ADAM: TONIGHT ON "TALKING POLITICS," A SLEW OF PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTIONS ARE ONE BIG STEP CLOSER TO GOING IN FRONT OF VOTERS NEXT FALL.

SO, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO VOTE ON?

AND WHAT ARE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS?

PLUS, THE HEAD OF ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON THE IMPACT OF THE STATE'S NEW FREE TUITION PROGRAM FOR ADULTS 25 AND OLDER.

BUT FIRST, EARLY VOTING IS NOW UNDERWAY IN THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION FOR THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL, AFTER A STRETCH MARKED BY CONFLICT AND CONTROVERSY.

THREE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL'’S PROGRESSIVE BLOC ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR JOBS, INCLUDING RICARDO ARROYO, WHO'’S BEEN DOGGED BY CONTROVERSIES SINCE RUNNING FOR SUFFOLK DA LAST YEAR, AND KENDRA LARA, WHO'’S FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES AFTER CRASHING A CAR INTO A JAMAICA PLAIN HOME.

ALL THIS AT A TIME WHEN THE CLIMATE ON THE COUNCIL SEEMS ESPECIALLY TOXIC, WITH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ED FLYNN TO CALL FOR NEW ANTI-BULLYING RULES FOR THE BODY.

SO, WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST STORYLINES TO WATCH WHEN VOTERS HEAD TO THE POLLS NEXT WEEK?

I'’M JOINED NOW BY FORMER "BAY STATE BANNER" SENIOR EDITOR YAWU MILLER, AND GIN DUMCIUS, MANAGING EDITOR FOR "THE DORCHESTER REPORTER."

ALWAYS TERRIFIC TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THE THREE INCUMBENTS, ANDERSON WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT SEVEN, HOW VULNERABLE DO YOU SEE THEM?

GIN: I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE ENDORSEMENTS AND SOME OF THE SUPPORTERS HAVE NOT ABANDONED THEM DESPITE THE ETHICS ISSUES AND THE CAR CRASH.

THE EXPECTATION IS PROBABLY FOR ARROYO TO MAKE IT THROUGH TO THE FINAL, AND THE QUESTION I THINK ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'’S MINDS IS, WHO IS GOING TO BE THE NUMBER TWO IN THESE RACES?

HOW MANY VOTES DO THEY GET AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT?

ADAM: TO BE CLEAR, YOU EXPECT ARROYO TO MAKE IT THROUGH AS THE TOP VOTE-GETTER?

GIN: IT IS POSSIBLE, ABSOLUTELY.

ADAM: HOW ABOUT FOR LARA AND FERNANDEZ ANDERSON?

I SHOULD MENTION, FERNANDEZ ANDERSON ADMITTED OR ACKNOWLEDGED AN ETHICS VIOLATION EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR HIRING HER SON AND SISTER TO WORK FOR HER IN CITY HALL, WHICH YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO.

RICARDO ARROYO HAD SEEN ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT DATING BACK TO HIS TEEN YEARS SURFACE WHEN HE RAN FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY DA.

THERE WERE ALSO QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT HIS COMMUNE IGNITION WITH RACHAEL ROLLINS, THE FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FOR MASSACHUSETTS.

HE WAS NUDGING HER TO TAKE ACTION THAT WOULD BENEFIT HIS CAMPAIGN.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THIS THREESOME AND HOW VULNERABLE THEY ARE?

YAWU: I THINK LARA IS THE ONE WHO PEOPLE SEE AS CLOSEST, THAT SHE HAS TWO OPPONENTS, BOTH OF WHOM ARE BEING BACKED BY OTHER CITY COUNSELORS.

ADAM: WE SHOULD SAY THEIR NAMES.

YAWU: YOU HAVE JOSE RUDY'’S.

THESE ARE THE ARROYO APPOINTMENTS.

JOSÉ RUIZ IS BEING BACKED.

IT IS KIND OF UNPRECEDENTED TO SEE THIS MANY ENDORSEMENTS FROM COUNSELORS AND MAYORS AND CITY COUNCIL RACES.

WE HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN THIS BEFORE, BUT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS A BACKLASH AGAINST A COUNCIL THAT HAS BECOME MAJORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR, MAJORITY WOMEN, AND LEANED MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN ANY TIME IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

ADAM: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE BACKLASH ISSUE, AND SINCE I SCREWED IT UP, LET'’S TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES.

