>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," THE HEART-BREAKING AND ENRAGING STORY OF 83-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM BAKER-- WHO, ALTHOUGH FULLY VACCINATED-- DIED IN QUARANTINE IN A MAINE HOSPITAL AFTER A ROUTINE HIP SURGERY, DUE TO WHAT HIS DAUGHTER CONTENDS WERE MULTIPLE COVID-CAUSED, BUT THOROUGHLY AVOIDABLE FAILURES, VIRTUALLY ALL ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE UNVACCINATED.

THAT DAUGHTER, "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, CHRISTINA BAKER KLINE WROTE ABOUT IT IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" AND JOINS ME AHEAD.

THEN, LATER, SEGUN IDOWU, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK ECONOMIC COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS AND A LEADER OF A NEW COALITION URGING THE STATE HOUSE TO PUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN STIMULUS AID TOWARD KEEPING BLACK BUSINESSES AFLOAT, ALONG WITH STATE SENATOR ERIC LESSER, WHO'S ON THE COMMITTEE THAT CONTROLS THE MONEY.

AND FINALLY, LOCAL UP-AND-COMING NASCAR DRIVER, BLAKE LOTHIAN JOINS ME ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BUBBA WALLACE'S HISTORIC SERIES WIN AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR DIVERSITY IN THE SPORT.

>> Braude: WHILE THE LATEST FALLING COVID RATES ARE HEARTENING TO SOME, THEY'RE OF LITTLE SOLACE TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE 700,000-PLUS WHO'VE DIED FROM THIS VIRUS AND THE MANY MORE WHO'VE DIED BECAUSE OF IT, EVEN IF IT'S NOT OFFICIALLY LISTED ON THEIR DEATH CERTIFICATE.

FOR FAR TOO MANY, IT'S THE DECISIONS OF OTHERS THAT ARE DECIDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, AS WAS THE CASE FOR 83-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM BAKER, WHO DIED A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO AT A HOSPITAL IN MAINE.

AS HIS DAUGHTER WROTE: "FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, MY SISTERS AND I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP OUR FATHER SAFE FROM COVID-19."

BUT, AS SHE DETAILED IN A RECENT "WASHINGTON POST" PIECE, HE FELL AND BROKE HIS HIP AND WITH REHAB BEDS FULL, MOSTLY WITH UNVACCINATED COVID PATIENTS, WILLIAM BAKER, WHO WAS FULLY VACCINATED, FACED ENDLESS OBSTACLES TO A RETURN TO HEALTH.

"HIS GREATEST FEAR," HIS DAUGHTER WROTE, "WAS DYING ALONE IN THE HOSPITAL."

WHICH IS WHAT HE DID.

THAT DAUGHTER, "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, CHRISTINA BAKER KLINE JOINS ME NOW.

CHRISTINA, GOOD TO MEET YOU, I'M SO GLAD YOU WROTE THIS PIECE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: SO FIRST SURGERY FAILED.

SECOND ONE IS PLANNED FORRATEENS, GEORGIA.

DOESN'T HAPPEN, WHY?

>> SO HE HAD A SPOT AND WE WERE ALL SET, WE HAD FILLED OUT ALL THE INSURANCE, EVERYTHING WAS A GO.

AND THEN IT TURNED OUT THAT GEORGIA ESSENTIALLY HAD A MANDATE THAT THEY WOULD DO NO QUOTE UNQUOTE NONESSENTIAL SURGERIES.

ANY SURGERY THAT REQUIRED AN OVERNIGHT STAY THAT WASN'T LIFE OR DEATH IN THE MOMENT, THEY WERE POSTPONING.

SO EVEN THOUGH MY FATHER WAS LEFT UNABLE TO WALK AND IN CONSTANT PAIN, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET SURGERY.

>> Braude: SO YOU BROUGHT HIM UP TO MAINE WHERE YOU SPEND PART OF YOUR TIME.

HE DID GET A SECOND SURGERY, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL.

BUT REHAB WAS UNAVAILABLE, WHY?

>> BECAUSE OF THE UNVACCINATED FILLING BEDS.

WE WERE TOLD THAT WITH A HIP REPLACEMENT HE HAD A VERY-- I MEAN NO SURGERY FOR AN 83 YEAR OLD IS CONSIDERED ROUTINE, I SUPPOSE.

BUT IT WAS A VERY ORDINARY KIND OF SURGERY.

A PARTIAL HIP REPLACEMENT WHICH IS, TODAY, NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL.

AND HE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY CLEARED.

