>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": WHILE MASSACHUSETTS IS RACING AHEAD WITH ITS VACCINE ROLL-OUT, LATINX RESIDENTS IN THE STATE ARE FALLING FAR BEHIND.

LAWRENCE'S POPULATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS 82% LATINX, 2% OF WHOM HAVE GOTTEN SHOTS; NEARLY HALF OF THE CITY'S WHITE MINORITY HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED.

I'LL BE JOINED BY EVA MILLONA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ADVOCACY COALITION; AND IVAÁN ESPINOZA-MADRIGAL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAWYERS' FOR CIVIL RIGHTS-- BOTH MEMBERS OF THE VACCINE EQUITY NOW!

COALITION.

THEN, LATER, HOW ONE HEALTH CENTER IS TAKING THE VACCINES DIRECTLY TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM MOST.

PLUS, IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK.

NO, REALLY, THIS TIME!

WE'LL LOOK AT BIDEN'S MULTITRILLION-DOLLAR PLAN AND HOW HE PLANS TO PAY FOR IT.

CHRIS DEMPSEY AND JESSE MERMELL WILL TELL US WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE WE CURRENTLY RANK-- YOU READY?-- 42nd.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Braude: WE GOT MORE GOOD NEWS ON THE VACCINE FRONT TODAY.

NEW DATA OUT TODAY FROM PFIZER SHOWS THEIR VACCINE IS 100% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING ILLNESS IN KIDS AGES 12 TO 15, SIGNALING THE SHOT, WHICH IS ALREADY CLEARED FOR THOSE 16 AND UP, COULD SOON GET EMERGENCY APPROVAL FOR THESE YOUNGER TEENS, TOO.

THIS FOLLOWS MORE PROMISING DATA AT THE SAME TIME, NEW CASES OF COVID ARE STILL ON THE RISE, UP 13% NATIONALLY FROM THE WEEK BEFORE AND UP 18% IN MASSACHUSETTS.

BUT OFFICIALS SAY THOSE NEW CASES HAVE BEEN LARGELY CONCENTRATED AMONG YOUNGER POPULATIONS, SIGNALING THE VACCINE ROLL-OUT, WHICH HAS PRIORITIZED OLDER, HIGHER-RISK POPULATIONS, IS WORKING AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT.

BUT OTHER POPULATIONS HIT HARD BY THE VIRUS ARE STILL LAGGING FAR BEHIND.

THE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO'VE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE IS LESS THAN OF THEIR SHARE OF THE POPULATION.

THOUGH IT DOES RANK AS SECOND NATIONALLY.

AND THAT GAP IS EVEN STARKER FOR HISPANIC PEOPLE, WHO MAKE UP 12% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION BUT JUST 5% OF RESIDENTS WITH AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

ACCORDING TO OUR NEXT GUESTS IN A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR LAST WEEK, WHITE RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED 15 TIMES AS MANY DOSES AS LATINX RESIDENTS.

IN THAT LETTER, THE VACCINE EQUITY NOW!

COALITION TOLD BAKER: "WE ARE ALARMED BY THE PERSISTENT INEQUITIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AFTER SO MANY MONTHS OF PREVENTABLE SUFFERING IN BLACK, LATINX, ASIAN, AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE ARE DYING.

MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER."

I'M JOINED BY TWO MEMBERS OF THE COALITION: EVA MILLONA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ADVOCACY COALITION, OR MIRA; AND IVAÁN ESPINOZA-MADRIGAL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAWYERS' FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

IEFNL, EVE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Braude: EVA, IF I CAN START WITH YOU, I KNOW IT'S NOT JUST ONE THING.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY REASONS WHY THESE NUMBERS ARE SO LOW IN THE LATINX POPULATION?

>> FIRST LET ME SAY JIM, YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND THE DEEP INEQUITIES WE ARE FACING.

I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION, THE THIS LATINX COMMUNITY, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN THE FRONT LINES AS WORKERS.

THEY TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

THEY START AT A DISADVANTAGE, AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THEM AS WELL.

AND THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE REASONS THAT OUR COALITION CAME TOGETHER THAT HAS LEADERS FROM THE RACIAL JUSTICE WORLD, THE IMMIGRANT JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH, IS TO REALLY MAKE THE CASE THAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT THE MOST ALSO NEED THE ATTENTION NOW.

