July 22, 2025 • 38 mins
According to residents in South Boston, rats are running rampant in their neighborhood! Residents describe seeing rats more regularly out and about during the daytime, not just at night. Earlier this year, Tufts University did a study that found a deadly type of bacteria called leptospirosis persistent among Boston’s rat population. With that additional health concern, some Boston City Councilors are pushing for an office specifically focused on pest control and appointing a "Rat Czar" to tackle this problem. Are you seeing an increase in rats in your neighborhood? Boston City Counselor Ed Flynn checked in.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray, Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, welcome back everybody. We are changing topics here
and we're going to talk with Boston City council Ed
Flynn about a subject that I think is a serious subject,
and I think he thinks it's a serious subject. Rats
in Boston. Council of Flynn. Welcome back to.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Nightside and Dan, it's good to be with you and
the listeners as well. Thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So what is going on? I know that you had
a tour of South Boston a day or so ago.
Who was involved in that tour where there are other
city officials?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Dan, I have asked city officials to join me through
many neighborhoods in my district, including the South End in Chinatown,
South Boston. But we go on some tours and we
look at the destruction that rats are having in Boston
in particular neighborhoods, but also trying to work with residents,
(01:07):
businesses to address the uh this really it's really a
public health and public safety crisis. But having having rats
in your neighborhood, having rats in your home is common
throughout many neighborhoods of Boston and we need to do
a better job to address it, and I've come out
with a plan to do that. But we have to
(01:30):
put the effort into dealing with this pandemic, dealing with
this critical issue facing the city.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Okay, so just a couple of foundational questions here. Is
this a problem that has always been part of Boston
or has it been exacerbated in recent years? And if so,
what's what's causing that exacerbation.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, Dan, it's a great question. It's been here. The
problem has been with us for forever, really, but it
has been exasperated by the crisis at Mass and Casts
where the drug epidemic is taking place, and it has
spread throughout many neighborhoods in and around the Mass and
(02:13):
Casts neighborhood in South Boston, in the South End, in Dorchester,
and in in Roxbury especially as well. But the but
the the drug crisis has enabled and contributed to the
significant increase we have seen with rats throughout throughout many
(02:36):
neighborhoods of the city, and residents are fed up and
they they are looking for City of Boston to solve
this problem. And we we have to do a better
job in working with the residents to eliminate rats. I had.
I had one mother actually telling me that there was
(02:58):
a rat in her daughter's crib. And if that's not
a crisis, I don't know what is. But it's it's
it's a public safety crisis, it's a public health crisis,
and it's a significant quality of life issue.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that
it is. I believe for what I've read. I could
be wrong that rats were the cause of the bibonic
plague in the Middle Ages.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
That that is, that is actually true, and they have
been here ever since. And we we need to deal
with this as a critical and important issue and really
not just deal with it as any other issue facing
the city. If you can't solve this issue, if rats
(03:51):
are running through your house, you know, the next question
is how long can a family put up with that?
And there's only so long that al we can put
up with that before they before they leave the city.
But in the South End, in South Boston and other
neighborhoods in Austin and Brighton, it's it's having a devastating
(04:12):
impact on the quality of life of residents.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
What is amazing to me, And again I read the
articles in the newspapers the last couple of days. And
I think the theory that people have and if I'm
wrong here, please tell me. But the theory that people have,
as I understand it, is that people who are in
(04:35):
such a state of emotional, psychological and physical disrepair, who
are drug addicted at mass and Casts, that they don't
clean up after themselves. They allow food to fall on
the ground, and it becomes a feeding ground for rats.
(04:59):
And then once they proliferate themselves. Uh, then they go
ahead and uh uh and and there are there are
more more rats and and they then have to move
away and they have to find other other areas in
which to live. Is that pretty much the breeding cycle
(05:22):
that we're talking about.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yes, that's that's accurate, Dan. And when when there are
a lot of homeless people in the in this food,
you know, it's not discarded properly. But also we've had
people coming from mass and Cast going into particular neighborhoods
and just destroying the trash when it's put out the
(05:47):
night before or the day the day of, and just
destroying the trash going through it. And that's that just
encourages encourages a feeding frenzy really for for rats and
sitting efficant issues.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
So why are they are the attics foraging for whatever
they can find or are they just doing it maliciously.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
I think it's a combination of combination of both, and
they're just looking for whatever they can find. But also
we have seen many cases where they just do to
mental health issues that they're just rummaging through barrels in
garbage bags just to destroy what's that whatever is in there,
(06:30):
and it's leaving everything out in the open. So you
have trash throughout the sidewalks and on the streets, and
you know that can't be tolerated in a city like Boston.
And you know, we we have seen a significant increase
in the number of calls into the city on rats
(06:53):
and people's homes in throughout their yards and neighborhoods as well.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Okay, I got to take a break. My guess is
Boston City councilor Ed Flynn. I know that you have called,
and it's been just a couple of other of the
councilors who have called for like some sort of rats
are in Boston. I want to talk to you about that,
and I also want to invite college to call in.
Do you think this is an important issue in Boston
or is it not? I it seems to me this
(07:20):
is a top issue in Boston. You know, maybe you
can talk about the plight of Boston public schools, you
can talk about the inconvenience of bike lanes. Those are
important issues, no doubt. But when you live in a
community where rats are prevalent, I don't see how disease
(07:41):
will not, by necessity follow, and I think that the
value of those properties are going to diminish. I want
to hear from you, whatever your community in and if
if you think that rats is not a problem in Boston,
feel free six one, seven, two, five, four, ten, thirty six,
seven nine three one ten thirty With a Boston City
(08:02):
council here, who is sounding the alarm? I like to say,
a modern day Paul Revere. And I think it's true
the rats are here. The British might have been coming,
but the rats are here, and they are proliferating, and
the population is growing and the population is spreading. Feel
free to chime in, love to hear from every neighborhood
(08:22):
in Boston. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. Coming right
back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
With me as Boston City council Ed Flynn. We're talking
about rats in Boston, Rats in many communities in Boston,
many neighborhoods in Boston, Ed. You're one of well, at
this point twelve members of the city Council. How much
concern is there amongst your colleagues? First of all, are there?
(08:55):
I know you feel strongly about this issue for your
neighborhood there, very very committed. Is this at the same
level of concern with any other councilors besides you? And
if not, why not?
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, Dan, it's a good question. I know Councilor Aaron
Murphy has done a lot of work as well on
this issue, and actually Councilor Brayden out of Allston and
Brighton has done some work on this issue, as has
had a few other councilors. But what we have done
(09:32):
is the ability to establish a standalone city department, which
I have called for on pest control operations. Right now,
we don't really have it structured in such a way
where it's coordinated to deliver the best results or residents.
