>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," I'M JOINED BY THE STATE LAWMAKERS BEHIND A NEW BILL AIMED AT MAKING SURE SOMETHING LIKE THE DEADLY COVID OUTBREAK AT THE SOLDIERS' HOME IN HOLYOKE-- THAT KILLED 76 VETERANS LAST SPRING-- NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

THEN LATER, NIA GRACE, OWNER OF DARRYL'S CORNER BAR & KITCHEN, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE BOSTON BLACK HOSPITALITY COALITION, HAS DONE MUCH MORE THAN JUST SURVIVE THIS PAST YEAR-PLUS-- SHE'S EXPANDING, AND SHE JOINS ME.

AND FINALLY, A PREVIEW OF THE NEW GBH NEWS SERIES ABOUT THE WAVE OF PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR JOBS, THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

IT'S CALLED "THE BIG QUIT," AND WE'LL HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT IT AHEAD.

>> Braude: IT WAS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAKS AT ANY NURSING HOME IN THE COUNTRY, KILLING 76 VETERANS, ROUGHLY 30% OF ALL RESIDENTS, AT THE STATE-RUN SOLDIERS' HOME IN HOLYOKE LAST SPRING.

LAST MARCH, THE HOME'S SUPERINTENDENT BENNETT WALSH WAS QUICKLY PUT ON LEAVE, AND GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER BROUGHT IN AN INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY, MARK PEARLSTEIN, TO INVESTIGATE.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, PEARLSTEIN RELEASED A REPORT DETAILING NUMEROUS DECISIONS FROM WALSH THAT WERE "UTTERLY BAFFLING FROM AN INFECTION-CONTROL PERSPECTIVE," INCLUDING THE CONSOLIDATION OF TWO DEMENTIA UNITS THAT INCLUDED SOME COVID-POSITIVE RESIDENTS; LITTLE TO NO DISTANCING BETWEEN SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC UNITS; A FAILURE TO QUICKLY ISOLATE SUSPECTED COVID PATIENTS; DELAYS IN TESTING AND CONTINUED ROTATION OF HEALTHCARE STAFF THROUGHOUT THE HOME.

A JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AT THE STATE HOUSE ALSO INVESTIGATED AND FOUND A MYRIAD OF ISSUES THEY SAID "CREATED THIS PERFECT STORM AND PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY."

THEN LAST SEPTEMBER, ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY-- WHOSE OFFICE CONDUCTED ITS OWN INVESTIGATION-- FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST WALSH AND DR. DAVID CLINTON, THE HOME'S FORMER MEDICAL DIRECTOR.

A RECENT "BOSTON GLOBE SPOTLIGHT" REPORT HAS SINCE ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT GOVERNOR BAKER'S ROLE IN HIRING BENNETT WALSH FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND HIS ADMINISTRATION'S OVERSIGHT OF THE HOME.

BOTH EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES OF THE 76 VETERANS HAVE FILED LAWSUITS AGAINST THE HOME, AND THE LATTER GROUP RECENTLY ADDED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY MARYLOU SUDDERS AS A DEFENDANT.

NOW, BEACON HILL LAWMAKERS HAVE FILED A BILL THEY'RE HOPING WILL ENSURE NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

I'M JOINED NOW BY ITS TWO LEAD SPONSORS: STATE SENATOR MICHAEL RUSH, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDA CAMPBELL, BOTH OF WHOM SERVED ON THE JOINT INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE INTO ALL THIS, LAST YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, JIM, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, &ITHOUT GETTING LOST IN THE WEEDS YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT THIS REFORM WOULD BE.

WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO?

>> WELL, JIM, WE CAME UP WITH 14 POINTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BUT BASICALLY QUICKLY THEY GO THROUGH CHAIN OF COMMAND, ESTABLISHING A VERY CLEAR CHAIN OF COMMAND OF COMMUNICATION AND THEREBY ESTABLISHING CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY.

THERE WERE MAJOR SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WITH STAFFING.

WE WENT DEEP INTO THE WEEDS IN THE REPORT IN STAFFING.

AND THOSE PROBLEMS WITH STAFFING WERE THERE WELL BEFORE THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED.

WE GO INTO WHO SHOULD BE HIRED.

WHAT SHOULD THEIR QUALIFICATIONS BE.

THEY NEED TO BE PROFESSIONALS.

