>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," FROM THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND A DANA FARBER ONCOLOGIST JOIN ME ON JUST WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO REACH THE GOAL PRESIDENT BIDEN LAID OUT YESTERDAY IN BOSTON: OF CUTTING CANCER DEATH RATES IN HALF.

THEN, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL ON HER BID TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HOLD STATEWIDE OFFICE IN MASSACHUSETTS >> Braude: PRESIDENT BIDEN LAID OUT AN AMBITIOUS MISSION YESTERDAY.

AND THIS ONE IS PERSONAL.

MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS AFTER HIS SON, BEAU, DIED FROM BRAIN CANCER, HE STOOD IN THE LIBRARY DEDICATED TO PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, AND DELIVERED A CHALLENGE TO THE NATION 60 YEARS TO THE DAY AFTER KENNEDY ISSUED HIS LITERAL MOONSHOT CHALLENGE.

>> BEATING CANCER IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

THE GOAL IS TO CUT CANCER DEATH RATES BY AT LEAST 50%, AT LEAST 50%, IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS; TO TURN MORE CANCERS FROM DEATH SENTENCES INTO CHRONIC DISEASES PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH.

>> Braude: BUT IS IT ACHIEVABLE?

WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

AND WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES IN THE PATH?

I'M JOINED BY DR. WILLIAM DAHUT, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER AT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AND DR. MICHAEL HASSETT, PHYSICIAN AND CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER AT DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, AND AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.

DISOK TORS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DR. DA HOT LET ME START WITH YOU, THE RHETORIC WAS UNDOUBTEDLY POWERFUL BUT IS THIS REALLY A POTENTIAL GAME CHANGER IN YOUR WORLD?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE THING TO CONSIDER IS 40 TO 45% OF CANCERS IN THIS COUNTRY AND WORLDWIDE ARE PREVENTEDDABLE.

EITHER FROM TOBACCO USE, OBESITY, ALCOHOL USE, INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

SO TO PUT EVERYBODY TOGETHER, WHETHER ST BIOTECH, NONPROFITS LIKE OURSELVES, INTO THE CANCER CENTERS AND ULTIMATELY THE PATIENTS, I THINK WE CAN GET TO THIS GOAL.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, GETTING TO THE MOON WASN'T EASY, BUT I THINK PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER I THINK IT CAN LEAD TO SOMETHING WORTH STRIFING FOR.

>> Braude: DR. HASSETT, DO YOU SHARE THE OPTIMISM.

>> ABSOLUTELY, I DO OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN A 32% REDUCTION IN CANCER DEATHS, LOOKING BACK TO 1990.

AND I THINK THROUGH BETTER PREVENTION, SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, WHILE IT IS AN AGGRESSIVE GOAL, IT IS AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL.

>> Braude: SO DR. HASSETT, STAYING WITH YOU, EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

YOU TOUCHED UPON IT A SECOND AGO.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR AREAS THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS INITIATIVE HAVING THE MOST DRAMATIC FFECT ON?

>> YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THERE ARE FOUR AREAS.

THE FIRST IS PREVENTION.

MANY CANCERS ARE PREVENTIBLE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT A CANCER IS A CANCER WE DON'T HAVE TO TREAT.

THE SECOND HAS TO DO WITH SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION.

WE HAVE TOOLS SUCH AS THE-- A SCOPPEE THAT WORKS BUT THERE ARE GREAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN HELP US SCREEN AND DETECT CANCERS EVEN EARLIER AND I THINK THEY WILL BE A BIG PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.

THE THIRD IS TREATMENT.

CANCER TREATMENT IS REALLY REVOLUTIONIZED OVER THE PAST 20 OR 30 YEARS AND THAT WILL CONTINUE.

AND THE FOURTH I THINK IS REALLY MANAGING THE BURDEN OF CANCER, THE SYMPTOMS AND THE SUFFERING THAT IS CAUSED BY CANCER AND TREATMENT.

IF WE CAN TARGET THOSE FOUR GOALS I DEFINITELY THINK THIS IS TREATABLE.

>> Braude: DR. DAHUT, WOULD YOU ADD ANYTHING TO THAT LIST?

>> I THINK THOSE ARE ACTUALLY TREMENDOUS POINTS.

THE OTHER THING OBVIOUSLY IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE CANCER ACCESS AVAILABLE TO ALL IN EQUAL WAYS.

