♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MOATES ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Crossley: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I'M CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF "UNDER THE RADAR," 89.7.

TONIGHT: THE BOSTON MAYORAL RACE.

WE, LIKE YOU, ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.ùAND ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH LIMITED STAFF AND OUR GUESTS ARE JOINING US REMOTELY.

NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY BOSTON VOTERS WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS TO VOTE FOR BOSTON'S 55th ELECTED MAYOR.

FROM THE BEGINNING, THE RACE HAS BEEN HISTORIC, WITH FIVE CANDIDATES OF COLOR IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND THE TOP WINNERS BOTH WOMEN WHO IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

EITHER MICHELLE WU OR ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE WILL BE THE FIRST MAYOR IN 200 YEARS WHO IS NOT MALE OR WHITE.

HAVE BOTH CANDIDATES COMMITTED TO POLICIES THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

AND WILL THOSE COMMUNITIES SEE ACTUAL MOVEMENT ON ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR SAFETY AND SUCCESS?

JOINING US REMOTELY: DR. PAUL WATANABE, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES AT UMASS, BOSTON; TANISHA SULLIVAN, ESQUIRE, PRESIDENT OF THE N.A.A.C.P., BOSTON BRANCH AND A MEMBER OF THE GBH BOARD OF ADVISORS; PHILLIP MARTIN, SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, GBH NEWS CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING; AND MEHREEN BUTT, TOWN COUNCILOR FROM WAKEFIELD.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

PAUL, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

I JUST WOULD LIKE A LITTLE BREAKDOWN ON THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS IN TERMS OF BOSTON VOTERS.

AND I'D LIKE YOU TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHETHER VOTERS OF COLOR CAN OR WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

I GUESS WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THIS ELECTION.

-- DIFFERENCE IN THIS ELECTION.

>> WELL, I THINK THEY CAN IN THE SENSE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDED TO WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE A FAIRLY OVERWHELMING JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, I THINK MICHELLE WU.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE MAKEUP OF THE CITY WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT IT AS A MAJORITY NONWHITE CITY.

BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE, THE ELECTORATE IS STILL MAJORITY WHITE.

AND TO THE EXTENT THAT BLACK VOTERS AND LATINO VOTERS AND ASIAN AMERICAN VOTERS DO OR DO NOT TURN OUT WILLING HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE OUTCOME, ULTIMATELY.

ONE IN FOUR BOSTON RESIDENTS TURNED OUT FOR THE HISTORIC ELECTION, HOPEFULLY THOSE NUMBERS WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY AND AT LEAST MAINTAIN THEMSELVES IN COMMUNITY OF COLOR AS WELL.

THERE'S A CONCERN THAT THAT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN AND IN SOME CONCERNS THAT MIGHT DAMPEN THE HISTORIC OUTCOME THAT HAS IN SOME WAYS GRIPPED THE GLOBE AND GRAB THE ATTENTION OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVER IN THE CITY CIVILITY IN TERMS OF TURNING OUT FOR TO ELECTION ON TUESDAY.

>> Crossley: TANISHA IN A CITY THAT PAUL AS JUST SAID WHERE THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IN A RACE WHERE RACE AND IDENTITY ARE AT THE CENTER OF IT, WHY IS IT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN, IF NOT AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM COMMUNITIES OF VOTERS OF COLOR, BUT IN GENERAL, JUST MORE INTEREST?

>> OZ, I THINK IT IS -- OH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IN A PRELIMINARY VOTING, THE VOTER TURNOUT WAS DOWN AT LARGE ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.

I DO THINK IT'S FORTUNATE TO LOOK AT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND KIND OF WHERE THEY LENT THEIR SUPPORT, AND OVERWHELMINGLY, THEY SUPPORTED THE WOMEN, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHO WERE IN THE RACE, AND SPECIFICALLY LENT -- LEANED MORE TOWARDS KIM JANEY AND MICHELLE WU IN THE PRELIMINARY.

AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL ELECTION I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A RECOGNITION BY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY THAT THIS IS INDEED A HISTORIC ELECTION.

BUT IT IS AS MUCH TO DO WITH THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR POLICIES AS IT HAS TO DO WITH TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT CHANGE.

AND DELIVERING A MANDATE OF CHANGE IN THIS CITY.

AND WE SEE THAT CERTAINLY WITH THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES, WE SEE IT ACCOUNT CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES AND WITH THE BALLOT QUESTIONS AS WELL.

>> Crossley: NOW, MEHREEN HAVE WE TAKEN A CLOSE ENOUGH LOOK AT THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS THAT MAY BE PREVENTING SOME VOTERS OF COLOR TO ACTUALLY CASTING A BALLOT?

>> I THINK THAT'S INCREASING.

WE'RE GETTING BETTER ABOUT IT.

SO YOU KNOW WE SAW HISTORIC LEVELS OF PEOPLE VOTING LAST YEAR IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC THE STATE AND CITIES HAD PUT IN -- REMOVED SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO VOTING, RIGHT?

SO WE SAW EARLY VOTING, VOTING BY MAIL, WE SAW BALLOT BOXES MAY NOT ENOUGH IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, BUT ALL OF THOSE INCREASE THEY HAD YEAR.

EARLY VOTING STARTED LAST SATURDAY, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN IT STOPS TODAY BUT OVER 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE CHOSE TO EARLY-VOTE, PEOPLE ARE VOTING BY MATE.

AND -- BY MAIL AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE TO HELP PEOPLE COME OUT ON ELECTION DAY OR FOR TO ELECTION.

I THINK THEY HELP.

THAT'S NOT GREAT, WE ALSO SEE MORE PEOPLE PULLING BALLOTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES, RIGHT, NOT IN ENGLISH WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S ALL BARRIERS TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE.

AND UNTIL WE HAVE A DAY OFF FOR ELECTION, IN AMERICA LIKE WE DO IN OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE WE HAVE TO KIND OF REMOVE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS.

THE STATE HOUSE IS WORKING ON A STATEWIDE BILL TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE THINGS PERMANENT THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY EFFECTIVE, TO LET -- REMOVE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS THAT POPULATIONS THAT HAVE THOSE BARRIERS TO THE BALLOT HAVE HAD.

YOU KNOW I LIKE TO AS WE TALK ABOUT THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THIS, OF THIS ELECTION AND HAVING TWO WOMEN ON THE FINAL BALLOT FOR MAYOR, IT WASN'T UNTIL, YOU KNOW, 1919.

SO JUST OVER 100 YEARS AGO, THAT WHITE WOMEN DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

NEVER MIND WOMEN OF COLOR.

THAT TOOK A LOT LONGER.

AND SO WE'RE STILL REMOVING SOME OF THOSE INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO VOTING.

>> Crossley: AND WE SHOULD MENTION AT A YOU HAVE PERSONALLY ENDORSED MICHELLE WU IN THIS RACE SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT AS WELL.

PHILLIP, I'M MOVING TO YOU, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND YOU'RE NOT CONVINCED THAT THE POLLS THE EARLY ONES WOULD SHOW MICHELLE WU WITH A HUGE LIED, MAY BE RIGHT.

>> WELL, I THINK MICHELLE WU MAY BE MOST LIKELY WIN THIS RACE BUT IT'S TIGHT.

THE LAST POLL SHOWED MICHELLE WU UP BY 30 POINTS, EXTRAORDINARY BUT I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME MOMENTUM IN ESSAIBI GEORGE'S DIRECTION IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND I'M NOT SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT THE POLITICAL SIGNS THAT YOU SEE UP AND DOWN VFW AND AMERICAN LEGION HIGHWAY IN MORE CONSERVATIVE BASTIONS OF THE CITY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TELEVISION COMMERCIALS THE FEROCITY OF HER POSITION IN THE DEBATES, SHE HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THOSE DEBATES.

