♪ TORI: I’M TORI BEDFORD.

TONIGHT, THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL WOULD CUT STATE HIV AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESOURCES.

A LOCAL ADVOCATE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR JOINS ME ON WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PATIENTS.

PLUS, IS THE T WORKING BETTER AFTER MONTHS OF REPAIRS AND MORE DERAILMENTS?

IT IS COMPLICATED.

WGBH’S TRANSPORTATION REPORTER JOINS TO DISCUSS.

DR.S, ADVOCATES AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV-AIDS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST A PLANNED FIVE $.6 MILLION CUT TO RESOURCES IN THE STATE BUDGET.

THE NONPROFIT VICTORY PROGRAMS AND PROJECT ABLE, A COALITION OF AIDS SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ORGANIZERS, MARCHED TO THE STATEHOUSE TO URGE LAWMAKERS TO REJECT THE CUTS INCLUDED IN GOVERNOR HEALEY’S BUDGET.

CARLA NORRIS WAS AT THE STATEHOUSE RALLY AND DAY OF ADVOCACY.

SHE JOINS ME NOW ALONG WITH DR. SABRINA ASSOUMOU, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER AND HAS DONE RESEARCH WORK WITH VICTORY PROGRAMS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS LINE ITEM, THIS IS HIV INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND HARM REDUCTION.

WHAT DOES THIS FUNDING CURRENTLY GO TOWARDS?

DR. ASSOUMOU: THIS NOT ONLY FUNDS THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND PROVIDING SUPPORT AND SERVICES, IT ALSO FUNDS TESTING, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PILLAR TO MAKING SURE WE IDENTIFY WHO IS AFFECTED WITH HIV SO WE CAN CARE, BUT ALSO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE HIV BUT MAY BE AT RISK AND PROVIDE PREVENTIVE SERVICES.

TORI: THESE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE HAVE BEEN MOVING FORWARD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT WOULD BE, OF THIS REDUCTION?

DR. ASSOUMOU: EVEN THINKING ABOUT COMING OFF THE PANDEMIC, WHERE WE HAVE SEEN LESS TESTING AND IDENTIFICATION OF CASES, IT IS KEY THAT WE MAINTAIN AND EVEN SUPPLEMENT THE CURRENT FUNDING THAT WE HAVE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THOSE VITAL SERVICES.

TORI: CARLA, YOU WORK ON THE GROUND.

WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT IS THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE NEED?

CARLA: I DEFINITELY THINK THE SCOPE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO -- THESE DOLLARS PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE FOR HIV TREATMENT.

WE KNOW TREATMENT AS PREVENTION TODAY, YOU EQUALS YOU.

MEANING, UNDETECTED.

WHEN SOMEONE IS ON TREATMENT AND HAVE BEEN VIRALLY SUPPRESSED FOR AN EXTENDED TIME, AT LEAST SIX MONTHS OR MORE, THAT MEANS UNDETECTED EQUALS UN-TRANSMITTABLE.

WHEN SOMEONE IS UNDETECTED, THAT MEANS THEY CANNOT PASS THE HIV VIRUS ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.

WITHOUT TREATMENT, HERE GOES THE MORE INFECTIONS FOR THOSE THAT ARE HIV-POSITIVE.

THEY ARE MOST LIKELY TO BECOME RE-EXPOSED TO ANOTHER VIRUS, SOMEONE ELSE’S HIV VIRUS, LET ALONE THOSE WHO ARE NOT INFECTED WITH HIV, THESE DOLLARS ALSO SUPPORT THE PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLACTICS PREP PROGRAM.

IT WOULD BE A GRAVE IMPACT FOR THOSE AFFECTED WITH HIV AND OTHER STI’S.

TORI: YOU WERE AT THE STATEHOUSE RALLY.

I WANTED TO SHARE A COUPLE CLIPS.

THIS IS A SENIOR MANAGER WITH THE BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AT THE CRC RESOURCE INITIATIVE.

HE IS HIV POSITIVE.

HERE HE IS AT THE STATEHOUSE THURSDAY.