IT IS INTERESTING, IF YOU LOOKED AT CANCER DEATHS BASED ON FDSN1950 THE FOLKS WITH THE HIGHEST FTS HAD A HIGHER CANCER DEATH RATE PROBABLY DUE TO LESS EXERCISE AT THAT TIME BUT OVER TIME THAT HAS CHANGED.

AND WE NOW KNOW THAT FOLKS FROM RURAL AREAS, AND DIFFERENT RACIAL POPULATIONS HAVE A MUCH POORER OUTCOME STAGE FOR STAGE FOR CANCER.

>> Braude: IT IS NOT JUST YOU MENTIONING IT, DR. DAHUT, AS I'M SURE YOU BOTH KNOW, THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF HEALTH DISPARITIES WHICH A LOT OF US FINALLY FOCUSED DURING COVID WAS MENTIONED YESTERDAY BY THE PRESIDENT.

HERE HE IS.

>> THE DISEASE WE OFTEN DIAGNOSE TOO LATE AND HAS TOO FEW WAYS TO PREVENT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WHERE THERE ARE STARK INEQUITIES BASED ON RACE, DISABILITY, ZIP CODE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND OTHER FACTORS.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, YOU WITHIN DOWN YOUR LIST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO BUT AS A LAYPERSON IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF NOTHING WERE TO CHANGE EXCEPT EQUAL ACCESS TO TREATMENT, CLINICAL TRIALS, MEDICAID FUNDING, THAT SORT OF THING, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF COULD DRAMATICALLY CUT THESE NUMBERS S THAT NOT ACCURATE OR IS THAT NAIVE?

>> NO, I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY.

I THINK DISPARITIES ARE A HUGE PIECE OF THIS PROBLEM.

AND ONE THAT THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED IN HIS REMARKS AS YOU POINT OUT.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES ISSUE AND WITHOUT DOING SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ARE DEDICATED NOT JUST TO TRY TO IMPROVING THE TECHNOLOGY BUT IMPROVING THE DELIVERY OF TREATMENT SO THAT WE'RE PROVIDING EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS TO EVERYBODY AT THE SURFACE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THE PRESIDENT SPOKE TO DR. DAHUT WAS HE MENTIONED MRNA TECHNOLOGY.

AND RAISED THE PROS RECHT OF SOME SORT OF CANCER VACCINE.

I WANT TO PLAY YET AGAIN WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ON THAT SUBJECT.

>> TO PREVENT CANCERS SCIENTISTS ARE EXPLORING WHETHER MRNA VACCINE TECHNOLOGY THAT BROWTS US SAFE AND EFFECTIVE COVID-19 VACCINES COULD BE USED TO STOP CANCER CELLS WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE.

I HAVE STO A WHEN IT THRILLED ME WHEN I HEARD IT ALSO MADE ME INCREDIBLY NERVOUS.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS OKAY DR. FAUCI WAS ON OUR RADIO SHOW AND WE SPENT A DESCENT AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS SICK ANTISCIENCE AGENDA THAT HAS CAPTURED SO MUCH OF THE POPULATION.

DO YOU WORRY THAT WHEN MRNA IS PART OF THE MIX AND THAT TRIGGERED SO MANY PEOPLE, INAPPROPRIATELY I WOULD ARGUE, BUT NEVER THE LESS IT HAPPENED.

DO YOU WORRY THAT THIS EFFORT HAS POTENTIAL TO FALL PREY AT LEAST IN PART TO THE SAME ANTISCIENCE CRAP THAT WE'VE HAD TO LIVE WITH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH COVID?

>> OH, I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.

YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IF WE THINK MORE BROADLY ABOUT MRNA TECHNOLOGY AND THINK ACTUALLY THE POWER'S IMMUNE SYSTEM AND PERHAPS THAT BECOMES MORE PROBABLE.

ONE GREAT THING ABOUT AN IMMUNE TREATMENT IS IT IS ACTUALLY A LIVING TREATMENT, A TREATMENT ACTUALLY THAT CAN BASICALLY CHANGE AS THE CANCER CHANGES.

MANY OF OUR TARGETED THERAPY, AGAIN, ONE AGENT, ONE DRUG OR ONE PATHWAY, THE CANCER IS SMART ENOUGH TO GET AROUND BUT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN ADAPT.