IN TERMS OF TRYING TO TIE MUCIAL WU TO VAGUENESS IN TERMS OF HER POSITIONS, ALSO WHAT YOU'RE HEARING ON THE STREETS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT AMBIVALENT AND LESS SOW OVER THE LAST PHI WEEKS -- LAST FEW WEEKS WHEN I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM.

I THINK THE RACE HAS TIGHTENED.

I THINK MICHELLE WU WILL LIKELY WIN THIS RACE BUT I'D BE SHOCKED IF THERE'S A 30 POINT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.

>> Crossley: ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HERE.

PAUL, I'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

>> I THINK EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S BEEN A SENSE AT BOSTON, THIS IS A TRADITIONAL WAY THAT MAYORS HAVE WON AND RUN IN BOSTON, WHITE BOSTON, BOSTON IS A PRETTY GOOD PLACE, TENDS TO WORK VERY WELL, AND WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES AROUND THE EDGES EVERY TIME WE BRING IN A INFLUENCE MAYOR AND CONTINUE AS A MAYOR.

THAT IS NOT THE SENSE FOR BOSTON AS A COMMUNITY OF COLOR.

HISTORICALLY IT IS THE PLACE WHERE THE POVERTY WE SEE, THE INEQUITIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF INCOME, HAVE PERSISTED, EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES HAVE PERSISTED AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE THEY WANT TO LOOK FOR AN ELECTION I HOPE THIS YEAR OF SOMEBODY WHO SAYS WE'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT BOSTON IS NOT A PLACE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S GOT TO BE A PLACE THAT NOW WORKS FOR EVERYBODY AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME BOLD ACTION TO DO SO.

AND TO THE EXTENT THAT EITHER OF THESE CANDIDATES, AND I THINK BOTH OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ATTUNED THIS REALITY AT LEAST NOW THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

IT NEVER HAS BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE UNTIL WE ADDRESS SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS AS YOU POINTED OUT OF INCOME INEQUALITY, OF THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES AND HOUSING, ET CETERA.

THOSE ARE THE AGENDA, THE PERENNIAL AGENDA AND TO THE EXTENT THAT GETS ADDRESS THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE DARK I THINK IN BOSTON.

>> Crossley: WHAT PAUL SAYS TANISHA, BOTH OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN PRETTY ARTICULATE ABOUT HEY WE KNOW THERE'S SOME DIFFERENCES.

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HEARD A RACE IN BOSTON AT THIS LEVEL WHERE, I'VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION PEOPLE OF COLOR OR THE DIFFERENCES OR THERE ARE INEQUITIES, ALL OF THAT LANGUAGE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN USED BY BOTH OF THEM.

FOR YOU AS A CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND, WHAT'S AT STAKE?

>> EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE.

IT REALLY -- THE ISSUES HAVEN'T CHANGED.

WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO SEE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION IS THAT WE WILL FINALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND ACROSS OTHER COMMUNITIES, WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES, LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES, WE'LL FINALLY ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE CHANGE IN OUR CITY AND FINALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE A CITY THAT DOESN'T JUST TALK ABOUT BEING INCLUSIVE, BUT REALLY A CITY WHERE PEOPLE ACROSS EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY -- >> Crossley: GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WOULD BE A CHANGE YOU'D LIKE THE SEE?

>> I THINK SPECIFICALLY -- WE CAN LOOK AT EDUCATION WE CAN START THERE WITH THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE -- THERE IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEED TO SEE PROGRESS THERE.

WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, UPWARDS OF 60 TO 70% OF OUR CHILDREN NOT RECEIVING A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION THROUGH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE, FOR NOW YEARS, JUST REALLY WORKED THE EDGES ON THAT ISSUE.

