANT, BUT IT WAS A $7 MILLION-PLUS PROJECT.

SO THE TOWN HAD TO COME UP WITH $5 MILLION.

THAT CREATED ENOUGH CAPACITY TO BUILD SKY SALE.

NORTH SCITUATE HAS NO INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE HAVE TO CREATE CAPACITY BACK AT OUR PLANT IN ORDER TO PUT IT IN.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING A $4 MILLION PROJECT TO CREATE THAT CAPACITY.

INFLOW AND INFILTRATION, SEAWATER, GROUNDWATER THAT GOES INTO THE PIPES AND COUNTS TOWARDS WHAT YOU ARE TREATING IN YOUR TREATMENT NUMBER.

IF YOU CAN GET THAT OUT, THAT CREATES ROOM TO PUT MORE SEWAGE INTO THE PIPES.

SO WE’RE DOING THAT, AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO REVOKE -- DEVOTE $2.2 MILLION TO DESIGN THAT SEWER IN APRIL.

IT IS ONE OF OUR GOALS TO GET THAT BUILT BUT IT IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE AND WE NEED HELP TO DO IT.

TORI: THE STATE IS PROVIDING SOME FUNDS FOR THIS.

JIM: MASS WORKS IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

WE GOT A $2.2 MILLION GRANT.

BUT IT IS A VERY COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.

WE APPLIED FOR A GRANT TO HELP US WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SEWER, AND WE DID NOT GET IT.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER NEEDS FOR IT.

EVEN WHEN YOU GET IT, THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE $12 MILLION TO $20 MILLION.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A TOWN LIKE SCITUATE, WE’VE SPENT $30 MILLION ON WATER PIPES, WE JUST APPROVED A $50 MILLION WATER TREATMENT PLANT, PLUS SEAWALLS, THEN SEWAGE, REGULAR POLICE, REGULAR FIRE.

IT GETS TO BE MORE THAN A TOWN CAN HANDLE.

TORI: WHAT IS THE TIMELINE YOU ARE LOOKING AT?

OBVIOUSLY YOU COULD IMMEDIATELY BUILD ALL THIS NEW HOUSING WITHOUT HOUSES IN THE BACK.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO ADEQUATELY BUILD UP A SEWER SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT IS YOUR TIMELINE?

JIM: FOR NORTH SCITUATE WE ARE THINKING THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

ONCE WE GET IT DESIGNED AND WE HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD IT, THE OWNERS WILL START COMING IN WITH THEIR PLANS AND TRY TO TIME THEIR BUILDING WITH THE SEWER.

BUT THAT WILL BE A THREE TO FIVE YEAR PROJECT TO GET THE SEWER DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, AND UP AND RUNNING.

TORI: WHAT IS THE SCALE OF THIS?

YOU SPOKE TO I THINK HALF OF THE TOWNS, OR MORE THAN 20 OF THE TOWN LEADERS WHO HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE ISSUES OF JUST THE INFRASTRUCTURE NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF VOLUME.

WHAT IS THE SCALE?

SARAH: IN THE DOCUMENTS I FOUND ITSELF, THERE WERE JUST 20 TOWNS THAT HAD MADE COMPLAINTS AND RAISE CONCERNS.

BUT I NOTICED IN TOWN MEETINGS ABOUT THE MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT THAT OTHER TOWNS THAT DID NOT MENTION THAT IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ARE ALSO RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT SEWERS.

SCITUATE IS A TOWN THAT HAS A -- I THINK 30% OF SCITUATE IS SEWARD BUT SOME TOWNS HAVE NO SEWERS AT ALL.

SOME CONNECTED TO THE REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY AND THAT MEANS THEY HAVE A CONTRACT THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS YOU CAN ALLOW -- I AM JUST THROWING AN EXAMPLE -- 100,000 GALLONS OF SEWER TO COME HERE A DAY.

