December 23, 2025 • 39 mins
We began the program with four interesting guests on topics we think you should know more about!
Holiday Deliveries at Risk as Porch Pirates Target Last-Minute Shoppers!
Guest: Brian Westnedge - VP, Alliances & Partnerships at Red Sift - 20+ years in the cybersecurity/DMARC space
Holiday safety when it comes to products/gifts. How to spot when a gift may not be built well enough for safe use & what to do if a gift you give turns out to be defective.
Guest: Don Fountain - leading product safety attorney - partner at Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Littky Rubin. He is also the author of "Defect Safety: A Primer for Lawyers to Identify Defective Products and Promote Consumer Safety Through Litigation," which outlines the hidden gaps in product design, testing, and regulation.
What to expect for holiday travel with wintery weather for parts of New England & at least 122 million Americans expected to travel over Christmas and New Year's, according to AAA.
Guest: Dan Mazella - Operations Director for the Boston Division of Total Traffic & Weather Network & Traffic reporter
Survivor of 1,775 Days of Unjust Detention in Venezuela Shares His Story - Memoir also shares mental strategies and spiritual practices that helped endure captivity, along with insight on Venezuela’s turbulent political landscape.
Guest: Jorge Toledo - Venezuelan-born American citizen and former CITGO executive
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Night's Eyes, Dan Ray. I'm going you Mazy Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Well, so we come to the end of the broadcast
year here on Nightside. This is my last program for
two thousand and twenty six.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I'll let you know.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I think we're somewhere around two hundred and twenty one
shows this year. If I'm not mistaken. I'll double check
that number for you at some point, right, Yeah, it
could be. I think it's about two twenty one. Anyway,
this is our four thy two hundred and first show.
I like to keep those stats whenever we get to
(00:38):
the zero zero. Just to let you know. My name's
Dan Ray. I am the host of Nightside. Have been
the host of Nightside since two thousand and seven. We
are in year nineteen and tonight is our last year,
our last show of this broadcast year. I will be
back in January. But Rob Brooks has been with us
(01:00):
most nights. I want to thank Rob for all he
has done for us during the year as the producer
back at Broadcast Central Eye broadcast remotely as you know,
and Marina aka Lady Lightning was our producer today. So
we have a great show to finish and by the way,
we will finish up tonight with really one of my
(01:22):
favorite shows of the year and that is our night Side,
our thirteenth annual Night Side Charity Combine. We will introduce
you to twenty wonderful charities. You'll have a chance to
affiliate yourself if you'd like to become a volunteer or
participate with one of these charities.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
If you want to become a supporter of run him.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
A check, sure they'll appreciate it. And then at nine o'clock,
it was just prepping myself for the nine o'clock hour,
and I just was looking at the scope of very
important issues we have covered both locally, nationally, and internationally.
I'm going to ask you during the nine o'clock hour
to join us and call in and tell me what
you think of the most important issues, both locally, nationally,
(02:09):
and internationally. So you can tell me what you think
is one, two, or three of the most important issues.
I think we'll probably have a consensus on some and
perhaps we'll have some disagreements on other but on others.
But in the meantime, we are now ready for our
eight PM four guests coming up. We're going to talk
about porch pirates. We're going to talk about holiday safety
(02:31):
when it comes to products and gifts. We're going to
talk about holiday travel, and we're going to talk to
a survivor who spent one thousand, seven hundred and seventy
five days unjustly date jailed in Venezuela. Jorge Toleda, Venezuelan born,
WUS citizen and a former SITCO executive, does give us
(02:54):
a little bit of perspective as what's been going on
in Venezuela for many, many years. Butt first up, like
to introduce Brian Westnedge. He's a vice president of Alliances
and Partnerships at red Sift, twenty years in the cyber
security space. Brian, Welcome to Night's Side.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
How are you.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Tonight, Hey, great, Dan's good to be with you.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, if there's one group of people that all of
us agree should be called to task, it is porch pirates.
And we're not talking about the Pittsburgh pirates. We're talking
about those sneaky sobs who roam our neighborhoods and steal
or attempt to steal packages that are meant for us,
(03:44):
that were left on our porches. And this has become
I never remember this going on when I was younger period,
How did this start in How rife is this practice
today across American communities?
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Yeah, I think Dan, it's probably become more prominent in
kind of recent years, given our pension for buying things online.
So a lot of us don't want to head to
the malls at Christmas, and we'll do a lot of
our our shopping online. So I think just kind of
the explosion of e commerce in general over the last
couple of decades has led to more packages being delivered,
(04:28):
and for a lot of us, those packages obviously don't
fit in a mailbox and they're maybe sitting on our
front porch where they can be uh, you know, viewed
and taken. So the problem, as you mentioned, has gotten
so bad, it's so prevalent. I think the Quincy police
saw a few weeks ago. They've they've even established a
(04:49):
porch pirate task force. So certainly I don't see the problem,
you know, getting better. I think more of our shopping
will probably move online, and you know, it's probably something
we're just gonna have to deal with, you know, going forward.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I also assumed that we probably see more of this
because many more families have home cameras at their front door,
so we see these jerks. I'd like to use stronger language,
but I'll leave.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
It at jerks.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Idiots walk up to the front porch added broad daylight,
scoop up packages. They have no idea what's in those packages.
It often be a special toy for a child or
a gift for an older person who who needs something
to cheer them cheer them up. Are these people prosecuted anywhere?
(05:40):
Because I never hear of a porch pirate going to jail.
We see a lot of people go to jail for
a lot of things, drug crimes, murders, serious crimes, armed robbery.
But I also think that there's an element in porch
piracy which not only are you the victim of robbery
or theft, but in addition, you're violated, your personal space
(06:02):
is violated.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, definitely, the grinch is out all year round with
these porch pirates. And you know, stealing packages is a
pretty low tech crime, right, but we see the criminals
get a little more savvy at this. So for instance,
if if we do have a ring doorbell or or
(06:24):
one of our front porch doorbells. Uh, there's been instances
recently where the bad guys have have used Wi Fi
jammers to jam the signals so you can't record the video,
you know, to the clouds. So there's some ways around
that you can get a video camera that records to
a storage device, so that way you do have some evidence.
(06:46):
But your your point about is this a highly prosecutable crime?
I think is uh is valid? I don't think it
is today, And I think because it's a pretty you know,
quick and easy, the quick and easy prime. There's folks
can follow, you know, delivery trucks, whether they're FedEx ups
(07:08):
or Amazon doesn't take doesn't take a lot of money
to buy a brightly colored you know, delivery vest like
like those delivery folks wear, and you can tail the
vans and go up to the front door, and folks
aren't really paying attention, or you look semi reputable and
and you can get away with it. So I think
(07:30):
it's it's a really like I think you feel the
frustration that a lot of us do. It's like if
you especially if you're sending a gift, that it's meaningful
or it can be expensive on them. A lot of
us order technology items over the internet that are delivered
to our front door. So there are a few ways
for our listeners to protect themselves that I'm very happy
to get into. Yeah, other than and it's it's not
(07:54):
necessarily high tech, right, so you can other than getting
a camera that has a local storage devi ice so
so the signal can't be interrupted. Certainly, look at scheduling
delivery days when you know you'll be home. So Amazon
in particular allows allows you to schedule all deliveries on
a particular day. A lot of retailers will allow you
(08:17):
to pinpoint at time for delivery. Certainly, most retailers will
allow you to enable email and motive mobile notifications for
your orders, so you know when they're being delivered and
you know either range to be home or have a
neighbor grab your package for you. And certainly, I mean
this is a this is kind of an extreme step.
