WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:05.719 It's Nightside with Dan Ray on w b Z, Boston's 2 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:06.360 news radio. 3 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:10.400 Dan Hawkins, thank you very much. We are going to 4 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:15.720 talk this hour with a Republican running for governor. He's 5 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:18.480 not the only Republican running for governor, but certainly he's 6 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:22.679 someone who has a very impressive resume and someone who 7 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:26.800 will be taken as a serious candidate in the Republican 8 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:32.079 primary next year. Brian Shortsleeve, Brian Shortsleeve, Welcome back Tonight's Side. 9 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:33.759 The last time I think you were a guest, we 10 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:35.039 were talking about the MBTA. 11 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:38.719 That's exactly right, Dan, you have a great memory. That 12 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:41.320 was back in twenty sixteen and we were talking about 13 00:00:41.399 --> 00:00:46.359 driving reform at the NBTA after the Snowmageddon of twenty fifteen. 14 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:49.000 Well, hey, I haven't heard the word snow mcgeddon in 15 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:51.920 a while, but you're right, I do remember that winter, 16 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:57.079 the winter of twenty fourteen to twenty fifteen. And yeah, now, 17 00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:59.960 how long were you at the tea? Just to refer 18 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:02.439 fresh People's recollection, how long were you at the tea? 19 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:06.120 And what was the accomplishments that you're most proud of? 20 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:09.760 Well, you know, looking back on it, I was enjoying 21 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:12.959 my life in the business world. I'm a businessman, you know, 22 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:16.799 at Core, and when the T imploded in the winner 23 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.920 of twenty fifteen, Governor Baker called me and asked me 24 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.599 to lead a rescue mission to go in and drive reform. 25 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:23.519 So I did it. 26 00:01:23.560 --> 00:01:25.480 I spent two years, Dan, to answer your question, spent 27 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:28.439 two years was sort of summer of fifteen to summer 28 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:30.719 of seventeen. And when I arrived at the T, we 29 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:34.319 had a three hundred and thirty five million dollar forecast deficit. 30 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:37.599 The system was in shambles, and my mission and the 31 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:40.280 mission of the Fiscal Management Control Board was to deliver 32 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:43.719 a balanced budget, get costs under control, and put the 33 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.920 system back on a path to fiscal stability. I was 34 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:49.400 a great experience. I'm very proud of what we accomplished. 35 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:51.959 We delivered the first balance budget and more than a 36 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.560 decade at the TEA, we had the lowest operating expenses 37 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:58.719 in years. We got that green Line extension project back 38 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:01.239 on track that had been left for dead the FEDS 39 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:03.879 had pulled their funding in early fifteen. We got that 40 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.280 built and you can now take a one seat ride 41 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:09.199 from downtown crossing to Tufts. So I think we accomplished 42 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:11.639 a great deal that I'm really proud of what we did. 43 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:15.319 After you left. I'm just curious, do you as you 44 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:19.560 look at the T these days. I guess the new 45 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:23.400 T general manager, mister Ang who was brought in by 46 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:27.479 the current governor from he came in, I believe from 47 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.280 New York. I'm not an expert on the tee, but 48 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:32.599 he seems to be getting pretty good grades. Has he 49 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:34.319 been able to build on some of the things that 50 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:35.719 you said in motion? 51 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:38.439 Well, you know, I was on the tea last week 52 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.680 and I rode on a phenomenal orange line car which 53 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:45.000 we had procured back in twenty fifteen sixteen. The new 54 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:47.280 red line cars are coming in, so I'm really proud 55 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:50.319 of the progress. I will tell you this though. The 56 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.319 one thing that we delivered back in twenty fifteen sixteen 57 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:57.080 that More Healy has not is a balanced budget for 58 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:00.439 the T. The TA cost about a billion dollars more 59 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:03.719 to operate today than it did then. The costs have 60 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:06.719 exploded across the board, so I think it's really incumbent 61 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:09.680 and critical for that organization to get focused on cost 62 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.599 control when you look at many elements of the system, 63 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:14.280 whether it's what it costs to put a bus on 64 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:16.319 the road, or what it costs to run you know, 65 00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:20.960 the paratransit systems. The cost have exploded, and frankly, when 66 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:23.280 you're adding you know, two hundred million dollars a year 67 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:26.960 of operating expenses, that organization revenue will never catch up. 68 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.520 You've got to You've got to focus on cost control. 