September 3, 2025 • 39 mins
There is an ongoing spat over the bidding procedure for a multimillion-dollar contract to renovate 18 service plazas along Massachusetts roadways. Waltham-based Global Partners LP, a fuel delivery company that currently runs the convenience stores at many of the plazas, lost the bid to Applegreen, a company founded in Ireland with an extensive presence along the Eastern Seaboard. Global Partners legally challenged MassDOT’s procurement, evaluation, and operator selection process. President and CEO of Global Partners, Eric Slifka joined us to discuss the latest in this spat.
*Applegreen will join us on NightSide, this Friday evening to share their side of the feud*
*Applegreen will join us on NightSide, this Friday evening to share their side of the feud*
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WVZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Very much, Dan Walkins, we have been following a big
story here in Massachusetts. They come out of Massachusetts, which
of course is in charge of the Massachusetts Turnpike. There
are eleven service plazas on the Turnpike. But in addition
to that, the Commonwealth has some service plazas elsewhere. I'm
(00:27):
sure some of you know the service plaza in Lexington,
the service plaza in Newton on one twenty eight, and
there's also some service plazas, one in Beverly, one in Bridgewater,
one in Barnsable. And there was a big RFP request
for proposal for a long term contract, and it came down,
(00:51):
as I understand that the two companies one longtime Massachusetts
company that has been around here for almost one hundred years,
Global Partners, which is a fourth generation company here in Massachusetts,
and also a company called Apple Green Company that has
extensive presidence along the Eastern Seaboard. I will certainly acknowledge that,
(01:14):
but they also happen to be a company that was
founded in Ireland, and the company that won the contract
at least at this point is Applegreen with us now
is the president and CEO of the other side of
that equation, the company that did not win the contract,
the president and CEO of Global Partners, which is again
(01:38):
a Fortune five hundred company, Eric Slifkott, Eric, welcome back
to Night Side. How are you, sir?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Thank you, Dan, It's great to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, little some things have happened since we last talked.
I think we talked in late June. You were still
fighting to get information from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
in what you call a fight for government transparency. This
is a thirty five year long deal. So this is
(02:07):
a deal that will go I guess well past twenty sixty,
which is inconceivable for me to even think of twenty sixty.
And so there's a lot on the table. And your
argument is that your bid was actually more competitive and
(02:29):
more beneficial to the commonwealth than the company that actually
was awarded the contract. Now they see it quite differently, obviously,
But let's and we will talk with a representative of
that company on Friday night at nine o'clock just so
we balance things off, as we try to do here
fairly on Night Side. What happened if your bid was
(02:50):
that good and that beneficial to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Why do you think your company was not chosen? What's
going on?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, well, Dan, we're One of the reasons for the
lawsuit is a request for information, public information that the
Commonwealth is supposed to provide us on a timely basis,
and they have not done that. And one of the
keys here is because I think we're bringing pressure to
(03:25):
the mass Department of Transportation, they're trying to move up
the signing of the agreement, and it is rumored that
they're trying to do that in September when originally it
was November. But look, the bottom line here is we're
a local company. We have seventeen hundred employees in the state.
Eight hundred are in our offices here in the state.
(03:49):
We pay over one hundred and twenty million in annual taxes.
We literally have have donated tens of millions of charitable
dollars to the communities throughout Massachusetts that we serve. And
our offer is a billion five lock, stock and barrel guaranteed,
and Applegreen's offer is variable and it's worth as little
(04:13):
as six hundred and twenty three million dollars. So we
didn't know that at the start of this, but as
more information has come out that is clear that that
is the difference between our bid and their bid. And
obviously there's something going on here that goes above and
(04:35):
beyond common sense or a lack of common sense, and
so we're pressuring mass dot to make sure that they
give us all the information so that we can make
sure there's transparity, transparency and clarity around what is happening
and if there is, in fact, things that haven't been
(04:56):
been done correctly. So let me give you an examp.
When presenting to the mask Dot board, Scott Bosworth told
the directors the bids were very close. Does a billion
dollars sound close? Okay? We asked for a side by
side comparison of our offer versus Applegreens to see how
they were scored. They never publicly presented that. And you
(05:22):
know when Global called out the problems that, uh what
these problems? Apple Greens sent us a cease and desist letter,
a pr stunt and an effort to silence our call
for transparency. But the refracts remain. Are bid guaranteed one
point five billion, backed by an unconditional parent guarantee. And
the strength of a fortune five hundred company. Apple Green,
(05:45):
so called seven hundred and fifty million in capital spending
was padded with routine maintenance and future refreshers that mascots
should have never scored and there's a market meaning yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
My understanding is is that Apple Green would argue that
they are committing more money to renovating the stations than
the plazas, than Global Data, and also more money to
improve the rest stops. I assume that that you you
don't accept those numbers or or buy those numbers. We
do not.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
We do not accept those numbers. And let's let's go
right to KPMG, the accounting firm, the major accounting firm
that Apple Green, and that maths dot said, we want
you to comment certify this bid, okay, and tell us
what it says. Well, let me read to you kPa
MG's actual words. Quote. Apple Green's terms do not seem
(06:42):
to meet maths dot's stated goal of sustaining revenue. Global
terms seem to meet mass dot's stated goal of sustaining revenue. Right,
so math dot's own experts said Global met the state's goals,
but they ignored them.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
And can k MPG is one of the big four
accounting firms that used to be Big eight. Now we're
down in Big four, but it's a very respected firm.
So I know that you have tried to reach out
to the governor. I've seen the letters that you sent
to Governor Healy. She didn't make the decision. The decision
(07:20):
was made by the board. I guess that was appointed
by the by the Massachuset Department of Transportation. But ultimately
she's the governor of Massachusetts. My understanding is that you
have a pretty good relationship with her. Is what is
she telling you about this, because obviously she today I believe,
(07:41):
announced her support for some gas pipelines, which are kind
of a bit of a reversal of a previous position
that she took fairly strongly. Is she willing to to
look at the evidence that you like to present. Where
do you stand with her? I mean, she's there's no
(08:03):
one hire in Massachusetts than the governor.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
No question about it. And I mean the goal here
is for her to understand the difference in our bid
versus Applegreen's bid and to make the right decision for
the taxpayers of Massachusetts. Whether she knew that at the
beginning I don't know. She knows it now because we've
(08:26):
sent her all the information and so she knows the
billion dollars is there, she knows how we've scored, she
knows it all, and it is now on her shoulders
to do what's right for the state of Massachusetts and
the taxpayers. I think the thing that I find the
most frustrating here is we're a local company and that
(08:49):
that shouldn't be enough. Okay, but it is one piece.
But it's a billion dollars over thirty five years to
a company that is is partnered with Blackstone Right, a
private equity shop. They're they're never keeping the asset, right,
They're just passing through town and they're going to sell
(09:11):
it out and get out and move on. Maybe Apple
greeno buy it, Maybe somebody else will buy their end.
I don't know. But it's thirty five years of a commitment.
Isn't that a long time?
Speaker 2 (09:24):
A billion dollar difference? Just to do the math, that's
about thirty million a year if I'm trying to do
the math in my head here. But it's it's a
substantial amount of money, either cumulatively or on an annualized.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Basis, On an annualized on an annualized basis, Okay, their
number goes down by I think cuts it in half,
maybe even more in year one from where it is today,
and so that is a material decrease in rent.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
We get back, I got to take a break. Eric.