SO MRNA IS A TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S NOT REALLY A BROAD AREA OF SCIENCE BUT REALLY A MEANS TO DELIVER IMMUNOTHERAPY.

SO HOPEFULLY FOLKS WILL UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY WHAT ARE YOU SAYING IS DEPENDENT UPON REASON WHICH IS NOT PART OF THE DEBATE IN SO MUCH OF THE MEDICAL WORLD.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THIS DR. HASSETT BASED ON THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

>> I DO WORRY ABOUT IT.

AND ON THE POINTS JUST MADE, I THINK THE I MEUP SYSTEM WE THOUGH THAT IT IS ALREADY TRYING TO FIGHT CANCER AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN THAT FIGHT IS A GOOD THING AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN GET US THERE.

I AGREE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF BUZZ AND MISINFORMATION AROUND MRNA TECHNOLOGY AS ONE APPROACH.

BUT I DO FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THROUGH EDUCATION AND HARD WORK WE CAN GET PASSED THAT AND GET THESE TREATMENTS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> Braude: DR. DAHUT, IT SEEMS TO ME IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID YESTERDAY, AND BY THE WAY HE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THIS A LONG TIME AGO WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT IN 2016 AND THEN RELAUNCHED AS PRESIDENT IN FEBRUARY AND I GUESS BECAUSE OF THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF J.F.K.

'S SPEECH ABOUT AS I SAID THE LITERAL MOON SHOT HE CAME HERE TO DO THIS YESTERDAY.

BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PROVISIONS IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AS IT IS CALLED ALSO MATTER IN THE WORK THAT YOU GENTLEMEN IN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO, WHEN YOU ALLOW MEDICARE FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT IS INCREDIBLE IT TOOK THIS LONG TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES WITH PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES.

WHEN YOU CAP OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR PEOPLE ON MEDICARE, DR. DAHUT T SEEMS TO ME THAT CAN HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON ACCESS TO THE KIND OF TREATMENT THAT WE HAVE EVEN WITHOUT THESE ADVANCES, NO?

>> I THINK POLICY MATTERS.

LAWS MATTER T IS INTERESTING, I'M ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO YOU A BLOCK FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY.

TODAY IS THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S CANCER ADVOCACY LOBBY DAY.

AND TODAY WE HAVE OVER 600 ADVOCATES FROM EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY IN THE DISTRICT AND PUERTO RICO TALKING TO THOSE PEOPLE ON THE HILL ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE.

AND TALKING ABOUT FOR EXAMPLE WHAT HAPPENS TO REALLY IMPACT FAISHTS, I'M PROSTATE CANCER PHYSICIAN, A LOT OF THE EFFECTIVE DRUGS AT RETAIL COST ARE $12 OR 13,000 A MONTH.

PATIENTS ARE ON THESE FOR YEARS, AND CAPPING THIS AT $2000 TOTAL FOR YEAR ALLOWS PEOPLE TO TAKE THE RIGHT DOSE OF THE DRUG AND HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> DR. DAHUT, ONE MORE SECOND WITH YOU, DID THE PEOPLE WHO VISITED THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE ENCOUNTER THE SAME KIND OF IRRATIONAL PARTISAN STUFF THAT WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH OF.

OR IS CANCER RELATIVELY IMMUNE FROM THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, CANCER AFFECTS EVERYBODY.

WE'RE A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE HAVING TO GET SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES.

I AM FROM MARYLAND.

I MET WITH THE MARYLAND FOLKS AND THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE BUT MY SENSE IS CANCER AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE PERSON AND ONLY BY WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH THINGS LIKE THE MOON SHOT CAN WE HAVE AN IMPACT.

>> SO DR. HASSETT, THIS ONE REALLY IS FOR YOU, BOSTON BASED AND LET'S BE SHORTSIGHTED FOR A SECOND.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BOSTON HAS GREAT POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK ALREADY DONE HERE ON CANCER BY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS AT DANA-FARBER BUT WHEN THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED ON THE ADVANCED RESEARCH PRODUCTS AGENCY FOR HEALTH, I GET KAWPED ARPAH BUS IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ROLL OFF YOUR TONGUE, THE DOCTOR MA IS GOING TO RUN IT IS A VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THE GUY WHO IS GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHERE THAT IS PLACED, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SERVED IN CONGRESS WAS RITCHIE NEIL FROM MASSACHUSETTS WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE, AS YOU ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO CALL IT THE POWERFUL HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT EVEN MORE THAN MOST, NO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BOSTON IS JUST A CENTER OF FINE MEDICAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL INVASION AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR CITIZENS.

