♪ ALBERTO: I AM ALBERTO VASALLO.

TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, LIMIT ACTIVISTS AND LOCAL LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST A MAJOR EXPANSION OF HANSCOM AIRFIELD WHICH WOULD TRIPLE ITS CAPACITY TO HOLD PRIVATE JETS.

PLUS,, LIQUO LICENSES CAN BE HARD TO COME BY IN BOSTON, PARTICULARLY IN MARCELLUS COMMITTEES.

TWO CITY COUNCILORS ARE PUSHING FOR HUNDREDS OF NEW COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC LICENSES.

JOIN US, AHEAD.

♪ THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE CENTERED ON BEDFORD THIS WEEK WHERE DEVELOPERS ARE PLANNING A HALF A MILLION SQUARE FOOT EXPANSION TO HANSCOM AIRFIELD.

IT WOULD BUILD 27 JET HANGARS AT THE AIRFIELD WHICH IS PUBLICLY OWNED, BUT HOLDS THE MOST PRIVATE JETS IN NEW ENGLAND, AND IT WOULD REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF DOZENS OF ACRES OF MATURE TREES NEARBY.

PROTESTERS RALLIED OUTSIDE THE STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK TO OPPOSE THE EXPANSION AS ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS URGED THE GOVERNOR TO STEP IN.

JOINING US IS STATE SENATOR MICHAEL BARRETT OF LEXINGTON, HE IS AMONG THE OPPOSERS.

CHUCK COLLINS, DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM ON INEQUALITY AND THE COMMON GOOD OF THE INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES WHO DID A REPORT, WHICH WE WOULD WANT TO GET INTO THE KEY FINDINGS.

BUT FIRST, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY.

WE HAVE A GOOD TIME TO LET FOLKS WHAT IS GOING ON.

SENATOR BARRETT, TELL US WHY YOU ARE OPPOSED.

SEN. BARRETT: I AM THE SENATE CHAIR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE'’S CLIMATE COMMITTEE, SO I WORRY ABOUT THESE THINGS ON APPOINTMENT OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT ALL THE TIME.

THIS THING IS THE SINGLE MOST POLLUTING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PROPOSED FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND IT HAPPENS TO BE TWO MILES FROM MY HOUSE.

SO THIS IS OF INTEREST TO EVERYONE BECAUSE THESE JETS WILL CANCEL OUT THE KINDS OF STRESS.

THEIR ASKING CITIZENS TO TAKE TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

A HANDFUL OF RICH PEOPLE CAN DO AS MUCH DAMAGE AS A MILLION OTHERS CAN DO GOOD.

ALBERTO: BEFORE WE GET TO CHUCK AND THE STUDY, EXPLAIN A BIT MORE, WHAT ARE THESE HANGARS GOING TO BE STORING AND WHO WILL IT BE BENEFITING?

SEN. BARRETT: THESE ARE THE SUPER RICH, AND THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY GARAGES FOR THEIR PRIVATELY-OWNED JETS.

THESE FOLKS COULD BE FLYING FIRST CLASS ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, IN THE COMPANY OF ALL OF US, AND WHERE THAT IS A PROBLEM, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE ALL DEAL WITH.

THESE FOLKS SAY, NO.

I WANT TO FLY TO NANTUCKET, MARTHA'’S VINEYARD, TO LONG ISLAND OR TO THE BAHAMAS IN A WAY THAT POLLUTES MORE THAN ANY OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THAT EXISTS REALLY IN THE WORLD.

ALBERTO: THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?

CHUCK IS GOING TO TELL US WHAT HE FOUND IN THE STUDY.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT, CHUCK, IF I WANT TO PARK MY JET, WHICH I DON'’T HAVE YET, THERE, AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS, WHAT DID YOU FIND?

CHUCK: WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT READ, THE PUBLIC, SUBSIDIZE THE PRIVATE JET TRAVEL OF THE ULTRARICH BECAUSE OF THE EMISSIONS THEY ARE DUMPING INTO THE AIR, 10 TIMES, 20 TIMES MORE THAN THE ORDINARY PASSENGER.