>> MY ORGANIZATION PROVIDES COVERAGE, MEDICATION COVERAGE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV AND ALSO WITHOUT HIV.

IN PARTICULAR, WE NEED MEDICATION COVERAGE FOR THOSE WITH HIV BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE COVERAGE, THEIR COPAYMENTS AND DEDUCTIBLES.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE FUNDING TO VARIOS AGENCIES -- TO VARIOUS AGENCIES IS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE COVERAGE FOR MEDICATION SERVICES SO PEOPLE CAN PREVENT GETTING HIV AND GET TREATMENT IF THEY DO HAVE HIV.

I AM HIV-POSITIVE FOR 42 YEARS.

LUCKILY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PAY FROM THE MEDICATIONS THROUGH MY INSURANCE PLAN OR ON MY OWN, BUT I AM THE ANOMALY.

I AM NOT THE STANDARD PERSON.

MOST PEOPLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH CANNOT AFFORD IT AND DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR THEIR MEDICATIONS.

TORI: AT THAT RALLY, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF THESE MEDICATIONS, RIGHT?

HE’S GOT INSURANCE AND FEELS FORTUNATE TO HAVE INSURANCE, BUT THESE ARE EXPENSIVE TREATMENTS.

THAT SUPPLEMENTATION IS NECESSARY TO HELP PEOPLE NOT ONLY WITH PEOPLE NOT GETTING IN CONTACT WITH IT, BUT SPREAD AND TRANSMISSION.

CARLA: THE MEDICATIONS ARE ANYWHERE FROM $2000 OR MORE A MONTH.

THESE DOLLARS WOULD GREATLY IMPACT SOMEONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, A LONG-TERM SURVIVOR, SOMEONE LIVING WITH HIV FOR OVER 28 YEARS.

WHAT WHAT I DO?

I DO HAVE A JOB, BUT I KNOW I COULD NEVER AFFORD $2000 OR MORE A MONTH FOR MEDICATIONS.

TORI: WE REACHED OUT TO THE STATE TO GET THEIR RESPONSE.

I’M CURIOUS TO BOTH OF YOU TO YOUR REACTION TO THEIR STATEMENT.

THEY SAID "THE ADMINISTRATION HAD TO LOOK AT CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET GIVEN DECLINING REVENUES.

WE WORKED HARD TO IDENTIFY AREAS TO REDUCE COST WITHOUT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING SERVICES.

IN THE CASE OF IMPACTED HIV-AIDS/HEPATITIS C PROGRAMS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER STATE PROGRAMS THAT CAN ABSORB THESE REDUCTIONS."

THEY ALSO MENTIONED FUNDING PUT TOWARDS THESE PROGRAMS RUN BY THE STATE IN 2023.

WHEN THEY SAY NO PROGRAMS WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

CARLA: IT’S EASY FOR THEM TO SAY.

WHERE I WORK IN WORCESTER, WE HAVE A SYRINGE SERVICES PROGRAM.

THESE DOLLARS WOULD GRAVELY IMPACT THAT PROGRAM, WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND ACCESS CLEAN SYRINGES.

WITHOUT THAT, WE AND OTHER PROGRAMS ARE NOT PROMOTING DRUG USE, BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE COMMUNITIES ACTIVELY USING.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE CLEAN SYRINGES AND TREATMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE READY FOR TREATMENT.

TORI: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS RESPONSE FROM THE STATE?

THEY SAID THIS WAS A CREATIVE SOLUTION.

I THINK THEY ARE ABSORBING SOME OF IT THROUGH STATE PROGRAMS BUT THEY SERVE TOWARDS THIS GREATER GOAL THAT YOU MENTION NEEDS TO BE SUPPLEMENTED.

DR. ASSOUMOU: ANYTIME WE HEAR ABOUT FUNDING CUTS FOR PROGRAMS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE AND PREVENT TRANSMISSION, WE ARE ALWAYS VERY CONCERNED.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THESE FUNDING CUTS, I THINK OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT I WORK WITH THAT HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN TESTING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE WE IDENTIFY PEOPLE, SUPPORTING PEOPLE.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE THAT KEEPS US GOING, AND MAKE SURE WE IDENTIFY CASES, REALLY DEPEND ON THESE VITAL RESOURCES.

