WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:06.320 It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WVZ, Boston's news radio. 2 00:00:06.679 --> 00:00:09.880 Thank you, Dan Watkins. Boy, that temperature is really plummeting. 3 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:13.359 We have lost like eight degrees since the sun went down. 4 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:18.960 Whoa baby? Actually not at ninety two degrees at nineh 5 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:25.079 eight at night. Let me tell you tough, tough, tough. Okay, 6 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:28.519 tell you something else that is tough. There was a 7 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:34.439 contract given out by the Conwealth of Massachusetts, actually by 8 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:38.320 the I guess the Transportation Board. We'll get the specifics. 9 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:41.560 Joining me is Eric slip Cup. He's the president and 10 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:47.560 CEO of a big important Massachusetts company called Global Partners. 11 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:50.759 It's a fortune five hundred company, might even be a 12 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.000 little bit bigger than that. Eric Slifko, Welcome to Nightside. 13 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:54.600 How are you, sir? 14 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:57.640 Good Dan, how are you well. 15 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:00.759 I'm probably not as upset as you are, but I'm 16 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:04.280 a little concerned about this, which is why I've asked 17 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:08.439 you to join us tonight. First of all, Global Partners, 18 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:13.319 your Fortune five hundred company, that's a big deal. I mean, 19 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:15.519 I don't how many Fortune five hundred companies we have 20 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:18.000 in Massachusetts, but you're one of the bigger companies here 21 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:18.799 in Massachusetts. 22 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:24.840 Correct, correct, and we've been here Dan since nineteen thirty, 23 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.920 not as a fortune five hundred company, but when my 24 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.879 grandfather and grandmother started a storefront for retail home heating oil, 25 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:37.040 and my dad went in the business in the fifties 26 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:40.799 and a little later his brother came in. I came 27 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:45.200 in the business in eighty seven, and my two sons 28 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.480 se just joined the business in the last few years. 29 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:53.400 So we're four generations here in Boston. It's where we 30 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:56.120 have all grown up. It's where all our children are, 31 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:00.959 it's where I went to school and Austin I call 32 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:04.599 our home. Massachusetts is our place and it has always 33 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:05.280 been our place. 34 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:08.039 Yeah. Right now you're a wealthy and based company. As 35 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:10.840 I understand that you're soon going to move to Newton. 36 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:13.719 How many employees do you have? That's always an. 37 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:17.800 Important number, you know, about a total about five thousand employees, 38 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:23.879 about seventeen hundred in the state of Massachusetts. We spend 39 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.759 over about one hundred and twenty five million in state 40 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:32.280 taxes here and we're rooted here. And a lot of 41 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:35.240 our business over time has grown and has gone into 42 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:39.479 different states and different parts of the country, but we're 43 00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:40.599 rooted here. 44 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:43.960 So when we think of you as a as an 45 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:48.360 energy company. Is that still the backbone of the company, 46 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:50.599 you know, selling energy products? 47 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:54.919 It is just at the highest level. We have fifty 48 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:59.120 four terminoals from Maine down to Florida and into Texas 49 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:04.159 with about twenty two million barrels of storage capacity. We 50 00:03:04.280 --> 00:03:08.719 have seventeen hundred gas stations that we own, lease or supply. 51 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:15.560 We currently have the Connecticut Turnpike and we operate the 52 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:19.319 gas stations and convenience stores there as well as well 53 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:24.000 as for the sites here in Massachusetts where we have 54 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:26.560 full leases on them and the rest of the mass 55 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:30.520 Turnpike as well, where we operate the gas and operate 56 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:34.120 the sea stores there. And we have for probably about 57 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:39.159 a decade or so. Over the last oh, I don't know, 58 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.960 I'd say seven or eight years, we have created something 59 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:48.120 called All Town Fresh and my dad, I'll be a 60 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.560 little personal here, my dad had a heart attack. My 61 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:55.439 grandfather had a heart attack. Food I think is important, 62 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:01.680 and All Town Fresh we have created a very sort 63 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:07.199 of clean food eco system where our guests can come 64 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:11.319 in and enjoy healthier for you options. So if you've 65 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:14.759 got your kids in the car, you can get the 66 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.120 bad stuff. If you want it, but you can also 67 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.519 get really clean, healthy food if that's your choice. Now 68 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:23.639 we have go ahead. We have about and we have 69 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:27.360 about three hundred UH SEA stores that we own and 70 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:28.319 operate as well. 71 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:30.240 What type of stores did you say. 72 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:33.720 Sea stores and restaurants, convenience stores. 