My guess is Eric's he is the third generation. It's
a family company. It's a fortune five hundred company, a
big company here in Massachusetts, a big company nationally, is
founded by his grandfather back in the early nineteen thirties.
If my recall from our previous conversation, when we get back,
(10:20):
I would I'd like to talk to you a little
bit about how much when it's all said and done,
I assume that whoever does it, it will be better
than it is today, meaning in terms of the the
plausas and the pike. What is it going to How
long will motorists in Massachusetts be inconvenience because obviously work
(10:44):
is not going to be able to be done overnight
literally or figuratively. This these plazas have to stay open.
I want to talk to you about what your plans
are as to how it will least impact you know, motorists,
not only from Massachusetts, motorists who would be using the
turnpike or the other roads one twenty eight in the
roads of these other plausas there are and all there's
(11:06):
eleven plazas in the pipe, but minustanding there are seventeen.
There are an additional six pauses for a total of
seventeen when you count into one twenty eight plausas as
well as the one in Bridgewater, Beverly. And there's one
other community that I yea in Bridgewater to in Bridgewater, right,
that's right too, so it's eighteen total highway. All right,
thank you, Eric. We will be back with Eric Slipka,
(11:28):
the president and CEO of Global Partners here at Massachusetts.
If you'd like to join the conversation, We've got a
couple of lines open at six, one, seven, nine, three, one,
ten thirty. I intend to get to them to callers
and we'll fill them up. I ask you to be polite,
respectful to any one of my guests, both tonight and
on Thursday and on Friday night. By the way, tomorrow
(11:49):
night we will have Josh kraft on during this hour
nine o'clock. He apparently has just shaken up his campaign
uh and has separated himself from two of the people
who were running his campaign for him. So kind of
a late to late time to change horses, but he
is changing a couple of horses tonight. We'll get to
all of this, I promise this week. It's going to
(12:10):
be a busy week on Nightside. Stay with us.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Well, I guess there's the president and CEO of Global Partners,
one of the two companies that is competing for this
thirty five year opportunity to sell gas and food to
motorists on the Massachusetts Turnpike and on some other major
highways here Massachusetts applazas service pauses. So, Eric, before we
(12:42):
went to the break, what would if you were to
get this contract, if somehow, some way they were to
decide to review the decision, whether it's prompted by the governor,
by Governor Healy or on their own, what's it going
to be like for Massachusetts Drive. We're a beleaguered lot,
(13:02):
as I'm sure you know, irrespective of who wins this contract,
with all the work that's going to be done out
on the the Pike and these these other plausas here
at Eastern Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Yeah, well, you know, it seems like Apple Green's plan
is to move to try and move fast. They have
said publicly that they can do it in two years.
You know, you're going to close down almost all of
the travel plauses and have them all redone at the
same time, you know, people will run out of fuel
on the turnpike. If that's the case, this needs to
(13:36):
be something that is thoughtfully scheduled and invested in to
make sure that the traveling public doesn't run out a
feel and has choices, right, And we have built plenty
of assets here in Massachusetts and developed lots of assets
over decades, and you know, two years to redo everything.
(13:59):
I mean, I got to be honest with you, that's
going to be tough, right. So it's and it's also
a terrible plan.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So how would you how would you folks handle approach
the same task?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
We would, yep, So we would work with mascot to
make sure that the facilities that we're redoing are scheduled
in the right places, on the right sides of the
travel ways of the through ways to make sure that
consumers can get fuel as they needed, and that it's
not too far apart each from rest stop to rest stop, right,
(14:32):
so that will be scheduled out and we would then
go after it and surgically attack each facility.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
This is a question out of the blue, but since
you are a petroleum company Global Partners, and you provide
you know, gasoline, you know, not only here but really
all over the country a huge company, have you anticipated
perhaps having portable vehicles that could be available in case
(15:03):
there are if you win this contract and if there
were people who were to run out of gas between
a couple of plausas, is there anything that is contemplated
in that regard.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Yeah, well, one of the things that we would do
is we would not have two plazas down in a row, right,
So that would open up the state. That would open
up the ability for people to plan. You'd have to
work with maass DOT and in the towns to make
sure that you can actually put up a sign to
let people know how far it is between stops if
(15:39):
people run out of gas. There is a process there
that exists, and obviously it depends on what time of
the day it is and how busy the roads are,
and in fact, does the Highway Department already have tow
trucks you know, waiting just to make sure traffic can
move along, right.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Fair, Okay, look, Eric, let's do this. I'm pretty much
you have full lines. I'm ready to go to phone calls,
but I'd rather take the news a minute or two
early here at the bottom of the hour, so we
can not cut anyone short. Why don't you take a
break for about three minutes and we'll come back right
after the news at the bottom of the hour. We're
(16:16):
all set. We're up to go to news here, I hope. Okay,
fair enough, Eric, we'll be back with you in about
three minutes. And by the way, coming up tonight at
ten o'clock, we're going to talk about what is harming
our kids' mental health. We have an extraordinary guest, former
New Hampshire Chief Justice of their Supreme Court, John Broderick,
who had a life changing experience. He'll talk about that,
(16:37):
but more importantly, he will talk about his message to
parents about why kids are struggling, and he believes that
there is a way to help kids basically deal with
the societal and cultural forces that impact the mental well
being of all of us, but particularly kids in their
preteen years and into their teen years. My name is
(16:59):
Dan Ray. This is Ninth Side. We're talking with Eric Spoke.
He's the CEO and president of Global Partners, and they
are asking the Governor of Massachusetts to take a second
look at an award that the Department of Transportation here
in Massachusetts gave for work on Massachusetts Plaza's service. Plaza's
(17:21):
on the Turnpike and also on some other major roadways
Route twenty four, Route one, twenty eight and other locations.
We'll be back right after this quick newscast at the
bottom of the hour.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Eric, if you're ready, let's go to the calls.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Let's go ahead, all right.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
My guest is Eric spe Spolflow. He is the president
and the CEO. Eric slipcom. I want to get that
pronunciation correctly. Sorry about that, Eric, my bad. Let me
go right word, go right to the phone calls, and
I'm gonna start off with Tony and Malden. Tony, you're
(18:06):
on Night Side with Eric Sliskog right ahead.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Yeah, thank you Dan and Eric.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
You know, somebody brought this to my attention, so I
started tracking it, and I know it's been a high
profile battle. So Eric, you know, what are you doing
to keep the team motivated? You know during those time.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So so thanks for your interest and thanks for calling in.
You know, look, what's kept us going is really simple.
It's our belief that the truth matters, and that the
people in Massachusetts, our neighbors, our guests, our team members,
deserve transparency and integrity and how public decisions are made.
We didn't just put forward a bid with stronger numbers.
(18:51):
We put forward a vision rooted in our values, investing
in local communities, creating real opportunity and building something last
for the commonwealth. And look, I'll be honest, We've looked
each other in the eye more than once and asked
do we keep going right? This is tough, and every
time the answer has been yes, because our team, they
(19:13):
show up, they're invested, they live here, they work here,
they've raised their families here. They've stood up with us,
they've spoken up. They're angry because they know Massachusetts deserves
better from its government. They can deliver. We've got to
ask our government to deliver. It's okay to be angry,
(19:33):
it's okay to be upset, But through it all, one
of the greatest pieces here is I've never seen our
team meld and bond like they have because everybody's affected here,
and so they're all putting every bit of what they
can into it to make sure that the decision is
transparent and make sure that it's best for the taxpayers
(19:56):
of Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And you're concerned that they're going to try to move
up the signature date on this contract to sometime this month.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
We've heard it from multiple sources. I mean, you know, Dan,
if I was on the other side, I'd be trying
to do the same thing.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Let me ask you this if that if that happens,
is that you know, game set match.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
No, it makes it more difficult, right because now the
state has higher risks and and so it's just one
level up. I think we can still look this is
this is a this is an issue for the state.