THENBEN WEBBER, THEN WILLIAM KING.

HE IS A PERSON OF COLOR WHO HAS BEEN BACKED BY SOME OF THE WHITE COUNSELORS, MORE CONSERVATIVE COUNSELORS.

AM I RIGHT?

YAWU: THERE IS ALSO SUPER PAC MONEY COMING IN, WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR A CITY COUNCIL RACE.

THESE INTERVENTIONS AGAIN LOOK LIKE, LET'’S TAKE BOSTON BACK TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS A MAJORITY PEOPLE OF COLORS CITY, BEFORE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENTED THAT.

ADAM: TALK A BIT ABOUT THE OUTSIDE MONEY THAT IS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE.

WHO IS LOOKING TO INFLUENCE THESE RACES AND HOW ARE THEY DOING IT?

GIN: THERE ARE A COUPLE SUPER PAC'’S WHO HAVE FORMED, AND TYPICALLY MASSACHUSETTS SUPER PAC'’S ARE FUNDED BY TWO TYPES.

ONE IS WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS, AND THE OTHER IS UNIONS.

THE MOST ACTIVE SUPER PAC IS ONE TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DISTRICT THREE RACE, DISTRICT FIVE, AND DISTRICT SIX.

HE ALSO SPENT OVER $1 MILLION TRYING TO DEFEAT MAYOR WU AND BO OST ANISSA GEORGE IN THE 2023 RACE.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE HOW MUCH IMPACT THE SUPER PAC WILL HAVE.

IT IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT BUT NOT UNEXPECTED.

SUPER PAC'’S HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER A DECADE, AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THIS.

YOU WILL SEE SUPER PAC'’S IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE RACES.

IT IS UNPRECEDENTED BUT NOT UNEXPECTED.

ADAM: COULD YOU SEE THAT ACTIVITY CREATING A BACKLASH?

I NEED TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY MIXED UP THE RACES AND POTENTIALLY CONFUSED VIEWERS.

I DON'’T WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.

IN THE CASE OF THE KENDRA LARA RACE, IF I REMOVE HER CLICK CLICK, THAT SUPER PAC HAS BEEN SPENDING MONEY ON ADVERTISING AND CAMPAIGNS FOR BOTH HER OPPONENTS.

I CAN IMAGINE SOME VOTERS SAYING, THIS JUST DOESN'’T SEEM FAIR, THEY ARE OUT TO GET HER.

COULD YOU SEE THAT REBOUNDING IN HER BENEFIT?

GIN: IT IS POSSIBLE.

BEN WEBER SAID IT WAS BONKERS THAT -- HE WAS BOTHERED BY IT.

IF YOU'’RE TALKING TO THE AVERAGE VOTER AND WHAT A SUPER PAC IS, THERE'’S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS AND MYSTIQUE ABOUT THEM.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT KIND OF A FACT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE.

ADAM: I WANT TO ASK YOU MORE THAT THERE IS A--ABOUT THE IDEA THAT THERE'’S A WHITE BACKLASH.

IN THE ARROYO RACE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR RUNNING AGAINST HIM.

AND WITH LARA.

I COULD IMAGINE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'’T WANT TO SEE ARROYO OR LARA REELECTED HEARING YOUR COMMENTS AND SAYING, THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACIAL ANIMUS OR BACKLASH, THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY ACCUSED OF DOING THINGS THAT WE DON'’T THINK COUNSELORS SHOULD BE DOING, THAT ARE BEYOND THE PALE, AND WE NEED NEW VOICES.

WHAT WOULD YOUR RESPONSE BE?

YAWU: OVER THE DECADES, YOU HAVE SEEN COUNSELORS VIOLATE ETHICS LAWS.

MORE RECENTLY, WE HAVE SEEN FOUR COUNSELORS BACK A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY.

DID THEY FILE ETHICS REPORTS SAYING THEY ARE BACKING A LAWSUIT AGAINST REDISTRICTING LAWS?

IT IS THE SAME QUARTET.

