WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:05.559 It's with Dan ray On de Boston. 2 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.039 Treating the Boston Globe this morning. It was an interesting 3 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:15.640 story out of Somerville, and it's a sad story. The 4 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:19.679 headline on the Globe story was closing over misbehavior. The 5 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:26.920 Central Library in Somerville now will close its doors on 6 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:33.119 certain days because young people, teenagers, students, high school students 7 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:37.719 apparently have been doing some really just crazy things inside 8 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:39.439 of a library. Now, those of us who grew up 9 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:44.799 with a library where if you talked of the library 10 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:46.960 and would come over and say there's no talking in 11 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:51.399 the library, or they tell us please sh no talking, Well, 12 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:55.600 I guess the teens have been, amongst other things, lighting firecrackers, 13 00:00:55.640 --> 00:01:00.000 according to the Globe article, getting into fights inside the library. 14 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:03.679 I mean, this is behavior that is way over the 15 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:06.959 top and disturbing peers who would come to study relax 16 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.079 after a long day at school. That some kids will 17 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:12.040 lighten up whatever they will lighten up these days. I 18 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:16.239 hope it's just cigarettes with us. Is a city councilor 19 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:21.560 Kristin Stresso Council Stresso. Welcome to Nightside. How are you tonight? 20 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.640 I'm doing well. Thank you, I'm just fine. Thanks thanks 21 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:26.319 for having me. 22 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:29.680 No, well, thank you very much, And again I just 23 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:34.079 would like to get a sense from you what is 24 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:38.840 going on here? You know, this is this is behavior 25 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:41.599 that shouldn't happen. I think all of us would agree 26 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:44.920 with that. But what's prompting it? And what do you 27 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:47.959 think about the response of the library, which which is 28 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:52.079 to close the library at hours during the week which 29 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:55.439 would be most convenient to students when school closes. They 30 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:59.640 basically are saying, Okay, the behavior of some has been abhorrent, 31 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:02.599 and as a consequence, no one's going to have access 32 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:05.840 to the library, whether you're someone who misbehaves or someone 33 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:08.159 who comports themselves perfectly well. 34 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.639 Right, and and that's a great way to summer summarize it. 35 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:19.199 And I think that a lot of parents, residents, library patrons, 36 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:25.439 and well everyone is really their mouths are open. However, 37 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:30.599 the decision to do so was an absolutely last resort. 38 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:34.759 And I am not speaking on behalf of the librarians, 39 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:39.240 but it has been a complex issue that has the 40 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:49.919 what I say by issue a situation of misbehavior happening 41 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:52.120 inside the library, but it's a it's a culbination of 42 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.840 a few things going on at the same time, and 43 00:02:55.039 --> 00:03:02.199 the decision that the library representatives UH and the trustees 44 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:05.360 side on. This was the absolute worst of the last 45 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:12.439 last desperate solution and of this So if we can 46 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:14.319 break it down, it's it's a couple of things happening 47 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:19.840 at the same time. We have we have some misbehavior 48 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:26.159 of some teenagers, but but also we have to make 49 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:28.759 sure everyone feels safe. So we have to make sure 50 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:33.639 that everybody feels safe. So when we have incidences of 51 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:39.479 teenagers dropping firecrackers in the book drop, that's a problem 52 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:45.479 in our liberation correct during during business hours, not now. 53 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:48.400 But we also, above everything, we have to make sure 54 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.120 that our teenagers and our youth feel supported as well. 55 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:54.840 And I'm going to try not to bounce and I'm 56 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:56.879 gonna trying to talk about because it's the dialog, right, 57 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:59.800 it's a very it's a couple of things going on. 58 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:03.599 For while the librarians and the trustees have asked for 59 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:06.319 over a year and a half now for more support 60 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:10.759 on what's been going on in the library, more support 61 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:20.120 via staff, more support the security measures such as cameras, 62 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:23.680 and so we're really calling on the administration in the 63 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:27.399 Mayor's office and our city departments to really hop out 64 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.720 with this. There have been a lot of steps in 65 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:36.680 the past to engage our Somerville youth, our teens and 66 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:43.920 under under teenagers, such as we opened a team Center, 67 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:47.240 and they pushed really hard as a counselor to make 68 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:49.319 sure that happened, because that was one thing that our 69 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:53.519 teenagers consistently said they wanted some spaces where they can 70 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:59.319 be teenagers. We don't have that right now. We don't 71 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:01.680 have we we had a team Center, it had. 72 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:02.480 To be relocated. 