October 28, 2025 • 40 mins
Amid the ongoing government shutdown, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Benefits, that roughly a little over a million people in Massachusetts rely on, has been suspended by the U.S. Agriculture Department effective Nov. 4th. The state of MA is among a group of two dozen states that have sued the Trump Admin over this suspension. How can we best help and provide for those who rely on SNAP benefits? Dan has an idea that could at least temporarily help those in MA who rely on SNAP benefits, why not use the roughly over $8 billion rainy day fund to help residents in MA who need assistance?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Nights with Dan Ray.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm telling you Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
We're talking tonight about a lack of decision that government
of Massachusetts has failed to make. On Friday night, I
talked about the crisis that is approaching here in Massachusetts,
which is a SNAP benefit crisis. They are about a
million people in Massachusetts who benefit from SNAP programs, which
(00:33):
provides it's called supplemental Nutrition Assistance program what used to
be called food stamps, So about a million people, most
of whom are either single moms, children, people with disabilities,
or senior citizens. And under the circumstances of the government shutdown,
(00:58):
those SNAP benefits are supposed to end this Saturday at
November first. The governor of Massachusetts has an easy option
to make sure no one in Massachusetts goes hungry beginning
on Saturday. We have an eight point eight billion dollar
rainy day fund, but for some reason, the governor has
(01:22):
refused to utilize that fund. Just to put it in
some context, we have a sixty two billion dollar budget,
so an eight point eight billion dollar rainy day fund.
It's called also stabilization, the Massachusetts Stabilization Fund. That is
about a fund that represents about twelve percent of the
(01:47):
state budget. It is a very healthy number, is what
I'm basically trying to say. That is for a rainy
day in case of an economic downturn. It used to
be around to billion dollars a year. Under Governor Baker,
it increased and now it's about close to nine billion dollars.
That money could be used. We could take care of
(02:08):
everyone here in Massachusetts who's in need of snap benefits
for the month of November with about two percent of
that rainy day fund. It's easy. It's easy, and then
we could have the federal government reimburse the Collmalth of
Massachusetts for that money. But for some reason, Governor Healy
(02:29):
has decided that she's not going to access that rainy
day fund because she wants to blame Donald Trump. And
that's disingenuous and it's beneath the mar Healey that I
knew a few years ago. Let's go to the phones.
I want your reaction. We lost Amanda from Dorchester last hour. Amanda,
(02:53):
feel free to call back and we'll put you the
head of the line. I think you probably had us
on speakerphone and when you got disconnected, you got disconnected.
When you probably pressed the wrong button. Call back sixty
or six one seven, going first to Gloria and Salem. Gloria,
welcome you in next on nightside.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Go right ahead, Hi Dan, I just want to thank you.
I lost all hope. I don't think anything can happen,
but I want to thank you for bringing up the issue.
I'm a disabled senior. I can't go to food banks
because I have to be careful what I eat or
(03:32):
I'll end up in the hospital. But she's going to
cost a lot more. But everybody told me it'll work out,
it'll work out. As my despair and my anxiety grew
over the past week, well not the past week because
(03:53):
it's only Tuesday, but I've been waiting for it to
work out, and it's apparently not going to. Lawsuits are
not going to work.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Out lost lawsuits take weeks and months exactly in some cases.
And it's wonderful. It's wonderful political theater. We're going into court.
We're going to sue the administration. I gotta make this happen.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
That's ames the finger pointing is just I had to
turn off the news today because I mean, I ended
up at the pharmacy getting some medication for for anxiety
because it was just I mean, I'm like you. I
(04:36):
I I don't have a cupboard full of food because
I have to be careful what I eat and I'm
just gonna get really sick.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well, I gotta, I gotta be honest with you. Okay.
I'm a I'm a grocery store guy. I'm the person
in my family that goes shopping at the grocery store.
And the reason I do that is call me weird.
But if I have coal cuts in my refrigerator, I
don't want them there more than twenty four off. I
sound a little weird.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
No, I feel the way, all right.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
And also if I watched the food in my refrigerat,
I don't want to drink sour milk. And so when
I go to the store, I look at the the
use by dates. And I'm a fairly serious, fairly serious person,
as you probably know. And this is something that is
(05:32):
so obvious. This is nothing. We might not be able
to be able to pay the military, which is unfortunate.
We might not be able to pay the air traffic controllers.
And I say, a park's on all your houses to
the politicians, okay, because they're getting paid some of them
have said, well, I'm not going to accept my money.
(05:52):
They're going to put the money in a bank account
or you know, they'll get their money. But when you
have a million people, and I've criticized some of these
programs because some waste there, Okay, but I want to
make sure that nobody, no child, no no single mom,
no older person, no personal disabilities, goes hungry this Saturday.
(06:14):
And the money's there. We have eight point eight billion
dollars which is at the disposal of the governor. It's
her call to make I have no idea who her
staff is and who is advising her incorrectly here, and
we would probably get reimbursed by the federal government to
boot and even if we didn't, this would be a
(06:34):
legitimate use of the Rainy Day Fund.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
So, Gloria, I thank you. You know, thank you.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Like I said, first of all.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
You don't need to Gloria, you don't need to thank
me at all. I appreciate your acknowledgment. I very much appreciate.
I know you're a regular listener. I know you're a
regular caller. I really this is my responsibility. This is
my job. Okay. My job is to basically call out
the politicians where they're doing something stupid, and I've called
(07:09):
out Donald Trump for many things he's done stupid. This
is something that for some reason, for some reason, and
I don't know why, Governor Healy, who normally has pretty
good political instincts, is doing something stupid here by not
tapping into the Rainy Day Fund. She'll ead on Saturday.
I know that she'll lead on Saturday and Sunday and
(07:29):
Monday as well. She should, but it's her responsibility. She
ran for governor, she's elected to be governor. She has
control of the Rainy Day Fund. Governor. If you're listening,
or anyone in your in your in your group who
has the courage to tell you do the right thing,
governor do with this.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yes, thank you, Dan. I'll let you go.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Gloria, thank you for calling, and please continue to call
this program.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I will thank you good night much.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Okay, I got Amanda coming back. Okay, Amanda, don't press
any bad button in your neck.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
I here exactly right, Dan, thank you for taking my call.
First of all, I agree with you one hundred percent.
I mean, isn't just what our money is for? I mean,
come on, now, I think she ought to be ashamed
of herself, but as well. After I hung off, I
sat here and I said, you know what I'm going
to do the mask. Do you know what it costs
per day to feed each person based upon the two
(08:24):
hundred million dollars over thirty days, six dollars and sixty
six cents is what it would cost.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well even if they had to double a triple that
who cares, that's what but that's what the numbers say.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
If you say, if it's a third, right, he said,
my can Eve be great guy. I know him personally,
know him for years, solid man, and I was happy
to hear what he had to say and that he's
actually taking action and solving problems because this is just
I live in Dorchester. I live in a nice part
of Orchester, but when I go to the park, I mean,
I think kids were hungry. And if there's anything we
can do right as human beings is to free our children,
(09:00):
our elderly and the people who can't who cannot go
to work because they're disabled. Yeah, we know there's a
lot of fraud in our welfare system, but this is
just taking it way too far.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
In my opinion.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I want, I want to say Look, I don't want
I want the money to be available for people who
need it. If I find out that there's fraud, I'm
going to be as hard nosed as anybody on fraud.
But at the same time, don't take tax money from me,
put it in a rainy day fund and then not
use it to feed kids or single moms, or the
(09:35):
elderly or senior citizens.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
And that's who's on it. Those are the people that
should be on it in the right. Yes, not thirty
year old able to bodied people. Right, And that's I
think it's a little bit of that. But at the
end of the day, the Congress, if they weren't going
to get caught said on Saturday night, they damn well
would open the government up.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Wouldn't say No.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Absolutely, and look the atrocious that you're it is an
atrocious situation. And the uh, you know my view, and
I'm going to be honest with you, is that I
think the Republicans wanted to open the government up. This
just extend everything for seven weeks and start restart the
negotiations and good faith.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
Hopefully everybody should be able to eat while they're deciding
what to do.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yes, absolutely, that's that's a question that they get. Now
that's a question. There could be no disagreement on the.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
Republics and when you're talking eight point eight billion dollars
and these six dollars and sixty six cents, and.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I wouldn't I wouldn't care if it were there's a million.