If this is just one example of how mass DOT
(20:37):
and and perhaps even the n b TA makes choices
for the taxpayers. This is one billion dollars on one contract.
This is not the biggest contract in the state. So
where else are they wasting billions? Billions that could go
to those actually really in need, Millions that could go
(21:01):
to better roads to better schools because they're leaving billions
on the table. This is just one example of a billion.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
All right, fair enough, Tony, appreciate you, Carl, thank you much,
good question. Appreciate it. Have a great night. Let me
go next to Mike in Charlestown. Mike, you were next
on nice side with Eric Slifka of Global.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Partners Him Dan, Hi, Eric, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
You're welcome.
Speaker 5 (21:24):
You guys have talked about this All Tound Fresh store before,
and you know, I've never been to one. What's the
difference between a seven eleven or whatever Apple Green is
planning on putting in.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yeah, well I can tell you. You know, All Town
Fresh is a it's really a true marketplace. It's actually
been a labor of love for me personally over the
last decade, from designing and executing it. All Town Frush
really is our flagship. It is a differentiator in the market.
You know, we don't think that travelers should have to
(21:58):
sacrifice quality for convenience, and we founded that brand with
a tagline a better kind of different It's chef driven
concept where guests can see their food prepared in open
kitchens using organic, locally sourced ingredients, cage free eggs, New
Hampshire bake and fresh seasonal produce. You know, it's a
(22:19):
far far cry from sort of what typically would it
be expected. We have over sixteen location across four states,
with more on the way. Another half a dozen are
being built. And this is a concept where we think
restaurant meets our marketplace, right, So it's not just about
providing fuel electricity for cars, but it's about fueling people
(22:43):
and local communities. You know, our guests come in everything
for bean to cup coffee to fresh smoothies, made to order, meals,
healthier grab and go options, you know, and we have
a no fly list, no artificial additives or dies, something
that is really important to me. And hospitality is the
(23:05):
key here and we deliver it in spades all towns.
Fresh is redefining really what convenience is. But it's also look,
we we've got throughout the store, better for you and
healthier for you items, right, So, Eric.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Eric, I just want to I just want to jump
in your You're you're making me hungry. But you've got
sixty locations. Are there any in Massachusetts that people can
relate to? Are they in Massachusetts at this point?
Speaker 3 (23:35):
They are, they are, they are. We you know, we
have a total of seven here in math today. We've
got another half a dozen that we're building out now.
We continue to invest in it. I mean the sites are.
You can go on our website to go see the locations.
I'll call out, uh, some of the very early ones Plymouth, Massachusetts,
(23:55):
right off the highways, as well as our facility in
ear mass Those were two of the very early ones. Okay,
And I can tell you go into our facilities, the
hospitality is second to none, the food is second to none.
It's made all fresh on site, and it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
All right, I'm looking forward to trying it out. Hey, Mike,
appreciate you. Carl, thank you. Let me go next to
Rose and Bill Ricca. Rose, you were next on nightside
with Eric Slifka, president CEO of Global Partners.
Speaker 6 (24:28):
Go ahead, Rose, Yes, Hi, Hi, thank you for taking
my call. Dan, I appreciate it, Thank you, mister Sliska.
But if Global offered nearly nine hundred million dollars more
in guaranteed rent than Apple Green, I mean that's a
huge staggering difference on the table. But the Inspector General
(24:51):
last week, because I've been following all this in the Globe.
The Inspector General found no wrongdoing in the selection press.
How do you explain losing despite offering more money? What's
happening here?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Yeah, so so Moros, thank you for your question. I
mean the inspected jail's letters being spun as if it's
as if it's cleared the process. You know it, you
know it didn't. In fact, letter explicitly say it contains
quote contains no findings related to mas doots, procurement evaluation
(25:32):
or operators selection processes. In other words, the very question
at the heart of this controversy, why the conflicts of
interest were annoyed were ignored, why taxpayer protections like the
parent guarantee were removed, and why nearly a billion and
guaranteed revenue were dismissed was actually never answered. So how
(25:53):
did we lose? Because the process was designed to minimize
guaranteed revenue and maximize subjective scoring categories where bias could
come into play, three committee members tanked our revenue scores.
I mean, this is unbelievable. Tanked our revenue scores despite
the fact that you know that guaranteed rent right had
(26:17):
nothing to do with what they were saying, right, this
is I can I can only tell you the board
for Massport was told that the bids were very close.
That's false. They were never shown a side by side
comparison of the nearly nine hundred million gap. But those
three committee members tanked our revenue scores to fight the
(26:37):
fact that the guaranteed rent has nothing to do with
the projections. It's incredible, right and by the way, think
of it this way. KPMG said so in their own report,
and the three people on the board Scott Bosworth, Hayes
Morrison and Jim Smith both scored US lower then Apple
(27:00):
gree in total rent. How can that be? So the
bottom line in my opinion, look, the fix is in.
Taxpayers didn't get the best deal. As a matter of fact,
you know, you know the taxpayer should be really angry
and and and and need to do something about this. Right,
they got a deal.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Eric, that's really strong language. And let me ask you this,
and this is a serious question, have you or anyone
on your behalf approached the US Attorney's office. I mean
when you say the fix is in, that's you're talking
what what boat is on or perhaps is potential criminality.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Yeah, we have. Look, I don't I don't know that
there's criminality. I mean, the reality is, you know, people
at Mascot have to clear themselves, right, and if there's
if there's any issue there where there's a conflict of interest,
(28:00):
the rules are very very very clear around those conflicts
of interests. They're so clear that to me, I would
I would I would rather report than not report. We
don't believe that board members reported their potential conflicts of interests, right.
Scott Bosworth in particular, had conflicts of interest that he
(28:24):
did not report ahead of ahead of the FID And
that's a problem. Now, Look, it's not it's not. All
I can do is is I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
I'm sure that he if he was presented with that,
he's going to deny it.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
So look, I have no doubt. But all I can
tell you, right, all I can tell you is with
some of the information that we got, it appears that way,
some of the emails that we have seen.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I just want to I just want to make sure.
I just want to make sure from a legal point
of view, I'm a lawyer that language, you know, words
matter and language matters, and I just want to make
sure that, uh, that that nobody puts themselves in a
position where they can be the subject of defamation or
slander actions. And that's why I said that if there
(29:10):
was concerns about criminality or you know, a conflict of
interest is potential criminality. That's why I asked the question
about the US Attorney's office. I'm not trying to push
you in that direction. As a matter of fact, I
want to make sure that your words are are measured
because they're going out over my radio station.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Okay, And and and for sure, I mean it would
be great if if the AG picked it up and
did a real investigation.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Well, I would think that the US Attorney's office would
be a better venue if if you will look at well,
I'm just saying that, you know, the Attorney General's office
in Massachusetts is not necessarily going well. I just again,
I know again, your lawyers are smarter than me. I'm
(29:59):
sure that they probably have thought of things as well. Rose.
