August 14, 2024 • 39 mins
U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan is calling on federal agencies to investigate actions by Steward Health Care that led to the company’s bankruptcy and proposed hospital closings. NightSide has been breaking down this healthcare “crisis” in the state and Wednesday evening we were joined by U.S. Rep. Trahan to hear how lawmakers are pushing for accountability.
The state of Massachusetts is spending about $1 billion a year on emergency shelters throughout the state. The Boston Globe as well as other media outlets, have tried to examine how the state is spending that much money on the shelter system. Unfortunately, all the records that have been publicly requested have most of the pertinent information blacked out. Where is the money used to run emergency shelters in MA going and how is it being distributed? Those are the big questions that remain unanswered…but why?
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio!
The state of Massachusetts is spending about $1 billion a year on emergency shelters throughout the state. The Boston Globe as well as other media outlets, have tried to examine how the state is spending that much money on the shelter system. Unfortunately, all the records that have been publicly requested have most of the pertinent information blacked out. Where is the money used to run emergency shelters in MA going and how is it being distributed? Those are the big questions that remain unanswered…but why?
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm w Bzy Cooston's video.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, Kaile.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
We are delighted to welcome back to Nightside Congressman Laurie Trehan,
Democrat from the third Congressional district here in Massachusetts, the
Lowell area and several communities to the west of the
city of Lowell.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Congressman Trahan, welcome back to Knightside. How are you.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
I'm great, Dan, How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
I'm doing fine. I'm doing fine.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I was a little late to the party on this
Stewart Healthcare crisis, and we'll spend a lot of time
talking about it the last couple of nights. I know
you've been working on it a lot longer. I'd like
to try to stay ahead of the curve, but I
was behind the curve. We had John McDonough on last night,
professor at the Chin Harvard School of Public Health, who talked.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
A lot and gave us a lot of the background
on it.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
But your district has three hospitals that are at risk,
one of which, for the most part, looks like it's
going to shut it. Stores by the end of August
that were owned by Stewart Healthcare. What's the status up
in the third.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
District, Well, it's a disaster. Out of the nine hospitals,
you're right, three are in Massachusetts, third, Nashoba Valley Medical
Center in Air and then both Holy Families in Haverol
and Messuan. You all just start by saying that Stuart Hospitals,
(01:27):
all of them in Massachusetts, are community hospitals that serve
as lifelines for families, particularly like working in lower income
families like the one I grew up in in Lowell,
who need care and they needed to be close to
their home. The fact that these Stewart executives knew that
and they chose to deploy a private equity business model
(01:48):
that would drive these facilities into bankruptcy so that they
could maximize their profits. And we've all heard their CEO
bought not one, but two yachts he traveled to the Olympics.
It's just disgraceful and the worst part is they have
no remorse. Stewart actually has the goal to blame the
state for two of its hospitals closing, including Nashoba Valley
(02:09):
Medical Center in my district, and it's infuriating Ralph Delatori
and his co conspirators shouldn't be able to wash their
hands of this crisis, crisis that they themselves created.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I learned a lot in the last few nights about
it which I was unaware. That these hospitals once used
to be the Caratas Christie Hospitals, owned by the and
operated by the Archdiocese of Boston, and back in twenty
ten the arch Diocese, in need of some cash as
a consequence of the in part of the priest pedophile scandal,
(02:47):
decided to sell Caratas Christie and this company, this venture
capital country Cerebus, I believe, was how its spouse came
in and they put the deal together with this Ralph d. LATORI, who,
as I understand that was a surgeon, a very well
renowned surgeon, a surgeon at I think it was Brigham
(03:08):
the Women's hospital, and so on the surface it looked
off all well and good, and then in twenty fifteen
they stopped filing required reports, regulatory reports to the state,
and they moved their headquarters out of Boston to Dallas, Texas.
(03:29):
I mean, it sounds to me like these folks.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Have been.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Have been acting very inappropriately for several years, and it's
now caught up with them and the people who are
the victims, as you say, are you in large part
your constituents?
Speaker 5 (03:46):
Yeah, this is.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
I think that what's been so hard to watch is
sort of this private equity model in our health care
system that we've seen just be deployed and just sort
of be corrupted.
Speaker 6 (04:07):
Right.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Stuart executives, like the dailatry, they knew they were driving
Stuart hospitals into the ground so that they could pocket
as much money as they could. When they sold the
land out from underneath their own hospitals. The first thing
they did was turn around and pay themselves tens of
millions of dollars in dividends while exorbitant rent bills started
to pile up. And then in the months and the
(04:29):
years after that, the executives engaged in, you know, widespread,
multimillion dollars surveillance efforts to spy on intimidate potential whistle
blowers who could sound the alarm about their business practices,
because that isn't transparent to regulators, to government, to patients.
So these people knew that their actions were bad for patients,
(04:50):
they were bad for providers, and bad for their company,
but they did it anyway because they wanted to pay
themselves as much as they could, and it's really reprehensible
and something that we're trying to get at the root
cause at the federal level.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Now. As you know, there's a bankruptcy court hearing in Houston, Texas,
of all.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Places, on Friday. What is your sense?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Everything I've heard is that the Nashova Valley Hospital and
air but there's nothing that can be done to save
that facility?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Do you understandstand that to be true. I don't want
to pronounce dead on arrival if there's still the possibility
of saving it. But there is a pretty good possibility
of saving the two Holy Family Hospitals, the one in
the THU and the one in have What's the status
of those three hospitals as far as you.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Know at this point?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yeah, you know, we're talking to families regularly. I mean,
the number one issue for these families and for the
staff uh that rely on Stuart Hospitals is this uncertainty
and right now the questions that people want answered most
are tied up in a bankruptcy court. As you point
out in Texas, I mean there's a hearing this Friday
where hopefully we'll get more information about the bidders who
(06:13):
are looking to take over Stewart's remaining hospitals, you know,
Minishoba Valley or excuse me, the Holy Family Hospital, which
has two locations in my district, in massou And and Haveral.