WE ALSO SUBSIDIZE THEIR USE OF THE AIRSPACE.

ONE OUT OF SIX FLIGHTS IS A PRIVATE FLIGHT BUT 20 CHIP INTO PERCENT OF THE ACTUAL COSTS OF THE AIRSPACE.

IN THE CASE OF HANSCOM AIRFIELD, OUR STUDY LOOKED AT WHO IS REALLY USING IT RIGHT NOW.

AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE REGION'’S BILLIONAIRES, MULTIMILLIONAIRES, FOLKS WHO HAVE OTHER RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO OTHER OPTIONS OF TRANSPORTATION BUT THEY ARE BURNING UP THE ATMOSPHERE AND FLYING NOT TO BUSINESS DESTINATIONS -- WE FOUND HALF OF THESE FLIGHTS, PROBABLY MORE, GO TO LUXURY AND RECREATION DESTINATIONS.

HANSCOM AIRFIELD TO NANTUCKET.

HANSCOM TO PETERBOROUGH, THE BAHAMAS, WEST PALM BEACH.

ASPEN, YOU GET THE ADF.

ALBERTO: PLACES THEY CAN EASILY REACH USING THE WAY YOU AND I REACH, FLIGHTS.

AND CHUCK: IN THE CASE OF MOST OF THESE NEW ENGLAND FLIGHTS, THERE IS EXCELLENT TRAIN SERVICE.

FIRST CLASS TRAIN SERVICE.

HIGH-SPEED FERRIES TO NANTUCKET.

THERE ARE OTHER LOW-EMISSION OPTIONS.

ALBERTO: WASN'’T PART OF THE REASON OF THE EXPANSION TO TRY TO CUT DOWN ON PRIVATE JET EMISSIONS?

I HAD READ THAT THE INTENT WAS SUPPOSEDLY -- SENATOR BARRETT: MASSPORT IS A PUBLIC AGENCY.

THEY ARE ULTIMATELY ACCOUNTABLE TO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, SO THEY ARE ADVANCING SOME CLIMATE ISSUES.

I HAVE LOOKED AT THEIR ARGUMENTS.

REMEMBER, I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CLIMATE POLICY ON BEHALF OF THE 40 MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE.

I AM UNCONVINCED BY THEIR RATIONALE.

ONLY, FOUR PASSENGERS ON AVERAGE TRAVEL ON THESE PRIVATE JETS ON A GIVEN FLIGHT SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PLANES THAT CARRY VANISHINGLY FEW PEOPLE, ALL OF THEM SUPER RICH, AND THEY POLLUTE TO AN TIMES OR 20 TIMES MORE THAN A PASSENGER ON A REGULAR COMMERCIAL AIRLINE.

ALBERTO: CHUCK, THE WHOLE WORLD IS TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRESERVING THIS.

HOW DID THEY EVEN GET TO THIS POINT?

WHO IS BEHIND THIS?

WHO ARE THE PROPONENTS OF DOING THIS?

CHUCK: IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHO FLIES A PRIVATE JET?

THE MEDIAN WEALTH OF A PRIVATE JET OWNER IS $190 MILLION.

IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JOHN:, HERB CHAMBERS, JOHN CHILDS, THE CEOS OF REEBOK AND NEW BALANCE.

BILLIONAIRES.

THEY ARE AMONG THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.

SO WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK AND SAY, DON'’T EXPAND PRIVATE JET OPERATIONS AT HANSCOM OR LOGAN ON THE WARMING PLANET WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER CHOICES AND OTHER OPTIONS.

ALBERTO: AND LET ME JUST SAY, THESE ARE DECENT HUMAN BEINGS.

SENATOR BARRETT: THEY ARE DOING A VERY BAD THING IN TERMS OF THE INTERESTS OF THE REST OF US, SO WE ARE PLEADING WITH THEM TO FLY FIRST-CLASS INTERLEAVED THESE PRIVATE JETS ALONE.

MASSPORT IS ONE OF THE INTERESTED PARTIES HERE.