(09:55):
I have asked for a complete overhaul of the way
we deal with pest control, and that's one way we
can we can effectively work on this issue. But also
there's a science to taking garbage out and separating food
from traditional trash, and the time we put our trash
(10:16):
out in the evening. I think we have to readdress that.
But there's a lot of steps we can take, including
public service announcements, public service announcements. But but you are right, Dan,
I don't think it's a top priority for city councilors
per se. I don't think they necessarily like working on
(10:38):
these unglamorous issues, and they would rather deal with national
politics than deal with uh pest control or or or
sidewalks and safe community, safe streets. So it's it.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Doesn't Rather than deal with something that they actually kep
anat on which affects the quality of life of their constituents,
it's much easier to go out and go to some
sort of a rally that is not going to have
much of an impact on anything into virtue signal. What
about the mayor, she's the mayor of the City of Boston.
(11:16):
Is this something that she does not? Mayor Michelle Woo
does not understand as a quality of life issue.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I don't know. I made some recommendations on how the
city can can make major changes in the way we
deal with pest control. Some of those changes that I
recommended were implemented, but the main change I recommended on
a standalone city department was denied. But I'm continuing to
(11:46):
advocate for it. But I do have to educate the
public and my fellow city council is about how important
this is. And I feel if I have the ground
swallow of support for from residents and they believe that
this is a top issue, maybe we'll make some progress.
And also, Dan, this is an election year and whether
(12:09):
or not residents want the city councilors to focus on
nuts and bolts of city government, neighborhood services, quality life issues,
or do they want them to focus on national issues
and international issues. I think the residents want us to
deal with these neighborhood services issues.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yeah, well, in fact, they had no impact on national
international issues. You know how the war is conducted between
Putin and Zolensky and what level of involvement in the
United States has the Boston City Council has no practical
impact on an issue like that. You know, how what
(12:49):
our relationship is with NATO, that's not determined by the
Boston City Council. These people, if they want to run
for those issues, run for Congress, run for the US
Senate federal office, and and have and have an impact.
But to to allow their constituents to have a child
with a rat in a crib, this this is to
(13:12):
me is absolutely mind.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Bulking right, I agreed, Indian. It's it's it's mostly it's
mostly about the national politics as it relates to Donald Trump.
I think that's where they really want to focus their
attention and time and energy on dealing with federal those
(13:35):
types of federal issues, and not again, not dealing with
these nuts and bolts neighborhood issues. And you know, there's
nothing glamorous or sexy about being a city councilor, but
it's it's the job of being a city councilor to
respond to constituents on neighborhood services. And uh, these city
councilors just don't enjoy that type of that type of
(13:58):
the job.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Well, again, they should run for Congress. I mean, if
if you're concerned, and many people rightfully are concerned, about
cuts that the Trump administration has directed towards universities and
hospital research and and and all of that. You can
do a press release on it, but I mean, you
have a vote in the city council, or you have
(14:19):
a debate in the city council, you're just wasting time.
Go run for Congress, Go run for the US Senate
if you don't feel that the or move to another
state and get elected from another state. I mean, if
you if you feel that that we're represented by nine
perfect members of the House and two wonderful members of
the Senate, and you wouldn't want to run against any
(14:39):
of those people that are all Democrats, move to New Hampshire.
Try to you know, try to have a stake in
New Hampshire because they are ignoring. It's it's like having
a car and and making sure that you have you know,
all the detailing done on the car and uh, and
you make sure that it has a new paint.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
But if you get to put oil in the car,
you forget to buy new tires.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I mean, right, I agree, Dan, It's it's the details
that matter, and the details matter to to the residents
because it's about their quality of life. It's about the
safety and security in their public health and we need
to work together make major changes. But this must be
a priority at the city Council, at the Mayor's office,
(15:31):
and I don't see that level of commitment right now.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yeah. And by the way, we've had a string of
really good mayors. Uh, you know, going back to you
can go back to John Hines, Kevin White. Certainly your dad,
Mayor Menino, Marni Waalsh all were very concerned. They paid
attention to the little stuff and you know your father
would always show up it at fires and support people.
(15:57):
That was something that I know he was very concerned about.
I don't know from what that concern sprang, but you know,
Kevin White was very concerned with the downtown area and
then his neighborhood city halls. He took care of both
the city Hall and downtown. Your dad was a great
mayor for the time of the ten years, the nearly
(16:19):
ten years that he was here. Mayor Menino picked it up.
He was the urban mechanic. He made sure things worked.
So all of these Marty Walsh knew every neighborhood in Boston.
He knew what the problems of every neighborhood in Bostles.
We've been very lucky, and now it seems to me
that since Marty Walshs left, things have kind of fallen
(16:39):
apart in terms of these quality of life issues. Focus
has been on more bike lanes. Well, you can focus
on bike lanes, but you've got to worry about rats.
I mean, would it be let me just ask you
one final question. Then I want to go to phone
calls after the break, and I'm hoping some people will
realize that the work that you're doing is not glamorous,
but it's so critical. It is just so critical. Do
(17:02):
you feel that the city needs to bring in some
expert from out of out of state, out of the
city who perhaps has dealt with another coastal American city.
Is there any city you could point to that you
know that dissimilar to Boston, like a Philadelphia or a
balls of Boston, South Carolina City, Florida city where they're there,
(17:23):
it is coastal and you're going to have rats.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Yeah, Yeah, it's a great question.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Dan.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
During this conversation several years ago, I I called up
and met with the UH, the New York City Pest
Controls UH, and that that was a person appointed by
Maya Maya Adams, I believe, and she was the first
person to UH take that position. So I learned a
(17:50):
lot from from the New York City what they were doing.
I think they're doing excellent work in this field. But
I do think streamlining how we conduct and provide services,
coordinate services. And we have the inspectional services, but we
also have the Parks Department and water and sore they
(18:13):
are also they're also involved in uh pest control operations.
But we really need, we really need to have one
person that focuses on this that's a standalone department that
has the necessary resources that can coordinate services across city
departments and throughout the neighborhoods, but also have a direct
(18:36):
direct line to the Mayor's office or to the mayor
Mayor's chief of staff. And that's what I'm proposing, and
I think it can work, but we we have to
put the effort in time to make it happen. I
have a plan and I'm going to I'm going to
ask my colleagues at some point to vote on this
and to you know, put the people first. Put the
(18:57):
people first, because residents deserve public health, public safety, and
quality of life.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Well, I hope that I hope that enough people in
Boston understand what you're saying, and I hope that they
support you in your efforts, and they encourage other councilors
to support you in your efforts. I want to hear
from Boston residents, want to hear from people outside in Boston.
I kind of imagine that if rats were as common
(19:26):
in places like again Wellesley West and Whyland and Winchester,
those cities wouldn't those communities wouldn't put up with it.