THEY NEED TO BE LICENSED.

THEY NEED TO HAVE EXPERIENCE.

YOU KNOW, SUPERINTENDENT OF A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY.

WE LOOK TO PROTOCOLS BEING ESTABLISHED.

WE LOOK TO AN OMNIBUS PERSON BEING PUT IN PLACE.

WE LOOK TO A WAY FOR STAFF TO GET IMPORTANT INFORMATION INTO THE RIGHT HANDS.

AND SO AND TRANSPARENCY.

AND ALSO THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BE PART OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT.

>> SENATOR, IF THESE REFORMS THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING HAD BEEN IN PLACE WOULD WE HAVE SEEN 76 AND ULTIMATELY 78 VETERANS HAVING LOST THEIR LIVES AT HOLE YEK HOME.

>> ALWAYS TOUGH TO PLAY THE ROLE OF A MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK FOR SURE.

BUT HAVING DEALT WITH THESE ISSUES, BOTH THE REPRESENTATIVE AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ISSUES TO BOTH HOMES OVER THE YEARS.

TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND UNDERSTAND THAT THESE TWO HOMES, THEIR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE EVERY VETERAN ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THEY HAVE REALLY BECOME VERY ISOLATED IN THEIR APPROACH, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> Braude: BUT I'M ASSUMING, I WANT TO PIN YOU DOWN THERE FOR JUST A SECOND.

IT IS SCHEER BASED UPON THE QUALIFICATIONS, AT LEAST AS I READ THEM IN THE BILL, SOMEONE WITHOUT KEY QUALIFICATIONS LIKE BENTY-- BENNETT WALSH, COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS JOB IF YOUR BILL HAD BEEN LAW, IS THAT NOT CORRECT, SENATOR?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES, JIM.

>> Braude: OKAY, SO I WANT TO GET BACK TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE FOR A MINUTE.

THERE IS ONE PIECE OF THE GLOBE REPORT THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME.

I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHETHER IN WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ALONG THE WAY.

I THINK THIS WAS MARCH 27th OF LAST YEAR, THAT BENNETT WALSH ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING RIGHT FOR A CHANGE.

HE KNEW THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK, HE HAD A LOT OF STAFF LOST THAT I DA, REQUESTS TO THE SECRETARY OF VETERAN AFFAIRS TO THE NATIONAL GUARD.

THE SECRETARY WITHIN SIX MINUTES ACCORDING TO THE GLOBE, FORWARDED THAT REQUEST, SENT IT UP THE LINE TO TWO KEY LIEUTENANTS FOR SECRETARY SUDDERS, WE SHOULD MAKE THE POINT, MR. PEARLSTEIN NEVER MENTIONS THIS.

HE LEAVES THE IMPLICATION THAT SECRETARY REYNA DID NOTHING WITH THIS.

HOURS WENT BY, THE DEMENTIA UNITS WERE MERGED, AS YOU KNOW FAR BETTER THAN I.

AND WITH FATAL CONSEQUENCES.

WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAPPEN HAD THE STRUCTURES YOU'VE PROPOSED IN YOUR BILL BEEN IN PLACE?

>> MY PERSONAL OPINION IS I THINK NOT.

WE HEARD FROM SECRETARY YOU RANA, HE PROVIDED WRITTEN TESTIMONY AND PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF THE SITUATION AS HE PERCEIVED IT.

AND SO WHEN THERE ARE NO CLEAR CHAIN OF COMMANDS ESTABLISHED, THEN THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

AND SO NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY COULD UNDER THIS, BECAUSE WE MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR.

WHO IS REPORTING TO WHO AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.

>> Braude: WE SHOULD BE CLEAR, I WANT TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID A MINUTE AGO THE SECRETARY MADE HIS REPRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

THE GLOBE SAW THE EMAILS THAT HE FORWARDED TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR SECRETARY SUDDERS, IT IS NOT HIS RECOLLECTION, THEY ARE EMAILS.

AND SPEAKING OF PEARLSTEIN IF I MAY, SENATOR, YOU BOTH, YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE CAMPBELL WROTE AN OP ED IN THE GLOBE NOT TOO LONG AGO IN WHICH YOU SAID THAT THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT GENERATED MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE YOU WERE ABLE TO ANSWER MOST OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE POSED AND UNANSWERED BY THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT?