THEY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CATER TO THE SUPERRICH AND MAKE A LITTLE MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

THAT'’S A PUBLIC AGENCY.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GREATER PUBLIC INTEREST AS WELL, AND, AS I SAY, THEY ARE CANCELING OUT THE HARD WORK THAT WE ARE ASKING OUR CONSTITUENTS TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE EVERY DAY -- INSULATE YOUR HOUSE, BUY AN EASY, THINK ABOUT A HEAT PUMP.

500 PEOPLE WILL NEUTRALIZE THE EFFORTS OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND OF US.

ALBERTO: SO, WHO CAN STOP THIS?

SEN. BARRETT: THERE IS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR MASSPORT WHICH OPERA WITH LOGAN AS WELL AS HANSCOM.

.

THIS IS A CHARLIE BAKER BOARD AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THEIR TERMS DON'’T END WHEN A GIVEN GOVERNOR'’S TERM ENDS.

BUT I AM A STATE SENATOR AND MY COLLEAGUES IN I ARE DIRECTING A REQUEST TO THIS BOARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND IGNORE THE SHORT-TERM PROFIT POSSIBILITIES.

OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO JOIN AS TO ASK THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

ALL OF US CAN INCREASE THE PRESSURE.

I'’LL TELL YOU, IF MASSPORT GOES AHEAD, IT WILL SUFFER MORE REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE IN TERMS OF ITS LONG-TERM INTERESTS, ITS ABILITY FOR FOR EXAMPLE, TO MAKE THE CASE TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR HELP IN ANOTHER QUESTION.

.

THEY WILL DO MORE DAMAGE TO THEMSELVES THAN THEY CAN POSSIBLY PROFIT FROM IN THE SHORT-TERM/WHAT ROLE HAS THE COMMUNITY PLAYED?

YOU SAID YOU LIVE TWO MILES FROM THEIR.

THEY HAVE BEEN PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THERE ARE MORE SCHEDULED.

SEN. BARRETT: PEOPLE ARE VERY UPSET.

WE HAD A RALLY IN THE STATEHOUSE ON MONDAY.

I SPOKE AND CHUCK SPOKE.

PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, RESIDENTS OF THE AREA SPOKE.

THEY ARE BUILDING A COALITION WHICH GOES BEYOND CONCORD, LINCOLN, LEXINGTON AND BEDFORD, THE FOUR IMMEDIATELY ADJOINING TONES.

ALL OF US WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE PRIVATE JETS DON'’T CANCEL OUT THE POLICIES OF THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE ARE BUILDING A STATEWIDE MOVEMENT.

THIS WILL BE BIGGER THAN MASSPORT REALIZES.

THIS IS BUILDING VERY POWERFULLY.

ALBERTO: SHARK, I IMAGINE YOUR REPORT WILL BE THE CORNERSTONE OF YOUR ARGUMENT.

YOU HAVE DATA.

GIVE ME THREE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR KEY FINDINGS THAT ALIGN WITH WHAT THE SENATOR IS SAYING.

CHUCK: ONE IS THAT 10% OF THE FREQUENT FLIERS, THE TOP 20 FREQUENT FLYERS ON HANSCOM BURN 14% OF ALL THE EMISSIONS.

VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ARE FLYING ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY.

HALF THE DESTINATIONS TO LUXURY RECREATION DESTINATIONS.

41% OF THE FLIGHTS, LESS THAN ONE HOUR PERMIT 14% LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR.

THESE REGIONAL DESTINATIONS.

MARTHA'’S VINEYARD.

THE HAMPTONS.

BASICALLY, WE SHOULDN'’T BLOW UP, IN THIS MOMENT, WE SHOULDN'’T BLOW UP A CARBON EMISSIONS BOMB WHEN THE REST OF THE SOCIETY IS DIALING BACK ITS EMISSIONS.

SEN. BARRETT: THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS NOT A NECESSARY STEP TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS.

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT JOBS.

I LIVE OUT ON ROUTE 128.

WE HAVE A THRIVING LIFE SCIENCES, FINANCIAL TECH BUSINESS, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS ABOUT AVOIDING THE INCONVENIENCE OF ROUTINE TRAVEL THAT THE REST OF US ENDURE.

THIS IS UNNECESSARY TRAVEL.