69 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:32.159 So when I look at your organization, I'd say they're 70 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:34.840 spending about a billion dollars more than we were, they're 71 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:37.560 delivering a third fewer trips, and there's a lot of 72 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:40.800 opportunities to get refocused on cost control to make sure 73 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:42.080 it's fiscally sustainable. 74 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.159 They've also, it seems in the last few years, the 75 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:48.439 last two or three years, they've had some horrific accidents. 76 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:52.400 I remember the train where people were literally jumping out 77 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.800 the windows of the train and jumping into the Mystic River. 78 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:59.919 The fellow the other day, his family was I get 79 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:02.680 They agreed to a five million dollars settlement. He was 80 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:06.000 dragged to his death. They just seemed to be as 81 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:08.919 well as sealy tiles falling. It would seem to me 82 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:14.080 that maybe the tea in the last few years, even 83 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:18.040 before mar Healey has regressed from where you from the 84 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.480 direction you had put it in. Would you agree? 85 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:23.439 Well, I was very proud to deliver a balance budget. 86 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:26.199 We tripled capital spending, We got those Orange line cars. 87 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:28.279 The red line cars we've procured are coming. So I'm 88 00:04:28.279 --> 00:04:30.120 proud of what we did. But I will tell you today, 89 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:32.680 I think the costs are too high. They're growing at 90 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:36.720 an unsustainable rate. In twenty twenty four, last year, the 91 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:39.720 TEA had more derailments than any major transit agency in 92 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:42.120 the country by a factor of four. So I would 93 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.560 encourage Governor Healey and her team to get focused on 94 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.839 cost control, get focused on safety. 95 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:47.759 The TEA is critical. 96 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:50.319 There's four hundred thousand people that ride it every day, 97 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:52.279 but there's seven million of US DAN who are paying 98 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:54.639 the bills, and we've got to make sure that that 99 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:59.839 organization is sustainable and doesn't require continual state bailouts. 100 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:04.560 Speaking about cost controls, there was an audit released today 101 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:09.319 by state auditor Diana Desauglia. I believe we'll have the 102 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:14.040 auditor with us tomorrow night during this very hour. Even 103 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:19.839 the Globe, which is very supportive, I think of the 104 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:23.120 incumbent governor their headline that I believe will be in 105 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:27.240 tomorrow morning's newspaper. Is Healy used unlawful no bid contracts 106 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:31.879 as migrant and homeless families surged into emergency shelter system? 107 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:35.439 Audit chargers, I'm sure you've had a chance at least 108 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.560 to read a little bit of this audit report. I'm 109 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:41.600 sure it was very, very interesting. Get a quick comment 110 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:43.120 from you. Your reaction to it. 111 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:45.720 Well, I've spent four years as an officer in the 112 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:48.240 Marine Corps after college, Dan, and most of the most 113 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:51.360 important lessons I learned about life and leadership I learned 114 00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:53.560 in the Marine Corps. I'll tell you what this state 115 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:56.879 needs a rescue mission, and this audit is a prime 116 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.480 example of that. It's completely off the rail. You've got 117 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:03.399 no bid contracts, You've got one hundred and fifty dollars 118 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:06.360 cab fares. I even read about one particular fair that 119 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:09.399 was one hundred and forty dollars fare to move someone 120 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.439 two hundred and twenty feet. What does it tell you? 121 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:15.800 It tells you that this administration has written blank checks. 122 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:21.160 They're really not focused on on productivity, on efficiency, and 123 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:23.959 this is sort of a classic Beacon Hill mess. And 124 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:25.959 I think it's going to take a marine and a 125 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.800 businessman in that corner office to get the state back 126 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:32.720 on track. And this audit is a classic example of 127 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:35.560 what happens when you have a career politician at the 128 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:38.000 helm instead of having a businessman who lives in the 129 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:41.079 real world and understands how to balance budgets and drive 130 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:46.120 productivity and everything else. We've also called for the governor 131 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:49.639 to fire Secretary Augustus because I believe has laid out 132 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:53.839 clearly in that audit. There's just one example after another 133 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:57.480 of the administration breaking the laws. So I call him 134 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:59.480 the governor to make that move at the time for 135 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.560 account of ability and taxpayers. You know, taxpayers deserve better. 