IT IS REALLY KEY AND IMPORTANT THAT WE STILL HAVE THE FUNDING ONGOING.

TORI: I WANTED TO ASK TOO ABOUT THE TIME THIS IS HAPPENING.

THERE WAS A RECENT BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE THAT SHOWED THERE WAS AN ACCELERATION IN HIV OUTBREAKS IN BOSTON IN THE PAST YEAR.

NEARLY 60 NEW CASES IDENTIFIED SINCE LAST MARCH ACCORDING TO STATE DATA.

AND ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE WAS AN INQUIRY IN 2018 THAT SHOWED SINCE 2015 WE HAVE SEEN THIS INCREDIBLE SPIKE.

THE FEDERAL INQUIRY ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE SURGE OF FENTANYL COMING INTO THE STATE BUT ALSO HOMELESSNESS, INCARCERATION.

AS COVID IS EASING, I’M WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS CUT COMING AND THE TIMING OF IT, AS ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE LINING UP.

DR. ASSOUMOU: WE ARE EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR PREVENTIVE SERVICES HAS BEEN LOWERED, SO IT IS REALLY KEY THAT AT A TIME WHERE WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY CASES, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THOSE SOURCES SO WE CAN IDENTIFY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HIV IN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES.

DURING THE OVERDOSE CRISIS WE HAVE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY, THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN ASSOCIATED INCREASE IN HIV AMONG GROUPS.

MASSACHUSETTS IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT IDENTIFIED ONE OF THOSE OUTBREAKS IN 2017.

THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT AS WE ARE EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TEST PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY NEW CASES AND PREVENT PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK FROM GETTING HIV.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN ALL THOSE RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TORI: A RECENT ARTICLE MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE RE-ENGAGING WITH TESTING NOW HAS THE PANDEMIC EASES -- AS THE PANDEMIC EASES.

I’M WONDERING, CARLA, IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE SEEN, WHERE PEOPLE ARE MORE RESISTANT TO GET SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC, OR HAVE AVOIDED THINGS LIKE NEEDLE EXCHANGES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ARE NOW RETURNING TO THAT, AND IF THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO A HIGHER NUMBER, RIGHT?

SOMETIMES WE SAY IT IS A SPIKE AND IT IS JUST MORE PEOPLE GETTING TESTED.

CARLA: YES, WE DID SEE A DECREASE IN OUR NUMBERS WITH TESTING THROUGHOUT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT WHAT I AM HAPPY TO SAY IS THAT AIDS PROJECT WORCESTER NEVER CLOSED OUR DOORS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK AND LOOKING TO BE TESTED AND GETTING TREATMENT, WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE OF PEOPLE WANTING TO BE TESTED.

AND WITH THIS FUNDING CUT, THAT WOULD IMPACT INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD WANT TO KNOW THEIR HIV STATUS, WHO NEEDS TO GET IN TREATMENT.

THIS WOULD BE A HEALTH CRISIS, ANOTHER PANDEMIC, TO DECREASE THE FUNDING.

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO ADD MILLIONS MORE.

WE JUST WANT TO SEE LEVEL FUNDING FROM PRIOR YEARS.

$5.6 MILLION, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

AND IT IS GOING TO IMPACT A LOT OF AREAS, DIFFERENT AREAS ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL AS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

TORI: RIGHT, I’M CURIOUS TOO ABOUT THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THIS.

IF YOU HAVE FACED PUSHBACK.

HARM REDUCTION IS A VERY POLITICAL ISSUE.

AND IN THE FIGHT TO SECURE THAT FUNDING IN THE FIRST PLACE, THERE IS ALWAYS PUSHBACK, RIGHT?

SO THIS LOSS COMING FROM A BUDGET CUT, I’M WONDERING WHAT YOU’RE FEELING IS ABOUT THAT.