THE VACCINE, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THEM.

IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE MORE VACCINES COMING.

AND GRAVE NEED TODAY.

BUT THE TRUTH IS THE VACCINE WE'RE ALLOWED HAS BEEN DEEPLY INEQUITABLE AND SPEACIALGHT IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY IN THE MIXED STATUS HOUSEHOLD FAMILIES, LANGUAGE IS A BARRIER, IMMIGRATION STATUS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE OF CONCERN.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN THE STRUCTURAL RACISM THAT HAS EXISTED FOR CENTURIES.

THIS IS NOT NEW.

BUT YOU KNOW THIS COLLECTIVE FACTORS ARE MAKING IT REALLY HARDER TO REACH OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.

SO OUR COALITION CAME TOGETHER TO REALLY URGE THE ADMINISTRATION THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND NEEDS TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SENSE OF UTTERS IS URGENCY IS THE PROMISED 20% FOR THE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED THE MOST.

>> Braude: AND IVAN, IF I CAN STAY ON THE SAME SUBJECT, THE GOVERNOR WAS TON RADIO LAST WEEK, LED ME READ TO YOU EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID TO US, WE'RE ALMOST DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE ON OUR LATINO POPULATION BUT THERE WE STILL HAVE WORK TO COULD.

I WANT TO -- TO DO.

I WANT TO KNOW YOUR REACTION TO THAT.

PART OF THE PROGRAM WAS MESSAGING, TRUST THE FACTS, GET THE VACC, MAY NOT WORK WITH ONE POPULATION BUT NOT SO WELL WITH THE OTHER.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN?

>> YES, JIM AND THIS ALLUDES TO WHAT MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE EVA WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, WHICH ARE THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW WITH THE TRANSLATION OF THAT PARTICULARLY CATCHY SLOGAN IN ENGLISH IS THAT THE WORD USED TO TRANSLATE FACTS IN SPANISH, QUEVAS, HAS MULTIPLES MEANINGS.

ONE OF THE MEANING IS TO TAKE A QUIZ OR TO CONDUCT AN EXAM.

IT IS NOT RELATED TO FACTS.

AND SO THAT GENERATED MORE CONFUSION AND UNCERTAINTY IN FAMILIES THAT WERE ALREADY EXPERIENCING SOME VACCINE DISCOMFORT TO BEGIN WITH.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW EVA WHEN YOU WROTE THIS LETTER YOU AND IVAN AND A BUNCH OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE COALITION, THIS WAS, I DID THE DATES, WAS SIX DAYS AFTER THE GOVERNOR HAD ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO SPEND $27 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING, THAT'S IN ADDITION TO FOCUSING ON THESE 20 SO-CALLED VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS EQUITY PROBLEM.

I'M ASSUMING YOU WOULDN'T HAVE CENTS THE LETTER IF YOU THOUGHT THE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL MONEY WOULD DO THE TRICK.

IF THAT WON'T DO IT, WHAT WOULD DO IT?

WHAT WOULD DIRECTLY ADDRESS AND GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS FIXING THE PROBLEM?

>> SO OUR LETTER ALSO INCLUDED GRATITUDE FOR ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND OFFERING OUR SUPPORT TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

YES, THERE IS 27.4 YOU MENTION AND THAT 4 MILLION WILL GO TO THE COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, HEROES ON THE GROUND BUT THERE IS NO CLARITY YET, WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS AS HOW THIS PROBABLY WILL BE ACCESSED, HOW THE COMMUNITY GROUPS WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES TO HELP THE HARD-TO-REACH COMMUNITIES, A WITH THE MESSAGING, B WILL TAKING THEM TO THE SITES, OR WORK WITH THEM, SO THE LETTER, YOU KNOW, ALSO ASKS FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS.

AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE ACROSS THE VACCINE OUTREACH.

AND ALSO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITIES.

MY COLLEAGUE TALKED ABOUT THE LANGUAGE ACCESS AND THE TRANSLATION.

WE WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY GROUPS TO HAVE ACCESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO THE DOLLARS THAT ARE PART OF THIS IMPLEMENTATION, BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THEY ARE THE TRUSTED MENTION AND MESSENGERS AND THOSE THAT CAN REALLY HELP IN GETTING THE 20% OF THE MOST IMPACTED TO GET THE VACCINE.