136 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:09.120 What about the Secretary of Transportation. She has kept a 137 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:13.560 pretty low profile, and she called for a lot of 138 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:18.319 construction of new tolls about a year ago, and seeing 139 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.839 to me that that was something that the government was 140 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:26.040 not happy about. But no changes, no changes, She's still there, 141 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:26.399 you have. 142 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:29.399 Thought, so well, Look, Dan, I ran the Tea for 143 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.160 two years. I delivered the lowest operating expenses in the 144 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:34.199 history of the organization. We balanced the budget. Here's what 145 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:36.000 I can tell you. The Tea does not have a 146 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:39.839 revenue problem. The Tea has a spending problem. The Tea 147 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:43.720 has increased its expenses by a billion dollars in five years. 148 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:47.279 That's completely unsustainable. The organization is delivering about a third 149 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.680 fewer trips. Even just the bus system itself, it cost 150 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:52.920 the Tea almost three hundred bucks per hour to put 151 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:55.319 a bus on the road today. That's almost twice what 152 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:58.439 it was five years ago. So at the Tea, it's 153 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:00.800 about controlling spending, and I would call on the governor 154 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:03.439 and the secretary to get serious about it. We had 155 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.800 a fiscal Management Control Board in place. We brought incredible 156 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:10.439 transparency of the organization. We met every single Monday. We 157 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:13.279 stripped out abuse. I'll give you an example. I mean, 158 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:16.079 we had employees that I got there that were building 159 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.759 taxpayers for twenty seven to twenty eight hundred hours of 160 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.879 overtime in a year dan in on top of two 161 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:26.319 thousand regular hours. That's literally that's more overtime hours than 162 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:30.480 there are waking hours in the year. But those are 163 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:32.919 the sorts of things. We put prophecies to place, We 164 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.679 managed it, and when I was done with the team, 165 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:37.960 even the Boston Globe was forced to say that the 166 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.639 Fiscal Management Control Board in my leadership was the best 167 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:43.120 thing that ever happened to the transit agency. If I 168 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:46.159 would encourage the governor and the secretary to get serious 169 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:49.679 about cost control, get serious about efficiency, and get serious 170 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:50.399 about safety. 171 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.679 And the secretary in this instance you talking about is 172 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:53.720 Monica Tibbet's nut. 173 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:55.799 That's right. 174 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:58.519 The Secretary of Transportation, Who's right. I seemed to have 175 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:03.120 an inclination early on to put up toll boots wherever 176 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:06.960 she could find a little extra space along any various 177 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:11.600 and sundry highways. My guest is Brian short Sleeve, Harvard graduate, 178 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:17.360 Harvard Business School, Marine, very interesting background. We have a 179 00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:19.320 bunch of calls we're going to get to if you'd 180 00:09:19.320 --> 00:09:21.840 like to join the conversation six one seven, two four 181 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:25.159 ten thirty six one seven, nine three thirty Brian, I 182 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:26.720 want to go to phone calls as soon as we 183 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:29.799 get back, because I think I've asked questions and give 184 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:31.840 you an opportunity, gave you an opportunity to kind of 185 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:35.279 introduce yourself, and I think a lot of people probably 186 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.120 who listen to my show will like what they heard. 187 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:39.440 But let's see what some of the listeners feel and 188 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:41.840 we'll be back some of the callers feel Actually, we'll 189 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:45.679 be back on Nightside talking gubernatorial politics with Brian Shortly. 190 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:51.600 There's at least two former members of the Baker administration 191 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:56.679 who are running for this position. Mike Kneely is also 192 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:00.639 a former member of the Baker administration, and we will 193 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:03.519 talk to him. I believe we're scheduled talked to him 194 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:07.080 on Thursday night, so we talk. We'll finish up with Brian. 195 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:09.240 We have about forty five minutes, plenty of time for 196 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:11.679 calls and questions. Looking forward to hearing from you. We'll 197 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:13.080 be back on night Side right after this. 198 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:20.960 It's Night Side with Boston's News Radio with us. 199 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:24.240 Is Brian Shortly if he's a Republican running for governor 200 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:27.440 and we'll get this one out of the way soon. Here, Brian, 201 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.559 you've got to be related to my former colleague, Joe Shortsleeve. 