AND IF YOU CREATE MORE HOUSING, YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO, ESPECIALLY MULTIFAMILY UNITS THAT ARE QUITE DENSE, 40 TO 60 U NITS IN A BUILDING, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE INCREASED CONTRACTS AND CHANGES TO THOSE CONTRACTS.

ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

ALL OF IT TAKES TIME AND MONEY.

IT IS REALLY INTERESTING THAT THE STATE HAS NOT THOUGHT THAT FAR AHEAD FOR THIS.

THE STATE DID TELL ME THEY HAVE THE MASS WORKS GRANT, WHICH ARE FANTASTIC, THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER PROGRAMS.

BUT I NOTICED ONE OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS ONLY HAD ONE TOWN THAT COMPLAINED.

BUT THEN THEY MENTIONED WE HAVE THE AFFORDABLE HOMES THAT, WHICH IS THIS MASSIVE PIECE OF HOUSING LEGISLATION THAT COVERS EVERYTHING, INCLUDING LIKE, OTHER TYPES OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FIXING THEM.

LIKE, THERE IS A LOT UNDER THAT LEGISLATION, AND IT JUST CURRENTLY PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE INTO ANOTHER.

BUT IT HAS SOME MONEY STIPULATED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE FOR SEWERS, WHO KNOWS.

BUT IT’S PENDING.

AND SOME MUNICIPALITIES NEED THE MONEY TO START SHOWING UP SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

TORI: THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CALLS TO ADDRESS THIS HOUSING CRISIS WE ARE IMMEDIATELY DEALING WITH, NOT JUST IN BUILDING NEW HOUSING BUT ADDRESSING THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS FALLING APART.

THOSE CALLS ARE IMMEDIATE.

LAST NIGHT WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH MEMBERS OF THE GREATER BOSTON INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION WHO HAVE ASKED THE STATE FOR THIS PUSH TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS HOUSING.

AND WE WERE JOINED BY SENATOR LYDIA EDWARDS, THE SENATE COMMITTEE HOUSING CHAIR.

AND I ASKED HER ABOUT YOUR REPORTING AND THIS IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> THE MBTA LAWS THAT PEOPLE ARE OFTENTIMES CONCERNED ABOUT ARE LENDING LAWS.

THEY ARE REQUIRING THAT THE CITY AND TOWN PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL UNITS.

THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THEY START BUILDING THEM IN IMMEDIATELY.

THERE IS ALSO NOT A LOT OF FUNDING NECESSARILY.

SO IT IS REALLY A MATTER OF AN EXERCISE FOR CITIZEN SOUNDS TO IMAGINE, AND VISION TOGETHER SOME MORE DENSITY IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

TORI: WE WERE KIND OF HAVING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS IS A MORE LONG-TERM PLAN, AND AS THE STATE HEARS THIS FEEDBACK THAT CITIES AND TOWNS THAT YOU HAVE RAISED, THEY WILL ADAPT TO THAT AND SORT OF ACCOMMODATE THAT WITHIN THIS PLAN.

BUT YOU HAVE THIS TIMELINE OF THREE TO FIVE YEARS AND YOU HAVE ALREADY REQUESTED GRANT MONEY THAT HAS BEEN REJECTED.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR FROM THE STATE RIGHT NOW?

JIM: IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR A COMMUNITY TO PUT IN ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.

WE’RE CONSTRAINED BY WHAT WE CAN BRING IN FOR REVENUE.

WE DON’T WANT TO PASS THE MBTA COMMUNITIES LAW AND MEET THE COMPLIANCE WITH ZONING AND SAY WE ARE DONE, AND NOT DO ANYTHING TO BUILD HOUSING.

ONE OF THE GOALS ON MY BOARD IS AND HAS BEEN TO GET NORTH SCITUATE’S BUSINESS DISTRICT BACKUP, GET IT RUNNING, TURN IT INTO A VIBRANT BUSINESS DISTRICT.

IT REMAINS THEIR GOAL.