AND THE DOCTOR SAID HE HAD RECOVERED BEAUTIFULLY AND NEEDED TO GO TO REHAB WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS.

FOR A HIP REPLACEMENT YOU NEED TO START PHYSICAL THERAPY QUICKLY.

SO EVERYONE WAS READY.

MY DAD WAS READY, HE WAS UP AND ON A WALKER.

HE WAS IN GREAT SPIRITS, FULLY CONSCIENCE, OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, JEEKING WITH THE NURSES.

-AND-THE DAYS STRETCHED ON BECAUSE THE CARE MANAGER AT THE BIG HOSPITAL, REGIONAL HOSPITAL, VERY RENOWNED, COULD NOT FIND A BED WITHIN HOURS OF THE HOSPITAL THAT WAS AVAILABLE, FOR DAYS.

IT WAS TEN DAYS BEFORE WE FINALLY-- SHE FINALLY FOUND A BEDnd THAT BED WAS IN A COVID-INFESTED REHAB FACILITY.

20% OF THE PATIENTS HAD COVID.

THEY WERE NOT QUARANTINED FROM THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE, I KNOW, REHAB FACILITY AND MY FATHER WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY GONE INTO QUARANTINE THERE.

BUT EVEN SO, THAT OPTION MIGHT HAVE WORKED EXCEPT THAT HE CONTRACTED A SERIES OF INFECTIONS INCLUDING MRSA WHICH IS A HOSPITAL BORN ILLNESS WHICH IS COMMON AMONG THE ELDERLY, ESPECIALLY IN HOSPITALS.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ON THE RADIO ON THIS SHOW ABOUT THE UNVACCINATED IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WHILE IT IS HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND VIRTUALLY ANYBODY WHO FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY, YOU EXPAND THAT BY A FACTOR OF A THOUSAND, AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE IN THE HEALTH-CARE FIELD CAN BE UNVACCINATED.

BUT AT LEAST ONE.

PEOPLE WHO TREATED TOOK CARE OF YOUR FATHER A NURSE, WAS UNVACCINATED, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, THE WORST ASPECT OF THIS STORY, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE WHETHER IN IS END IT IS WHAT KILLED HIM, IS THAT THE NURSE THAT WAS TAKING CARE OF HIM WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID AND SHE WAS UNVACCINATED.

AND THERE IS CURRENTLY NO MANDATE IN THE STATE OF MAINE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED.

SUPPOSEDLY IT'S HAPPENING OCTOBER 28th, ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALREADY PUSHED BACK FROM OCTOBER 2nd.

SO FULLY A MONTH AFTER MY FATHER DIED.

THERE MAY BE SUCH A REQUIREMENT.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, AT THIS FACILITY ALSO, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ONLY ONE FAMILY MEMBER WAS ALLOWED IN PER DAY, AND IF I'M RIGHT ABOUT THAT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHY THERE WAS THAT LIMITATION, WHO WAS IT INTENDED TO PROTECT?

>> YEAH, IT WAS VERY STRICT.

WE HAD TO STAND IN A LONG LINE, THERE WAS ONE PERSON ALLOWED A DAY, YOU WERE ASKED ALL THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR EXPOSURE TO COVID, YOUR TEMPERATURE WAS TAKEN AND WHEN I ASKED A NURSE IN EXASPERATION WHY FULLY VACCINATED FAMILY MEMBERS WEARING ALL THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED MORE THAN ONE, I AM ONE OF FOUR SISTERS, AND WE'RE AN HOUR AND A HALF, WE LIVE DOWN THE COAST OF MAINE, ON THE COAST OF MAINE, AN HOUR AND A HALF FROM THE FACILITY SO FOR ONE PERSON TO GO A DAY IT FELT ONEROUS AND MY FATHER'S DEAR PARTNER WAS IN WHO IS ALSO 83.

SO SHE SAID WELL, HONESTLY, THE HOSPITAL IS AFRAID OF THEIR UNVACCINATED STAFF CATCHING COVID.

SO WE'RE LIMITING THE NUMBERS.

AND I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY NOT THAT SIMPLE, BUT IT WAS SUCH A SHOCKING THING TO HEAR.

>> Braude: YOU CAN, HOW SHOCKING TO ME IS ALMOST AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL, YOUR FATHER IS DENIED SPACE IN FACILITIES BECAUSE OF THE UNVACCINATED TAKING UP THE BEDS.

YOUR FATHER GETS IN A COVID INFESTED FACILITY, AND HE IS TREATED BY A NURSE WHO DECIDES IT IS APPROPRIATE IN PROVIDING HEALTH CARE TO BE UNVACCINATED HERSELF.