YOU SEE ALL THESE 9-4 SPLITS IN THE VOTES AND COUNSELORS FLYNN, MURPHY, FLAHERTY, BAKER, WHO REPRESENTS SOUTH BOSTON IN THE MOST CONSERVATIVE PRECINCTS IN DORCHESTER.

I THINK IN DECADES PAST, YOU HAD A MAJORITY CONSERVATIVE WHITE MALE COUNCIL, MAJORITY IRISH-AMERICAN COUNSEL.

NOW THERE IS JUST FOUR OF THEM.

I THINK BAKER AND MURPHY HOSTED A FUNDRAISER FOR WILLIAM KING.

HE IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

HE LEANS CONSERVATIVE.

HE BACKS THE POLICE, WHEREAS AND -- WHEREAS LARA AND ARROYO WANT TO BOOST MONEY FOR CRIME PREVENTION RATHER THAN POLICING.

THOSE ARE THE LINES YOU ARE SEEING THE SPLIT ON.

IT IS MORE IDEOLOGICAL THAN RACIAL, BUT RACE PLAYS A ROLE IN IT.

ADAM: WHAT IS MARTY WALSH UP TO IN THIS CONTEST?

GIN: HE ENDORSED JOHN FITZGERALD IN DISTRICT THREE.

ADAM: A CONSERVATIVE FIREBRAND ON THE COUNCIL.

GIN: AND A CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF WALSH.

WALSH TOLD ME HE WOULD BE ENDORSING OTHERS DOWN THE ROAD.

I THINK THE EXPECTATION WAS HE WOULD BE ENDORSING JOSE RUIZ.

THE TWO OF THEM ARE CLOSE.

AS YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF MARTY WALSH ENDORSEMENTS, A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO THE PERSONAL CONNECTION.

IT IS HOW LONG THEY HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER OR THE FAMILY MEMBERS.

ADAM: RUIZ, WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST RICARDO ARROYO, HE IS A MORE MODERATE DEMOCRAT AKIN TO WALSH, MORE OF A CENTRIST.

30 YEARS AS A BOSTON POLICE OFFICER, MORE PRO-POLICE.

GIN: THIS IS WITHIN CITY HALL MULTILAYERED.

IT IS RACIAL, GENERATIONAL, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF WHERE PEOPLE FALL ON POLITICS.

WITHIN THE POLITICAL SPHERE, YOU HAVE THE MODERATE TO CONSERVATIVE BLOCK.

YOU HAVE THE PROGRESSIVE BLOCK THAT INCLUDES ARROYO, LARA , FERNANDEZ ANDERSON, AND MEIJIA.

I DON'’T KNOW IF PRAGMATIC IS THE RIGHT TERM, BUT IT IS GABRIELLA COLETA.

ADAM: MORE IN LINE WITH THE MAYOR.

YAWU: -I HAVE- GIN: I THINK SOME OF THE COUNSELORS WITH NOT BLOCK OR TRYING TO EXPAND WITHIN TH -- WITHIN THAT BLOCK ARE TRYING TO EXPAND THAT BLOC.

ADAM: IN DISTRICT FIVE, WE'’VE GOT THE MAYOR ENDORSING HENRIQUE PEPIN.

DOES IT MATTER WHO WINS THIS CLASH OF SURROGATE CANDIDATES?

I AM FASCINATED BY THE DYNAMIC, BUT I CAN BE A SUPERFICIAL PERSON.

DO YOU THINK IT IS SIGNIFICANT WHO PREVAILS?

YAWU: I DON'’T KNOW THAT THE VOTERS -- HOW MUCH DOES A MAYORAL ENDORSEMENT MATTER IN THE CITY COUNCIL RACE?

HISTORICALLY, WHEN YOU HAVE SEEN THEM WAY IN, IT HASN'’T NECESSARILY MOVED THE NEEDLE MUCH.

PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO UNSEAT A SITTING COUNSELOR.

WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, IT HAS NOT BEEN TERRIBLY EFFECTIVE.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I THINK EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING THAT RACE, WANTING TO SEE HOW THAT COMES OUT.

IT IS A TEST OF THE MAYOR'’S INFLUENCE.

CAN SHE GET PEPEN INTO THE NUMBER TWO SLOT OR THE NUMBER ONE SLOT?

ADAM: ANY PREDICTIONS YOU WANT TO HAZARD BEFORE WE WRAP UP?