THE MBTA COMMUNITIES LAW IS GOING TO ADD A LITTLE MORE HOUSING THAN WE ALREADY ALLOW, BUT WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE.

SARAH WAS TALKING ABOUT THE LIMIT ON WHAT TOWNS CONSENTED SEND TO A REGIONAL FACILITY.

WE ALSO HAVE A LIMIT ON WHAT WE CAN PROCESS AND DISCHARGE FROM OUR PLANT.

YOU TAKE ALL OF THAT, YOU GET FINED, YOU GET IN TROUBLE.

WE HAVE TO REPAIR THE OLD PIPES TO CREATE THAT CAPACITY TO PUT NEW IN.

WE DO NOT WANT TO JUST COMPLY ON PAPER, WE WANT TO COMPLY, HELP CREATE THE HOUSING.

AND THE FED IS GOING TO HAVE TO HELP US, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME OF THAT AVAILABLE.

TORI: HOW HAS THE HOUSING CRISIS IMPACTED RESIDENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT?

JIM: THE PRICE OF HOUSING KEEPS GOING UP.

STUFF THAT WAS AFFORDABLE YEARS AGO, YOU LOOK AT IT AND SAY, HOW DOES SOMEONE AFFORD THAT?

HOW DO WE KEEP PEOPLE IN TOWN BECAUSE THE HOUSING STOCK IS GETTING SO EXPENSIVE?

PART OF THAT IS WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE COST OF TAXES ARE GOING UP.

SO IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD THESE PROJECTS TO STAY IN TOWN, AND WE’RE LOSING THAT WORKING-CLASS THAT LIVES, WORKS, AND DOES ALL THE BUSINESS IN TOWN BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD ANYMORE.

TORI: THIS REPORTING IS INCREDIBLY ILLUMINATING.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING SINCE THIS CAME OUT FROM ANYONE AT THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT ANY WAY THAT THEY ARE HOPING TO KIND OF GRAPPLE WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD?

SARAH: I HAVE GOTTEN MORE FEEDBACK ON THIS STORY THAN ANY STORY I HAVE EVER WRITTEN.

AND A GOOD CHUNK OF IT IS PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES BEING LIKE, I HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS, IT IS A PROBLEM.

HERE’S ANOTHER COMMUNITY THAT IS HAVING AN ISSUE THAT WAS NOT IN THE DOCUMENTS YOU FOUND.

I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE STATE, BUT I HAVE HEARD FROM NONPROFITS, JUST SEEING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FROM THEM SUGGESTING THAT THE STORY MISCONSTRUES THE ISSUE.

AND I HAVE TO COMBAT THAT PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY, BECAUSE OUR LEAD DOES SAY WHAT THE MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT IS.

BUT THE REAL FOCUS IS ON WHAT HAPPENS AFTER.

AND WE DO HAVE TO BE COLLABORATIVE AND TRY TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, BUT THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE FUNDING FOR THAT.

I TALKED WITH THIS FANTASTIC CIVIL ENGINEER, JOE PENZOLA, WHO DOES A LOT OF TRAININGS OCCASIONALLY WE WITH TOWNS ABOUT SEWER ISSUES.

HE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH WATER CAPACITY NEEDS TO GO INTO, LIKE, APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT HAVE 30 OR FOR READY -- 30 OR 40 UNITS VS. 1000.

ONCE YOU HIT A CERTAIN TAP YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER SEWER SYSTEM.

IT IS MOSTLY ON DEVELOPERS TO DO THAT.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK IN THE END, THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO MAKE MORE HOUSING, AND HOUSING AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THE HOUSING COSTS ARE ASTRONOMICAL RIGHT NOW.

SO IF YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER COMING IN AND SAYING, HEY, I AM GOING TO PUT A PRIVATE WE SMARTER TREATMENT PLANT -- PRIVATE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THIS COMPLEX HERE.

EVENTUALLY THAT IS GOING TO COST A LOT MORE MONEY.

YOU MIGHT HAVE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 400,000 UNITS AND $900,000 UNITS.