WHAT, HOW DO YOU FEEL THROUGH ALL OF THIS, EVEN WHEN YOUR FATHER WAS ALIVE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I DID A THING ON CNN THE OTHER NIGHT AND THEY BROUGHT ON AN UNVACCINATED NURSE WHO THOUGHT THAT HER RIGHTS WERE BEINGS ABRIDGED BY BEING ASKED TO DO THAT.

AND MY RESPONSE IS THAT 96% OF NEW COVID CASES ARE AMONG THE UNVACCINATED.

AND THAT THEY'RE TRANSMISSION RATES ARE MUCH HIGHER.

SO WHY WOULD YOU EVER ALLOW A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN AS MY FATHER WAS, EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE GRAVEST OF SIRKS, WHY WOULD YOU EVER ALLOW A HEALTH CARE WORK WHROAR IS UNVACCINATED TO TAKE CARE OF THE VULNERABLE.

IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

AND THE TRUTH IS MY FATHER DID END UP DYING WITH COVID.

HE CAUGHT COVID FROM THIS NURSE.

IT COULD, THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

ONLY ONE FAMILY MEMBER WAS ALLOWED.

WE WERE IN FULL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, ALL OF US WERE VACCINATED.

AND THERE WERE ONLY ONE PERSON ALLAYED.

AND ONLY ONE PERSON WAS-- .

>> Braude: YOU DON'T SAY IT EXPLICITLY BUT READING THIS MANY TIMES AS CAREFULLY AS I COULD, IT IS SO CLEAR TO ME YOUR FATHER IS NO LONGER ALIVE BECAUSE OF THE SELFISHNESS, THE CALLOUSNESS, THE CRUELTY OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T MENTION THE NAME OF THE FACILITY.

WHY DON'T YOU?

>> IT IS IN OTHER NEWSPAPER ARTICLES.

I WANTED TO MAKE A LARGER POINT.

I WROTE THIS OP ED IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED TO IT IN VARIOUS FORMS.

AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ISSUE ABOUT MAINE, IT IS AN ISSUE ABOUT THE UNVACCINATED.

AND IN PARTICULAR, UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION.

AND BY THAT I MEAN HEALTH CARE WORKS.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, WHILE I TOTALLY RESPECT YOUR DECISION, MY DISPITION IS TO SAY IT IS EASTERN MAINE MEDICAL CENTER FOR THOSE WHO ARE CURIOUS.

YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW YOUR FATHER DIED.

BUT IN SO MANY CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS WE DON'T KNOW HOW I LIVED.

I DO, I READ JESSIE OWENS, THE GREAT BOOK THAT YOUR FATHER ROUT BUT CAN YOU SPEND A MINUTE AND TELL US ABOUT WILLIAM BAKERS LIFE.

>> SUCH A LOVELY THING TO FOR YOU TO ASK.

MY FATHER WAS THE SON OF MILL WORKERS.

HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN HIS FAMILY NOT ONLY TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT TO GRADUATE FROM EIGHTH GRADE.

HE WENT ON TO BECOME A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE.

HE SHARED THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT.

HE HELPED TO INVENT THE FIELD OF SPORTS HISTORY AND WHICH IS NOW A THRIVING FIELD.

HE WROTE MANY BOOKS, THE LAST ONE OF WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY HARVARD UNIVERSITY PREP ABOUT SPORT AND RELIBLGON.

AND THAT INTERSECTION.

AND HE WAS BELOVED BY MANY.

I'VE GOTTEN SO MANY LETTERS FROM HIS STUDENTS OVER THE YEARS WHO FOUND HIM, YOU KNOW, SUCH A MENTOR AND SUCH AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT SOMEONE CAN DO WOULD COMES FROM A FAMILY WITHOUT EDUCATION WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN THAT CHANCE.

>> WELL, I WISH I HAD KNOWN HIM BUT I KNEW HIM THROUGH HIS WRITING, SO FINALLY, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE UNVACCINATED IN GENERAL AND PARTICULARLY IN HEALTH-CARE FACILITIES?

>> MY MESSAGE IS THAT NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT IF YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN VULNERABLE HEALTH, IN ANYWAY, YOU OWE IT TO YOUR PROFESSION TO DO IT.

THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE DYING.

AND I ALSO WOULD SAY TO OTHER UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU YOURSELF GET ILL YOU ARE TAKING A BED AWAY FROM SOMEONE WHO SORT OF FOLLOWS THE RULES AND HAS DONE EFFING THEY COULD.