Why it is even tolerated in Boston boggles my mind.
And again it's a lack of leadership. You've provided leadership
on the issue, but you can't carry the ball alone.
You need some others to support you on this, and
(19:47):
you need a majority of the council. And I guess
you must need a veto proof a council vote, just
in case the mayor chooses not to support it. I
got some open lines. If you live in Boston and
you don't think this affects you, trust me it will
six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six one
seven nine three one ten thirty Back with phone calls
(20:08):
from Boston Mayor Ed Flynn talking about rats in Boston
in the name and the need, the critical need to
address this problem which is close to being out of
control at a number of different levels. As the Council
has laid out tonight in clear, clear English, it is
(20:28):
so important. Feel free to join this conversation. It led
to your voice if you if you're happy with rats
in Boston, and you're happy with them in your neighborhood
and in your community, then you shouldn't call. But if
you're not, we need your voice. Coming back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
It's night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
All right, let's get right to the phone. It's going
to go to Patrick and Charlestown. Patrick, you're next night
Side with Boston City Council and flame grownhead. Patrick.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
How are you doing guys?
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Uh? Hey, Patrick, listen.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
One thing, how you doing?
Speaker 5 (21:09):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (21:09):
One thing I wanted to ask is, as you were
mentioned in the rats and the role that massive cast
has played in them sort of proliferating and uh, you
know the lack of attention of uh of the ruling elite.
Uh to see who seem don't seem to care about this?
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (21:28):
The one thing I wanted to ask is, uh, you
know why and why is the bridge to Long Island
not being worked on? Why isn't it open? What is
being done about? Done about it? Isn't that part of
the solution here?
Speaker 7 (21:46):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (21:46):
These people who are massive cast you. We can't blame them.
They're sick as could be. They have no control of
it over this at this point. But this bridge, this
bridge has been down for a long time. And we
have a secretary now in Secretary Kennedy who's from Massachusetts,
who declared a national opioid crisis in March. Can you
(22:07):
get him to Boston? Can we take the money that's
intended for the Newton train station fifty million dollars and
reallocate it to building the Long Island Bridge, which which
I see is one hundred million dollar estimates?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Mind is standing Patrick. I don't want to interrupt you here,
but my understanding is that the mayor of Quinsy is
very much opposed to this construction. Well, again, easy for
you to say, but he does have some influence in this. Edward,
let's if you could respond to what Patrick is Askimo.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, thank you, Patrick. The city of Quinsy blocked Boston's
efforts to build the bridge, and it was in court,
and actually it's still in court for a number of years.
And the longer it's in court and the longer it
doesn't take place, the more unlikely. It means that maybe
(23:06):
there won't be a bridge that will be built, and
maybe Long Island, Long Island will never open. I know
the buildings that are currently over there and in Long
Island are in very bad condition. I think they probably
have to be torn down at this point in rebuilt.
Not only the bridge rebuilt, but I think the buildings
(23:30):
online Long Island really needs to be rebuilt. Not sure
exactly how much money this is going to cost, but
it's significant. And you know, I honestly think now that
the bridge will not be built.
Speaker 6 (23:49):
I'm just I'm just flabbergasted. I'm just flabbergasted. But I
just can't believe that. How long? How long is the
litigation going to take on this? So what has taken
so long? I don't understand it.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
I think Boston needs a recovery center such as Long Island,
not at that location any longer, but somewhere where we're
able to concentrate recovery services in a particular area. I
think that's critical. I don't think we can wait any longer.
I think we need to have such a facility built,
(24:24):
identifying a site, working with residents. But I don't think
we went wait no longer for long island to open.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Well, it's been down since twenty fourteen, right, so that's
a lot of dead bodies. So when there's a will,
there's a way, why not get why not get I'm sorry,
why not get Secretary Kennedy into the Boston City Council
ask him to declare a state of emergency.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I think he's got that's a great thought, Patrick, But
I think that Robert F. Kennedy Junior has some bigger
fish to fry right now. To be really honest with you,
but that's you know, that's a thought. You should drop
him a letter and maybe he'll Uh. It'd be the
guy you could introduce him, just uh as a thought.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Don't you ask Dan?
Speaker 2 (25:08):
We've asked him on the show before, Patrick, and uh,
we haven't had the luck that we would want uh
in that situation, that's for sure. So again easier said
than done. But as they say, if you said him
a letter with it with you know, a guy out
a childs town. You might make that connection.
Speaker 6 (25:25):
Thanks, Patrick, appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
You very much. OK, let's keep rolling here, going to
go next up to uh I think we'll go to
Chris and Peabody. Chris, appreciate you calling in. You're on
next with Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, who is desperate,
desperately trying to represent his constituents and get rats somehow
under control in Boston. I'll tell you we're going to
(25:49):
reach a tipping point and it's it's going to be horrible.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Go ahead, Chris, Yes, good evening. Nice to talk with
both you and I think you're spot on it, and
there's a much bigger following, but they're just not voicing
it because it common sense. So to me, what baffles
me is we have a situation where common sense tells.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
Anyone in the political realm of or whatever in your counsel, look,
if it was my kid with the red the on
it in five seconds laft, so why should someone else's
kid be less worthy of the same attention?
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Thank you, Chris. I agree with you. In residents like you,
whether they're in Boston or outside of Boston, your opinion
is important. What happens in Boston impacts the greater Boston
impacts the commonwealth, obviously, but this is a public health
crisis in my opinion. It's certainly a quality of life
(26:55):
issue and public safety issue. We have rats in Boston
literally going into people's under underneath the hood of their
cause and chewing on the breaks for particular reasons and
almost cutting through the brake lines on some of these automobiles.
That is a public safety issue we also have. We
(27:18):
also know that rats now are carrying certain diseases and
and if they are, and if someone's ever bitten by
a rat, it's it's a public health It's a public
health crisis as far as I'm concerned, and we need
to address it as a public health crisis, and we're
not doing that. But I do think it has to
(27:40):
be everybody working together, not just Boston, but cities and
towns across Massachusetts because they're also dealing with similar problems
as well.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Yeah, this is paramount. I don't understand how Americans and
not give this the first priority attention.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah, how Chris, you want to know how you have
people in the city who were very strongly organized for
bike lanes and that was there and if ed disagrees
with me. He's a good enough friend where he's welcome
and disagree with me. They were organized. They went to
Mayor Wu when she was running for election and said,
(28:23):
we will support you, but we want a commitment of
bike lanes across the city. Good to her word, she
followed through on those campaign promises, and you have bike
lanes across the city. I don't know Ed that there's
been any other similar group of constituents who have gone
to the mayor in the same amount and with the
(28:43):
same passion as the bike lane activists and said, Mayor,
the number of rats in this city are as important,
if not more important, than bike lanes. And if I'm
wrong there, Ed, please correct me.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Yeah, Dan, I think you're correct. I don't. I think
the people have gone to the city administration and advocated
and told how important bike lanes are to the city
and too greater Boston, and you know those changes that
they recommended were implemented. I don't think regular residents are
(29:23):
mobilized on this particular issue like pest controls and rats
and people's houses. But if they were, they were mobilized
and they voted that way. Like other lobby lobby groups do,
and you vote on neighborhood services, you vote on quality
of life issues. Maybe they would have an impact politically,
(29:44):
but I think it does take residents to stand up
and advocate for what they believe in, and residents want
us to deal with, especially the city council with neighborhood services,
quality of life issues. And for some reason, city councilors
don't like working on those types of issues. Maybe they're
(30:05):
too hard, maybe they're too difficult. You can never solve
the problem, but you can, you can make significant progress.