SO IT'S KEY THAT IT'S HAPPENING NOW.

I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE SENSE OF UTTERS.

URGENCY.

>> Braude: IVAN DID HE TOP OF THE SHOW I REFERENCED, I HAD TO READ THREE TIMES TO MAKE SURE IT'S POSSIBLY TRUE, YOU GO TO LAWRNZ, 82% OF THAT VACCINATION IS THE LATINX, THEY ARE MINORITY IN LAWRENCE, CLOSE TO HALF HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

I JUXTAPOSED THAT, I'M SURE YOU SAW THE POLL IN THE PAPER TODAY, SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY POLL, DO YOU AGREE WITH GOVERNOR REQUEST CHARLIE BAKER'S DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE?

82% THE HIGHEST APPROVAL RATING ON VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, COMES FROM THE.LATINX POPULATION.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> WELL, EVER SINCE PRESIDENTIAL POLTS STARTED GETTING SOME OF THESE INJUNCTION -- POLLS STARTED GETTING SOME OF THESE NUMBERS WRONG, I THINK WE SHOULD BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS DATA.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IS BEING POLLED BUT I DO KNOW FOR SURE, IT DOVETAILS WITH WHAT EVA WAS JUST TALK BRG.

NONE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN BOSTON OR ACROSS THE STATE HAVE RECEIVED RESOURCES TO DO MORE EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH LATINX AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

AND THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE STILL RELYING PRIMARILY ON LARGE VACCINATION CENTERS THAT ARE FAR FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND INACCESSIBLE IN MANY INSTANCES THROUGH PUBLIC TRANSIT.

AND SO MANY GROUPS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT POP THEMSELVES, INCLUDING MY ORGANIZATION, LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, TO RUN OUR OWN VACCINATION CLINICS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS LIKE THE WHITTIER.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE POLLING DATA IS COMING FROM.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WE ARE HAVING TO FILL IN THE GAP FOR THE ABSENCE OF STATE COORDINATION AND RESOURCES.

>> Braude: EVA, HAVE YOU HEARD BACK FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SINCE YOU SENT THE LETTER WHAT IS IT EIGHT DAYS AGO?

HAVE YOU HEARD BACK FROM THEM?

>> WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK YET BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE EAGER TO HEAR AND EAGER TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AS I SAID.

YOU KNOW WE NEED A LOT OF ANSWERS.

THERE ARE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THE RESOURCES AND HOW THOSE RESOURCES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

ALL THOSE OTHER -- >> Braude: IF I COULD INTERRUPT YOU, EVA HAS YOUR EQUITY COALITION BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE DECISION-MAKING ON THE STATE LEVEL?

FORGET THE LETTER FOR A MOMENT PRIOR TO THAT I SEE IVAN IS SHAKING HIS HEAD NO.

YOU HAVE NOT HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE HOW TO DISCUSS IMMIGRANT AND THRAFNS COMMUNITIES EVA.

>> I'M ON THE EQUITY ADVISORY BOARD THAT DPH HAS CREATED.

I'VE BEEN ON THAT FROM THE START.

BUT NONE OF OUR VACCINE NOW COALITION MEMBERS REPRESENT THE 30-PLUS MEMBERS OF THE COALITION THAT ARE PART OF THIS -- PART OF THIS WORK WHO REPRESENT AMONG THEM THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF WORKERS ON THE GROUND.

>> Braude: SURE.

>> AND WE'RE HEARING THIS EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW.

>> Braude: IVAN, I ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

IF THE GOVERNOR IS WATCHING OR SOME OF HIS PEOPLE ARE WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY HAVE TO DO TOMORROW TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION YOU BOTH AND YOUR COLLEAGUES THINK THEY MUST?

WHAT'S THE ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING?

>> DEDICATE RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY-BASED VACCINATION EFFORTS AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRASS ROOTS GROUPS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> Braude: FIRE ENOUGH.

I WISH YOU BOTH LUCK WITH YOUR WORK.

IVANKA, EVA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: WHILE THE CDC DIRECTOR WARNS OF A "FOURTH SURGE" OF THE CORONAVIRUS, VACCINE HESITANCY REMAINS A STUBBORN PROBLEM.

BUT, AS WE JUST DISCUSSED, CONCERNS OVER THE VACCINE ITSELF AREN'T THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE FAIL TO GET VACCINATED.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR A WAY TO GET TO A MASS VACCINATION SITE.