WE SPENT 18 MONTH TRYING TO KEEP MY DAD SAFE FROM COVID ONLY TO HAVE HIM CONTRACT IT FROM A HEALTH CARE WORKER IN THE HOSPITAL.

HOW IRONIC IS THAT.

>> Braude: EVERYBODY SHOULD READ YOUR PIECE.

I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR TIME, THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING IT WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO.

TO SAY THAT SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE HAD A ROUGH 18 MONTHS WOULD BE PUTTING IT MILDLY.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE SURVIVED-- CLOSED PERMANENTLY LAST YEAR, THANKS TO THE PANDEMIC AND MOST OF THEM WERE SMALL COMPANIES, WITH ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR HIT HARDEST.

AT THIS POINT, HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, BLACK AND LATINX RESIDENTS ARE LESS THAN HALF AS LIKELY TO OWN A BUSINESS THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT FROM MASSINC.

THAT'S PART OF WHY A COALITION REPRESENTING ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR IS CALLING ON BEACON HILL TO MAKE A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THOSE COMPANIES.

THE COALITION FOR AN EQUITABLE ECONOMY IS ASKING STATE LAWMAKERS FOR MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS OF THE STATE'S TOTAL $5 BILLION IN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY TO GO SPECIFICALLY TOWARD HELPING STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES-- AND THOSE OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR-- FROM FALLING EVEN FURTHER BEHIND.

I'M JOINED NOW BY ONE OF ITS LEADERS, SEGUN IDOWU, WHO'S ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE BLACK ECONOMIC COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS; AND STATE SENATOR, ERIC LESSER, WHO'S ON THE STATE HOUSE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS.

SEGUN AND SENATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SEGUN, WHAT IS YOUR CASE FOR THE BILLION DOLLARS?

>> WELL F THE COMMONWEALTH WANTS TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR A STRONG ECONOMY, IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN BUSINESSES, AS SIMPLE AS THAT, OUR BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OUR ECONOMY AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE UNDER THREAT OF CLOSING FOR GOOD THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM.

AND SO FOR US A BILLION IS A LOW, LOW AMOUNT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE HELPING TO STABILIZE THESE BUSINESSES BUT IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> SO FAR DO YOU THINK YOU'RE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY BEACON HILL, SEGUN?

>> I BELIEVE WE ARE.

WE HAVE PARTNERS LIKE SENATOR LESSER WHO I AM HAPPY TO SHARE THIS CONVERSATION WITH TODAY.

AND OTHERS ON THE HOUSE SIDE WHO ARE READILY OPEN TO HEARING HOW WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE.

>> WELL, SENATOR LESSER, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE ON BOARD.

BUT YOU ARE ONE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED WHO ARE NEEDED.

HOW SERIOUSLY-- WELL, WHY ARE YOU TAKING IT SERIOUSLY?

LET'S START WITH YOU BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUES, WHY ARE YOU ON BOARD?

>> WELL, I THINK BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT'S NECESSARY.

LOOK, THE BUSINESSES IN THE SECTORS WITH MOST IMPACTED BY COVID WERE THE CUSTOMERS FACING IN-PERSON BUSINESSES, THE RESTAURANTS, THE NAIL SALONS, THE BARBERSHOPS.

THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE SHUT ERRED AT THE SAME TIME THAT AMAZON AND COSTCO AND HOME DE POT SAW RECORD PROFITS AND RECORD VOLUMES.

SCO I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THIS WITH THEIR OWN EYES.

AND ONE OF THE BLUE PRINTS WE'VE GOT, JIM, IS THE WORK WE DID ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL IN JANUARY WHERE WE ACTUALLY WROTE INTO THE LAW A REQUIREMENT THAT THE MASS NORTH CAPITOL CORPORATION AND THE OTHER GRANT-MAKING AGENCIES REALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIVERSITY, THE SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THE GATEWAY CITY, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HIT HARDEST BOTH BY THE VIRUS ITSELF AND THE SHUTDOWN MEASURES AND CONTAINMENT MEASURES THAT CAME AFTER THAT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES?

AND I DON'T MEAN THE RHETORIC?

I MEAN WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN TERMS OF HARD NUMBERS AND VOTES FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES, SENATOR?

>> IT WAS A BILLION DOLLAR REQUEST BUT IT'S ABOUT 20% GIVE OR TAKE, A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL A ALLOTMENT THAT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IT FEELS APPROPRIATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER NEEDS.