>> YOU KNOW, DR. DAHUT, BEFORE YOU G I WAS READING SOME NUMBERS FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THAT THE EXPECTATION, THE PROJECTION FOR 2022 IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF JUST OVER 600,000 PEOPLE, WILL DIE FROM CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES IN THIS CALENDER YEAR.

AND AGAIN TO HARKEN BACK TO WHAT I SAID A MINUTE AGO, THIS WAS LAUNCHED IN 20 OF IT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT, RELAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RESOURCE PROBLEMS AND STAFFING PROBLEMS.

IS IT REALISTIC FOR EXAMPLE IN YOUR MIND IF THIS BECOMES AS REAL AS THE PRESIDENT WANTS IT TO BE?

THAT THAT NUMBER IN THE FUTURE INSTEAD OF 600,000, COULD BE 300,000?

YOU BELIEVE THAT, APPARENTLY, YES?

>> I THINK IT IS TIME, WE KNOW THE PROBLEM.

WE KNOW PEOPLE NEED PREVENTION, TO HAVE SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION, WE KNOW WHAT ST. WE THEED TO STUDY HOW TO DO IT WE CAN'T JUST SIMPLY PUT UP BILLBOARDS AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO GO AND GET A KOLPACK OP OS SCOPE, WE KNOW THE PROBLEMS AND YES, I THINK IT CAN BE DONE, AND I'M GLAD WE HAD THE LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO GET THERE.

>> DR. HASSETT, WE ALMOST NEVER END ON AN OPTIMISTIC NOTE ON THIS TELEVISION PROGRAM.

DO YOU WANT TO END ON ONE, DO AGREE WITH DR. HUNTER DAHUT.

>> I DO AGREE WITH HIM, AS A RESEARCHER WITHOUT HAVE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS, AND I THINK THAT SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD ALREADY REALLY GIVES REINVIGORATED IMPACTS GOING FORWARD.

>> Braude: I THINK EVERYBODY WATCHES HOPES BOTH OF YOUR OPTIMISM IS TRANSLATED INTO OUTCOMES.

DR. HASSETT DRRKS DAHUT, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING MEES.

>> THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, THE RACE FOR THE PEOPLE'S LAWYER HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, OR AS THE POSITION IS OFFICIALLY KNOWN, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AFTER HER HISTORIC DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VICTORY LAST WEEK, FORMER BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR ANDREA CAMPBELL WILL FACE TRIAL ATTORNEY JAY McMAHON.

SHE JOINS ME NOW.

ANDREA CAMPBELL, GOOD TO SIGH, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> Braude: SO GIVE ME YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN STATE WIDE OFFICE HOLDER.

YOU SAID WHEN YOU DECLARED YOUR CANDIDACY WERE YOU NOT EVEN AWARE OF THAT.

SHOULD THAT PARTY TO VOTERS COME NOVEMBER 8th.

>> WELL, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND OF COURSE I HAVE COUNTRIES KROSSED THE STATE SEVERAL TIMES IS THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE DIVERSITY AND LIVED EXPERIENCE I BRING.

THERE IS A UNIQUE LENS TO THE WORK THAT I HAVE ALSO ALWAYS BROUGHT.

SO I KNOW THAT MATTERS.

AND THE VICTORY THAT WE SAW JUST A WEEK AGO REALLY DEMONSTRATES THAT IT DOES MATTER TO VOTERS, ALONG WITH, OF COURSE, THE POLICY AND SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES THAT I ADDRESSED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> Braude: WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?

YOU WANTED TO BE MAYOR NOT TOO LONG AGO.

THESE ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT JOBS WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT KINDS OF FUNCTIONS, WHY THIS ONE?

>> WELL, JUST AS I SAID, WHEN WE LAUNCHED THE CAMPAIGN IN FEBRUARY AND EVERY DAY SINCE, I'M A PRAYING WOMAN, AND I FELT AS THOUGH FOR ME IT WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT DEEPLY.