But I'm also hoping that we get some insight into
what actions, if any, can be taken to prevent Nashoba
Valley Medical Center, which is as well as Carney Hospital
(06:36):
in Dorchester, not in my district, but we don't want
to see them close their doors at the end of
the month. We know that's going to have ripple effects
across our respective you know regions and air and in
Dorchester you know, in patients at Nashoba Valley they'll have
to now commute fifteen, twenty, even thirty minutes further depending
on the care that they need. So we're all waiting
(06:58):
to see what happens on Friday to see what options
you know, we we have so that you know we
can avoid it all costs the shuddering of those two facilities.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I had a caller I think is dunstable in your district?
Speaker 7 (07:14):
Yes, yeah, I had a caller.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
On Monday night who told me that on July eighteenth,
he was mowing his lawn and suffered a terrible accident,
which eventually resulted in losing two of his toes. But
he had to make a life saving split decision and
he was able to drive to Neshoba Valley Medical Center,
(07:37):
which allowed him to at least save his life. And
he said that if that facility had been closed and
he had to try to get somewhere further away, he.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Might have bled out. So that was an incredible phone
call that we handled.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
On Monday night.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Well, you know, I've it's really incredible, and I think
those kind of stories bring it home for people. I mean,
when the news first broke that Stuart Hospitals were in
this grave financial crisis, we received hundreds of messages from
people who were concerned about what that meant for their
community hospital, you know, like your caller. On Monday night,
(08:16):
I had a constituents write me about her parents who
have been going into Shoba Valley for decades and would
struggle to find the next closest hospital. Another sent me
a message on Facebook telling me that Nashoba Valley saved
his life twenty five years ago. Because of how proximate
it was, I mean, so Stewart closing their hospital, it's
(08:38):
the worst possible scenario, and therefar from alone in this nightmare.
I mean, there are hundreds, if not thousands of nurses, technicians,
support staff at these facilities who work around the clock
to provide high quality care to patients, and they're going
to be hurt by this too. So you know, I
think one thing we all can agree on is that
Stuart screwed all of these people, and we want to
(09:01):
make sure they're not able to walk away from that.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
It almost sounds to me as if there should be
a criminal investigation the more that I hear of it.
That my guess is Congresswoman Laurie Trehan. She represents the
third district here in Massachusetts, a district that runs includes
Lowell and many communities to the west of Lowell right
along the New Hampshire border. Congresswoman is going to stick
with us until nine thirty. So if you would like
to talk with Congresswoman Trahan and ask a question, make
(09:28):
a comment, commend her on the efforts she's been working
very hard on this issue. You were more than welcome
the number six one seven, two, five, four to ten
thirty six one seven nine three one, ten thirty.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
My name is Danray. This is Nightside.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
This is what a talk radio show should be doing,
and that is advocating for people like the constituents of
Congress Finterrahan and also Congress Frointerrhan's efforts Uh uh.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
To fight this. Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
These goliaths who do do not have the interest of
her constituents or their patients at heart. We'll take a
quick break. Feel free to join the conversation. The congresswoman
will stay with us till nine thirty, So if you
want to get on board, call now back on night
Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Now back to Dan ray line from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
My guest Congresswoman Laurie Trahan from the third District here
in Massachusetts. She's a Democrat.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
She is now in She I'm trying to this. Is
this your fourth term already, congress Woman?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
No, I'm no. I am ending my third term. I
know it goes by quickly.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
You'll probably be starting your fourth term in January. Let's
let's be optimistic, okay. I remember having you up at
the Massachusetts School of Law and moderating a debate between
one of your earlier opponents.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Time does fly.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
It's short.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
That was back in twenty eighteen, so it does. I
can't believe how much time has passed before.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Before the pandemic. We all we used to always say
before the blizzard of seventy eight. Now we talk about
the pandemic. But we're talking tonight about the Stewart healthcare
crisis and the impact of three hospitals out of the
nine that are in jeopardy in Congresswoman Trahan's district. We're
going to get the phone calls here. We'll try to
get everybody in as quickly as we can. Amy is
(11:26):
in Cambridge. Amy, appreciate your calling in. You're on with
Congressman Laurie Trahan. What is your question of comment for
the congresswoman.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Yes, fairly important topic. I was running to speak to
the Joint Commission, which is hospitals go through for a
creditations about every five years, and if that was or
it could be used for the state to have as
a check and balance for the hospitals.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Okay, let's see if the congress woman again she is
a federal official, not a state official, but Congresswoman, if
you want to take a shot at that question, from
Amy'd be happy to have you respond.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Yeah, no, thank you, Amy. You're right, And I think
what we want to achieve is having as many sort
of stage gates as possible to prevent this from happening again.