WE'VE GOT NEEDS AROUND HOUSING.

NEEDS AROUND TRANSPORTATION, INVESTMENTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TOO.

SO WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES, MY COLLEAGUES ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS THINKING THROUGH, OKAY, YOU'VE GOT A BROAD SET OF NEEDS HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU PRIORITIZING, $5 BILLION GETS SPENT VERY FAST IF YOU DON'T SET SOME PRIORITIES.

YOU ABOUT THE POINT IS IS THAT THE MONEY WAS GIVEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CORRECT THE BIGGEST DEFICIENIES AND DAMAGE FROM COVID AND IT'S UNDENIABLE THAT THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR GATEWAY CITIES AND MINORITY AND POPULATIONS.

>> Braude: ON THIS SHOW WE'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE FROM THE GLOBE, FROM GBH, WHO HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON CONTRACTING, STATE AND CITY, WITH MINORITY CONTRACTORS.

AND YOU KNOW THE NUMBER TEN TIMES BETTER THAN I.

THE ONES THAT COME QUICKLY, I THINK IT IT WAS EARLIER THIS YEAR, CITY SPENDING AS IN BOSTON, WHAT, ROUGHLY $2 BILLION A YEAR, I THINK 1.2 PERCENT WENT TO BLACK AND HISPANIC BUSINESSES.

I'M PRETTY GOOD AT MATH.

AND IF YOU INCREASE THAT TO 10% WHICH IS STILL SMALLER THAN THE SHARE OF THE POPULATION REPRESENTED BY SUCH PEOPLE, YOU WOULD ADD SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $200 MILLION.

IT IS FOCUSING ON GETTING THOSE CONTRACTS RIGHT AND MORE DIVERSE IN TERMS OF OUTFLOW, PART OF THE SOLUTION HERE, EVEN IF MONEY DOESN'T COME FROM THE STIMULUS POT?

>> IT IS A PIECE OF THE SOLUTION HERE.

SO OF COURSE THE UPFRONT CAPITAL INFUSION THAT WE'RE PUSHING FOR IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE AND MORE BUSINESSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT THE CITY OR THE STATE PUT OUT.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, AS AN ORGANIZATION HERE AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE COALITION FOR AN EQUITABLE ECONOMY, WE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND AND KEEP PUSHING FOR THE FACT THAT OUR PUBLIC SECTOR, OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INVEST MORE IN OUR BUSINESSES, MOT JUST THROUGH THESE GRANTS AND LOANS BUT ALSO IN GIVING BUSINESS AND DOING BUSINESS WITH OUR BUSINESSES, THEY HELP TO STABILIZE OUR BUSINESSES AND THEY ALLOW THEM TO SCALE UP AND DO MORE WORK ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW SENATOR.

I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NEWS TO YOU.

YOUR CHAMBER IS NOT A VERY DIVERSE KIND OF PLACE.

DOES THAT MAKE IN YOUR ESTIMATION YOUR COLLEAGUES LESS RECEPTIVE TO A PLEA LIKE THIS FOR ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR?

>> WELL, THE SENATE HAS INCLUDED ACTUALLY IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT VEHICLES REQUIREMENTS AROUND CONTRACTING AND DIVERSITY, WE ACTUALLY INCLUDE IT IN THE PREVIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL WE DID AM JANUARY, IT DIDN'T END UP ON THE GOV MER'S DESK.

WE WILL GO BACK AT IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THIS FURTHER, AND SEGUN AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE GOT TO ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY IN ALL TYPES OF CONTRACTING.

SO ONE EXAMPLE IS THE STATE PENGS FUND.

YOU KNOW, IT IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE, AN OF COURSE THE BLUE CLAR WORKFORCE, VERY IMPORTANT, HAVE DIVERSITY THERE BUT YOU ALSO NEED DIVERSITY WITH THE ACCOUNTANTS, THE LAWYERS, THE FINANCIAL MANAGERS, SO WE HAVE ALONG WITH A TO GO ACROSS ALL OF THOSE MEASURES.

AGAIN THE SENATE INCLUDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL IN JANUARY, THAT REQUIREMENT, MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN INCLUDE SOME LEVEL OF THAT IN THE NEXT BUDGET VEHICLE WE DO.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IF SOMEONE THAT IS RISING IN CONSCIOUSNESS AND IMPORTANCE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND CERTAINLY WITH ME.

>> BUT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT NOSTRADAMUS KIND OF STUFF, SENATOR, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME YOU MENTIONED COMPETING NEEDS.

