>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": WITH LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO UNTIL THE BOSTON MAYORAL ELECTION, ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE JOINS ME TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WHY SHE'S THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD THE CITY.

THEN, LATER, THE BOSTON MARATHON IS BACK BUT LOOKING A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT.

RACE DIRECTOR DAVE McGILLIVRAY JOINS ME ON WHAT TO EXPECT COME MONDAY FOR THE FIRST-EVER FALL VERSION OF THE HISTORIC RACE.

AND, FINALLY, "BOSTON GLOBE" TRAVEL WRITER CHRISTOPHER MUTHER WITH SOME TIPS FOR YOUR POST-QUARANTINE -- WELL, ALMOST POST-QUARANTINE -- VACATION PLANS.

♪♪ >> Braude: IT'S BEEN A LONG, HISTORY-MAKING CAMPAIGN.

AND NOW THERE ARE TWO.

ON NOVEMBER 2, BOSTON VOTERS WILL CHOOSE.

MICHELLE WU WAS HERE A WEEK OR SO AGO.

TONIGHT I'M JOINED BY THE OTHER FINALIST, ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE.

>> Braude: COUNCILOR, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M HAPPY TO JOIN YOU.

>> Braude: WHY ARE YOU THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD THE CITY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS?

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF REASON WHY I BELIEVE I'M THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD THE CITY OF BOSTON.

IT IS A PERIOD OF TRANSITION.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COVID, THE PANDEMIC, AND THE NUMBER OF CREASE CRISES WE'RE FACING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RELATES TO THE OPIOID CRISIS AND THE CHALLENGES AND OUR TOWN, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

I'MWHAT UNIQUELY QUALIFIES ME FOR THIS JOB IS THE TIME I'VE SPENT IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Braude: COUNCILOR, WHEN MARGORIE EGAN ASKED YOU, AND YOU CONCLUDED YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND I FOLLOWED UP AND ASKED YOU IF IT IS RELEVANT TO THE VOTER, OR SHOULD BE RELEVANT TO THE VOTER, THAT YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND COUNCILOR WU WAS RAISED IN CHICAGO.

HERE IS WHAT YOU SAID.

>> IT IS RELEVANT TO ME, AND I THINK A LOT OF VOTERS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE RAISED IN THE CITY.

>> Braude: YOUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER SAID: "THAT WAS NO KNOCK ON MICHELLE OR ANYONE NOT BEING FROM HERE."

WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO SAY?

>> I WAS SHARING WITH YOU AND MARJORIE MY EXPERIENCES HAVE BROUGHT ME TO THIS MOMENT.

GOING TO SCHOOL HERE, BEING A YOUNG PERSON IN THIS CITY, GETTING MY SORT OF FEET WET IN BOSTON POLITICS AND IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT DURING MY YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT BOSTON TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN THIS CITY AND SEEING THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHANGE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN MY 47 YEARS, I DON'T KNOCK ANYONE FOR NOT BEING BORN IN THIS CITY.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS.

I'M THE DAUGHTER OF TWO IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO THIS CITY.

IT CERTAINLY WOULDN'T DISQUALIFY THEM.

I'M SIMPLY SPEAKING ALWAYS TO MY EXPERIENCES, HOW THEY HAVE BROUGHT ME TO THIS MOMENT, AND, YES, THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE PART OF MY LIFE.

AND MY LIFE -- I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS CITY, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

WHETHER IT IS MY TIME IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL, MY FIRST SUMMER JOB, CAMP, VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES, IT IS ALL VERY IMPORTANT AND HAS INFORMED ME, HAS MADE ME THE PERSON THAT I AM, AND HAS CERTAINLY HELPED ME DEVELOP SOME PASSIONS IN THE FACE OF COMMUNITY-BUILDING, OF BEING AN EDUCATOR, OF RAISING MY FAMILY HERE IN THE CITY, SPENDING TIME AT THE BALL FIELD.

IT IS ALL RELEVANT AND IT IS ALL PART OF MY STORY AND WHAT MAKES ME WHO I AM AND WHO I BELIEVE IS THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD THIS CITY.

