>> NEXT A LOOK AT WHAT MADE NEWS IN THE PAST WEEK WITH
GEORGE FORCIER OF THE GREENFIELD RECORDER AS WELL AS ROB RIZZUTO
AND SHANNON YOUNG OF THE REPUBLICAN AND MASSLIVE.
THERE WAS A LOT TO DISCUSS AND WE STARTED WITH AN IMMIGRATION
ISSUE IN SPRINGFIELD, WHERE SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HAS
OFFERED SANCTUARY TO A WOMAN FACING DEPORTATION TO HER NATIVE
PERU.
>> WE WERE SURPRISED, WE KIND OF SAW THIS TRENDING THIS DIRECTION
SINCE THE CHURCH FIRST ANNOUNCED IT WAS OPEN TO TAKING IMMIGRANT
FACING DEPORTATION IN.
>> LAST JUNE THEY MADE THE SPACE AVAILABLE.
>> YES, IT'S BEEN A WHILE NOW.
SO WHEN HE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THAT PROMISE, NOT A SURPRISE.
THEY WENT THROUGH THIS TODAY, FOUND A COUPLE MINOR CODE
VIOLATIONS, SOMETHING RELATING TO A WINDOW NOT BEING ABLE TO
OPEN, NOTHING MAJOR.
ALL THINGS THAT WOULD STILL ALLOW HER TO TAKE RESIDENCE
THERE.
>> THE INSPECTOR SAID IT'S BASICALLY A PAPER ISSUE AT THIS
POINT.
THIS IS AN APARTMENT THAT THE CHURCH HAS USED AS A RESIDENCE,
RIGHT?
>> YES.
AND A SHORT TIME LATER THE MAYOR PUT OUT A STATEMENT BASICALLY
SAYING THE CITY IS DOING ITS PART TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDING
IS SAFE TO BE OCCUPIED, HE SOFTENED HIS STANCE A LITTLE.
>> LAST WEEK HE SAID HE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL LOSS
OF FEMPED FUNDING, BUT THAT'S IN THE COURTS RIGHT NOW ANY WAY.
>> IS HE WORRIED ABOUT THE CITY LOSING MONEY?
>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.
THE MAYOR HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AN
INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.
WHEN TRUMP FIRST ANNOUNCED THE SANCTUARY CITY ORDER CAME OUT
AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT A SANCTUARY CITY.
>> THIS IS THE MAYOR WHO SAID THIS?
>> RIGHT THE MAYOR SAID THIS.
HE SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO JEOPARDIZE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING.
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN EVEN
BE DONE.
A LOT PEOPLE HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER THAT'S
CONSTITUTIONAL.
THEY POINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT RULING IN THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT THING, YOU CAN'T HOLD MONEY FROM CITIES AND TOWNS, YOU
KNOW, THAT'S USED FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE.
ALL OVER ANOTHER ENTIRELY SEPARATE ISSUE.
SO IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING HOW THE MAYOR'S POSITIONED HIMSELF
ON THIS ISSUE.
SEEMS LIKE HE WANTS TO NOT REALLY TIP THE CITY'S HAND AT
ALL AS THE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT FUNDING FOR NOT JUST
SANCTUARY CITIES, BUT ALSO FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR
OTHER THINGS COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MS.
COULD COLLASO, SHE'S THE WOMAN.
INTERESTINGLY, SHE'S MARRIED TO AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
I'VE BEEN ASKED REPEATEDLY THIS WEEK HOW IS IT THAT IF SHE'S
MARRIED TO AN AMERICAN CITIZEN THAT SHE DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE
CITIZEN STATUS.
WHAT I FOUND IS IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE YOU THAT STATUS, BUT
IT MOVES YOU UP IN LINE.
BUT WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MS.
COLLAZO?
>> SHE'S BEEN LIVING IN THE CITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HAS
ASSIMILATED TO LIFE HERE, HER KIDS UNDER SCHOOL HERE.
SHE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS PRETTY WELL VETTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> SHE'S BEEN HERE FOR 16 YEARS, SHE STARTED WORKING IMMEDIATELY
UPON PRIEFL, STARTED OFF WORKING IN THE FIELDS, TRANSITIONED INTO
MAINTENANCE.
SHE'S LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE FOR 16 YEARS NOW, UNTIL MOVING
INTO THE CHURCH.
SHE'S DEFINITELY EN GRAINED IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> SHE'S NOT SOMEONE WE THINK OF AS A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK OR A
DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.
>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE A QUESTION OF WHY DOES SHE HAVE A G.P.S.
BRACELET ON HER ANKLE, AND THE ANSWER IS THAT IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT PUT IT ON HER TO TRACK HER UNTIL SHE WAS
DEPORTED.
>> SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE GOING BACK TO PERU, HER NATIVE
COUNTRY, AND THEN SHE REACHED OUT TO THE CHURCH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE'LL KEEP WATCHING IT.
LET'S LOOK AT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, IT'S HEADED TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
IT TOOK YEARS, WE HAD SENATOR HINDS AND OTHERS ON THE SHOW
EARLIER SAYING THEY WERE HOPEFUL IT WOULD BE DONE BY TEND OF
JANUARY, AND WE'RE NOW IN APRIL.
BUT IT IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
THIS TOOK A WHILE TO GET THERE.
>> YES.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE WORKED ON THIS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INPUT, BUT
IT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE SHIFT TOWARD REHABILITATION VERSUS
PUNISHMENT.
IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN WORK HERE IN HAMPDEN COUNTY
AS FAR AS RETIRED SHERIFF MICHAEL HATCH IS CONCERNED AND
TO THOSE PROGRAMS BEING CARRIED ON BY THE COUNTY SHERIFF.
THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WERE INTO REDUCED RECIDIVISM AND HAD
MORE FOCUS ON EQUIPPING SOMEBODY TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN, RATHER
THAN JUST SAYING THERE'S A HARSHER PUNISHMENT IF YOU
COMMIT.
THIS >> IT'S NOT ONLY ONCE YOU GET IN
JAIL, BUT CHANGING THE RULES SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE LOW
END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM FIND THEMSELVES IN JAIL OR IN COURT,
AREN'T AT A DISADVANTAGE. >> 1200, RIGHT --
>> SET BAIL IS A SLIDING SCALE AND LOWER THE FEES, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET IN THE SYSTEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE
MONEY TO PAY FOR BAIL AND FEES AND IT SETS THEM BACK AND SETS
THEM UP FOR FAILURE, AND THEN THEY GET BACK INTO THE SYSTEM ON
CONTEMPT CHARGES.
>> ALSO REDUCES THE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE FILTERED IN
THE SYSTEM.
>> A FELONY LARCENY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, BEFORE YOU GET A FELONY
ON THE RECORD FOR STEALING SOMETHING OF $250, THAT'S BEEN
RAISED TO 1200.
>> A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.
ALSO MARIJUANA, THERE WAS SOME NEW PROVISIONS FOR MARIJUANA,
RIGHT?
THERE'S NOW A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT PORTION OF
YOUR RECORD WOULD BE EXPUNGED?
>> YES, FOR LOW LEVEL POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL
NOW, THAT THAT WOULD BE -- THAT IF YOU HAD A PREVIOUS
CHARGE FOR LOW LEVEL POSSESSION, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE
EXPUNGED FROM YOUR RECORD, WHICH HELPS IN THE CASE OF IF YOU'RE
SEEKING FEDERAL STUDENT AID, ANY DRUG POSSESSION CHARGE CAN
JEOPARDIZE THAT, AS WELL AS JOBS ET CETERA.
KIT HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON FOLKS.
>> I THINK THIS IS THE NEXT NATURAL PROGRESSION AFTER IT
BEING DECRIMINALIZED, THERE WAS A LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO MAYBE
BEFORE IT WAS DECRIMINALIZED HAD A MINOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION
THING ON THE RECORD AND WERE LIKE, WELL, IT'S DECRIMINALIZED
NOW, WHY DO I STILL HAVE THIS ON MY RECORD?
BUT -- >> IT'S ONLY COMMON SENSE.
>> AMONG THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE AROUND MARIJUANA, WE'RE IN
THIS GRAY AREA WHERE IT'S LEGAL RECREATIONALLY AND ME
MEDICINALLY, BUT THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH MONEY BECAUSE
BANKS CAN'T NECESSARILY ACCEPT YOUR MONEY, AND NOW IF IT'S
LEGAL, AND I HAD A SMALL CRIMINAL CHARGE, THERE'S JUST A
LOT TENSION THERE.
BUT GOVERNOR BAKER HAS SAID HE'S NOT SURE IF HE WOULD PARDON
FOLKS.
THE GOVERNOR IN DENVER IS LOOKING AT THE ISSUE AND
CONSIDERING DOING IT.
SO INTERESTING CHALLENGES AROUND THIS ISSUE.
AND APPLICATIONS POURED IN TO THE STATE THIS WEEK, BECAUSE WE
SAW FOR THE FIRST TIME THE LICENSING BEING OPENED UP FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OPENING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA
SHOPS.
DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION YET OF HOW MANY OF THOSE FOLKS ARE
COMING LOCALLY?
OR IS IT STILL A WAIT AND SEE ISSUE?
>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING, IN FRANKLIN COUNTY WE'RE SEEING
LOTS OF FOLKS SHOWING UP APPROACHING SELECTMEN AND
GREENFIELD CITY LEADERS LOOKING FOR PERMITS TO GROW, PERMITS TO
PROCESS, PERMITS TO SELL.