(08:38):
But if if you're a constant target, if you find
that this happens a lot, you can consider a lockable
package box for your mailbox or your front porch. You
know they they will run you a cuple hundred bucks,
but you know it's a it's a way to securely
deliver either envelopes or larger packages. And again, if you're
(08:58):
living in an area where this is prevalent, it might
be something to look into it. But I love to
circle back with the Quincy Police, you know, in a
few weeks after Christmas and years is over, and see
a were you able to catch and proceed some of
these folks based on your task force.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
It's also a quality of life issue. If you cannot
have your mail and your package is delivered safely and
securely to your property, that's a real issue. And I
do think that we have downplayed a lot of our
new district attorneys have downplayed the seriousness of these sorts
of crimes. They don't prosecute shoplifting unless it's over a
(09:40):
thousand dollars in some communities, which is ridiculous. So therefore,
I think that probably emboldens the porch pirates. Is there
a website that we could direct people to who might
be able to check with you and get some more information.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Absolutely, our rents website, red sip is just red sift
si ft dot com where you can go for more information.
Of course, I would suggest checking out the Quinsy Police
website for more information on their task force. And certainly,
you know determined Kirk doesn't have to be supertech savvy,
(10:17):
right they can cover your ring doorbell and they can,
you know, do what they want to run off to it.
But hey, don't be a soft target, you know, don't
be an easy target. Protect yourself as best you can.
At least get a video doorbell so the folks know
when I come up to your front door, hey, I
might be recorded, and you know, unfortunately they might go
after somebody else that doesn't have the same level of protection.
(10:40):
But you know, just you know, don't don't be an
easy target and try to make as hard as we can.
You know, we know we can't prevent all these type
of attext.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
I think that if we could legalize trip wires and
claim more minds, that might be discourage some people from
participating in this activity. I know we can't do that.
I speak with tongue firmly planted in cheat. It's cheek,
but it just seems to me to be absolutely a
(11:09):
violation of your personal space and again a violation of
your comfort in your community. Brian have really appreciated this conversation.
We will check on the Quincy Police Porch Pirate Task
Force and if you would do the same maybe check
back with us, have your PR person and maybe we
(11:32):
can do an hour later on when we get back
in January. I'd love to do something like this to
try to deter this activity.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Okay, absolutely would love that, Dan, and happy end of
year to you. Happy holidays and happy New Year.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Absolutely. Do you celebrate Christmas? Of course, Merry Christmas. I
like to wish people whatever, if it's Hanukah, Christmas, kwansa, Festivus,
I like.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
To specify migreeting. So merry Christmas, Brian, thanks, that's what.
Thanks doc soon, Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Coming back when I talk a little different focus on
holiday safety. But this is when it comes to the
products and gifts you have and how to spot a
gift that may be built or not built well enough
to be used safely in what to do if the
gift turns out to be defective. Don Fountain, a leading
products safety attorney, will get back to us right after
this quick break.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on w B
Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Want to welcome attorney Down Fountain as leading product safety attorney.
Partner Clark Fountain, La Vista lit Key Rubin, the also
author of a book called defect safety a primer for
lawyers to identify defective products and promote consumer safety through litigation.
Don Fountain, Now, how many of the products out there
(12:51):
I have a flaw first of all, walking to nightside
attorney Fountain, But I'm just wondering how many products out
there have a law that somehow they pass whatever federal
regulations there are for products to be sold. This is
this is still a field that I think there's no
(13:13):
limitation to the problems that that defective products in gifts
can present.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Yeah, Dan, thanks for having me, and you're exactly right.
And the answer to your question is in our mailbox
and on our emails every day. We get tons and
tons of recalls all the time, and the numbers are
not going down, they're increasing. And what does that tell
us is that whatever the manufacturers are doing, they're not
catching the defects at the design stage of.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
The Why is that? For example, again, I know you're
focusing here on products and gifts. When I think of recalls,
I think of automobiles. Obviously, there's a problem with the
airbags in this vehicle, this problem with the brakes in
this and you can understand on a complicated to you know,
project like constructing building, designing an automobile, But how can
(14:06):
they not make sure that every toy is safe for
kids to play with and products that are going to
be using the home. Who's who's dropping the ball here?
I mean, obviously, Thank goodness, there are attorneys like yourself
who can catch these and in some cases you know
take you know, sadly from the company's point of view
and also from the plaintiff's point of view, get a
(14:27):
financial recovery. But you would think the companies would be
smarted to say, we don't need lawyers on us from
OUNTI millions of dollars. Let's let's do it right in
the first place.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Well, in this country, we do have a lot of
very good regulations published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission,
and they regulate all the consumer products. But unfortunately a
lot of defective products get through. But what I would
tell your listeners, if you want to check for defective products,
you go to www. Dot recalled, dot gov or say
(15:00):
for products dot gov to check and that's where you
can find out if your product you're thinking about buying
or have has been recalled.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Okay, this all of us, and I'm an attorney as well,
and I hate it when people laugh at attorneys and
they'll they'll always point to the McDonald's coffee case case
where I believe there was a female person at a
drive through spilled some hot coffee on herself and there
(15:28):
was a big lawsuit about that as to what temperature
McDonald's was supplying coffee. And there are other examples. There
are other examples, but there are a lot of cases
which are really important cases which not only conceivably help
make someone whole, but also send the message to companies,
into the corporations across the board, if you're going to
(15:50):
sell a product, make sure that it's safe, it's not
going to hurt people.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
And the public doesn't realize how important they are in
the overall safety process. You know, we have one government agency,
consumer Product Safety Commission, in charge of millions and millions
of manufacturers and distributors and retailers and millions and millions
of products, and they simply can't police them all. And
they rely on us as consumers to report a problem
(16:17):
when we see it, and by doing so, we eventually
start the recall process that ultimately helps save people from
being injured or god for being killed.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
As the grandparent of a couple of young grandchildren. Had
the toy companies which have been problems in the past,
Have the toy companies finally figured out to keep those
small little pieces of toys which kids swallow and can
choke on out of the era the a line of products.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
You know, we still see a lot of those, you know,
small pieces, sharp edges, sharp points. I'm a grandfather too.
I have a grandson and a granddaughter, and somebody got
my granddaughter one of those soft dart guns. I tell
you that thing shoots so hard and has small parts
that it's just not safe. But manufacturers want to make money,
(17:06):
and they during the holiday season, they rush things to market,
and maybe they skip a few safety steps along the way.
That's why the public has to be vigilant and report
these things.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
So you have a book which I think a lot
of people will be interested in reading. It's called Defect Safety,
a primer for lawyers to identify defective products and promote
consumer safety through litigation. Is that a book that the
general public can benefit from as well? Or is that
truly for members of the bar.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
It's absolutely for the general public as well, because what
it does it describes through real cases how the public
when they come forward they present a claim. How it
changes safety in the overall manufacturing industry. One company that
has to pay a certain amount of money on one
case doesn't want to do that again, and its competitor
(17:57):
companies see and pay very close attention to that happening,
and they modify their own behavior. So the civil justice
system is an incredible part of overall safety. We just
don't see it because it's behind the scenes. But the
book is a good read for people to understand that
process and perhaps motivate them to report defects when they
see it.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
So this is why.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
This is sort of case studies that we would have
been exposed to in law school, but case studies for
the general public to see what the purpose is and
the impact and the positive effect of situations that the
law addresses and that lawyers carry forward on behalf of individuals.