>> Braude: THE OTHER DAY, ACTUALLY IT WAS ABOUT NINE OR 10 DAYS AGO, MICHELLE WU WAS HERE.

AND I SAID, OBVIOUSLY, YOU WANT PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR YOU.

BUT I ASKED HER IF YOU WOULD BE A GOOD MAYOR SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED.

HERE IS WHAT THE COUNCILOR SAID?

>> WE'VE BEEN SO LUCKY, AS A CITY, TO HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE CANDIDATE FIELD.

FOR THE LAST 12 PLUS MONTHS NOW REALLY SEEING WHAT EACH CANDIDATE HAS BROUGHT TO THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY INSPIRING.

>> Braude: WHEN I ASKED YOU THE SAME QUESTION THE OTHER DAY IF SHE WOULD BE A GOOD MAYOR, YOU SAID: IF I THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE A GOOD MAYOR, I WOULDN'T BE RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

WHY WOULDN'T SHE BE A GOOD MAYOR, COUNCILOR?

>> MICHELLE CERTAINLY BRINGS SOME REALLY IMPORTANT EXPERIENCES TO THIS WORK, AND SHE HAS DONE THAT AT AN AT-LARGE CITY COUNCILOR ALONGSIDE ME.

I BELIEVE MY EXPERIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM, MY EXPERIENCE OF BUILDING A BUSINESS IN THIS CITY, MY EXPERIENCES FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE BEING INVOLVED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THIS CITY, QUALIFIES ME IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

CAMPAIGNING, THIS WORK, IS VERY HARD, LONG, TIRING WORK, BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEADING THIS CITY.

AND I CERTAINLY HOPE TO HAVE THE PARTNERSHIP OF MY COLLEAGUES IN GOVERNMENT IN THAT WORK BECAUSE THIS CITY IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I'M VERY FOCUSED ON A BOSTON AGENDA, AND I WANT TO DO THAT WORK, AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

>> Braude: AS YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW BETTER THAN MOST, A LOT OF BLACK VOTERS IN THE CITY WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT NONE OF THE THREE BLACK CANDIDATES MADE IT INTO THE FINAL THREE.

AND YOU KNOW THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR BLACK LEADER WHO HAS ENDORSED SOMEBODY HAS ENDORSED COUNCILOR WU.

WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING THAT THOSE BLACK LEADERS, IN YOUR ESTIMATION, ARE MISSING?

>> I'M OFFERING TO THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON, IN PARTICULAR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ACROSS THE CITY, PARTNERSHIP IN THIS WORK.

I, OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, HAS SERVED AS AN AT-LARGE CITY COUNCILOR, AND I'VE BEEN VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN THE WORK OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND MAKING SURE I WAS PRESENT AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, CIVIC MEETINGS, AT COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS, AND FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

AND CERTAINLY THE BLACK EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.

CERTAINLY OUR BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF DECISIONS, OUT OF CONVERSATIONS, AND OUT OF THE WORK OF LEADING THIS CITY.

AND I'M HOPEFUL TO HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF EVERY BOSTONIAN COME NOVEMBER 2nd.

THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING TOWARDS, AND IT'S WHAT I'VE WORKED ON AS AN AT-LARGE CITY COUNCILOR.

IT IS IN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK, AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO RECEIVE ANY OF THE ENDORSEMENTS OF ANY INDIVIDUAL, BUT FOR ME IT IS ABOUT THE WORK OF THIS CITY AND HAVING THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON THAT HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CITY'S RESIDENTS, I KNOCK ON THEIR DOORS, I MEET THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THE FEEDBACK I'VE RECEIVED, THE PARTNERSHIP THAT I'VE RECEIVED AS I'VE HEARD FROM THEM THAT THEY'RE DESIRING TO HAVE, IS SOMETHING THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT VERY PRODUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTION AND ACTION-ORIENTED RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERY BOSTONIAN, ESPECIALLY OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> Braude: DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A FAIR HEARING BY THE BLACK CITY LEADERS WHO HAVE ENDORSED COUNCILOR WU, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL SILL WOMANCOUNCILOR WOMANPRESLEY?