>> I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE, THE REP AND I WORKING WITH OUR COMMITTEE, LEGISLATIVE COLLEAGUES THAT DELVED INTO THE ISSUES, VERY, VERY DEEP.

AND AGAIN I ABOUT BACK TO, JIM, THERE IS A HISTORIC AND CULTURAL COMPONENT TO WHAT HAPPENED THAT NEED TO BE UNDERSTOOD TO TRY TO CORRECT IT PROPERLY.

>> YOU KNOW, I LOOKED INTO KSH-- IT APPEARS BOTH OF YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

BUT REPRESENTATIVE, I WAS REALLY TROUBLED THAT SOMEONE WHO HAS FOLLOWED THIS CLOSELY, AFTER THE SPOTLIGHT REPORT CAME OUT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WHERE YOU SERVE WAS ASKED ABOUT HOLDING ADDITIONAL HEARINGS.

AND HE IS QUOTED AS SAYING THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE'S FINDINGS ARE VERY CLAR TO WHAT WAS IN THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT AND WHAT WAS IN THE GLOBE STORY.

THAT IS JUST COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY UNTRUE.

THE GLOBE EXPOSED MANY ADDITIONAL THINGS.

GOVERNOR BAKER'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE HIRING.

POSSIBLE POLITICAL CONNECTIONS.

THE THING I JUST DESCRIBED TO YOU FROM MARCH 27th.

SO CAN YOU ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT DESPITE, I THINK, THAT LACK OF CRIOSITY, TO BE KIND, THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS INTENT ON SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS, NOT JUST BRUSHING THEM AWAY?

>> I DO, JIM.

OUR LEGISLATIVE COLLEAGUES TOOK THIS REPORT VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY REALIZED IT WENT WELL BEYOND THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT.

AND GOT INTO SOME SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR AWHILE.

AND AS WE FILED THIS BILL THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE OF A PROCESS THAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.

THERE IS GOING TO BE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO COMMENT ON THE BILL, WERE THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

SO THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE ATTENTION FOCUSED ON SH ISSUE.

AND I DO BELIEVE THE BILL GETS US TO A POINT, A VERY GOOD START POINT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON AN IN DEPTH INVESTIGATION.

SO IT IS VERY SPECIFIC AND I THINK IT GOES TO THE HEART OF SOME OF THE FINDINGS THAT WE FOUND.

SO YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE-- KSH THERE IS A LOT MORE TO BE DONE, JIM.

AND YOU KNOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS METHODICAL FOR A REASON.

IT IS GOING TO BE A DELIBERATE PROCESS.

AND THE BILL WILL EVOLVE I'M SURE AS IT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO A LOT MORE ATTENTION.

>> Braude: SENATOR, IN TERMS OF INPUT, DO THE TWO OF YOU CONSULTED WITH SOME OF THE FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE?

>> SO I THINK YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF HEARINGS WE HAD AS A COMMITTEE, THE AMOUNT OF FAMILIES WE HEARD, THE STORIES, THE PERSONAL STORIES, THE TRAGEDY AND THE LOSS, ALL WENT BOTH INTO OUR REPORT.

AND THEN AS WE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THE REPORT FINDINGS, THE AMOUNT OF TESTIMONY WE HEARD WAS INCREDIBLE FROM FOLKS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE TRAGEDY.

>> Braude: YOU ARE BOTH VETERANS, AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> Braude: STARTING WITH YOU, SENATOR.

I AM NOT A VETERAN.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THE IMPACT THIS TRAGEDY HAD ON ME WAS INCREDIBLY DEEP.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHEN SOMEONE HAS SERVED THE COUNTRY LIKE YOU HAVE AND LIKE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHITE HOUSE AT THE HOLYOKE SOLDIER'S HOME HAD, WHAT IT MEANT.

HOW DID THIS AFFECT YOU.

I DON'T MEAN AS A LEGISLATOR BUT I MEAN AS A VETERAN, AS A HUMAN BEING, SENATOR, STARTING WITH YOU.

HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS?

WITHIN IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE.

THERE WAS ENOUGH TRAGEDY GOING ON THROUGH COVID.

AND THEN TO SEE THAT THOSE WHO SERVED, THOSE WHO RAISED THEIR RIGHT HAND ARE WILLING TO DIE IN DEFENSE OF THIS COUNTRY AND PREE DOM.