There's a million people. I'll give you some statistics to
deal with there, and you probably know them better than
I could. Just like a great caller. There is we
have there are seven million people in Massachusetts, you know,
across the board. Uh, that's a round figure. A million
need some assistance with SNAP beneficiaries with these SNAP programs
(10:57):
from what not.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
To qualify for this program?
Speaker 6 (11:00):
Right?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Do I understand? Yeah? Now do I think it's like just.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
A million random people that get it? It's absolutely absolutely security.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
We can agree that there might be some fraud here
and guess what you want to you want to take.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
We'll take that, We'll eat that.
Speaker 7 (11:15):
No.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
No, what I'm what I'm saying is that is the
program should be run efficiently. People should prove who they are.
I want to make sure that you know what this
situation is because I want to be able to maximize
the money for the people. Really okay, but we know
that there is upwards a million people who on Saturday
(11:35):
are going to lose their staff benefits, and we're going
to sit there and do nothing about it while we
have eight point eight.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Maybe investment to count. As you said, the market is roaring.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
We could have paid them in thirty minutes of the market.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Yes, absolutely, absolutely, Amanda. I loved your call. I hope
you continue to call this program.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Okay, I need you and you're my favorite person listen
to on my way home from work, So thank you
for that.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Right Well, bye, were radio for your house so you
can listen to me even when you're at home.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
I think I'm going to have to do that. Say
you have a great night.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Thanks, thank you so much. Good night. Gotta gotta take
a very, Gotta take a very. This is a quick break.
I got Ken coming up, I got Chris, and I
got John. The only line that are opened six one
seven nine. If you disagree with me, bring it on,
tell me, tell me why I'm wrong. I don't think
there is a now. Terry did say that it's going
to get solved in court. I don't think it will.
(12:28):
If it does, she's a better lawyer than me. If
I don't know how he Federal dist Court is going
to be able to order the President of the United
States to disgorge money over which he has no authority.
I do know that if someone were to sue uh
Governor more Healy, she has the authority over this money.
(12:50):
Eight point eight nearly nine nine billion dollars b billion
with a B. Back on Night's side. Right after this.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
With Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Let me go to Kennon Waltham. Ken, welcome back. How
are you, sir?
Speaker 8 (13:10):
I am fine. I am not one hundred agreement with you.
Tell me why somewhere between forty. Well, first, I'll.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Take that go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 8 (13:23):
Yes, First, I wanted to say, I mean the president
can does have to sign or veto a CR, so
he is part of a process.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I would say, Well, if all the Republicans voted for
the CR, I'm sure Donald Trump would sign it, but
we'll put that aside. You do know that it's the
Republicans who are voting for whatever. They're voting to open
the government. The Democrats are voting to not open the
government is voting to open the government. I think that
(13:52):
Senator Ran Paul is balancing off Fetterman's voting is voting.
But again we're past that now. Should have that should
have been done in late September and given it seven weeks.
But that's okay.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
So so it's all in my mind, it's all part
of If I were Governor Healy, I don't think it's
such an easy call to make, only because when will
this stop? I mean you are talking about you know,
you pay your taxes for things like this. We've already
paid taxes to fund SNAP, and the federal government has
(14:27):
shown that they will, you know, withhold funds.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
In my understanding, my understanding, Ken if I'm wrong, please
help me, is that that the SNAP benefits have been
dispersed in October, but they now there's no authorization for
the SNAP benefits to be dispersed. If I could waive
a magic wand and say we're going to make an exception, uh,
(14:56):
and we're going to pay the US military, and we're
going to pay air traffic controllers and we're going to
pay SNAP beneficiaries, I would waive that match of want.
But I don't think such a match of want exists.
Speaker 8 (15:08):
Oh I'm not sure I'm seeing mix, you know. I mean,
we paid Argentina twenty billion dollars out of these treasury
funds that don't need congressional approvals, and can we pay
SNAP benefits from that?
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Well, okay, there's a difference between spending twenty and I
think it was actually forty billions, So I'm going to
help your argument. Forty billion dollars to Argentina. We were
trying to influence an election down there because the guy
who did get reelected is very friendly to the US.
So that was a judgment that was made by the administration,
(15:44):
which you can agree or disagree with, but they had
the authority to do that. There's no authority for him
to release SNAP funds. And by the way, if you're
going to release SNAP funds, you're going to have to
release it to fifty states, not just Massachusetts. What I'm
saying is we are the Commonwealth health we have we
probably have the largest rainy day fund on a per
(16:04):
capital basis of any state in the Union, and we
could invade that corpus of money. So it's just shorten
nine billion dollars. It could be over nine billion dollars,
but it's in that range. We could invade that corpus
of money in emergency funds for people who are not
(16:25):
going to get their SNAP benefits on Saturday. I'm the
conservative here. You're a Democrat, more more liberal than me.
I'm surprised that you will not agree with me on
this because I don't want to see anyone disabled, senior,
single mom child go without food Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or whatever.
Speaker 8 (16:45):
So the reason I'm not zero present in agreement with
you is I think if I were at Governor Healy,
I would hold out until the very last minute and
then release the money, right I mean, and try and
use whatever mechanism I could to pressure the government into,
you know, coming up with these snap on somehow.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
I think that in order to do that administratively, Ken,
she can't wait till midnight on Friday night. Yeah okay, so,
but but what I'm saying is I don't want to
use I'm not focused on the political leverage. I'm not
focused on people convincing people. I'm not interested in convincing
(17:24):
people who's right or who's wrong here. I'm interested in
seeing people get what they deserve, which is to get
food for their families. And I'm sounding like a bleeding
heart liberal.
Speaker 8 (17:37):
Can no, no, no, you know what, No, I you know, so.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
I'm proud to sound that way right now.
Speaker 8 (17:43):
By the way, just so you know, no, you bleeding
hearts on the left, just rid not no, you know
what it is, it is, it really is, uh you know.
My issue, and it is more from the left, is
what's Trump going to do next? And yep, because he's
you know, I mean killed the USA CFPB, dempardment of education, right,
(18:07):
all these things without congressional approval. Massachusetts is going to
pay these snap benefits. He's not going to reimburse Massachusetts.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
If that's when you end up, That's when you end
up in a legitimate court battle. And I would argue
that that even if he made that decision, which would
sound futative and petty, and I would criticize him for that,
and I think most people would criticize him for that,
and it would look as if he was trying to
(18:37):
pain at last Massachusetts. Then you take him to court,
and you win in court. But the bottom line is
you and I are going to have dinner on Saturday night. Okay,
I know where I'm going to have dinner on Saturday night.
You're going to have dinner on Saturday night. I want
to make sure that everybody in Massachusetts, even those who
rely upon Snap benefits, have dinner Saturday night. How I mean,
(19:02):
I don't see why you're not agreeing with me on
this one.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
No, I said, I'm forty to safety present behind you.
I mean, I think I would just I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Think you could split the baby on this one.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
Well, no, it isn't that so no, it's it's just
the strategy. And again, how long can she wait and
try and put pressure on the government. That's I think
I think at the end of the day, and if
she should have done it by now, I'll concede that
argument because I don't know.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Let me ask you this. At the bottom line, you
are a loyal Democrat, okay, and I respect you. You know,
we've had some great conversations, and I think this is
a good conversation. Would you call the Governor's office tomorrow
and say, look, I was listening to Dan Ray last
night and he actually makes sense that these people should
(19:49):
be fed and they should have this Snap benefits, and.
Speaker 8 (19:53):
I will, I will do that.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
I would appreciate it.
Speaker 8 (19:55):
I will do that. I will, I will I will again.
I yeah, yeah, Now, let me just the last thing
I wanted to remember. Yeah, just how eloquently you talked
about I think it is that obraill Garcia. I don't
know if I'm pronouncing the name right who you kept.