>> THERE ARE SOME POLICY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MY PLATFORM AND MY OPPONENT'S PLATFORM.

THERE IS A DIFFERENT AGENDA WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY PLATFORM AND MY OPPONENT'S PLATFORM.

I'M VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON THE WORK.

I'M VERY DIRECT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD IN THE POSITIONS I HOLD AND THE WORK I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON -- YOU TALKED TO ME A NUMBER OF TIMES, JIM, AND YOU KNOW I'M NOT ABOUT THESE BIG, BROAD BRUSH STROKES.

I'M VERY MUCH ABOUT THE WORK OF LEADING THIS CITY.

IT IS WHAT I'M PREPARED TO DO.

ON NOVEMBER 3rd, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN GOVERNMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE WHO HAVE ENDORSED MY OWE POAPTMYOPPONENT, I LOOK FORWARD TO DO THIS WORK ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

>> Braude: HAVE YOU GOTTEN A FAIR HEARING BEFORE THEIR ENDORSEMENTS -- >> SOME I'VE HAD GREATER CONVERSATIONS, AND OTHERS I HAVE HAD NONE, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE.

WE HAVE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.

THAT'S AROUND OUR SCHOOLS, THAT'S AROUND HOUSING, THAT'S AROUND PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT'S AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S AROUND ALL OF THE WORK THAT A MAYOR NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON AND I'M PREPARING TO DO THAT WORK IN A NEW CAPACITY AS MAYOR OF THIS CITY STARTING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ELECTIONS.

>> Braude: LET'S SLIDE THROUGH A COUPLE OF THOSE.

I KNOW YOU WERE A FORMER TEACHER FOR 13 YEARS -- THE OTHER DAY THE M-CAST NUMBERS CAME OUT, AND EVERYBODY KNEW THEY WOULD BE DOWN AFTER THE PANDEMIC YEARS.

IN BOSTON, 31% OF STUDENTS MET OR EXCEEDED GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS IN ENGLISH, 20% IN MATH.

IT WAS ONLY 35% AND 33%, RESPECTIVELY, EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

QUICKLY AND SPECIFICALLY, WHAT DO YOU DO TO ADDRESS THOSE NUMBERS?

>> WE'VE GOT TO STRENGTHEN EARLY LITERACY ACROSS ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND MAKE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY THEY STEP FOOT IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

IT IS AROUND GRADE RECONFIGURATIONS, REAL INVESTMENT IN EARLY LITERACY, AND WORKING TOWARDS FIXING OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND MAKING SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN THE WORK OF TEACHING OUR KIDS AND SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE, THAT TIME.

>> Braude: I WOULD ASSUME VIRTUALLY EVERY BOSTONIAN WATCHING THIS SHOW HAS MEMORIZED THESE PAINFUL WEALTH NUMBERS THAT WE LEARNED FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND "BOSTON GLOBE", 137,000 THE AVERAGE WHITE FAMILY, $8 THE AVERAGE BLACK FAMILY, $3,000 THE AVERAGE PORTPUERTO RICAN FAMILY.

AGAIN, WHAT DO YOU DO TO ADDRESS THAT YAWNING PAINFUL GAP?

>> WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCESS THAT WEALTH.

THAT'S AROUND JOB CREATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITY'S RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT IS ALSO ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP.

HOME OWNERSHIP HAS TO BE PART OF THE WORK WE'RE FOCUSED ON HERE IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY AROUND AFFORDABILITY.

WE HAVE TO CREATE IT AND MAKE SURE IT GETS INTO THE HANDS OF OUR CITY'S RESIDENTS, AND IN PARTICULAR OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

AND THE CITY NEEDS TO DO MORE.

I'M COMMITTED AS MAYOR TO DO MORE AROUND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

WHEN YOU GET THAT FIRST HOME, HOW DO YOU HOLD ON TO IT?

HOW DO YOU HAVE THE SUPPORTS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE A GOOD HOMEOWNER.