THAT THIS HAPPENED TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IT IS JUST REALLY, IT WAS AT THE TIME UNSPEAKABLE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE DELVED INTO THE VERY DIFFICULT TRUTH AND ARE TRYING TO FIX THIS.

THIS SORT OF TRAGEDY WOULD NEVER AND WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT WAS IT LIKE AS A VETERAN TO HAVE HEARD THIS, LIVED THROUGH IT, AND HAVING HEARD IT, AS SENATOR SAID, HAVING TO HEAR TESTIMONY, I'M SURE IN EXCRUCIATING DETAIL ABOUT THE HORRORS OF WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE.

>> YES, JIM, I WOULD SAY THAT THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD WHEN WE WENT OUT TO HOLYOKE, WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

I THINK SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORKED WITH THESE VETERANS FOR MANY YEARS, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE EVER GOING TO GET OVER THIS.

HONESTLY, AS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO THEM AND THE TRAUMA THAT THEY WITNESSED, HAVING TO CARE FOR THESE, AND THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHAT REALLY GOT TO ME AT A PERSONAL LEVEL WAS THAT I BELIEVE THIS WAS PREVENTIBLE FOR THE MOST PART.

AND I THINK THAT KNOWING AS WE DO NOW SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE THERE, WELL BEFORE THIS TRAGEDY OCCURRED, THAT MAKES YOU ANGRY.

IT JUST RE-- REINFORCES THE FACT THAT IT WAS PREVENTIBLE AND THAT REALLY GOT TO ME.

>> Braude: IN LIGHT OF THAT, I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE OR SO LEFT, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE CLINICAL CHARGES IMENS WALSH AND CLIN DONE, DO YOU THINK EVERYONE WHO DESERVED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLEK PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF YOUR COMMENT, HAS BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE OR AT LEAST IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT THERE IS PROBABLY MORE TO COME, JIM.

AND I THINK THAT THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE THUS FAR IS VERY SERIOUS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MOVES FORWARD, I THINK THERE WILL BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

BUT I DO THINK THERE WILL BE MORE, AS THE PROCESS UNFOLDS, AND MORE TESTIMONY IS RECEIVED.

IT IS HARD TO SAY WHAT ELSE WILL COME OUT, RIGHT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT YOU KNOW THUS FAR THE-- WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH IS VERY SERIOUS.

>> Braude: LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, SENATOR, ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY FRONT.

THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT HAS BEEN CRITICIZED, I THINK APPROPRIATELY SHALL FOR FOCUSING ALL THE ATTENTION ON WALSH AND THE SECRETARY OF VETERAN'S A PAIRS.

AND VIRTUALLY NONE ON THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION, IS THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION SHARE SOME BLAME FOR WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

>> I THINK THAT AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, JIM, ALL INVOLVED IMOAS TO A STRUCTURAL POINT AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WITH OUR INVESTIGATION.

PART OF THAT STRUCTURE, THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES GOING ON WITHth BO OF THESE SOLDIER'S HOMES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, THAT THE REP AND I BELIEVE DO HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH MANY YEARS AGO.

AND THESE SITUATIONS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

SO THAT IS SWA WE ARE HOPING TO CORRECT.

>> Braude: WELL, WE ALL HOPE SO TOO, GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU.

SENATOR, REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WORK, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, JIM, THANK YOU, JIM.

NEXT UP, IT'S BEEN A ONE-TWO-THREE PUNCH TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

FIRST, MANDATORY CLOSURES.

THEN, A SLEW OF PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS.

NOW, WIDESPREAD STAFF SHORTAGES.

AS A RESULT, AROUND A QUARTER OF THE RESTAURANTS THAT WERE OPEN IN THIS STATE IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR HAVE SINCE CLOSED, MANY OF THEM SMALL AND LOCALLY OWNED.

BUT HERE IN BOSTON, ONE LOCAL RESTAURATEUR'S BUSINESS IS NOT ONLY SURVIVING-- IT'S EXPANDING.

NIA GRACE TOOK OVER DARRYL'S CORNER BAR & KITCHEN IN 2018, AND LAST WEEK SHE OPENED A NEW PLACE: THE UNDERGROUND CAFE & LOUNGE IN DORCHESTER.

NIA IS ALSO A CO-FOUNDER OF THE BOSTON BLACK HOSPITALITY COALITION, AND JOINS ME NOW.