You know, certainly there we're not exactly at the point
where we've learned all the lessons, but there's some pretty
big ones that are glaring at this moment. So I
(12:27):
think about this in terms of how do we prevent
this moving forward, because there's two root causes in this
crisis that I think we absolutely have to address in
order to prevent another one from happening. We first, we
have to reign in the predatory private equity business model
that was just that was deployed to extract as much
(12:48):
money as possible from Stewart's hospitals and filter it to
their wealthy executives and hedge funds. Even most of the
largest hospitals in our state operate on the margins following
that kind of private equity approach that is really opaque,
and you know, there's no there's no guardrails or transparency measures,
(13:10):
but it will almost always inevitably lead to devastating outcomes
like we're experiencing right now, so we have to place
some serious guardrails on private equity in our hospitals. And
then second, we have to make sure that nonprofit community hospitals,
which which make up most of the hospital system in Massachusetts,
are able to get the funding that they need not
only to stay open, but to make sure that they're
(13:33):
able to grow the services their patients need. You know,
I actually sat down with one of my Republican colleagues
from California, Congressman David Valadeo, who's seeing the same issue
in his own district, and we put pen to paper
on bipartisan legislation that establishes an essential health system designation
(13:53):
in federal law, so that it will create an opportunity
for more federal funding and support to flow to safety
net hostpit hospitals. Those are the only kinds of hospitals
I have in my district, and so we need to
make sure that they're strong. They're vital parts of our system,
and without them, communities and even entire regions can turn
into healthcare deserts. So this legislation will help keep them
(14:15):
open and providing critical life saving care to patient. So
that's sort of what we're focused on on the federal side.
I think that the state is going to go through
the same process to figure out what kind of guardrails
can we put in place to make sure you know,
this never this never happens again in the Commonwealth.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Amy, I appreciate your question. Thank you so much. Appreciate
your call. Good night.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Let me go to Justin in Marlborough. Justin, you're next
on nice. I have a Congresswoman Laurie Trahan of Massachusetts.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
Go ahead, Justin, Hi, thanks for kating McCall. I'm very
happy to be one of your constituents, and I wanted
to say I want to one of your satellite offices
and your a Jocelyn de Leon. I'm sorry. She was wonderful.
Almost he's still with you, but she she was very helpful.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And great to hear. I always, oh, it's terrific to
hear that you've got great service in our office. Justin.
Speaker 7 (15:21):
Yeah, but I know the staff often goes unsung, but yes,
I'm happy you you you have a very nice staff,
and keep up the hard work stuck in this tough
thing that you're talking about. I wish you luck all right.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Thank you, Justin. Appreciate your call. Thanks.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
This status that mustn't happen often.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
No, that's good. I didn't realize that is Marlboro in
your district as well.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Yes, yes, but we go far south as Marlborough and
Hudson and then west to Gardner Fitchburg. Uh, and then
you know on the on the eastern side up to Haveril.
Speaker 7 (16:04):
So yeah, it's it's funny.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
All those are pretty big communities.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I know that congressional districts are divided based upon the
population of the state and how many how many uh
members of Congress we have, but I didn't that's a
pretty big district and also a pretty densely populated district.
Let me get one more call in for your congress women.
We have Rob in South Boston. Rob, you were next
on nice side with Massachusetts Congressman and Laurie Trahan from
(16:30):
the third Congressional district talking about the Stuart healthcare crisis
and how it gets solved if possible.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Go ahead, Rob, how you doing there and thanks for
taking my call. I mean, this is a total disaster
and uh, I mean it seems like that the two
hospitals were held out of the transaction of the eight
and it was basically the bankruptcy court saying that they
(16:56):
couldn't take those two hospitals. But we we're hearing now,
is that the state is you know, it doesn't have
any solutions or exhausted solutions. But I want to maybe
an idea kind of similar to when Havevid Pilgrim got
into trouble and I think the state took it over
(17:18):
in state receivership.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Well, again, we're talking with a member of Congress here, Rob,
But if you if you just put a fine point
in that question for the congressman, I'd appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Go ahead.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
Well, the thing is, I mean, Dan, we have to
come up with a solution.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Feel free to ask the congressman whatever question you want
to get you to a question to do well.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
I think I'm part of lawry is maybe lobby uh
the governor.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Okay, let's get asked.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Well, okay, that's fair enough, that's a that's a question.
Let's see if we get the congressman to respond to that.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Congresswoman, yeah, no, thank you for the for the question.
I mean, my understanding is that they weren't qualified bidders
for Nashoba Valley and Carnie. I mean, that's certainly disappointing
because of how critical these facilities are, and it's devastating
for our communities, and we have an obligation to do
everything possible to keep these community hospitals open, keep the doctors,
(18:18):
nurses staff paid, and keep all those services online for patients.
I'll tell you Governor Heally and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, they've
remained committed to that goal since day one of this crisis.
They know how much work is ahead of us. I
think the next step in that process is seeing what
happens on Friday with the bankruptcy court hearing, where we
expect to learn the prospective buyers of Stewart's remaining hospitals,
(18:42):
and I think that's going to inform what the state
and the DPH can do. I know a lot of
folks are talking about some creative solutions and around what
can happen with all of the hospitals, and I'm definitely
going to be, you know, supporting them on the federal level.
You know, one other thing I'll just say about this,
because you don't talk enough about the accountability and Dan
(19:05):
you mentioned it right before the commercial break. We already
know that Stewart is under federal investigation for their business
dealings overseas in Malta. I believe that investigation should be
expanded to uncover any potential illegal actions taken by Ralph
Dalatori and his fellow executives that are causing this crisis
(19:25):
in Massachusetts and frankly other states with Stuart owned hospitals.