I WANT TO FOLLOW YOUR INSTRUCTION AND BE BRIEF.

>> Braude: TWO MORE BRIEF THINGS.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF CRITICISMS.

THERE WAS A CRITICAL STORY IN THE GLOBE ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND'S BUSINESS PRACTICES.

YOU STATED HOW YOU EXPECT TO CREATE DISTANCE SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED.

WHAT WOULD YOU SHOULD?

>> WE'RE BRINGING ON A BUDGET PERSON TO MANAGE ANY OF HIS PORTFOLIO GOING FORWARD.

AND MY HUSBAND HAS BUILT A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WELL OVER 30 YEARS, LONG BEFORE I STARTED DATING HIM.

AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO, BUT I UNDERSTAND AS MAYOR THAT THERE HAS GOT TO BE VERY CLEAR, HIGH STANDARDS THAT MY HUSBAND WILL DO NO NEW BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY.

I WILL APPOINT THOSE BOARDS AND THE COMMISSIONS, AND IT IS APPROPRIATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS NOT PART OF WHAT HE IS DOING.

WE'VE ALSO FILED WITH THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION TO RECEIVE AN OPINION ON THEIR GUIDANCE.

WE'RE TAKING IT STEPS FURTHER THAN WHAT THEY SUGGEST.

>> Braude: ONE OTHER ITEM, THERE HAS BEEN A STORY STARTING IN THE DORCHESTER REPORTER ABOUT A CONTRIBUTOR TO TRUMP CONTRIBUTING $500,000 TO A PACK ON YOUR BEHALF.

WE SHOULD MAKE CLEAR YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO CONTROL OVER THESE PACKS BY LAW.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT, COUNCILOR?

>> I'M VERY GRATEFUL YOU'RE NOTING THAT I HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER THESE PACTS, NO COMMUNICATION, NO COORDINATION, NO RECOGNITION OF THOSE PACTS.

I'VE READ ABOUT A NUMBER OF PACTS BEING FORMED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CANDIDATES' NAMES.

THAT PACT IN PARTICULAR, THE ONE THING YOU'RE MENTIONING, IS SUPPORTED BY A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, WHO HAS CREATED A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, HIRED MANY, MANY EMPLOYEES HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, AND IS A PART OF PART OF OUR CITY'S WORK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE CONNECTION TO AND THE RELATION WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME.

I'M A DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS.

ONE IS AN ARAB MUSLIM IMMIGRANT, I'M A WOMAN, I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, AND FOR ME THAT CONNECTION IS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING, AND I SHARE THAT WITH GREAT DETAIL WITH THE DORCHESTER REPORTER.

>> Braude: IN 30 SECONDS, WHAT'S THE ONE THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT YOU THAT YOU WORRY WITH MONTHS TO GO THAT VOTERS HAVEN'T QUITE GRASPED YET, COUNCILOR?

>> I HOPE THAT THE VOTERS TAKE A LOOK AT MY WEBSITE AND CONSIDER ME CERTAINLY FOR A VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2nd.

I WANT TO DO THIS WORK OF LEADING THIS CITY.

BOSTON HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH IN MY LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE CITY, AND THAT HAS PROVEN THAT.

I'M A FORMER TEACHER AND I'M A BUSINESS OWNER.

AND I LOOK AT THE WORK OF LEADING THIS CITY AS IMPORTANT TO YOU, THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON.

IT HAS TO BE ABOUT A PRACTICAL, REALISTIC APPROACH TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU CAN PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, THAT YOUR KIDS WILL GO TO A HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOL, THAT WE ARE A SAFE CITY AND WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, AND MENTAL ILLNESS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

AS MAYOR, I'M DEDICATED TO THAT WORK, AS WELL AS THE BASIC CITY SERVICES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SNOW GETS PLOWED IN OUR FIRST SNOWSTORM, AND THAT THE TRASH GETS PICKED UP AND THE LIGHTS GET TURNED ON.

I'M COMMITTED TO LEADING THIS CITY AND DOING THIS WORK NOT JUST FOR YOU BUT WITH YOU.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHARE WITH YOUR LISTENERS AND YOUR VIEWERS THIS EVENING.

