WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.399 --> 00:00:06.320 It's Night Side with Dan ray On Doubsy Boston's news video. 2 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:10.359 Thank you al the Red Sox. They missed a couple 3 00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:14.320 of extra points nineteen they were nineteen and the hell 4 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:17.679 the Orioles to a field goal, so a football like 5 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.480 score at Fenway Park today, there were a couple of 6 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:21.920 the Oriole pitches at the end. 7 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:24.519 They have astronomical earned run averages. 8 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:27.679 Now they'll spend the rest of the year working those 9 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.199 are earned run averages, including I guess at third basement 10 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.240 he gave up eight runs in one inning, so he 11 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:35.039 hasn't earned run average at seventy two. 12 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:38.799 I'm someone who reads box scores, and I gotta tell 13 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:41.960 you that's tough. That's a tough. 14 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:44.960 That's we thought early on the Oriols would be a 15 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.280 pretty good team, and I think that's not to be. 16 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.679 They've already fired their manager and it's going to be 17 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.679 a long season in Baltimore. Well, welcome back everybody. We'll 18 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:57.280 dispense with the sports talk here and we're going to 19 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:02.000 get to politics, which is what is our meeting potatoes 20 00:01:02.039 --> 00:01:04.640 here on Nightside and with us, I'm delighted to have 21 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:10.439 former Boston City councilor Frank Baker, Frank Baker, Welcome to Knightside. 22 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:11.599 It's been a while. How are you. 23 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:14.920 I'm good, Dan, Thanks for having me tonight. 24 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.239 Well, I have to. 25 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:21.760 Go over this because you are walking a path but 26 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:26.519 very few politicians walk, and that is you ran for 27 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:32.760 city council and were elected and served six terms twelve 28 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:36.879 years as a district councilor, representing sort of a district 29 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:39.799 that primarily was Dorchester, but you had a little bit 30 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:42.239 of other sections of the city in your district. 31 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:46.560 Correct, Yeah, Lower Roxbury and a little piece of the 32 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:48.280 South End, a little bit of South Boston. 33 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:51.760 Okay, So a couple of years ago you would have 34 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.959 been re elected. I think there's no question about that. 35 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.599 But a couple of years ago you decided twelve years 36 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:02.560 is enough and you stepped aside. And there's another, uh 37 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:08.120 district councilor from from your old district. Why did you 38 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:14.400 step away? You know, it's very few politicians retire or 39 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:15.639 step away voluntarily. 40 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:20.080 Well, to be honest with you, did I was simply 41 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:23.759 out of gas and you know it was a difficult 42 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:28.120 It was a difficult group. I guess you could say 43 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:32.120 back then and you know, yeah, I'll just leave it 44 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:34.039 at that it was a difficult group and and and 45 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:36.479 I was, I was out of gas. 46 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:38.520 It hasn't gotten any better. 47 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:46.879 I think it has well, I think it. I think 48 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:49.759 I you know, and I'm and I'm trying to be respectful. 49 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:54.520 I think there is I think there's opportunities. 50 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:54.120 There to. 51 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:59.159 Maybe bring the body together somewhat and work towards common 52 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:02.479 goals that that are gonna, you know, be beneficial for 53 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:03.360 the city of Boston. 54 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:03.719 Okay. 55 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:06.479 No, And I'm I was not trying to be a 56 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:09.919 wise guy when I said that, But you you are 57 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:12.240 are are going to be a different sort of voice. 58 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.719 I said early on that I like to consider myself 59 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:17.360 a voice of reason here in w b. 60 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:21.080 Z on night Side. You have always been, in my. 61 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:23.199 Opinion, a voice of reason when you served on the 62 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:27.599 Boston City Council. So, okay, you've had a couple of 63 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:30.840 years to to kind of step aside and uh and 64 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:33.919 and watch it from a distance. Now you're going to 65 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:36.919 run you You're not going to go back and run 66 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:42.680 against the gentleman who who succeeded you in in your district. Uh, 67 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:46.599 You're going to go state city wide. That's a tougher race. 68 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:50.960 That's a tougher race. So tell us what what has 69 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:55.120 prompted you to not only come back to the to 70 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:57.680 the to the game of Boston politics, if I can 71 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.120 refer to it as a game, but also to come 72 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:04.240 back and be running city wide as a district councilor. 