73 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.480 We had it when it was opened in November of 74 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:07.720 twenty one, I believe. 75 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.519 Can I ask you a couple of questions because I 76 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.079 want to try to answer you. When it says Summerville 77 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:17.720 Central Library, is that the main public library? I know 78 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.000 there were branch libraries. Is that the big one? 79 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:21.800 Correct? We have three? 80 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:24.639 And the central Library is directly next door to the 81 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:25.160 high school. 82 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:30.560 Right, So, therefore, do we have any idea how long 83 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:34.959 this level of really bad behavior has been going on? 84 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:37.439 Is this something that has just propped up this summer 85 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.759 or does it have a longer pedigree than that. 86 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:43.920 It's been going on for a while. And again we're 87 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:47.839 not I want to make very clear that there is 88 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:54.240 no finger pointing of well, these how these teenagers are 89 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:56.519 these kids? It's not like that at all. It's that 90 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:59.800 there are numerous steps that we have to be taking. 91 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:01.839 Oh no, no, I forget that, but I'm just I'm 92 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:04.319 just focusing first. If I could, you know, just so 93 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:06.720 I understand this, I don't want to overstate it. So, 94 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:09.480 if is it been going on for a year? How 95 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:11.680 long has the library been having to deal with this 96 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:16.319 level of you know, we'll call it, you know, misbehavior 97 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:20.000 or juvenile or whatever whatever phrase you want to use. 98 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:21.519 It's been going on for more than a year. 99 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:23.439 Definitely over a year. 100 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:27.319 Okay, so the librarians have been frustrated. Let me ask 101 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:30.079 a really dumb question. Did anybody come up with the 102 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:33.759 idea of, hey, why don't we post a police officer 103 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:38.600 inside the library, you know during the afternoon, you know, 104 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.560 from the time the kids get out of school two 105 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:44.560 or two thirty until say five o'clock. I mean, did 106 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.319 anyone I mean that I think would serve as that deterred, 107 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:47.800 would it not? 108 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:53.120 It's a good question. And however, we want to make 109 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:57.439 sure that no and behavior gets completely out of hand. 110 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:03.480 That is that is still uh that that is an option. However, 111 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:10.360 we want to make sure that we are uh making 112 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:15.199 the uh the how do I say this? It's it's 113 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:21.680 it's ten ten at night. So I'll ask the question. 114 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:26.680 Did anybody ever say, hey, look, let's have a police 115 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:32.279 one police officer, just one police officer in that library 116 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:35.240 beginning let's say two o'clock in the after whatever, you know, 117 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:37.519 whenever the school gets out two o'clock in the afternoon, 118 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:38.639 two to five whatever. 119 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:43.360 There were questions of ken we hire security, and can 120 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:46.040 we have security guards? And can we have can we 121 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:49.800 have a police officer if necessary. 122 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:51.519 A security guard? And those kids will laugh at a 123 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:54.040 security guard, They'll laugh at some guy who shows up. 124 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:55.560 We're in it, you know, I mean, you and I 125 00:07:55.639 --> 00:07:58.879 both know that. But but if they give a police 126 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:02.240 officer a hard time, police officers simply calls for us 127 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:05.160 some backup. And at this point we got kids who 128 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.279 are who are down down in the station house, and 129 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:11.240 mom and dad have to come by and and and 130 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.079 and pick Junior up. It used to me like a 131 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:18.720 pretty simple solution here, and the word would spread, Hey, 132 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:21.800 you know, I mean, you know, let's let's find somewhere 133 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:24.920 else to cause problems. 