BUT IF I JUST ADDED UP THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THIS RADIO, MY RADIO SHOW WITH MARGARET EAGEN TELEVISION SHOW, I'M GUESSING, I DON'T KNOW, $25 BILLION OF.

>> PROBABLY MORE, ACTUALLY, YEAH.

>> Braude: WELL, PROBABLY MORE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TOLD US AND TOLD YOU WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR, MICHAEL CURRY FROM THE LEAGUE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES TALKING ABOUT HIS HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE, THE BUSINESSES IN GENERAL, THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND, THEY'RE WORRIED IT IS $2 BILLION OR WHATEVER.

I GUESS THIS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO YOU, SEGUN, DON'T YOU SEE THE OUTCOME OF THIS LIKELY BEING THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPETING INTERESTS.

YOURS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, WE CAN'T COME CLOSE TO THE BILLION YOU SAY YOU NEED BUT HERE'S X.

ISN'T THAT WHERE THIS IS GOING TO END UP?

DOESN'T IT ALWAYS END UP LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A DOWN PAYMENT.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU AS WE ARE AS A STATE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY FOR US, YOU WANT THE STATE TO APPROVE IT AND I THINK THIS IS ONE WAY TO SHOW THAT WE TRULY AS A COMMONWEALTH BELIEVE IN EQUITY.

OUR BUSINESSES AREN'T-- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS, OUR BUSINESSES ARE THE ONES THAT EMPLOY THE MAJORITY OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

THEY INVEST SO MUCH IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO IF WE WANT TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, OUR BUSINESSES ARE THE PLACE TO START.

ST ALSO WHERE WE SEEK COMMUNITY WHETHER IT BE OUR RESTAURANTS, HAIR SALONS, BARBERSHOPS, OUR BUSINESSES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE, IT IS NOT A SEPARATE INIT TIT IN THIS CONVERSATION, IT IS A PART OF IT IT.

SO WE NEED TO INVEST GREATLY IN SAVING THESE BUSINESSES.

>> SENATOR, SPEAKING OF COMPETING DEMANDS, I KNOW IT IS RIDICULOUS, BUT GENERALLY, HOW HIGH ON YOUR PERSONAL LIST ARE, IS THE REQUEST OF SEGUN AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN THIS COALITION, WHERE DOES IT FIT ON THAT HIERARCHY.

>> I CHAIR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SO IT IS VERY HIGH ON MY LIST.

WE DID THIS IN A LARGE PORKS OF THIS WAS REALLY THE TEST RUN WAS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL WE DID IN JANUARY.

BY THE WAY ABOUT ALMOST 50 PERCENT OF THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED THROUGH THOSE SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO MINORITY AND GATEWAY CITY AND IMMIGRANT BUSINESSES.

BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY, JIM, WAS THE COMPELLING PART OF THIS IS WHAT IS THE MULTIPLE FACTOR WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH LOW INTEREST LOAN PROGRAMS AND CAPITALIZATION OF COMMUNITY LOAN PROGRAMS AND CDFI'S, COMMUNITY BANKS, BASICALLY.

SO A MILLION DOLLAR DEPOSIT IN THE CDFI COULD HAVE A FIVE, TEN, 15X MULTIPLE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD THAT IS COMPELLING WHEN YOU'VE GOT A RELATIVELY LIMITED SCOPE OF RESOURCES THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH.

>> SEGUN, YOU MENTIONED RESTAURANTS A MINUTE AGO, NINA GRACE WAS HERE THE OTHER NIGHT, OBVIOUSLY DARRYL'S AND HER NEW PLACE ALSO BUT ALSO THE COFOUNDER OF THE BOSTON BLACK HOSPITALITY COALITION.

I ASKED HER, THIS IS THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, NOT GOVERNMENT.

PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO TALK A GOOD GAME ABOUT PATRONIZING BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I'M NOT SURE WE WALK THE WALK ALL THE TIME.

SHE ACTUALLY SAID THAT THE WORDS WERE BEING MATCHED BY A LOT OF CUSTOMERS.

SNA WE SAID THE RIGHT THING AND THAT WE ACTUALLY DID A LOT OF THE RIGHT THING.

QUICKLY IF YOU CAN, IS THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE, ARE WE MATCHING OUR TALK WITH ACTION?

>> WELL, FOR RESTAURANTS, SURE, WE SEE A LOT MORE FOLKS THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BLACK AND BROWN RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE RISING COSTS FOR THESE RESTAURANTS, SO EVEN THOUGH CUSTOMERS ARE WATCHING THEIR WORDS WITH ACTIONS, IT IS NOT REALLY HELPING THE BOTTOMLINE.