I HOPE THEY GIVE ME A RECONSIDERATION ON NOVEMBER 2nd.

>> Braude: YOU LEFT OUT THREE WORDS, TEACHER, MOTHER, MAYOR.

>> AND I'M ALSO A MOTHER AND A TEACHER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING YOUR MAYOR.

>> Braude: COUNCILOR, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD LUCK ON NOVEMBER 2nd.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, TOO.

TOMORROW ADAM REILLY RETURNS WITH "BOSTON'S RACE INTO HISTORY" AND A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ISSUE MOST MAYORAL VOTERS SAY COULD SWAY THEIR FINAL DECISION: SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.

THAT'S TOMORROW AT 7:00 HERE ON GBH 2 AND ONLINE AT www.GBHnews.org.

>>> AFTER MISSING OUT ON THE LAST TWO TRADITIONAL MARATHON MONDAYS, THE BIG RACE IS FINALLY BACK BUT LOOKING A LOT DIFFERENT.

THE 125th BOSTON MARATHON IS THIS MONDAY, THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT IT WILL BE RUN IN THE FALL.

AND THE WORLD'S GREATEST MARATHON WILL BE A LOT SMALLER THIS YEAR AS WELL, WITH A NUMBER OF CHANGES IN PLACE AIMED AT KEEPING RUNNERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES SAFE IN THE AGE OF COVID.

JOINING ME IS RACE DIRECTOR DAVE McGILLIVRAY.

>> Braude: DAVE, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> JIM, IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

HEY, I'VE HEARD YOU'RE RUNNING IN THE RACE.

>> Braude: NICE TO SEE YOU, DAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

HOW ODD IS DOING THIS IN OCTOBER?

IS IT?

>> TO BE QUITE HONEST, YES, IT IS ODD.

BUT THE FALL, OCTOBER, IS TYPICALLY MARATHON TIME OF YEAR.

>> Braude: SURE.

>> I MEAN, MOST MARATHONS ARE HELD IN THE FALL, NOT THE SPRING.

WE'RE THE ODD BALL IN THE SPRING.

BUT IT IS ODD THAT THE BOSTON MARATHON, TYPICALLY HEALED ON PATRIATES' DAY IS BEING HELD SIX MONTHS LATER.

>> Braude: OTHER THAN THE ROUTE ITSELF, IS ANYTHING THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST YEAR?

>> UM...NOT A REAL LOT, OBVIOUSLY, GIVEN WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST AND WHAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH, AND THE FACT THAT THIS MOVING TARGET THAT EVERY DAY SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOING ON.

SO A LOT OF CHANGES.

>> Braude: CAN YOU EXPLAIN BRIEFLY, FOR THE RUNNERS THEMSELVES, I KNOW YOU ESTABLISHED A TON OF SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

SUMMARIZE THEM FOR US, DAVE, IF YOU WOULD.

>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR SURE.

THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, OF COURSE, IS EVERYONE'S SAFETY, NOT JUST THE RUNNERS BUT THE VOLUNTEERS, THE STAFF, PUBLIC SAFETY, SPECTATORS, VENDORS, EVERYBODY.

SO THE B.A.

A.

FORMED A COVID COMMITTEE MADE UP OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS VIRUS THAN WE DO.

AND WE GOT THEIR GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT THEY FELT WOULD BE THE MOST PRUDENT WAY TO APPROACH THIS.

AND SO, NUMBER ONE, CERTAINLY IS PROOF OF VACCINATION.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE OF THAT, YOU'LL BE TESTED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO ENTERS THIS RACE.

ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE A HAND IN THIS RACE, ARE NATIVE AND THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TRANSMIT THIS DISEASE TO ANYONE ELSE.

SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO IS DISTANCE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SOMEWHAT AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AT LEAST SIX FEET.

MASK-WEARING, ON TRANSPORTATION, WHEN YOU GET OFF THE BUS UP UNTIL THE STARTING LINE.

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON.

>> Braude: WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE YOU MAKING FOR THE SPECTATORS.