AND MASSPORT IS ON THE CUSP OF AIDING AND ABETTING IT FOR SHORT-TERM INCOME, WHEN IT REALLY HAS A PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL OF US.

ALBERTO: WHEN YOU SAY IT IS ON THE COST, WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME SEN. BARRETT: THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL.

WE ARE NOT WASTING OUR TIME.

MASSPORT HAS NOT SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE.

I AM OLD ENOUGH, AND A LOT OF BOAST ONIONS ARE, TO REMEMBER THE FIGHT AGAINST THE INNER BELT THAT WAS GOING TO CARVE UP NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE BROOKLINE, CAMBRIDGE, SOMERVILLE.

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION IN THE 1970'’S WAS INEVITABLE.

IT COULDN'’T BE STOPPED, UNTIL IT COULD BE.

A GOVERNOR SAID NO TO THE INNER BELT.

WE ARE ASKING MASSPORT TO CHANNEL IT'’S IN FRANK SERGEANT AND SAY NO TO THIS PROJECT AND THEY COULDN'’T DO SO.

ALBERTO: WHAT ROLE CAN THE GOVERNOR PLAY?

SEN. BARRETT: SHE CAN MARSHAL EVIDENCE, SHE CAN WORK WITH FOLKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR LIKE THE INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES.

SHE CAN HELP US BUILD A CASE.

SHE DOESN'’T HAVE THE POWER TO SAY NO, BUT SHE IS, AND I THINK SHE IS INCLINED TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS NOT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS FRIVOLOUS AND IT'’S GOT TO BE STOPPED.

ALBERTO: ALBERTO: DO YOU AGREE?

CHUCK: I AM WITH THE SENATOR.

I HOPE THE GOVERNOR DOES THE RIGHT THING.

THIS IS A NIMBY ISSUE.

AS A POSTAL UNION AND SOMEONE WHO CARES A LOT ABOUT EAST BOSTON, WE DON'’T WANT TO SEE EXIT LIMITED PRIVATE JET TRAVEL IN EAST BOSTON ANYWHERE.

SEN. BARRETT: HE MAKES A GOOD POINT.

WE ARE MAKING COMMON CAUSE WITH CITY NEIGHBORHOODS WHO DON'’T WANT TO SEE THESE WISTFUL PRIVATE JETS LYING IN THEIR AREA EITHER.

THERE IS A MOVEMENT BETWEEN CITY PEOPLE AND SUBURBAN PEOPLE, BETWEEN FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLANET BURNING UP.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

ALBERTO: AND WE WILL PROBABLY BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS IN THE COMING WEEKS, FAIR TO SAY?

CHUCK: VERY MUCH.

ALBERTO: THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND BRINGING US UP TO SPEED.

THANK YOU.

LIQUOR LICENSES ARE NOTORIOUSLY HARD TO COME BY IN BOSTON.

THAT CAP BY STATE LAW AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO SIGN OFF ON CHANGES, BUT CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE MORE TROUBLE THAN OTHERS.

IN FACT, MAJORITY BLACK AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MATTAPAN, HYDE PARK AND MUCH OF DORCHESTER HOLDER LARGE FRACTION OF THE CITY'’S LICENSES DESPITE HOLDING HALF OF THE CITY PROCESS POPULATION.

THAT IS WHY THE CITY COUNCIL IS PUSHING FOR 250 EXTRA LICENSES TO HELP FILL THE GAP.

THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE LICENSES EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND NOW THEY ARE URGING THE STATEHOUSE TO DO THE SAME.

TWO COUNSELORS BEHIND THE PUSH, RUTHZEE LOUIJEUNE AND BRIAN WORRELL JOINED ME NOW.

BRIAN, YOU KIND OF GOT THE BALL ROLLING.

BEFORE THAT, WHY THE DISPARITY IN LIQUOR LICENSES?

BRIAN: I AM A SMALL-BUSINESS OWNER AND ONE OF MY FOCUSES WAS TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND ONE OF THE BARRIERS WE SAW WAS LIQUOR LICENSES IN OVER NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE LIQUOR LICENSES.