I FELT LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY FRANKLY FOUND ME BUT ULTIMATELY TOOK THE LEAP OF FAITH THINK BEING THE LOSS OF MY TWIN BROTHER ANDRE WHO DIED WHILE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND TELLING VOTERS THAT THIS OFFICE COULD I THINK HAVE DONE A LOT MORE TO ADDRESS THAT CASE ALONG WITH CRIMINAL LEGAL REFORM AND REALLY GETTING OUT THERE TO EXPRESS THAT THE OFFICE IS CAPABLE OF HELPING FAMILIES ADDRESS HEALTH-CARE ISSUES, EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE SUPREME COURT, THE COST OF LIVING, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, DISCRIMINATION AND SO MUCH MORE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE AND SCOPE OF THE OFFICE AND WANT TO MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO BE THE PEOPLE'S LAWYER REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE'S LAW FIRM.

>> LET'S FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED.

HEALTH CARE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST TALKED TO TWO DOCTORS ABOUT JOE BIDEN'S HEALTH CARE, PARDON ME CANCER MOON SHOT ANNOUNCED IN BOSTON YESTERDAY.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THIS HEALTH INEQUITIES IN CANCER THAT WE ALL TALKED ABOUT FINALLY DURING COVID.

IS THERE A ROLE FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ADDRESS THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES.

>> A SIGNIFICANT ONE.

>> Braude: WHAT IS IT.

>> WE FOUND ON THE CAM PAPER TRAIL THAT I HAD TO EDUCATE FOLKS ABOUT THE POWER OF THIS OFFICE.

THERE SAY HEALTH CARE BURROW ALONG WITH MANY OTHER DIVISIONS THAT IS TASKED WITH MAKING SURE RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

WE IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE PRETTY LUCKY IN THAT WE HAVE NEARLY UNIVERSAL COVERAGE WITH NEARLY 8989% OF OUR RESIDENTS COVERED BUT WE STILL HAVE TO ADDRESS COST OF CARE, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GENDER AFFIRMING, ABSOLUTELY NEED TO ADDRESS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND MAKING SURE THE DESERTS THAT EXIST IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE CLOSED.

AND ADDRESS THE HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT EXIST INCLUDING MATERNAL HEALTH.

THERE IS A LOT THE OFFICE CAN DO AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CLOSE THESE GAPS.

SO EVERYONE IN MASSACHUSETTS HAS ACCESS TO CRITICAL HEALTH-CARE SERVICES.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY WATCHING THIS SHOW KNOWS WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS DONE ON THE GUN FRONT, ON THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FRONT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT GUNS FOR A MINUTE.

THE "BOSTON GLOBE" DID A REPORT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I'M SURE YOU SAW.

IT WAS BASED IN LITTLETON AT A PLACE CALLED THE MILL.

THEY TALKED ABOUT IDENTIFYING AT LEAST 25 DEALERS OF WEAPONS IN THE STATE INCLUDING A SAULT WEAPONS WHICH ARE BANNED, WHICH APPEAR ACCORDING TO THE GLOBE TO VIOLATE ATTORNEY GENERAL HALEY'S DIRECTOR ON ASSAULT WEAPONS FOR A WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS.

YET SHE IS HAS NOT PRODUCED, BROUGHT CHARGES AGAINST ANY OF THEM.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> MY FIRST PLAJ THAT I PUT OUT AS A CANDIDATE FOR AGS HAD TO DO WITH GUNS.

AND LOOKING AT THE WAYS WE COULD STRENGTHEN OUR LAWS IN MASSACHUSETTS THERE ARE FOLKS INDEED GETTING AROUND THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN ALONG WITH OTHER PROGRESSIVE LAWS ON THE BOOK.

WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THOSE.

I ACTUALLY PROPOSE ESTABLISHING A GUN ENFORCEMENT UNIT WITHIN THE OFFICE.

RIGHT NOW MOST OF THE ISSUES ARE SURROUNDING GUNS ARE ADDRESSED LIEU A CONSUMER PROTECTION LID, WE CAN CHANGE THAT, GREATER ENFORCEMENT IS NEEDED INCLUDING GOING AFTER GHOST GUNS, MAKING SURE WE ARE DEALING WITH AND WORKING WITH AND PARTNER WITH I SHOULD SAY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL TO ENSURE WE'RE KEEPING GUNS OFF THE STREET.

AND GUN HOARDING IS A MAJOR ISSUE AS WELL WHICH ONLY LEADS TO GUN TRAFFICKING PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THERE IS A LOT OF OFFICE CAN DO ALONG WITH ADDRESSING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SO I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY AS WELL.

