WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.320 --> 00:00:06.320 It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's news radio. 2 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:12.720 We are delighted to welcome the Auditor of the Cornwaltha, Massachusetts, Dianatzoglio. 3 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:17.440 She is fighting on the State House on behalf of 4 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:22.079 all citizens, Democrats, Republicans, and independents. She is probably the 5 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:28.120 least liked public official amongst the other public officials up 6 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:30.879 at the State House right now because she wants to 7 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:33.920 audit the legislature, and seventy two percent of the people 8 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.799 in Massachusetts agree with her based upon the ballot decision 9 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:43.759 question that was voted upon last last on November. But 10 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.320 we want to talk today about tonight about this seventy 11 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:51.960 four page audit of the Executive Office of Housing Liverable 12 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:58.079 Communities Emergency Shelter. First of all, Madam Auditor, congratulations for 13 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:01.679 having more courage, which I think than just about anyone 14 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:05.120 on Beacon Hill, and I mean that sincerely. Welcome to 15 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:05.799 Night Side. 16 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:09.280 Thanks for having me, Dan. It's always great to be back, 17 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.319 great to have the opportunity to talk about some of 18 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:16.480 the work that we're doing to increase accountability up on 19 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:20.159 Beacon Hill. You are correct, I am persona non grata 20 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:24.519 up on Beacon Hill right now. But it is the job, 21 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:27.120 and I am humbled to have the opportunity to serve 22 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.719 as auditor, so happy to chat with you about some 23 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:30.760 of our latest findings. 24 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:36.400 Well, you are persona non grata, but you're also an 25 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.120 elected statewide official or constitutional officer as the state auditor, 26 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:44.000 and a Democrat. You've been in the House of Representatives, 27 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.920 you've been in the Massachusetts State Senate, and now you 28 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:51.159 are positioned as the auditor. The legislature does not want 29 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:54.200 to be audited by you, and it's really the legislative leadership. 30 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.120 And we can talk about that quickly, but I want 31 00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:00.000 to focus on this report. I read it this afternoon. 32 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:03.280 I didn't read it verbatim. I went over it as 33 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:06.599 best I could. I read it quickly, at seventy four pages. 34 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.879 I would be lying to you if I told you 35 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:12.400 I could, I could cite chapter and verse. However, the 36 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:16.120 concern that is obvious. And by the way, anyone who 37 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:18.479 wants to take the time if they want to see 38 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:23.879 a thorough report done in language that anyone can understand, 39 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:28.560 this is the report to look at it. It is 40 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:32.319 really well done by However, whoever, how many members of 41 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:35.599 your staff were involved in this. There are visuals which 42 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:41.000 which help explain. There are graphs you focus on the 43 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:44.719 no bid contracts and a couple the focus seems to 44 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:48.120 be on one at a restaurant over in East Boston 45 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:52.000 and also a cab company down in Truro. And one 46 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:57.800 of the best representations of this is a page twelve 47 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:01.759 which is a colograph of themalth of Massachusetts broken down 48 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:08.080 by county basis county level and the company that provided 49 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:16.120 food I guess statewide Spinelle Ravioli Manufacturing Company. They're there, 50 00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:20.400 I believe, East Boston. And then the Mercedes Cab company, 51 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:24.159 well named Mercedes Cab Company is down at the tip 52 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:28.680 of the cape in Truro. Why would there not have 53 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:33.680 been some some cabs spread around the state so that people, 54 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:36.439 if we are going to accommodate people of the shelters, 55 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:40.560 that all of the money was not given to one 56 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:46.599 cab company and primarily one food provider. That is that 57 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:48.560 strikes me. It hits me in the eye when I 58 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:50.240 read this report, Am I missing something? 59 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:51.800 Yeah? 60 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.599 Well, first and foremost, Kan, thank you so much for 61 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:58.439 complimenting the breadth of the report and the depth of 62 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:02.759 the report. I cannot take credit for that report being 63 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:06.039 so as in depth as it was. That is my 64 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:09.680 team in the Office of State Auditor doing great, great work. 65 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:15.159 I have an amazing team of audit professionals who really 66 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:19.600 do work over time on making sure that they are 67 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:25.240 doing their due diligence and having the necessary conversations to 68 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:30.279 make sure that these reports are robust, that they're accurate, 69 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.959 and that they're getting all the information out to the residents. 