TORI: ME PERSONALLY, I TAKE IT PERSONAL BECAUSE I AM GOING TO BE IMPACTED.

I AM ALSO A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT ON THE STREETS, DOING ANYTHING TO GET MY DRUG, BEING A DERELICT IN SOCIETY IF YOU WILL, BUT NOW I’M ON THE OTHERS.

I WANT TO GIVE BACK, I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE GET IN TREATMENT, GET CARE AND HAVE GREATER HEALTH OUTCOMES.

THE RESTORATION, RESTORING THAT $5.6 MILLION, I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE PUT BACK ON THE TABLE.

THIS IS NOT ONE AREA THAT SHOULD EVEN BE CONSIDERED FOR CUTTING.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND WE KNOW IT WOULD BE LESS STRAIN ON MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE HOSPITALS WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT TREATED BECAUSE I CAN SEE MY HEALTH DECLINING WITHOUT MEDICATIONS.

TORI: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NEEDED IN THIS MOMENT?

DR. ASSOUMOU: I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THE LESSONS OF THE PANDEMIC.

ONE OF THE THINGS I EMPHASIZED DURING THIS CONVERSATION IS WE NEED TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

WE NEED TO STOP EXPECTING PEOPLE TO COME TO US, BUT MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

THOSE PROGRAMS BEING FUNDED BY THESE RESOURCES THAT WILL BE CUT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY ARE PROVIDING TESTING, A PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE THAT WILL SUPPORT PEOPLE SO THEY CAN GET CARE.

I THINK REALLY LEARNING FROM THOSE LESSONS AND USING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED AND INVESTING IN THEM IS WHAT WOULD BE A HELPFUL NEXT STEP.

TORI: WHAT IS NEXT IN THIS FIGHT FOR YOU, CARLA?

CARLA: I’M GOING TO CONTINUE TO KNOCK DOWN DOORS, RAISE MY VOICE, BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS, CONTACT OUR SENATORS, OUR LEGISLATORS.

I AM EVEN IN THE PROCESS OF -- WE’VE HAD OUR LOBBY DATE AT THE STATEHOUSE, BUT THAT IS JUST ONE DAY.

IT DOES NOT STOP THERE.

WE WANT THEM TO KNOW, WE THANK THOSE LEGISLATORS WHO DO SUPPORT THIS -- WHO ARE NOT FOR THIS BUDGET CUT BUT DOES SUPPORT THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE WITH THIS LINE ITEM.

SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO RAISE HER VOICE, GET THE WORD OUT AND HOPEFULLY OUR LEGISLATORS WILL RESTORE THE FUNDING.

TORI: CARLA NORRIS, DR. SABRINA ASSOUMOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

CARLA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DR. ASSOUMOU: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

TORI: AFTER MANY MONTHS OF REPAIRS TO TAKE OUT SLOW ZONES, ARE T RIDERS GETTING A SMOOTHER RIDE?

AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE DISRUPTIONS, THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

WITH ONGOING REPAIRS SUSPENDING SERVICE ON PARTS OF THE ORANGE LINE AND MORE WORK TO COME ACROSS THE MBTA, GBH NEWS TRANSFER TO ORDER -- NEWS TRANSPORTATION REPORTER BOB SEAY JOINS ME.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING?

BOB: TWO GREEN LINE TRAINS BECAME DISABLED AT THE SAME TIME DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR, AT THE SAME TIME THE ORANGE LINE, PART OF THE ORANGE LINE WAS SHUT DOWN FOR REPAIRS.

ALL THAT HAPPENING AT ONCE CAUSED BIG BACKUPS.

TORI: THERE WAS JUST A GREEN LINE DERAILMENT OVER THE WEEKEND.

BOB: ONCE AGAIN, THE FIRST DAY THE MBTA RESTARTS SERVICE ON THE GREEN LINE AFTER 18 DAYS OF REPAIRS, WE HAVE A DERAILMENT.

THAT WAS DUE TO THE CAR, ACCORDING TO THE T, NOT THE RAILS.