You said many many times that, hey, if the Trump
(20:16):
administration recognizes they made a mistake by sending this guy
to al Salvatory, they'll bring him back. And the courts said,
and they did, kicking and screaming.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
That's right, forced them to bring him back.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
You're correct, right, right, And so I just have no
faith in the trumpet. You know, dealing with the Trump administration,
it's hard to ever think they're they're going to do
the right thing. And that's that's where I'm pushing back.
And but I but I think I think you're making
a very convincing argument. I mean, the best way to
(20:52):
do it is make sure these people get fed and
then go after the federal government. And I think you've
convinced me of that, and that's good, so I I
and because of that, I will make that phone call tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Well I appreciate that, I really do. And you know, again,
this is kind of a human instinct. And I look,
we are the so called commonwealth, Okay, and I know
a lot of people kind of rely on that. But
I don't want. I don't want to live in a
state where somehow, because of political leverage or whatever. And
(21:28):
we have the money. I mean, if we had no
money in the Marine Day Fund, let's assume we were
running with no money in the bank and we were
just relying on month to month tax contributions. I think
that she could that the governor can don say, Look,
I don't have the authority. I don't I can't create
money out of thin air. And I would be hard
pressed to go against that argument. But we have the money.
(21:50):
We have the money, and it's a small fraction. We
have much more money. You're a math guy. We have
a state budget sixty two bill, and we have eight
point eight close to nine billion in the stabilization front.
Speaker 8 (22:06):
We have the money, kay, I think it's about two
hundred and fifty million a months. Yeah, it's not a lot.
It's not a lot on.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
A comparative basis. On a comparative basis, Okay, it's if
we had to do it for twelve months, it would
cost us three billion dollars, which would be about a
third of what we have. But we're not gonna have
to do it for twelve months. I mean, at some
point this is going to wrap up. The public is
getting really angry about this. I mean, obviously there's a
(22:33):
lot of other factors, leverage points that can be exercised here,
and we got air traffic controllers that are going to
have to slow down. You're going to have air traffic
controllers calling in. That's what's going to eventually bring this
thing back. And eventually the politicians will have to get together.
But they're each plane to their base and I don't
like that either. So if you and I were running things,
I think would two guys will see things somewhat differently.
(22:57):
I think would do okay.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Well, I think we could work together, you bet you.
That's the difference. Thank you good night.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
So much, one of my most thoughtful and I think
best callers. Back on Nightside only one line six, one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. I'm really enjoying the conversation tonight. I hope
you are as well. There's no invective here, it's just
let's do the right thing. We'll be back on Nightside
after this.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
You're on night Side.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Our lives and Dames Boston's news radio. Let's keep rowling here,
going down the Cape to see Chris Chris on the Cape.
Go ahead, Chris, how are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (23:34):
I'm fine, Dan, I'm all in with your suggestion. This
is Randy Day Fund being accessible to our fellow citizens
who are cruelly suffering emotional distress countying the calendar about
five six days from now.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Thank you, because I hadn't even thought of that, to
be honest with you, but you're absolutely right on that.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
It's cruel to our fellow citizens, our neighbors who might
have a temporary, perhaps a permanent problem in the face
of the fact that we've squandered our same taxpayer dollars
without accessing the Rainy Day Fund. We basically squandered our
budget on a rainy day fund for providing for non
(24:20):
citizens thirty dollars a day per person for food, free
motels and maid service without and the loss of room
taxes that go along with that daily drop off of laundry.
Speaker 8 (24:35):
Yeah, well as well as inspectations.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Cab rise. It was this cab company down the Cape
that got six million dollars down. The cab company I
think it was out of Truro that had no big
contract for six million dollars. So again, I want to
focus and I get the point you're making it and
it's a good point, but I really just want to
focus on what they're doing to one million people who
(24:58):
are dependent upon this state to have food in their home,
in their in their apartment or in their home. And
it's it's it's unconscionable in my.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Opinion, it's it's really cruel to the point of abusive.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
UH.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
And I would you know, support your access to the
Rainy Day Fund on the basis, of course that it
will probably be reimbursable, UH, even if it isn't. What
isn't reimbursable is the the emotional distress that is being
suffered in the in the dietary restrictions that some people have,
(25:35):
and the loss of food or the thought of loss
of food for their family at a time of need.
And that's what that Rainy Day Fund, as you had
pointed out articulately, UH, is meant to provide for appreciate
and that pointing fingers doesn't put meals meals on the table.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah, And I'm sure, Chris. And the reason that it's
great to hear from you is I'm sure that you
have some idea what your lands are for the upcoming weekend,
where you'll have dinner on Saturday, whether you're going to
eat at home, you know, or go out with some
friends or whatever. But these people are sitting there now,
they're saying, look, there's no money coming from the federal government. Okay,
(26:15):
but there's eight point eight billion dollars here in Massachusetts,
which would more than solve the problem over two or
three years if we had to. I'm not suggesting we
do that, but on a short term, temporary basis. Because
this situation I can predict, you know, like a weatherman,
I understand politics, that this is not going to go
(26:40):
past probably I'm guessing November fifteenth or something like that.
They're precious building and they'll have to come to an
agreement here and the government will have to reopen. You've
got military members who aren't being paid. You've got air
traffic controllers who are calling in sick that slow downs
(27:00):
at airports. This will get this will get solved. Every
one of these governments shows you know they won't. You
ever been in a rainstorm, christ and someone says, oh,
you think the rain's going to stop? And the answer
is it always has, you know? And is the government
going to be back in business at that point? Always has?
But that doesn't help a single mom, well, the person
(27:24):
with disabilities who doesn't know where their food for the
weekend is coming from. Go ahead, I interrupt you. I apologize.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
I think it's simply immoral to allow this agony to
continue to those people that are in severe dire straits,
and that are citizens and formerly taxpayers, the unemployed who
were at one point employed in tax paying, the whole,
the whole gamut. I think it's simply immoral that we
(27:52):
don't throw them a life vest at this critical time.
And instead of pointing fingers at Democrats or Republicans or whatever,
I'm not taking an issue with anything other than pointing
fingers does not put food on the table. Said the anxiety,
(28:12):
all right, and I.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Says always we'll talk, so be well, be well, friend.
Next up, I'm going to move here a little bit.
Got John and fitchbroy Hey, John, you're next on nightside. Welcome.
Speaker 7 (28:22):
I'm mister Ray tonight. I don't want to say what
that other guy said, but the governor don't have any
money because she's still got a few up here in
limits that she's taken care of. And I got to
tell you another thing. You wants to be hanging around
with my aunts because they send me a store every
other day to make sure the neat's fresh. Then they
asked me, how long did you open this package? I
(28:44):
asked the woman that De moon was so she loafed
and she said, oh, you come here.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Every other day.
Speaker 7 (28:49):
I says yes, and I said the reason I'm calling tonight.
I was in De mo Was and he's too old.
The woman they got to be in their nineties hit
buying cattou. They must have bought probably twenty cans a
piece and some milky bones. And I'm talking with the
soccer and he said, they come in there and.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
They buy that.
Speaker 7 (29:08):
He says it's two for a dollar or something. He said,
what do you think they're eating? Then the guy tells me,
you know, the milky bones ain't bad, it's just soak
them in milk. And these older people are in there
buying that stuff. I was so I told my aunts
they couldn't believe it. And I come home, but they
fall asleep before we can get to talk with you.
Because last night you had the accountant on there and
(29:31):
they said, I should have called here, but they want
to call all the time. Anyway, I haven't called in
about five months.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Well, you come buy more often, say hello to your odds.
That's a horrible story to think that anyone in Massachusetts
would find themselves in that situation. And the women who
you're talking about in the store, they should be on
snap benefits if they're not, and someone should be out
from the government finding them and making sure they fill
(29:59):
out whatever paper work is necessary.
Speaker 7 (30:01):
I asked the guy, and the guy says, she would.
Speaker 8 (30:03):
They live in houses.
Speaker 7 (30:04):
They think they live up at the wall as twists,
and they come in there, you know, every four or
five days. And I guess there's more of them. And
I haven't, you know, I haven't seen them, but I
talked to the stockland.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
He says, yeah.
Speaker 7 (30:16):
He said, what do you think they're doing with it?