73 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:36.519 And restore when you so, when you said sea stores, 74 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.360 I wasn't. I was thinking, are we talking about the ocean? No? 75 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:40.800 With so convenience stores? 76 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:43.920 Okay, yeah, convenient Yeah, convenience. But but one of the 77 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.519 things that we've started to do is over the last 78 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:51.600 decade is put food into all of those locations and 79 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:55.720 make sure that we're providing sort of the highest and 80 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:58.480 best guest services that we possibly can. 81 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:03.639 So you do you have UH stores and plazas on 82 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:09.319 the Connecticut Turnpike, and you have four locations in Massachusetts. 83 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:11.959 They're not on the pike, as I understand? 84 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:12.000 That? 85 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:12.600 Is that correct? 86 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:15.000 Are they on that that? That is correct? 87 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:20.279 So we're talking about twenty four and four five side yep, 88 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:25.519 And then you're you're talking about Barnstable and you're also 89 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:27.040 talking about Beverly as well. 90 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:30.079 Okay, so no, none, nothing either on the pike or 91 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:30.920 on one twenty. 92 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:36.000 And on the Pike and on the pike, we actually 93 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:40.720 operate the gas and we and we operate the convenience 94 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:46.759 stores on the Turnpike as well. So currently where we're 95 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:50.680 already there and you know, we're already there operating these sides. 96 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:53.199 So there's it's a total eleven of them that we're 97 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:55.600 we're in there and we're currently operating. Okay, so we 98 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.000 have mixed yeah. 99 00:05:56.839 --> 00:06:00.160 Okay, I just I just think that I'm I don't 100 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.879 to confuse people. So you have currently a presence on 101 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:06.959 the pike both in terms of selling gas and food. 102 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:10.279 Are you in all of the eleven plausas? I think 103 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:12.959 there's eleven plazas on the pike? Is that correct? 104 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:14.360 Correct? Correct? 105 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:16.120 And those are the ones on the pike? 106 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:19.560 Okay, great, okay, so you're you're in effect the incumbent 107 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:20.160 on the pike. 108 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.160 Well, there there is a master lease. McDonald's has a 109 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:28.199 master release. So McDonald's has a master release and they 110 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:33.920 and they chose us actually part way through because they 111 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:37.600 had somebody there that left and they needed and they 112 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:41.879 needed our assistance, and so we decided to operate the 113 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:45.839 same thing happened those Barnstable, Beverly and the Bridgewater sites 114 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.199 the same thing happened. There was an incumbent there, the 115 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:54.199 incumbent left. It was if I if I can remember correctly, 116 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:57.000 I think it was a Burger King franchisee who had 117 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.720 won it, and they ended up giving up and we 118 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:04.600 came in to bail out those locations for the state, 119 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:07.879 and we've been running them for about seven years. 120 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:11.279 Okay, so you've been a good citizen, You've been a 121 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:15.680 great employer, a great Massachusetts company. I got to take 122 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:19.920 a break. There has been now an opportunity for, as 123 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:26.639 I understand it, a thirty five year lease for all 124 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:31.959 the locations on the Turnpike. And just to set the stage, 125 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:37.800 you appears to me, as I read the materials that 126 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:42.680 you've sent, you had the most competitive bid, meaning the 127 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:47.360 most competitive bid which would return the most benefit to 128 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:52.800 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And yet you have lost out 129 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:58.079 on the selection process to a company not from New England, 130 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:01.360 not from the United States, but from across the pond 131 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:05.600 in Ireland. Which is why I'm having you on tonight 132 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:08.519 because you have sent a very direct I might add, 133 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.480 in a very well written letter to the Governor of Massachusetts, 134 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:15.399 and we're going to talk about what your complaint is 135 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:18.519 you feel at this point that this that this process 136 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.040 has been unfair. Uh, and you're going to