GIN: I AM VERY BETTER PRODUCTIONS, SO NO.

[LAUGHTER] ADAM: THAT IS PROBABLY SMART.

YAWU: I HAVE NOT PUT MONEY ON ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES.

I THINK WE WILL SEE ARROYO IN THE PRELIMINARY.

I THINK IT IS SAFE.

I THINK TANIA FERNANDES ANDERSON , SHE IS RUNNING AGAINST PERENNIAL CANDIDATES, SO SHE WILL DO WELL.

LARA IS THE ONE EVERYBODY IS WATCHING.

ADAM: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

DOZENS OF PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTIONS JUST GOT A GREEN LIGHT FROM THE STATE'’S ATTORNEY GENERAL, ONE OF A FEW BIG HURDLES THEY HAVE TO CLEAR BEFORE THEY CAN GO BEFORE MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS NEXT YEAR.

A HUGE VARIETY OF INITIATIVES MADE THE CUT, AND MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY INTENSELY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT WHETHER YOU'’LL HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THEM HINGES ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

GBH NEWS STATE HOUSE REPORTER KATIE LANNAN JOINS ME ON THE BIG IDEAS THAT JUST MOVED FORWARD AND THE COMPLICATED PROCESS THAT COULD BRING THEM TO THE BALLOT IN 2024.

KATIE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

KATIE: IN YOUR WRITE UP FOR GBH NEWS, YOU SAID THE TOTAL TALLY OF BALLOT QUESTIONS, 34, IS NOT QUITE AS IMPRESSIVE AS IT INITIALLY SEEMS.

WHY IS THAT?

KATIE: PART OF THE LENGTHY AND COMPLEX PROCESS OF GETTING ON THE BALLOT IS THERE ARE USUALLY SEVERAL COURT CHALLENGES TO A LOT OF THESE, AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE AG'’S OFFICE.

SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEE GROUPS THAT SUPPORT ONE POLICY SUBMIT SEVERAL DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF A QUESTION WITH WORDING, TWEAKS, MINOR DIFFERENCES, IN HOPES OF CLEARING THOSE HURDLES.

THERE'’S THINGS LIKE THE PROPONENTS OF A VOTER ID BALLOT QUESTION, THEY SUBMITTED EIGHT VERSIONS.

THE GROUP THAT WANTS TO DEFINE DRIVERS FOR COMPANIES LIKE UBER AND LYFT AS CONTRACTORS AND NOT EMPLOYEES HAVE NINE.

THEY WILL COALESCE BEHIND ONE.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE EIGHT VOTER ID QUESTIONS ON YOUR BALLOT.

ADAM: THEY WILL GO WITH THE ONE THEY DEEM MOST LEGALLY VIABLE AND MAY BE POLITICALLY VIABLE AS WELL?

KATIE: THERE IS A LOT TO CONSIDER.

ADAM: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ARRAY OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE, ARE THERE ANY UC THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY A LARGE NUMBER OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS LIVE ON A DAILY BASIS?

SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY ESOTERIC, LIKE THE STATE AUDITOR LOOKING FOR EXPLICIT AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO AUDIT THE LEGISLATURE.

IT COULD BENEFIT CITIZENS.

BUT WHICH ONES WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN ORDINARY PEOPLE'’S LIVES?

KATIE: I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHO THE PERSON IS, AS YOU ALLUDED TO.

IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO FOUND HEALTH BENEFITS FROM PSYCHEDELIC SUBSTANCES, A MOVE TO DECRIMINALIZE SOME OF THOSE MIGHT MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU.

IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO WORKS IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, WHO WORKS A TIPPED JOB AS A SERVER, THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THE TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE, BRING IT UP TO THE SAME LEVEL AS THE FULL MINIMUM WAGE, AND I THINK WE WILL SEE AN ARGUMENT THAT COULD HAVE BROUGHT OUR RAMIFICATIONS FOR DINERS IN RESTAURANTS, RESTAURANT OWNERS.

ADAM: I REMEMBER GOING TO A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THAT LAST YEAR.

KATIE: THERE HAS BEEN ADVOCACY AROUND THE LEGISLATURE FOR THAT, AND WE WILL SEE THAT AT THE BALLOT AS WELL.