73 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:06.800 Well, yeah, as a. 74 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:10.719 City wide an at large councilor excuse me, at large. 75 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.840 Yes, yes, well it is. It is a much bigger task. 76 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:17.360 But I was fortunate my twelve years there. I think 77 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:20.720 I earned a pretty good, pretty good name, and you know, 78 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.800 like I plan on dispensing common sense, and you know, 79 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:27.360 I've got thirty seven years of experience in the in 80 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.399 Boston in different departments, you know, twelve years on the 81 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:37.600 city council. And quite frankly, Dan, you know, you can't 82 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:40.839 really complain about the game unless you're playing. And this 83 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.800 is like you had said earlier, We're done with the sports. 84 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:47.120 Let's get into politics. Politics is the is my blood 85 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:49.600 sport now where I used to play other sports when 86 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:52.040 I was younger, but now this is what I do 87 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:54.759 when I'm drawn to it, and I think I can, 88 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:57.240 I think I can, you know, add a little bit 89 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:59.639 to the city. There's a lot of people that fail 90 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:03.639 left out of left out of city hall, that don't 91 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:07.319 feel connected into city hall. And I did hear from 92 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:11.879 you know, this sounds quirky or you know, like maybe 93 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:14.480 patting myself on the back. But I would be out 94 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:16.600 and people will come up to me. Would you ever 95 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:18.920 run for anything else again? Would you? Would you ever 96 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:21.439 come back? And you know, my brothers would come home 97 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:24.199 and say, I ran into people there. Everybody's asking what 98 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:26.639 are you doing? What do you know? And I just 99 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.000 needed some time away from city hall, time away from 100 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:34.519 a toxic environment to kind of get gather my thoughts, 101 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:38.319 get my head and and you know, get my strengths back. 102 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.319 And I have all that, and I cared deeply about 103 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.439 the city of Boston, which is what ultimately is going 104 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:46.879 to draw me into my decisions. And I didn't come 105 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:51.079 come to this decision lightly by any stretch of the imagination, 106 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:55.040 because you know, I had a difficult couple of years there. 107 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:57.600 It was it was we went through COVID and people 108 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.000 people were you know, everything was zoom. We weren't in person, 109 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:03.600 and that led to a lot of a lot of 110 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:06.279 the issues. I think that that happened. You know, where 111 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:09.839 people are now, you're advocating on a keyboard instead of 112 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.120 it's five different when you're standing in front of somebody 113 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:15.839 than it is if you're if you're just doing everything 114 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:18.120 on a keyboard. So, I mean, I'd like to bring 115 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.120 a lot of what we do back to in person. 116 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:25.079 You know, it's it's how we connect, Like politics is 117 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.800 one hundred percent connecting with your with however you connect 118 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.560 with your heart or with your with your mind, whatever. 119 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:35.560 We as a society I think need to get back together, 120 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:39.319 back at the table, talking and hashing out issues that 121 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:39.759 we have. 122 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:43.560 Well, look, Tip O'Neil said, all politics are local, and 123 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:45.600 I still think that was probably one of the wisest 124 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:48.519 things that things that have ever heard of a politician. 125 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:51.160 Yes, say absolutely so. 126 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:55.000 Essentially, what I'm hearing is that you've taken a couple 127 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:56.879 of years off and your batteries. 