talk about it, 137 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:24.560 and we're going to invite people to join the conversation 138 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.920 as for the for the balance of this hour, I 139 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:31.319 hope everybody will be willing to join in and chime 140 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:34.120 in because this is one that I think the governor 141 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:36.960 has to pay attention to. She's the only person who 142 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:41.039 can turn this situation around. And this is a situation 143 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:47.000 which is going to cost potentially cost Massachusetts revenue over 144 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:50.440 the next thirty five years. You're actually ponying up or 145 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:54.519 committing more funds than the company from Ireland, and yet 146 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:59.240 they have been designated as the winner. Six one, seven, two, five, 147 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:04.200 four ten, six seven. We're going to shine a spotlight 148 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.159 here and you make the decisions. We're coming back with 149 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:11.360 my guest, Eric Sliffler. He's the president sliff Cup, President 150 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:16.960 and CEO of Global Partners, a big Massachusetts company that 151 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:19.799 at this point has been pushed to the side. Back 152 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:22.440 on Nightside right after these messages. 153 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:28.039 It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news Radio. 154 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:33.559 Eric, you sent this letter to the governor earlier? Was 155 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:39.279 it earlier this week or last week. It was last Thursday, Okay, 156 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:42.200 So so you know she's had hopefully a chance to 157 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:46.240 see it. Whenever we talk about numbers on radio, it's 158 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:49.919 very difficult. So why don't you explain to my to 159 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:54.480 me and threw me to my audience, why your offer 160 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.919 is my best offer for the state of Massachusetts. This 161 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:02.000 is a thirty five year state contract that, as you're right, 162 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.799 has been awarded to a foreign owned, private equity backed company, 163 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:10.000 while a fourth generation Massachusetts based employer who are for 164 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:15.200 the state, nearly nine hundred million more in guaranteed rent 165 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:19.720 is passed over. Break it down first, Eric, This to 166 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:21.679 me is astonishing. 167 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:29.919 Yeah, we think it's astonishing too. You know, honestly, I 168 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:36.200 do not understand how the Mascot commissioners could land where 169 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:41.200 they did. Now they have an RFP criteria. 170 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:45.600 That RFP is a request for proposal, it's the invitation. 171 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:48.480 Just so that again, I want my audience to follow this. 172 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:50.720 So I don't mean to interrupt you, but I just 173 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:53.279 want to make sure that you and I might understand that. 174 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.440 But I want everyone in my audience to know that 175 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:58.320 the state is obligated to send out a request for proposal. 176 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:01.240 Anyone can apply. How many companies applied. 177 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.200 I'm gonna guess for four, okay, fair. 178 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:09.679 Enough, Okay. So it's not the type of project that 179 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:13.240 every Tom, Dick and Harry who has a pickup truck 180 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:15.240 can apply for. You've got to be a pretty substantial 181 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:19.080 company to apply, and you got obviously qualify. Go ahead. 182 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.240 Yeah, And this is you know, don't get me wrong, 183 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:23.559 this is a big deal. You know. One of the 184 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:26.399 things too, that's a little bit more unique is we 185 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:31.240 also have the terminals that supply these facilities as well, 186 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:36.320 and we're also supplying those terminals cargoes and barges, and 187 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:40.080 then we send it out by trucks to supply to 188 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:44.080 apply each location. And I don't believe any of the 189 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:48.320 other bidders actually own those assets in the markets to 190 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:50.360 supply these assets. 191 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:53.279 So essentially, I don't mean to interrupt here, but I 192 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.600 just want to put it into language that everybody understood. 193 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:59.039 You do this thing, as we would say, from soup 194 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:02.000 to nuts, your whole shooting match. 