I appreciate your call. Thank you very much. Again, I
want to ask questions, but I don't want to put
you in a situation that you would you know that
you'd regrets, and so I'm trying to be somewhat protective
of reputations of everybody involved here, because they may be
at the core here. Simply a you know, an umpire
(30:22):
in a baseball game calls a strike when the when
the ball is six inches off the plate. Everybody knows
on replay he missed the call, but he's probably not
going to reverse himself on a ball or strike. They
do reverse themselves on others. Anyway, we've got to take
a break. We got some pack lines and I'm going
to get to everybody. My guess is Eric Slifka. He
is the president CEO of Global Partners. He feels that
(30:44):
his company did not get was not treated fairly in
this very significant request for proposal that people have, you know,
the Commonwealth has. This is a thirty five year, billion,
multi billion dollar contract, so there's a lot at stake,
(31:04):
and that's why we're looking at it as seriously as
we are and appreciate Eric coming on tonight battling for
his company and his employees. Will be right back on
night Side right after this break.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBZ Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
We're talking with Eric Slifke. He's the president's CEO of
Global Partners and we're gonna we have full lines. Eric,
we try to get to as many folks as we
can list up. Next, George's in Westwood, Hey, Dan, Hey, Dan,
can I interrupt you just for one second?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
I just want to clear something up. Okay. So we
have found evidence of impropriety, and the Ethics Commission is investigating. Okay,
and uh and we outline those concerns in a letter
last week to Monica Tivet's not but look, we certainly
(31:54):
appreciate your recommendation to go to the US Attorney General.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Attorney. I don't want to mix up the Massachuset Attorney
General US attorneyment yep.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
And and so I appreciate that. Uh uh that idea.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Okay, let's keep rolling. You're going to go to George
in Westwood, Georgia next on Nightside with Eric slithg George.
Speaker 7 (32:17):
All right, Dan, Eric, Dan, you beat me to the
punch on the first recommendation. Definitely the US Attorney They
don't want to be transparent. He will force them to
be transparent.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Attorney office to be a woman.
Speaker 7 (32:32):
Now, so she's correct, correct.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Aggressive and uh, well you know I just think that,
uh you when you basically US Attorney's office is probably
a much more independent agency than the Attorney General's office.
No disrespect to the Attorney General, but the Attorney General's
office is is a is a Massachusetts constitutional officer, just
(32:59):
like governor. Go ahead, George.
Speaker 7 (33:01):
That's so. That's that's the thing, because from what I understand,
we talked about nine hundred billion dollars that I'm not
going into the state coffers, and the big losers are
the taxpayers who fund the state coffers. The second recommendation
is we're going to sidey just coming up, go to
state Superior Court file for an injunction to stop those
(33:22):
signatures until the US Attorney makes their findings.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Simple, fair enough, all right, George, appreciate you, Carl, thank you,
Thank you, georget Me keep rolling here, Eric, nothing to
say there. Terry is in Melrose. Terry next on. Nice
that with Eric Slif Go go right ahead, Terry.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Yes, thank you for having me on. So for the
past four years or so, I've been driving my son
back and forth to college in upstate New York, and
I've gone on ninety and then in ninety in New
York and seen the Apple Green service stations, and I
have to say They're very beautiful. They were. I actually
watched some of the state the rest stops get transformed
(33:59):
by Apple Green, and then you come back to Massachusetts.
I could see why they wanted this product here and
and I'm finding a lot of conspiracy theories going on here,
which just don't I just think it was a clear choice,
a business choice as to what they could deliver.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Okay, how do you address the billion dollar difference that
Eric has talked about?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Terry, Well, I see it as it is something I'm
not I see it as something that that Applegreen put forward.
This had had a proof of concept which I literally
saw driving for four years. No.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
I understand that you've made that point, which is fine.
I just want to know, as a taxpayer in Massachusetts,
does the if if Eric's numbers are correct and there's
a billion dollar difference, as a taxpayer, is that a
factor in your mind or No?
Speaker 3 (34:49):
I think I haven't been convinced of this because I
just keep seeing this in the news. I don't understand
why it keeps coming up, and I just hear a lot.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Because it because Eric is claiming a billion dollar difference
and a local company.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
That I have not been convinced about it.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Well, I hope you'll listen. Then on on Friday night,
we'll talk with a representative of Apple Green as well.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Okay, thank you, Terry, appreciate you call. Let me keep
rolling here, going to go to Cindy and mauled and
Cindy you were next time Night Side with Eric splif SLIFK.
Speaker 8 (35:17):
Go right ahead, You've got it, And then thank you
for the opportunity to ask this questions.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Sure.
Speaker 8 (35:24):
Uh, you know, my husband and I just love road
tripping overall, you know, and the classes are always a
place where we get.
Speaker 9 (35:31):
Gas and food and our experience uh has not always
been amazing. And I was just wondering, like, do you
guys have the experience to reveal and operate plat us
at the like of these scales, because what I'm seeing,
like in my past trips is something like different and
the food is not good. Uh, you know, the bathrooms
sometimes are very dirty and.
Speaker 8 (35:52):
Like old, outdated. So I just wanted to ask that
question if you guys have such an experience and how so.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Yeah, So we're currently selling gasoline and operating convenience markets
between Massachusetts and the state of Connecticut. That being said,
McDonald's is the primary lesser of the site and we
are a sub tenant of them, if that makes sense.
(36:22):
And our job there is to sell the fuel supply
gasoline and diesel, as well as run a convenience market.
But we are on highway locations at around forty locations
throughout the Northeast today. We also have travel sites that
exist off highway as well that are owned by us
(36:45):
or least by us, that we own and operate. And
so in terms of our ability to develop, I can
tell you we've developed more stores over the decades that
we've been in business, and we've developed more sites the
fuel motoring public. But most importantly, we know how to
do hospitality and we had lined up an incredible group
(37:10):
to come through those sites. So it was not your
traditional fast food companies because we have a bent to
make sure that we're delivering healthier options. We know people
like to eat what they want to eat, so we
want to provide that as well, but we want to
also make sure that they're healthier options for those that want.
And when I look around, and when I look around
(37:32):
in the business, you know we're one of the very
few on road companies that are offering that type of hospitality,
and for me, it was about I wanted to differentiate
our offerings to the public versus everybody else. And we've
done that, and we've done it in scale right. We
(37:53):
operate and supply over seventeen hundred stations throughout the country
and we have approximately fifty four termols to supply those
as well, and so we lean into renewable fuels. We've
been one of the leaders in renewable liquid fuels, and
we've been one of the leaders and chosen companies in
(38:16):
terms of electric vehicle charging as well. So these Erica
we consider our leaders.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
In Eric Slifka, Unfortunately, we are just flat out of time.
I want to thank Cindy for her question, but Eric,
I'm flat up against the newscast. Please keep us posted.
We will be talking with the other point of view
on Friday night at nine o'clock and let's see how
how this all rings out. I wish you the best
(38:42):
of love, Thank you, Eric, appreciation.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Can I do one quick call to action? Go to
www dot globalp dot com backslash Turnpike, click on the
red banner and please please let your elected officials know
that this is a problem. Please everybody be involved make
a difference. This is our opportunity to shine and most importantly,
(39:05):
it's our opportunity to have the governor of this state
do the right thing for all the people and taxpayers
who have worked so hard to be here and have
worked so hard to produce to the state. Thank you
all right, Eric.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
Thank you very much. When we get back, we're going
to talk with the former Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the State of New Hampshire about mental health
needs of young children and children teenagers as well. It's
going to be a fascinating hour. Stay with us.