I KNOW THERE IS NO KISSING STRANGERS AT THE WELLESLEY SCREEN TUNNEL, WHICH IS SAD BUT NECESSARY.

WHAT ELSE ARE YOU URGING PEOPLE TO DO OR NOT DO?

>> JIM, IT DOES BOIL DOWN TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

WE'VE ALL BEEN ASKED THIS NOW FOR A LONG TIME, A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND SO I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE AND THOSE WHO MIGHT BE OUT THERE WITH THEM SAFE.

THE B.A.A.

REALLY IS JUST -- THAT'S THE PARTY LINE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, FOLLOW C.D.C.

GUIDANCE.

>> Braude: YOU SAID A MINUTE AGO YOU CONSULTED WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE THAN YOU DO.

I WANT TO TAKE ISSUE WITH YOU.

I'M NOT SURE PEOPLE KNOW THE CRITICAL ROLE YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION PLAYED IN TERMS OF VACCINATION LOGISTICS, C.I.C.

HEALTH CONTRACTED WITH YOU, AND YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THE MASS VACCINATION SITES, LIKE GILLETTE ON DOWN, AS EFFICIENT AS THEY WERE.

IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY DONE.

I'M SURE YOU'VE BROUGHT SOME LESSONS FROM YOUR MARATHON WORK TO YOUR WORK ON COVID.

DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING DURING THIS COVID EXPERIENCE WITH C.I.C.

HEALTH THAT YOU BROUGHT BACK TO THE MARATHON?

>> WELL, ONE THING I LEARNED IS A NEW TITLE.

THEY CALLED US LOGICITIT LOGICITITIANS AND IT WAS MOVING PEOPLE FROM "A" TO "B," AND IT WAS A LITTLE GREATER, BUT THAT WAS OUR PRIMARY ROLE.

WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE VACCINE AND ABOUT PEOPLE'S RESPONSE TO IT.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT.

THE MARATHON ALLOWS THE LOGISTICS FROM GETTING EVERYONE FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B," AND THAT'S WHERE OUR SCHOOL SET COMES IN.

>> Braude: HOW HARD IS IT TO MISS TWO MARATHON MONDAYS?

I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU ON PATRIATES' DAY -- >> PERSONALLY, I'VE RUN THE MARATHON MYSELF FOR THE PAST 48 YEARS.

WHEN PATRIATES' DAY CAME LAST YEAR, WHAT DID I DO?

I RAN A MARATHON AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I DO.

WHEN THE VIRTUAL CAME, I RAN THE VIRTUAL.

THAT WAS AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEN I WOKE UP ONE DAY IN THE FALL, AND I SAID, I NEVER RAN THE ENTIRE BOSTON MARATHON COURSE THIS YEAR, SO I WENT OUT AND RAN THE BOSTON MARATHON COURSE.

I RAN THREE MARATHONS, BUT IT ONLY COUNTED AT ONE BOSTON MARATHON.

YOU MISS THE CROWDS AND THE EUPHORIA OF PATRIATES' DAY, BUT AS A TRUE RUNNER, THE IDEA IS TO GET OUT THERE AND DO WHAT I LIKE TO DO.

>> Braude: I LOVE THE GUY WHO SAYS CASUALLY, I RAN 42 YEARS IN A ROW.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I RAN TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

YOU RUN, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS FINISHED.

YOU FINISH LAST, AS YOU LIKE TO SAY, AT NIGHTTIME.

ARE YOU DOING IT AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT?

>> YES.

THIS WILL BE 49.

AND GOD WILLING, APRIL WILL BE 50.

I'M STRIVING TO HIT THAT BIG 5-0 IN APRIL, BUT I HAVE TO GET THROUGH 49 FIRST.

MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THE OTHER 21,000 RUNNERS THAT GO BEFORE ME.

I'M FOCUSED ON THAT, AND ONCE THAT IS DONE, I HIT MY HEAD AND SAY, UH-OH, MY TURN.

AND IT IS THE CALM AFTER THE STORM.