THAT'S WHY, AS LIZ NEISLOSS TELLS US, ONE HEALTH CENTER IS TAKING VACCINES ON THE ROAD.

>> Reporter: A DELIVERY OF COVID VACCINES TO ROXY HOPES, THE WHITTIER STREET HEALTH CENTER IS SETTING UP A POP-UP VACCINATION CLINIC HERE AND IN CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, INCLUDING THE ALLSTON-BASED BRAZILIAN WORKER CENTER.

IT OFFERS SERVICES TO ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS FAMILIES MAY FACE, PROBLEMS THAT NOW INCLUDE GETTING THE VACCINE.

>> THERE'S LANGUAGE BARRIER, THE CULTURAL BARRIER, THERE'S DRIVING BARRIERS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR DOCUMENTATION.

THERE'S SO MANY BARRIERS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE PERSON DON'T-- DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: ON THE FIRST DAY THE CLINIC WAS SET UP, THIS OFFICE HAD 200 VACCINES AVAILABLE, BUT 800 PEOPLE CALLED SEEKING A VACCINE.

PEOPLE COMING HERE HAVE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THE VIRUS FROM THE START.

THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO ISOLATE OR WORK FROM HOME.

>> THEY ARE DOMESTIC WORKERS.

THEY CLEAN THE HOMES.

THEY TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN.

THEY TAKE CARE OF THE ELDERLY.

THEY WORK IN THE SUPERMARKET.

THEY WORK ON RESTAURANT.

THEY'RE GENERAL WORKERS.

THEY WORK IN CONSTRUCTION.

THEY WORK ON LANDSCAPE.

>> Reporter: VALDETE ANDRADE, WHO WORKS IN CONSTRUCTION, CAME TO THE CENTER BECAUSE ITS A PLACE ALREADY FAMILIAR TO HIM THROUGH ITS SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANT WORKERS.

ANDRADE WORRIED HE'D BE EXPOSED ON THE JOB AND BRING THE VIRUS HOME TO HIS DAUGHTER, WHO HAS BRONCHITIS.

>> (/ SPEAKING PORTUGUESE/ ) >> Reporter: HE TELLS ME, I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE VACCINE.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET IT TO PROTECT MY FAMILY AND OTHERS.

THE HOPE IS, MOBILE CLINICS LIKE THIS WILL NARROW RACIAL INEQUITIES IN VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND THAT WILL ALSO SPEED UP THE PROCESS.

>> PEOPLE OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THEY'RE STILL NOT GETTING ACCESS QUICK ENOUGH, AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING VACCINATED AT THE SAME RATES AS OUR WHITE POPULATION.

AND SO, THAT JUST TELLS US THAT THERE IS A GREATER NEED TO SET THEM UP THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: AFTER ONE WEEK, THIS CENTER SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 2,000 REQUESTS FOR VACCINES IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THIS CENTER PLANS MORE VACCINE DAYS.

LIZ NEISLOSS, GBH NEWS.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS THE MESSAGE OF THE WEEK, EVERY WEEK.

>> WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP ONE OF THE BIG AND GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS OF ALL TIME.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL OF $1 TRILLION, PERHAPS EVEN MORE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A LOT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU'LL BE SEEING THAT OVER THE COMING WEEKS.

>> Braude: OF COURSE, NONE OF THAT EVER MATERIALIZED, AND, AS A "NEW YORK TIMES" CORRESPONDENT PUT IT IN 2019, "'INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK' WAS LESS A DATE ON THE CALENDAR THAN IT IS A "GROUNDHOG DAY"-STYLE FEVER DREAM DOOMED TO BE REPEATED."

BUT THIS WEEK, HIS SUCCESSOR IS HOPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE, ANNOUNCING THE FIRST PHASE OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE TODAY FROM A CARPENTERS' TRAINING FACILITY IN PITTSBURGH.

>> EVEN BEFORE THE CRISIS WE ARE NOW FACING, THOSE IN THE VERY TOP OF AMERICA WERE DOING VERY WELL.

BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS FALLING BEHIND.

THE PANDEMIC ONLY MADE THE DIVISION SO MUCH MORE WORSE AND MORE OBVIOUS.

JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW DISTORTED AND UNFAIR OUR ECONOMY HAS BECOME.

WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

I'M PROPOSING A PLAN FOR THE NATION THAT REWARDS WORK NOT JUST REWARDS WEALTH.

>> Braude: BIDEN'S SWEEPING PLAN INCLUDES MORE THAN $600 BILLION TO REBUILD AND REPAIR HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND MODERNIZE AIRPORTS AND OTHER TRANSIT SYSTEMS; MORE THAN $110 BILLION TO UPDATE AND MODERNIZE WATER SYSTEMS; ANOTHER $100 BILLION EACH TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, FIX TRANSMISSION LINES, AND SPUR CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, AND REBUILD AND REPAIR SCHOOLS; PLUS $25 BILLION TO UPGRADE AND INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND $18 BILLION FOR VETERANS' HOSPITALS.

THE PLAN ALSO INCLUDES MEASURES TO OTHER HEARING WORKERS THE PLAN WOULD COST UPWARDS OF $2 TRILLION.

AND TO PAY FOR IT, THE PRESIDENT IS PROPOSING A RISE IN CORPORATE TAXES, SOMETHING SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY COME OUT AGAINST.

THIS IS THE FIRST HALF OF THE PLAN: PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

NEXT MONTH, IT'S HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'M JOINED BY JESSE MERMELL, FORMER MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE ALLIANCE FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP; AND CHRIS DEMPSEY, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS, A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS AIMING TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE STATE.

JESSE, CHRIS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU JIM.

>> Braude: GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.

I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OBVIOUSLY BUT WHAT IS IT LIKELY TO MEAN IF THIS WERE TO BECOME REAL, BECOME LAW FOR MASSACHUSETTS?

>> I MEAN IT'S FINALLILY INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK JIM WHICH IS GREAT.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOUR-PLUS YEARS FOR IT.

AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO ACTUALLY HAVING THIS BE A REALITY.

I THINK THIS IS A THOUGHTFUL PLAN, IT'S CERTAINLY AN AMBITIOUS PLAN BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE THAT CAN GET THROUGH CONGRESS.

AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN IF AND WHEN IT DOES IS MORE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, THE MBTA AND ALSO THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES, MORE BRIDGES FIXED AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT BUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SEWER AND WATER STATEMENTS, HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND NEXT MONTH FOLLOWING THAT UP WITH THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS LIKE CHILDCARE THAT REALLY DO HELP OUR ECONOMY RUN.

JBDZ YOU KNOW JESSE YOU RAN A BUSINESS GROUP FOR A BIT, THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF BUSINESS PEOPLE LOVE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL STRIPE, IS IT NOT?

>> FEW THINGS CREATE ECONOMIC GROWTH, EQUITABLE, ECONOMIC GROWTH LIKE INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

PARTICULARLY TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHEN I RAN THE ALLIANCE OF BUSINESS LEADERSHIP I ACTUALLY SAT ON ARE CHRIS'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS AND THE REASON WE FOCUSED SO MUCH ON TRANSPORTATION WAS BECAUSE IF YOU WANT DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR WORKERS, WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE ECONOMY, WHAT'S RIGHT FOR TACKLING EQUITY AND WHAT'S CREATING ECONOMIC GROWTH YOU WANT TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THIS IS A BIG, BIG DAY.

IT'S AN EXCITING TEN FORWARD BUT I'D ARGUE IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IT'S NOT ENOUGH?

WHAT IS HE NOT DOING?

ONLY THING I DID NOT SEE IN THERE THAT I AMG IN LOVE WITH AND MAYBE IT IS BUT ISN'T NAMED IS HIGH SPEED RAIL WHERE WE ARE SO FAR BEYOND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

BY THE WAY, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS OR SOME SUCH THING JUST RAISED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE GRADE FROM D PLUS TO C MINUS.

SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NOT IN THERE JESSE?

>> IT'S ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $2 TRILLION PACKAGE HERE IN PHASE 1.

ONE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES WAS A $2 TRILLION PACKAGE OVER FOUR YEARS JUST FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE INFRASTRUCTURE ALONE AND HERE WE HAVE GOT A $2 TRILLION MUCH MORE BROAD PACKAGE OVER EIGHT YEARS.

SO EVEN CANDIDATE BIDEN KNEW THAT WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PROPOSING HERE, FALLS SHORT.