But it's easier Dan just to give a speech about
national politics and then and then go home and you
don't have to worry about coordinating with the water and soil,
with the Parks Department, with public words and inspectional services
(30:28):
in residence. That takes hard work in organization, and that's
what that's what residents want us to do. But I
don't think residents are mobilized like other specific lobby related issues.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Out the residents have to first of all, get out
and vote. I know that in places like West Roxbury,
where residents used to vote in mass in the last
few elections they have not shown up and they're going
to get the government that they deserve. They got the
government there, now, go ahead, Chris.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
Thank you, apologize. I did not mean to interrupt. That's
what I'm getting at is we shouldn't have to be
a voice to the people that have been elected by
the people in that position. How can they not see it.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
That's not the way, Chris, Chris Christ, I'm gonna be
honest with you. I'm telling you the hard, cold truth.
People who are being elected now, with the exception of
people like Ed Flynn and Aaron Murphy who are in
touch with their neighborhoods, many of them are newcomers to Boston.
Many of them are not in touch with other neighborhoods.
They are only going to care about the issues that
(31:36):
they think will get them elected. Okay, they're not going
to say, look this, i may lose the election, but
I'm going to do what's right for the city. You
don't have that type of politician in Boston right now,
in my humble opinion, and I've covered Boston politics for
fifty years, and it's not We do have one in
(31:57):
Ed Flinn, but he's right now. One in twelve that's
eight percent of the council. And and you know, it is.
It is up to the voters to turn the city
back around, and it is not. Look, they elected Tanya
Fernandez Anderson, she got indicted. They elected West Roxbury, helped
(32:19):
elect Kendra Laura, the the crash Lara, who, as she
was called, crash Kendra. You know it's if you don't vote,
you get what you're going to have to get. It's
as simple as that. If you if you go to
a restaurant and you don't order what you want and
they just give you a meal, whether you want it
(32:39):
or not, you're gonna get sour Carleton Liver. All right, Chris,
you got to talk to your friends in Boston. Thanks Chris,
that's very much, all right, good night. We got Laura
in Boston coming up. I'm looking to hear from her.
We got Ron and we got John and we continue
with that. Flynn, I'm telling you it doesn't help me
(33:01):
to say this. It hurts me to say this, but
you know, where are the Ray Flynn's. We have an
Ed Flynn. Where are the Marty Walshes? Where where are
the Tom Minino's in Boston right now? I don't know
that that they have found replacements for Marty Walsh for
Tom Menino. Tom Minino represents I see it so clearly,
(33:24):
and it's it's I'm quite I'm quite sorry when I
say that, but you were one. You and Aaron are
probably the only two people that I can think of.
Frank Baker is trying to make a comeback, and he's
somebody who I think would be an ally in Boston.
(33:44):
People got to pay attention, you know, they got to
pay attention. We got to take a break. We'll be
right back.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Radio, and I don't know where the I was gone,
but we had really tied on time. Let's try to
get at least a couple in here. Let me go
to Laura in Dorchester. Laura, appreciate your patience. Next on
Nightside with Ed Flynn. Go right ahead, Laura.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Well, first of all, Flynn, thank you so much. It's
a definitely serious problem. We do need an overseer of
our departments. Maybe the Department of Public Health should be
involved much more so. I'm staying in the neighborhood I
(34:26):
grew up in, which is filled with the low income
rental's majority immigrants. English as a second language. Nobody calls
anybody but me. I'm the big rat in the name
La Lauria.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Do you have a question for ed Flin, No.
Speaker 5 (34:46):
I don't. I want to tell them what's going on
ahead and that I'll get to the point is that
I solved my problem in my decker next to a
train station and a strict all and a bunch of
little restaurant shops, mostly by just putting a bleach solution.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
In my barrels.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
And I have to confess I put cleanser around my house.
But you shouldn't do that, especially for cats and things.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
But it works.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
So what I wanted to say was that you know,
to get these people like I know they have a
big rental inspection department for the city of Boston, but
maybe the governor needs to send down some money like
(35:41):
he just didn't fall she just didn't fall river to
expand these services. So it's simple the one.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Dream on If you think the Governor's going to send
you down some money for Boston law, I mean that's
a pipe dream. Well, okay, I got to keep rolling here.
Thank you for the of the suggestions. I got to
get a call.
Speaker 5 (36:01):
I want to tell you. I want to tell you
that the forty unit that slow income. When I took
the pictures of the overflowing garbage, she told me she
didn't have the money for the second dump stuff.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Who Who's she?
Speaker 5 (36:16):
The woman who manages the forty unit low income told
me she doesn't have the money.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Interesting stories, Laura, thank you for your call. I'm going
to keep rolling. Let me go to Ron. Ron. You
got to be quick for me. I got you in here.
Speaker 7 (36:31):
Go ahead, okay, Dan, thank you very much, and thank
you Ed. I was a big fan of your dad's
and very appreciative that you follow the steps. I had
two experiences. One was you can't always determine what time
you're going to need to go to the emergency room.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
We have less than a minute, Ron, I got to
give you a warning leave less than a minute.
Speaker 7 (36:54):
So basically I saw a big one as I was
being discharged. And also had the same experience with my
own car and the power uh steering chewing through.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
In your car was adding Boston or in Newton, that
was new, but the charge from the hospital was in Boston. Wow. Wow,
They're everywhere.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
And yeah, we're hearing a lot of those types of
issues across Boston, across Greater Boston as well. Run So
I thank you for calling and your comments were spot on.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Ron, I appreciate it. I wish it could have given
you more time, but I'm flying.
Speaker 7 (37:37):
That's okay.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Thank you, Thank you callers in the line. Wish you
called earlier, simple as that, Ed Flynn keep on keeping
on okay, and and got to wake people up.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Dan, thank you for giving me the opportunity you want
to say. Thank you to you listeners as well.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
You were more than welcome and say how do you
want and dad for me?