AND THAT IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR ANYONE.

SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO RECOUP THE COST.

TORI: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL AND IN A NEW DOCUMENTARY BE GOOD TO HEAR SOME GREAT ONES RIGHT OUT OF DANNY HE PARK IN CAMBRIDGE.

LOCAL FILMMAKER FEDERICO MUCHNIK DOCUMENTS THE STORIES OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN "OPEN SPACES," WHICH WILL PREMIERE NEXT MONTH.

HE JOINS ME NOW TO DISCUSS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

SO, THIS PROJECT WAS OVER THE COURSE OF SIX MONTHS, I THINK YOU VISITED THE PARK MAYBE 60 SOMETHING TIMES.

HOW DID YOU FALL INTO DOING THIS?

FEDERICO: WELL, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING IS SOMETHING THAT SORT OF INVOLVES RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY.

SO, FOR ME,, I HAD JUST COME OUT OF A PROJECT IN CALIFORNIA AND WAS LOOKING AROUND FOR WHAT TO DO NEXT.

AND DENNEHY PARK WAS RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVED.

I HAD BEEN RESEARCHING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, WHAT IS CIVIL -- CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ABOUT, WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT DO THEY DO.

I STARTED GOING TO THE PARK AND SEEING THE SHEER ASTONISHINGLY HIGH DEGREE OF MULTICULTURALISM AND THE VARIETY OF USES AT THE PARK WAS BEING USED FOR.

AND I THOUGHT YOU KNOW, THIS IS FREE LIGHTING, THE AUDIO IS GREAT, YOU CANNOT ASK FOR BETTER AUDIO, YOU’VE GOT NATURE.

WHY DON’T I JUST START APPROACHING PEOPLE AND ASK THEM TO TELL THEIR STORIES?

IT STARTED OUT ON MAY 25 OF 2023.

IN MY FIRST CLIENT OR CUSTOMER, VICTIM IF YOU WILL, WAS CARL YOUNGER, WHO HAS TO BE THE -- HAPPENS TO BE THE FIRST PERSON IN THE FILM.

HE IS A RETIRED AFRICAN-AMERICAN GENTLEMAN WHO USED TO WORK AT THE GLOBE.

WHEN HE WAS RIFFING ON MARTIAL ARTS IN THE PARK.

I REMEMBER ASKING HIM IF I COULD JUST FILM HIM AT WORK, AT PLAY.

AND HE SAID SURE.

WE GOT TO TALKING AND AFTER SHOOTING A BUNCH OF B-ROLL, I DID AN INTERVIEW OF HIM AND I WAS ON MY WAY.

TORI: YOU HAVE THIS SERIES OF VIGNETTES, IT IS REALLY A LOVE LETTER TO OPEN GREEN SPACES AND I THINK IT REALLY PROFILES -- THE LIMITS ARE REALLY ONLY YOUR IMAGINATION.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE PLAYING FRISBEE AND PEOPLE HAVING FESTIVALS AND FAMILY GATHERINGS AND SPORTING EVENTS.

AND YOU TALK TO IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AND TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

I WANTED TO PLAY THIS CLIP OF ONE WOMAN WHO YOU SPOKE TO, YOU ASKED HER WHAT HER FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE PARK IS.

>> WHO WAS IN IT.

THE FACT THAT IT HAS SUCH ENORMOUS NEIGHBORHOOD USE, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SITUATED BETWEEN SUCH AN INTERESTING AND BROAD DEMOGRAPHIC RANGE, AND EVERYBODY WITHIN THAT RANGE IS IN HERE USING IT.

TORI: THAT IS WHAT YOU CAPTURED.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS FILM AND PUT IT IN A TIME CAPSULE.

BECAUSE IT PROFILES A PLACE AND THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, BUT IT ALSO SHOWS A TIME.

RIGHT?

THE PARK WAS NOT ALWAYS THIS LUSH, GREEN PLACE.