ONE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT A BROAD SWATH OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE STATE IS THE PROPOSAL BACKED BY THE MTA, THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, PROPOSED BY A NUMBER OF BUSINESS GROUPS THAT WOULD STOP USING THE MCAS EXAM AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.

ADAM: THAT SEEMS LIKE A BIGGIE.

KATIE: IT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE TEST AS A WHOLE, IT WOULD JUST DECOUPLE IT FROM GRADUATION, AND STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVE THEIR COMPETENCY IN OTHER WAYS.

ADAM: WE SHOULD MENTION, MIKE CONLEY'’S PUSH TO GIVE CITY AND TOWNS THE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT RENT CONTROL IF THEY WANT.

ONE FASCINATING THING TO ME IS SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE RENT CONTROL BECOME A REALITY AGAIN DON'’T LIKE THAT HE IS DOING IT THIS WAY.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE RATHER THAN THE DIRECT DEMOCRACY ROUTE.

KATIE: IT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE A LEGISLATURE PUSHING AN ALTERNATIVE TO GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

PEOPLE TAKE THINGS TO THE BALLOT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THEY ARE NOT GETTING TRACTION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN EFFORTS TO LIFT THAT STATEWIDE BAN ON RENT CONTROL, WHICH WAS PUT IN PLACE AT THE BALLOT.

THAT HAS NOT GOTTEN A LOT OF TRACTION WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

ADAM: PROBABLY IN LARGE PART FROM YOUR REPORTING, MY RECOLLECTION IS THEY HAVE NOT SOUNDED ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD THINK THAT MIKE CONLEY PROBABLY HAS A SENSE OF WHERE THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD AND WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT DO.

ANY BIG NEWS THAT DID NOT MAKE THE CUT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

KATIE: ONE THING THAT WAS INTERESTING IS THE WAY THE AG CERTIFIES THE QUESTIONS.

SHE IS LOOKING AT WHETHER THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND.

SHE IS NOT LOOKING AT WHETHER THEY ARE GOOD POLICY OR WHETHER SHE LIKES IT.

THE CONSTITUTION LAYS OUT RULES FOR WHAT CAN GO ON THE BALLOT.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS IF A SIMILAR QUESTION HAS GONE BEFORE VOTERS IN THE PAST TWO ELECTIONS, NOPE, NOT GETTING THROUGH THIS TIME.

SOME OF THE ONES SHE DID NOT CERTIFY, WHICH ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OUT OF THE 42 FILED WITH HER DIDN'’T GET CERTIFIED.

THREE OF THOSE WOULD HAVE IMPOSED VOTING REFORMS THAT INCLUDE A RANK-CHOICE VOTING SYSTEM, AND THAT FAILED AT THE BALLOT IN 2020, SO IT IS STILL NOT ABLE TO GO BACK BEFORE VOTERS.

ADAM: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THESE THINGS TO END UP ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR?

KATIE: IT IS A LONG ROAD TO THE 2024 BALLOT FROM HERE.

THE NEXT STEP FOR CAMPAIGNS IS TO GATHER SOMEWHERE AROUND 75,000 REGISTERED VOTER SIGNATURES IN THE NEXT 11 WEEKS.

THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER.

THAT IS MORE THAN THE POPULATION OF FRAMINGHAM OR HAVERHILL.

THERE IS A BIG LIFT THERE.

OF COURSE, WE WILL ALSO SEE, AS I MENTIONED, SOME LEGAL CHALLENGES COME THROUGH.

THE SUPREME COURT, THE STATE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT MIGHT END UP WEIGHING IN ON WHETHER THESE ARE BALLOT SUITABLE.FOR THE CAMPAIGNS THAT DO GET THE SIGNATURES THAT THEY NEED BY THIS FALL, WINTER TIME PERIOD, YOU WILL SEE THE NEXT STEP THERE IS THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES IF THEY WANT TO PASS IT RIGHT THERE, IF THEY WANT TO PUT FORWARD AN ALTERNATIVE.

WE SAW THAT WITH THE GRAND BARGAIN, THE PACKAGE OF LAWS THAT GRADUALLY RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE I'’LL ALSO FOLDING AND RETAILER BUSINESS FRIENDLY LANGUAGE, LIKE PHASING OUT TIME AND A HALF ON HOLIDAYS, SO THE LEGISLATURE CAN PUT FORWARD A COMPROMISE.