195 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.120 Go ahead, yep. 196 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:08.600 Okay. So this is the eye popping number, Dan. We 197 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:13.759 have a guaranteed rent number guaranteed can't be can't be 198 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:18.559 any less of one point five billion dollars over the 199 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:23.639 thirty five years. It's a lot of money our competitor, 200 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:29.399 depending on how they count, because their bit is not firm, 201 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:34.480 it's not guaranteed risk rent and it has risk associated 202 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:37.720 with It could be six hundred and twenty three million 203 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:41.440 on the low end and it could be nine hundred 204 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:45.480 and ninety four million on the high end, but that's 205 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:50.360 no guarantee. It's just in the range. So there's nothing 206 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:53.000 firm on that. So what I would say to all 207 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:57.000 the listeners, and this is the most important thing. You know, 208 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:01.519 the state could be leaving one hundred million dollars on 209 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:05.600 the table at a beer minimum, they're leaving five or 210 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:11.159 six hundred million on the table. And given where we 211 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:17.360 are today as a state and all of the priorities 212 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:21.679 that we have, and look we're local, we do spend 213 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.600 a lot of money on charity. We invest in the community. 214 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:29.360 You know, our people here go to work every day 215 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:33.480 to help others and not just spend money, but spend 216 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:36.679 time in the field, building houses, doing all sorts of things. 217 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:41.279 So we know that it's important for the state to 218 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.679 have as much money as it possibly can. Well, here 219 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:48.440 it is they've walked away for between five hundred and 220 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:52.000 a billion dollars five hundred million and a billion dollars 221 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.360 that could be used to do good in the state. 222 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:58.679 Never mind, it could be used for transportation too. Right. 223 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:03.720 This decision was made by what is called the Massachusetts 224 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:10.440 Department of Transportation Board. Okay, So who appoints who? I 225 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:15.000 don't need the names, but are these full time state employees? 226 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:19.360 A are they, you know, political appointees who get designated 227 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.559 to be on this board. 228 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:24.639 They are appointed by the governor, and there is eleven 229 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:28.720 board members, and they come from various places throughout the state. 230 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:35.039 Okay, And you want to assume that they're legitimate and 231 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:38.159 they're honest people, and I'm willing to make that assumption. 232 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:44.320 But somehow, some way they did not get a clear 233 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:46.759 I can't imagine if they had this clear view. Now 234 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:50.480 you mentioned in the letter to the governor, I'm going 235 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:53.120 to put it on you. You say this gap that 236 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:55.919 you're just talking about, these numbers aren't close. This gap 237 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:02.600 is astounding. Despite this, Mascot's chief developpment officer misled the 238 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:08.799 mas DOT board by stated were very close. Now very close, 239 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:11.799 of course, is a subjective judgment. It's like me saying 240 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:14.840 the rid Sox are very close to winning the World Series. 241 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:17.600 We will know whether they win the World Series or 242 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:21.440 not sometime by the end of October. But I can 243 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:24.799 say that's very close. I don't see how when there's 244 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:30.279 a difference of a potentially nine hundred million dollars that 245 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:35.519 that's very close. How could this chief Development officer come 246 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:41.519 to that conclusion because I'm assuming, as the title would reflect, 247 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:46.440 a chief Development officer understands financial development. That's what a 248 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.919 chief development officer does. 249 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:54.639 Yes, you would assume that that's what the development officer does. 250 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:59.120 We had a meeting with the Development officer where he 251 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:06.480 confused gallons and revenue and he had difficulty describing what 252 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:11.720 they both meant to the state. And so he certainly 253 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:14.720 is the one who led the meeting. We had a 254 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:18.399 public meeting where we had three hundred people showed up 255 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:22.639 on our behalf to support us and to get the message, yep, 256 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:25.120 And to get the message and to get the message out. 257 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:30.360 And even after we spoke for you know, people spoke 258 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:34.159 for ninety minutes, many of them spoke in favor, and 259 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:37.039 you know, the boards would have just went on It's 260 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:39.679 merry way. I would you know what I would what 261 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:44.000 I would hope for is I would strongly urge the 262 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:48.960 mas DOT commissioners to look at this and to do 263 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:52.519 what's right for the state, for the people of the commonwealth. 264 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:56.240 You know, almost a billion dollars in thirty five years. 265 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.600 What do we know is going to happen, that there's 266 00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.559 going to be an increase? 