IT WAS A LANDFILL FOR A VERY LONG TIME THAT CLOSED IN THE 1970’S.

AND YOU SPOKE TO A RETIRED CAMBRIDGE FIREFIGHTER, BILL "BUMPER" SULLIVAN, WHO TALKED ABOUT HANGING OUT AND PLAYING IN THE LANDFILL WHEN HE WAS A KID.

>> I WAS PROBABLY SEVEN OR EIGHT.

THE OLDER KIDS, PROBABLY 12 OR 13, WHO WOULD THROW A CHERRY BOMB DOWN THE RAT HOLE, THEN IT WOULD EXPLODE.

AND THEN THE RAT WOULD COME OUT ANOTHER HOLE ABOUT 10 FEET AWAY.

AS IF THAT WAS NOT BAD ENOUGH, THE KIDS WOULD THEN SHOOT IT WITH A BB GUN AS IT EXITED THE OTHER HOLE.

TORI: HE IS JUST EXPLODING RATS.

I LOVE THAT YOU’VE INCLUDED HIM BECAUSE HE IS PART OF THIS HISTORY.

WHO ELSE DID YOU TALK TO AND WHAT DID YOU FIND IN YOUR EXPLORATION OF THE PARK?

FEDERICO: THERE ARE SUCH A MULTITUDE OF FACES AND PEOPLE AND PERSONALITIES.

I WAS REALLY TAKEN BY A LOT OF THE KIDS, A LOT OF THE PRETEENS.

YOU HAVE GOT THESE VERY FLUENT, ENGLISH-SPEAKING ETHIOPIAN, SOMALI KIDS WHO ARE FULLY ASSIMILATED AND WHO JUST LOVE TO PLAY SOCCER.

AND THEY ARE CLEARLY LEARNING ABOUT TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP IN COOPERATION.

THE PARK JUST KEPT GIVING, IT JUST KEPT GIVING.

SO, THAT WAS A REAL SPECIAL MOMENT I THINK.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT FACES.

THE FILM KIND OF PRESENTS THEM ALL IN A WAY THAT MIXES UP IN A HOPEFULLY ENGAGING AND TELLING WAY.

THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ON HIS OR HER OWN ARE READING A BOOK, OR DOING TAI CHI OR WHATEVER IT IS, VERSUS THE LARGER EVENT, LIKE THE CAMBRIDGE YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE WHERE YOU HAVE 3000 PEOPLE VYING IT OUT.

PUTTING THE FILM TOGETHER WAS AN EXERCISE IN RHYTHM AND PACING, AND FINDING THE MOMENT WHERE, I SENSED THAT THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO TAKE A BREATHER, AND SO WE GO WITH SOMETHING QUIETER BEFORE WE COME BACK.

AND THAT IS HOW I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE PEOPLE AND WIDER HAS BEEN SO MUCH INTEREST IN THE FILM.

TORI: THE CHARACTERS ARE SO AMAZING.

THIS ONE KID, HIS FACE, HIS EXPRESSIONS, HE IS OUT WITH HIS FATHER, THEY ARE RACING CARS, AND HERE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT WHY THE PARK IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEM.

FEDERICO: HE IS SOMETHING ELSE.

TORI: WE HAVE A CLIP OF THEM I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY.

>> IT’S AN AMAZING PLACE.

HE JUST DID THE SOCCER LEAGUE.

HE DOES SOCCER HERE, I WALK MY DOG HERE, I WALKED THE TRACK.

FOR MOST OF OUR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WE ARE AT DANEHY PROBABLY 95% OF THE TIME.

TORI: YOU STARTED THIS DURING COVID AND YOU WERE GOING THROUGH SOME PERSONAL STUFF, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT IT.

YOU MENTIONED YOU WERE LOOKING TO HIGHLIGHT AND PROFILE COMMUNITY, AND WHERE THAT CAME FROM PERSONALLY FOR YOU.