You know, I actually wrote to the Department of Justice
and the Department of Health and Human Services and the FTC,
asking all three agencies to investigate because Stewart's greed is
having widespread impacts on families, not just in my district
but across the state. And I think that's something we
(19:48):
can't lose sight of in terms of having all these
lanes you know, going the local, state and federal, you know,
elected officials kind of working together to make sure people
are held accountable and that this never happens again, no question, Rob.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I know that there was a meeting last night at
Florian Hall in Dorchester, and.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
I believe that the Yeah, I was at the meeting.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Yeah, and Minustinians from the one of our calls last night,
Gregory from Dorchester said it was very disappointing that there
were no solutions offered by by the state, and I
think the representative of the state. It wasn't the governor's office,
but I think it was the representative of the administration
said that there was just no money, uh to.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
To get these hospitals.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
But let's let's wait, I mean, I mean, hopefully, as
Congresswoman Johanna said, we'll get some information on Friday, which might.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
Be one one more note, is nine trillion in any
defund Yeah no.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Yeah, again, I think you should be talking to your
state repent, to your state senator to put some pressure
on the governor's office. But again, thank you for raising
that and getting that.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Information there there.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Okay, I appreciate the call.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Thank you very much, Rob, Congresswoman johan thank you very
much for having spent some time with us tonight. I
want to get you on here more often. Your Congress
that I think really works on behalf of their your constituents.
And uh, I know that this is a big concern
in your district. Yes, the the impact in your district.
(21:24):
So keep us keeping to you whatever you feel and
and and thank you your age. Francis does a great job.
Whenever I talk call, he's he's he's available. He answers
and and when you're not available, he gives me a
pretty clear indication as to why. And uh uh and again,
(21:46):
I think you have a pretty good staff. I will
I will second with.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Yes, I'm one of the lucky ones. Yeah, thank I know,
I know. It's it's all about being able to attract
more people and qualified, empathetic people to the public service.
I'm glad we've got you know, a great team. So
thanks Stan, thanks for having me on. It was really
great chatting with you. And we'll stay on this and
report this is you know, there's going to be a
(22:11):
process and we look forward to you know, coming back
on and sharing our thoughts as more as it developed.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Appreciate it very much. Good luck on Friday. Thank you
very much. Congressman Laurie Trahan, Democratic member of.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
The Congressional delegation from the third Congressional District here in Massachusetts.
When we get back after the news, are going to
talk about two stories today, one in the Boston Globe
about transparency that they find the Heally administration frankly lacking,
and also a star out of the Boston Herald that
(22:44):
did not I'm sure sit well with the Governor's office.
Today we'll pair those stories like like wine and food,
if you will, right after this break at a little
bit after nine thirty. But we thank Congressman Johan for
spending some time with us tonight, and I thank.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
The allers who called in as well.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Back on Nightside right after this, we're changing topics.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on wz Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
So today's been kind of a rough day for the
Heally administration. I woke up this morning and picked up
my Boston Globe at the end of the driveway, and
the front page story in the Boston Globe of an
excellent story written by Stephanie Ebert and Deirdre Fernandez. We've
(23:33):
invited both, or either Stephanie and Deirdre to be on
the program. One is on vacation and I think Stephanie
said she was not available, might have been traveling, But
I want to talk about this tonight. The front page
graphic basically shows the report with a lot of black
(23:54):
lines and essentially says what the state won't say about
the shelter crisis. As I have read this story several
times today, six hundred serious incidents have been reported by
the state to the state by providers who run the
shelters since January of twenty twenty three, so that's less.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Than twenty months ago.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Forty complaints have been submitted by shelter families and staff
at that time. So there's all sorts of problems with this.
In addition to the fact that the contract, one of
many the Boston Globe requested last spring to examine how
the state is spending about one billion dollars a year
in emergency selters, was provided in July with the name
(24:36):
of the vendor blackedout.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
This is according to the Globe.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Now, okay, the secrecy is extreme, even in Massachusetts, a
state with a poor track record of providing government records
for public scrutiny. You know, when folks run for office
in Massachusetts, one of the things they always talk about
is more transparency. Government transparency. You will open up the books.
(25:01):
Sunlight is the greatest disinfected.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
That is what they talk about in these campaigns. But
the Heally administration, according to the Boston Globe, is failing.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Miserably, miserably.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
They started off by saying in August, this is the
first paragraph of the article, just to give you a
sense of it, and the reason that I do this
one is good journalism, and two I want to give
credit to whatever media source does the work. In this case,
I did the work of reading this story in the
(25:35):
Globe this morning, But the reporters who did the work,
and the staff, Stephanie Ebert and Deeeder Fernandez, they have
done a piece here that needs to be read by.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
All of you, and some of you, I know don't
get the Globe.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
In August of twenty twenty three, so that would be
a year ago, a state housing official signed a contract
to rent one hundred and forty nine hotel rooms to
homeless families at taxpairy spence. With a spiraling homeless crisis,
an influx of migrants, and the state shelters past capacity,
(26:09):
the urgency was clear. The state agreed to spend sixteen
point three million dollars at the hotel through the end
of June, so that would have been.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Let's see, that would have been eight.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Months, four hundred thousand dollars of it before the deal
was even finalized, so the state was paying money even
before the deal was finalized. Who got paid the state
won't say. The contract one of many the Boston Globe
requested last spring twenty twenty four to examine how the
(26:44):
state is spending about a billion dollars a year in
emergency shelters. Was provided in July with the name of
the vendor blackedout. That's what we are talking about. The
story went on. It's really an interesting story. It talks
about all of the frustration that they have. Now the
state of course uses as an excuse, well, we want
to make sure that people are protected and we don't
(27:07):
want any sort of violence. Well, you can have protests,
and there have been some protests, and there have been
some protests by some nasty groups of people. But that's
why police exist in communities and why the state police exist,
to make sure that people have a right to voice
their concerns peacefully, peacefully and without intimidating individuals. So here's
(27:34):
a couple of paragraphs that I want to share with you.