He says, you soaked in milky bones. They taste like
crack as I said, well, I haven't got to that
point yet.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
But no, no.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
And God forbid that anybody anybody anywhere in America. I mean,
you hear in other countries people who were born into
abject poverty and places around the world You've heard the
names Bangladeshi and Biafra and places like that, and you say,
there but for the grace, we are so lucky to
have been born in America no matter what our circumstances,
(30:46):
and we can right, You're right, Dan, we cannot allow
Americans or people who were here to suffer the indignity
that you described. And I'm sure what you're telling me
is the truth. By the way, I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (30:58):
Well, my governor was here about a month ago because
they want to build them apartments on Main Street, and
she was on the radio and everything. She was up here,
she had her auntourage up here, and they want to
rebuild with cities, so they've been trying to rebuild Fitchburgh.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Well, I'm I'm just stunned that that mar Healy would
not have looked at this and said as opposed to
using this and exacerbating the situation and pointing fingers at
Donald Trump. She could still point fingers at Donald Trump
and say, look, we're going to make sure that in
Massachusetts no one goes hungry, and we will. We will
(31:37):
use our own rainy day funds and we're eventually going
to get reimbursed by your federal government. But look, I
talked about this on Friday, John. I talked about this
on Friday night, and today Mike Kinneely, who's a candidate
Republican candidate for governor, who leased an eleven point plan
in which I looked at and I said to him,
(31:57):
you listening to my show on Friday night And he
said no, which is fine. I'm sure he came to
the same it's it's we're not talking about nuclear physics
here or quantum physics. This is a pretty simple solution
and it's and it's and it can be done.
Speaker 7 (32:15):
I think the problem is that they never went out
to see the people on the streets. How some of
them are suffering and they're asking for money and they're
all over the police. Not everybody's got you know, a
silver spoon. Some people were born with wooden spoons. There's
slivers in it.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
And some people don't even have don't even have teeth.
Speaker 7 (32:33):
And you know they make they make always cross country,
uh pats. And they got all the people with an
intense down there. You can't even walk the pats in
were mister and Fitchburgh. When you get behind the old
Grossman's they got a big tense city there and they
can't throw them out because it's private property.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
All right, your you know, John, thank you? What you
should do? Okay? As a citizen journalist that I would,
I would in a nice way. I'm not challenging you,
but I'm encouraging you that as a citizen journalist, you
have a newspaper up there, and I think there's a
newspaper in Athol as well.
Speaker 7 (33:10):
It's a Pitchburgh Sentinel. And as anoles no no, I'm
a I'm not a no no no.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
But I'm saying you should call the Fitchburgh Sentinel and
try to talk to the editor and say, hey, look,
are you aware of the fact that there's this homeless
encampment and that they now are going to be facing
the winter. It's now late October early November coming around
the corner here. As a citizen journalist, you might be
(33:37):
able to encourage the Fitchburgh Sentinel to put that story
in the newspaper and then one of the TV stations
will pick it up. I'm an expert in journalism. I've
lived my life doing this. That's how it happens. When
you see a story on Channel four, Channel five about
you know, homeless homeless encampment in Fitchburg. They found that
story out from a local newspaper, and you could be
(33:58):
the conduit that could say to the editor of that newspaper, Hey,
this is a problem you should be highlighting and next
thing you know, you'll see it on channel four, channel five.
Trust me on that one.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
Well, the mayor and the police know about it, and
they can't do anything because it's private property. That's fine,
that's the problem.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
That's fine. But still it's a story for the Sentinel.
The Sentinel should do that story, is all I'm suggesting
to you. Please take my advice and call the editor
of the Sentinel. Every newspaper editor in the world loves
to get tips from local residents. He would appreciate a call.
I have no idea what his name is, I have
(34:36):
no idea who he is. But if he's the editor
of a newspaper, that's the story that should be in
his newspaper. Thanks John, we'll talk again.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
I thank you very much. I'm sorry to take up
all your time, not at all.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
I enjoyed the conversation. Thank you. We got two more
we're going to get to right after the break. Steve
and Addlborough Bob and Rainham and if you want to
give it a shot, the only lines open right now
are six, one, seven, two, four, ten thirty. Will try.
I guarantee Steve and Bob will have their time, And
if you want to give it a shot, feel free
coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (35:06):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
All right, let's see we get everybody and let me
go next to Steven Addleborough. Steve, welcome back next on Nightside.
Your thoughts on this conversation.
Speaker 6 (35:20):
Oh, great conversation. I just got out of work and
I heard the topic and I said, I got to
chime in on this. Well, I agree with you, and
I agree with one of your previous callers. This whole
thing is absolutely terrible to and vindictive to put people through.
But I don't know what's more disappointing here the fact
(35:41):
that these.
Speaker 9 (35:42):
Politicians, the mayor, the governor and all these other people
are continuously pointing the finger and trying to get the
Orange man to be the bad guy, and they're the
ones that created the problems that they're accusing the other
side of instigating, and people are actually believing it, And
(36:03):
that's really distressing to me and you know it, and
they should pay people what they need to survive. And
the fact that their finger pointing and chin wagging, they
have no self awareness at all, and they're just continuously
projecting and blaming one person for creating the mess that
(36:25):
they created, and to me, it just baffles all common
sense or sanity. And I'll let you go so I
can let Bob have a call. But thank you very much, Dan,
and have a good night.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Steve. Thank you for participating, and I'll give you more
time next time. Thank you so much. Let me go
to Bob and Rain and Bob, you're next on nights.
I'd love to get you in one more in if possible.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Go ahead, Bob, They done. Dan, I'm sorry to follow
up with the last caller. Again, this is a political
issue where again Healey's blaming Trump, but you should be
calling uh Warren and Macky and tell them to vote
to the continuing Resolution at least. And again this is
(37:08):
a this is a what do you call it? Dereliction
of duty of Congress and Senate so that that we
have to continue to have these government shutdowns.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
They're not meant you meant to say dereliction of duty.
I know what you mean.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
I'm sorry, they're not doing that. They're not doing their job.
And uh. And to further the point, there's no way
and I'm not I'm just going to speak for the
state of Massachusetts. There is no way that a family.
Speaker 8 (37:41):
Should be deprived of food.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
And if somehow they made a deal with and I'm
gonna stick with Market Basket or Shaws or stopping Shop.
No one can tell me that those people wouldn't work
out a deal that you know will pay you, you
know they set.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Up a deal with It could be done, Bob. The
appointment making is a good one. It could be done,
and it could be done simply, Bob. I want to
try to get one quick comment from Nicole and Lynn here.
Thank you for calling, Thank you for your lerking tonight's side,
and thank you for weighing in on this tonight. Thank you, my.
Speaker 8 (38:16):
Friend, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
Nicole. I got about a minute for you. What can
you do with it?
Speaker 10 (38:22):
Hi, Dan, I'm my first time caller.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
First time calling. A little routup. Applause from our digital
studio audience. Go right ahead, Nicole, thanks to checking in.
Speaker 10 (38:32):
I am one of the people that this is going
to affect drastically. I am currently not in a great position.
I'm homeless, and this is a huge problem that we're having.
I don't know why we can't do the rainy day
fun thing that you're talking about. It's there, it's easy
bringing up the topic.
Speaker 7 (38:53):
I'm sorry what I appreciate you bringing up.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Thank you, thank you. I'm bringing it up for you
and it out for everybody else like you, and I
firmly believe in it, and I'm not gonna quit. I
promise I'll stick with this all right. Thank you, Nicole.
Please call a little earlier. I'd love to talk with
you and understand your circumstances and see if there's anything
we can do to get you some help. Okay, Okay,
(39:18):
you please keep listening. Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (39:21):
Him.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Wow, that's a that's a very powerful conversation in the program,
Shane Stokes, great job tonight, Great job to Marita, great
job to all the calls. We had an extraordinary group
of callers tonight and that made the show. I want
to thank everyone who listened, and please Governor Heally, if
you're listening, do the right thing, do the right thing.