NIA T IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, THANKS.

>> Braude: SO I BELIEVE IN FATE.

AND THE RELEVANCE OF THIS IS IF YOU HAD DRIVEN A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO WORK AT DARRYL'S EVERY DAY, THIS MIGHT NEVER HAVE HAPPENED; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Braude: WELL, WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU JUST SAW THE SPACE AND WERE INTRIGUED?

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, I MEAN, SO I AM LOCATED RIGHT HERE ON COLUMBUS AVENUE, SO AM COULDING FROM MY HOME IN ROXBURY, I DRIVE BY CASS AND GET TO COLUMBUS AND MAKE THAT TURN.

AND I HAVE SEEN A PROPERTY THAT WAS DEVELOPING THERE.

A BUILDING THAT KIND OF TOWERS THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO IT REALLY STOOD OUT.

AND WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME AS WELL WAS THAT THE RETAIL SPACE ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

>> Braude: BUT YOU ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THIS IS NOT DOABLE, PARTICULARLY IN A TOUGH ECONOMIC TIME COMING THROUGH 18 MONTH OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT ARE THE FORCES THAT CAME TOGETHER WITH YOU AT THE CENTER OF IT THAT MADE THIS ALL POSSIBLE?

>> WELL, WHEN I FIRST HAD INTEREST IN THE SPACE, IT IT WAS ACTUALLY RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS EVEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME I FELT THAT I MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE APPROPRIATE FOUNDATION TO EVEN CONSIDER A SECOND UNIT.

THAT IS HISTORICALLY BASED ON THE LACK OF INVESTMENT SOMETIMES IN RESTAURANT BUSINESSES, AND SMALLER BUSINESSES, AND PARTICULARLY BUSINESSES OF COLOR.

AND SO WHEN I APPROACHED THIS BUILDING AGAIN IT WAS, IN FACT, SOMEONE WHO RECOMMENDED US.

THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE DEVELOPERS WERE LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY GET SOMEONE ACTIVE IN THE SPACE.

AND IT WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO COULD REALLY KIND OF THRIVE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> Braude: SO ALL THE RHETORIC THAT WE HEAR ABOUT SUPPORTING BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, THIS IS THE SITUATION WHERE THE RUBBER APPEARS TO HAVE ACTUALLY MET THE ROAD.

SOMEBODY MET THEIR WORDS WITH ACTION, EXRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY SWRZ MY UNDERSTANDING IS EARLY ON YOU ARE NOT EVEN PAYING RENT IN THE SHORT TERM, ARE YOU, UNTIL YOU GET UP AND GOING, IS THAT TRUE?

>> IT THERE IS DEFINITELY A RENT DEAL THAT THE DOAFLERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXTEND TO US FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WORKED WITH GREAT TEAMS AND PARTNERS INCLUDING GRAFFITO WHO HELPED US WITH THE MARKETING AND DESIGN OF IT.

YES.

>> Braude: AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS MODEL THAT IS HAPPENING OUT OF NOFORT EASTERN AND WITH THIS DEVELOPER AND YOU IS A MODEL THAT IS BEING REPLICATED OR ATTEMPTING TO BE REPLICATED IN OTHER SETTINGS, PARTICULARLY WHERE THERE IS SOME HISTORICAL TENSION, AS THERE HAS BEEN HERE BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE KIND OF THING FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

>> DEFINITELY NOT A ONE OFF.

WE HAVE MORE CAMPUSES WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED.

THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT I MOW THAT THEY'RE LACKING TO EXTEND EVEN BEYOND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR TOWN.

AND SO I AM REALLY JUST HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT SINCE THE INAUGURATION.

>> Braude: I KNOW THE SOFT OPENING WAS ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THE FORMAL OPENING LITERALLY A WEEK AGO.

ONE OF THE THINGS I ASSUME YOU WOULD FEAR, AND I WONDER IF IT CAME TO REALITY, IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE, DESPITE THIS COMMUNITY, UNIVERSITY MELDING, THAT IT WAS MOSTLY GOING TO BE STUDENTS WHO WERE LIVING IN THIS HOUSING, GOING THERE.

HAS THIS BEEN A MIX SO FAR OF PEOPLE FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS OF NORTH EASTERN WHO WERE PATRONIZING YOUR PLACE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN WE HAVE, LIKE TO ME, I THINK IT IS DELIGHTFUL.