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Okay, thank you Dan. Good to be with you.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Great to be with you. We're gonna get back and
we're gonna talk. I'm not sure we're going to talk
about I might go open, but I have another thought.
So please stay with us, okay, that's all I ask.
Stay with us. Back on night side right after this
It's Nightside with Dan Ray, Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, welcome back everybody. We are changing topics here
and we're going to talk with Boston City council Ed
Flynn about a subject that I think is a serious subject,
and I think he thinks it's a serious subject. Rats
in Boston. Council of Flynn. Welcome back to.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Nightside and Dan, it's good to be with you and
the listeners as well. Thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So what is going on? I know that you had
a tour of South Boston a day or so ago.
Who was involved in that tour where there are other
city officials?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Dan, I have asked city officials to join me through
many neighborhoods in my district, including the South End in Chinatown,
South Boston. But we go on some tours and we
look at the destruction that rats are having in Boston
in particular neighborhoods, but also trying to work with residents,
(01:07):
businesses to address the uh this really it's really a
public health and public safety crisis. But having having rats
in your neighborhood, having rats in your home is common
throughout many neighborhoods of Boston and we need to do
a better job to address it, and I've come out
with a plan to do that. But we have to
(01:30):
put the effort into dealing with this pandemic, dealing with
this critical issue facing the city.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Okay, so just a couple of foundational questions here. Is
this a problem that has always been part of Boston
or has it been exacerbated in recent years? And if so,
what's what's causing that exacerbation.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, Dan, it's a great question. It's been here. The
problem has been with us for forever, really, but it
has been exasperated by the crisis at Mass and Casts
where the drug epidemic is taking place, and it has
spread throughout many neighborhoods in and around the Mass and
(02:13):
Casts neighborhood in South Boston, in the South End, in Dorchester,
and in in Roxbury especially as well. But the but
the the drug crisis has enabled and contributed to the
significant increase we have seen with rats throughout throughout many
(02:36):
neighborhoods of the city, and residents are fed up and
they they are looking for City of Boston to solve
this problem. And we we have to do a better
job in working with the residents to eliminate rats. I had.
I had one mother actually telling me that there was
(02:58):
a rat in her daughter's crib. And if that's not
a crisis, I don't know what is. But it's it's
it's a public safety crisis, it's a public health crisis,
and it's a significant quality of life issue.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that
it is. I believe for what I've read. I could
be wrong that rats were the cause of the bibonic
plague in the Middle Ages.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
That that is, that is actually true, and they have
been here ever since. And we we need to deal
with this as a critical and important issue and really
not just deal with it as any other issue facing
the city. If you can't solve this issue, if rats
(03:51):
are running through your house, you know, the next question
is how long can a family put up with that?
And there's only so long that al we can put
up with that before they before they leave the city.
But in the South End, in South Boston and other
neighborhoods in Austin and Brighton, it's it's having a devastating
(04:12):
impact on the quality of life of residents.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
What is amazing to me, And again I read the
articles in the newspapers the last couple of days. And
I think the theory that people have and if I'm
wrong here, please tell me. But the theory that people have,
as I understand it, is that people who are in
(04:35):
such a state of emotional, psychological and physical disrepair, who
are drug addicted at mass and Casts, that they don't
clean up after themselves. They allow food to fall on
the ground, and it becomes a feeding ground for rats.
(04:59):
And then once they proliferate themselves. Uh, then they go
ahead and uh uh and and there are there are
more more rats and and they then have to move
away and they have to find other other areas in
which to live. Is that pretty much the breeding cycle
(05:22):
that we're talking about.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yes, that's that's accurate, Dan. And when when there are
a lot of homeless people in the in this food,
you know, it's not discarded properly. But also we've had
people coming from mass and Cast going into particular neighborhoods
and just destroying the trash when it's put out the
(05:47):
night before or the day the day of, and just
destroying the trash going through it. And that's that just
encourages encourages a feeding frenzy really for for rats and
sitting efficant issues.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
So why are they are the attics foraging for whatever
they can find or are they just doing it maliciously.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
I think it's a combination of combination of both, and
they're just looking for whatever they can find. But also
we have seen many cases where they just do to
mental health issues that they're just rummaging through barrels in
garbage bags just to destroy what's that whatever is in there,
(06:30):
and it's leaving everything out in the open. So you
have trash throughout the sidewalks and on the streets, and
you know that can't be tolerated in a city like Boston.
And you know, we we have seen a significant increase
in the number of calls into the city on rats
(06:53):
and people's homes in throughout their yards and neighborhoods as well.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Okay, I got to take a break. My guess is
Boston City councilor Ed Flynn. I know that you have called,
and it's been just a couple of other of the
councilors who have called for like some sort of rats
are in Boston. I want to talk to you about that,
and I also want to invite college to call in.
Do you think this is an important issue in Boston
or is it not? I it seems to me this
(07:20):
is a top issue in Boston. You know, maybe you
can talk about the plight of Boston public schools, you
can talk about the inconvenience of bike lanes. Those are
important issues, no doubt. But when you live in a
community where rats are prevalent, I don't see how disease
(07:41):
will not, by necessity follow, and I think that the
value of those properties are going to diminish. I want
to hear from you, whatever your community in and if
if you think that rats is not a problem in Boston,
feel free six one, seven, two, five, four, ten, thirty six,
seven nine three one ten thirty With a Boston City
(08:02):
council here, who is sounding the alarm? I like to say,
a modern day Paul Revere. And I think it's true
the rats are here. The British might have been coming,
but the rats are here, and they are proliferating, and
the population is growing and the population is spreading. Feel
free to chime in, love to hear from every neighborhood
(08:22):
in Boston. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. Coming right
back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
With me as Boston City council Ed Flynn. We're talking
about rats in Boston, Rats in many communities in Boston,
many neighborhoods in Boston, Ed. You're one of well, at
this point twelve members of the city Council. How much
concern is there amongst your colleagues? First of all, are there?
(08:55):
I know you feel strongly about this issue for your
neighborhood there, very very committed. Is this at the same
level of concern with any other councilors besides you? And
if not, why not?
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, Dan, it's a good question. I know Councilor Aaron
Murphy has done a lot of work as well on
this issue, and actually Councilor Brayden out of Allston and
Brighton has done some work on this issue, as has
had a few other councilors. But what we have done
(09:32):
is the ability to establish a standalone city department, which
I have called for on pest control operations. Right now,
we don't really have it structured in such a way
where it's coordinated to deliver the best results or residents.
(09:55):
I have asked for a complete overhaul of the way
we deal with pest control, and that's one way we
can we can effectively work on this issue. But also
there's a science to taking garbage out and separating food
from traditional trash, and the time we put our trash
(10:16):
out in the evening. I think we have to readdress that.