(39:43):
I'll end us always all dogs, all cats, all pets
go to heaven. That's my pal Charlie Rays, who passed
fifteen years ago in February. That's why your pets are
who passed. They loved you and you loved them. I
do believe you'll see them again. We'll see you again
tomorrow night on Nightside. I'm coming up on Nightside with
Dan Ray and Facebook in about two minut and it's
have a great Wednesday, everyone, stay dry,
It's Nights with Dan Ray.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm telling you Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
We're talking tonight about a lack of decision that government
of Massachusetts has failed to make. On Friday night, I
talked about the crisis that is approaching here in Massachusetts,
which is a SNAP benefit crisis. They are about a
million people in Massachusetts who benefit from SNAP programs, which
(00:33):
provides it's called supplemental Nutrition Assistance program what used to
be called food stamps, So about a million people, most
of whom are either single moms, children, people with disabilities,
or senior citizens. And under the circumstances of the government shutdown,
(00:58):
those SNAP benefits are supposed to end this Saturday at
November first. The governor of Massachusetts has an easy option
to make sure no one in Massachusetts goes hungry beginning
on Saturday. We have an eight point eight billion dollar
rainy day fund, but for some reason, the governor has
(01:22):
refused to utilize that fund. Just to put it in
some context, we have a sixty two billion dollar budget,
so an eight point eight billion dollar rainy day fund.
It's called also stabilization, the Massachusetts Stabilization Fund. That is
about a fund that represents about twelve percent of the
(01:47):
state budget. It is a very healthy number, is what
I'm basically trying to say. That is for a rainy
day in case of an economic downturn. It used to
be around to billion dollars a year. Under Governor Baker,
it increased and now it's about close to nine billion dollars.
That money could be used. We could take care of
(02:08):
everyone here in Massachusetts who's in need of snap benefits
for the month of November with about two percent of
that rainy day fund. It's easy. It's easy, and then
we could have the federal government reimburse the Collmalth of
Massachusetts for that money. But for some reason, Governor Healy
(02:29):
has decided that she's not going to access that rainy
day fund because she wants to blame Donald Trump. And
that's disingenuous and it's beneath the mar Healey that I
knew a few years ago. Let's go to the phones.
I want your reaction. We lost Amanda from Dorchester last hour. Amanda,
(02:53):
feel free to call back and we'll put you the
head of the line. I think you probably had us
on speakerphone and when you got disconnected, you got disconnected.
When you probably pressed the wrong button. Call back sixty
or six one seven, going first to Gloria and Salem. Gloria,
welcome you in next on nightside.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Go right ahead, Hi Dan, I just want to thank you.
I lost all hope. I don't think anything can happen,
but I want to thank you for bringing up the issue.
I'm a disabled senior. I can't go to food banks
because I have to be careful what I eat or
(03:32):
I'll end up in the hospital. But she's going to
cost a lot more. But everybody told me it'll work out,
it'll work out. As my despair and my anxiety grew
over the past week, well not the past week because
(03:53):
it's only Tuesday, but I've been waiting for it to
work out, and it's apparently not going to. Lawsuits are
not going to work.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Out lost lawsuits take weeks and months exactly in some cases.
And it's wonderful. It's wonderful political theater. We're going into court.
We're going to sue the administration. I gotta make this happen.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
That's ames the finger pointing is just I had to
turn off the news today because I mean, I ended
up at the pharmacy getting some medication for for anxiety
because it was just I mean, I'm like you. I
(04:36):
I I don't have a cupboard full of food because
I have to be careful what I eat and I'm
just gonna get really sick.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well, I gotta, I gotta be honest with you. Okay.
I'm a I'm a grocery store guy. I'm the person
in my family that goes shopping at the grocery store.
And the reason I do that is call me weird.
But if I have coal cuts in my refrigerator, I
don't want them there more than twenty four off. I
sound a little weird.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
No, I feel the way, all right.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
And also if I watched the food in my refrigerat,
I don't want to drink sour milk. And so when
I go to the store, I look at the the
use by dates. And I'm a fairly serious, fairly serious person,
as you probably know. And this is something that is
(05:32):
so obvious. This is nothing. We might not be able
to be able to pay the military, which is unfortunate.
We might not be able to pay the air traffic controllers.
And I say, a park's on all your houses to
the politicians, okay, because they're getting paid some of them
have said, well, I'm not going to accept my money.
(05:52):
They're going to put the money in a bank account
or you know, they'll get their money. But when you
have a million people, and I've criticized some of these
programs because some waste there, Okay, but I want to
make sure that nobody, no child, no no single mom,
no older person, no personal disabilities, goes hungry this Saturday.
(06:14):
And the money's there. We have eight point eight billion
dollars which is at the disposal of the governor. It's
her call to make I have no idea who her
staff is and who is advising her incorrectly here, and
we would probably get reimbursed by the federal government to
boot and even if we didn't, this would be a
(06:34):
legitimate use of the Rainy Day Fund.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
So, Gloria, I thank you. You know, thank you.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Like I said, first of all.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
You don't need to Gloria, you don't need to thank
me at all. I appreciate your acknowledgment. I very much appreciate.
I know you're a regular listener. I know you're a
regular caller. I really this is my responsibility. This is
my job. Okay. My job is to basically call out
the politicians where they're doing something stupid, and I've called
(07:09):
out Donald Trump for many things he's done stupid. This
is something that for some reason, for some reason, and
I don't know why, Governor Healy, who normally has pretty
good political instincts, is doing something stupid here by not
tapping into the Rainy Day Fund. She'll ead on Saturday.
I know that she'll lead on Saturday and Sunday and
(07:29):
Monday as well. She should, but it's her responsibility. She
ran for governor, she's elected to be governor. She has
control of the Rainy Day Fund. Governor. If you're listening,
or anyone in your in your in your group who
has the courage to tell you do the right thing,
governor do with this.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yes, thank you, Dan. I'll let you go.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Gloria, thank you for calling, and please continue to call
this program.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I will thank you good night much.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Okay, I got Amanda coming back. Okay, Amanda, don't press
any bad button in your neck.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
I here exactly right, Dan, thank you for taking my call.
First of all, I agree with you one hundred percent.
I mean, isn't just what our money is for? I mean,
come on, now, I think she ought to be ashamed
of herself, but as well. After I hung off, I
sat here and I said, you know what I'm going
to do the mask. Do you know what it costs
per day to feed each person based upon the two
(08:24):
hundred million dollars over thirty days, six dollars and sixty
six cents is what it would cost.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well even if they had to double a triple that
who cares, that's what but that's what the numbers say.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
If you say, if it's a third, right, he said,
my can Eve be great guy. I know him personally,
know him for years, solid man, and I was happy
to hear what he had to say and that he's
actually taking action and solving problems because this is just
I live in Dorchester. I live in a nice part
of Orchester, but when I go to the park, I mean,
I think kids were hungry. And if there's anything we
can do right as human beings is to free our children,
(09:00):
our elderly and the people who can't who cannot go
to work because they're disabled. Yeah, we know there's a
lot of fraud in our welfare system, but this is
just taking it way too far.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
In my opinion.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I want, I want to say Look, I don't want
I want the money to be available for people who
need it. If I find out that there's fraud, I'm
going to be as hard nosed as anybody on fraud.
But at the same time, don't take tax money from me,
put it in a rainy day fund and then not
use it to feed kids or single moms, or the
(09:35):
elderly or senior citizens.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
And that's who's on it. Those are the people that
should be on it in the right. Yes, not thirty
year old able to bodied people. Right, And that's I
think it's a little bit of that. But at the
end of the day, the Congress, if they weren't going
to get caught said on Saturday night, they damn well
would open the government up.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Wouldn't say No.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Absolutely, and look the atrocious that you're it is an
atrocious situation. And the uh, you know my view, and
I'm going to be honest with you, is that I
think the Republicans wanted to open the government up. This
just extend everything for seven weeks and start restart the
negotiations and good faith.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
Hopefully everybody should be able to eat while they're deciding
what to do.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yes, absolutely, that's that's a question that they get. Now
that's a question. There could be no disagreement on the.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
Republics and when you're talking eight point eight billion dollars
and these six dollars and sixty six cents, and.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I wouldn't I wouldn't care if it were there's a million.