REALLY, I BELIEVE WORKING OUT OF FEAR, RATHER THAN PUSHING TO MAKE THE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN TRULY BENEFIT FROM A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION HERE IN BOSTON.

CALLIE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT INNOVATION IN THIS AREA IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

WHAT WE NEED TO SEE IS NOT JUST INNOVATIVE IDEAS BUT WE DO NEEDS BREAK THROUGH SOLUTIONS TO THE INEQUALITY THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE ACROSS THE CITY.

SO HOPEFULLY, WHOEVER THE NEXT MAYOR IS, WILL BE ABLE TO BRING ABOUT THAT CHANGE.

AGAIN, SO THAT ALL OF BOSTON CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PROSPERITY THAT BOSTON HAS TO OFFER.

>> Crossley: MEHREEN, WHAT'S AT STAKE?

>> I -- I THINK -- I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ELECTION, LIKE EVERYONE SAID.

I THINK ALL EYES ARE TUNED INTO IT.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS CITIES, ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS STATES, ACROSS THE NATION.

WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

WE ARE IN A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, WE ARE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS.

WE ARE IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND WE NEED LEADERS WHO KIND OF HAVE BOLD IDEAS TO TAKE THOSE ISSUES HEAD-ON WHETHER IT BE CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WHETHER IT BE CLIMATE REFORM, WHETHER WITH IT BE HEALTH CARE.

AND WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES IN BOSTON, THESE TWO FINAL CANDIDATES WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCE THAN ANYONE BEFORE.

AND WE ARE HEARING MORE ABOUT THEM BEING WOMEN AND THEIR IDENTITIES BEING, YOU KNOW, WOMEN OF COLOR BEING CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS.

WHETHER IT BE FROM, YOU KNOW, A CHILD FROM -- PARENTS FROM TUNS TUNISIA, MUSLIM BACKGROUND OR LIVED EXPERIENCES AND THEY ARE BRINGING THIS ALL TO THE TABLE WITH THEIR IDEAS AND BOLD SOLUTIONS.

I THINK SUFFERING AT STAKE, I THINK IT REALLY SETS A TONE.

AND I SAID THIS BEFORE BUT WHAT TOWNS DO, WHAT LEADERS DO IN TOWNS THERE IS A RIPPLE EFFECT RIGHT?

WHAT I DO AND THE POLICIES I WORK ON TO MAKE MY TOWN MORE WELCOMING TO MAKE IT MORE INCLUSIVE TO GET US THROUGH THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OTHER CITIES WILL DO THAT AND PEOPLE WILL LOOK TO WHAT THE NEXT MAYOR OF BOSTON IS DOING TO ADDRESS ALL THESE CRISES WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

>> Crossley: PHILLIP WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MAIN THING THAT IS AT STAKE?

>> IT WAS INTERESTING, PAUL WAS SAYING SOMETHING EARLIER ABOUT THIS HAVING NOT JUST REGIONAL OR NATIONAL IMPLICATION BUT INTERNATIONAL.

I THINK HE'S RIGHT.

I FIND THIS RACE INTRIGUING FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

ONE IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SYMBOLISM FOR EXAMPLE, ESSAIBI GEORGE IS SORT OF ASSOCIATED WITH SORT OF AN OLDERS TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE IF YOU WILL BENT IN TERMS OF BOSTON POLITICS.

WU COMPLEXES EX EMREPLY PHIS MORE, IDEAS WHICH ESSAIBI GEORGE SAYS ARE NOT SOLID WHICH ARE MORE PIE IN THE SKY.

BUT THEY ARE IDEAS AND IN A LOT OF WAYS I SEE THIS RACE ALMOST IN A SURROGATE CONTEXT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WU, I THINK OF ELIZABETH WARREN CAM WHEN I THINK ABOUT ESSAIBI GEORGE I THINK OF JOE MANCHIN.

THESE TENSIONS WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BETWEEN CONSERVATIVE AND MORE LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE.