70 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:38.160 So kudos to the amazing team and the Office of 71 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:44.800 State Auditor. And certainly, yes, the findings that our team 72 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:49.759 found are certainly concerning, right on many different levels, you 73 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:52.879 know level You know, the first level is on the 74 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.040 level that these these contracts and the millions of our 75 00:04:56.079 --> 00:05:01.120 tax dollars were executed with no bidding process. And folks, 76 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:05.160 we totally understand this is a humanitarian crisis. You know, 77 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:07.240 this is something that's happening across our nation. It's not 78 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:11.639 just happening in Massachusetts. These are challenging times, uh, and 79 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:15.639 this is you know, something where we would expect that, 80 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:22.720 you know, in the administration's first dealings with such challenging times, 81 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:27.399 that you know, there could be some errors made during 82 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:31.560 this process, uh, in trying to find solutions in a 83 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:38.439 quick manner on various topics, but on these particular contracts UH. 84 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:43.160 The the administration did have data UH dating you know, 85 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:49.040 back to when this started to become an issue with 86 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:53.759 these arrivals and with the need for shelter increasing rapidly. 87 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:57.720 There were several months in between when the administration started 88 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:00.600 to collect and review data and when the no bid 89 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.920 contracts were executed. 90 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:03.600 UH. 91 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:07.519 Emergency no bid contracts are intended to be used for 92 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:11.480 emergency situations and think about, you know, a tree falling 93 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:16.439 on a building, right, some sort of an unforeseen event 94 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:22.079 that could not have been predicted. There were several months 95 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:26.040 in between when you know this this UH, the influx 96 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:29.399 started happening, and there was a lot of data that 97 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:33.639 the Executive Office of Housing Livable Communities is tracking in 98 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:38.560 order to be able to plan a bit better for 99 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:42.800 some of these contracts to be executed. If an emergency 100 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:47.839 contract is executed, however, it is supposed to be executed 101 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:51.199 for several weeks, not for several months. There was a 102 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:56.399 difference between an emergency contract meant to cover emergency time 103 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:00.560 frames UH and just outright contracts that are given out right. 104 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:05.360 So the report did cite the Administration for the improper 105 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:10.519 and unlawful use of the emergency procurement process. Again, certainly, 106 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.600 we understand if there's an emergency situation, but there are 107 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:16.920 proper protocols and procedures that need to be followed that 108 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:21.000 were not, and these excessive lengths of time that these 109 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:25.160 contracts were executed really, you know, can can do a 110 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:28.639 lot of damage to the public's trust regarding the process 111 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:30.600 that is supposed to be followed. When we give out 112 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.839 millions of dollars in state contracts, folks want to know 113 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:36.120 that that process is fair and that it is equitable, 114 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:40.920 and that it is being done in an appropriate manner 115 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:43.600 so that it's not you know, able to be alleged 116 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:46.199 that it's paid to play or that you know, there 117 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:48.439 are inequities in the process. So we did cite the 118 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:52.879 administration for that. What you're talking about, Dan regarding you know, 119 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:56.040 these companies just being located in one spot and why 120 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:58.360 were they selected. Well, you know, we did ask the 121 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:02.439 administration why these companies were selected, and they couldn't provide 122 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:06.680 evidence as to why they thought that they were the 123 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:11.079 best selection out of other options. For example, I actually 124 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:14.399 made a phone call and had a conversation with my 125 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:19.480 local Merrimac Valley Regional Transit Authority staff, and they informed 126 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.839 me that, you know, if the administration had reached out 127 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:24.399 or wanted to reach out, that they would be more 128 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:28.759 than willing as a local regional public transit authority to 129 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:37.440 assist in providing cost effective opportunities to the Commonwealth to 130 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:43.360 serve in the shelter situation where the needs are they 131 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:47.519 save a pass by too shelters in our region on 132 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:49.600 their current bus route, and that they would be more 