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WVZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Very much, Dan Walkins, we have been following a big
story here in Massachusetts. They come out of Massachusetts, which
of course is in charge of the Massachusetts Turnpike. There
are eleven service plazas on the Turnpike. But in addition
to that, the Commonwealth has some service plazas elsewhere. I'm
(00:27):
sure some of you know the service plaza in Lexington,
the service plaza in Newton on one twenty eight, and
there's also some service plazas, one in Beverly, one in Bridgewater,
one in Barnsable. And there was a big RFP request
for proposal for a long term contract, and it came down,
(00:51):
as I understand that the two companies one longtime Massachusetts
company that has been around here for almost one hundred years,
Global Partners, which is a fourth generation company here in Massachusetts,
and also a company called Apple Green Company that has
extensive presidence along the Eastern Seaboard. I will certainly acknowledge that,
(01:14):
but they also happen to be a company that was
founded in Ireland, and the company that won the contract
at least at this point is Applegreen with us now
is the president and CEO of the other side of
that equation, the company that did not win the contract,
the president and CEO of Global Partners, which is again
(01:38):
a Fortune five hundred company, Eric Slifkott, Eric, welcome back
to Night Side. How are you, sir?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Thank you, Dan, It's great to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, little some things have happened since we last talked.
I think we talked in late June. You were still
fighting to get information from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
in what you call a fight for government transparency. This
is a thirty five year long deal. So this is
(02:07):
a deal that will go I guess well past twenty sixty,
which is inconceivable for me to even think of twenty sixty.
And so there's a lot on the table. And your
argument is that your bid was actually more competitive and
(02:29):
more beneficial to the commonwealth than the company that actually
was awarded the contract. Now they see it quite differently, obviously,
But let's and we will talk with a representative of
that company on Friday night at nine o'clock just so
we balance things off, as we try to do here
fairly on Night Side. What happened if your bid was
(02:50):
that good and that beneficial to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Why do you think your company was not chosen? What's
going on?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, well, Dan, we're One of the reasons for the
lawsuit is a request for information, public information that the
Commonwealth is supposed to provide us on a timely basis,
and they have not done that. And one of the
keys here is because I think we're bringing pressure to
(03:25):
the mass Department of Transportation, they're trying to move up
the signing of the agreement, and it is rumored that
they're trying to do that in September when originally it
was November. But look, the bottom line here is we're
a local company. We have seventeen hundred employees in the state.
Eight hundred are in our offices here in the state.
(03:49):
We pay over one hundred and twenty million in annual taxes.
We literally have have donated tens of millions of charitable
dollars to the communities throughout Massachusetts that we serve. And
our offer is a billion five lock, stock and barrel guaranteed,
and Applegreen's offer is variable and it's worth as little
(04:13):
as six hundred and twenty three million dollars. So we
didn't know that at the start of this, but as
more information has come out that is clear that that
is the difference between our bid and their bid. And
obviously there's something going on here that goes above and
(04:35):
beyond common sense or a lack of common sense, and
so we're pressuring mass dot to make sure that they
give us all the information so that we can make
sure there's transparity, transparency and clarity around what is happening
and if there is, in fact, things that haven't been
(04:56):
been done correctly. So let me give you an examp.
When presenting to the mask Dot board, Scott Bosworth told
the directors the bids were very close. Does a billion
dollars sound close? Okay? We asked for a side by
side comparison of our offer versus Applegreens to see how
they were scored. They never publicly presented that. And you
(05:22):
know when Global called out the problems that, uh what
these problems? Apple Greens sent us a cease and desist letter,
a pr stunt and an effort to silence our call
for transparency. But the refracts remain. Are bid guaranteed one
point five billion, backed by an unconditional parent guarantee. And
the strength of a fortune five hundred company. Apple Green,
(05:45):
so called seven hundred and fifty million in capital spending
was padded with routine maintenance and future refreshers that mascots
should have never scored and there's a market meaning yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
My understanding is is that Apple Green would argue that
they are committing more money to renovating the stations than
the plazas, than Global Data, and also more money to
improve the rest stops. I assume that that you you
don't accept those numbers or or buy those numbers. We
do not.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
We do not accept those numbers. And let's let's go
right to KPMG, the accounting firm, the major accounting firm
that Apple Green, and that maths dot said, we want
you to comment certify this bid, okay, and tell us
what it says. Well, let me read to you kPa
MG's actual words. Quote. Apple Green's terms do not seem
(06:42):
to meet maths dot's stated goal of sustaining revenue. Global
terms seem to meet mass dot's stated goal of sustaining revenue. Right,
so math dot's own experts said Global met the state's goals,
but they ignored them.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
And can k MPG is one of the big four
accounting firms that used to be Big eight. Now we're
down in Big four, but it's a very respected firm.
So I know that you have tried to reach out
to the governor. I've seen the letters that you sent
to Governor Healy. She didn't make the decision. The decision
(07:20):
was made by the board. I guess that was appointed
by the by the Massachuset Department of Transportation. But ultimately
she's the governor of Massachusetts. My understanding is that you
have a pretty good relationship with her. Is what is
she telling you about this, because obviously she today I believe,
(07:41):
announced her support for some gas pipelines, which are kind
of a bit of a reversal of a previous position
that she took fairly strongly. Is she willing to to
look at the evidence that you like to present. Where
do you stand with her? I mean, she's there's no
(08:03):
one hire in Massachusetts than the governor.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
No question about it. And I mean the goal here
is for her to understand the difference in our bid
versus Applegreen's bid and to make the right decision for
the taxpayers of Massachusetts. Whether she knew that at the
beginning I don't know. She knows it now because we've
(08:26):
sent her all the information and so she knows the
billion dollars is there, she knows how we've scored, she
knows it all, and it is now on her shoulders
to do what's right for the state of Massachusetts and
the taxpayers. I think the thing that I find the
most frustrating here is we're a local company and that
(08:49):
that shouldn't be enough. Okay, but it is one piece.
But it's a billion dollars over thirty five years to
a company that is is partnered with Blackstone Right, a
private equity shop. They're they're never keeping the asset, right,
They're just passing through town and they're going to sell
(09:11):
it out and get out and move on. Maybe Apple
greeno buy it, Maybe somebody else will buy their end.
I don't know. But it's thirty five years of a commitment.
Isn't that a long time?
Speaker 2 (09:24):
A billion dollar difference? Just to do the math, that's
about thirty million a year if I'm trying to do
the math in my head here. But it's it's a
substantial amount of money, either cumulatively or on an annualized.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Basis, On an annualized on an annualized basis, Okay, their
number goes down by I think cuts it in half,
maybe even more in year one from where it is today,
and so that is a material decrease in rent.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
We get back, I got to take a break. Eric.
My guess is Eric's he is the third generation. It's
a family company. It's a fortune five hundred company, a
big company here in Massachusetts, a big company nationally, is
founded by his grandfather back in the early nineteen thirties.