ADAM: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ONE THING QUICKLY.

THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS TO PEOPLE INCARCERATED FOR FELONY CRIMES.

DIFFERENT PROCEDURE FOR THAT ONE TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

KATIE: YEP.

EVEN LONGER.

THAT WOULD BE FOR 2026.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO SIGN OFF ON IT TWICE BEFORE IT COULD REACH THE BALLOT.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SIGNATURE GATHERING PROCESS AS WELL.

ADAM: I HUGELY APPRECIATE THIS PRIMER BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A COMPLEX PROCESS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

KATIE: THANK YOU.

ADAM: SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION, AND STUDENTS ARE BACK ON CAMPUS AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, AND UNDER A NEW STATE INITIAVE, MANY OF THEM WILL BE ATTENDING FREE OF CHARGE.

THAT'’S THANKS TO A NEW $20 MILLION PROGRAM, MASS RECONNECT, THAT'’S SET TO WAIVE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUITION FOR ALL STATE RESIDENTS AGES 25 AND UP WHO DON'’T ALREADY HAVE A DEGREE.

THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JACKIE JENKINS-SCOTT, JOINS ME NOW.

TO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT IS WORKING SO FAR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

JACKIE: GLAD TO BE HERE.

ADAM: $20 MILLION HAS BEEN DISBURSED TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE.

HOW MUCH OF THAT WENT TO YOUR INSTITUTION?

JACKIE: EXCITING.

BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM AND WE ARE ALL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT, WE BELIEVE THAT UP TO 8000 STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO QUALIFY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO, THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS REALLY BEING CAREFUL.

WE HAD A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH I AM PLEASED TO SAY WE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH OUR ALLOTMENT.

WE ARE HOPING THAT MORE MONEY WILL BE RELEASED.

THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING TIME FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

ADAM: I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE POINT YOU JUST MADE, THAT THE FUNDING YOU GOT FROM THIS $20 MILLION CHUNK IS NOT JUST FOR THIS YEAR, IT IS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

KATIE: NO, IT IS FOR THIS YEAR AND THE SPRING SEMESTER, WHICH STARTS IN JANUARY.

WE BELIEVE ABOUT 6500 STUDENTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, MAYBE UP TO 8000 OR MORE.

ADAM: THAT IS JUST AT ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

JACKIE: ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

ADAM: FOR YOUR INSTITUTION, HOW MONEY PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING OR DO YOU EXPECT TO BENEFIT?

JACKIE: WE HAVE ENROLLED NEARLY 200.

WITH THIS FALL ENROLLMENT.

OUR JOB IS TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS, WHOM AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, ARE 25 AND OLDER AND HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREE OR WOULD LIKE TO GET STARTED.

ADAM: HOW HARD HAS IT BEEN TO GET THE WORD OUT?

OUR PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS?

I KNOW IT CAN'’T A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS TIME TO READ THE PAPERS.

JACKIE: IT IS A NEW PROGRAM, SO ALL OF OUR JOBS IS TO KEEP GETTING THE WORD OUT AND MAKE SURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE LEARN ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT THEM IN THEIR LIVES.

ADAM: ARE THERE STUDENTS AT ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHO ARE RECEIVING THESE FUNDS MAKING THEIR TUITION FREE WHO SAID TO YOU, I WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WERE NOT FOR THIS EXTRA FUNDING?

JACKIE: ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE SEEN OUR ENROLLMENT -- RIGHT NOW, WE ARE UP ABOUT 30% OVER LAST YEAR, AND IT IS REALLY EXCITING.

I HAPPENED TO BE TALKING WITH ONE OF OUR PROFESSORS, JUSTIN PERRY, WHO RUNS OUR MEDIA ARTS PROGRAM.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 10 STUDENTS IN HIS ENTRY-LEVEL MEDIA ARTS CLASS YESTERDAY, OR EARLIER THIS WEEK.

AND ALL OF THEM SAID THEY CAME BECAUSE OF THIS FREE OPPORTUNITY.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

ADAM: YOU IN AN INTERVIEW THAT YOU GAVE TO ANOTHER MEDIA OUTLET, YOU SPOKE WITH A WOMAN WHO SAID SHE DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE 40 YEARS AGO, AND SHE PLANNED TO COME BACK BECAUSE OF THIS.