I LOVE RUNNING IT LATER ON IN THE DAY, WHEN YOU FEEL GOOD THAT EVERYTHING WAS ACCOMPLISHED, AND PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND PEOPLE ARE NOW CELEBRATING, AND I CAN GET OUT THERE AND BRING UP THE REAR.

>> Braude: GOOD LUCK FOR NUMBER 49 FOR YOU AND 125 FOR ALL OF THE RUNNERS.

IT IS THRILLING THAT IT IS HAPPENING NEXT MONDAY.

>> JIM, IT IS AN HONOR HOWLS TO BEALWAYS TO BE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SAFE.

>> Braude: THE LAST TIME MY NEXT GUEST JOINED US, HE WAS -- THERE IS NO SEGUNDO COATING IT -- INEBRIATED ON SOME YACHT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

>> HANG ON A SECOND.

SO... [LAUGHTER] >> Braude: THIS TIME LET'S HOPE HE'LL BE A LITTLE MORE PROFESSIONAL AS HE PROMISES TO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS OF POST-QUARANTINE TRAVEL.

"BOSTON GLOBE" TRAVEL CHRISTOPHER MIEWNL MUTHCHRISTOPHER MUTHER JOINS ME NOW.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> GREAT, JIM.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> Braude: I'VE BRIDGE DRIVEN TO MONTREAL A DOZEN OF TIMES, AND I NEVER HAVE HEARD OF IT.

THERE IS A WINE TRAIL CALLED THE EASTERN TOWNSHIPS, WHAT IS THE DEAL?

>> WELL, FIRST, I FEEL LIKE I'M BEG UNFAIRLY PAINTED AS SOMEONE WHO ENJOYS THE DRINK A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT MAY BE TRUE, BUT I'M BEING UNFAIRLY PAINTED.

>> Braude: I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

THAT WAS UNFAIR.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS ME.

>> Braude: IT DOES, YES.

HOW ABOUT THE EASTERN TOWNSHIPS?

>> THE EASTERN TOWNSHIPS IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA, CENTER AROUND THE TOWN OF SHERBROOKE.

THERE ARE 21 WINERIES IN A VERY CONDENSED AREA.

THERE IS ALSO A CHEESE TRAIL, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I ALSO TOOK PART IN.

I WENT AND HAD A PERFUME MADE FOR ME.

I WENT TO A NATIONAL PARK THAT TURNS INTO A FOREST OF LIGHTS AND SPECTACLE AT NIGHT.

THIS IS REALLY, I FEEL LIKE, AN UNKNOWN PART OF THE WORLD.

>> Braude: IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> AND IT IS SO CLOSE TO BOSTON.

IT IS A REALLY QUICK DRIVE UP.

AND NOW THAT THE BORDER IS OPEN, YOU KNOW, THERE IS REALLY NO EXCUSE TO GO CHECK IT OUT, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> Braude: HOW CLOSE IS CLOSE?

HOW LONG?

>> SHORTER THAN MONTREAL.

SO IT IS ABOUT THREE AND A HALF HOURS, FOUR HOURS.

>> Braude: THAT'S GREAT.

ALSO TO THE NORTH, BUT NEARLY AS FAR, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT FAR, I LOVE JOHN DAVIDSON.

FOR PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE, ONE OF THE GREAT PERFORMERS, GUESTED "THE TONIGHT SHOW" MORE THAN ANYBODY.

AND HE OPENED THAT TINY, AND I DO MEAN TINY, CLUB IN SANDWICH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

YOU SAT ON A COUCH THERE.

IT IS JOHN DAVIDSON.

TELL US ABOUT HIS CLUB.

>> IT IS JOHN DAVIDSON.

AND THE SHOW IS ACTUALLY -- I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND DISMISSIVE, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY GOOD.

>> Braude: GREAT.

>> I DIDN'T GO IN WITH EXPECTATIONS, BUT HE IS REALLY TALENTED.

>> Braude: HE IS.

>> THE THING I LOVED ABOUT HIS STORY IS RESEARCHING HIS PAST.