128 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:59.680 Are recharged that yeah, obviously, Yeah. 129 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.480 I don't know if if that's the metaphor you want 130 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:04.480 to use, but you're going to have to now reach 131 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:07.680 out to the entire city and I'm hoping that we're 132 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:10.680 going to hear from some of our Boston listeners tonight. Obviously, 133 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:14.560 love to hear from your former constituents who you hope 134 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:18.040 to have as future constituents, but also people in other 135 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:20.519 sections of city. I mean there's a huge portion of 136 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:25.720 the city. As a district councilor you probably represented roughly 137 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.720 ten percent of the city as an at large because 138 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:31.800 there are nine districts in Boston, nine district councilors and 139 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:37.560 four at large councilors. Have you had well, First of all, 140 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.720 how'd you do on the signature collection, which is which 141 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:44.839 is always an onerous task, particularly when when you no 142 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:48.519 longer have the incumbent, the power of the incombs incumbency 143 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:50.920 to work. How did that go? I know you were 144 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:52.279 working on it a couple of weeks ago. 145 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:55.639 Yeah, I well say, to just put it into perspective, 146 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:57.959 I was the last person to pull papers. I pulled 147 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.079 papers on my mother's nine eight birthday May eighth, so 148 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:05.439 I got my I got my papers on on the 149 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:09.240 ninth and and basically turned in and turned in enough 150 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:12.639 by the following week to to to certify. So I'm 151 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:15.360 already certified. We took it serious. 152 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:15.879 I had. 153 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:19.639 I had wonderful volunteers all around the all around the city, 154 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:23.439 and you know, people were people were gracious, you know, 155 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:27.680 to sign my to sign my papers. It's it's, you know, uh, 156 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:31.639 a democratic sort of exercise. And and to sign the papers, 157 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:34.159 that's just to allow you to be able to put 158 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.799 your name on the ballot. You need to come up 159 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:39.240 with a certain number. And we you know, I don't 160 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:40.960 want to say we knocked we knocked it out of 161 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:44.600 the park sports metaphor, but we did a pretty good job, 162 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:45.360 all right. 163 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:49.399 My guest is Frank Baker UH, a former district city 164 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:52.879 council in Boston, and he is he stepped away a 165 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:55.519 couple of years ago. He is stepping back into the 166 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.159 ring this time. He's running at an at as an 167 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:01.360 at large candidate, UH, which, to put it simply means 168 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:07.080 that in his first six elections in Boston, his constituents 169 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:12.559 represented certain areas Lower Roxbury, Dorchester, that that was pretty 170 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:16.399 much his base of operation. Now he has to reach 171 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:20.000 out everywhere from places like Reedville and Hyde Park and 172 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:24.679 West Roxbury and Brighton and Alston and Charlestown, the North End, 173 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:30.879 East Boston, Back Bay, South End, all of Dorchester, all 174 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:34.720 of Roxbury, all of Mattapan, Roslyndale, Jamaica, Plaine. 175 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:39.240 It has to has to basically be everywhere. 176 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:42.320 It's a daunting task, and I'd love to have you 177 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:44.600 if you are particularly a Boston resident, if you'd like 178 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.840 to call, love to hear from me. If a question 179 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:48.240 for Frank, if you want to give him a word 180 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:51.279 of encouragement, I'm sure he'd appreciate that. I think it's 181 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:56.240 interesting because very rarely do you have a former city councilor, 182 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:00.559 or for that matter, a current city councilor up a 183 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:07.159 district seat, which tends to be fairly solid. They are 184 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.559 very stable. Let me put it like that. Very few 185 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:13.039 district councilors have turned out to step back in or 186 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:16.519 to step up and go at large city wide. So 187 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:20.879 this is an interesting political experiment. And knowing Frank Baker 188 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:23.360 as they know him, he has a lot of respect 189 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:25.679 around the city, and he has a lot of support, 190 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:29.039 and I suspect he's going to be a very formidable candidate. 191 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:32.080 And people always watch in the at large races, they 192 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:36.159 watch who finished first, who finished fourth. You have to 193 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:39.039 finish at least one through eight. Do you know at 194 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:42.559 this point, Frank, how many candidates are running at large 195 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.600 for the September primary as yet? Do you know how 196 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:46.240 many people have pulled papers? 197 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:51.799 Well, eighteen people had pulled papers. I think so far 198 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:54.720 that eight have been certified. That may have changed in 199 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:58.960 the last two days. So we had a candidates night 200 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:02.240 last night and a people were there, Okay, including myself. 