FEDERICO: AS AN ARTIST FILMMAKER, MY PERSONALITY AND VERY ILLEGALLY -- PERSONALITY INVARIABLY BECOMES ENMESHED WITH WHAT I AM DOING.

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TONIGHT US, WHICH HAS -- WITH TINNITUS, WHICH HAS SUBSIDED.

BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT, YOU REALLY EMPHASIZE WITH THEM.

BECAUSE YOU THINK IT WILL BE FOREVER.

THAT, BEEEP.

OVER TIME, IT HAS SUBSIDED.

FINALLY, AS I MENTIONED TO A REPORTER, I WAS ABLE TO WORK THROUGH IT AND JUST FOCUS AGAIN ON MY WORK.

BUT IT WAS A CRIPPLING CONDITION FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

TORI: AND EVERYONE WAS LOCKED INSIDE.

I THINK THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY WAS MISSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

FEDERICO: YEAH, AND I THINK EVEN THOUGH I FINISHED THE FILM AFTER COVID.

I THINK EVERYONE HAS FELT THIS NEED TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

MY NEIGHBORS, FIND OUT WHO THEY WERE.

IF I HAVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO THE WORLD, GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.

THEY ARE GOING TO COME IN REALLY HANDY WHEN YOU GET LOCKED OUT OF YOUR APARTMENT.

TORI: WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU.

FEDERICO MUCHNIK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

FEDERICO: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TORI: TO GET YOUR FREE TICKET FOR THE FILM FOR ITS APRIL 6 SHOWING AT THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY, GO TO OPENSPACEFILMPR OJECT.NET.

FINALLY TONIGHT, THE BASKETBALL TEAM TONIGHT IS THE CELTICS.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MUSIC, IT IS CELTIC.

WHY?

EDGAR: CELTIC.

CELTIC.

"SELL-TIC."

"KEL-TIC."

"SELL-TIC."

"KEL-TIC."

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS FOR ANYMORE.

FOR YEARS, PEOPLE PRONOUNCE TO THIS WITH A SOFT C. IT IS HOW PEOPLE--- THIS MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD.

IN ENGLISH WHEN THE LETTER C IS FOLLOWED BY AN E, IT’S ESSENTIALLY ALWAYS SAID LIKE AN S. THINK, CEMENT, CELL PHONE, RACE, AND DANCE.

AS FOR WHY THAT IS, WE HAVE TO GO WAY BACK TO THE TIME OF GLADIATORS, CHARIOT RACES, ETC.

OR, SHOULD I SAY, AT CETERA.

>> LET DID NOT HAVE A K. -- LATIN DID NOT HAVE A K. EDGAR: IN CLASSICAL LATIN THAT C WAS ALWAYS PRONOUNCED "KUH."

IT ALSO FORMED THE ROMANCE LANGUAGES.

AS LATIN EVOLVED, SO TOO DID THE WAY THE LETTER C WAS PRONOUNCED.

>> WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT KUH DOES NOT STAY KUH ALL THE TIME.

CONSONANTS ARE DETERMINED BY VOICE, PLACE AND MANNER.

KUH IS A VOICELESS BACKSTOP.

EDGAR: ONE FOLLOWED BY A U, LIKE IN THE WORD CUT, THAT VOICELESS BACKSTOP OF THE KUH REMAINS PRETTY EASY TO PULL OFF.

BUT IT GETS HARDER TO DO WHEN IT IS FOLLOWED BY AN I, LIKE KILLINGTON, OR AN E, LIKE KENDALL SQUARE.

OVER TIME, THAT BEGAN TO IMPACT THAT HARD C. >> IT IS JUST A PROCESS THAT TAKES PLACE FAIRLY ORGANICALLY OVER A COURSE OF CENTURIES.

IT’S A PLACE OF ASSIMILATION, AND THAT LEADS TO LYNN NATION, WHICH IS TO SAY WEAKENING.

IT MAKES IT A LITTLE LESS HARD.

EDGAR: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AS ITALIAN DEVELOPED.