BECAUSE THE MAN HAS DONE EVERYTHING -- AND I MEAN EVERYTHING, FROM APPEARING WITH THE CARPENTERS ON THEIR CLOSE ENCOUNTERS TV SPECIAL -- DIDN'T YOU DO THAT, JIM?

>> Braude: NO.

THAT WAS SCOTT BROWN, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

>> I GET YOU TWO CONFUSED ALL OF THE TIME.

I SAT ON THE SOFA.

I WATCHED THE SHOW IN A BARN FULL OF I THINK MOSTLY LOCAL PEOPLE.

AND I HAD A GOOD TIME.

HE IS VERY SELF-DEPRECATING, AND HE IS A GOOD SINGER.

AND YOU KIND OF GET A SENSE OF HIM AS A PERSON, WHICH I KIND OF LIKE.

THERE WAS NO PRETENSE WHATSOEVER.

>> Braude: HE HAS BEEN HERE A LOT.

I LOVE HIM.

BY THE WAY, WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS PLACE IN SANDWICH, NEW HAMPSHIRE?

>> CLUB SANDWICH, GUESS IT?

>> Braude: I GUESS I DO.

WE'RE REALLY TIGHT ON TIME TONIGHT, BUT I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF VIEWERS WHO HAVE BEEN DYING TO TAKE A PLANE FROM PROVIDENCE TO PITTSBURGH.

FOR THOSE PEOPLE, THERE IS AN AIRLINE THAT IS TRYING TO SELL HOW NICE IT IS, NOT SORT OF THE FRIENDLY SKIES NICE, WHEN, AS YOU SAY, YOU GET DRAGGED DOWN AN AISLE LIKE DR. DOW DID.

BREEZE AIRLINES, TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> IT STARTED BY THE FORMER C.E.O.

OF JETBLUE.

HE ALSO FOUNDED AZUL, WHICH IS A BRAZILIAN AIRLINE.

SO HIS WHOLE THING WITH BREEZE IS THAT HE WANTS IT TO BE THE FRIENDLIEST AIRLINE IN THE SKY, AS IN NICE.

NICE IS REALLY THE WORD THAT HE USES.

>> Braude: AND IS IT?

>> WELL, MY FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WAS THAT I CAME ON BOARD WITH THIS.

I HAVE A FRACTURED WRIST.

>> Braude: OH!

>> A FRACTURED WRIST -- >> Braude: I SEE IT.

I'M SORRY.

>> SO THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS IMMEDIATELY SAW ME, AND BEFORE I STRUGGLED AND ALL OF THAT, THEY GRABBED MY SUITCASE AND PUT IT UP THERE FOR ME.

SO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NICE TO AN INCAPACITATED DRUNK, FRACTURED, MIDDLE-AGED MAN, SUCH AS MYSELF, MEANS PROBABLY THEY'D BE NICE TO EVERYBODY ELSE.

[LAUGHTER] >> I WALKED IN THERE WITH MY GLASS OF WINE SCREAMING AT EVERYBODY, AND THEY WERE FINE WITH ME.

NO, THEY REALLY WERE A PLEASANT GROUP.

THE FLIGHT ITSELF, IT IS BARE BONES, NO ENTERTAINMENT, NO REAL SNACKS -- >> Braude: I'M FINE WITH THAT.

IF IT IS AFFORDABLE AND NICE, I'M FINE.

I'M A LONG-TIME SUBSCRIBER OF THE GLOBE, AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE FACT THAT MY SUBSCRIPTION DOLLARS IS PAYING FOR THAT OFFICE AT THE GLOBE THAT YOU'RE SITTING IN.

IT IS LOVELY BY THE WAY.

IT IS QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

>> THANK YOU.

THIS IS MY PRIVATE PALM SPRINGS OFFICE OF THE GLOBE.

IT IS OUR BUREAU HERE IN PALM SPRINGS.

>> Braude: I'VE MISSED YOU.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU, CHRISTOPHER.

THANKS SO MUCH.

TALK SOON.

>> TALK TO YOU SOON, JIM.

>> Braude: THAT'S IT FOR ME THIS WEEK.

PLEASE COME BACK FOR "BOSTON'S RACE IN HISTORY," AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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