TORI: THERE WAS ALSO AN INCIDENT WHERE AN ORANGE LINE I THINK NEARLY TOOK OUT SOME T WORKERS WHO WERE WORKING ON THE RAIL.

BOB: IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE T HAS NOT QUITE GOT A FULL GRASP ON THIS SITUATION, WHERE THERE ARE WORKERS WORKING ON THE TRACKS AND SOMEHOW THE TRAIN OPERATOR DOES NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE AHEAD AND SUDDENLY THEY HAVE TO HIDE AGAINST THE WALLS AS THE TRAIN GOES PAST.

IT IS PRETTY SCARY.

IT IS SOMETHING THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION CITED AS A REAL PROBLEM.

TORI: WHILE ALL THIS IS HAPPENING, WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD.

JUST INTO APRIL THERE IS A TON OF SHUTDOWNS.

ORANGE LINE, SILVER LINE, RED LINE, BLUE LINE.

THERE WILL BE SOME SHUTDOWNS ON THE HAVERHILL LINE A COUPLE DAYS AT A TIME.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

BOB: SOMEONE OVERHEARD SOMEBODY SPEAKING ON THE RED LINE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND SAYING, WHY DON’T THEY JUST SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE SYSTEM UNTIL THEY CAN FIX IT?

THAT ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING, IN SEGMENTS.

THEY ARE HAVING TO FIX THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

BUT THEY ARE DOING IT IN SEGMENTS, THAT THERE WILL BE CONTINUING DISRUPTION THROUGH THIS YEAR.

TORI: WE SPOKE TO SOME MBTA RIDERS LAST WEEK.

HERE ARE SOME CLIPS OF THAT.

>> THE EVENING RUSH HOUR, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH TRAINS ON THE D LINE FOR SURE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A RED SOX GAME, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ON A TRAIN.

>> IN THE MORNING THERE ARE SOMETIMES HARDLY ANY SPACE FOR EVEN STANDING.

AND MORE OFTEN THERE WAS A TIME WHEN DURING EARLY RUSH-HOUR AND IN THE EVENING IT WOULD BE A TRAIN EVERY SEVEN MINUTES.

STILL BUSY, BUT NOW IT IS EVERY 20 MINUTES.

IN THE EVENING.

>> I TOOK THE ORANGE LINE.

BECAUSE I WALKED FROM HYNES CONVENTION CENTER, BECAUSE I GUESS THEY ARE FIXING IT.

I HAD TO WALK ALL THE WAY FROM FENWAY, THEN JUMP ON THE ORANGE LINE.

THEY NEED TO IMPROVE IT.

WE ARE IN 2024.

TORI: IT IS LIKE EVERY DAY, ONCE YOU GET USED TO THAT ROUTE, THEN IT CHANGES.

BOB: AS MUCH AS YOU CAN PUBLICIZE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE GOING FORWARD, PEOPLE STILL THAT FIRST DAY ARE NOT USED TO IT AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE WAY IT WILL HAVE TO BE FOR A WHILE UNTIL THEY CAN GET THESE TRACKS FIXED AND THE SLOW ZONES REMOVED.

TORI: WE ARE USED TO REDLINES ON FIRE AND GREEN LINE’S, WE HEAR ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.

THIS FEELS LIKE A LOT OF CHAOS, LIKE A MASSIVE OVERHAUL.

IS THIS GROWING PAINS TOWARDS A SLEEK, FUTURISTIC, FAST, PERFECTLY RUNNING T SURFACE IN THE FUTURE?

-- SERVICE IN THE FUTURE?

BOB: IT IS MAKING UP FOR DECADES OF NEGLIGENCE AND NEGLECT IN MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM.

NOW WE ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE PAINFUL PROCESS OF FIXING ALL THE THINGS THEY DID NOT TAKE CARE OF FOR YEARS.

TORI: SO THAT IS ALL THAT IT IS, GROWING PAINS, I HOPE.

BOB: I THINK EVENTUALLY, AS WE HAVE PROGRESSED, PEOPLE WILL GRADUALLY SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT.