(18:40):
There is a benefit to the public, is what I'm
just ready to say.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
Exactly. You know a lot of times, you know, we
buy a product, we spend forty dollars, fifty dollars on it,
and it has a defect. We go, oh, that that
was a bad thing. Just throw it away and move on.
But if we take the extra step and report it
to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that may initiate a
recall and a change of the design that ultimately will
prevent someone else from being injured more severely.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Later on, Don Fountain, Attorney, Don Fountain, thanks very much.
How can folks get in touch with you if they
have questions? Or obviously the book I assume is available.
Let Amazon Defect Safety a primer for lawyers to identify
defective products and promote consumer safety through litigation. If folks
want to get in touch with you, is there an
easy way? Is there a website?
Speaker 5 (19:26):
Sure, Clark Fountain dot com on the internet and the
book is available through Amazon Defect Safety.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Sounds great.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
I really appreciate you having me on today, and I
wish you a merry Christmas and a happy holiday.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Right back at you, a counselor thank you very much.
Merry Christmas to you and you as we'll talk again, perhaps,
thank you.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
Very much, thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Thanks.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Where we come back.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
On the other side of the news at the bottom
of the I are going to talk with old friend
Dan Mazzella Operations as the right for the Boston Division
of Total Traffic and Weather Network and a great traffic reporter.
We'll talk about what to expect over the next two
holiday weeks ends when about one hundred and twenty two
million Americans will be traveling, according to TRIPA.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Are on night side with Dan Ray. I'm WZ Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Well, speaking of road construction and speaking of traffic tie ups.
Who better to talk to about those very critical subjects
at the next couple of weekends than Dan Mazzella operates
as director for the Boston Division of Total Traffic and
Weather Network and also a traffic reporter and Rob do
we have Dan on the line right now? Great, excellent,
(20:34):
I'm right here, Dan, perfect timing. This is unbelievable the
way that worked out.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
How are you, sir? How you doing?
Speaker 6 (20:44):
I am great, Dan, and Happy Festivus to you.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
I yes, yes, How are you celebrating Festivus well?
Speaker 6 (20:51):
With our sister station WZLX. Earlier we did the feats
of strength, so that was our celebration and actually in
the traffic center and I encourage you know, everyone to
come down because you know, if you if.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
You can get in the building, if you get into
the building, you.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Get in the building. We do have a festivist poll
that I made a couple of years ago. Authentically, it's
inside our traffic center, and it's in the corner, and man,
people have aired out their grievances today. So I encourage
you and other people of the staff to go down
there and and and take a load off.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I I have not been in the building for months
now because I'm broadcasting remotely, but knowing iHeart, I kind
of imagined that any employee would have a grievance that
of course.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Not yes, right, you're right. What was I thinking?
Speaker 7 (21:45):
I have no.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I just wanted to make sure that you you weren't
miss floating.
Speaker 6 (21:50):
This is my last, this might be my last interview.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Okay, so before before someone comes in and dragoons you
out of there, this Christmas, let's make sure Okay, So
we have Christmas on a Thursday. Yep, I guess Festivus
is you know, any day can be a Festivust day.
(22:15):
But and I don't know how much what percentage of
the traffic relates to Christmas and what relates to Festivus.
I think it's a little more for Christmas, but it's
still traffic. And then we have New Years. Because I
figured out there's a pattern here because Christmas always falls
on the twenty fifth and New Year's always falls on
January first, And I have figured this one out. It
(22:37):
will always be forever more until they change the number
of days in December to something less than thirty or
more than thirty one, they always are going to be
like this year Thursday Thursday, So it's kind of two
big long weekends here.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
It is.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
You're going to be busy for mister Mazella.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
Uh yeah, and we have already started to see it.
Of course, the weather today is kind of a preview
of what we're gonna be getting for the next few days,
so that is gonna definitely affect people's travel. I was
actually just on the road about thirty minutes ago. I
had some errands to run before Christmas, let's call it,
(23:16):
and I had to get out there and I get
a couple of things in the roads are are okay
depending on where you are, But but yeah, I mean,
we're getting some long weekends in right now, and with
this weather, they're saying the weather is going to be
similar to this next couple of days, so travel plans,
it's gonna get affected. And if you don't really kind
of reassess what you're doing. Uh, there's gonna be some
(23:39):
issues out there. The next couple of days, were you
were you driving tonight?
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
I was, Wait sec I was.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Told that you are always ferried in a limo courtesy
of total traffic and weather.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
I'm stunned.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
I decided to give my guy the the night off.
I give it.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
You are a saint. You're a saint. Okay, So here's
the deal. The weather around this time of year is frightening.
I'm sure frightening. I think there's a song that says
something like that. Anyway, the weather outside is fighting something
like Anyway, The point is, how is I mean their
(24:22):
travel could be affected, certainly car travel. What is your
advice other than to leave for Christmas and New Year's
like maybe late October.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
Right, I mean that is the time to really make
your plans and really go at that time. Just airbnb
something a little bit earlier. That's That's probably the best
advice I could give anybody, because you know, the phrase
in New England is if you don't like the weather,
just wait a minute and it changes. I don't think
that's going to affect in the or be an effect
(24:57):
in the winter. Because you know, we wanted to change,
but sometimes it just gets worse, whether it's freezing rain,
whether it's more snow, whether it's you know, high winds.
And again this effects driving, This effects air travel, and
you know, there are people coming into Boston from other
parts of the country and they're affected by the weather
up here as well, because if if you know, there's
(25:20):
a delay because of weather up here, they're going to
be delayed wherever they are. So you could be in
a warmer climate, but because of our weather, it's messing
things up for everybody. So I do take your advice, Dan,
I'm going to write this down. Tell everyone to start
their travel in October going to Grandma's house.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
You go late October, late October, late until Russian late October.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Give yourself a few weeks just in case. So in
terms of the weather, I'm.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Watching the weather forecast tonight on the local news channels
and they were seeming to suggest that the biggest problem
that might occur in the next few days will actually
be after Christmas, will be on Saturday night.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Is that what you're seeing as well?
Speaker 6 (26:05):
Yeah, yeah, that's what we're seeing as well. And you
know what a lot of people do around this time
of the year. Is depending again when you know, you
figured out the plan of when of when Christmas and
New Year's fall together, so you know this year it's
it's it's very unique. It's on Thursdays, so you have well.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
It's about one out of seven years that happens.
Speaker 6 (26:27):
I don't know, right, yes, statistically, So we have these
Fridays that are open, and believe it or not, some
people do have to work, but a lot of people
just kind of use the vacation day and the same
thing into January. But they've taken like this entire week
off and you know, so a lot of people will
travel on Saturday because if they're leaving grandma's house, or
(26:51):
they're going, you know, to another family member's house just
to spend the other week because schools are also off,
they want their kids to go, you know, play with
the cousin since that they haven't seen in a while,
or they're just going somewhere a little bit warmer. And
I don't blame them. I'd love to join them, but
they are all just trying to get out of here.
So if you're going to be doing any traveling on Saturday,
(27:11):
whether it's by air or car again, you really need
to rethink things. And you know, I know a lot
of people don't do this in New England, even though
they should get winter tires. That's that's not me trying
to plug anything. I have winter tires and it is
the best investment ever, even when it doesn't you don't
(27:32):
think it's gonna snow. When it's something that's as little
as what we're gaining outside, it really makes a difference.