RIGHT NOW IN THE SECONDARY MARKET, AT LIQUOR LICENSE IS GOING FOR 625 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WE KNOW THAT DISPARITY STUDIES WHEN IT COMES TO INCOME AND MEDIAN NET WORTH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT OUR LOCAL AND BLACK ON BUSINESSES DO NOT HAVE THE CAPITAL TO COMPETE IN THE SECONDARY MARKET.

ALBERTO: LET'’S BREAK IT DOWN.

THE LIQUOR LICENSE AVAILABLE NOW ARE LIMITED.

THEY ARE TRANSFERABLE.

ASSETS.

IF YOU AND I WANTED TO START A BAR AND WANTED A LIQUOR LICENSE, IT WOULD COST US ABOUT $625,000.

IF THIS GOES THROUGH, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS WE HAVE NOW?

RUTHZEE: IT WOULD NOT COST YOU ANYTHING.

EVERY YEAR, YOU WOULD HAVE AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE OF ABOUT $3000.

BUT IT WOULDN'’T BE A TRANSFERABLE ASSET.

HE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

WE KNOW THAT THE MARGINS ARE REALLY SLIM IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS AND ALCOHOL SALES ADD TO THE PROFITABILITY AND VIABILITY OF A RESTAURANT.

THAT IS WHAT THIS WOULD DO.

THAT RESTAURANT WOULD NOT THAT YOU DON'’T.

THAT LIQUOR LICENSE, IT STAYS WITH THAT ZIP CODE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT AND LANDMARK PART OF THIS LEGISLATION, IT IS RECOGNIZING WHERE ARE THE UNDERSERVED ZIP CODES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BRINGING VITALITY AND VIBRANCY TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE DO THAT IN PART WITH THESE LIQUOR LICENSES.

ALBERTO: YOU ARE A BUSINESS OWNER AND YOU TALK TO IT, THE PROFIT MARGINS ARE VERY SLIM, AND LIQUOR LICENSES FOR A RESTAURANT ARE ALWAYS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

BRIAN: WHAT WE SAW IN OUR STUDIES IS THAT THE REVENUE IS 2X THE AMOUNT FOR RESTAURANTS WITH LIQUOR LICENSES.

AND WE KNOW THAT ONE IN THREE RESTAURANTS DON'’T SURVIVE THEIR FIRST YEAR.

SO ON TOP OF ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WHETHER IT IS A MILLION-DOLLAR BUILDOUT, STOCKING, EMPLOYEES, NOW WE ARE ADDING A $625,000 COST TO LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT WE KNOW WHEN THEY ARE DOING WELL, OUR COMMUNITY IS DOING WELL.

THEY ARE HIRING, THEY ARE REINVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE.

GIVE THE TOOLS TO OUR RESTAURANT OWNERS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THEMSELVES AS WELL.

TO ESTABLISH NOT ONLY GENERATIONAL, BUT ALSO THRIVING BUSINESS DISTRICTS.

ALBERTO: YOU TALKED ABOUT GENERATIONAL WEALTH, SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THIS WAS A BARRIER THAT REALLY WE HADN'’T HEARD BEFORE.

HOW DID YOU ALL SAY, THIS HAS GOT TO BE A PRIORITY, AND WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?

RUTHZEE: THE FORMER CITY COUNCILOR AYANNA PRESSLEY, NOW CONGRESSWOMAN, WORKED ON SIMILAR, NOT AT THE SAME COMMIT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE LICENSES BACK WHEN SHE WAS CITY CONCILLORS.

ONE OF THE THINGS SHE DID WAS THAT IT PITTED NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS.

DORCHESTER GOT SOME RESTRICTED LICENSES.

AT THAT MATTAPAN, WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED, GOT ZERO.

THEY STILL DON'’T HAVE ONE RESTAURANT WITH A LIQUOR LICENSE.

I CAN RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT IT MATTAPAN WHERE YOU CAN GO AND HAVE A BEER, IT DOESN'’T EXIST.

.

SO THESE WOULD BE LICENSES SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN ZIP CODES TO HELP THEM THRIVE.

YOU MENTIONED JP, A LOT OF THE LIQUOR LICENSES THERE ARE ACTUALLY BEING BOUGHT BY CHAINS THAT ARE THEN GOING TO THE SEAPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE CAPITAL TO PAY $625,000.