202 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:32.600 I assume it's something. 203 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.120 Oh yeah, Joe's terrific. 204 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:35.919 He's the best. 205 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:39.320 Joe is my father's younger brother, all right, So that. 206 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:43.159 Would make him an Uncle's an uncle, all right, all right, 207 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:44.679 So give him a shout out when you see him 208 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:46.120 for me. Let's get to the phone. It's going to 209 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:49.240 go to a different Joe This is not Joe Shortsleeve. 210 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.159 This is Joe and Vermont. Hey, Joe, you're wrong with 211 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.360 Brian shortsleaved candidate running for governor. 212 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.480 Thank you, Dan and mister short slave. I just wanted 213 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.639 to say a couple of things fast, because kill other people. 214 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.480 In seventy one, I remember taking the brand new tea, 215 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:09.039 the Red nine. I grew up in hauled Fantaska. I 216 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:13.399 went to UMass Boston, the old downtown campus before the 217 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.200 Harvard kIPS. 218 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:15.440 Uh. 219 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:19.480 It's good to hear a good Republican candidate. I wish 220 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:22.759 you a lot of the luck, sir. Hopefully you'll get 221 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:24.799 lucky like Phil Scott and Vermont. 222 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:28.320 Yeah, you get Phil Scott in Vermont. You got yeah, 223 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.320 Chris Sinunu in New Hampshire. 224 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:34.519 And I was gonna mention him too, I was, I 225 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:36.679 was thinking about that. Oh yeah, but I'm a home 226 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:39.600 from a road trip, so I'm I'm lucky to be 227 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:40.480 on the first call. 228 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.120 Well, Joe, appreciate you, Joe, I enjoyed a lot. 229 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.000 Thanks, Joe, appreciate it. Brian, thank you. 230 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:48.000 Good good. 231 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.279 Governor's got terrific. Thank you so much. 232 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.879 All right, thank you, Joe, thank you? All right? Yeah, 233 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:57.600 there there there New England states. They do tend to 234 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:01.360 elect Republicans. Again, we're here, you know, well, Paul Salucci, 235 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.360 Charlie Baker, there have and of course Mitt Romney was 236 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:08.159 here as well. Uh, you know, go back a little further. 237 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:10.960 You got John Volpi and Frank Sargent. This is this 238 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:13.559 is this is a state that that is always liked, 239 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:17.279 that balance between the Democratic legislature and a Republican governor. 240 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.480 So who knows, let's keep rolling. You're going to go 241 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:23.120 to a Ben in Fall River, Massachusetts. Ben, you're next 242 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.919 on nice side with Brian Shortsleeve, Republican candidate for governor. 243 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:29.360 Thanks for having me on. 244 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.720 I just wanted to ask you real quick, Brian, where 245 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:37.200 do you stand on the NBTA Communities Act. Thanks for 246 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:37.679 the question. 247 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:38.000 Ben. 248 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:41.159 I oppose the MBTA Communities Act and I support a 249 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:45.360 full repeal. That's an example of administrative overreach. It's an 250 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:48.919 example of a one size fits all approach to a problem, 251 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:52.879 and it's a law that doesn't respect the uniqueness of 252 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:55.159 local conditions, of local infrastructure. 253 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:59.519 And if I could, I know what the MBTA Communities 254 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:01.559 Act is, but there are some of my audience who 255 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:03.679 might not know. And I know, you can explain it, 256 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:06.200 and you can explain why you're a posed or go ahead. 257 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:07.399 Well. 258 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:10.240 The NBTA Communities Act is a law that was put 259 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.759 in place a couple of years ago that requires any 260 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.480 community which is on the NBTA system, which is about 261 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:21.759 one hundred and seventy communities in the state, to dramatically 262 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.519 increase the amount of multifamily housing that they have to 263 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:27.639 give you an example, a town like Milton with eight 264 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:31.200 thousand homes would be required to put in over two 265 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:35.840 thousand multifamily units. A small town like Lincoln, Massachusetts, with 266 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:38.600 two thousand homes might be required to put in six 267 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:42.600 hundred multifamily condos. There are plenty of communities in the 268 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.799 state that want housing, and in fact, when I was 269 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:47.919 at the MBTA, we worked really hard on something called 270 