This is the frustration that the Boston Globe now feels
towards the Healy administration, an administration of the Globe proudly
endorsed just a couple of years ago. The state classifies
any sort of media involvement in its shelter system a
(27:54):
quote serious incident, requiring that the provider, meaning the person
who is getting the money from the state, file a
report with the housing agency as they would for police,
fire or ambulance calls, or if there was an accident
that triggered a hospital admission. The result has been uncommon
security and suspicion by providers. So in May, a Globe reporter,
(28:18):
obviously one of the two reporters who wrote this piece,
tried to interview the owner of a motor lodge along
Route one in Saugus. The reporter was issued a no
trespass order and to stay off the property. So much
for the unfettered practice of the First Amendment. In Massachusetts,
(28:39):
when a website reported that someone accused of raping a
child had been transferred from a family shelter to one
for individual homeless adults, the director of the Self Middlesex
Opportunity Council that runs the shelter declined to explain its
policy for admitting someone accused of a sex crime. Instead,
that spokesperson referred the Globe to Kevin O'Connor. Kevin Connor,
(28:59):
the state House spokesperson, He acknowledged his agency is not
in charge of eligibility at those adult shelters. Many of
which have a low threshold for enrollment, which means anyone
can get in, even people who are active drug addicts,
and except individuals kicked out of the state run family
shelter program. When a Globe reporter reached out to Bob
Clement with Park Lodge Hotel Group, a broker that the
(29:23):
state is paying to help find hotel rooms, okay, he
said he'd be happy to talk, but couldn't. The state
has explicitly asked vendors to refer their press inquiase to Connor,
he said. Only after hearing back from the state did
Clement answer questions. Even town officials have been rebuffed when
(29:45):
they request information. They're not being upfront. They're hiding behind
legal language, said Kelly Douner, a councilor city councilor in Taunton,
where the city's only hotel is serving as a homeless shelter.
The bottom line is this, We deserve transparency. It is
(30:05):
not the Healey administration who is using their money. They're
not using the committee to elect more Healey's money to
shelter the migrants who are being a courage to come
to Massachusetts. They're being sheltered by taxpayer money. I think
most of us understand that, okay, and because taxpayer money
is involved, there should be transparency.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Now. The same day that.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
The Globe, much to their credit, took on the Healey
administration for their lack of transparency, the Boston Herald data
piece by Chris van Buskirk about what they call the
Grand Hotel Tab that the Governor's Office of Governor Healy
has spent thousands on high end accommodations four soiren five
(30:55):
star hotels. We're going to get to all of that,
but my question to you is pretty simple. Do you
think that the Healy administration has the right to hold
back from the public information about where the money is
being spent, how it's being spent, who's benefiting from the money,
so that we can make sure that these decisions that
(31:17):
are being made as to which hotels are receiving how
much money, are being made fairly, openly and honestly. Or
do you agree that the Healthy administration has a right
to keep the public totally in the dark, absolutely totally
in the dark over these financial decisions that now are
(31:39):
going to be about a billion dollars a year to
house people who are coming into the state under what circumstances,
we have no idea. I'd like to open these lines up,
and I'd like to talk about this for a while.
And I hope that you are as upset as I am.
And I also want to congratulate the Globe. The Globe
has really done a great job here real journalism in
(32:01):
the Boston Globe, which they are able to do. There's
no doubt about that. Taking on an administration that the
Globe has been pretty supportive of and that the Globe
endorsed in the last gubernatorial election six one, seven, two, five,
four ten thirty, six one seven, nine three one ten
thirty or triple eight nine to nine, ten thirty. This
is about transparency, It's about your tax money. It's about
(32:24):
policy decisions that are being made that may or may
not be good policy decisions. And the only way that
we can judge the value of these these decisions is
to have as much information as possible during this conversation.
I think it's an important one. We'll be back on
Nightside after this quick break.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
By the way, just to touch upon the story in
The Herald today which sort of a one two punch
to the administration, and the Herald is trends to be
more critical of the Heally administration and the Globe, and
the Globe story is just an incredibly well documented story,
But in the Herald story the headline Grand Hotel tab
(33:14):
Heley's office spent thousands on high end accommodations basically destroyed
by Chris van Buskirk, Governor more. Heley's office state at
four and five star hotels across the world multiple times
last fiscal year, racking up thousands on taxpayer funded credit
cards for swanky digs, according to data provided the Herald
through a public records request. I guess there's no way
that they could redact those decisions, one of which was
(33:41):
a trip to Quebec. They stayed the healthy administration personnel
stayed at this luxury hotel, the Fairmont Leschatel Frontenac.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I have been. I've never stayed there, but I have
been to Quebec. That is as.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Expensive a hotel as you will find in There's no
doubt about that. And it just goes on and on
and on. The State police also stayed. The Massachusetts State
Police stayed at the Chateau Frontenac. This is a problem
that all of these administrations have, A spokesperson for the
(34:19):
Massachusetts Republican Party said, imagine and trusting someone with your finances,
expecting them to improve your life, only to discover they're
indulging themselves in lavish accommodations around the world. That's exactly
what Governor Healy's doing with your tax dollars or arrogance
and blatant disregard for the people she's supposed to serve
in shocking. It just it's interesting. In Rome, they stayed
(34:43):
at the Meridian Visconti, a four star hotel that the
ownership describes as a luxury escape. The record show the
governor's office spent just over fourteen thousand dollars at the
hotel during the trip, the officials said, totaled just over
thirty thousand dollars. I believe is that is when she
when to meet the pope in Rome. Let's go to
the phone call is going to go to Stephen Weston.