ANY UPDATE ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HER?

JACKIE: I HAVE TO FIND OUT IF SHE IS ENROLLED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE HAS GOTTEN THIS PROGRAM -- WE HAVE MADE THIS PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO HER.

I AM SURE SHE HAS.

ADAM: PERHAPS IN THAT SAME INTERVIEW, I SAW THIS FUNDING DESCRIBED AS NOT THE ENTIRETY OF COVERING -- NOT COVERING THE ENTIRETY OF TUITION COSTS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BENEFITING, BUT MAYBE HELPING THEM GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY DIDN'’T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO PAY $500 OR $1000.

AM I RIGHT?

JACKIE: THAT IS A LAST DOLLAR PROGRAM.

IF A STUDENT QUALIFIES FOR OTHER SOURCE OF SUPPORT, WE GO THROUGH THAT FIRST, THEN THEIR TUITION AND BOOKS ARE COMPLETELY COVERED SO THAT THEY HAVE NO OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR TUITION AND BOOKS.

BUT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE OTHER NEEDS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

FOOD INSECURITY, HOUSING, CHILDCARE NEEDS, AND SO ON.

OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND RESOURCES TO COVER ALL OF THEIR NEEDS, OR HELP THEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE RESOURCES.

BUT THEY CAN BE ASSURED THEY CAN GO TO SCHOOL TUITION FREE.

ADAM: I AM GLAD YOU MENTIONED THOSE OTHER NEEDS, BECAUSE IF PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGE POPULATIONS, THEY MIGHT NOT BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH FOOD INSECURITY OR DON'’T HAVE MONEY FOR RENT, EVEN A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS COULD BE COMPLETELY PIVOTAL.

JACKIE: IT OPENS AN OPPORTUNITY.SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WORK 1, 2, THREE JOBS.

SOME OF OUR STUDENTS WORKED THREE JOBS.

ADAM: I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS, AND TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL.

JACKIE: TRYING TO STUDY AND GO TO SCHOOL.

IT IS A CHALLENGE.

THAT TELLS YOU THE PERSEVERANCE AND THE HOPE AND THE COURAGE THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE.

I SO ADMIRE THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT THAT THEY ARE CONTENDING WITH.

TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, TO SEE THAT THROUGH IS REALLY QUITE AMAZING.

ADAM: THIS PROGRAM IS ROLLING OUT AS STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS ARE POISED TO RESTART.

HOW BIG OF A HIT IS IT GOING TO BE FOR STUDENTS AT ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHEN THOSE PAYMENTS RESTART?

JACKIE: IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD WHO HAVE HAD LOANS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THAT DISCONTINUANCE OR THE PAUSE IN THE REPAYMENTS.

ACROSS THE BOARD, IT IS GOING TO HURT.

THAT IS WHY MASS RECONNECT IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THIS MAY LESSEN THE BURDEN FOR SO MANY STUDENTS.

MULTIPLE BURDENS THAT YOU ARE CONTENDING WITH.

AND IF WE CAN TAKE SOME THINGS OFF THE PLATE, FREE TUITION IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS AN OPENING FOR STUDENTS TO REALIZE THEIR DREAMS AND CONTINUE ON THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE RESULTS OF WHAT EDUCATION MEANS IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM HEALTH AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY.

IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT IN THIS STATE, IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE HAVE CONSENSUS, WE HAVE A GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO BELIEVES HIGHLY IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

AND A STATE LEGISLATURE WHO SUPPORTED THIS.

ADAM: YOU MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED THE LAST QUESTION.

I WAS GOING TO ASK IF YOU WOULD EXPECT THIS FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY YES.

JACKIE: ONE OF THE THINGS IS OUR SENATE PRESIDENT IS REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE MAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS.

SO, THAT IS EXCITING.

MY HOPE AND OUR HOPE, I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE, WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS FUNDING WILL CONTINUE, AND WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.

ADAM: IF THAT HAPPENS, PLEASE COME BACK.

JACKIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

ADAM: THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT DO COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

THE EMAIL IS TALKINGPOLITICS@ WGBH.ORG.

OR YOU CAN FIND ME ON X.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.