134 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:28.600 And I haven't been right, and I haven't been in 135 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:32.480 everyone of the conversations or this, but I know I 136 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:35.679 do know, right, yeah, but I do know that that, yes, 137 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:38.679 there have been questions of of everything, and we want 138 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:41.440 to make sure that we're not we're not uganizing and 139 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:44.039 criminalizing everything. That the goal is with teenagers, and you 140 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:46.320 know how teenagers are because we were all teenagers once, 141 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.759 is that we need But. 142 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:51.799 I never flung flung. I'm with you. 143 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:57.960 Yeah, animal house, it doesn't sound. 144 00:08:59.480 --> 00:08:59.600 Well. 145 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.200 And that is accountability too. It is very you don't 146 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:07.840 throw firecrackers either in the book drop and because that 147 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:11.039 is right next door to the children's section, but also 148 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:14.720 you just don't do that. Of course they're calling for accountability, 149 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:17.320 but at the same time, the goal of that first 150 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:20.639 is to make sure that that we're checking in to 151 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:28.200 not that that it's not not an issue of criminalizing, 152 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:31.159 but also checking in what can we do to deflect 153 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:34.519 and not deflect, but to make sure that we're addressing 154 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:37.519 issues in front of that, keeping the teams busy, keeping 155 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:41.080 them engaged, giving them opportunities to thrive, giving them seeing 156 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:44.960 if we can job placement other things, keeping them busy, 157 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:50.080 because we know when teenagers are bored, if keep them busy, 158 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.639 because if they're not, they're going to find ways to 159 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:55.559 not be bored. When teenagers find ways not to be bored, 160 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.240 often things that are not preferred, right because. 161 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:03.639 Well, Counselor, look, I appreciate, particularly on a Friday night 162 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.159 at ten o'clock, the fact that you'd give us a 163 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:10.399 little sense of it. I simply would suggest that maybe 164 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:15.679 just a presence of a police officer would discourage that 165 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:20.120 sort of behavior. And you know, police officers do have 166 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:23.799 some authority, and they also have backup. I think a 167 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:26.960 security guard, some poor guy with a security guard who's 168 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:31.200 twenty two years old, they probably would be putting firecrackers 169 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:36.519 down his pants if he was there or she was there. 170 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:39.399 That's that's not fair. Counselor. Thank you so much for 171 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:41.320 joining us. You've given us a pretty good sense of it. 172 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.600 I'm gonna I don't want to subject you to phone 173 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:47.480 lines here, so I'm going to invite folks to call us, 174 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:52.519 and you probably have enough problems with constituents calling you, 175 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.399 so you've been great to do. 176 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:58.159 No, thank you very much for that. I do want 177 00:10:58.200 --> 00:11:01.519 to say that the goal is is that we want 178 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:05.000 to make sure that that the that we're finding solutions, 179 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:08.679 and that and that we're being as responsible responsive as possible, 180 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:13.200 and that and that that city services are being provided. 181 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:17.840 So we are, so we are so everybody gets a 182 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:20.159 chance to thrive because it is not I I certainly 183 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:22.919 don't want to shut out story time. I mean, I'm 184 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.399 not the one who made the decision on closing the library, 185 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:30.159 but I I can't imagine the concept of not being 186 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:32.639 able to come for a storytelling with the toddler or 187 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:35.480 looking at a picture book or teams. We need to 188 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:38.279 make sure those that that that that that other teams 189 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.240 or other kids that want to come after school and 190 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.639 study and really get to the work, or just pick 191 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:45.320 out a book that everyone. 192 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:47.559 It's a few ruining it for for the for the 193 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:50.799 for all, and and that has to stop. Keep us 194 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:53.240 posting on this way, man, if you and if if 195 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:55.639 you guys, if you guys, put a police officer in 196 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:58.279 that and that and that calms it down. Give me credit, 197 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:03.039 will you? Thanks counselor thanks to thank you? All Right, 198 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:05.279 we take a quick break. If you'd like to join 199 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:09.600 the conversation. I think that's a fairly straightforward suggestion. If 200 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:13.600 you've got some rowdy teenagers doing stupid things. They're not 201 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:16.919 necessarily criminal, but they're stupid. Call it what it is. 202 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:20.039 Put a police officer there. I would bet you in 203 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:22.679 a week that problem would go away, because I think 204 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:25.840 the word would spread amongst the teenagers. You don't want 205 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.720 to go down there and do something stupid in the library. Look, 206 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:32.399 libraries are having a tough time because fewer and fewer 207 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:35.320 people are using them. Many people are just relying on computers. 