201 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:07.039 All right, so I think obviously eight will qualify in 202 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:10.639 the primary. Uh, and then of course it'll be a 203 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:13.879 mad dash to the finish line in November. 204 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.519 But but if this isn't going to be an interest, 205 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.360 it's going to be an interesting campaign. Let's keep it rolling. Here. 206 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:24.120 Uh, the only line they have open. I got six one, seven, a, nine, three, 207 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:27.879 one ten thirty. Got two lines there. Uh, the lines 208 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:30.240 at six one, seven, two, five, four, ten thirty A 209 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:32.879 full up. So you can avoid calling that for now. 210 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:35.399 Try six one, seven, nine, three, one ten thirty if 211 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:37.120 you'd like to get in. We'll try to get to 212 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:39.600 as many folks as possible. My guest is Frank Baker. 213 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.080 I will want to ask Frank a couple of questions 214 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:45.360 when we come back about, besides the idea of running, 215 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.600 what does he want to accomplish as a city councilor 216 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.519 what direction does he want to take the city. What 217 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:55.360 are the issues that he is going to be talking about. Uh. 218 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:59.720 At most importantly, obviously everyone talks about improving city services 219 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:02.159 and etc. But I also want to find it if 220 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:05.600 there are some issues that are going to identify Frank's campaign. 221 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:07.919 We'll be back with Frank Baker. Your phone calls. My 222 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.759 name is Dan Ray. This is Nightside. 223 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.200 I happen to love Boston politics. I love city politics, 224 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:16.519 I love state politics, and I love federal politics. However, 225 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:19.720 I will remind you that the most important vote you 226 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:23.600 can cast is your local vote. Because when you vote 227 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:26.759 in a presidential race, there's another one hundred and seventy 228 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:29.600 million or so Americans who are voting, and there's another 229 00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:32.600 four or five million in Massachusetts who are voting. But 230 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:35.879 when you vote locally in a city council race, your 231 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:39.559 vote has much more significance in weight. It's a very 232 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:42.399 important vote back. And so all of you need to 233 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:45.320 be registered and get ready to vote on primary night, 234 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:48.759 on primary day here in Boston next September. We'll get 235 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.039 to all of that with Frank Baker and your phone calls. 236 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.399 We'll be right back here on Nightside. The lines are 237 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:55.960 full right now. As soon as they start to drop 238 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.919 and we clear some of the lines, i'll let you know. 239 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.000 For now, you can sit back and relax, coming back, 240 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:03.679 Good Night Side. You're on Night Side with Dan Ray 241 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:08.159 on w b Z, Boston's news radio. All right, my 242 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.320 guess it's Frank Baker. He's the city council candidate. He 243 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:14.840 had served in the city council for six terms. Frank, 244 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.639 we only got a couple of minutes left here before 245 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:18.159 the bottom of the hour. I don't want to short 246 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:21.360 change any of the callers. We have Greg, Tom, Paul, 247 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:24.600 Peteon Gordon lined up and several of them are from Boston. 248 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.000 As a matter of fact, four out of five of 249 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.759 them are from the Boston area. So we're going to 250 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:32.799 talk to potential constituents. What is your impression of the 251 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:35.840 city council? Now, you have one member of the city 252 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:40.399 Council who has pled guilty to corruption charges. She remains 253 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:43.759 a member of the city council, still drawing a salary 254 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:46.559 as a member of the city Council, and probably will 255 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:49.759 not resign until she's forced to resign when she is 256 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:55.960 sentenced to federal prison in late July. Is that a 257 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:59.159 factor in you deciding to get back into this race. 258 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:04.600 No, no, I mean that's an unfortunate situation for the 259 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.559 for the people of District seven. That you know that 260 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:11.720 that that's the repentation representation that they have now. But 261 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:14.759 but no, I think I think the people that are 262 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.399 on the city council now, I think generally the the 263 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:22.480 they're good people and they just they're in a they're 264 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.279 in this odd time. When when I first got elected, 265 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.519 Dan every person on the body, when I first got there, I. 266 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.840 Came in alone. 