IN TERMS OF THE MIX.

WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE THAT HAS FOLLOWED US WERE DARRYL'S CORNER BAR AND KITCHEN.

WE HAVE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NEW TO US AND GETTING TO KNOW US, AND EVEN INTERESTED IN COMING DOWN THE STREET.

AND IT IS A MIX IN AGE AND POPULATION AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING, HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THAT WORKSPACE, THAT THIRD SPACE.

>> AND BY THE WAY, ARTIST FOR HUMANITY IS PART OF THIS DEAL TOO, WE SHOULD SAY, SO NOT JUST FABULOUS FOOD, FOR THOSE WHO KNOW DARRYL, BUT THERE IS ART, TEENAGE ART FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS OLD AS AS YOUNG AS 14, OLD AS 20, ARTIST FOR HUMANITY ON ALL THE WALLS OF THE RESTAURANT.

>> Braude: TELL US A FEW THINGS THAT ARE EXPLODING OUT OF THE RESTAURANT ON THE MENU.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE THE HOTTEST SO FAR.

>> IF YOU COME TO DARRYLS YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE KIND OF KNOW FOR OUR MACARONI AND CHEESE.

SO WE'VE GOT A BARBECUE STUFFED MACARONI AND CHEESE THAT IS FLYING OFF AS A FAVORITE.

WE ALSO DO A GREAT DARK CHICKEN FLAT BREAD.

YOU CAN ALSO GRAB A SMOOTHIE, THE BERRY ROXBURY IN FACT WHICH GOES TO SUPPORT THE ROXBURY YMCA.

>> Braude: AND BY THE WAY I AM ASSUMING THE NAME OF THE UNDERGROUND IS NOT JUST A COINCIDENCE, THIS IS INTENTIONAL, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE UNDERGROUND FOR ME REPRESENTS OPPORTUNITY.

IT IT REPRESENTS THE INTERSECTION OF COMMONALITIES.

IT HAS ALWAYS REPRESENTED KIND OF THAT TRANSIENT SPACE, THEN AND NOW, WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO, JUST KIND OF ACHIEVE MORE.

AND SO WITH US BEING THERE, WE ARE ABLE TO, AGAIN, PROVIDE THAT COMMUNITY SPACE, WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PLACE TO EARN WITHIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Braude: COMING IN ON THE HEELS OF THE UNFORTUNATE DEMOLITION OF THE HARRIET TUBMAN HOUSE TOO, THE TIMING IT SEEMS TO ME, FOR A GATHERING PLACE IS GREAT.

I ONLY HAVE HALF A MINUTE.

I MENTIONED YOU WERE THE COFOUNDER OF THE BOSTON BLACK HOSPITALITY COALITION.

THE MISSION IS TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF BOSTON'S BLACK-OWNED HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY.

AND IN A HALF A MINUTE, HOW HAS BOSTON'S BLACK-OWNED HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY COME THROUGH THIS 18 MONTH SO FAR?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CHALLENGES AM I WOULD SAY THAT THE CITY HAS DEFINITELY BEEN HELPFUL.

THERE HAVE BEEN PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.

AND KIND OF GIVING US SOME FOOTING.

BUT BUSINESSES STILL NEED HELP.

BUSINESSES HAVE HAD TO CLOSE OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

BUSINESSES LIKE OURS DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES.

AND THEN JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE, YOU KNOW, LUCRATIVE INCOME MAYBE FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, BASED OFF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.

SO WHERE WE LOOK TO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN A RECOVERY PERIOD, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THIS PERIOD FOR SOME TIME TO COME.

AND WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO ASK PEOPLE TO KIND OF EXPAND THEIR REACH.

I'M THINKING ABOUT.

>> IF YOU LOVE DARRYL'S I'M SURE YOU LOVE THE UNDERGROUND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, TAKE CARE.

>> Braude: WORKER SHORTAGES AREN'T JUST A RESTAURANT'S PROBLEM.

ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, NEARLY 16 MILLION AMERICANS QUIT THEIR JOBS BETWEEN APRIL AND JULY, ACROSS SEVERAL INDUSTRIES-- PART OF A NATIONWIDE REASSESSMENT ABOUT WORK AND LIFE IN GENERAL-- PROMPTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S A PHENOMENON GBH NEWS IS TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT IN A NEW PROJECT CALLED "THE BIG QUIT: WHY I'M MOVING ON."