SO THERE SEEMS TO BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF INTEREST.
AT LEAST IN OUR CASE, THE BIGGER SMALL TOWNS.
BUT ALL THE TOWNS THEMSELVES ARE SORT OF PREPARING FOR WHAT THEY
THINK MIGHT COME.
SO MOST OF THEM HAVE SET UP MORATORIUMS
WHILE THEY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS THAT WOULD CONTROL
WHEN AND WHERE RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES COULD TAKE PLACE.
THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF BLOWBACK, MOST COMMUNITIES SEEM
TO ACCEPT THE REFERENDUM RESULTS, AND ARE PREPARING TO
REGULATE LIKE THEY WOULD LIQUOR.
BUT THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF BLOWBACK IN THE TOWN OF
DEERFIELD, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION, DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER
THEY WANT TO BE DRY OR NOT.
>> DRY, SMOKE-FREE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CALL IT?
>> AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TIFF BETWEEN THE BOARD OF
SELECTMEN WHO PERHAPS SEES THE REVENUE THAT THIS WOULD BRING,
AND OTHER BENEFITS, VERSUS SOME FOLKS MAYBE WHO VOTED AGAINST IT
IN THE REFERENDUM AND STILL FEEL, LIKE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM DRUG AND THEY'VE BEEN
STRUGGLING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THE TWO-STAGE VOTE
REQUIRED TO MAKE THE TOWN DRY.
AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE THEY PUT A KA BOSH ON THAT THIS WEEK.
>> INTERESTINGLY, SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL PUT THE MORATORIUM
IN PLACE.
PITTSFIELD, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE LOOKING AT LARGE CITIES IN
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT REGULATIONS, BUT THEY
HAVEN'T YET SAID MORATORIUM.
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS ISSUE IS MAY OR MAY NOT DRIVE
THE ECONOMY HERE.
WE'VE GOVERNMENT A LOT OF FORMER FACTORY SPACE, THAT COULD BE
USED IN THIS INDUSTRY, RIGHT, WHETHER IT'S INDOOR GROWING
FACILITIES OR DISTRIBUTION SITES, A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO
AND PURCHASE RECREATIONAL OR MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.
SO THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT HERE, RIGHT?
>> FOR SURE.
WE HAVE SOME IN FRANKLIN COUNTY TALKING ABOUT THIS WOULD BE GOOD
FOR THEM IF THE RULES COULD BE LOOSE ENOUGH TO ALLOW THEM TO
GROW IN GREEN HOUSES.
>> WE SAW THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION SAY WE'RE LOOKING TO
MOVE TO WORCESTER.
ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THAT?
DID YOU THINK THEY'D STAY IN BOGUES?
>> I WASN'T THAT SURPRISED TO SEE THAT.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THEY WERE IN BOSTON, IT'S KIND
OF CLOSE TO THE SEA PORT, AN AREA THAT'S BEING BUILT UP,
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC TO GO TO THESE
MEETINGS OR TO, IT'S NOT EASILY AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO CHECK OUT
DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE.
BY MOVING TO WORCESTER IT MAKES IT EASY FOR TOMORROW GO TO ANY
OF THESE FARMS IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT WILL PROBABLY BE DOING BULK
OF THE GROWING, AND ALSO OFFICE SPACE IS CHEAPER THAN IN BOSTON.
>> ALSO AROUND THIS ISSUE WE SAW A POTENTIAL GUBERNATORIAL
CANDIDATE JAY GONZALEZ COME OUT THIS WEEK AND SAY, AS A WAY TO
HELP CURB THE COST OF OPIOID EXPENSES, HE WANTS TO SEE
INSURANCE COMPANIES COVER MARIJUANA, IF YOU HAVE A
PRESCRIPTION FOR IT.
DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A TREND NOW WHERE OTHER
CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO COME ON BOARD?
OR DO YOU THINK HE'LL STAY AS THE LONE WOLF IN THIS CATEGORY?
>> I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME MOVE FOR SOME CANDIDATES TO COME
ON BOARD.
SEEMS IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES AGREE ON THOSE ISSUES.
BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WILL BE WAITING TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
I DON'T THINK INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO REALLY
GET ON BOARD WITH COVERING MEDICAL MARIJUANA IF IT'S STILL
NOT ON THE RIGHT SCHEDULE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND YOU COULD
HAVE SESSIONS COME AFTER YOU.
>> IT'S STILL CLASSIFIED AS DANGEROUS AS HEROIN.
I THINK THAT WILL BE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE
THE GOVERNMENT TAKE A LOOK AT, RIGHT?
BECAUSE IF STATES CONTINUE TO LEGALIZE THIS, I THINK THEY HAVE
TO TAKE THE ISSUE UP.
>> BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN UNTIL THERE'S A NEW
ADMINISTRATION, SO I THINK THAT'S STILL SEVERAL YEARS OFF
AT THIS POINT.
>> LET'S LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE OLD NEWS, BUT
IT'S ONLY BEEN A WEEK.
A SENATOR PUT OUT A LETTER THAT REQUESTED THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS
EDUCATIONAL FINANCING AUTHORITY SORT OF STEP BACK FROM SOME OF
THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN, AND REALLY
CALLED ATENSION TO SOMETHING THEY WERE DOING.
WERE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THERE WAS ACTION ON THAT ISSUE
SO QUICKLY?
IT HAPPENED IN A DAY.
>> I WASN'T SURPRISED THE WHOLE ISSUE IN QUESTION WAS
A READING OF A POLICY FROM SECRETARY BETSY DEVOS THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SHE IS NOT A POPULAR FIGURE IN
MASSACHUSETTS, AMONG STATE LAWMAKERS, AMONG FEDERAL
LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE.
I THINK MEFA WANTED TO NOT RUFFLE TOO MANY FEATHERS THERE.
>> AS THE FINANCING AUTHORITY.
>> THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE REALLY KNOWN TOO MUCH ABOUT THE
LOBBYING THAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND THE ISSUE.
A LOT OF TIMES THESE GROUPS JOIN THESE BIGGER ASSOCIATIONS,
THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF EVERY SINGLE POLICY GOING ON.
AS SOON AS IT WAS A BIG WAVES WERE MADE BIT, I WASN'T
SURPRISED THAT THEY QUICKLY BACKED OFF OF IT.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT LADIES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
WE SAW RECENTLY IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT A LOT OF WOMEN WERE HOLDING
SEATS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
NOW WE'VE SEEN SOME PEOPLE ANNOUNCE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.
BUT WE LOOK AT REPRESENTATIVE KULIC'S SEAT, A LOT OF WOMEN
RUNNING.
SO MIGHT WE BALANCE THIS BACK OUT?
>> NO, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST ONE SEAT.
BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING TO SEE IS THE HUGE INTEREST IN WOMEN
RUNNING FOR THE LEGISLATURE, JUST IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.
THERE MIGHT BE NINE CANDIDATES NOW, I'VE LOST TRACK, WHICH IS
REALLY UNHEARD OF.
IT'S TO HAVE THAT MANY CANDIDATES INTERESTED IN ONE
SEAT.
AND OF THOSE EIGHT OR NINE, FIVE ARE WOMEN.
THERE'S A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE AIDE WHO NOW
RUNS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THERE'S A LAWYER/FARMER FROM ONE OF THE HILL TOWNS.
IT'S INTERESTING THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
THEMSELVES AND ARE INVOLVED IN ISSUES THAT THE LEGISLATOR WAS
BE INVOLVED IN AND WOULD CARE ABOUT.
>> THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE
MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF SHIFT OF WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE,
THERE'S A LOT MORE WOMEN NOW WHO ARE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, WHICH
WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN DECADES IN MASSACHUSETTS.
SO I THINK MAYBE WOMEN WHO MIGHT HAVE PREVIOUSLY SAID, WELL, I'LL
JUST RUN FOR A STATE HOUSE SEAT, ARE NOW SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT,
I'LL RUN FOR CONGRESS, I'LL RUN FOR GOVERNOR, I'LL RUN FOR
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
AND WITH THE WHOLE PUSH AFTER 2016 WE'VE SEEN A LOT MORE WOMEN
RUNNING FOR OFFICE JUST IN GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> SPEAKING OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE, STATE SENATOR STANLEY
ROSENBERG HAS A CHALLENGER NOW.
DO YOU THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD A CHALLENGER WERE IT NOT FOR
THE COMPLICATIONS THAT HIS FORMER SPOUSE HAS SEEN NOW?
>> NO.
>> DEFINITELY NOT.
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO EITHER.
>> HE WAS ROCK SOLID UNTIL THIS SCANDAL BROKE OUT, NOW HE SEEMS
TO BE VULNERABLE.
>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO RUN AGAINST AN INCUMBENT, ESPECIALLY
AN INCUMBENT WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO STEP ON ANY TOES IN THE PARTY, YOU DON'T
WANT TO HURT YOUR CHANCES OF RUNNING FOR FUTURE OFFICE.
BUT I THINK ONCE HE WAS SORT OF HIT BY THAT SCANDAL, PEOPLE SAID
YOU KNOW WHAT, MAYBE HE'S NOT AS UNTOUCHABLE AS WE THINK HE IS.
>> WE'LL LEAVE THERE FOR THIS WEEK.
THANKS FOR COMING IN.