ALBERTO: SINCE IT IS A LIQUOR LICENSE THE COMPANY CAN PAY FOR, THEY CAN TAKE IT ANYWHERE AND JUST LEAVE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT UNDER THIS, YOU CAN'’T.

BRIAN: RIGHT, IT GETS TIED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD.

.

THE GOAL WAS TO INCENTIVIZE RESTAURATEURS TO COME TO THOSE DISTRICTS THAT DON'’T HAVE THOSE SIT-DOWN RESTAURANTS.

SO IF YOU KNOW A LIQUOR LICENSE IS IN MATTAPAN OR DORCHESTER, RIGHT, WE ARE TRYING TO GET THOSE BUSINESSES TO COME TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND OPEN UP SHOP SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PLACE TO SIT DOWN AND ENJOY A NICE DRINK.

ALBERTO: LET'’S GIVE CREDIT TO THE BOSTON'’S CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE THIS IS A UNANIMOUS DECISION.

ONE OF MANY.

BRIAN: HIGH FIVE, COUNCILOR.

[LAUGHTER] ALBERTO: HIGH FIVE.

WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

RUTHZEE: WE BOTH TESTIFIED WITH THE MIRROR IN FRONT OF THE STATEHOUSE, BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT WHEN YOU WANT TO DO AS A CITY OF BOSTON, WE HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

COUNCILMAN RAO HAS BEEN LEADING WITH THAT EFFORT.

THE HEARING WENT WELL PAST 604 MONDAY AND IT STARTED AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON -- 6:00 MONDAY, AND IT STARTED AT 1:00.

THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE'’RE HOPING THAT OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE STATEHOUSE WILL VOTE THIS OUT OF COMMITTEE BRAVELY.

THERE IS SUCH A DESIRE TO GET THESE LIQUOR LICENSES IN THE HANDS OF BUSINESSES.

ALBERTO: WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BRING A NO VOTE OR DELAY THIS?

BRIAN: I AM HOPING THAT THEY DO PASS IT AND THEY RECOMMEND IT OUT OF COMMITTEE FAVORABLY.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC, TO REACH OUT TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE TACKEY CHAN WHO IS ONE OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ARE PART OF THE LICENSURE COMMITTEE.

PLEASE, IF YOU THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, PLEASE REACH OUT TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE TACKEY CHAN.

ALBERTO: HOW WOULD SOMEBODY GO THROUGH ACQUIRING A LICENSE, ARE THERE APPLICATION FEES, LOTTERY, HOW DOES ONE GET CHOSEN RUTHZEE: THERE WILL BE AN APPLICATION FEE.

THERE IS STILL AN ALCOHOL COMMISSION HERE IN BOSTON THAT HAS TO DO FINAL APPROVALS.

SO IT'’S NOT JUST GOING TO BEAT YOU GET A LICENSE AND YOU GET A LICENSE AND YOU GET A LICENSE!

[LAUGHTER] WE DON'’T RUN IT THAT WAY.

THERE IS AN ORDERLY APPROACH TO APPLYING AND AVAILABILITY AND THERE IS A STAGGERED AVAILABILITY EVERY YEAR TO ALSO PREVENT OVERSATURATION IN EVERY SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'’S A WELL-THOUGHT-OUT WAY OF MAKING SURE THERE IS BALANCED GROWTH IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'’T MENTION IS, AT THE HEARING ON MONDAY, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED IN FAVOR OF THIS PETITION ARE FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY OWNED THOSE $625,000 ASSETS.

BECAUSE IT'’S NOT COMPETING.

.

IT'’S ABOUT HOW ARE WE DRIVING MORE PEOPLE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS?

AND THEY WANT THAT, TOO, WE WANT BUSTLING, VIBRANT MAIN STREETS IN ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

ALBERTO: SO, WHO WOULD BE OPPOSED?

BRIAN: WE HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, ATTORNEYS THAT PRACTICE IN THIS FIELD.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION WHO STOOD IN SUPPORT OF THIS, WE HAVE HEARD FROM RESTAURANT OWNERS, FROM THE MAYOR.