>> YOU KNOW, FIVE OR SIX MONTHS IN, IT WAS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE JUST WANTED TO BLOW UP EVERYTHING THAT WASN'T WORKING.

THEY WANTED TO QUIT THEIR SPOUSES, THEY WANTED TO QUIT THEIR CITY, THEY WANTED TO QUIT THEIR JOB, RELOCATE THEIR HOME.

>> YOU GET TO A CERTAIN AGE AND YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S NO CHANGE, THAT YOU KIND OF FORGET THAT, LIKE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY.

S S S S S S >> AT SOME POINT, I KNOW I'M GOING TO RETIRE.

EITHER A FORCED RETIREMENT, OR I'M GOING TO DECIDE TO RETIRE MYSELF.

I ALWAYS TINKERED WITH BICYCLES SINCE I WAS TEN YEARS OLD.

(/ BICYCLE WHEEL CLICKING/ ) >> I FELT SUCH TREPIDATION ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE SAME ROUTINE I HAD BEEN IN PRE-PANDEMIC AND I THOUGHT, "NO, I'M NOT GOING BACK."

(/ LAUGHS/ ) S S S S S S >> I WAS FIRED BECAUSE I WAS SICK WITH COVID.

>> WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE NINE TO FIVE?

S S S S S S >> COVID HIGHLIGHTED THAT THE INDUSTRY IS NOT WELL-EQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THROUGH CHALLENGES.

(/ INSPIRING MUSIC/ ) >> THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANOTHER MOMENT LIKE THIS, IT'S A ONE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.

>> NO, I'M NOT MADE FOR THIS, I HAVE TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS.

S S S S S S >> I LIKE SEEING MY KID GET OFF THE BUS ONE OR TWO DAYS A WEEK.

>> I HAVE TO START ALL OVER TO REBUILD EVERYTHING.

(/ MELANCHOLY MUSIC/ ) >> Braude: THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "THE BIG QUIT," STEPHANIE LEYDON, JOINS ME NOW.

HEY THERE, STEPHANIE.

>> HEY JIM.

>> Braude: SO WE HEARD A TON, PARTICULARLY IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY ABOUT PEOPLE DECIDING NOT TO COME BACK TO WORK.

BUT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT JUST A PHENOMENON OF ONE SEGMENT, ONE INDUSTRY, THIS IS VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE, IS IT NOT?

>> IT IS EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD.

ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE INDUSTRY WAS HIT EARLY AND HIT HARD.

THOSE 16 MILLION PEOPLE WHO QUIT, THAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PIECE, THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THOSE, AND THAT WAS THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, THEY WERE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.

WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE, HECK, PEOPLE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, JUST TODAY I HEARD FROM A TEACHER WHO SAID THAT'S IT, I'M DONE.

SO WE ARE FINDING THAT THIS IS A PHENOMENON THAT IS REACHING ACROSS INDUSTRY.

>> Braude: WHY IS THAT TEACHER SAYING THAT'S IT, I'M DONE?

WHAT IS HE OR SHE SAYING?

>> THAT YOU KNOW, SHE'S SEEING WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WHICH IS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST, PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DEALING SO MANY ISSUES, IN MANY CASESK TRAUMA.

AND ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN EXACERBATED DURING THE PANDEMIC, I THINK WE ALL FELT THAT, RIGHT, IF SOMETHING WAS A PROBLEM, IT HAS BEEN WORSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, FOR THE MOST PART.

AND IT WAS THE WORSENING OF THIS.

PLUS NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT WAS JUST A BREAKING POINT FOR A TEACHER WHO SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS EXTREMELY COMMITTED TO THE PROFESSION.

BUT HAD TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU USE THE WORD "QUIT" THE BIG QUIT, QUITTING IS NOT ALWAYS BY CHOICE.

I THINK THE IMPLICATION IS I CHOSE TO QUIT.

BUT SOMETIMES YOU ARE FORCED TO QUIT.

I ASSUME YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING THAT AS WELL, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT POINT, JIM.

WE'RE ALMOST RAISING T THAT SOMETIMES THE JOB OR THE SITUATION QUITS YOU.

YOU KNOW, IN MARCH OF 2020, RIGHT WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST HIT 13 MILLION AMERICANS LOST THEIR JOB.