THERE HAS BEEN AN ON EVERY SUB WAY LINE EXCEPT THE RED LINE SINCE THEY BEGAN WORK LAST FALL.

IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE FASTER TRIPS.

TORI: I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MAYOR MICHELLE WU HAS BEEN DOING THIS TIKTOK SERIES, COMMUTE WITH ME.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

BOB: WELL, FIRST, TRANSPORTATION IS A BIG THING.

I REMEMBER WHEN SHE FIRST PROPOSED FARE FREE T, HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?

SHE REMINDED ME OF DUKAKIS BACK IN THE DAY, RIDING THE T, BRINGING TO LIFE SOME OF THE EVERYDAY PROBLEMS THAT COMMUTERS FACE.

I THINK IT’S WONDERFUL SHE’S DOING IT.

TORI: LET’S WATCH A CLIP OF MAYOR WU’S TIKTOK.

>> IT IS 7:45 IN AUSTIN AND WE ARE HERE WITH MOLLY TO COMMUTE TO BRIGHAM WOMEN’S HOSPITAL.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> A LOT OF THE BUS STOPS ARE JUST LONE BENCHES.

IF THAT.

IF YOU GET A BENCH, THAT IS LUCKY.

90% OF THEM ARE JUST A CURB.

>> NO SHELTER, NO HEAT.

TORI: SHE MENTIONS HER COMMUTE WOULD BE 45 MINUTES ON THE TRAIN AND 45 MINUTES WALKING.

I LOVE THE TRANSPARENCY, RIGHT?

BOB: I LIKE WHAT SHE IS DOING, THE MAYOR, IN TERMS OF BRINGING THESE PROBLEMS TO LIFE.

YOU ACTUALLY TALK TO COMMUTERS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH EVERY DAY, YOU GET A GREATER APPRECIATION OF HOW MUCH WORK HAS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM.

TORI: RIGHT, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE ON THE GROUND.

ALL OF THIS DOOM AND GLOOM, THERE IS A BIT OF POTENTIALLY FARAWAY GOOD NEWS WITH THIS FAIRMOUNT LINE BATTERY ELECTRIC TRAINS COMING?

ELECTRIFYING THE FAIRMOUNT LINE, WHICH RUNS THROUGH ROXBURY, MATTAPAN, FROM GREENVILLE TO SOUTH STATION.

THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE THE ONES THAT FEEL THE WORST EFFECTS OF DIESEL EXHAUST FROM THE TRAINS.

TO ELECTRIFYING THAT LINE WOULD BE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD.

WE SHOULD KNOW IN ANOTHER MONTH WHEN THEY OPENED THE BIDS FOR THIS PROPOSAL JUST HOW THIS IS GOING TO LOOK, PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR YEARS IN THE FUTURE BEFORE WE GET SOMETHING RUNNING.

TORI: ON THAT TIMELINE THAT SEEMS FAST.

[LAUGHTER] SEEMS GOOD.

BOB SEAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRANSPORTATION G REPORTER FORBH.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT BUT COME BACK TOMORROW, WE WILL LOOK AT MICRO PLASTICS, WHY THEY END UP IN OUR OCEANS, FOOD, AND BLOODSTREAM.

A LOCAL DOCTOR WHO HAS BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT THEM AND THE POTENTIAL DANGERS FOR HUMAN HEALTH WILL JOIN ME.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I’M TORI BEDFORD.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ ♪ EDGAR: TODAY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT KENO.

HOW DO YOU PLAY IT?

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S ON THE LEVEL?

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IS THERE A SECRET TO WINNING AT IT?

KENO IS A LOTTERY GAME WITH ROOTS IN ANCIENT CHINA AND AT SOME BARS AND CONVENIENCE STORES AROUND THESE PARTS, IS ALSO A WAY OF LIFE.

>> I’M A DEGENERATE GAMBLER.

I LOVE THE SPICE.

>> I LOVE KENO, AND I LOVE TO PLAY THE KENO FOR CUSTOMERS.