208 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:37.120 I want to hear from you, particularly if you live 209 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:39.440 in Somerville. Come on, what's going on over there? You 210 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:45.720 know this is this is something that is unacceptable. Now again, 211 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:49.679 this is not MS thirteen. I get that this is 212 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:52.519 not kids using knives or guns. But you're going to 213 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:55.840 throw firecrackers inside a library. You're gonna be smoking inside 214 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:58.399 a library. Give me a break, Give me a break. 215 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:04.159 Get one police officer inside that building beginning the first 216 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:09.000 day of school, and I guarantee you the problems, the 217 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:12.679 problems will move. You will not have the problem in 218 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:16.200 the library anymore, if you agree with me. Again, sometimes 219 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.399 the easiest solutions are the ones that stare you in 220 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:22.240 the in the eye. More programs wonderful. I don't think 221 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:24.000 that's going to solve the problem, because if you got 222 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.399 some kids who just want to go in and raise 223 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.360 hell in the library, they're going to do it until 224 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:30.000 somebody's there to stop them. Coming back on Night Side 225 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.879 six one seven, two, five, four, ten thirty six one seven, nine, three, one, 226 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:39.559 ten thirty, you don't coddle problem children. You give them 227 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:42.639 some guidance, and nothing would be would provide more guidance 228 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:46.879 than officer friendly inside the library, ready to deal with 229 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.159 whatever comes through the door. I'm convinced any say, any 230 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:54.360 Summerville police officer could handle that task, and if necessary, 231 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:59.000 you bring in the cavalry and you deal with whatever occurs. 232 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.679 Coming back on night let's have at it now. 233 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.200 Back to Dan Ray live from the Window World Nightside 234 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:07.960 Studios on WBZ News Radio. 235 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:13.240 You know, I'm reading the Global article here. There's a 236 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:18.759 young woman named Autumn Lane. She's an eighth grader. Closing 237 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:21.080 the library and get riding or getting rid of the 238 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:24.279 safe space altogether is only going to make the problem worse. 239 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:29.559 You should be the mayor of Somerville, Autumn Lane. 240 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:34.360 That's absolutely true. And the way to make the library 241 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:37.840 a safe space, a safer space than it is with 242 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:42.080 kids throwing firecrackers, fights. 243 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:46.840 Very simple. My solution Somerville. You don't even have to 244 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:52.320 pay me as a consultant. But one police officer, one 245 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:56.080 you know, younger police officer, maybe one of the police 246 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:59.720 officers in the late twenties, early thirties, stationed in the 247 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:06.159 mins the library and if the problem continues, then you 248 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:10.840 call in the cavalry if you have to. Uh, that's 249 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:14.799 the problem. And you know, I know that my my friend, 250 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:18.399 the counselor O Streso was was a little hasardant to 251 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:23.240 endorse my idea, but I think that she had some 252 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:26.080 respect for it, although she talked about we need more 253 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:29.039 programs and all of that. I think again, you got 254 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:32.960 to say to people, Okay, you you can't behave in 255 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:36.200 a library, then you don't belong in a library. And 256 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.399 if when we tell you to leave, you don't leave, 257 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:41.919 you'll be you'll be taken into custody and we will 258 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:44.440 will bring the wagon up, and we'll bring a few 259 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:46.559 more people up, and we'll take you down the police 260 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:49.879 station and we'll call you parents if you have some parents, 261 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:53.519 or we'll call your guardians or whomever, uh, and they'll 262 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:55.840 they'll get you out and we'll see you in court. 263 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:57.759 The next morning, you won't have to go to school. 