WHEN THE C IS FOLLOWED BY AN E, THE KUH BECAME A CHUH.

TH WORD CELEBRATEE IN ITALIAN?

AND LIMONCELLO.

IN FRENCH, THE C SOUND WENT EVEN FURTHER ONE FOLLOWED BY AN E, ALL THE SAY TO SUH.

THINK, C’ESTA’LIE.

NICE AND SOFT IS HOW ONE WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR WOULD HAVE PREFERRED HIS C’S WHEN THEY INVADED ENGLAND IN THE 11TH CENTURY.

>> 1066, BROUGHT FRENCH BIG STYLE TO ENGLAND.

EDGAR: NOT ONLY DID WILLIAM TAKE OVER ENGLAND, BUT FOR A WHILE HE MADE FRENCH OF THE LAND.

THIS WOULD -- MADE FRENCH THE PERMANENT LANGUAGE OF THE LAND.

THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE ADOPTION OF A SOFT C BEFORE THE LETTER E. >> ANGLO-NORMAN WAS BASICALLY THE VERSION OF FRENCH THAT BECAME CURRENT IN ENGLAND, TO THE EXTENT THAT A LOT OF THE NOBILITY OF ENGLAND WERE SPEAKING A VARIETY OF FRENCH.

EDGAR: BUT THAT FRENCH INFLUENCE NOT EXTEND TO THE VARIOUS OTHER LANGUAGES SPOKEN AROUND THE BRITISH ISLES IN PLACES LIKE SCOTLAND, IRELAND, AND WALES.

LANGUAGES OF THE CELTS.

>> IRISH GOT ITSELF ABOUT FROM LATIN.

IT DID NOT GET ITS ALPHABET BY WAY OF FRENCH FROM LATIN.

IT JUST GOT ITS ALPHABET FROM MONKS WRITING USING THE LATIN ALPHABET.

THE LETTER K IS NOT A LETTER IN THE IRISH ALPHABET.

C IN CELTIC LANGUAGES IS PRONOUNCED KUH EVERYWHERE.

EDGAR: SO THE RULES OF MODERN ENGLISH SUGGEST THIS WORD SHOULD BE SAID WITH A SOFT C. AND FOR A LONG TIME THAT IS HOW ENGLISH SPEAKERS SAID IT.

BUT THAT CHANGED SINCE THE MID-20TH CENTURIES.

THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING EFFORTS BY MANY ENGLISH SPEAKERS TO TRY AND PRONOUNCE WORDS AND NAMES FROM OTHER LANGUAGES THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE US PRONOUNCE THEM.

>> GUESS WHAT?

NOW, WE’RE FEELING BAD ABOUT ALL OF THAT EMPIRE AND WE ARE RAISING OUR CONSCIOUSNESS AND WE ARE LIKE, OH YES, WE HAVE TO KEEP THE OTHER PRONUNCIATIONS.

EDGAR: BUT THE SPORTS WORLD IS NOTORIOUS FOR HOLDING FAST TO TRADITION.

>> CELTIC.

>> CELTIC.

>> CELTIC.

EDGAR: AND SO, WHILE WE HAVE ADJUSTED OUR PRONUNCIATION OF THE WORD CELTIC WHEN TALKING ABOUT MUSIC, LANGUAGE OR CULTURE, IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE THAT THE TWO PLACES THE LEGACY OF CELTIC WITH A SOFT C LIVE PN-- LIVE ON IS WITH A SOCCER TEAM IN SCOTLAND AND THE BEST BALL TEAM IN BOSTON.

TORI: THAT IS IT TONIGHT BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR TALKING POLITICS.

WE TALK ABOUT THE DIRE SITUATION IN HAITI AND THE LOCAL HAITIAN COMMUNITY’S CAUSE OR ACTION.

PLUS, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS TRYING TO WIN BACK NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER DITCHING THEIR PRIMARY.

ADAM’S PANEL WILL TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY ON BEACON HILL.

THOSE STORIES TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