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:51.720 transit oriented development. And what transit orients developed means is 271 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:56.039 working with communities like Quinsy that want housing. The MBTA 272 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:58.639 owned all sorts of land along the Red line and 273 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:01.799 we would effectively give that land to developers. They would 274 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:04.000 build multi family. But that's a win win, I mean, 275 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:07.720 that's a good incentive. It's a carrit people wanted to 276 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:10.679 do it. The NBTA Communities Act is very different. That 277 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:13.759 is administrative overreach. That is forcing in some cases a 278 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:18.960 small suburban town without adequate infrastructure to zone itself to 279 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:23.399 handle hundreds and hundreds of multifamily and condo units. So 280 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:25.279 I think we got to go back to the drawing board. 281 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:28.120 There are really good solutions out there to the housing crisis. 282 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.720 Transit oriins development is one of them. I'll tell you 283 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:34.159 something else, Dan and Ben. The state of Massachusetts owns 284 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:38.000 over one hundred thousand acres of vacant land right inside 285 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:42.279 Metro Boston. If we developed even ten percent of that, 286 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:45.559 we could create close to two hundred thousand new units. 287 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.679 If I was governor, if Governor Shortsleeve was in that 288 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:50.559 corner office, that's what we'd be focused on. Vacant land 289 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:54.039 in the city, in areas where the community wants the 290 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:56.639 housing and the state controls the land, so the state 291 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.840 can get it done more quickly. So there's a lot 292 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.000 of ways to increase the housing thought, But the NBTA 293 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:03.799 Communities Act I think is the wrong the wrong approach. 294 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.720 Ben, great question. 295 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.759 Than you are my vote, sir. 296 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:07.759 I appreciate it. 297 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.600 Thank you so much. 298 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:11.120 Thanks Ben, appreciate thank you. Ben. Let me get one 299 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.960 more in here before the breaking to go to Jen 300 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:15.360 in pevity. Jen, you were next on nice hat with 301 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.279 Brian Schwartzleey, go. 302 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:22.320 Ahead, Jen, Hi, Thank you. Dan. You know govern Wrong 303 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:25.720 De Santos, who you raised money for. Mister short Steve 304 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.559 has signed strict abortion laws in Florida. Can you support 305 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:33.840 those laws? And where do you stand on protecting the unborn? 306 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:39.559 Well abortion writers are guaranteed under the Massachusetts Constitution. I 307 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.440 consider myself pro choice. I wouldn't do anything to change 308 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:46.879 those laws. I really admire Governor Santis' service in the Navy. 309 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:50.279 I'm a Marine officer and I always admired his service 310 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:53.879 in the Navy. I also admired the economic record of Florida. 311 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:57.080 You know, Florida's added over five hundred thousand jobs private 312 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:01.320 sector jobs since twenty twenty three. In Massachusets, we've actually 313 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:05.639 lost six thousand jobs in three years since Healy took over. 314 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.759 If you look at our private sector in this state, 315 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:10.600 it's smaller than it was three years ago. We're now 316 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:13.519 at the very bottom of the list in Massachusetts in 317 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:15.720 terms of private sector job growth. And when I look 318 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.840 at other states like Florida and I see the growth 319 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:21.519 in their economy. I think we've got to get serious 320 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:25.840 in Massachusetts about creating a much stronger pro growth set 321 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:28.440 of policies here. We've got to cut taxes, we've got 322 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:31.720 to cut fees. We've got to reduce utility bills, which 323 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:34.879 is one of the highest expenses at small businesses and 324 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:37.840 families bear. But the result of all those things, as 325 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:41.480 Governor Healey herself noted two weeks ago, is people are leaving. 326 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:45.279 Companies are leaving, students are leaving, and they're leaving because 327 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.440 of Healey's failed policies. They're leaving because the cost of 328 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.200 living is too high, because she's continued to propose taxes, 329 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.399 and because she's grown state government too quickly. So we've 330 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.360 got to get this economy growing again. I'd like to 331 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:00.639 see Massachusetts back where it was between twoenty ten and 332 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:03.519 twenty twenty one. We were the fastest growing state in 333 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.440 the Northeast, and we were leading in new business rate. 334 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.400 Can I interrupt? 