And my limo has it as well.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
And when you say people go to warmer climes, obviously
you're talking about people heading south. I assume you mean
New Jersey.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
Yes, yes, New Jersey.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yeah, it's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I mean at you get south in Newark and it's
the whole thing changes.
Speaker 6 (27:58):
No, yeah, yeah, it's it's crazy the way things are
divided up.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
So so this let's let's hope that everybody keeps their
composure and uh not everybody travels with a limo like you.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Uh and and we we're envious of it.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
But since you are the operations director, there's some perks
that do come with that position, and uh.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
Not many, not many, but that is one that I
fought for when I saw it, I I I I
may have waived the bonuses.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
That's beautiful, Dad Mozilla.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Look I have a great Christmas and a great New
Year's and enjoy fest of Us as well, sir, anything
else that you celebrate this year. At this time, I
had to wish you everything well.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Thank you, Sarah. I. I appreciate that you know. Same
to you and your family, and you know, let's let's
hope I can do this in the next year after
after talking about grievances.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Y oh, no, you were you were speaking metaphorically for
of course, I'm sure that the powers that be I
understand that totally. Dan Mozella, thank you so much. We
will talk to you again in twenty twenty six. Okay,
thanks so much, Bundy always enjoyed. Thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
We get back.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Going to get a little bit more serious. Believe it
or not. We're going to talk with the man who
survived one thy, seven hundred and seventy five days. That's
almost five years of injust detention in Venezuela. He's going
to share his story. His name is Jorge Toledo. He
is a Venzuelan born US citizen and a former SITCO executive.
We'll talk with Jorge Toledo right after this break coming
(29:42):
up here on a nine forty six in Boston.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Night side with Dan Ray I'Z Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Delighted to be joined by Jorge Toledo. He's a Venezuelan
born American citizen, former SIDCO executive VIBE one thousand, seven
hundred and seventy five very long days of unjust imprisonment
in Venezuela. Jorge Toledo, thank you for joining us tonight.
(30:13):
You still don't know why you were arrested and what
you were charged with and your captivity ended. I guess
was in October of twenty twenty two when there was
a release and tell us, tell us, why do you
think you were You were put into into prison wrongfully
(30:36):
in Venezuela. You were summoned to go to a meeting there.
Speaker 7 (30:40):
Correct, Yes, Well, first of all, thank you for having
me and good.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Eating and everyone.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
It's such a pleasure. Initially, Yeah, I was summoned for
a meeting in Venezuela, which was, you know, something that
was not very uncommon from the business standpoint, because we
had a huge crew supply contract with Venezuela.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Or you were summoned by Venezuelan officials. It was you
weren't summoned by Yeah, your company, Okay, So you show
up and you had a couple of days of meetings
and then all of a sudden, some armed guards show
up and were you the only one with there several
who were placed in attention.
Speaker 7 (31:28):
No, it was five other colleagues. We were all executives
from Citco Petroleum, and we were imprisoned with allegedly been
acting against the Venezuelan government, the Venezuelan country, supporting the
(31:50):
US uh to impose economic sanctions to Venezuela, and even
disrupting the relationships between Venezuela and Russia because of the
could supply agreements.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
So that I can't imagine what it must have been like,
but I'm sure one day in Venezuela and jail under
those circumstances was terrible.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
Yeah. Well, I was in a dungeon in horrible brutal conditions.
I was physically and mentally tortured. I was deprived of
proper nutrition, I was deprived of communication with my family,
with attorneys, even with the consular office of the US
(32:46):
Embassy in Venezuela that at that time in twenty seventeen
and twenty eighteen, there were still the diplomatic relationships between
the US and Venezuela. So that is a amongst you know,
being in a corrupted or manipulated justice system that brought
(33:10):
us with within a shamp trial. So it was that
was in general the conditions that I was within.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
You were released in some form of a hostage swap.
It sounds to me like in Layman's terms, Uh, it
probably is very complicated.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Do you have any civil action against the Venezuelan government?
Speaker 7 (33:34):
Well, uh, the uh in a in in my case
or in my college case, there was a point of
complication that when a commonly you know in the past,
whoever perpetrated the an abduction or a hostage taking practice
was a criminal organization such as you know, terrorist organization,
(33:58):
a drog cardl But in my case there was a state.
So there was a lot a gap within the jurisdiction
in the US, even international and universal universal law that
could open the avenue at that moment to any legal action. Nevertheless,
(34:21):
today there's some new legislation that allows the application of
justice towards the perpetrators of this crime.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Are you You're living hopefully in the US, you have
not gone back to Venezuela.
Speaker 7 (34:39):
I assume, well, I've been in the US for almost
forty years.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
No, you're you're a naturalized US citizen. I understand that.
But I'm saying since your release, you have not gone
back to Venezuela.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
No, for I think that's neither myself nor any US citizen,
any any person with a blue passport, because he's a
target of this criminal practice.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
So let me ask you this question if I can,
and if you can't answer it or you're unwilling to
answer it, as you see what is going on in
the Caribbean and off the coast of Venezuela today, pressure
is being brought to a bear on Maduro and hopefully
he will understand that his days are numbered and.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
He will he will leave. But what is your thought
of this? Is this? Is this where this had to go?
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Or do you you know, do you want to offer
comment as someone who had been a political prisoner in
this country for seventeen hundred and seventy five days, what
you think as this this whole drama unfolds in the.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Last few weeks.
Speaker 7 (35:50):
Well, the issue is this, so you have a criminal
organization run in a country down there, and you cannot
be with criminals with diplomacy. So this is a very
you know, unprecedented situation and that's why you know, this
(36:10):
has lasted so long. So they I think that this
has reached an extreme, an extreme point and eventually, you know,
I hope that this is a permanent solution for the
Venezuelan people, even for the the hemisphere and the issue
(36:33):
of national security that the Venezuelan regime is bringing to
the United States.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Are you hopeful it will be resolved in a good
way soon?
Speaker 7 (36:46):
Well, uh, it's a I uh, I think that the
the use of force is uh, it's going to bring
collateral damages or any other case in the in the
in history.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
But you know, you.
Speaker 7 (37:03):
Cannot treat a to a brain tumor with an aspirin.
So that's the analogy that I that I think. You know,
it's we are talking about something very serious and requires
a serious action.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Well, thank you very much. We're delighted to speak with
you tonight.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
I hope that do you do you have a book
or anything like that that we can that people can
read more about your story.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
Yeah, I have just published Yeah, I have just published
a book. The name of the book is one thousand
and seven hundred and seventy five Days of Captivity, and
it's available in uh, you know, online via Amazon, Barnes
and Novels, and via my publisher, Archway Publishing dot com.
(37:54):
So it's already in the market. And uh it's a
long book, but it's a memoir where I, you know,
I tell the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
Yeah, well, son, I hope that many of our listeners
might be interested. Again, one seven hundred and seventy five
days of captivity an easy number to remember, a horrific
number for you to have experienced. Thank you for your time,
and thank you for your courage. And let us hope
that the situation in Venezuela resolve its resolves itself. And
(38:25):
I would hope that Medoro would have the intelligence to
leave that country, allow that country to prosper, and go
and spend whatever days he has left in Russia or
North Korea or whatever a hellhole.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Of his choice.