>> LET'S STAY ON.

THIS THE STORY WAS HORRIFYING TO ME AND IT APPEARS THE LAWS ARE THERE, IT APPEARS THE DIRECTORS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS THERE.

WHAT APPEARS TO BE MISS SGHT ENFORCEMENT.

WHY, IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> WELL, I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO WHAT I WOULD DO AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND ENFORCEMENT IS CRITICAL.

I HAVE TALKED WITH ASSISTANT AG'S WHO USED TO WORK IN THE OFFICE WHO ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES, WHO HELPED ME DEVELOP MY PLAN AS A CANDIDATE FOR AG.

SO WHEN ESTABLISHING THIS NEW UNIT, ENFORCEMENT WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A KEY PART OF IT.

ALONG WITH WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO STRENGTHEN OUR LAWS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.

BUT WHERE LOOPHOLES ARE PRESENT.

AND THEN MAKING SURE WE'RE ALSO TACKLING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.

I JUST HAD A STUDENT IN MY PREVIOUS COUNCIL DISTRICT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, IS PRESENT IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, ESPECIALLY OUR URBAN CENTERS, THERE IS A LOT OF OFFICE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES INCLUDING INVESTING IN ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE LOOKING TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF VIOLENCE.

>> STAD TO THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS, AN DREAA CAMPBELL, I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS MUCH BETTER THAN I IT IS ALSO A HUGE BULLY PULPIT IN THE STATE.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THINGS YOU DON'T FORMALLY HAVE JURISDICTION BUT WOULD HAVE A BULLY PULPIT.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE QUESTION JUST QUALIFIED AROUND UP DOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS HAVING ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSES?

>> I WILL BE VOTING YES ON FOUR STRKS REALLY SAD TO SEE THAT SOME FOLKS MOBILIZED FEAR MONDAY GERRING CAMPAIGN TO TRY GO BACKYARDS IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION PASSIONED BY THE LEGISLATED TURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, THIS IS A ISSUE I SUPPORTIVE WHEN I WORKED FOR DEVAL PAT-- PATRICK T MAKES SENSE ECONOMICICALLY, PROTECTING VICTIMS, THOSE WHO LOSE LOVED ONES IN A CAR ACCIDENT, HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO TRACK SOMEONE DOWN TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, LIABLE.

IT MAKES SENSE AND I WILL BE VOTING YES AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

>> Braude: SHALL I ALSO SUPPORT YOU SUPPORT THE MILLIONAIRE TAX, FAIR SHARE AMENDMENT.

>> YES, I'M ON THE RECORD OF SUPPORTING THAT AND USING THOSE RESOURCE FORCE CRITICAL INVESTMENT.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF USING THOSE RESOURCE FORCE CRITICAL INVESTMENT, I'M SURE MOST PEOPLE VIEWING YET AGAIN KNOW THAT FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE THE LAW WAS PASSED BY THE VOTERS IN 198 OF THE SO CALLED TAX CAP MANDATES BY STATUTE THE RETURN OF WHAT COULD BE AS MUCH AS $3 BILLION TO THE TAXPAYER, THE AUDITOR WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON THAT.

I WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU WHAT MAURA HALEY OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR AND OBVIOUSLY ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT ON THE NIGHT OF HER ELECTION VICTORY.

>> THE PEOPLE VOTED RECENTLY TO GIVE EVERYONE IN THE STATE TAX RELIEF IF THE STATE HAS EXCESS REVENUE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE DO.

SO THE PEOPLE SHOULD GET THAT MONEY BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> SO SHE SEEMS TO BE ARGUING FOR THE STATUTE TO BE ENFORCED EXACTLY AS-- IS THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY PROGRESSIVES IN THE STATE WHO SAY SORT OF LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE FAIR SHARE AMENDMENT THAT MONEY SHOULDN'T BE USED TO GIVE REBATES TO PEOPLE.

IN FACT IT SHOULD BE USED TO PAY FOR NEEDED SERVICES OR AT LEAST THE LAW SHOULD BE AMENDED SO IF THE MONEY IS RETURNED, IT IS RETURNED IN A MUCH MORE EQUITABLE FASHION TO THE TAXPAYERS THAN THE WAY ST CURRENTLY DRAFTED WHERE BY FAR THE MOST MONEY GOES TO THE WEALTHIEST TAXPAYERS.

DO YOU SUPPORT THE LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED AS IT IS.