264 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:00.840 The next day you get a appointment in front of 265 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:06.679 the judge. Simple as that. This is crazy. Apparently, this 266 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:09.720 is the decision that's been made that the library until 267 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.600 further notice would be closed from eleven thirty to two 268 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:15.600 pm on Wednesdays. That's apparently the half day in school 269 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:18.720 that the summer those students again, and on the other 270 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:22.000 weekdays Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from two to four. Let 271 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.200 me go to Gary see what he has to say. 272 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.879 I will bet you he agrees with me. I could 273 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:31.320 be wrong, but maybe he has a more innovative idea. Gary, welcome. 274 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:33.080 How are you well? 275 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:36.360 Way back one going to high school between eight years 276 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:40.120 of combination of seventy seven to eighty one. How I 277 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.200 feel is this when I was in the library, way 278 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:44.000 back when I was a big kid myself. But I 279 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.600 wasn't one of those separate guys that got jollies out 280 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:49.360 of beating up somebody and punch them in the face, 281 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:52.879 because some guys did. Way back. When you get that 282 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:56.000 certain kid, I knew you'd be in the library, Joey, 283 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:58.440 I can't find you in school and you punch the 284 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:01.000 guy in the face. What I'm getting I'm getting a 285 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:04.960 little graphic here is you get a combination of violence 286 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:09.440 in libraries that go unreported. You get the facing of 287 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:13.319 books that go unreported. I mean, where are all the 288 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:16.039 cameras in a library, because the way I look at it, 289 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:19.319 like it was a floodgated with cameras in a library. 290 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.559 You get that kid audio in video of him, whether 291 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:28.359 it's the facing or this that, And somehow the cops 292 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:32.119 get involved and grab those parents and bring them into 293 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:35.759 court and say you represent your child, your child did wrong, 294 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:38.440 and throw out the fines like crazy. You can get 295 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.599 them in the pockets. 296 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:42.960 Agree, well, that's that's a way to go about it. 297 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:46.839 I mean, some would argue that the parent, it's very difficult. 298 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:50.480 Just as you don't visit the sins of the father 299 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:53.200 upon the son, I guess you also don't visit the 300 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:55.480 sins of the son upon the father. And some would 301 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:58.160 argue that, hey, even though the parents did allows e 302 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:00.519 job bringing the kid up, so he's not small not 303 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:03.720 to do facebooks in the library or throw firecrackers. But 304 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:08.200 I'm not opposed to that idea that there should be 305 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:12.200 some responsibility if the kids aren't responsible, parents are responsible. 306 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:15.599 I just think that it's it's pretty old school when 307 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:19.160 I'm suggesting, but it's pretty simple. It's pretty straightforward. Put 308 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.839 a police officer inside the library. So when the kids 309 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:24.920 come in, and they come in, you'll pack four or 310 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.240 five and they're gonna do this, and they're gonna do 311 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.599 something really stupid, and they're gonna be more stupid than 312 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:33.559 their stupid friends. So we're friend's gonna throw a firecracker 313 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.039 in the library. I got it. I got a Blockbuster 314 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:41.319 or a cherry baumb You know, you gotta deal with 315 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:45.319 these kids at their own mentality, which is you do 316 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:49.200 something stupid, say hello is some new jewelry. We're going 317 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:51.440 to put you in handcuffs, and we're going to put 318 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.960 you in the wagon or in the squad car, and 319 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:56.880 we're gonna hold you down in a cell for a 320 00:18:56.920 --> 00:19:00.759 few hours. We're gonna call you parents, and tomorrow morning 321 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.400 you won't have to go to school. Go see the 322 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:04.680 tell it to the judge. That's all. 323 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:08.240 The other fact too, what back one, what I experienced, 324 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:10.759 And like I said, I was never a choir boy 325 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.359 all the time. 326 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:14.680 But I wouldn't expect Dary that you were a quire boy. 327 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.799 I think I know you well. 328 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:21.920 Enough to know that, Okay, harassing librarians who are traditionally 329 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:24.799 usually women, but there are men, and you get the 330 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:30.079 punky kids that would harass librarians way back when or 331 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:33.279 even now in the last fifty years. And what I 332 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:38.759 say to that is this audio video harassment time these kids, 333 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:40.880 and don't wastn't get away with it and say you 334 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:43.400 got a summons and find them. I go to your 335 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:46.960 homes and say your son or daughter is acting very inappropriate. 