267 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:00.399 Uh? 268 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:05.119 And tophies right by example? Okay, well, here is almost 269 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:09.920 a billion dollars that could have went to the roadways 270 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:12.720 to keep those rates lower that are now going to 271 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.799 have to Yeah, that are now going to have to 272 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:19.000 be increased because of it. And so you know, I 273 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.039 don't I don't think that they've done their job. I 274 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:25.480 don't think they've represented the people of the commonwealth. I 275 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:29.359 think they never provided us with a side by side 276 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:34.920 comparison of our offer and apple Green's offer, and and 277 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:38.480 and frankly, you know, to the board they didn't do 278 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.480 that either, right, So I think that's uh. I think 279 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:45.400 that's an egregious error. And and they only in the 280 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:49.000 public meeting they only gave apple Green's numbers, right, they 281 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.519 didn't say that. 282 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.480 I see something in your letter which would which bothers 283 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:57.839 me even more. You said that you wrote quote to 284 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:02.039 make matters worse. When question by a board member about 285 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:07.720 the reliability of your competitors' numbers Apple Green, this development 286 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:11.240 officer opened his response stating he wanted to focus on 287 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:17.240 the recommendation and not talk bad about the other bidders, 288 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.079 and then he stated that he found the the numbers 289 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:27.759 from Applegreen more reliable. How can he make such a 290 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:33.920 decision that a set proposal is more reliable that theirs 291 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:38.880 was more reliable than yours. You're the only company that 292 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:43.160 operated convenience stores and fueling stations. You have all of 293 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:48.200 this experience. This is you wrote a really good letter. 294 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:53.079 So far, no response from the governor, I assume correct. 295 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:58.279 I mean, look, we're operating locations today. Yeah, we're operating 296 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:01.680 him in another state in Connecticut as well. This is 297 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:05.039 our business, right, and we have lots of stations in Connecticut, 298 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:07.880 and we have lots of stations in Massachusetts, you know, 299 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:11.559 and so, but more importantly than that, the thing that 300 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:16.400 hurts the most is we are local, and you know, 301 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:22.079 and you know we chose and have partnered with Commonwealth Kitchen, Okay, 302 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:27.640 Jen Fagel, and you know she supports these local entrepreneurs 303 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:33.680 who I've been really fortunate enough to meet over time 304 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:37.680 who want to do food and she helps to get 305 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:40.559 them organized and support them on the way out the door. 306 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:43.680 They have sixty five million dollars a year revenue there. 307 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.880 I mean, this is a real business she's created. And 308 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:50.640 because we're local Jen, who is by the way, an 309 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:55.480 amazing person, we partnered with her because we knew this 310 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:58.200 was best for the States. So, you know, there's a 311 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:01.240 whole bunch of things here that don't feel right. 312 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:05.279 Let me from Eric, let me do this because I'm 313 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:07.839 into my newscast here, So let me let me give 314 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:10.279 you a chance to breathe for a second. You've answered 315 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:14.599 all my questions. I think that I think there. You know, 316 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:18.279 there's a prime e facia case here, uh to to 317 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:22.599 take another look and make sure make sure that everything 318 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.599 adds up and then at a minimum, at a minimum, 319 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:29.000 have the governor involved in this, and then have the 320 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.839 board take a fresh look. Again. This is not like 321 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:34.759 we're taking we're picking a company from New Hampshire, Connecticut. 322 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:38.440 We're picking a company from another country, uh and another 323 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:42.359 another continent. Actually, And I'm not here to hurt Applegreen. 324 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:46.759 I'm here, Uh. I know nothing about their company. Uh, 325 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:50.599 but but it seems to me that that on the surface, 326 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:53.200 your numbers, and I've looked at the numbers that you've 327 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:56.079 provided in this letter to the governor. She has to 328 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:59.119 pay attention to the numbers. I can I can read numbers, 329 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:01.680 and I can read letters, and I can read URRFPS. 330 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.400 So let's let's open up phone lines. We'll go to 331 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:07.640 phone lines, see what what the people in Massachusetts think. 