AND SO I THINK THAT BOSTON REPRESENTS SOMETHING WHAT'S AT STAKE ESSENTIALLY IS THE IMAGE OF THE CITY.

IS IT STATUS QUO?

IN MANY WAY EXEMPLIFIED BY ESSAIBI GEORGE, IN TERMS OF HER EMBRACE OF THE POLICE UNIONS OR WILL IT BE WU, HER SOME WILL CONSIDER A MORE BOLD APPROACH TO A BOSTON THAT NEEDS THE CHANGE IN TERMS OF ITS RACIAL COMPLEXITY AND HISTORY AND IN TERMS OF ITS ECONOMIC POSITION IN THE -- IN THIS WORLD OF OURS RIGHT NOW AND THAT ECONOMIC POSITION COULD BE HELPED A LOT BY SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT IS COMING THROUGH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE -- FIGHTING THE COVID CRISIS, THE PPP FUNDING THAT THE LEGISLATURE WAS DISCUSSING JUST THIS PAST WEEK.

>> Crossley: SO PAUL PICKING UP ON WHAT PHILLIP SAID.

IS THIS RACE A REFERENDUM ON BOSTON'S IMAGE AND REPUTATION TO SOME DEGREE?

PHILLIP MENTIONED POLITICAL STATUS AND DOES IT MATTER, TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> YEAH, I THINK MALIA LAZU, WHO IS A VERY WELL-KNOWN AFRICAN LATINA, SAID I AGREE WITH THAT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOSTON IS GOING TO BE THOUGHT OF AS IMPORTANT AND I THINK MICHELLE WU TO PHILLIP'S POINT SHE HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT CHANGE BEFORE EVEN RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE.

THINK ABOUT IT.

WHEN SHE CAME IN WITH AYANNA PRESSLEY AND THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERED THIS PLACE WHERE NOBODY GOES AND PEOPLE GO TO SIT AND JUST DO WHAT THE MAYOR ASKS IN A STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM.

I THINK SHE GAVE SOME VISIBILITY TO WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN MEAN AND NOW IT'S AN ACTIVE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN AND SO FORTH ARE GETTING A SAY IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

SHE DECIDED TO TAKE ON MAYOR WALSH EVEN BEFORE HE DECIDED TO STEP AWAY.

THAT IS CALLING FOR CHANGE, A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND THESE IDEAS SHE TALKED ABOUT LIKE THE GREEN NEW DEAL APPLIED TO THE LOCAL AND TRANSPORTATION THESE ARE IDEAS THAT CAME TO HER BEFORE SHE WAS RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

SO SHE WAS PUTTING A LOT OF STAKE IN THIS IDEA OF CHANGE.

AND IT'S A PERSONAL STAKE THAT SHE'S GOING TO MAKE AS WELL, BOTH FOR HERSELF AND FOR WOMEN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, I'M A PERSON OF COLOR AND SHE'S A PERSON OF COLOR AND ESSAIBI GEORGE AS WELL, I'M HOLDING MY BREATH HOPING THEY WILL SUCCEED AS A PERSON OF COLOR.

AND THE PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED MAYOR, IF SHE SUCCEEDS, OTHERWISE IF SHE'S PERCEIVED AS FAILING, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY THEY ARE GOING TO QUESTION WHETHER A WOMAN OR A PERSON OF COLOR CAN IN FACT SUCCEED IN THIS POSITION.

THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD HER TO THAT STANDARD, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT IT'S A REALITY.

THE STAKES ARE ARE GREAT FOR US, FOR HER, FOR THE INTOFT, AND PERCOLATING A BIT ON THE STREETS OUT THERE AND TO SOME EXTENT THAT CHANGED AGENDA AND HER PARTICULAR FATE IS TIED UP WITH THOSE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

>> Crossley: TANISHA HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

IS THIS A REFERENDUM TO BOSTON, DOES IT MATTER TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SPECIFICALLY?