(35:04):
Stephen and Weston first up this summer nights.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Like righthead Stephen, Hi, Dan, thanks for taking my call,
our first time call a long time listener.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Well, thank you very much. It's always fascinating to me.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
What gets people to the telephone. Give you a run
of applause here from a digital studio audience. Go right ahead, Steve.
Speaker 6 (35:25):
So So, my comment was more about the housing the migrants.
But but what you're talking about about the about the
Healy administration. You know, I'm a you know, small business
owner in Massachusetts, and I you know, I would like
to see on those trips, what did they accomplish, you know,
you know, if they're if they're you know, using all
(35:47):
these funds, all these tax bay funds, and you know,
for these lavish digs. You know, Okay, well, you know,
what did you accomplish on that trip? And what did
you do for the tax pase of the of the
state And if they and if they can justify some
you know, and and the reality is they they probably
did little to nothing for the tax payers of the state,
(36:08):
and they indult as you said, they indulge themselves.
Speaker 9 (36:11):
But well, there there was a spokesperson for the Healthy
administration who said, many of the trips this is quoting
from the globe, the governor or her staff have take,
have took, have offered opportunities to build political and economic ties.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
With other elected officials or business communities.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
You know, that's that's public relations speak.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
That doesn't tell me what was accomplished.
Speaker 6 (36:37):
It's it's complete double speak. And then and and and unfortunately, unfortunately,
you know, the silent majority that that we are we
we we just we keep accepting this and it's unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Just government, keep your government of same people. So tell
us about your your reaction. Look, we're spending a billion
dollars on migrants coming into the state. No effort has
been made to cut back that spending. And all we
want to know is what hotels are benefiting from this,
(37:11):
how much money is involved, what.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Services are being provided.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
You know, we talk about a few thousand people that
are being accommodated, five six thousand people, but it's a
billion dollars a year. That's insane.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (37:27):
I can tell you for personal knowledge that there are
motels out there that, prior to this crisis were lucky
if they were at fifty or sixty percent occupancy at
you know, one hundred and fifty one hundred and twenty
(37:49):
five dollars a night, yep. And now they're at one
hundred percent occupancy and the state is paying them four
times that in some.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Cases, I have seen that, and I concurrect with everything
you've said there. Uh, And that's the information the Globe
was seeking. And that's the information that the Heaally administration
is withholding.
Speaker 6 (38:11):
Yes, and and and and that is you know, that
is straight from the course's mouth that I that I've
received that information. And it's really it's really egrievous. And
and you know, to that, to the you know, to
the to the owner that had indicated that to me,
you know, they they were you know, they they they
(38:34):
frankly felt guilty about it, but they said, if we
don't take it, others.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Will absolutely and absolutely.
Speaker 6 (38:42):
And how can you how can you blame the business?
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Steve, Let me do this. I don't want to cut
you short. Can I hold you over to the next hour.
I got to take the newscast. My my producers tell
I mean we got to break. Let me hold you
over here because I'd like to get a little bit
more information from me in this.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Okay, Can you hold absolutely? We'll take you right after
the ten o'clock news.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
If you'd like to jump on board six one seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty
This is an important subject.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Please do not pass up this opportunity to call
It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm w Bzy Cooston's video.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, Kaile.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
We are delighted to welcome back to Nightside Congressman Laurie Trehan,
Democrat from the third Congressional district here in Massachusetts, the
Lowell area and several communities to the west of the
city of Lowell.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Congressman Trahan, welcome back to Knightside. How are you.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
I'm great, Dan, How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
I'm doing fine. I'm doing fine.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I was a little late to the party on this
Stewart Healthcare crisis, and we'll spend a lot of time
talking about it the last couple of nights. I know
you've been working on it a lot longer. I'd like
to try to stay ahead of the curve, but I
was behind the curve. We had John McDonough on last night,
professor at the Chin Harvard School of Public Health, who talked.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
A lot and gave us a lot of the background
on it.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
But your district has three hospitals that are at risk,
one of which, for the most part, looks like it's
going to shut it. Stores by the end of August
that were owned by Stewart Healthcare. What's the status up
in the third.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
District, Well, it's a disaster. Out of the nine hospitals,
you're right, three are in Massachusetts, third, Nashoba Valley Medical
Center in Air and then both Holy Families in Haverol
and Messuan. You all just start by saying that Stuart Hospitals,
(01:27):
all of them in Massachusetts, are community hospitals that serve
as lifelines for families, particularly like working in lower income
families like the one I grew up in in Lowell,
who need care and they needed to be close to
their home. The fact that these Stewart executives knew that
and they chose to deploy a private equity business model
(01:48):
that would drive these facilities into bankruptcy so that they
could maximize their profits. And we've all heard their CEO
bought not one, but two yachts he traveled to the Olympics.