133 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:53.159 than help happy to assist in any way, shape or 134 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:57.840 form and provide potentially again more cost effective opportunities for 135 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:03.759 the Commonwealth to take up. We yes, madam, let me just. 136 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:05.519 I want to take quick break here. I know we're 137 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:08.639 limited on time, but I want to drive the point 138 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:13.000 home that there were several counties who were not ever 139 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:16.159 involved in any of this. So, for example, you had 140 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:20.799 counties like Duke's County, which is Mantesvinyar, Nantucket County which 141 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:25.919 is Nantucket, Hampshire County, which is really in the in 142 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:32.519 the middle of western Massachusetts, which really wasn't touched. And 143 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:37.039 then you had counties like Middlesex. They had twenty eight shelters. 144 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:43.279 Open Essex had had twelve, Norfolk eleven, Worcester eleven, Suffolk 145 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:48.320 had six, Plymouth had six. So it was interesting that 146 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:51.679 that it wasn't as if the counties that provided the 147 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:55.320 shelter had cabs available for people were who were in 148 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:58.240 the shelters. This map, to me, is stunning. I want 149 00:09:58.279 --> 00:10:00.000 to talk about that, and I want to get back 150 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:02.720 to the cost a little bit. I don't know if 151 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:04.840 we're going to have any time for the questions for you, 152 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:07.960 because you've had a long day and I promised that 153 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:11.799 we'd let you go at nine thirty. But I will 154 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:14.159 invite people if they want to call and comment on 155 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:17.240 what you have to say. We will take calls, certainly 156 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:21.799 after we give you the opportunity to get some sleep. 157 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:25.600 My guest is the Massachusetts State Auditor, Diana Disauglio. This 158 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:30.000 is a scathing report. It does not, in any way, 159 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:33.679 shape or form suggest that how the Healthy Administration handled 160 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:36.759 this and this report, I need to mention, covers thirty 161 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:40.879 months from July twenty twenty one through December thirty first 162 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:44.720 of twenty and twenty three. We'll get to some specifics 163 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:47.200 right after the break. My guess is the state order. 164 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.200 The came Wealth of Massachusetts Democrat Diana Dosaglio. 165 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:53.639 It's night side with Dan Ray on. 166 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:58.080 Boston's news radio with me, it's the order of the 167 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:02.240 call Wealth of Massachusetts. Diana is Uglio. Can we focus 168 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:06.919 a second on this cab company out in Truro. If 169 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:09.480 my math is right, and I think it is, there 170 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:15.399 was something like fifteen ninety four cab rides. The average 171 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:18.480 cost of these cab rights was like three hundred and 172 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:22.120 sixteen dollars. I mean, I realized the cab is coming 173 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:27.000 from Truro, and I assumed that these cabs are driving many, 174 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:30.519 many miles, not just on the Cape but elsewhere. I 175 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.879 assumed the cab rides were given. Why would they not 176 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:37.320 have split this up? They have a cab company at 177 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:41.840 the far tip of Cape cod Who figured that one out, 178 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.320 Madam Auditor? 179 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:44.639 Yeah? 180 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:47.840 This this, this is not thoughtfully considered. 181 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:48.480 Dan. 182 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.879 And again when we asked the administration for you know, 183 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:57.559 documentation to verify that they had considered other options and 184 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:02.639 done due diligence in selecting vendor for again months and 185 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:06.480 months at a time to provide these services, they could 186 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:09.759 not provide evidence that they had actually done. So there 187 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:15.080 are alternatives out there, and when you have a transportation 188 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.480 company located in just one part of the state that's 189 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.639 delivering to all different parts of the state where the 190 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:24.080 MBTA is located in many of these areas, and the 191 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:29.360 regional transit authorities in some cases have themselves offered to 192 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:33.960 actually assist with providing more cost effective options. But then 193 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.120 you see that one bus ride was taken a little 194 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:41.360 over three miles down the road that cost nearly five 195 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:45.320 thousand dollars for one bus trip. You know, we just 196 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:49.000 did a quick internet search and found that, you know, 197 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:51.600 you could charter a bus for an entire day for 198 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:57.120 a fraction of the cost. You know, we did cite 199 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:59.440 that to the administration as being problematic. 