But there's a lot of steps we can take, including
public service announcements, public service announcements. But but you are right, Dan,
I don't think it's a top priority for city councilors
per se. I don't think they necessarily like working on
(10:38):
these unglamorous issues, and they would rather deal with national
politics than deal with uh pest control or or or
sidewalks and safe community, safe streets. So it's it.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Doesn't Rather than deal with something that they actually kep
anat on which affects the quality of life of their constituents,
it's much easier to go out and go to some
sort of a rally that is not going to have
much of an impact on anything into virtue signal. What
about the mayor, she's the mayor of the City of Boston.
(11:16):
Is this something that she does not? Mayor Michelle Woo
does not understand as a quality of life issue.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I don't know. I made some recommendations on how the
city can can make major changes in the way we
deal with pest control. Some of those changes that I
recommended were implemented, but the main change I recommended on
a standalone city department was denied. But I'm continuing to
(11:46):
advocate for it. But I do have to educate the
public and my fellow city council is about how important
this is. And I feel if I have the ground
swallow of support for from residents and they believe that
this is a top issue, maybe we'll make some progress.
And also, Dan, this is an election year and whether
(12:09):
or not residents want the city councilors to focus on
nuts and bolts of city government, neighborhood services, quality life issues,
or do they want them to focus on national issues
and international issues. I think the residents want us to
deal with these neighborhood services issues.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yeah, well, in fact, they had no impact on national
international issues. You know how the war is conducted between
Putin and Zolensky and what level of involvement in the
United States has the Boston City Council has no practical
impact on an issue like that. You know, how what
(12:49):
our relationship is with NATO, that's not determined by the
Boston City Council. These people, if they want to run
for those issues, run for Congress, run for the US
Senate federal office, and and have and have an impact.
But to to allow their constituents to have a child
with a rat in a crib, this this is to
(13:12):
me is absolutely mind.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Bulking right, I agreed, Indian. It's it's it's mostly it's
mostly about the national politics as it relates to Donald Trump.
I think that's where they really want to focus their
attention and time and energy on dealing with federal those
(13:35):
types of federal issues, and not again, not dealing with
these nuts and bolts neighborhood issues. And you know, there's
nothing glamorous or sexy about being a city councilor, but
it's it's the job of being a city councilor to
respond to constituents on neighborhood services. And uh, these city
councilors just don't enjoy that type of that type of
(13:58):
the job.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Well, again, they should run for Congress. I mean, if
if you're concerned, and many people rightfully are concerned, about
cuts that the Trump administration has directed towards universities and
hospital research and and and all of that. You can
do a press release on it, but I mean, you
have a vote in the city council, or you have
(14:19):
a debate in the city council, you're just wasting time.
Go run for Congress, Go run for the US Senate
if you don't feel that the or move to another
state and get elected from another state. I mean, if
you if you feel that that we're represented by nine
perfect members of the House and two wonderful members of
the Senate, and you wouldn't want to run against any
(14:39):
of those people that are all Democrats, move to New Hampshire.
Try to you know, try to have a stake in
New Hampshire because they are ignoring. It's it's like having
a car and and making sure that you have you know,
all the detailing done on the car and uh, and
you make sure that it has a new paint.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
But if you get to put oil in the car,
you forget to buy new tires.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I mean, right, I agree, Dan, It's it's the details
that matter, and the details matter to to the residents
because it's about their quality of life. It's about the
safety and security in their public health and we need
to work together make major changes. But this must be
a priority at the city Council, at the Mayor's office,
(15:31):
and I don't see that level of commitment right now.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yeah. And by the way, we've had a string of
really good mayors. Uh, you know, going back to you
can go back to John Hines, Kevin White. Certainly your dad,
Mayor Menino, Marni Waalsh all were very concerned. They paid
attention to the little stuff and you know your father
would always show up it at fires and support people.
(15:57):
That was something that I know he was very concerned about.
I don't know from what that concern sprang, but you know,
Kevin White was very concerned with the downtown area and
then his neighborhood city halls. He took care of both
the city Hall and downtown. Your dad was a great
mayor for the time of the ten years, the nearly
(16:19):
ten years that he was here. Mayor Menino picked it up.
He was the urban mechanic. He made sure things worked.
So all of these Marty Walsh knew every neighborhood in Boston.
He knew what the problems of every neighborhood in Bostles.
We've been very lucky, and now it seems to me
that since Marty Walshs left, things have kind of fallen
(16:39):
apart in terms of these quality of life issues. Focus
has been on more bike lanes. Well, you can focus
on bike lanes, but you've got to worry about rats.
I mean, would it be let me just ask you
one final question. Then I want to go to phone
calls after the break, and I'm hoping some people will
realize that the work that you're doing is not glamorous,
but it's so critical. It is just so critical. Do
(17:02):
you feel that the city needs to bring in some
expert from out of out of state, out of the
city who perhaps has dealt with another coastal American city.
Is there any city you could point to that you
know that dissimilar to Boston, like a Philadelphia or a
balls of Boston, South Carolina City, Florida city where they're there,
(17:23):
it is coastal and you're going to have rats.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Yeah, Yeah, it's a great question.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Dan.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
During this conversation several years ago, I I called up
and met with the UH, the New York City Pest
Controls UH, and that that was a person appointed by
Maya Maya Adams, I believe, and she was the first
person to UH take that position. So I learned a
(17:50):
lot from from the New York City what they were doing.
I think they're doing excellent work in this field. But
I do think streamlining how we conduct and provide services,
coordinate services. And we have the inspectional services, but we
also have the Parks Department and water and sore they
(18:13):
are also they're also involved in uh pest control operations.
But we really need, we really need to have one
person that focuses on this that's a standalone department that
has the necessary resources that can coordinate services across city
departments and throughout the neighborhoods, but also have a direct
(18:36):
direct line to the Mayor's office or to the mayor
Mayor's chief of staff. And that's what I'm proposing, and
I think it can work, but we we have to
put the effort in time to make it happen. I
have a plan and I'm going to I'm going to
ask my colleagues at some point to vote on this
and to you know, put the people first. Put the
(18:57):
people first, because residents deserve public health, public safety, and
quality of life.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Well, I hope that I hope that enough people in
Boston understand what you're saying, and I hope that they
support you in your efforts, and they encourage other councilors
to support you in your efforts. I want to hear
from Boston residents, want to hear from people outside in Boston.
I kind of imagine that if rats were as common
(19:26):
in places like again Wellesley West and Whyland and Winchester,
those cities wouldn't those communities wouldn't put up with it.
Why it is even tolerated in Boston boggles my mind.
And again it's a lack of leadership. You've provided leadership
on the issue, but you can't carry the ball alone.