There's a million people. I'll give you some statistics to
deal with there, and you probably know them better than
I could. Just like a great caller. There is we
have there are seven million people in Massachusetts, you know,
across the board. Uh, that's a round figure. A million
need some assistance with SNAP beneficiaries with these SNAP programs
(10:57):
from what not.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
To qualify for this program?
Speaker 6 (11:00):
Right?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Do I understand? Yeah? Now do I think it's like just.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
A million random people that get it? It's absolutely absolutely security.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
We can agree that there might be some fraud here
and guess what you want to you want to take.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
We'll take that, We'll eat that.
Speaker 7 (11:15):
No.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
No, what I'm what I'm saying is that is the
program should be run efficiently. People should prove who they are.
I want to make sure that you know what this
situation is because I want to be able to maximize
the money for the people. Really okay, but we know
that there is upwards a million people who on Saturday
(11:35):
are going to lose their staff benefits, and we're going
to sit there and do nothing about it while we
have eight point eight.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Maybe investment to count. As you said, the market is roaring.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
We could have paid them in thirty minutes of the market.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Yes, absolutely, absolutely, Amanda. I loved your call. I hope
you continue to call this program.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Okay, I need you and you're my favorite person listen
to on my way home from work, So thank you
for that.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Right Well, bye, were radio for your house so you
can listen to me even when you're at home.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
I think I'm going to have to do that. Say
you have a great night.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Thanks, thank you so much. Good night. Gotta gotta take
a very, Gotta take a very. This is a quick break.
I got Ken coming up, I got Chris, and I
got John. The only line that are opened six one
seven nine. If you disagree with me, bring it on,
tell me, tell me why I'm wrong. I don't think
there is a now. Terry did say that it's going
to get solved in court. I don't think it will.
(12:28):
If it does, she's a better lawyer than me. If
I don't know how he Federal dist Court is going
to be able to order the President of the United
States to disgorge money over which he has no authority.
I do know that if someone were to sue uh
Governor more Healy, she has the authority over this money.
(12:50):
Eight point eight nearly nine nine billion dollars b billion
with a B. Back on Night's side. Right after this.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
With Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Let me go to Kennon Waltham. Ken, welcome back. How
are you, sir?
Speaker 8 (13:10):
I am fine. I am not one hundred agreement with you.
Tell me why somewhere between forty. Well, first, I'll.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Take that go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 8 (13:23):
Yes, First, I wanted to say, I mean the president
can does have to sign or veto a CR, so
he is part of a process.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I would say, Well, if all the Republicans voted for
the CR, I'm sure Donald Trump would sign it, but
we'll put that aside. You do know that it's the
Republicans who are voting for whatever. They're voting to open
the government. The Democrats are voting to not open the
government is voting to open the government. I think that
(13:52):
Senator Ran Paul is balancing off Fetterman's voting is voting.
But again we're past that now. Should have that should
have been done in late September and given it seven weeks.
But that's okay.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
So so it's all in my mind, it's all part
of If I were Governor Healy, I don't think it's
such an easy call to make, only because when will
this stop? I mean you are talking about you know,
you pay your taxes for things like this. We've already
paid taxes to fund SNAP, and the federal government has
(14:27):
shown that they will, you know, withhold funds.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
In my understanding, my understanding, Ken if I'm wrong, please
help me, is that that the SNAP benefits have been
dispersed in October, but they now there's no authorization for
the SNAP benefits to be dispersed. If I could waive
a magic wand and say we're going to make an exception, uh,
(14:56):
and we're going to pay the US military, and we're
going to pay air traffic controllers and we're going to
pay SNAP beneficiaries, I would waive that match of want.
But I don't think such a match of want exists.
Speaker 8 (15:08):
Oh I'm not sure I'm seeing mix, you know. I mean,
we paid Argentina twenty billion dollars out of these treasury
funds that don't need congressional approvals, and can we pay
SNAP benefits from that?
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Well, okay, there's a difference between spending twenty and I
think it was actually forty billions, So I'm going to
help your argument. Forty billion dollars to Argentina. We were
trying to influence an election down there because the guy
who did get reelected is very friendly to the US.
So that was a judgment that was made by the administration,
(15:44):
which you can agree or disagree with, but they had
the authority to do that. There's no authority for him
to release SNAP funds. And by the way, if you're
going to release SNAP funds, you're going to have to
release it to fifty states, not just Massachusetts. What I'm
saying is we are the Commonwealth health we have we
probably have the largest rainy day fund on a per
(16:04):
capital basis of any state in the Union, and we
could invade that corpus of money. So it's just shorten
nine billion dollars. It could be over nine billion dollars,
but it's in that range. We could invade that corpus
of money in emergency funds for people who are not
(16:25):
going to get their SNAP benefits on Saturday. I'm the
conservative here. You're a Democrat, more more liberal than me.
I'm surprised that you will not agree with me on
this because I don't want to see anyone disabled, senior,
single mom child go without food Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or whatever.
Speaker 8 (16:45):
So the reason I'm not zero present in agreement with
you is I think if I were at Governor Healy,
I would hold out until the very last minute and
then release the money, right I mean, and try and
use whatever mechanism I could to pressure the government into,
you know, coming up with these snap on somehow.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
I think that in order to do that administratively, Ken,
she can't wait till midnight on Friday night. Yeah okay, so,
but but what I'm saying is I don't want to
use I'm not focused on the political leverage. I'm not
focused on people convincing people. I'm not interested in convincing
(17:24):
people who's right or who's wrong here. I'm interested in
seeing people get what they deserve, which is to get
food for their families. And I'm sounding like a bleeding
heart liberal.
Speaker 8 (17:37):
Can no, no, no, you know what, No, I you know, so.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
I'm proud to sound that way right now.
Speaker 8 (17:43):
By the way, just so you know, no, you bleeding
hearts on the left, just rid not no, you know
what it is, it is, it really is, uh you know.
My issue, and it is more from the left, is
what's Trump going to do next? And yep, because he's
you know, I mean killed the USA CFPB, dempardment of education, right,
(18:07):
all these things without congressional approval. Massachusetts is going to
pay these snap benefits. He's not going to reimburse Massachusetts.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
If that's when you end up, That's when you end
up in a legitimate court battle. And I would argue
that that even if he made that decision, which would
sound futative and petty, and I would criticize him for that,
and I think most people would criticize him for that,
and it would look as if he was trying to
(18:37):
pain at last Massachusetts. Then you take him to court,
and you win in court. But the bottom line is
you and I are going to have dinner on Saturday night. Okay,
I know where I'm going to have dinner on Saturday night.
You're going to have dinner on Saturday night. I want
to make sure that everybody in Massachusetts, even those who
rely upon Snap benefits, have dinner Saturday night. How I mean,
(19:02):
I don't see why you're not agreeing with me on
this one.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
No, I said, I'm forty to safety present behind you.
I mean, I think I would just I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Think you could split the baby on this one.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
Well, no, it isn't that so no, it's it's just
the strategy. And again, how long can she wait and
try and put pressure on the government. That's I think
I think at the end of the day, and if
she should have done it by now, I'll concede that
argument because I don't know.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Let me ask you this. At the bottom line, you
are a loyal Democrat, okay, and I respect you. You know,
we've had some great conversations, and I think this is
a good conversation. Would you call the Governor's office tomorrow
and say, look, I was listening to Dan Ray last
night and he actually makes sense that these people should
(19:49):
be fed and they should have this Snap benefits, and.
Speaker 8 (19:53):
I will, I will do that.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
I would appreciate it.
Speaker 8 (19:55):
I will do that. I will, I will I will again.
I yeah, yeah, Now, let me just the last thing
I wanted to remember. Yeah, just how eloquently you talked
about I think it is that obraill Garcia. I don't
know if I'm pronouncing the name right who you kept.
You said many many times that, hey, if the Trump
(20:16):
administration recognizes they made a mistake by sending this guy
to al Salvatory, they'll bring him back. And the courts said,
and they did, kicking and screaming.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
That's right, forced them to bring him back.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
You're correct, right, right, And so I just have no
faith in the trumpet. You know, dealing with the Trump administration,
it's hard to ever think they're they're going to do
the right thing. And that's that's where I'm pushing back.