Speaker 7 (38:42):
Well, thank you for having me appreciated.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
For Hey, thanks so much, Thank you, bye bye.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
Well we get back.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
We have one hour of during which we're going to
open up a conversation, and I want to hear from
you about what you think is the most important, the
most significant, or the most interesting local, national, or international
story of the year. Doesn't have to be a news story.
Probably in many cases it will be a news story.
(39:12):
Love to have you join us, and you can start
calling right now. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten
thirty or six one seven, nine three one ten thirty.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
My name is Dan Ray.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
We are moving towards the thirteenth annual Night Side Charity Combine,
which will run tonight from ten until midnight, and you'll
enjoy that. Let's get the phone started for next hour
right now,
It's Night's Eyes, Dan Ray. I'm going you Mazy Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Well, so we come to the end of the broadcast
year here on Nightside. This is my last program for
two thousand and twenty six.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I'll let you know.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I think we're somewhere around two hundred and twenty one
shows this year. If I'm not mistaken. I'll double check
that number for you at some point, right, Yeah, it
could be. I think it's about two twenty one. Anyway,
this is our four thy two hundred and first show.
I like to keep those stats whenever we get to
(00:38):
the zero zero. Just to let you know. My name's
Dan Ray. I am the host of Nightside. Have been
the host of Nightside since two thousand and seven. We
are in year nineteen and tonight is our last year,
our last show of this broadcast year. I will be
back in January. But Rob Brooks has been with us
(01:00):
most nights. I want to thank Rob for all he
has done for us during the year as the producer
back at Broadcast Central Eye broadcast remotely as you know,
and Marina aka Lady Lightning was our producer today. So
we have a great show to finish and by the way,
we will finish up tonight with really one of my
(01:22):
favorite shows of the year and that is our night Side,
our thirteenth annual Night Side Charity Combine. We will introduce
you to twenty wonderful charities. You'll have a chance to
affiliate yourself if you'd like to become a volunteer or
participate with one of these charities.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
If you want to become a supporter of run him.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
A check, sure they'll appreciate it. And then at nine o'clock,
it was just prepping myself for the nine o'clock hour,
and I just was looking at the scope of very
important issues we have covered both locally, nationally, and internationally.
I'm going to ask you during the nine o'clock hour
to join us and call in and tell me what
you think of the most important issues, both locally, nationally,
(02:09):
and internationally. So you can tell me what you think
is one, two, or three of the most important issues.
I think we'll probably have a consensus on some and
perhaps we'll have some disagreements on other but on others.
But in the meantime, we are now ready for our
eight PM four guests coming up. We're going to talk
about porch pirates. We're going to talk about holiday safety
(02:31):
when it comes to products and gifts. We're going to
talk about holiday travel, and we're going to talk to
a survivor who spent one thousand, seven hundred and seventy
five days unjustly date jailed in Venezuela. Jorge Toleda, Venezuelan born,
WUS citizen and a former SITCO executive, does give us
(02:54):
a little bit of perspective as what's been going on
in Venezuela for many, many years. Butt first up, like
to introduce Brian Westnedge. He's a vice president of Alliances
and Partnerships at red Sift, twenty years in the cyber
security space. Brian, Welcome to Night's Side.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
How are you.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Tonight, Hey, great, Dan's good to be with you.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, if there's one group of people that all of
us agree should be called to task, it is porch pirates.
And we're not talking about the Pittsburgh pirates. We're talking
about those sneaky sobs who roam our neighborhoods and steal
or attempt to steal packages that are meant for us,
(03:44):
that were left on our porches. And this has become
I never remember this going on when I was younger period,
How did this start in How rife is this practice
today across American communities?
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Yeah, I think Dan, it's probably become more prominent in
kind of recent years, given our pension for buying things online.
So a lot of us don't want to head to
the malls at Christmas, and we'll do a lot of
our our shopping online. So I think just kind of
the explosion of e commerce in general over the last
couple of decades has led to more packages being delivered,
(04:28):
and for a lot of us, those packages obviously don't
fit in a mailbox and they're maybe sitting on our
front porch where they can be uh, you know, viewed
and taken. So the problem, as you mentioned, has gotten
so bad, it's so prevalent. I think the Quincy police
saw a few weeks ago. They've they've even established a
(04:49):
porch pirate task force. So certainly I don't see the problem,
you know, getting better. I think more of our shopping
will probably move online, and you know, it's probably something
we're just gonna have to deal with, you know, going forward.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I also assumed that we probably see more of this
because many more families have home cameras at their front door,
so we see these jerks. I'd like to use stronger language,
but I'll leave.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
It at jerks.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Idiots walk up to the front porch added broad daylight,
scoop up packages. They have no idea what's in those packages.
It often be a special toy for a child or
a gift for an older person who who needs something
to cheer them cheer them up. Are these people prosecuted anywhere?
(05:40):
Because I never hear of a porch pirate going to jail.
We see a lot of people go to jail for
a lot of things, drug crimes, murders, serious crimes, armed robbery.
But I also think that there's an element in porch
piracy which not only are you the victim of robbery
or theft, but in addition, you're violated, your personal space
(06:02):
is violated.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, definitely, the grinch is out all year round with
these porch pirates. And you know, stealing packages is a
pretty low tech crime, right, but we see the criminals
get a little more savvy at this. So for instance,
if if we do have a ring doorbell or or
(06:24):
one of our front porch doorbells. Uh, there's been instances
recently where the bad guys have have used Wi Fi
jammers to jam the signals so you can't record the video,
you know, to the clouds. So there's some ways around
that you can get a video camera that records to
a storage device, so that way you do have some evidence.
(06:46):
But your your point about is this a highly prosecutable crime?
I think is uh is valid? I don't think it
is today, And I think because it's a pretty you know,
quick and easy, the quick and easy prime. There's folks
can follow, you know, delivery trucks, whether they're FedEx ups
(07:08):
or Amazon doesn't take doesn't take a lot of money
to buy a brightly colored you know, delivery vest like
like those delivery folks wear, and you can tail the
vans and go up to the front door, and folks
aren't really paying attention, or you look semi reputable and
and you can get away with it. So I think
(07:30):
it's it's a really like I think you feel the
frustration that a lot of us do. It's like if
you especially if you're sending a gift, that it's meaningful
or it can be expensive on them. A lot of
us order technology items over the internet that are delivered
to our front door. So there are a few ways
for our listeners to protect themselves that I'm very happy
to get into. Yeah, other than and it's it's not
(07:54):
necessarily high tech, right, so you can other than getting
a camera that has a local storage devi ice so
so the signal can't be interrupted. Certainly, look at scheduling
delivery days when you know you'll be home. So Amazon
in particular allows allows you to schedule all deliveries on
a particular day. A lot of retailers will allow you
(08:17):
to pinpoint at time for delivery. Certainly, most retailers will
allow you to enable email and motive mobile notifications for
your orders, so you know when they're being delivered and
you know either range to be home or have a
neighbor grab your package for you. And certainly, I mean
this is a this is kind of an extreme step.