You need some others to support you on this, and
(19:47):
you need a majority of the council. And I guess
you must need a veto proof a council vote, just
in case the mayor chooses not to support it. I
got some open lines. If you live in Boston and
you don't think this affects you, trust me it will
six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six one
seven nine three one ten thirty Back with phone calls
(20:08):
from Boston Mayor Ed Flynn talking about rats in Boston
in the name and the need, the critical need to
address this problem which is close to being out of
control at a number of different levels. As the Council
has laid out tonight in clear, clear English, it is
(20:28):
so important. Feel free to join this conversation. It led
to your voice if you if you're happy with rats
in Boston, and you're happy with them in your neighborhood
and in your community, then you shouldn't call. But if
you're not, we need your voice. Coming back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
It's night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
All right, let's get right to the phone. It's going
to go to Patrick and Charlestown. Patrick, you're next night
Side with Boston City Council and flame grownhead. Patrick.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
How are you doing guys?
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Uh? Hey, Patrick, listen.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
One thing, how you doing?
Speaker 5 (21:09):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (21:09):
One thing I wanted to ask is, as you were
mentioned in the rats and the role that massive cast
has played in them sort of proliferating and uh, you
know the lack of attention of uh of the ruling elite.
Uh to see who seem don't seem to care about this?
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (21:28):
The one thing I wanted to ask is, uh, you
know why and why is the bridge to Long Island
not being worked on? Why isn't it open? What is
being done about? Done about it? Isn't that part of
the solution here?
Speaker 7 (21:46):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (21:46):
These people who are massive cast you. We can't blame them.
They're sick as could be. They have no control of
it over this at this point. But this bridge, this
bridge has been down for a long time. And we
have a secretary now in Secretary Kennedy who's from Massachusetts,
who declared a national opioid crisis in March. Can you
(22:07):
get him to Boston? Can we take the money that's
intended for the Newton train station fifty million dollars and
reallocate it to building the Long Island Bridge, which which
I see is one hundred million dollar estimates?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Mind is standing Patrick. I don't want to interrupt you here,
but my understanding is that the mayor of Quinsy is
very much opposed to this construction. Well, again, easy for
you to say, but he does have some influence in this. Edward,
let's if you could respond to what Patrick is Askimo.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, thank you, Patrick. The city of Quinsy blocked Boston's
efforts to build the bridge, and it was in court,
and actually it's still in court for a number of years.
And the longer it's in court and the longer it
doesn't take place, the more unlikely. It means that maybe
(23:06):
there won't be a bridge that will be built, and
maybe Long Island, Long Island will never open. I know
the buildings that are currently over there and in Long
Island are in very bad condition. I think they probably
have to be torn down at this point in rebuilt.
Not only the bridge rebuilt, but I think the buildings
(23:30):
online Long Island really needs to be rebuilt. Not sure
exactly how much money this is going to cost, but
it's significant. And you know, I honestly think now that
the bridge will not be built.
Speaker 6 (23:49):
I'm just I'm just flabbergasted. I'm just flabbergasted. But I
just can't believe that. How long? How long is the
litigation going to take on this? So what has taken
so long? I don't understand it.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
I think Boston needs a recovery center such as Long Island,
not at that location any longer, but somewhere where we're
able to concentrate recovery services in a particular area. I
think that's critical. I don't think we can wait any longer.
I think we need to have such a facility built,
(24:24):
identifying a site, working with residents. But I don't think
we went wait no longer for long island to open.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Well, it's been down since twenty fourteen, right, so that's
a lot of dead bodies. So when there's a will,
there's a way, why not get why not get I'm sorry,
why not get Secretary Kennedy into the Boston City Council
ask him to declare a state of emergency.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I think he's got that's a great thought, Patrick, But
I think that Robert F. Kennedy Junior has some bigger
fish to fry right now. To be really honest with you,
but that's you know, that's a thought. You should drop
him a letter and maybe he'll Uh. It'd be the
guy you could introduce him, just uh as a thought.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Don't you ask Dan?
Speaker 2 (25:08):
We've asked him on the show before, Patrick, and uh,
we haven't had the luck that we would want uh
in that situation, that's for sure. So again easier said
than done. But as they say, if you said him
a letter with it with you know, a guy out
a childs town. You might make that connection.
Speaker 6 (25:25):
Thanks, Patrick, appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
You very much. OK, let's keep rolling here, going to
go next up to uh I think we'll go to
Chris and Peabody. Chris, appreciate you calling in. You're on
next with Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, who is desperate,
desperately trying to represent his constituents and get rats somehow
under control in Boston. I'll tell you we're going to
(25:49):
reach a tipping point and it's it's going to be horrible.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Go ahead, Chris, Yes, good evening. Nice to talk with
both you and I think you're spot on it, and
there's a much bigger following, but they're just not voicing
it because it common sense. So to me, what baffles
me is we have a situation where common sense tells.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
Anyone in the political realm of or whatever in your counsel, look,
if it was my kid with the red the on
it in five seconds laft, so why should someone else's
kid be less worthy of the same attention?
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Thank you, Chris. I agree with you. In residents like you,
whether they're in Boston or outside of Boston, your opinion
is important. What happens in Boston impacts the greater Boston
impacts the commonwealth, obviously, but this is a public health
crisis in my opinion. It's certainly a quality of life
(26:55):
issue and public safety issue. We have rats in Boston
literally going into people's under underneath the hood of their
cause and chewing on the breaks for particular reasons and
almost cutting through the brake lines on some of these automobiles.
That is a public safety issue we also have. We
(27:18):
also know that rats now are carrying certain diseases and
and if they are, and if someone's ever bitten by
a rat, it's it's a public health It's a public
health crisis as far as I'm concerned, and we need
to address it as a public health crisis, and we're
not doing that. But I do think it has to
(27:40):
be everybody working together, not just Boston, but cities and
towns across Massachusetts because they're also dealing with similar problems
as well.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Yeah, this is paramount. I don't understand how Americans and
not give this the first priority attention.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah, how Chris, you want to know how you have
people in the city who were very strongly organized for
bike lanes and that was there and if ed disagrees
with me. He's a good enough friend where he's welcome
and disagree with me. They were organized. They went to
Mayor Wu when she was running for election and said,
(28:23):
we will support you, but we want a commitment of
bike lanes across the city. Good to her word, she
followed through on those campaign promises, and you have bike
lanes across the city. I don't know Ed that there's
been any other similar group of constituents who have gone
to the mayor in the same amount and with the
(28:43):
same passion as the bike lane activists and said, Mayor,
the number of rats in this city are as important,
if not more important, than bike lanes. And if I'm
wrong there, Ed, please correct me.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Yeah, Dan, I think you're correct. I don't. I think
the people have gone to the city administration and advocated
and told how important bike lanes are to the city
and too greater Boston, and you know those changes that
they recommended were implemented. I don't think regular residents are
(29:23):
mobilized on this particular issue like pest controls and rats
and people's houses. But if they were, they were mobilized
and they voted that way. Like other lobby lobby groups do,
and you vote on neighborhood services, you vote on quality
of life issues. Maybe they would have an impact politically,
(29:44):
but I think it does take residents to stand up
and advocate for what they believe in, and residents want
us to deal with, especially the city council with neighborhood services,
quality of life issues. And for some reason, city councilors
don't like working on those types of issues. Maybe they're
(30:05):
too hard, maybe they're too difficult. You can never solve
the problem, but you can, you can make significant progress.