And but I but I think I think you're making
a very convincing argument. I mean, the best way to
(20:52):
do it is make sure these people get fed and
then go after the federal government. And I think you've
convinced me of that, and that's good, so I I
and because of that, I will make that phone call tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Well I appreciate that, I really do. And you know, again,
this is kind of a human instinct. And I look,
we are the so called commonwealth, Okay, and I know
a lot of people kind of rely on that. But
I don't want. I don't want to live in a
state where somehow, because of political leverage or whatever. And
(21:28):
we have the money. I mean, if we had no
money in the Marine Day Fund, let's assume we were
running with no money in the bank and we were
just relying on month to month tax contributions. I think
that she could that the governor can don say, Look,
I don't have the authority. I don't I can't create
money out of thin air. And I would be hard
pressed to go against that argument. But we have the money.
(21:50):
We have the money, and it's a small fraction. We
have much more money. You're a math guy. We have
a state budget sixty two bill, and we have eight
point eight close to nine billion in the stabilization front.
Speaker 8 (22:06):
We have the money, kay, I think it's about two
hundred and fifty million a months. Yeah, it's not a lot.
It's not a lot on.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
A comparative basis. On a comparative basis, Okay, it's if
we had to do it for twelve months, it would
cost us three billion dollars, which would be about a
third of what we have. But we're not gonna have
to do it for twelve months. I mean, at some
point this is going to wrap up. The public is
getting really angry about this. I mean, obviously there's a
(22:33):
lot of other factors, leverage points that can be exercised here,
and we got air traffic controllers that are going to
have to slow down. You're going to have air traffic
controllers calling in. That's what's going to eventually bring this
thing back. And eventually the politicians will have to get together.
But they're each plane to their base and I don't
like that either. So if you and I were running things,
I think would two guys will see things somewhat differently.
(22:57):
I think would do okay.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Well, I think we could work together, you bet you.
That's the difference. Thank you good night.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
So much, one of my most thoughtful and I think
best callers. Back on Nightside only one line six, one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. I'm really enjoying the conversation tonight. I hope
you are as well. There's no invective here, it's just
let's do the right thing. We'll be back on Nightside
after this.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
You're on night Side.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Our lives and Dames Boston's news radio. Let's keep rowling here,
going down the Cape to see Chris Chris on the Cape.
Go ahead, Chris, how are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (23:34):
I'm fine, Dan, I'm all in with your suggestion. This
is Randy Day Fund being accessible to our fellow citizens
who are cruelly suffering emotional distress countying the calendar about
five six days from now.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Thank you, because I hadn't even thought of that, to
be honest with you, but you're absolutely right on that.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
It's cruel to our fellow citizens, our neighbors who might
have a temporary, perhaps a permanent problem in the face
of the fact that we've squandered our same taxpayer dollars
without accessing the Rainy Day Fund. We basically squandered our
budget on a rainy day fund for providing for non
(24:20):
citizens thirty dollars a day per person for food, free
motels and maid service without and the loss of room
taxes that go along with that daily drop off of laundry.
Speaker 8 (24:35):
Yeah, well as well as inspectations.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Cab rise. It was this cab company down the Cape
that got six million dollars down. The cab company I
think it was out of Truro that had no big
contract for six million dollars. So again, I want to
focus and I get the point you're making it and
it's a good point, but I really just want to
focus on what they're doing to one million people who
(24:58):
are dependent upon this state to have food in their home,
in their in their apartment or in their home. And
it's it's it's unconscionable in my.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Opinion, it's it's really cruel to the point of abusive.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
UH.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
And I would you know, support your access to the
Rainy Day Fund on the basis, of course that it
will probably be reimbursable, UH, even if it isn't. What
isn't reimbursable is the the emotional distress that is being
suffered in the in the dietary restrictions that some people have,
(25:35):
and the loss of food or the thought of loss
of food for their family at a time of need.
And that's what that Rainy Day Fund, as you had
pointed out articulately, UH, is meant to provide for appreciate
and that pointing fingers doesn't put meals meals on the table.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah, And I'm sure, Chris. And the reason that it's
great to hear from you is I'm sure that you
have some idea what your lands are for the upcoming weekend,
where you'll have dinner on Saturday, whether you're going to
eat at home, you know, or go out with some
friends or whatever. But these people are sitting there now,
they're saying, look, there's no money coming from the federal government. Okay,
(26:15):
but there's eight point eight billion dollars here in Massachusetts,
which would more than solve the problem over two or
three years if we had to. I'm not suggesting we
do that, but on a short term, temporary basis. Because
this situation I can predict, you know, like a weatherman,
I understand politics, that this is not going to go
(26:40):
past probably I'm guessing November fifteenth or something like that.
They're precious building and they'll have to come to an
agreement here and the government will have to reopen. You've
got military members who aren't being paid. You've got air
traffic controllers who are calling in sick that slow downs
(27:00):
at airports. This will get this will get solved. Every
one of these governments shows you know they won't. You
ever been in a rainstorm, christ and someone says, oh,
you think the rain's going to stop? And the answer
is it always has, you know? And is the government
going to be back in business at that point? Always has?
But that doesn't help a single mom, well, the person
(27:24):
with disabilities who doesn't know where their food for the
weekend is coming from. Go ahead, I interrupt you. I apologize.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
I think it's simply immoral to allow this agony to
continue to those people that are in severe dire straits,
and that are citizens and formerly taxpayers, the unemployed who
were at one point employed in tax paying, the whole,
the whole gamut. I think it's simply immoral that we
(27:52):
don't throw them a life vest at this critical time.
And instead of pointing fingers at Democrats or Republicans or whatever,
I'm not taking an issue with anything other than pointing
fingers does not put food on the table. Said the anxiety,
(28:12):
all right, and I.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Says always we'll talk, so be well, be well, friend.
Next up, I'm going to move here a little bit.
Got John and fitchbroy Hey, John, you're next on nightside. Welcome.
Speaker 7 (28:22):
I'm mister Ray tonight. I don't want to say what
that other guy said, but the governor don't have any
money because she's still got a few up here in
limits that she's taken care of. And I got to
tell you another thing. You wants to be hanging around
with my aunts because they send me a store every
other day to make sure the neat's fresh. Then they
asked me, how long did you open this package? I
(28:44):
asked the woman that De moon was so she loafed
and she said, oh, you come here.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Every other day.
Speaker 7 (28:49):
I says yes, and I said the reason I'm calling tonight.
I was in De mo Was and he's too old.
The woman they got to be in their nineties hit
buying cattou. They must have bought probably twenty cans a
piece and some milky bones. And I'm talking with the
soccer and he said, they come in there and.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
They buy that.
Speaker 7 (29:08):
He says it's two for a dollar or something. He said,
what do you think they're eating? Then the guy tells me,
you know, the milky bones ain't bad, it's just soak
them in milk. And these older people are in there
buying that stuff. I was so I told my aunts
they couldn't believe it. And I come home, but they
fall asleep before we can get to talk with you.
Because last night you had the accountant on there and
(29:31):
they said, I should have called here, but they want
to call all the time. Anyway, I haven't called in
about five months.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Well, you come buy more often, say hello to your odds.
That's a horrible story to think that anyone in Massachusetts
would find themselves in that situation. And the women who
you're talking about in the store, they should be on
snap benefits if they're not, and someone should be out
from the government finding them and making sure they fill
(29:59):
out whatever paper work is necessary.
Speaker 7 (30:01):
I asked the guy, and the guy says, she would.
Speaker 8 (30:03):
They live in houses.
Speaker 7 (30:04):
They think they live up at the wall as twists,
and they come in there, you know, every four or
five days. And I guess there's more of them. And
I haven't, you know, I haven't seen them, but I
talked to the stockland.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
He says, yeah.
Speaker 7 (30:16):
He said, what do you think they're doing with it?