OR WERE THOSE CHANGES.

>> I REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

I SAID ASK THE PEOPLE, MOST FOLKS ARE SAYING GIVE THE MONEY BACK.

AND I THINK THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO SAY GIVE THE MONEY BACK.

AND I THINK WHAT WE DON'T RECOGNIZE IS THAT RESIDENTS ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IT IS SO EX-- EXPENSIVE TO LIVE, THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THINGS CONCERNING THEIR FAMILY, THEIR CHILDREN, IF THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT RESOURCES IN THE POCKETS OF THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING OR OTHERS, WE SHOULD DO JUST THAT.

>> EVEN THOUGH A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE WOULD GO TO WEALTHY PEOPLE WITHOUT DON'T NEED IT AND MUCH SMALLER SHARE TO THE PEOPLE YOU ARE VIBING.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE PART PEOPLE ARE PUSHING BACK ON, TO SUGGEST MAYBE THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

AND SO I THINK THERE IS OBVIOUSLY MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

BUT OVERWHELMINGLY I'M HEARING FROM FOLKS ON THE GROUND, GIVE THE MONEY BACK.

>> Braude: YESTERDAY YOU WERE ON THE RADIO WITH ME AND MARJORIE EAGEN, YOU ARE SURPRISE IMMEDIATE IF MARJORIE ASKED IF YOU IN TNDZED TO DEBATE JAY McMAHON, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, THE RESPONSE WAS WE DID A FOUR WAY WITH THE THREE DEMOCRATS AND MKS MAHON IN WORCESTER ANDS ASKED YOU A COUPLE TIMES BUT FIEP, WILL YOU DEBATE HIM ONE-ON-ONE AND TWICE YOU SAID WE'LL SEE.

TODAY WE GOT A COMMUNICATION FROM MR. McMAHON SAYING WE LOVE TO DEBATE YOU HERE AND SIX OTHER PLACES.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, ARE YOU STILL RELUCK DANT TO AGREE TO A DEBATE WITH YOUR REPUBLICAN OPPONENT.

>> WHEN I SAID YOU'LL WE'LL SEE BECAUSE LESS THAN A FEW WEEKS AGO WE DID A DEBATE IN WORCESTER WITH THE WORCESTER BAR, IT WAS ONLINE T WAS AN HOUR-LONG DEBATE, EXTREMELY SUBSTANTIVE FOR ANY VOTE TORE GET THE INFORMATION TO MAKE THE DISTIRNTIONZ-- DISTINCTION BETWEEN ME AND MY REPUBLICAN OPPONENT.

THERE ARE MAJOR DISTINCTIONS TO BE MADE WHAT I AM FOCUSED ON NOW IS ONE, THANKING ALL THE PEOPLE WITHOUT DID THE HARD WORK OF GETTING US ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, WHAT I AM TELLING YOU MI STILL DOING THANK YOU CALLS AND THEN GETK BACK OUT INTO COMMUNITIES INCLUDING WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASS TO EARN THEIR VOTE INCLUDING THEIR RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE I WANT TO BE MORE PRESENT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T FEEL LEFT OUT AND LEFT BEHIND AND TO HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH REAL PEOPLE.

SO WHEN WE SAID WE'LL SEE IT DEPENDS WHAT THOSE OTHER PRIORITIES ARE, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT AND JUST AS IMPORTANT.

>> SO JUST SO I DON'T PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH THERE FROM NO COMMITMENT YET TO ONE-ON-ONE DEBATE.

>> I WILL SAY WE'LL SEE AGAIN, I WILL STRESS THAT FOLKS SHOULD WATCH THAT DEBATE AND I WILL JUST STRESS THIS.

THAT DEBATE WAS INCREDIBLE.

YOU HAD A COLLEGE, A WORCESTER BAR ASSOCIATION PUT IN SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO ACTUALLY DO IT AND TO HOST ONE OF SUBSTANCE AND A REAL CONVERSATION.

AND IT SHOULD BE UTILIZED.

MOST FOLKS DID NOT SEE IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE MEDIA ATTENTION THEY WANTED.

SO THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROCEED PRO MOAT THAT AND FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO THANK MY SUPPORTERS AND GET OUT ON THE ROAD TO EARN THE SUPPORT OF MORE VOTERS AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY ATTENTION TO A THIS SIGNIFICANT RACE BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT THEM IN THEIR DALETY LIFE AND THE AG OFFICE CAN >> Braude: ANDREA CAMPBELL, THANKS.