But it's easier Dan just to give a speech about
national politics and then and then go home and you
don't have to worry about coordinating with the water and soil,
with the Parks Department, with public words and inspectional services
(30:28):
in residence. That takes hard work in organization, and that's
what that's what residents want us to do. But I
don't think residents are mobilized like other specific lobby related issues.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Out the residents have to first of all, get out
and vote. I know that in places like West Roxbury,
where residents used to vote in mass in the last
few elections they have not shown up and they're going
to get the government that they deserve. They got the
government there, now, go ahead, Chris.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
Thank you, apologize. I did not mean to interrupt. That's
what I'm getting at is we shouldn't have to be
a voice to the people that have been elected by
the people in that position. How can they not see it.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
That's not the way, Chris, Chris Christ, I'm gonna be
honest with you. I'm telling you the hard, cold truth.
People who are being elected now, with the exception of
people like Ed Flynn and Aaron Murphy who are in
touch with their neighborhoods, many of them are newcomers to Boston.
Many of them are not in touch with other neighborhoods.
They are only going to care about the issues that
(31:36):
they think will get them elected. Okay, they're not going
to say, look this, i may lose the election, but
I'm going to do what's right for the city. You
don't have that type of politician in Boston right now,
in my humble opinion, and I've covered Boston politics for
fifty years, and it's not We do have one in
(31:57):
Ed Flinn, but he's right now. One in twelve that's
eight percent of the council. And and you know, it is.
It is up to the voters to turn the city
back around, and it is not. Look, they elected Tanya
Fernandez Anderson, she got indicted. They elected West Roxbury, helped
(32:19):
elect Kendra Laura, the the crash Lara, who, as she
was called, crash Kendra. You know it's if you don't vote,
you get what you're going to have to get. It's
as simple as that. If you if you go to
a restaurant and you don't order what you want and
they just give you a meal, whether you want it
(32:39):
or not, you're gonna get sour Carleton Liver. All right, Chris,
you got to talk to your friends in Boston. Thanks Chris,
that's very much, all right, good night. We got Laura
in Boston coming up. I'm looking to hear from her.
We got Ron and we got John and we continue
with that. Flynn, I'm telling you it doesn't help me
(33:01):
to say this. It hurts me to say this, but
you know, where are the Ray Flynn's. We have an
Ed Flynn. Where are the Marty Walshes? Where where are
the Tom Minino's in Boston right now? I don't know
that that they have found replacements for Marty Walsh for
Tom Menino. Tom Minino represents I see it so clearly,
(33:24):
and it's it's I'm quite I'm quite sorry when I
say that, but you were one. You and Aaron are
probably the only two people that I can think of.
Frank Baker is trying to make a comeback, and he's
somebody who I think would be an ally in Boston.
(33:44):
People got to pay attention, you know, they got to
pay attention. We got to take a break. We'll be
right back.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Radio, and I don't know where the I was gone,
but we had really tied on time. Let's try to
get at least a couple in here. Let me go
to Laura in Dorchester. Laura, appreciate your patience. Next on
Nightside with Ed Flynn. Go right ahead, Laura.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Well, first of all, Flynn, thank you so much. It's
a definitely serious problem. We do need an overseer of
our departments. Maybe the Department of Public Health should be
involved much more so. I'm staying in the neighborhood I
(34:26):
grew up in, which is filled with the low income
rental's majority immigrants. English as a second language. Nobody calls
anybody but me. I'm the big rat in the name
La Lauria.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Do you have a question for ed Flin, No.
Speaker 5 (34:46):
I don't. I want to tell them what's going on
ahead and that I'll get to the point is that
I solved my problem in my decker next to a
train station and a strict all and a bunch of
little restaurant shops, mostly by just putting a bleach solution.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
In my barrels.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
And I have to confess I put cleanser around my house.
But you shouldn't do that, especially for cats and things.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
But it works.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
So what I wanted to say was that you know,
to get these people like I know they have a
big rental inspection department for the city of Boston, but
maybe the governor needs to send down some money like
(35:41):
he just didn't fall she just didn't fall river to
expand these services. So it's simple the one.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Dream on If you think the Governor's going to send
you down some money for Boston law, I mean that's
a pipe dream. Well, okay, I got to keep rolling here.
Thank you for the of the suggestions. I got to
get a call.
Speaker 5 (36:01):
I want to tell you. I want to tell you
that the forty unit that slow income. When I took
the pictures of the overflowing garbage, she told me she
didn't have the money for the second dump stuff.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Who Who's she?
Speaker 5 (36:16):
The woman who manages the forty unit low income told
me she doesn't have the money.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Interesting stories, Laura, thank you for your call. I'm going
to keep rolling. Let me go to Ron. Ron. You
got to be quick for me. I got you in here.
Speaker 7 (36:31):
Go ahead, okay, Dan, thank you very much, and thank
you Ed. I was a big fan of your dad's
and very appreciative that you follow the steps. I had
two experiences. One was you can't always determine what time
you're going to need to go to the emergency room.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
We have less than a minute, Ron, I got to
give you a warning leave less than a minute.
Speaker 7 (36:54):
So basically I saw a big one as I was
being discharged. And also had the same experience with my
own car and the power uh steering chewing through.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
In your car was adding Boston or in Newton, that
was new, but the charge from the hospital was in Boston. Wow. Wow,
They're everywhere.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
And yeah, we're hearing a lot of those types of
issues across Boston, across Greater Boston as well. Run So
I thank you for calling and your comments were spot on.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Ron, I appreciate it. I wish it could have given
you more time, but I'm flying.
Speaker 7 (37:37):
That's okay.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Thank you, Thank you callers in the line. Wish you
called earlier, simple as that, Ed Flynn keep on keeping
on okay, and and got to wake people up.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Dan, thank you for giving me the opportunity you want
to say. Thank you to you listeners as well.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
You were more than welcome and say how do you
want and dad for me?
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Okay, thank you Dan. Good to be with you.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Great to be with you. We're gonna get back and
we're gonna talk. I'm not sure we're going to talk
about I might go open, but I have another thought.
So please stay with us, okay, that's all I ask.
Stay with us. Back on night side right after this
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