THAT WAS NASTY.

AND EVEN AS THE ECONOMY HAS REOPENED, EVEN AS JOBS HAVE BECOME PLENTIFUL ONCE AGAIN, PEOPLE AREN'T NECESSARILY RETURNING TO THEM.

THERE IS A STUDY OUT OF THE PE-W RESEARCH THAT SAID ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE ARE SAYING MAYBE NOT GO BACK TO THE SAME INDUSTRY.

PROBABLY MAKE SOME KIND OF-- A PIVOT.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING EVIDENCE OF THAT.

I WALKED INTO A RETAIL STORE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AS A SHOPPER.

AND WAS ASKED IF I WOULD FILL OUT A JOB APPLICATION.

I MEAN THEY'RE-- -- IF THEY'RE TAKING ME, I THINK IT DOES SPEAK TO THE DESPERATION OF EMPLOYERS, RIGHT?

>> Braude: SO WHEN ARE YOU STARTING?

>> I WILL LET YOU KNOW.

>> Braude.

>> I AM PRETTY BUSY WITH THIS.

>> Braude: ONE OF THE MOST DEPRESSION-- DEPRESSING OR BUT HONEST PART OF THAT TRAILER, IS IT ISN'T JUST JOBS PEOPLE ARE QUITTING.

THAT TRAILER, YOU CAN SAY T MARRIAGES, I MEAN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN THIS MOMENT OF RECKONING, RIGHT?

AND YOU HEARD, I SPOKE WITH A WORKPLACE CONSULTANT THAT WORKS A LOT WITH PARENTS.

AND SHE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC STARTED SURVEYING, PARENTS, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A COUPLE GLOBALLY.

AND IMMEDIATELY SHE WAS HEARING YES, I WANT TO QUIT MY JOB.

YES, I WANT TO QUIT MY RELATIONSHIP, YES, YES, I WANT TO QUIT WHERE I LIVE, ANYTHING THAT WASN'T WORKING WAS UP FOR REEVALUATION.

WE HEARD THESE STORIES AND WE ARE SEEING THEM AS WE BEGIN THIS REPORTING PROJECT.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED RECENTLY ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY AND LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE LEFT THE CITY SHE, IN HER CASE RETURNED HOME TO CAPE COD.

IT IS NOT GOING BACK BUT SHE IS REESTABLISHING HER LIFE IN WHAT WAS HER HOMETOWN GROWING UP.

AND SHE IS STARTING HER OWN BUSINESS.

SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY MAKING-- THEY'RE JUST SHAKERRING EVERYTHING UP ON EVERY LEVEL.

>> Braude: LAST THING, IMAGINER ORE AND I HAVE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE RADIO.

MARJORIE EAGEN AND I, WHO HAVE QUIT, THE COMMON THING I THINK THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THOSE GOALS IS THEY SAY SOMETHING LIKE LET'S FACE IT, THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.

IF I DON'T DO IT NOW, I'M NEVER GOING TO DO IT, IS THAT A COMMON THREAD THROUGH AT LEAST THE INITIAL PART OF THIS REPORTING?

>> I THINK THAT IT IS.

THAT IS EXACTLY IT.

SORT OF THIS NOW OR NEVER, YOU KNOW.

WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH A PANDEMIC OR ARE LIVING THROUGH IT.

AND I THINK THAT SLOWED THINGS DOWN FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

MADE THEM THINK ABOUT THINGS.

AND THERE IS A SENSE OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE MOMENT TO MAKE A CHANGE.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK, AND HAVING TIME TO KIND OF REFLECT IS ALSO IMPACTING HOW PEOPLE WILL DO IT.

>> Braude: DON'T QUIT NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, THANKS SO MUCH, STEPHANIE, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS, JIM.

>> Braude: YOU CAN FOLLOW THE BIG QUIT STORY AT GBH NEWS.ORG YOU WILL CAN KS ALSO CONTACT US AT GBH NEWS/THE BIG QUIT TO SHARE YOUR STORY.

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

"WASHINGTON POST" COLUMNIST AND LONGTIME REPUBLICAN-TURNED INDEPENDENT BIDEN VOTER, JENNIFER RUBIN WILL JOIN ME ON HER NEW BOOK, "RESISTANCE: HOW WOMEN SAVED DEMOCRACY FROM DONALD TRUMP."

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND STAY SAFE.

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