HELP, THANKS FOR MAIRVEG HEE.

>> Braude: PLEASURE.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

GBH NEWS CULTURE WRITER JAMES BENNETT JOINS US WITH HIS LATEST "DROP"-- A LIST OF THINGS TO DO AROUND BOSTON THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK, INCLUDING SOME VERY TIMELY BICYCLE RIDING LESSONS, WHICH HE DECIDED TO GET IN ON.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND STAY SAFE.

AND DON'T FORGET UKRAINE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org >> TODAY, WE ARE GOING ALL IN ON A MINOR URBAN MYSTERY HERE IN BOSTON.

( UPBEAT MUSIC ) IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THE CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES ABOUT 5,000 PERMITS FOR STREET EXCAVATIONS.

COMPANIES LIKE COMCAST AND VERIZON DIG TO LAY CABLE.

NATIONAL GRID TEARS UP STRETCHES TO REPAIR GAS LINES, AND WELL OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PRIVATE COMPANIES, WORKING FOR HOMEOWNERS OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, LAY UNDERGROUND PIPES THAT TAP INTO WATER MAINS.

EACH TIME A COMPANY DIGS UP A BOSTON STREET, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING IT WHEN THEY'RE DONE, AND CRUCIALLY, THE CITY HAS A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PATCHES.

ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS, ABOUT 10% OF THESE PATCHES GO BAD, CRACKING, CRUMBLING AT THE EDGES, SINKING AND THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, HOW DO CITY OFFICIALS KNOW WHETHER THAT PARTICULAR PATCH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY?

AND IF IT IS, WHAT COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT?

THAT'S WHERE THESE GUYS COME IN.

THEY ARE CALLED A-TAGS, SHORT FOR ASPHALT TAGS, AND THEY ARE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON'S STREET REPAIR TRACKING SYSTEM.

THOUGH THEY ARE BUT LITTLE, ABOUT AN INCH AND-A-HALF IN DIAMETER, THEY ARE FIERCELY INFORMATIVE IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DECODE THEM.

THE YEAR THE PATCH WAS LAID IS MARKED AT THE CENTER OF EACH A-TAG, SO IT'S EASY TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY WHETHER IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

AS FOR WHO LAID EACH PATCH, CITY OFFICIALS DEVISED A COLOR CODING SYSTEM.

NOW, BIG COMPANIES THAT DO A LOT OF DIGGING, THEY GET THEIR OWN CUSTOM COLORS, AND THEY GET TO DISPLAY THEIR NAME ON THEIR A-TAGS.

>> NATIONAL GRID, YOU'RE YELLOW.

BOSTON WATER AND SEWER, YOU'RE BLUE.

M.W.R.A, YOU'RE LIGHT BLUE.

COMCAST AND VERIZON, YOU'RE ORANGE, EVERSOURCE, YOU'RE RED.

I SAID THE STEAM COMPANY, YOU'RE WHITE.

>> PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WHO WORK UNDER THE STREETS OF BOSTON, GET A GREEN A-TAG WITH A UNIQUE I.D.

NUMBER AT THE TOP.

SO, ALL IT TAKES IS A QUICK LOOK AT A LEGEND TO KNOW WHO DID THE JOB.

A-TAGS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED ON EVERY PATCH LAID, N THE CITY OF BOSTON, SINCE 2011.

COMPANIES CAN BE FINED IF HEY DON'T EMBED THEIR CHIP.

THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN A ROUSING SUCCESS, ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS WHO SAY THE COMPLIANCE RATE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 98% AND 99%.

AS FOR THAT LAST 1% TO 2%, NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE CODE, YOU TOO CAN BE AN INSPECTOR.

IF YOU SEE A FAILING PATCH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, CALL 311, OR BETTER YET, SNAP A PIC AND TWEET IT AT BOS311.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE HUMBLE A-TAG, AN ACE UP THE CITY SLEEVE THAT KEEPS THE ODDS HIGH, THE STREETS STAY EVEN.

DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE.

AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, ANTE UP, AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE, HEY, I MIGHT JUST SAY, DEAL ME IN.

I'M EDGAR B. HERWICK III, STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

>> THE CURIOSITY DESK IS SPONSORED BY EMERSON COLLEGE,