(08:38):
But if if you're a constant target, if you find
that this happens a lot, you can consider a lockable
package box for your mailbox or your front porch. You
know they they will run you a cuple hundred bucks,
but you know it's a it's a way to securely
deliver either envelopes or larger packages. And again, if you're
(08:58):
living in an area where this is prevalent, it might
be something to look into it. But I love to
circle back with the Quincy Police, you know, in a
few weeks after Christmas and years is over, and see
a were you able to catch and proceed some of
these folks based on your task force.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
It's also a quality of life issue. If you cannot
have your mail and your package is delivered safely and
securely to your property, that's a real issue. And I
do think that we have downplayed a lot of our
new district attorneys have downplayed the seriousness of these sorts
of crimes. They don't prosecute shoplifting unless it's over a
(09:40):
thousand dollars in some communities, which is ridiculous. So therefore,
I think that probably emboldens the porch pirates. Is there
a website that we could direct people to who might
be able to check with you and get some more information.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Absolutely, our rents website, red sip is just red sift
si ft dot com where you can go for more information.
Of course, I would suggest checking out the Quinsy Police
website for more information on their task force. And certainly,
you know determined Kirk doesn't have to be supertech savvy,
(10:17):
right they can cover your ring doorbell and they can,
you know, do what they want to run off to it.
But hey, don't be a soft target, you know, don't
be an easy target. Protect yourself as best you can.
At least get a video doorbell so the folks know
when I come up to your front door, hey, I
might be recorded, and you know, unfortunately they might go
after somebody else that doesn't have the same level of protection.
(10:40):
But you know, just you know, don't don't be an
easy target and try to make as hard as we can.
You know, we know we can't prevent all these type
of attext.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
I think that if we could legalize trip wires and
claim more minds, that might be discourage some people from
participating in this activity. I know we can't do that.
I speak with tongue firmly planted in cheat. It's cheek,
but it just seems to me to be absolutely a
(11:09):
violation of your personal space and again a violation of
your comfort in your community. Brian have really appreciated this conversation.
We will check on the Quincy Police Porch Pirate Task
Force and if you would do the same maybe check
back with us, have your PR person and maybe we
(11:32):
can do an hour later on when we get back
in January. I'd love to do something like this to
try to deter this activity.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Okay, absolutely would love that, Dan, and happy end of
year to you. Happy holidays and happy New Year.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Absolutely. Do you celebrate Christmas? Of course, Merry Christmas. I
like to wish people whatever, if it's Hanukah, Christmas, kwansa, Festivus,
I like.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
To specify migreeting. So merry Christmas, Brian, thanks, that's what.
Thanks doc soon, Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Coming back when I talk a little different focus on
holiday safety. But this is when it comes to the
products and gifts you have and how to spot a
gift that may be built or not built well enough
to be used safely in what to do if the
gift turns out to be defective. Don Fountain, a leading
products safety attorney, will get back to us right after
this quick break.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on w B
Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Want to welcome attorney Down Fountain as leading product safety attorney.
Partner Clark Fountain, La Vista lit Key Rubin, the also
author of a book called defect safety a primer for
lawyers to identify defective products and promote consumer safety through litigation.
Don Fountain, Now, how many of the products out there
(12:51):
I have a flaw first of all, walking to nightside
attorney Fountain, But I'm just wondering how many products out
there have a law that somehow they pass whatever federal
regulations there are for products to be sold. This is
this is still a field that I think there's no
(13:13):
limitation to the problems that that defective products in gifts
can present.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Yeah, Dan, thanks for having me, and you're exactly right.
And the answer to your question is in our mailbox
and on our emails every day. We get tons and
tons of recalls all the time, and the numbers are
not going down, they're increasing. And what does that tell
us is that whatever the manufacturers are doing, they're not
catching the defects at the design stage of.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
The Why is that? For example, again, I know you're
focusing here on products and gifts. When I think of recalls,
I think of automobiles. Obviously, there's a problem with the
airbags in this vehicle, this problem with the brakes in
this and you can understand on a complicated to you know,
project like constructing building, designing an automobile, But how can
(14:06):
they not make sure that every toy is safe for
kids to play with and products that are going to
be using the home. Who's who's dropping the ball here?
I mean, obviously, Thank goodness, there are attorneys like yourself
who can catch these and in some cases you know
take you know, sadly from the company's point of view
and also from the plaintiff's point of view, get a
(14:27):
financial recovery. But you would think the companies would be
smarted to say, we don't need lawyers on us from
OUNTI millions of dollars. Let's let's do it right in
the first place.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Well, in this country, we do have a lot of
very good regulations published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission,
and they regulate all the consumer products. But unfortunately a
lot of defective products get through. But what I would
tell your listeners, if you want to check for defective products,
you go to www. Dot recalled, dot gov or say
(15:00):
for products dot gov to check and that's where you
can find out if your product you're thinking about buying
or have has been recalled.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Okay, this all of us, and I'm an attorney as well,
and I hate it when people laugh at attorneys and
they'll they'll always point to the McDonald's coffee case case
where I believe there was a female person at a
drive through spilled some hot coffee on herself and there
(15:28):
was a big lawsuit about that as to what temperature
McDonald's was supplying coffee. And there are other examples. There
are other examples, but there are a lot of cases
which are really important cases which not only conceivably help
make someone whole, but also send the message to companies,
into the corporations across the board, if you're going to
(15:50):
sell a product, make sure that it's safe, it's not
going to hurt people.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
And the public doesn't realize how important they are in
the overall safety process. You know, we have one government agency,
consumer Product Safety Commission, in charge of millions and millions
of manufacturers and distributors and retailers and millions and millions
of products, and they simply can't police them all. And
they rely on us as consumers to report a problem
(16:17):
when we see it, and by doing so, we eventually
start the recall process that ultimately helps save people from
being injured or god for being killed.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
As the grandparent of a couple of young grandchildren. Had
the toy companies which have been problems in the past,
Have the toy companies finally figured out to keep those
small little pieces of toys which kids swallow and can
choke on out of the era the a line of products.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
You know, we still see a lot of those, you know,
small pieces, sharp edges, sharp points. I'm a grandfather too.
I have a grandson and a granddaughter, and somebody got
my granddaughter one of those soft dart guns. I tell
you that thing shoots so hard and has small parts
that it's just not safe. But manufacturers want to make money,
(17:06):
and they during the holiday season, they rush things to market,
and maybe they skip a few safety steps along the way.
That's why the public has to be vigilant and report
these things.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
So you have a book which I think a lot
of people will be interested in reading. It's called Defect Safety,
a primer for lawyers to identify defective products and promote
consumer safety through litigation. Is that a book that the
general public can benefit from as well? Or is that
truly for members of the bar.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
It's absolutely for the general public as well, because what
it does it describes through real cases how the public
when they come forward they present a claim. How it
changes safety in the overall manufacturing industry. One company that
has to pay a certain amount of money on one
case doesn't want to do that again, and its competitor
(17:57):
companies see and pay very close attention to that happening,
and they modify their own behavior. So the civil justice
system is an incredible part of overall safety. We just
don't see it because it's behind the scenes. But the
book is a good read for people to understand that
process and perhaps motivate them to report defects when they
see it.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
So this is why.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
This is sort of case studies that we would have
been exposed to in law school, but case studies for
the general public to see what the purpose is and
the impact and the positive effect of situations that the
law addresses and that lawyers carry forward on behalf of individuals.
(18:40):
There is a benefit to the public, is what I'm
just ready to say.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
Exactly. You know a lot of times, you know, we
buy a product, we spend forty dollars, fifty dollars on it,
and it has a defect. We go, oh, that that
was a bad thing. Just throw it away and move on.
But if we take the extra step and report it
to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that may initiate a
recall and a change of the design that ultimately will
prevent someone else from being injured more severely.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Later on, Don Fountain, Attorney, Don Fountain, thanks very much.