>> FAIR ENOUGH, SEGUN, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CASE, SENATOR LESSER, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EFFORT CONVINCING YOUR COLLEAGUES AS WELL, THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, BUBBA WALLACE MADE NASCAR HISTORY, BECOMING ONLY THE SECOND BLACK DRIVER EVER TO WIN A TOP SERIES AND THE FIRST IN ALMOST 60 YEARS.

BACK IN 1963 WHEN WENDELL SCOTT BECAME THE FIRST.

HIS WIN WASN'T EVEN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED, THE SECOND-PLACE FINISHER WAS AWARDED THE TROPHY.

AND IT WAS ONLY THIS PAST SUMMER THAT NASCAR DID ACKNOWLEDGE HIS WIN.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW NASCAR TOO CLOSELY, YOU MAY RECOGNIZE BUBBA WALLACE'S NAME FROM CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE HATE HE'S GOTTEN FROM SOME FANS.

PARTICULARLY AFTER A NOOSE WAS FOUND IN HIS GARAGE LAST YEAR, THOUGH THE F.B.I.

DETERMINED IT WAS NOT TARGETED AT HIM AND HAD BEEN THERE FOR MONTHS.

FOR THE RECORD.

NASCAR CALLED IN THE F.B.I., NOT WALLACE.

AND NOW, EVEN AFTER HIS WIN, SOME CLAIM NASCAR RIGGED IT IN HIS FAVOR, BECAUSE IT WAS A RAIN-SHORTENED RACE.

FOR HIS PART, AFTER HIS HISTORIC WIN, WALLACE SAID: "THIS IS FOR ALL THE KIDS OUT THERE THAT WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND WHATEVER THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE AND BE THE BEST AT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF BULL-(YOU-KNOW-WHAT), BUT YOU ALWAYS GOT TO STICK TRUE TO YOUR PATH AND NOT LET THE NONSENSE GET TO YOU."

AND MY NEXT GUEST IS SOMEONE WHO'S WELL ON HIS WAY.

BLAKE LOTHIAN STARTED GO-KARTING AT AGE FIVE AND WAS BEATING ADULTS ON NASCAR TRACKS BEFORE HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO GET HIS LICENSE.

SINCE 2019, HE'S BEEN IN A NASCAR DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND LAST MONTH HE WON HIS FIRST MAJOR EVENT.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

BLAKE LOTHIAN, GOOD TO MEET YOU, THANK FOR BEING HERE.

>> IS THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT AUTO RACING AT AGES 5 OR 6, REALLY?

>> HONESTLY, I STRUGGLED AT BALL SPORTS, STICK AND BALL SPORTS.

I STRUGGLED AT SOCCER.

I WASN'T REALLY GOOD AT BASEBALL BUT THEN I SAW NASCAR AND INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT.

>> Braude: WELL, AND NASCAR THEN AND NOW, THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU.

DID THAT NOT PUT YOU OFF OR WERE YOU SO DETERMINED THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER.

>> I WAS SO DETERMINED, I JUST, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS, I JUST FELL AM LOVE WITH THE SPORT AND NOTHING DEBT ERRED ME AWAY FROM IT.

>> Braude: AND ARE YOU NOW IN A PROGRAM WHICH I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT UNTIL RECENTLY THAT NASCAR HAS PUT TOGETHER, I THINK TO THEIR CREDIT, THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO CREATE A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT GETS YOUNG DRIVERS OF COLOR, ULTIMATELY HOPEFULLY, INCLUDING YOU HOPEFULLY, INTO THE TOP RANKS OF THE SPORT, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

I AM WITH THEM FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE TO SAY THAT PROGRAM REALLY GOOD FOR GETTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ALSO WOMEN INTO THE SPORT OF NASCAR.

I REALLY HELPED THEM WITH FUNDING AND GET THEM INTO GOOD RIDES.

>> Braude: SO AS I SAY, BUBBA WALLACE WON THE FIRST RACE BY A BLACK DRIVER IN A MERE 58 YEARS, HOW MANY BLACK DRIVERS ARE THERE, FIRST OF ALL, IN TOP RANK NASCAR TODAY BESIDES WALLACE?