>> I THINK THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, CERTAINLY AS A BLACK WOMAN I CELEBRATE REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT AND ANY TIME WE HAVE THESE HISTORIC MOMENTS I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THAT.

HOWEVER, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT MATTERS MOST, ARE THE POLICIES THAT ANY ELECTED LEADER ACTUALLY ADVANCES AND IMPLEMENTS.

AND SO, FOR ME, WHAT I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE 90 TO 100 DAYS FOLLOWING THIS HISTORIC ELECTION.

WHAT IS GOING TO ACTUALLY CHANGE IN AND FOR THE LIVES OF BOSTONNANS ACROSS THE GORED AND SPECIFICALLY FOR AND WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

THAT IS WHERE I BELIEVE THE REFERENDUM WILL COME INTO PLAY.

THAT IS WHERE THE HISTORY WILL TRULY BE MADE.

THAT IS WHAT THE -- THAT IS HOW THE CONVERSATION WILL CHANGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS IT RELATES TO THE INTOFT.

CITY OF BOSTON.

SO FOR ME I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THE POLICY CHANGES, THE PRACTICES THAT CHANGE, IN THE FIRST 90 TO 100 DAYS, TO REALLY SEE IF INDEED THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO ACTUALLY MEAN CHANGE HERE IN THE CITY.

>> Crossley: AND WE SHOULD NOTE THE THE NAACP HAS ALREADY PROMISED TO REINITIATE ITS REPORT CARD ON HOW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE INFLUENCE MAYOR IS, WITH REGARD TO THE POLICIES AND -- THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, JUST WHERE ARE THEY IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY ADVANCING CERTAIN IDEAS BUT ALSO, MAKING THEM REAL ON THE GROUND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY SAY AND FOR WHAT THEY DO.

IT DOES MATTER, WHAT ESPECIALLY HAPPENS AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL BECAUSE THOSE DECISIONS, THOSE POLICIES, HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF RESIDENTS.

AND SO LOOKING AT AND MONITORING WHAT HAPPENS OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OUT OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT MATTERS.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE AS A COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DO.

>> Crossley: MEHREEN, DOES IT MATTER IF THIS IS A REFERENDUM ON BOSTON'S IMAGE AND REPUTATION TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> I AGREES WITH WHAT DR. WATANABE AND WHAT TANISHA SAID.

I THINK IT IS -- REPRESENTATION MATTERS, HAVING PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT THAT LOOK LIKE THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I'M AGRADUATE OF THE EMERGE PROGRAM THAT TEACHES WOMEN TO RUN FOR OFFICE, I THINK TANISHA IS A GRADUATE AND MEHREEN IS A GRADUATE.

IT'S TRAINED, WOMEN MAKE UP 51% OF THE POPULATION IN AMERICA.

WE'RE ABOUT 25% OF ELECTED OFFICES AND ONLY 7% OF THOSE ARE WOMEN OF COLOR.

SO WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO FOR EQUITY.

EACH TIME WE HAVE CANDIDATES THAT MAKE IT TO THE BALLOT IT'S A VICTORY FOR REPRESENTATION.

IT IS A VICTORY TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE ME WITH MY LIVED EXPERIENCES WHETHER BEING A KID OF IMMIGRANT, BEING A MUSLIM, BEING SOUTH ASIAN, ALL OF THOSE, BEING A MOM, BEING THOSE LIVED EXPERIENCES HAVING THOSE ON THE CANDIDATE THAT'S A STEP FOR PROGRESS.

IT'S A STEP TOWARDS EQUALITY.

OF COURSE THE POLICIES WITHIN THE 100 DAYS WITHOUT THE TERM MATTERS.

BUT I DO THINK THAT REPUTATION MATTERS AND IT'S -- REPRESENTATION MATTERS AND IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Crossley: PHILLIP WHAT WOULD YOU ADD?