How can folks get in touch with you if they
have questions? Or obviously the book I assume is available.
Let Amazon Defect Safety a primer for lawyers to identify
defective products and promote consumer safety through litigation. If folks
want to get in touch with you, is there an
easy way? Is there a website?
Speaker 5 (19:26):
Sure, Clark Fountain dot com on the internet and the
book is available through Amazon Defect Safety.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Sounds great.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
I really appreciate you having me on today, and I
wish you a merry Christmas and a happy holiday.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Right back at you, a counselor thank you very much.
Merry Christmas to you and you as we'll talk again, perhaps,
thank you.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
Very much, thank you.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Thanks.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Where we come back.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
On the other side of the news at the bottom
of the I are going to talk with old friend
Dan Mazzella Operations as the right for the Boston Division
of Total Traffic and Weather Network and a great traffic reporter.
We'll talk about what to expect over the next two
holiday weeks ends when about one hundred and twenty two
million Americans will be traveling, according to TRIPA.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Are on night side with Dan Ray. I'm WZ Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Well, speaking of road construction and speaking of traffic tie ups.
Who better to talk to about those very critical subjects
at the next couple of weekends than Dan Mazzella operates
as director for the Boston Division of Total Traffic and
Weather Network and also a traffic reporter and Rob do
we have Dan on the line right now? Great, excellent,
(20:34):
I'm right here, Dan, perfect timing. This is unbelievable the
way that worked out.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
How are you, sir? How you doing?
Speaker 6 (20:44):
I am great, Dan, and Happy Festivus to you.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
I yes, yes, How are you celebrating Festivus well?
Speaker 6 (20:51):
With our sister station WZLX. Earlier we did the feats
of strength, so that was our celebration and actually in
the traffic center and I encourage you know, everyone to
come down because you know, if you if.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
You can get in the building, if you get into
the building, you.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Get in the building. We do have a festivist poll
that I made a couple of years ago. Authentically, it's
inside our traffic center, and it's in the corner, and man,
people have aired out their grievances today. So I encourage
you and other people of the staff to go down
there and and and take a load off.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I I have not been in the building for months
now because I'm broadcasting remotely, but knowing iHeart, I kind
of imagined that any employee would have a grievance that
of course.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Not yes, right, you're right. What was I thinking?
Speaker 7 (21:45):
I have no.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I just wanted to make sure that you you weren't
miss floating.
Speaker 6 (21:50):
This is my last, this might be my last interview.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Okay, so before before someone comes in and dragoons you
out of there, this Christmas, let's make sure Okay, So
we have Christmas on a Thursday. Yep, I guess Festivus
is you know, any day can be a Festivust day.
(22:15):
But and I don't know how much what percentage of
the traffic relates to Christmas and what relates to Festivus.
I think it's a little more for Christmas, but it's
still traffic. And then we have New Years. Because I
figured out there's a pattern here because Christmas always falls
on the twenty fifth and New Year's always falls on
January first, And I have figured this one out. It
(22:37):
will always be forever more until they change the number
of days in December to something less than thirty or
more than thirty one, they always are going to be
like this year Thursday Thursday, So it's kind of two
big long weekends here.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
It is.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
You're going to be busy for mister Mazella.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
Uh yeah, and we have already started to see it.
Of course, the weather today is kind of a preview
of what we're gonna be getting for the next few days,
so that is gonna definitely affect people's travel. I was
actually just on the road about thirty minutes ago. I
had some errands to run before Christmas, let's call it,
(23:16):
and I had to get out there and I get
a couple of things in the roads are are okay
depending on where you are, But but yeah, I mean,
we're getting some long weekends in right now, and with
this weather, they're saying the weather is going to be
similar to this next couple of days, so travel plans,
it's gonna get affected. And if you don't really kind
of reassess what you're doing. Uh, there's gonna be some
(23:39):
issues out there. The next couple of days, were you
were you driving tonight?
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
I was, Wait sec I was.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Told that you are always ferried in a limo courtesy
of total traffic and weather.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
I'm stunned.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
I decided to give my guy the the night off.
I give it.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
You are a saint. You're a saint. Okay, So here's
the deal. The weather around this time of year is frightening.
I'm sure frightening. I think there's a song that says
something like that. Anyway, the weather outside is fighting something
like Anyway, The point is, how is I mean their
(24:22):
travel could be affected, certainly car travel. What is your
advice other than to leave for Christmas and New Year's
like maybe late October.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
Right, I mean that is the time to really make
your plans and really go at that time. Just airbnb
something a little bit earlier. That's That's probably the best
advice I could give anybody, because you know, the phrase
in New England is if you don't like the weather,
just wait a minute and it changes. I don't think
that's going to affect in the or be an effect
(24:57):
in the winter. Because you know, we wanted to change,
but sometimes it just gets worse, whether it's freezing rain,
whether it's more snow, whether it's you know, high winds.
And again this effects driving, This effects air travel, and
you know, there are people coming into Boston from other
parts of the country and they're affected by the weather
up here as well, because if if you know, there's
(25:20):
a delay because of weather up here, they're going to
be delayed wherever they are. So you could be in
a warmer climate, but because of our weather, it's messing
things up for everybody. So I do take your advice, Dan,
I'm going to write this down. Tell everyone to start
their travel in October going to Grandma's house.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
You go late October, late October, late until Russian late October.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Give yourself a few weeks just in case. So in
terms of the weather, I'm.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Watching the weather forecast tonight on the local news channels
and they were seeming to suggest that the biggest problem
that might occur in the next few days will actually
be after Christmas, will be on Saturday night.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Is that what you're seeing as well?
Speaker 6 (26:05):
Yeah, yeah, that's what we're seeing as well. And you
know what a lot of people do around this time
of the year. Is depending again when you know, you
figured out the plan of when of when Christmas and
New Year's fall together, so you know this year it's
it's it's very unique. It's on Thursdays, so you have well.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
It's about one out of seven years that happens.
Speaker 6 (26:27):
I don't know, right, yes, statistically, So we have these
Fridays that are open, and believe it or not, some
people do have to work, but a lot of people
just kind of use the vacation day and the same
thing into January. But they've taken like this entire week
off and you know, so a lot of people will
travel on Saturday because if they're leaving grandma's house, or
(26:51):
they're going, you know, to another family member's house just
to spend the other week because schools are also off,
they want their kids to go, you know, play with
the cousin since that they haven't seen in a while,
or they're just going somewhere a little bit warmer. And
I don't blame them. I'd love to join them, but
they are all just trying to get out of here.
So if you're going to be doing any traveling on Saturday,
(27:11):
whether it's by air or car again, you really need
to rethink things. And you know, I know a lot
of people don't do this in New England, even though
they should get winter tires. That's that's not me trying
to plug anything. I have winter tires and it is
the best investment ever, even when it doesn't you don't
(27:32):
think it's gonna snow. When it's something that's as little
as what we're gaining outside, it really makes a difference.
And my limo has it as well.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
And when you say people go to warmer climes, obviously
you're talking about people heading south. I assume you mean
New Jersey.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
Yes, yes, New Jersey.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yeah, it's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I mean at you get south in Newark and it's
the whole thing changes.