>> IF WE GO TO A BAR AND THEY HAVE KENO, WE’RE PLAYING IT.

EDGAR: WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY?

LET’S GO.

YOU’LL NEED YOUR SUPPLIES, A KENO SLIP, A PENCIL AND SOME CASH.

FIRST, YOU DECIDE HOW MANY NUMBERS YOU WANT TO PLAY.

THIS IS CALLED A SPOT GAME.

PLAYING SEVEN NUMBERS, YOU ARE PLAYING A SEVEN SPOT GAME.

>> ALWAYS AT THREE SPOT.

>> THREE, FOUR, TOPS.

>> USUALLY A FIVE SPOT.

>> I JUST PLAY 9 SPOT.

>> I PLAY 12 NUMBERS.

EDGAR: NEXT, YOU PICK HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO BET AND HOW MANY GAMES YOU WANT TO PLAY.

>> THREE SPOTS, 20 BUCKS A GAME, FIVE GAMES.

EDGAR: THEN YOU PICK YOUR ACTUAL NUMBERS FROM ONE THROUGH 80.

>> THREE IS MY BIRTHDAY, 19 IS HERS.

>> I SCRAMBLE MY NUMBERS AROUND ALL THE TIME.

>> I’M AN 11, 25, 57 KIND OF A GUY, YOU KNOW?

MY MOTHER’S BIRTHDAY.

EDGAR: FINALLY, YOU HEAD TO THE CASHIER OR AUTOMATED KIOSK, PAY UP, AND IT’S GAME TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD LUCK.

EDGAR: THANK YOU.

GAMES HAPPEN EVERY THREE TO FOUR MINUTES FROM 5 A.M. TO 1 A.M.

IN EACH GAME, 20 NUMBERS ARE DRAWN AT RANDOM.

IF ENOUGH OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE YOUR NUMBERS, YOU WIN.

I’LL TAKE IT ALL IN JUST THE ONE 5, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[LAUGHTER] FOR EXAMPLE, IN A FOUR SPOT GAME WHERE YOU WAGERED A DOLLAR, TWO CORRECT NUMBERS WINS YOU A BUCK, THREE RIGHT GETS YOU $4, AND ALL FOUR WIN YOU $100.

>> I GOT 11 OUT OF 12 NUMBERS, SO I WON $25,000.

>> PLAYED A LITTLE GOLF THIS MORNING, PLAYED A LITTLE KENO, I’M DOWN ABOUT $1200 TODAY, YOU KNOW?

EDGAR: THE MORE NUMBERS YOU PLAY AND THE MORE OF THEM YOU GET RIGHT, THE MORE YOU WIN, UP TO $1,000,000 FOR 12 OUT OF 12.

WHICH JUST HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MASSACHUSETTS LOTTERY HISTORY.

>> A PLAYER IN PITTSFIELD PICKED NUMBERS ONE THROUGH 12 AND THEY ALL CAME UP.

EDGAR: WAIT, ONE THROUGH 12 WAS SELECTED RANDOMLY.

RANDOMLY?

>> I DO BELIEVE IT’S RIGGED.

YOU CAN GET PARANOID SOMETIMES.

>> IT’S A SCAM, BRO, IT’S ALL A SCAM.

THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?

>> WE ARE BASED ON INTEGRITY.

SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF OUR GAMES.

EDGAR: I MET UP WITH MASS.

LOTTERY SPOKESMAN CHRISTIAN TEJA AT THE LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS.

>> IF OUR GAMES ARE NOT SECURE AND NOT ON THE UP AND UP, THEN WE WOULD BE NOTHING.

EDGAR: AND KENO IS A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF THE LOTTERY’S BUSINESS.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE WAGERED EACH DAY ON HUNDREDS OF GAMES THAT PLAY OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THOUSANDS OF SCREENS.

>> THERE ARE TWO COMPUTER SYSTEMS INVOLVED IN A KENO DRAWING.

EDGAR: THE FIRST ONE IS THE CENTRAL GAMING SYSTEM, WHICH ESSENTIALLY RUNS THE GAME.