200 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:03.759 Bus ride five thousand dollars, that that should be in 201 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:06.519 the Guinness World Book of Records. They should be very 202 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.480 proud of that. 203 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:11.039 This is insane, I mean, in the reality is dan 204 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:13.080 is that we do you know, we do have these 205 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:17.879 dollars going out to these private vendors right when we 206 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:22.919 do have services right now within our own public transportation 207 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:26.279 system where in some cases folks have stood up and 208 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:29.559 said they're ready to assist, right so we could be 209 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:33.720 reinvesting those tax dollars back in to our public transportation 210 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:37.679 system and getting services at a fraction of the cost. 211 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:41.639 It does take some work to have those conversations and 212 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:45.799 to due diligence into looking at those options. And that's 213 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:48.399 simply what we said to the administration. Look, we understand 214 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:51.000 that you can't change the past, can't go back in time. 215 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:54.240 This is an opportunity to look at some of the 216 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:57.679 decisions that were made and to make changes so that 217 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:00.840 history doesn't repeat itself. You know us what oughts are 218 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:04.919 there for. They're not there just to harp on agencies 219 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:07.639 and just tell them what they did wrong. They actually 220 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:10.919 exist to help to make government work better for those 221 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:14.759 it's meant to serve. The audit did list several recommendations 222 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.200 with the findings. It pointed to some of the flaws, 223 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:22.440 but yes, it did also make recommendations for improvement, like 224 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.039 making sure that you know, these these processes are documented 225 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:29.000 so that evidence can be collected to demonstrate that the 226 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:32.879 process was fair, the process was equitable, making sure to 227 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:37.639 create systems that are more efficient so that even skimming 228 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.879 isn't going on. You know, in some of these cases 229 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:43.480 where you know there was money lost, it wasn't exorbitant 230 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:47.120 in nature, but it still was money lost. We identify 231 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:52.200 those opportunities as well, where you know, there's bits and 232 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.159 bits of tax payer dollars being lost in you know, 233 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:59.519 nearly nine point six percent of transactions, nearly ten percent 234 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:03.919 of trans actions with the Finelli Ravioli company. We saw that, 235 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.519 you know, in the delivery fees there was nearly a 236 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:12.320 ten percent rate of overcharges occurring. Right now, small enough 237 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:15.720 regarding the loss of revenue in comparison to the larger 238 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:19.639 scope of the money being spent, but it's still a 239 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:22.519 loss right, and a penny saved is a penny earned. 240 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:24.360 And we work hard for our tax dollars. We want 241 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.799 to make sure that we are you know, guarding those 242 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.720 tax dollars. Even in those cases, isn't it where maybe 243 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:34.480 the administration doesn't consider it worth paying attention to, We 244 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:37.600 did ask them to, you know, work on making those 245 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:41.320 systems more efficient. You know my issue, Dan, because I 246 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.559 do have to go in a couple of minutes here, 247 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:46.639 But my issue is we did make recommendations, and those 248 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:50.720 recommendations are meant to help this administration and to help 249 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.799 the Executive Office of Housing and Loveable Communities to do 250 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:57.559 better by the taxpayer moving forward. And I think that 251 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.799 you know, again, when we look back in time, we 252 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:04.759 see that some mistakes, some errors occurred, things could have 253 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:07.879 been done better. Better. It was a very challenging time. 254 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:11.000 But what we really need to see is for the 255 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.200 administration move out of its defensive posture towards these audit 256 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:19.840 findings and recommendations and move more towards a willingness to 257 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:22.600 look at some of the areas where they could improve 258 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:27.320 to help instill the public's trust. To hear the governor say, 259 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:33.279 you know, essentially that she doubts that she will take 260 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:35.919 a look at these recommendations and work to implement them. 261 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:39.919 When she when she simultaneously said she hadn't even seen 262 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:43.799 the report, that's a bit discouraging, right, because we do 263 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:46.519 these reports, Like you said, it was over seventy pages. 