>> Braude: BUT CHRIS REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, CLIMATE RESILIENCY NOT BEING AN EXPERT IN THE AREA SEEMS TO ME IS WAVED THROUGH WAVE WEAVED THROUGH THIS WHOLE PLAN IS IT NOT?

>> IF YOU TOTAL UP TRANSIT IT IS GREATER THAN THE FUNDING FOR ROADS, WHICH IS A WHOLE NEW PARADIGM.

THOSE PROJECTS NEED TO BE DONE TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND NEED TO BE DONE IN WAYS THAT MAKE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE AQUARIUM STATION ON THE BLUE LINE WHICH CONSISTENT REPLY FLOODS WHENEVER THERE ARE KING TIDES AND A STORM AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE IMPACTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY, AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE HIGHER SEA LEVELS AND MORE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.

BUT DO I THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ATTEMPTED TO INVEST IN WAYS THAT WILL HELP US REDUCE CLIMATE EMISSIONS.

I WANTS TO SEE MORE DETAIL THERE BECAUSE SOME OF THE STUFF AROUNDS ROAD EXPANSION IS A LITTLE BIT WORRISOME BUT CERTAINLY THE RAW NUMBER FOR INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT IS A POSITIVE SIGN.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW JESSE SINCE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU'RE A NOTED HIS TORN CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME -- HISTORIAN, WE'RE 42nd IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU WORKED FOR de VAL PATRICK, HOW DID WE FALL TO THE BOTTOM FIFTH OF AMERICA IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR DECADES.

I WORKED FOR GOVERNOR PATRICK WHEN WE PROPOSED A MASSIVE TAX PACKAGE IN 2013 MUCH OF WHICH WOULD HAVE GONE TO INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION.

WE ENDED UP GETTING A SMALLER PACKAGE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE HAVE DELAYED INVESTMENTS FOR YEARS.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS PART OF MY OWN CONCERN, THIS PACKAGE IS TOO SMALL.

I AGREE WITH WHAT CHRIS SAID.

I'M SO ENCOURAGED TO SEE MORE MONEY GOING TO TRANSIT.

I'M SO ENCOURAGED BY AT LEAST THE INITIAL DESCRIPTION OF INTERSECTIONALITY, IN OUR CLIMATE CRISIS BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $87 BILLION SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANSIT.

SOUNDS LIKE A HUGE NUMBER BUT TO GET TO THE SENSE OF SCALE, JUST FOR THE MBTA A NUMBER THAT WAS A YOU FOO YEARS OLD IS $10 BILLION.

TO DO SOUTH COAT RAIL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 3.5 BILLION.

THAT IS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS ONLY.

WHEN YOU HAVE A NATIONAL IMPACT, I'M NOT SAKE THIS IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY AND THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD STUFF IN THERE, THERE IS.

WE'VE KICKED THE CAN AROUNDS FOR SO LONG, NOT JUST IN THE COMMONWEALTH BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE NEED TO DO BIG BIG THINGS IF WE ARE GOING TO RECOVER EQUITABLY.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, MY IF YOU WANT TO TALK SERIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE TO QUOTE, ED RENDELL, SAYS I HAVE -- YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO EISENHOWER, ON SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

CHRIS DEMPSEY, JOE BIDEN WANTS TO PAY FOR THIS, NOT INCREASE THE DEFICIT.

THIS WOULD BE FUNDED BY THE CHANGES OF THE CORPORATE CODE, RAISING TAXES OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE UPPER 1%, ABOUT $400,000 FOR FAMILIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HERE IS WHAT MITCH McCONNELL THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE HAD TO SAY ABOUT PAYING FOR THIS.

>> A SO-CALLED INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL MAY ACTUALLY BE A TROJAN HORSE FOR MASSIVE TAX HIKES AND OTHER JOB KILLING LEFT-WING POLICIES.

>> Braude: SO HERE IS MY DUMB QUESTION OF THE NIGHT FOR BOTH OF YOU STARTING WITH YOU CHRIS DEMPSEY.

REPUBLICANS LOVE INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY HATE DEFICITS UNLESS THEY ARE FUNDING A HUGE TAX BREAK FOR DONALD TRUMP AND THEY HATE TAXES.

SO IF YOU WERE TO BE SPEAKING TO MITCH McCONNELL RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM ABOUT HOW WE GET FROM HERE TO AN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN IF THEY DON'T WANT EITHER WAY TO FUND IT?