WE HEARD FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

WE HAVE HEARD A LARGE PART FROM A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

AS OF NOW, THERE IS NO ONE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHO IS A STAKEHOLDER, THAT HIS OPPOSED TO THIS LEGISLATION.

ALBERTO: DID I HEAR EARLIER THAT IF MATTAPAN GETS A LICENSE, YOU ARE TAKING US TO DINNER?

[LAUGHS] AND RUTHZEE: EVERYONE GOES TO DINNER.

AND WITH YOUR DRINK OR COCKTAIL OF CHOICE!

[LAUGHTER] RUTHZEE: UNA CERVEZA.

[LAUGHTER] ALBERTO: HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR DISTRICT?

A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT WANTED TO EXPAND.

THEY WANT THE ABILITY TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE, TO SHOW OF THEIR CULTURAL CUISINES, AND WE ALSO WANT TO DRIVE SOME OF THE TOURISM DOLLARS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

TALK ABOUT GROWTH, TALK ABOUT MORE JOBS.

AND IT WILL REINVEST INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

ALBERTO: THE ALL-INCLUSIVE BOSTON COMPARING TALKS ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS PART OF THAT ALL-INCLUSIVITY, RIGHT, GETTING LIQUOR LICENSES FOR THESE SMALL BUSINESSES -- THEY ARE MOSTLY SMALL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS -- WHAT IT IS YOUR DISTRICT, FOR THOSE WHO DON'’T KNOW?

BRIAN: IT IS DISTRICT 4 WITH MATTAPAN, ROCHESTER, A BIT OF ROSENDALE.

I HAVE, SQUARE, A LITTLE BIT OF MATTAPAN.

WE HAVE THESE MAJOR LONG CORRIDOR'’S.

BLUE HAD LEFT, WHICH COULD BE A THRIVING COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.

AMERICAN LEGION HIGHWAY.

THESE AREAS ARE AREAS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SEEN AS AREAS THAT COULD BE THRIVING BUSINESS DISTRICTS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS WITH THESE NUCLEAR LICENSES, TO BRING THAT FOOT TRAFFIC AND BRING THAT ATTRACTION TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

ALBERTO: WE HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF RESTAURANT OWNERS IN YOUR PART?

RUTHZEE: FROM A LOT.

ONE OF THE HEARTBREAKING THINGS WAS WHEN I GOT A CALL FROM SOMEONE WHO OWNS A RESTAURANT IN MATTAPAN, EAST BOSTON, AND THEY WANT TO HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE AND THEY SAID, I AM SORRY, READ HAVE ANY MORE RESTRICTIVE ONES AVAILABLE UNLESS YOU HAVE $625,000.

THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

WE DON'’T HAVE THAT CAPITAL, ESPECIALLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS ONE WAY OF MAKING THAT POSSIBLE AND ADDRESSING THE DISPARITIES, THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT OTHER THE THINGS THIS PETITION BRINGS TOGETHER.

AND ALBERTO: IT GOES OUTSIDE RACE AT, TOO,, IT'’S ALL THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON.

RUTHZEE: THERE IS A GREAT BAKERY IN JAMAICA PLAIN, THEY WANT TO START THIS INNOVATIVE IDEA WITH WINE AND DRINKS, BUT THEY CAN'’T AFFORD THE LIQUOR LICENSE.

THIS WOULD MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

THEY COULD GET A RESTRICTED LICENSE AND THEN WE WOULD SEE SO MUCH INGENUITY, CREATIVITY, OPPORTUNITY USED ON WHAT IS AN ALREADY POPULAR HICKORY THAT WANTS TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY MORE.

BRIAN: WE ALSO HEARD AT THAT HEARING, TESTIMONY FROM RESTAURATEURS THAT RECEIVE ONE OF THESE NONTRANSFERABLE LICENSES, THEY WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP ANOTHER RESTAURANT BECAUSE OF THEIR LOW COST OF THESE NONTRANSFERABLE LICENSES HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

IT GIVES THE RESTAURANT TOUR THE ABILITY TO EXPAND AND TO BRING THEIR IDEAS AND RESTAURANTS TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.