336 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:50.160 Your summons to court because of his bad behavior, harassing 337 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:53.519 a library, just like McDonald's all these past food places 338 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:56.759 I experienced this cause I go, I drink dis. 339 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:59.839 Look, if they're doing stupid stuff at McDonald's, it's up 340 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:02.640 to McDonald's to take care of them. And if McDonald's 341 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:06.680 really needs to prevent kids from doing stupid stuff, they 342 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:10.160 will hire a police officer. As a detail, the city 343 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:14.799 of Somerville has a police force, and they need to 344 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:17.960 use the police force win a problem arises. Anyway, Gary, 345 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.599 I think you and I pretty much on the same page, 346 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.160 and I think we're just going at it a little differently. 347 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:26.519 Thanks man, have a great weekend. Okay, thanks by the 348 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:29.119 way for those of you who are waiting around for 349 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:34.079 our presidential poll. We do it every I pledged earlier 350 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:37.319 this year, and we began doing this, believe it or not, 351 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:42.720 in March, April, May, June, July, and August. This is 352 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:46.240 our sixth month doing this. So in the eleven o'clock hour, 353 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:50.400 about a half an hour from now, once the newscast 354 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:52.160 is over, we're going to open up the phone lines 355 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:54.119 and give you an opportunity to cast a vote for 356 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:57.279 whichever presidential candidate you like or you would like to 357 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:00.000 see win. It's down to, and neither one of them 358 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.240 named Biden. I think this would be the first pole 359 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:06.960 that we've done without Biden. Technically, well, he wasn't on 360 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:11.160 the ballot in July, but RFK was. So now we 361 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:14.240 will see where this pole will go next hour. But 362 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.880 for now, I want to hear from some of you 363 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:18.640 in Somerville, Okay, and I want to hear from you 364 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:21.960 in other communities. If this was going on in your library, 365 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:25.680 in your town, whether it's Medford or Malden or Methuen, 366 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:30.680 Haveral or Quincy, Broxton, wherever, what would you expect your 367 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:34.680 political leaders to do? Now? I did talk earlier this 368 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:39.759 Hour with Somerville City Councilor Kristin Stresso, and she seemed 369 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:42.480 to stress that maybe there've had to be some more programs, 370 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:45.319 and she talked about idle minds, idle hands and all 371 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:49.319 of that sort of stuff. Devil's Workshop. No, if you 372 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:52.960 do something that's stupid in a library, okay, you do 373 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:55.759 something really stupid on the street, you get a little 374 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:59.880 bit more flexibility. Okay, but you've light a fire cracker, 375 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.839 light a cigarette. Are you going to vape inside the library? 376 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:06.759 Not going to happen. Well, if it happens, we're going 377 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.920 to have a police officer there who's going to go 378 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:12.319 over and escort you to the door. And if you don't, 379 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:15.680 and you're going to be told also, you're not welcome 380 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.480 to come back here for thirty days. Okay take the name, 381 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:22.039 can't come back band for thirty days. That way, you 382 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:24.480 don't penalize the good people, the good kids who want 383 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:28.519 to use the library. It's simple. It's simple. So where 384 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:31.640 is the political leadership in Somerville? I have no clue. 385 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:33.319 I used to know off the top of my head 386 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:36.160 who the mayor was. If you're out there, give us 387 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:39.519 a call. Anyone in Cambridge, Somerville. These are problems that 388 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:42.720 we're having with young people. It's as simple as that. 389 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:46.720 There's a lot of reasons, sociological reasons. You know, single 390 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:49.319 family parents, single parents and all of that tougher to 391 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:52.319 raise kids when there's just a mom or dad. We 392 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:57.839 know that. Okay, However, however, that's a problem that has 393 00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:00.359 to be fault have to be solved. If it's not 394 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:04.440 solved by the parent or parents in the home, eventually 395 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:08.240 you got to get the police involved. And it's better 396 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:11.079 to get them involved early than later. We're coming right 397 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:13.480 back on Nightside. Light these phone lines up. And by 398 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.079 the way, you know that you have a hall past 399 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.160 at eleven o'clock, so if you if you call anytime 400 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:22.079 this week up till eleven, you can always participate in 401 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:28.480