267 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:34.440 Every person offered to, you know, get to know me, 268 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:36.519 take me off for coffee, take me to lunch, something 269 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:41.039 like that. Those sorts of little gestures stopped happening. So 270 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.960 the relationships that you when you're elected to a body, 271 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:47.080 you're supposed to work as a body. You're not supposed 272 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:50.639 to actively work against each other. And and and I 273 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:53.039 think that I can bring a little bit of that 274 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:56.159 experience in terms of maybe this is how we can 275 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.679 we can be a body. Am I going to be 276 00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:00.320 a silver bullet? No, by no stretch of the imagine nation. 277 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:03.759 But I think I can, you know, maybe help to 278 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:07.600 build relationships and build common ground with the people are 279 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:10.159 there now. Like I said, I think anybody that gets 280 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:14.240 involved in politics, they care about what they're doing because 281 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:16.519 it takes a big you know, it takes a big 282 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.360 hot and you know, a car in person to just 283 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:22.360 put your name on the ballot. A lot of people 284 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.200 will will, you know, talk whatever way about oh you're 285 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:28.759 a politician or this and that. But the reality is 286 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.559 most people are never going to have the gumption to 287 00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:33.240 be able to put their name on a ballot. It's 288 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:35.679 a very very difficult thing to do. So I have 289 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.279 respect for the people that are in there. I just 290 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:40.600 think we're gonna we're gonna have to, you know, work 291 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.080 on some things and find some commonality between us, and 292 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.879 I hope that I'm able to be there and help 293 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.519 to do that. 294 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:51.279 Okay, so let me ask you this, in your opinion, 295 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:55.200 is the city of Boston going in a good direction 296 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:59.120 or or or not the direction that you'd. 297 00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.559 Like to see it go. 298 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.960 I'm not crazy about the direction of the city, but 299 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:08.200 I have hope for the city. 300 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.840 Okay, what would you likency changed? 301 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:16.399 Well? Again, everything for me, dan is is relationships. What 302 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:20.679 I'm hearing, mostly in different neighborhoods is we don't have 303 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:24.639 anybody to call in city Hall. Nobody's nobody. It's not responsive. 304 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:28.440 Your people aren't calling us back. The one thing and 305 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:32.039 you had mentioned in earlier how important municipal elections are. 306 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:35.879 What people don't understand is someone from the city is 307 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:38.679 sitting at your kitchen table nearly every day, whether if 308 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:41.919 it's ISD or if it's the water department, or whether 309 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:44.159 you know you've got a ticket on your way in. 310 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:47.519 Someone from the city is around your life every day, 311 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:50.320 you know. And it isn't like and when you vote 312 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:53.120 for president. Yeah, you may think it's the most important thing, 313 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:56.960 but it's it's pretty far removed. The City Council is 314 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:00.519 the closest to the people than any other sea that 315 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:02.159 you could run for. 316 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.759 Absolutely. I couldn't agree with you more. Let's do this, Frank, 317 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.920 I think you've said it. 318 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.200 Well. 319 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:11.440 There's nothing I can ask you that's gonna I think 320 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.519 encapsulated better than that. We're gonna take a break. We 321 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:16.759 got a newscast coming up, and we are going to 322 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.319 get right to phone calls. We will handle everybody who's 323 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:21.720 on the line, and hopefully several more folks. 324 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.119 This is an interesting race. This is one you want 325 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:25.559 to follow. 326 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:29.039 I'm coming right back on Nightside with Frank Baker, candidate 327 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:31.920 for an at large seat in the Boston City Council. 328 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:35.359 Back on Nightside after this, It's night Side with. 329 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.039 Boston's News Radio. 330 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:41.799 All right, Frank Baker, we got a bunch of phone calls. 331 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:45.440 Let's see what the folks have to say about your run. 332 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:49.680 We have with us Greg from Abington, who is a 333 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.279 Plymouth County commissioner. 