>> SO ALL THE TERMINALS THAT YOU SEE AT RETAIL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THOSE WAGERS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH A CENTRAL GAMING SYSTEM.

AND THAT IS ALSO THE SYSTEM THAT EVENTUALLY DETERMINES WHICH TICKETS ARE WINNERS.

EDGAR: THE SECOND IS THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR.

>> THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR IS CONSTANTLY PICKING SETS OF 20 NUMBERS.

MULTIPLE TIMES PER SECOND.

AND THEN WHEN IT GETS THE MESSAGE THAT THE WAGERING HAS CLOSED ON A SPECIFIC KENO DRAW, WHATEVER GROUP OF 20 NUMBERS THAT WAS SELECTED AT THAT MOMENT, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SENT OVER 70 TO THE CENTRAL GAMING SYSTEM.

EDGAR: AND CRUCIALLY -- >> THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR HAS NO IDEA WHAT NUMBERS ARE BEING PLAYED FOR ANY GIVEN DAY.

EDGAR: AND WITH A GAME LIKE KENO, YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY CONTROL HOW MUCH TOTAL MONEY PLAYERS WIN OVER TIME BY HOW YOU DESIGN THE PAYOUTS.

MASSACHUSETTS KENO IS STRUCTURED SO THAT ABOUT 70% OF ALL THE MONEY THAT COMES IN WILL PAY BACK OUT TO PLAYERS IN THE FORM OF WINNINGS, WHICH MEANS.

>> THE LOTTERY CAN GET 30% OF YOUR MONEY IN THE LONG RUN BY BEING HONEST.

EDGAR: OK, FINE.

IS THERE A WAY TO BEAT IT?

OR AT THE VERY LEAST, IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF A WIN?

PLENTY OF FOLKS HAVE A STRATEGY.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY’RE BETTING KENO, LOOK FOR PATTERNS.

THEY MAKE PRETTY PICTURES ON THE BET SLIP, OR THEY PICK ALL THE MULTIPLES OF SEVEN BECAUSE THAT’S SUPPOSED TO BE LUCKY.

EDGAR: BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS A COLD, HARD CERTAINTY IN THE MATHEMATICS OF RANDOMNESS.

>> THERE IS NO STRATEGY THAT WILL CHANGE THE CHANCE OF WINNING.

ALL 20 NUMBER COMBINATIONS ARE EQUALLY LIKELY.

EDGAR: THAT SAID, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE OK WITH VERY MODEST WINNINGS -- >> THE PICK TWO GAME IN MASSACHUSETTS HAS THE HIGHEST CHANCE OF WINNING, IN PART BECAUSE MASSACHUSETTS PICK TWO PAYS OFF EVEN IF YOU ONLY MATCH ONE NUMBER.

BUT IT’S NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU RICH.

EDGAR: YOU CAN GET KIND OF RICH WINNING A 10, 11 OR 12 SPOT GAME, BUT THE STATE HAS A CAP ON THE TOTAL PAYOUT.

SO EVEN IF YOU DO SOMEHOW GET ALL OF THE NUMBERS, IF ENOUGH OTHER PEOPLE DO AS WELL, YOU MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY WIN THE FULL AMOUNT.

>> FIGURE OUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO AND THEN DO SOMETHING ELSE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF PEOPLE ARE PICKING NUMBERS BASED ON BIRTHDAYS, AND A LOT OF THEM DO, ALL THEIR NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE 1 TO 31.

FORGET WHAT THEY TOLD YOU IN KINDERGARTEN, SHARING IS NOT GOOD HERE.

EDGAR: BOLLMAN’S FAVORITE STRATEGY WHEN HE’S IN A BAR RESTAURANT THAT HAS KENO?

HE PICKS HIS TWO FAVORITE NUMBERS, SIX AND 28, SOLELY IN HIS MIND.

>> AND I WATCH THE GAME, AND EVERY TIME THOSE NUMBERS DON’T COME UP, I THINK I’VE SAVED A DOLLAR.

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