335 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:10.200 Can I just interrupt? Because I'm confused. You're talking about 336 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:14.000 jobs and the economy, but I'm just talking about pro 337 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.519 life versus pro choice, and you raise money for life. 338 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.160 I confused, jin let. 339 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:21.359 Me in throw it for a second. I think he 340 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:23.440 actually answered that question, but if you want him to 341 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.960 answer it again, he'll go right ahead. 342 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:28.240 I am, I am, I am pro choice. Abortion rights 343 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.720 are guaranteed under the Massachusetts Constitution. I support that it 344 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:34.160 wouldn't do anything to changes here in Massachusetts. 345 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:36.000 I think that's pretty drunk answer. 346 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.920 Thank you, You're welcome, have a great night. 347 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.759 We take a break. 348 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.160 Thank you. 349 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:44.000 News. At the bottom of the hour, one line open six, one, seven, two, four, 350 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:48.640 ten thirty. My guest Brian Shortsleeve, Republican running for governor. 351 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.799 It's we're coming up on an election here. I know 352 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:53.640 we just went through a presidential election, but I think 353 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:57.920 it's important, particularly on positions like governor, to get these 354 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:00.279 candidates in front of people so people have it chance 355 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:03.119 to ask questions. Jen asked a tough question. She asked 356 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:06.000 a tough question twice. Not a problem. Back on Nightside 357 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:06.680 right after this. 358 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:11.160 It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w B Boston's 359 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:11.839 news radio. 360 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:15.759 We're talking with Brian Shortsleeve. He is a candidate for 361 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:19.720 governor here in Massachusetts, running as a Republican. For those 362 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:23.920 of you who want to catch up, he's a graduate 363 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:27.960 of Harvard and Harvard Business School, businessman, worked in the 364 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.720 Baker administration and was actually put in charge of the MBTA. 365 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:37.279 He's a Marine Corps veteran, served four years, did tours 366 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:41.599 duty in Bosnia and the Persian golf and he's he's 367 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:43.880 with us tonight taking phone calls. Let's get back to 368 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.519 the calls. I appreciate people's patients. We try to move 369 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:51.039 as quickly as we can. Jack is in Rockland. Jack, welcome. 370 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:53.519 You are next on Nightside with Brian Shortsleeve. Right ahead. 371 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:57.559 Jack. Hey, Brian, really impressed with your campaign so far. 372 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:00.480 My question for you is what are you going to 373 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:04.559 do to make this state more affordable and keep young 374 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.200 people here? 375 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:09.039 Well, thanks for the question, and I'll tell you the 376 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:14.079 affordability crisis of Massachusetts is driving people in businesses out 377 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:16.200 of the state. Just look at your utility bill, and 378 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.880 I look at mine every month. My bill is about 379 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.880 three hundred bucks. One hundred of that is related to 380 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:23.759 the core cost of electricity, but the other two hundred 381 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:25.880 or all those transmission charges. And if you look at 382 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:29.559 those charges, what do you see? You see the energy 383 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:33.880 efficiency charge, to distributed solar charge, the electric vehicle charge, 384 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:36.960 the net metering charge. Those are all state mandated fees, 385 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.000 and that is where all of the growth and these 386 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.599 bills are, So I think we've got to cut those fees. 387 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:44.680 We've got to get those bills under control. We've got 388 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.759 to cut taxes, and we've got to reduce the cost 389 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:51.160 of living here. It's becoming too expensive for young people 390 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:53.480 and for working people live in Massachusetts. And that's why 391 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:57.160 under Governor Healy and her failed policies, we've seen record 392 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.559 exodus of people. There's five hundred people a week leaving 393 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:03.920 the state. There's fewer people working in the private sector 394 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.920 here than there were three years ago. Even just this week, 395 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:10.359 you Math Benchmarks put out a report showing that our 396 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:14.759 economy in Massachusetts contracted at four times the national rate 397 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:18.279 in QW to one, so we shrunk four times faster. 398 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:21.759 And the reason for that big drop in mass GDP 399 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:25.960 was slowing job growth. Right, People are leaving, companies are leaving, 400 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:28.839 the private sector is getting smaller. So we've got to 401 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.880