NO MORE DEFICITS AND NO NEW TAXES?

>> YEAH, I THINK I WOULD APPROACH MITCH McCONNELL AS SORT OF ASSUMING HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DEAL HERE AND I THINK THAT'S MORE FOR POLITICAL REASONS THAN IT IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE WANTS TO HELP PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

THIS TAX INCREASE IS ABOUT HALF BACK TOWARDS WHERE TAXES WERE, CORPORATE TAXES WERE WHEN THEY WERE CUT BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SO THEY ARE STILL GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE TRUMP.

I THINK THERE IS A CASE TO MAKE THAT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE FUNDED NOT JUST WITH CORPORATE TAXES BUT ALSO, BY THE YITIONERS OF THE SYSTEM.

-- USERS OF THE SYSTEM, THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT DRIVE ON OUR ROADS EVERY DAY, THE PEOPLE THAT USE TRANSIT SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTING TOO, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE I'M HEARING FROM MITCH McCONNELL.

WE DON'T HEAR HIM SAY WE DON'T WANT A CORPORATE GAS TAX WE WANT TOLLS INSTEAD.

I'M WILLING TO ENGAGE IN A MORE GENUINELY CONVERSATION WITH OTHERS BUT NOT HEARING FROM MENTION WHOMNGSWHO WANT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Braude: JOE BIDEN JUST SENT $1400 CHECKS TO 80% OF THE MANY POPULATION, NOT ONE VOTE FROM REPUBLICANS.

IT IS NOW PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO PASS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE IF HE CAN, WITHOUT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE AND BY 2022, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE GROUND BROKEN ON PROJECTS IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY, I DON'T MEAN THIS FACETIOUSLY, WHAT ARE THE REPUBLICANS SAYING WHEN A REPORTER ASKS THEM, YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE?

YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE $1400?

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE FOR YOU?

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

>> WELL, YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO LEARN JIM THAT I AM NOT THE REPUBLICAN WHISPERER.

THEY'RE NOT COMING TO ME FOR MESSAGING HELP.

>> Braude: GENTLEMEN THEY WERE.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS WE'RE TAKING CREDIT FOR THE RESCUE PLAN.

WE ARE SEEING THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALL ACROSS THE NATION, GRADE NEWS, EXTRA MONEY IS COMING TO OUR DISTRICT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR THEM.

WE'RE SEEING CONGRESSIONAL ADS FOR SPECIAL ELECTION NECESSARY TEXAS ROOTED IN HORRIBLE LIES ABOUT TRANSGENDER BOYS AND GIRLS, I SAY THAT ON TRANSGENDER AWARENESS DAY.

WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE FOR YEARS, PREYING ON PEOPLE'S WORST FEARS.

THEY ARE NOT DELIVERING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND I FEAR THAT IS THE ONLY LEG THEY CAN STAND ON IN TWO YEARS.

>> Braude: YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU WON'T BE A REPUBLICAN WHISPERER ANY TIME SOON.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS JIM.

>> THANKS.

>> Braude: FINALLY TONIGHT, RICKING SOME OF THE LIVES BEHIND THE CORONAVIRUS DEATH TOLL WITH THE HELP OF THE "FACES OF COVID" TWITTER ACCOUNT.

LIKE 84-YEAR-OLD CLARK BORDEAUX OF BARRE, WHO WAS: "THE KINDEST AND MOST GENTLE SOUL."

HE WAS DESCRIBED AS "LOVING EVERYONE ALMOST TO A FAULT.

HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHOES OFF HIS FEET IF YOU NEEDED THEM.

HE WAS A BRIGHT LIGHT, AND HE SHOULD STILL BE HERE."

AND 73-YEAR-OLD FEDERICO CIAMPA OF DEDHAM.

HIS FAMILY SAID HE WAS "A FIGHTER, HARDWORKING, AND HE WAS DETERMINED."

AND FOR THOSE WHO KNEW HIM, "HE WAS VERY STRONG BOTH PHYSICALLY AND IN CHARACTER.

HE WAS THE SMARTEST MAN THEY HAVE EVER KNOWN."

IF YOU LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO THE PANDEMIC AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR STORY, PLEASE VISIT twitter.com/ facesofcovid.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

TAW iTHANK YOU MUCH FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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