ALBERTO: I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR DETAILS ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IT IN THE NEWS, HEARING IT FROM YOU GUYS HAS REALLY GIVEN US A BETTER IDEA OF EXACTLY HOW THIS WILL WORK.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BY.

GUEST: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

ALBERTO: ON WARM DAYS LIKE THESE, WE CAN FIND OURSELVES LOOKING FOR THE COOL SHADE OF A TREE.

THAT IS EASIER TO FIND IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAN OTHERS.

AN ADVOCACY GROUP CALLED SPEAK TO THE TREES, TOOK GBH AND ON A IN CODMAN SQUARE.

OR TAKE A LOOK.

>> I WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THEY -- IN MY COMPLEX -- THEY TOOK ALL THE TREES DOWN.

AND I'’M ASKING THEM, "“CAN WE HAVE OUR TREES BACK BECAUSE WE BREATHE BETTER?

"” AND I THINK IT WAS MORE CHEAPER TO GET RID OF THE TREES RATHER THAN TRIM THEM.

♪ [CHATTER] >> SO LAST WEEK WE DID OUR FIRST TREE WALK HERE IN CODMAN SQAURE, AND WE EXPLORED WEST OF WASHINGTON STREET.

TODAY, WE'’RE GOING TO EXPLORE EAST OF WASHINGTON STREET.

WE'’RE GOING TO CHECK OUT WHERE THERE ARE TREES AND WHERE THERE ARE NOT TREES.

♪ >> TREES ARE INEQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED IN EVERY MAJOR URBAN AREA.

THERE'’S A CORRELATION BETWEEN TREE CANOPY COVERAGE AND HISTORIC AND CONTINUED RACIST PRACTICES LIKE REDLINING, LIKE DISINVESTMENT, WHITE FLIGHT.

♪ >> WE END UP DISTRIBUTING AIR CONDITIONERS BECAUSE IT'’S SO HOT, BECAUSE EVERYONE'’S LIKE ON THIS HEAT ISLAND.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF CONCRETE.

>>, LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS INTERESTING.

YOU SEE THIS LETTER HERE?

THAT'’S THE LETTER T. WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'VE THREE.

DETERMINED THAT THEY'’RE GOING TO PLANT A TREE HERE.

>> OH!

>> WHETHER IT'’S GOING TO BE TOMORROW OR NEXT YEAR IS ANYONE'’S GUESS.

SO, THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A TREE DESERT.

AND IN A STREET LIKE THIS, YOU'’LL HAVE SUMMER TEMPERATURES ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 10 DEGREES HOTTER IN THE DAY.

AND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ACTUALLY DON'’T COOL DOWN AS MUCH AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE ASPHALT HAS ABSORBED ALL THAT SUNLIGHT DURING THE DAY.

>> THIS IS MOULTRIE STREET.

AND ON THIS SIDE OF MOULTRIE, THERE ARE NO TREES.

AND IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT, >> IT JUST SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW WE CARE ABOUT COMMUNITIES THAT DON'’T HAVE A LOT.

I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT AGENCY OF WHEN YOU DO HAVE A HOME AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DECIDE WHAT YOUR YARD LOOKS LIKE OR IF YOU WANT TO PLANT A TREE WHERE IF YOU LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING OR IN AREAS WHERE THERE ISN'’T THAT KIND OF SAY.

>> THERE USED TO BE A TREE RIGHT THERE.

NOW IT'’S A PIECE OF ASPHALT BLOCKING THAT WHOLE AREA.

♪ >> IT CAN'’T BE JUST THE CITY.

IT CAN'’T BE JUST THE STATE.

IT HAS TO BE EVERYONE LITERALLY ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES, ADVOCATING FOR TREES, ADVOCATING FOR THEIR PRESERVATION.

ALBERTO: FROM HER INFORMATION ON SPEAK FOR THE TREES, HEAD TO TREEBOSTON.ORG.

THAT'’S IT FOR TONIGHT.

COME BACK TOMORROW.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE RENEWED FIGHT TO CHANGE COLUMBUS DAY TO "INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY."

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING EVERYBODY.

♪