>> I'M TAKEN BY MEHREEN'S PASSION ON THAT ISSUE.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT CORRECT.

I GET EXCITED 50 NOTION OF A WOMAN BECOMING THE THE 56 LIKE MAYOR OF BOSTON AFTER SUCH A LONG TRADITION.

AND I THINK AGAIN, I THINK IT DOES MATTER IN TERMS OF THIS NOTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY IS TRANSFORMATIONAL OR WHETHER WITH IT'S STATUS QUO.

OF COURSE NO MATTER WHO WINS, THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY TRANSFORMATION.

BUT THIS IS A QUESTION OF HOW GREAT THE CITY WILL BE TRANSFORMED.

WHEN WILL THE SITUATION AT MELNEY CASS AND MASS AVENUES BE ADDRESSED?

PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WILLING THEY FEEL THEIR SITUATION, THEIR LIVES HAVE IMPROVED OR ARE IMPROVING OVER THE FIRST 90 OR 100 DAYS, I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.

THE QUESTION OF THE EXAM SCHOOLS, WILL WE CONTINUE WITH A SYSTEM THAT IS PATENTLY UNFAIR OR WILL WE USHER IN A NEW ERA OF WHERE THE EXAM SCHOOLS BASICALLY ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE?

WILL AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE EXTENDED TO THOSE FOLKS THAT I WAS JUST REFERRING TO?

NOT JUST AT MELNIA CASS AND MASS AVENUE BUT THROUGHOUT CITY WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AND WHAT IS NOW THE THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE CITY IN THE COUNTRY AFTER NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO.

WHO BECOMES MAYOR IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, AND CRITICAL IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES AND MORE.

>> Crossley: SO PAUL WATANABE, WHAT WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR IN THESE NEXT FEW DAYS THAT TELLS YOU, A, WHO'S LIKELY TO WIN, AND B, WHAT ISSUE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE FIRST ADDRESSED?

I'M THINKING IT'S MASS AND CASS BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY BUBBLED TO THE SURFACE IN VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES.

BUT AS WE KNOW EARLY VOTING HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.

>> YES.

>> Crossley: AND THAT'S PRETTY INTERESTING.

>> YES, I THINK IT IS, WHOMEVER WINS I'M GOING TO BE MORE GENEROUS THAN TANISHA GIVING THEM 90 TO 100 DAYS TO DECIDE.

BECAUSE I THINK THESE PROBLEMS WE'VE SUGGESTED AND ALL OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS IN MANY CASES.

THE EXPECTATION OF ANYBODY WHETHER THEY BE A WOMAN OR WOMAN OF COLOR OR ANYBODY IS GOING TO COMING AND BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEM IN A BIG WAY IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME IS ALMOST SET BEING THEM UP IN SOME WAYS FOR FAILURE.

BUT I DO WANT TO SEE A DIRECTION ON THESE ISSUES.

I WANT TO SEE A SENSE THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IS BEING HEARD AND THAT THEIR ISSUES ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN A NEW WAY PERHAPS ALONG THE LINES THAT PHILLIP IS TALKING ABOUT.

IN THAT RESPECT I AM LOOKING FOR THAT SORT OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

AND IN TERMS OF MASS AND CASS OR WHETHER IT'S THE INCOME INEQUALITY THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.

MICHELLE WU I THINK SHE'S RIGHT THAT THERE IS A CRISIS, WE NEED TO PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF RENT STABILIZATION.

I THINK IN INCOME INEQUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL ADD TO THAT BUT THERE'S A CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND I 30 WE SHOULD TRY TO PRESENT AN INCOME TO PEOPLE IN BOSTON, WE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE IN MASS AND CASS BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE FOREVER.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FERRY PEOPLE TO BOSTON, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME, I THINK THE LONG TERM THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE REAL DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> Crossley: WELL THAT'S A PERFECT ENDING FOR OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS FOR JOINING US AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION, ONLINE ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

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