He says, you soaked in milky bones. They taste like
crack as I said, well, I haven't got to that
point yet.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
But no, no.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
And God forbid that anybody anybody anywhere in America. I mean,
you hear in other countries people who were born into
abject poverty and places around the world You've heard the
names Bangladeshi and Biafra and places like that, and you say,
there but for the grace, we are so lucky to
have been born in America no matter what our circumstances,
(30:46):
and we can right, You're right, Dan, we cannot allow
Americans or people who were here to suffer the indignity
that you described. And I'm sure what you're telling me
is the truth. By the way, I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (30:58):
Well, my governor was here about a month ago because
they want to build them apartments on Main Street, and
she was on the radio and everything. She was up here,
she had her auntourage up here, and they want to
rebuild with cities, so they've been trying to rebuild Fitchburgh.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
Well, I'm I'm just stunned that that mar Healy would
not have looked at this and said as opposed to
using this and exacerbating the situation and pointing fingers at
Donald Trump. She could still point fingers at Donald Trump
and say, look, we're going to make sure that in
Massachusetts no one goes hungry, and we will. We will
(31:37):
use our own rainy day funds and we're eventually going
to get reimbursed by your federal government. But look, I
talked about this on Friday, John. I talked about this
on Friday night, and today Mike Kinneely, who's a candidate
Republican candidate for governor, who leased an eleven point plan
in which I looked at and I said to him,
(31:57):
you listening to my show on Friday night And he
said no, which is fine. I'm sure he came to
the same it's it's we're not talking about nuclear physics
here or quantum physics. This is a pretty simple solution
and it's and it's and it can be done.
Speaker 7 (32:15):
I think the problem is that they never went out
to see the people on the streets. How some of
them are suffering and they're asking for money and they're
all over the police. Not everybody's got you know, a
silver spoon. Some people were born with wooden spoons. There's
slivers in it.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
And some people don't even have don't even have teeth.
Speaker 7 (32:33):
And you know they make they make always cross country,
uh pats. And they got all the people with an
intense down there. You can't even walk the pats in
were mister and Fitchburgh. When you get behind the old
Grossman's they got a big tense city there and they
can't throw them out because it's private property.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
All right, your you know, John, thank you? What you
should do? Okay? As a citizen journalist that I would,
I would in a nice way. I'm not challenging you,
but I'm encouraging you that as a citizen journalist, you
have a newspaper up there, and I think there's a
newspaper in Athol as well.
Speaker 7 (33:10):
It's a Pitchburgh Sentinel. And as anoles no no, I'm
a I'm not a no no no.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
But I'm saying you should call the Fitchburgh Sentinel and
try to talk to the editor and say, hey, look,
are you aware of the fact that there's this homeless
encampment and that they now are going to be facing
the winter. It's now late October early November coming around
the corner here. As a citizen journalist, you might be
(33:37):
able to encourage the Fitchburgh Sentinel to put that story
in the newspaper and then one of the TV stations
will pick it up. I'm an expert in journalism. I've
lived my life doing this. That's how it happens. When
you see a story on Channel four, Channel five about
you know, homeless homeless encampment in Fitchburg. They found that
story out from a local newspaper, and you could be
(33:58):
the conduit that could say to the editor of that newspaper, Hey,
this is a problem you should be highlighting and next
thing you know, you'll see it on channel four, channel five.
Trust me on that one.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
Well, the mayor and the police know about it, and
they can't do anything because it's private property. That's fine,
that's the problem.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
That's fine. But still it's a story for the Sentinel.
The Sentinel should do that story, is all I'm suggesting
to you. Please take my advice and call the editor
of the Sentinel. Every newspaper editor in the world loves
to get tips from local residents. He would appreciate a call.
I have no idea what his name is, I have
(34:36):
no idea who he is. But if he's the editor
of a newspaper, that's the story that should be in
his newspaper. Thanks John, we'll talk again.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
I thank you very much. I'm sorry to take up
all your time, not at all.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
I enjoyed the conversation. Thank you. We got two more
we're going to get to right after the break. Steve
and Addlborough Bob and Rainham and if you want to
give it a shot, the only lines open right now
are six, one, seven, two, four, ten thirty. Will try.
I guarantee Steve and Bob will have their time, And
if you want to give it a shot, feel free
coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (35:06):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
All right, let's see we get everybody and let me
go next to Steven Addleborough. Steve, welcome back next on Nightside.
Your thoughts on this conversation.
Speaker 6 (35:20):
Oh, great conversation. I just got out of work and
I heard the topic and I said, I got to
chime in on this. Well, I agree with you, and
I agree with one of your previous callers. This whole
thing is absolutely terrible to and vindictive to put people through.
But I don't know what's more disappointing here the fact
(35:41):
that these.
Speaker 9 (35:42):
Politicians, the mayor, the governor and all these other people
are continuously pointing the finger and trying to get the
Orange man to be the bad guy, and they're the
ones that created the problems that they're accusing the other
side of instigating, and people are actually believing it, And
(36:03):
that's really distressing to me and you know it, and
they should pay people what they need to survive. And
the fact that their finger pointing and chin wagging, they
have no self awareness at all, and they're just continuously
projecting and blaming one person for creating the mess that
(36:25):
they created, and to me, it just baffles all common
sense or sanity. And I'll let you go so I
can let Bob have a call. But thank you very much, Dan,
and have a good night.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Steve. Thank you for participating, and I'll give you more
time next time. Thank you so much. Let me go
to Bob and Rain and Bob, you're next on nights.
I'd love to get you in one more in if possible.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Go ahead, Bob, They done. Dan, I'm sorry to follow
up with the last caller. Again, this is a political
issue where again Healey's blaming Trump, but you should be
calling uh Warren and Macky and tell them to vote
to the continuing Resolution at least. And again this is
(37:08):
a this is a what do you call it? Dereliction
of duty of Congress and Senate so that that we
have to continue to have these government shutdowns.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
They're not meant you meant to say dereliction of duty.
I know what you mean.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
I'm sorry, they're not doing that. They're not doing their job.
And uh. And to further the point, there's no way
and I'm not I'm just going to speak for the
state of Massachusetts. There is no way that a family.
Speaker 8 (37:41):
Should be deprived of food.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
And if somehow they made a deal with and I'm
gonna stick with Market Basket or Shaws or stopping Shop.
No one can tell me that those people wouldn't work
out a deal that you know will pay you, you
know they set.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Up a deal with It could be done, Bob. The
appointment making is a good one. It could be done,
and it could be done simply, Bob. I want to
try to get one quick comment from Nicole and Lynn here.
Thank you for calling, Thank you for your lerking tonight's side,
and thank you for weighing in on this tonight. Thank you, my.
Speaker 8 (38:16):
Friend, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
Nicole. I got about a minute for you. What can
you do with it?
Speaker 10 (38:22):
Hi, Dan, I'm my first time caller.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
First time calling. A little routup. Applause from our digital
studio audience. Go right ahead, Nicole, thanks to checking in.
Speaker 10 (38:32):
I am one of the people that this is going
to affect drastically. I am currently not in a great position.
I'm homeless, and this is a huge problem that we're having.
I don't know why we can't do the rainy day
fun thing that you're talking about. It's there, it's easy
bringing up the topic.
Speaker 7 (38:53):
I'm sorry what I appreciate you bringing up.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Thank you, thank you. I'm bringing it up for you
and it out for everybody else like you, and I
firmly believe in it, and I'm not gonna quit. I
promise I'll stick with this all right. Thank you, Nicole.
Please call a little earlier. I'd love to talk with
you and understand your circumstances and see if there's anything
we can do to get you some help. Okay, Okay,
(39:18):
you please keep listening. Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (39:21):
Him.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Wow, that's a that's a very powerful conversation in the program,
Shane Stokes, great job tonight, Great job to Marita, great
job to all the calls. We had an extraordinary group
of callers tonight and that made the show. I want
to thank everyone who listened, and please Governor Heally, if
you're listening, do the right thing, do the right thing.
(39:43):
I'll end us always all dogs, all cats, all pets
go to heaven. That's my pal Charlie Rays, who passed
fifteen years ago in February. That's why your pets are
who passed. They loved you and you loved them. I
do believe you'll see them again. We'll see you again
tomorrow night on Nightside. I'm coming up on Nightside with
Dan Ray and Facebook in about two minut and it's
have a great Wednesday, everyone, stay dry,
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