If my recall from our previous conversation, when we get back,
(10:20):
I would I'd like to talk to you a little
bit about how much when it's all said and done,
I assume that whoever does it, it will be better
than it is today, meaning in terms of the the
plausas and the pike. What is it going to How
long will motorists in Massachusetts be inconvenience because obviously work
(10:44):
is not going to be able to be done overnight
literally or figuratively. This these plazas have to stay open.
I want to talk to you about what your plans
are as to how it will least impact you know, motorists,
not only from Massachusetts, motorists who would be using the
turnpike or the other roads one twenty eight in the
roads of these other plausas there are and all there's
(11:06):
eleven plazas in the pipe, but minustanding there are seventeen.
There are an additional six pauses for a total of
seventeen when you count into one twenty eight plausas as
well as the one in Bridgewater, Beverly. And there's one
other community that I yea in Bridgewater to in Bridgewater, right,
that's right too, so it's eighteen total highway. All right,
thank you, Eric. We will be back with Eric Slipka,
(11:28):
the president and CEO of Global Partners here at Massachusetts.
If you'd like to join the conversation, We've got a
couple of lines open at six, one, seven, nine, three, one,
ten thirty. I intend to get to them to callers
and we'll fill them up. I ask you to be polite,
respectful to any one of my guests, both tonight and
on Thursday and on Friday night. By the way, tomorrow
(11:49):
night we will have Josh kraft on during this hour
nine o'clock. He apparently has just shaken up his campaign
uh and has separated himself from two of the people
who were running his campaign for him. So kind of
a late to late time to change horses, but he
is changing a couple of horses tonight. We'll get to
all of this, I promise this week. It's going to
(12:10):
be a busy week on Nightside. Stay with us.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Well, I guess there's the president and CEO of Global Partners,
one of the two companies that is competing for this
thirty five year opportunity to sell gas and food to
motorists on the Massachusetts Turnpike and on some other major
highways here Massachusetts applazas service pauses. So, Eric, before we
(12:42):
went to the break, what would if you were to
get this contract, if somehow, some way they were to
decide to review the decision, whether it's prompted by the governor,
by Governor Healy or on their own, what's it going
to be like for Massachusetts Drive. We're a beleaguered lot,
(13:02):
as I'm sure you know, irrespective of who wins this contract,
with all the work that's going to be done out
on the the Pike and these these other plausas here
at Eastern Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Yeah, well, you know, it seems like Apple Green's plan
is to move to try and move fast. They have
said publicly that they can do it in two years.
You know, you're going to close down almost all of
the travel plauses and have them all redone at the
same time, you know, people will run out of fuel
on the turnpike. If that's the case, this needs to
(13:36):
be something that is thoughtfully scheduled and invested in to
make sure that the traveling public doesn't run out a
feel and has choices, right, And we have built plenty
of assets here in Massachusetts and developed lots of assets
over decades, and you know, two years to redo everything.
(13:59):
I mean, I got to be honest with you, that's
going to be tough, right. So it's and it's also
a terrible plan.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So how would you how would you folks handle approach
the same task?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
We would, yep, So we would work with mascot to
make sure that the facilities that we're redoing are scheduled
in the right places, on the right sides of the
travel ways of the through ways to make sure that
consumers can get fuel as they needed, and that it's
not too far apart each from rest stop to rest stop, right,
(14:32):
so that will be scheduled out and we would then
go after it and surgically attack each facility.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
This is a question out of the blue, but since
you are a petroleum company Global Partners, and you provide
you know, gasoline, you know, not only here but really
all over the country a huge company, have you anticipated
perhaps having portable vehicles that could be available in case
(15:03):
there are if you win this contract and if there
were people who were to run out of gas between
a couple of plausas, is there anything that is contemplated
in that regard.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Yeah, well, one of the things that we would do
is we would not have two plazas down in a row, right,
So that would open up the state. That would open
up the ability for people to plan. You'd have to
work with maass DOT and in the towns to make
sure that you can actually put up a sign to
let people know how far it is between stops if
(15:39):
people run out of gas. There is a process there
that exists, and obviously it depends on what time of
the day it is and how busy the roads are,
and in fact, does the Highway Department already have tow
trucks you know, waiting just to make sure traffic can
move along, right.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Fair, Okay, look, Eric, let's do this. I'm pretty much
you have full lines. I'm ready to go to phone calls,
but I'd rather take the news a minute or two
early here at the bottom of the hour, so we
can not cut anyone short. Why don't you take a
break for about three minutes and we'll come back right
after the news at the bottom of the hour. We're
(16:16):
all set. We're up to go to news here, I hope. Okay,
fair enough, Eric, we'll be back with you in about
three minutes. And by the way, coming up tonight at
ten o'clock, we're going to talk about what is harming
our kids' mental health. We have an extraordinary guest, former
New Hampshire Chief Justice of their Supreme Court, John Broderick,
who had a life changing experience. He'll talk about that,
(16:37):
but more importantly, he will talk about his message to
parents about why kids are struggling, and he believes that
there is a way to help kids basically deal with
the societal and cultural forces that impact the mental well
being of all of us, but particularly kids in their
preteen years and into their teen years. My name is
(16:59):
Dan Ray. This is Ninth Side. We're talking with Eric Spoke.
He's the CEO and president of Global Partners, and they
are asking the Governor of Massachusetts to take a second
look at an award that the Department of Transportation here
in Massachusetts gave for work on Massachusetts Plaza's service. Plaza's
(17:21):
on the Turnpike and also on some other major roadways
Route twenty four, Route one, twenty eight and other locations.
We'll be back right after this quick newscast at the
bottom of the hour.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Eric, if you're ready, let's go to the calls.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Let's go ahead, all right.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
My guest is Eric spe Spolflow. He is the president
and the CEO. Eric slipcom. I want to get that
pronunciation correctly. Sorry about that, Eric, my bad. Let me
go right word, go right to the phone calls, and
I'm gonna start off with Tony and Malden. Tony, you're
(18:06):
on Night Side with Eric Sliskog right ahead.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Yeah, thank you Dan and Eric.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
You know, somebody brought this to my attention, so I
started tracking it, and I know it's been a high
profile battle. So Eric, you know, what are you doing
to keep the team motivated? You know during those time.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So so thanks for your interest and thanks for calling in.
You know, look, what's kept us going is really simple.
It's our belief that the truth matters, and that the
people in Massachusetts, our neighbors, our guests, our team members,
deserve transparency and integrity and how public decisions are made.
We didn't just put forward a bid with stronger numbers.
(18:51):
We put forward a vision rooted in our values, investing
in local communities, creating real opportunity and building something last
for the commonwealth. And look, I'll be honest, We've looked
each other in the eye more than once and asked
do we keep going right? This is tough, and every
time the answer has been yes, because our team, they
(19:13):
show up, they're invested, they live here, they work here,
they've raised their families here. They've stood up with us,
they've spoken up. They're angry because they know Massachusetts deserves
better from its government. They can deliver. We've got to
ask our government to deliver. It's okay to be angry,
(19:33):
it's okay to be upset, But through it all, one
of the greatest pieces here is I've never seen our
team meld and bond like they have because everybody's affected here,
and so they're all putting every bit of what they
can into it to make sure that the decision is
transparent and make sure that it's best for the taxpayers
(19:56):
of Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And you're concerned that they're going to try to move
up the signature date on this contract to sometime this month.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
We've heard it from multiple sources. I mean, you know, Dan,
if I was on the other side, I'd be trying
to do the same thing.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Let me ask you this if that if that happens,
is that you know, game set match.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
No, it makes it more difficult, right because now the
state has higher risks and and so it's just one
level up. I think we can still look this is
this is a this is an issue for the state.