334 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:53.039 Hey, Greg, welcome to Nightside. 335 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.440 How are you. 336 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:57.240 I'm doing well, Dan, Thanks very much for having this 337 00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:02.079 gentleman on. You have to congratch him on the choice 338 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:04.480 to get back in the game. But to tell you 339 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:07.519 the truth, and I met Frank about three years ago 340 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:10.799 when we had a delegation of folks come over from 341 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:15.160 Ireland that we signed assist a county program with Donegall Ireland, 342 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:18.599 and Frank actually drove these folks down, he picked them 343 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:21.119 up at the airport for us. And over the last 344 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:23.359 three years we've been talking and since he got out 345 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:26.960 of the game, you know, he's never stopped helping people. 346 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:31.079 And the reality is once you're out, you're out. And 347 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:35.240 it was very frustrating, I think for Frank to try 348 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:37.720 to help people when he no longer had that cachet 349 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.400 of being that public person, having been a former city 350 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:44.759 council in the city quinsing the seleckmen in Pembroke. You know, 351 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.960 they like to say politician, but can I just say 352 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:52.319 something when it comes to Frank Backer, he's a public servant, Okay. 353 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:55.000 He likes to help people. And I think part of 354 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:57.000 the and he probably wouldn't say it, but part of 355 00:18:57.640 --> 00:19:00.599 his frustration was you can't help you if you didn't 356 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:04.359 have elected. So I just wanted to congratulate him and 357 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:08.119 thank you Dan for putting him on, because he's a 358 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:12.119 common sense person who likes to get things done. He 359 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:16.480 said in himself, he's a broker. He likes to get solutions. 360 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.480 Yeah, I mean I. 361 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:21.359 Would see I would see Frank every year at the 362 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:24.960 Mary and Brett food pantry over in Dorchester. The Brett 363 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:27.759 family a great family here in Boston, Bill Brett and 364 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:33.640 Jim bretton, you know all Harry Bretton, the entire Brett family, 365 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:36.880 Tim Brett, the whole group of them. But I remember 366 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:38.720 talking to Frank and saying, you know what, and he 367 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.880 just seemed down. But he he sounds now to me 368 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:45.720 like he's got the political bug again and he wants 369 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:47.680 to get back out. And I knew him always as 370 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:49.799 someone who wanted to help people, and that's why I'm 371 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.680 having him on tonight. 372 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.000 Well that's great, and I just wanted to call and 373 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:56.880 congratulate him in a test to the fact that he's 374 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:01.319 never stopped working for people, you know, right down with 375 00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:04.519 the Irish community that I'm involved with, who just finished 376 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:08.599 the trans Atlantic UH Climbing Alliance Conference UH and we 377 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:14.799 celebrated a welcome dinner for the Ambassador Island, retired Claire Cronin. 378 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:20.200 She awarded the first ever award for similar to the 379 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:23.359 typical Neil Award to the Mayor of Donne Gaul Nieve 380 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:27.759 Kennedy and Frank came down and just participated. So he's 381 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:30.240 he's become a friend. I want to be a friend 382 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.480 to him, and I wanted to call and let you 383 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:36.279 know I'm on board, Frank. Whatever you need from us, 384 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:39.240 the Hanley Brothers will be with him. Dan, thank you 385 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.599 for the opportunity to say so. 386 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:44.119 Well, absolutely, Frank says, great, Go ahead. 387 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.160 Frank, thank you for the kind words. 388 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.480 Greg. 389 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.279 You're a good friend. 390 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.079 You're a good friend. 391 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.400 I'm fortunate. 392 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.039 We'll be there for your brother. 393 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.519 Keep the faith, Dan. 394 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:56.480 I let the other talkers, people waiting on the line talk, 395 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.960 but thank you for having me and. 396 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.480 Keep keep listening to night Side. 397 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:05.079 Okay, my four bears are from a little a different 398 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:07.880 part of the old sid County Cork, the town of 399 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.440 Mattaw Cork. 400 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:12.680 As they say, we got the down in Brockton. We 401 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:15.880