Speaker 6 (27:58):
No, yeah, yeah, it's it's crazy the way things are
divided up.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
So so this let's let's hope that everybody keeps their
composure and uh not everybody travels with a limo like you.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Uh and and we we're envious of it.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
But since you are the operations director, there's some perks
that do come with that position, and uh.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
Not many, not many, but that is one that I
fought for when I saw it, I I I I
may have waived the bonuses.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
That's beautiful, Dad Mozilla.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Look I have a great Christmas and a great New
Year's and enjoy fest of Us as well, sir, anything
else that you celebrate this year. At this time, I
had to wish you everything well.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Thank you, Sarah. I. I appreciate that you know. Same
to you and your family, and you know, let's let's
hope I can do this in the next year after
after talking about grievances.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Y oh, no, you were you were speaking metaphorically for
of course, I'm sure that the powers that be I
understand that totally. Dan Mozella, thank you so much. We
will talk to you again in twenty twenty six. Okay,
thanks so much, Bundy always enjoyed. Thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
We get back.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Going to get a little bit more serious. Believe it
or not. We're going to talk with the man who
survived one thy, seven hundred and seventy five days. That's
almost five years of injust detention in Venezuela. He's going
to share his story. His name is Jorge Toledo. He
is a Venzuelan born US citizen and a former SITCO executive.
We'll talk with Jorge Toledo right after this break coming
(29:42):
up here on a nine forty six in Boston.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Night side with Dan Ray I'Z Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Delighted to be joined by Jorge Toledo. He's a Venezuelan
born American citizen, former SIDCO executive VIBE one thousand, seven
hundred and seventy five very long days of unjust imprisonment
in Venezuela. Jorge Toledo, thank you for joining us tonight.
(30:13):
You still don't know why you were arrested and what
you were charged with and your captivity ended. I guess
was in October of twenty twenty two when there was
a release and tell us, tell us, why do you
think you were You were put into into prison wrongfully
(30:36):
in Venezuela. You were summoned to go to a meeting there.
Speaker 7 (30:40):
Correct, Yes, Well, first of all, thank you for having
me and good.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Eating and everyone.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
It's such a pleasure. Initially, Yeah, I was summoned for
a meeting in Venezuela, which was, you know, something that
was not very uncommon from the business standpoint, because we
had a huge crew supply contract with Venezuela.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Or you were summoned by Venezuelan officials. It was you
weren't summoned by Yeah, your company, Okay, So you show
up and you had a couple of days of meetings
and then all of a sudden, some armed guards show
up and were you the only one with there several
who were placed in attention.
Speaker 7 (31:28):
No, it was five other colleagues. We were all executives
from Citco Petroleum, and we were imprisoned with allegedly been
acting against the Venezuelan government, the Venezuelan country, supporting the
(31:50):
US uh to impose economic sanctions to Venezuela, and even
disrupting the relationships between Venezuela and Russia because of the
could supply agreements.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
So that I can't imagine what it must have been like,
but I'm sure one day in Venezuela and jail under
those circumstances was terrible.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
Yeah. Well, I was in a dungeon in horrible brutal conditions.
I was physically and mentally tortured. I was deprived of
proper nutrition, I was deprived of communication with my family,
with attorneys, even with the consular office of the US
(32:46):
Embassy in Venezuela that at that time in twenty seventeen
and twenty eighteen, there were still the diplomatic relationships between
the US and Venezuela. So that is a amongst you know,
being in a corrupted or manipulated justice system that brought
(33:10):
us with within a shamp trial. So it was that
was in general the conditions that I was within.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
You were released in some form of a hostage swap.
It sounds to me like in Layman's terms, Uh, it
probably is very complicated.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Do you have any civil action against the Venezuelan government?
Speaker 7 (33:34):
Well, uh, the uh in a in in my case
or in my college case, there was a point of
complication that when a commonly you know in the past,
whoever perpetrated the an abduction or a hostage taking practice
was a criminal organization such as you know, terrorist organization,
(33:58):
a drog cardl But in my case there was a state.
So there was a lot a gap within the jurisdiction
in the US, even international and universal universal law that
could open the avenue at that moment to any legal action. Nevertheless,
(34:21):
today there's some new legislation that allows the application of
justice towards the perpetrators of this crime.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Are you You're living hopefully in the US, you have
not gone back to Venezuela.
Speaker 7 (34:39):
I assume, well, I've been in the US for almost
forty years.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
No, you're you're a naturalized US citizen. I understand that.
But I'm saying since your release, you have not gone
back to Venezuela.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
No, for I think that's neither myself nor any US citizen,
any any person with a blue passport, because he's a
target of this criminal practice.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
So let me ask you this question if I can,
and if you can't answer it or you're unwilling to
answer it, as you see what is going on in
the Caribbean and off the coast of Venezuela today, pressure
is being brought to a bear on Maduro and hopefully
he will understand that his days are numbered and.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
He will he will leave. But what is your thought
of this? Is this? Is this where this had to go?
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Or do you you know, do you want to offer
comment as someone who had been a political prisoner in
this country for seventeen hundred and seventy five days, what
you think as this this whole drama unfolds in the.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Last few weeks.
Speaker 7 (35:50):
Well, the issue is this, so you have a criminal
organization run in a country down there, and you cannot
be with criminals with diplomacy. So this is a very
you know, unprecedented situation and that's why you know, this
(36:10):
has lasted so long. So they I think that this
has reached an extreme, an extreme point and eventually, you know,
I hope that this is a permanent solution for the
Venezuelan people, even for the the hemisphere and the issue
(36:33):
of national security that the Venezuelan regime is bringing to
the United States.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Are you hopeful it will be resolved in a good
way soon?
Speaker 7 (36:46):
Well, uh, it's a I uh, I think that the
the use of force is uh, it's going to bring
collateral damages or any other case in the in the
in history.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
But you know, you.
Speaker 7 (37:03):
Cannot treat a to a brain tumor with an aspirin.
So that's the analogy that I that I think. You know,
it's we are talking about something very serious and requires
a serious action.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Well, thank you very much. We're delighted to speak with
you tonight.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
I hope that do you do you have a book
or anything like that that we can that people can
read more about your story.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
Yeah, I have just published Yeah, I have just published
a book. The name of the book is one thousand
and seven hundred and seventy five Days of Captivity, and
it's available in uh, you know, online via Amazon, Barnes
and Novels, and via my publisher, Archway Publishing dot com.
(37:54):
So it's already in the market. And uh it's a
long book, but it's a memoir where I, you know,
I tell the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
Yeah, well, son, I hope that many of our listeners
might be interested. Again, one seven hundred and seventy five
days of captivity an easy number to remember, a horrific
number for you to have experienced. Thank you for your time,
and thank you for your courage. And let us hope
that the situation in Venezuela resolve its resolves itself. And
(38:25):
I would hope that Medoro would have the intelligence to
leave that country, allow that country to prosper, and go
and spend whatever days he has left in Russia or
North Korea or whatever a hellhole.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Of his choice.
Speaker 7 (38:42):
Well, thank you for having me appreciated.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
For Hey, thanks so much, Thank you, bye bye.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
Well we get back.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
We have one hour of during which we're going to
open up a conversation, and I want to hear from
you about what you think is the most important, the
most significant, or the most interesting local, national, or international
story of the year. Doesn't have to be a news story.
Probably in many cases it will be a news story.
(39:12):
Love to have you join us, and you can start
calling right now. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten
thirty or six one seven, nine three one ten thirty.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
My name is Dan Ray.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
We are moving towards the thirteenth annual Night Side Charity Combine,
which will run tonight from ten until midnight, and you'll
enjoy that. Let's get the phone started for next hour
right now,
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