If this is just one example of how mass DOT
(20:37):
and and perhaps even the n b TA makes choices
for the taxpayers. This is one billion dollars on one contract.
This is not the biggest contract in the state. So
where else are they wasting billions? Billions that could go
to those actually really in need, Millions that could go
(21:01):
to better roads to better schools because they're leaving billions
on the table. This is just one example of a billion.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
All right, fair enough, Tony, appreciate you, Carl, thank you much,
good question. Appreciate it. Have a great night. Let me
go next to Mike in Charlestown. Mike, you were next
on nice side with Eric Slifka of Global.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Partners Him Dan, Hi, Eric, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
You're welcome.
Speaker 5 (21:24):
You guys have talked about this All Tound Fresh store before,
and you know, I've never been to one. What's the
difference between a seven eleven or whatever Apple Green is
planning on putting in.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yeah, well I can tell you. You know, All Town
Fresh is a it's really a true marketplace. It's actually
been a labor of love for me personally over the
last decade, from designing and executing it. All Town Frush
really is our flagship. It is a differentiator in the market.
You know, we don't think that travelers should have to
(21:58):
sacrifice quality for convenience, and we founded that brand with
a tagline a better kind of different It's chef driven
concept where guests can see their food prepared in open
kitchens using organic, locally sourced ingredients, cage free eggs, New
Hampshire bake and fresh seasonal produce. You know, it's a
(22:19):
far far cry from sort of what typically would it
be expected. We have over sixteen location across four states,
with more on the way. Another half a dozen are
being built. And this is a concept where we think
restaurant meets our marketplace, right, So it's not just about
providing fuel electricity for cars, but it's about fueling people
(22:43):
and local communities. You know, our guests come in everything
for bean to cup coffee to fresh smoothies, made to order, meals,
healthier grab and go options, you know, and we have
a no fly list, no artificial additives or dies, something
that is really important to me. And hospitality is the
(23:05):
key here and we deliver it in spades all towns.
Fresh is redefining really what convenience is. But it's also look,
we we've got throughout the store, better for you and
healthier for you items, right, So, Eric.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Eric, I just want to I just want to jump
in your You're you're making me hungry. But you've got
sixty locations. Are there any in Massachusetts that people can
relate to? Are they in Massachusetts at this point?
Speaker 3 (23:35):
They are, they are, they are. We you know, we
have a total of seven here in math today. We've
got another half a dozen that we're building out now.
We continue to invest in it. I mean the sites are.
You can go on our website to go see the locations.
I'll call out, uh, some of the very early ones Plymouth, Massachusetts,
(23:55):
right off the highways, as well as our facility in
ear mass Those were two of the very early ones. Okay,
And I can tell you go into our facilities, the
hospitality is second to none, the food is second to none.
It's made all fresh on site, and it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
All right, I'm looking forward to trying it out. Hey, Mike,
appreciate you. Carl, thank you. Let me go next to
Rose and Bill Ricca. Rose, you were next on nightside
with Eric Slifka, president CEO of Global Partners.
Speaker 6 (24:28):
Go ahead, Rose, Yes, Hi, Hi, thank you for taking
my call. Dan, I appreciate it, Thank you, mister Sliska.
But if Global offered nearly nine hundred million dollars more
in guaranteed rent than Apple Green, I mean that's a
huge staggering difference on the table. But the Inspector General
(24:51):
last week, because I've been following all this in the Globe.
The Inspector General found no wrongdoing in the selection press.
How do you explain losing despite offering more money? What's
happening here?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Yeah, so so Moros, thank you for your question. I
mean the inspected jail's letters being spun as if it's
as if it's cleared the process. You know it, you
know it didn't. In fact, letter explicitly say it contains
quote contains no findings related to mas doots, procurement evaluation
(25:32):
or operators selection processes. In other words, the very question
at the heart of this controversy, why the conflicts of
interest were annoyed were ignored, why taxpayer protections like the
parent guarantee were removed, and why nearly a billion and
guaranteed revenue were dismissed was actually never answered. So how
(25:53):
did we lose? Because the process was designed to minimize
guaranteed revenue and maximize subjective scoring categories where bias could
come into play, three committee members tanked our revenue scores.
I mean, this is unbelievable. Tanked our revenue scores despite
the fact that you know that guaranteed rent right had
(26:17):
nothing to do with what they were saying, right, this
is I can I can only tell you the board
for Massport was told that the bids were very close.
That's false. They were never shown a side by side
comparison of the nearly nine hundred million gap. But those
three committee members tanked our revenue scores to fight the
(26:37):
fact that the guaranteed rent has nothing to do with
the projections. It's incredible, right and by the way, think
of it this way. KPMG said so in their own report,
and the three people on the board Scott Bosworth, Hayes
Morrison and Jim Smith both scored US lower then Apple
(27:00):
gree in total rent. How can that be? So the
bottom line in my opinion, look, the fix is in.
Taxpayers didn't get the best deal. As a matter of fact,
you know, you know the taxpayer should be really angry
and and and and need to do something about this. Right,
they got a deal.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Eric, that's really strong language. And let me ask you this,
and this is a serious question, have you or anyone
on your behalf approached the US Attorney's office. I mean
when you say the fix is in, that's you're talking
what what boat is on or perhaps is potential criminality.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Yeah, we have. Look, I don't I don't know that
there's criminality. I mean, the reality is, you know, people
at Mascot have to clear themselves, right, and if there's
if there's any issue there where there's a conflict of interest,
(28:00):
the rules are very very very clear around those conflicts
of interests. They're so clear that to me, I would
I would I would rather report than not report. We
don't believe that board members reported their potential conflicts of interests, right.
Scott Bosworth in particular, had conflicts of interest that he
(28:24):
did not report ahead of ahead of the FID And
that's a problem. Now, Look, it's not it's not. All
I can do is is I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
I'm sure that he if he was presented with that,
he's going to deny it.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
So look, I have no doubt. But all I can
tell you, right, all I can tell you is with
some of the information that we got, it appears that way,
some of the emails that we have seen.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I just want to I just want to make sure.
I just want to make sure from a legal point
of view, I'm a lawyer that language, you know, words
matter and language matters, and I just want to make
sure that, uh, that that nobody puts themselves in a
position where they can be the subject of defamation or
slander actions. And that's why I said that if there
(29:10):
was concerns about criminality or you know, a conflict of
interest is potential criminality. That's why I asked the question
about the US Attorney's office. I'm not trying to push
you in that direction. As a matter of fact, I
want to make sure that your words are are measured
because they're going out over my radio station.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Okay, And and and for sure, I mean it would
be great if if the AG picked it up and
did a real investigation.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Well, I would think that the US Attorney's office would
be a better venue if if you will look at well,
I'm just saying that, you know, the Attorney General's office
in Massachusetts is not necessarily going well. I just again,
I know again, your lawyers are smarter than me. I'm
(29:59):
sure that they probably have thought of things as well. Rose.