264 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:51.879 The team worked really hard on this report. EOHLC themselves 265 00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:54.679 operated in the spirit of cooperation with our team. They 266 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:58.039 worked with our audit team, you know. And if there 267 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:02.639 are areas of agreement, okay, areas of disagreement, okay. But 268 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.440 I do hope that the governor does, at their minimum 269 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.519 look at this report. Because she said she hasn't seen 270 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:13.440 it yet look at the report before, you know, stating 271 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.839 that she's already unwilling to implement any of the potential 272 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:20.799 recommendations for improvements. I think that, you know, that's a 273 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:25.920 disservice to the taxpayers to not at least attempt to 274 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:30.079 consider the recommendations. Right, So hopefully we will, we will 275 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.559 get a better, you know, a better attitude moving forward 276 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:35.920 from the administration so that we can you know, again 277 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.640 work to make government work better. 278 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:41.119 By the way, just when you mentioned ell HLC, that 279 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:44.720 is the Executive Office of Housing Liver Communities. There's one 280 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:47.160 cab ride and I'm sure you were aware of this, 281 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:52.480 but which I found and I had heard about that 282 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.319 cost one hundred and forty dollars for exactly three hundred 283 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:59.400 and twenty two feet from the point of pickup. And 284 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:02.640 people will say, well, how's that possible. My understanding, this 285 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.200 cab company on the Cape, every time a cab they 286 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:09.960 dispatched a cab, it was one hundred and forty dollars 287 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:14.400 to get to the pickup point, which is which is weird. 288 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.519 So they're guaranteed one hundred and forty dollars whether the 289 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:19.839 pickup point is a half a mile away or ten 290 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.519 miles away. 291 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:22.880 And of course people and Dan in addition to what 292 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:25.680 you just said, In addition to what you just said, 293 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:28.839 it was roughly, it was roughly it was over three 294 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:33.200 hundred and fifty thousand dollars that the Commonwealth was charged 295 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:36.759 for cancelations, for no shows and things of that nature. 296 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.119 Right. 297 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:40.279 So you know, when you have one hundred and forty 298 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:45.160 dollars fee for the base rate for a pickup, right, 299 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:48.559 and then then that gets canceled for some reason, but 300 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:52.480 we're still charged, you have to wonder was there a 301 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.720 better way forward? 302 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.079 Right? 303 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.119 And we believe there was. Can you imagine anybody who's 304 00:18:58.119 --> 00:19:00.960 taken a cab, anyone who's taken an oar or anything. 305 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:05.119 You know, it's just you get to charge one hundred 306 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.880 and forty dollars. 307 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:08.680 Yeah, I just want people to understand this, and I'll 308 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.839 let you go. So you call an uber or you 309 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:13.440 call a cab or whatever, and the cab arrives at 310 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:15.960 the door, and you want to go five miles, some 311 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.640 five miles, and at the end of the five miles 312 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:22.200 they say to you, that's one hundred and fifty eight 313 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:24.319 dollars or something. You're gonna say, one hundred and fifty 314 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:27.319 eight dollars, I went five miles, oh, one hundred and 315 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:29.559 forty dollars for us to get to your house. And 316 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.920 the eighteen dollars is for the five miles that we 317 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:36.920 drove you what a scam. Auditor. Thank you for this report. 318 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:41.279 It is so important. I am very disappointed that Governor 319 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:43.799 Healy has had the reaction that you've reported to us. 320 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:46.039 And I hope Governor Healy wants to come on the 321 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:51.200 program and criticize the report or point out any mistakes 322 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.160 in the report, because it looks to me like a 323 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:57.960 very tightly written and presented and reasoned report. And I 324 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:03.680 just got to say congratulations, and please don't don't quit. 325 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:09.079 Don't I mean, I know, thank. 326 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:11.599 You, and and look what I will what I will 327 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:13.640 ask folks, you know, I mean, just to advocate for 328 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:16.519 some of this stuff, uh, because the AUTO reports really 329 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:19.799 are there to help right in this This isn't about 330 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:23.440 you know, laying criticisms on people or uh, you know, 331 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:27.519 just uh putting fault on on on folks around agencies. 