It's just disgraceful and the worst part is they have
no remorse. Stewart actually has the goal to blame the
state for two of its hospitals closing, including Nashoba Valley
(02:09):
Medical Center in my district, and it's infuriating Ralph Delatori
and his co conspirators shouldn't be able to wash their
hands of this crisis, crisis that they themselves created.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I learned a lot in the last few nights about
it which I was unaware. That these hospitals once used
to be the Caratas Christie Hospitals, owned by the and
operated by the Archdiocese of Boston, and back in twenty
ten the arch Diocese, in need of some cash as
a consequence of the in part of the priest pedophile scandal,
(02:47):
decided to sell Caratas Christie and this company, this venture
capital country Cerebus, I believe, was how its spouse came
in and they put the deal together with this Ralph d. LATORI, who,
as I understand that was a surgeon, a very well
renowned surgeon, a surgeon at I think it was Brigham
(03:08):
the Women's hospital, and so on the surface it looked
off all well and good, and then in twenty fifteen
they stopped filing required reports, regulatory reports to the state,
and they moved their headquarters out of Boston to Dallas, Texas.
(03:29):
I mean, it sounds to me like these folks.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Have been.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Have been acting very inappropriately for several years, and it's
now caught up with them and the people who are
the victims, as you say, are you in large part
your constituents?
Speaker 5 (03:46):
Yeah, this is.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
I think that what's been so hard to watch is
sort of this private equity model in our health care
system that we've seen just be deployed and just sort
of be corrupted.
Speaker 6 (04:07):
Right.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Stuart executives, like the dailatry, they knew they were driving
Stuart hospitals into the ground so that they could pocket
as much money as they could. When they sold the
land out from underneath their own hospitals. The first thing
they did was turn around and pay themselves tens of
millions of dollars in dividends while exorbitant rent bills started
to pile up. And then in the months and the
(04:29):
years after that, the executives engaged in, you know, widespread,
multimillion dollars surveillance efforts to spy on intimidate potential whistle
blowers who could sound the alarm about their business practices,
because that isn't transparent to regulators, to government, to patients.
So these people knew that their actions were bad for patients,
(04:50):
they were bad for providers, and bad for their company,
but they did it anyway because they wanted to pay
themselves as much as they could, and it's really reprehensible
and something that we're trying to get at the root
cause at the federal level.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Now. As you know, there's a bankruptcy court hearing in Houston, Texas,
of all.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Places, on Friday. What is your sense?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Everything I've heard is that the Nashova Valley Hospital and
air but there's nothing that can be done to save
that facility?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Do you understandstand that to be true. I don't want
to pronounce dead on arrival if there's still the possibility
of saving it. But there is a pretty good possibility
of saving the two Holy Family Hospitals, the one in
the THU and the one in have What's the status
of those three hospitals as far as you.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Know at this point?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yeah, you know, we're talking to families regularly. I mean,
the number one issue for these families and for the
staff uh that rely on Stuart Hospitals is this uncertainty
and right now the questions that people want answered most
are tied up in a bankruptcy court. As you point
out in Texas, I mean there's a hearing this Friday
where hopefully we'll get more information about the bidders who
(06:13):
are looking to take over Stewart's remaining hospitals, you know,
Minishoba Valley or excuse me, the Holy Family Hospital, which
has two locations in my district, in massou And and Haveral.
But I'm also hoping that we get some insight into
what actions, if any, can be taken to prevent Nashoba
Valley Medical Center, which is as well as Carney Hospital
(06:36):
in Dorchester, not in my district, but we don't want
to see them close their doors at the end of
the month. We know that's going to have ripple effects
across our respective you know regions and air and in
Dorchester you know, in patients at Nashoba Valley they'll have
to now commute fifteen, twenty, even thirty minutes further depending
on the care that they need. So we're all waiting
(06:58):
to see what happens on Friday to see what options
you know, we we have so that you know we
can avoid it all costs the shuddering of those two facilities.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I had a caller I think is dunstable in your district?
Speaker 7 (07:14):
Yes, yeah, I had a caller.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
On Monday night who told me that on July eighteenth,
he was mowing his lawn and suffered a terrible accident,
which eventually resulted in losing two of his toes. But
he had to make a life saving split decision and
he was able to drive to Neshoba Valley Medical Center,
(07:37):
which allowed him to at least save his life. And
he said that if that facility had been closed and
he had to try to get somewhere further away, he.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Might have bled out. So that was an incredible phone
call that we handled.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
On Monday night.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Well, you know, I've it's really incredible, and I think
those kind of stories bring it home for people. I mean,
when the news first broke that Stuart Hospitals were in
this grave financial crisis, we received hundreds of messages from
people who were concerned about what that meant for their
community hospital, you know, like your caller. On Monday night,
(08:16):
I had a constituents write me about her parents who
have been going into Shoba Valley for decades and would
struggle to find the next closest hospital. Another sent me
a message on Facebook telling me that Nashoba Valley saved
his life twenty five years ago. Because of how proximate
it was, I mean, so Stewart closing their hospital, it's
(08:38):
the worst possible scenario, and therefar from alone in this nightmare.
I mean, there are hundreds, if not thousands of nurses, technicians,
support staff at these facilities who work around the clock
to provide high quality care to patients, and they're going
to be hurt by this too. So you know, I
think one thing we all can agree on is that
Stuart screwed all of these people, and we want to
(09:01):
make sure they're not able to walk away from that.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
It almost sounds to me as if there should be
a criminal investigation the more that I hear of it.