>> I MEAN THERE'S KYLE LARSON, IS HE TECHNICALLY AN ASIAN DRIVER, JESSIE AND NOW WILL BE FULL TIMED X INITY EXCEPT FOR THAT THERE AREN'T MANY DRIVERS OF COLOR IN NASCAR, I HOPE THO CHANGE THAT IN THE FUTURE AND NASCARS FOR DIVERSITY HOPES TO CHANGE THAT AS WELL.

>> Braude: SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE SPORT AND FOR YOUNG DRIVERS OF COLOR, OR WOULD-BE DRIVERS OF COLOR.

THE ONLY ANALOGY I CAN THINK OF AND TELL ME IF IT IS OFF BASE IS WHAT TIGER WOODS SUPPOSEDLY DID IN TERMS OF INSPIRING YOUNG KIDS OF COLOR TO PLAY GOLF WHEN THEY NEVER THOUGHT OF PICKING UP A CLUB.

IS THE HOPE THAT WALLACE'S VICTORY REE IN PARTICULAR, THE BEAUTIFUL WORD THAT I READ A MINUTE AGO ARE GOING TO INSPIRE YOUNG KIDS TO TAKE UP THE SUPPORT THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE OTHERWISE.

>> I HUNDRED PERCENT BELIEVE SO.

I MEAN FOR ME, IF I WAS LITTLE RIT NOW, I WOULD LOOK TO THAT AND JUST HOPE THE TO DRIVE FOR NASCAR AT THAT POINT.

I THINK IT WILL REALLY ENCOURAGE A BUNCH MUCH YOUTH TO LOOK INTO NASCAR, EITHER IN THE DRIVERS OR THE NASCAR PICKER PROGRAM AS WELL WHICH NASCAR REALLY HELPS WITH.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, BY THE WAY, WE SHOULD SAY AM I RIGHT, MICHAEL JORDAN IS A PART OWN IROF THE TEAM THAT WALLACE IS PART OF, IS THAT NOT TRUE?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> Braude: THAT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, BETTER THAN THE BASKETBALL TEAM HE'S RUN, I SHOULD SAY.

JUST FOR A SECOND I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE HORRORS THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AT WALLACE, AND HOW HE DEALT WITH THEM.

I MENTIONED THIS NOOSE SITUATION, APPARENTLY THE GUY GETS HATE MAIL NONSTOP.

HE FINALLY WINS A RACE.

HE DIDN'T DECIDE AFTER IT WAS RAIN HALTED, HE DIDN'T DECIDE TO CALL THE RACE OVER, NASCAR DID.

YET THERE IS ALL THIS CRITICISM AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND ELSEWHERE THAT IT WAS RIGGED SO I BLACK GUY COULD WIN.

HE TOOK 2 REALLY GRACEFULLY, I SHOULD SAY.

HOW DID YOU TAKE THE CRITICISM OF WALLACE AND HIS VICTORY?

>> HE DID A REALLY GREAT JOB OF TAKING ALL THE CRITICISM.

AND OBVIOUSLY NASCAR TRIED TO GET THE RACE RESTARTED.

LOOK AT HOW THEY TRIED TO GET THE JET DRYERS BACK ON THE TRACK TO DRY THE TRACK.

THEY TRIED TO GET IT BACK GOING, THEY TRIED TO HUSH THE HATE OF PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> Braude: SO BLAKE, I WILL ASK YOU THE OBVIOUS, I ASSUME GETTING INTO THE CUP SERIES IS YOUR GOAL, RIGHT?

>> 100 PERCENT.

>> Braude: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE IN ONE OF THOSE CARS WHEN YOU ARE DOING THE TURNS AND PASSING SOMEBODY AS YOU'VE DONE AND YOU ARE APPROACHING, WHAT IS THE RUSH LIKE WHEN CAN YOU DESCRIBE IT IN WORDS?

>> IT IS ALMOST INSCRIBABLE.

I MEAN FOR ME IT IS JUST PURE JOY, ST THE ADRENALINE RUSH.

THERE IS SO MUCH BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT ALSO CAN FEEL SO QUIET.

ARE YOU SO IN THE ZONE IN THE RACE CAR, IT IS HARD TO DESCRIBE.

>> WELL, YOU ACTUALLY DESCRIBED IT BEAUTIFULLY, I WISH YOU ALOT OF LUCK, I HOPE YOU FOLLOW IN WALLACE'S FOOTSTEPS, GOOD LUCK, WIN A LOT OF RACES AND STAY IN TOUCH, BLAKE LOTHIAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW, WITH LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO UNTIL THE ELECTION, MAYORAL CANDIDATE ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE JOINS ME WITH HER PITCH TO VOTERS.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

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