I appreciate your call. Thank you very much. Again, I
want to ask questions, but I don't want to put
you in a situation that you would you know that
you'd regrets, and so I'm trying to be somewhat protective
of reputations of everybody involved here, because they may be
at the core here. Simply a you know, an umpire
(30:22):
in a baseball game calls a strike when the when
the ball is six inches off the plate. Everybody knows
on replay he missed the call, but he's probably not
going to reverse himself on a ball or strike. They
do reverse themselves on others. Anyway, we've got to take
a break. We got some pack lines and I'm going
to get to everybody. My guess is Eric Slifka. He
is the president CEO of Global Partners. He feels that
(30:44):
his company did not get was not treated fairly in
this very significant request for proposal that people have, you know,
the Commonwealth has. This is a thirty five year, billion,
multi billion dollar contract, so there's a lot at stake,
(31:04):
and that's why we're looking at it as seriously as
we are and appreciate Eric coming on tonight battling for
his company and his employees. Will be right back on
night Side right after this break.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBZ Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
We're talking with Eric Slifke. He's the president's CEO of
Global Partners and we're gonna we have full lines. Eric,
we try to get to as many folks as we
can list up. Next, George's in Westwood, Hey, Dan, Hey, Dan,
can I interrupt you just for one second?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
I just want to clear something up. Okay. So we
have found evidence of impropriety, and the Ethics Commission is investigating. Okay,
and uh and we outline those concerns in a letter
last week to Monica Tivet's not but look, we certainly
(31:54):
appreciate your recommendation to go to the US Attorney General.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Attorney. I don't want to mix up the Massachuset Attorney
General US attorneyment yep.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
And and so I appreciate that. Uh uh that idea.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Okay, let's keep rolling. You're going to go to George
in Westwood, Georgia next on Nightside with Eric slithg George.
Speaker 7 (32:17):
All right, Dan, Eric, Dan, you beat me to the
punch on the first recommendation. Definitely the US Attorney They
don't want to be transparent. He will force them to
be transparent.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Attorney office to be a woman.
Speaker 7 (32:32):
Now, so she's correct, correct.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Aggressive and uh, well you know I just think that,
uh you when you basically US Attorney's office is probably
a much more independent agency than the Attorney General's office.
No disrespect to the Attorney General, but the Attorney General's
office is is a is a Massachusetts constitutional officer, just
(32:59):
like governor. Go ahead, George.
Speaker 7 (33:01):
That's so. That's that's the thing, because from what I understand,
we talked about nine hundred billion dollars that I'm not
going into the state coffers, and the big losers are
the taxpayers who fund the state coffers. The second recommendation
is we're going to sidey just coming up, go to
state Superior Court file for an injunction to stop those
(33:22):
signatures until the US Attorney makes their findings.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Simple, fair enough, all right, George, appreciate you, Carl, thank you,
Thank you, georget Me keep rolling here, Eric, nothing to
say there. Terry is in Melrose. Terry next on. Nice
that with Eric Slif Go go right ahead, Terry.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Yes, thank you for having me on. So for the
past four years or so, I've been driving my son
back and forth to college in upstate New York, and
I've gone on ninety and then in ninety in New
York and seen the Apple Green service stations, and I
have to say They're very beautiful. They were. I actually
watched some of the state the rest stops get transformed
(33:59):
by Apple Green, and then you come back to Massachusetts.
I could see why they wanted this product here and
and I'm finding a lot of conspiracy theories going on here,
which just don't I just think it was a clear choice,
a business choice as to what they could deliver.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Okay, how do you address the billion dollar difference that
Eric has talked about?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Terry, Well, I see it as it is something I'm
not I see it as something that that Applegreen put forward.
This had had a proof of concept which I literally
saw driving for four years. No.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
I understand that you've made that point, which is fine.
I just want to know, as a taxpayer in Massachusetts,
does the if if Eric's numbers are correct and there's
a billion dollar difference, as a taxpayer, is that a
factor in your mind or No?
Speaker 3 (34:49):
I think I haven't been convinced of this because I
just keep seeing this in the news. I don't understand
why it keeps coming up, and I just hear a lot.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Because it because Eric is claiming a billion dollar difference
and a local company.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
That I have not been convinced about it.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Well, I hope you'll listen. Then on on Friday night,
we'll talk with a representative of Apple Green as well.
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Okay, thank you, Terry, appreciate you call. Let me keep
rolling here, going to go to Cindy and mauled and
Cindy you were next time Night Side with Eric splif SLIFK.
Speaker 8 (35:17):
Go right ahead, You've got it, And then thank you
for the opportunity to ask this questions.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Sure.
Speaker 8 (35:24):
Uh, you know, my husband and I just love road
tripping overall, you know, and the classes are always a
place where we get.
Speaker 9 (35:31):
Gas and food and our experience uh has not always
been amazing. And I was just wondering, like, do you
guys have the experience to reveal and operate plat us
at the like of these scales, because what I'm seeing,
like in my past trips is something like different and
the food is not good. Uh, you know, the bathrooms
sometimes are very dirty and.
Speaker 8 (35:52):
Like old, outdated. So I just wanted to ask that
question if you guys have such an experience and how so.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Yeah, So we're currently selling gasoline and operating convenience markets
between Massachusetts and the state of Connecticut. That being said,
McDonald's is the primary lesser of the site and we
are a sub tenant of them, if that makes sense.
(36:22):
And our job there is to sell the fuel supply
gasoline and diesel, as well as run a convenience market.
But we are on highway locations at around forty locations
throughout the Northeast today. We also have travel sites that
exist off highway as well that are owned by us
(36:45):
or least by us, that we own and operate. And
so in terms of our ability to develop, I can
tell you we've developed more stores over the decades that
we've been in business, and we've developed more sites the
fuel motoring public. But most importantly, we know how to
do hospitality and we had lined up an incredible group
(37:10):
to come through those sites. So it was not your
traditional fast food companies because we have a bent to
make sure that we're delivering healthier options. We know people
like to eat what they want to eat, so we
want to provide that as well, but we want to
also make sure that they're healthier options for those that want.
And when I look around, and when I look around
(37:32):
in the business, you know we're one of the very
few on road companies that are offering that type of hospitality,
and for me, it was about I wanted to differentiate
our offerings to the public versus everybody else. And we've
done that, and we've done it in scale right. We
(37:53):
operate and supply over seventeen hundred stations throughout the country
and we have approximately fifty four termols to supply those
as well, and so we lean into renewable fuels. We've
been one of the leaders in renewable liquid fuels, and
we've been one of the leaders and chosen companies in
(38:16):
terms of electric vehicle charging as well. So these Erica
we consider our leaders.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
In Eric Slifka, Unfortunately, we are just flat out of time.
I want to thank Cindy for her question, but Eric,
I'm flat up against the newscast. Please keep us posted.
We will be talking with the other point of view
on Friday night at nine o'clock and let's see how
how this all rings out. I wish you the best
(38:42):
of love, Thank you, Eric, appreciation.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Can I do one quick call to action? Go to
www dot globalp dot com backslash Turnpike, click on the
red banner and please please let your elected officials know
that this is a problem. Please everybody be involved make
a difference. This is our opportunity to shine and most importantly,
(39:05):
it's our opportunity to have the governor of this state
do the right thing for all the people and taxpayers
who have worked so hard to be here and have
worked so hard to produce to the state. Thank you
all right, Eric.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
Thank you very much. When we get back, we're going
to talk with the former Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the State of New Hampshire about mental health
needs of young children and children teenagers as well. It's
going to be a fascinating hour. Stay with us.
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