332 00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:29.880 What this is about is this is about helping to 333 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:34.200 make systems work better for the residents of Massachusetts, right 334 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:39.000 and what our request is of this administration is simply 335 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:42.559 too uh you know, for the Governor and the administration 336 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:49.519 to thoughtfully examine the report before uh making judgment. Calls 337 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:52.960 about all you know already stating that they're you know, 338 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:57.640 unlikely to implement the recommendations. I think that there are 339 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:02.599 some you know, uh solid recommendations in there. Certainly, you know, 340 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:06.160 they don't want to take all the recommendations. They are 341 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:09.319 the governing agency of the Commonwealth. They have a right 342 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:12.480 not to take the recommendations. But you know, the team 343 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:16.200 did work hard, they worked alongside of the Executive Office 344 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:19.359 of Housing and Movable Communities. And to just dismiss the 345 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:24.240 report without even having seen it, it is unfortunate. So 346 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.960 I am going to ask, you know, anybody that does 347 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:30.000 you know, call the administration to advocate that you simply 348 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:34.640 just ask that the administration read the report, review it, 349 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:38.240 and hey, if we agree on some things but disagree 350 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:42.359 on others, okay, but at least review the recommendations and 351 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:45.960 let's see if we can work together to improve some 352 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:49.240 of these systems to save tax payer dollars, to make 353 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:51.039 sure that we're getting the most baying for our book, 354 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:53.839 and also to make sure that these no bid contracts 355 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:58.839 are being entered into only when it is truly, truly 356 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:03.920 appropriate and for shorter time periods, so that we can. 357 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:08.960 Instill public trust and public faith in government, that the 358 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:12.440 system is fair and equitable, and that people are able 359 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:15.880 to get access to these opportunities, you know, even if 360 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:17.519 they are not politically connected. 361 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:21.319 So you know, please keep advocating for that. We are 362 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:23.680 here to help. We're here to help make government work better, 363 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.799 but obviously we can't do it without you. So thanks 364 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:29.200 so much, Dan for having me on tonight. 365 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.200 Please appreciate it very much for the end of a 366 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:33.319 long day. I just want to add one final PostScript 367 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:37.519 to that is the automatic sure defensive posture and reaction 368 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:42.200 does not look good for Governor Healy's office, and I 369 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:46.279 hope that she understands that the automatic defensive posture and 370 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:49.640 reaction does not. She does not wear that well. Simple 371 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:54.599 as that auditor, I'm telling you, you you are are, 372 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:57.359 You're breath of fresh air on Beacon Hill in terms 373 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:00.880 of openness and transparency, I kind of having a better 374 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:03.519 state auditor. And I just say thank you on behalf 375 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:09.880 of every taxpayer in Massachusetts. Liberal conservative, moderate Republican Democrat, Independent, unenrolled. 376 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:12.720 We're all owe you a debt of gratitude for having 377 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.119 the courage. 378 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:16.519 Ever, I have an amazing team. I have an amazing 379 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:18.440 team in the Office of State Auditor. So I want 380 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:21.279 to throw that thanks back to our team, into our staff, 381 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.920 to the auditors. But thank you so so much, Jan 382 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:28.480 I really appreciate the opportunity to chat tonight again. Please advocate, 383 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:30.799 We're here to help, We're here to work together. Thanks 384 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:32.039 so much, Thanks so much. 385 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:35.559 State Auditor Diana de Zauglio, and I got to tell 386 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:38.839 you she's up there. Look, I know how to waste money. 387 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:41.880 I know how to waste my own money, but I 388 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:45.160 don't want the Commonwealth of Massachusetts wasting my money on 389 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.920 no bid contracts. And when you read this report, when 390 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:51.480 you look at this report, you will you will be appalled. 391 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:54.000 You will be appalled. I'm going to open up the 392 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.680 phone lines. 393 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.079 Uh. 394 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:58.519 Diana has had some very long days, and I agreed. 395 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:00.880 I wanted her to free for you to hear from 396 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:05.200 her tonight. And she is. I don't know how she's 397 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:09.319 actually even awake at this hour, but obviously she is 398 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:13.799 an advocate for everyone. And look the money that is 399 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:17.400 wasted folks. Is money that could be spent on people 400 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:21.440 in Massachusetts who truly need assistance. And this has nothing 401 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:25.799