332 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:10.680 Six one, seven, two, five four thirty six one seven, 333 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:13.839 nine three one thirty. My guest is the president and 334 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:19.640 CEO of Global Partners, e Waltham based Massachusetts company, hundreds 335 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:23.720 of employees here in Massachusetts, thousands of employees around the country. 336 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:28.640 Eric Sliffcomb, the president and CEO, is my guest. You 337 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:31.319 can ask him any question you want. Will be back 338 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.039 on night Side right after this. 339 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:39.759 Night Side with Dan Ray. I'MBZ Boston's News Radio. 340 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:43.359 My guest is Eric Slipcup, He's the president and CEO 341 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:44.400 of Global Partners. 342 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:45.000 Uh. 343 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.680 We're going to go to phone calls and see what 344 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.279 people have to say about this. I mean, you may 345 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:52.720 look this as another deal, another Massachusetts deal, But I'm 346 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:57.720 tired of this stuff and I want openness and I 347 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:01.039 would like to see. Has the ever been an explanation 348 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:05.119 given to you in writing that says, gee, thank you 349 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.799 for your application, but we've decided to go in a 350 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:13.680 different direction. We found that, uh, you know, your RFP 351 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:17.440 was was lacking in this area. I mean, if if 352 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:21.240 you applied to go to a college, or someone applies 353 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:23.720 to go to goes to a college, they have a 354 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:27.279 sense of what their their board scores are. If you 355 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.240 if you're applying for a job, you have a sense 356 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:32.279 of how qualified you are. You're extraordinarily qualifying, and your 357 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:37.119 numbers I think pretty clearly more advantageous to come Wealth 358 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:39.960 of Massachusetts. No one ever came to and said, you know, 359 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:43.200 we've got a problem with with how you've handled things 360 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:46.559 in the past. There's no explanation here. It's just they win, 361 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.119 you lose. 362 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:51.240 That's you know that, said Dan. I mean at the 363 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:57.279 public meeting, we stated our case given the information that 364 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:01.519 they had had let out, but shorder of that, they 365 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:04.599 simply took a vote. It almost didn't matter that the 366 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:08.039 numbers were a billion dollars and they sat up there, 367 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:11.039 took a vote, all gave a vote and went with 368 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.680 apple Green. 369 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:15.039 Okay, yeah, go ahead. 370 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:22.319 Plain and simple. That's all. Nothing else, right, they'll. 371 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:23.200 Go they've gone that way. Let's see what Let's see 372 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:26.599 what the the listeners think here. They're they're the most 373 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:30.440 important constituency that I have. Let's go. First off, Uh 374 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:32.799 going to go to Peabody and we're going to talk 375 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:35.440 with Sal in pvty. Sal you were first up this 376 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:39.039 hour with Eric Slifka, President and CEO of Global Partners. 377 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:43.240 Go ahead, Sal, Hey, Dan, how you doing? I'm doing 378 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:47.000 this is yeah, a long time listener, Thank you very much. 379 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:51.880 You know what what is really happening here? It makes 380 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:54.759 no sense at all. So I'm listening to this guy, 381 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:59.160 Mike Irvin. He's excellent, by the way, on critical issues. 382 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:03.599 And he said the guy running the meeting didn't even 383 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:06.720 know the difference between gallons and dollars. 384 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:10.359 Yeah, well, I'm not sure. I'm not sure who Mike 385 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:15.440 urban is. First of all, the person who's my guest 386 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:19.680 is Eric Slifka, President and CEO of Global. 387 00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:23.640 This guy, Mike, does you know he talks about critical 388 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.680 issues impacting us as? 389 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:28.480 Uh? Who is he? I have no idea If you 390 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.160 want to tell. 391 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:34.519 Me anyway, I don't. He's got like a YouTube channel. 392 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:37.680 Oh well, if he's got a YouTube channel, Look, do 393 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:40.839 me a favorite. And I'm being on a cell. I 394 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.640 have no idea who he is. If you said to 395 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:45.839 me Roger Clements said this, I at least would know 396 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:49.759 who Roger Clemens would be, probably if Roger's talking about baseball. 397 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:51.599 But I don't know who this fellow is. So let's 398 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:55.119 just let's get the response to your comment from the 399 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:57.000 fellow who's in the midst of this and I think 400 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:59.519 knows a lot about it, Eric slifk, Eric, go right ahead. 401 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:06.279