That my guess is Congresswoman Laurie Trehan. She represents the
third district here in Massachusetts, a district that runs includes
Lowell and many communities to the west of Lowell right
along the New Hampshire border. Congresswoman is going to stick
with us until nine thirty. So if you would like
to talk with Congresswoman Trahan and ask a question, make
(09:28):
a comment, commend her on the efforts she's been working
very hard on this issue. You were more than welcome
the number six one seven, two, five, four to ten
thirty six one seven nine three one, ten thirty.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
My name is Danray. This is Nightside.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
This is what a talk radio show should be doing,
and that is advocating for people like the constituents of
Congress Finterrahan and also Congress Frointerrhan's efforts Uh uh.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
To fight this. Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
These goliaths who do do not have the interest of
her constituents or their patients at heart. We'll take a
quick break. Feel free to join the conversation. The congresswoman
will stay with us till nine thirty, So if you
want to get on board, call now back on night
Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Now back to Dan ray line from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
My guest Congresswoman Laurie Trahan from the third District here
in Massachusetts. She's a Democrat.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
She is now in She I'm trying to this. Is
this your fourth term already, congress Woman?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
No, I'm no. I am ending my third term. I
know it goes by quickly.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
You'll probably be starting your fourth term in January. Let's
let's be optimistic, okay. I remember having you up at
the Massachusetts School of Law and moderating a debate between
one of your earlier opponents.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Time does fly.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
It's short.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
That was back in twenty eighteen, so it does. I
can't believe how much time has passed before.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Before the pandemic. We all we used to always say
before the blizzard of seventy eight. Now we talk about
the pandemic. But we're talking tonight about the Stewart healthcare
crisis and the impact of three hospitals out of the
nine that are in jeopardy in Congresswoman Trahan's district. We're
going to get the phone calls here. We'll try to
get everybody in as quickly as we can. Amy is
(11:26):
in Cambridge. Amy, appreciate your calling in. You're on with
Congressman Laurie Trahan. What is your question of comment for
the congresswoman.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Yes, fairly important topic. I was running to speak to
the Joint Commission, which is hospitals go through for a
creditations about every five years, and if that was or
it could be used for the state to have as
a check and balance for the hospitals.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Okay, let's see if the congress woman again she is
a federal official, not a state official, but Congresswoman, if
you want to take a shot at that question, from
Amy'd be happy to have you respond.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Yeah, no, thank you, Amy. You're right, And I think
what we want to achieve is having as many sort
of stage gates as possible to prevent this from happening again.
You know, certainly there we're not exactly at the point
where we've learned all the lessons, but there's some pretty
big ones that are glaring at this moment. So I
(12:27):
think about this in terms of how do we prevent
this moving forward, because there's two root causes in this
crisis that I think we absolutely have to address in
order to prevent another one from happening. We first, we
have to reign in the predatory private equity business model
that was just that was deployed to extract as much
(12:48):
money as possible from Stewart's hospitals and filter it to
their wealthy executives and hedge funds. Even most of the
largest hospitals in our state operate on the margins following
that kind of private equity approach that is really opaque,
and you know, there's no there's no guardrails or transparency measures,
(13:10):
but it will almost always inevitably lead to devastating outcomes
like we're experiencing right now, so we have to place
some serious guardrails on private equity in our hospitals. And
then second, we have to make sure that nonprofit community hospitals,
which which make up most of the hospital system in Massachusetts,
are able to get the funding that they need not
only to stay open, but to make sure that they're
(13:33):
able to grow the services their patients need. You know,
I actually sat down with one of my Republican colleagues
from California, Congressman David Valadeo, who's seeing the same issue
in his own district, and we put pen to paper
on bipartisan legislation that establishes an essential health system designation
(13:53):
in federal law, so that it will create an opportunity
for more federal funding and support to flow to safety
net hostpit hospitals. Those are the only kinds of hospitals
I have in my district, and so we need to
make sure that they're strong. They're vital parts of our system,
and without them, communities and even entire regions can turn
into healthcare deserts. So this legislation will help keep them
(14:15):
open and providing critical life saving care to patient. So
that's sort of what we're focused on on the federal side.
I think that the state is going to go through
the same process to figure out what kind of guardrails
can we put in place to make sure you know,
this never this never happens again in the Commonwealth.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Amy, I appreciate your question. Thank you so much. Appreciate
your call. Good night.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Let me go to Justin in Marlborough. Justin, you're next
on nice. I have a Congresswoman Laurie Trahan of Massachusetts.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
Go ahead, Justin, Hi, thanks for kating McCall. I'm very
happy to be one of your constituents, and I wanted
to say I want to one of your satellite offices
and your a Jocelyn de Leon. I'm sorry. She was wonderful.
Almost he's still with you, but she she was very helpful.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And great to hear. I always, oh, it's terrific to
hear that you've got great service in our office. Justin.
Speaker 7 (15:21):
Yeah, but I know the staff often goes unsung, but yes,
I'm happy you you you have a very nice staff,
and keep up the hard work stuck in this tough
thing that you're talking about. I wish you luck all right.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Thank you, Justin. Appreciate your call. Thanks.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
This status that mustn't happen often.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
No, that's good. I didn't realize that is Marlboro in
your district as well.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Yes, yes, but we go far south as Marlborough and
Hudson and then west to Gardner Fitchburg. Uh, and then
you know on the on the eastern side up to Haveril.
Speaker 7 (16:04):
So yeah, it's it's funny.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
All those are pretty big communities.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I know that congressional districts are divided based upon the
population of the state and how many how many uh
members of Congress we have, but I didn't that's a
pretty big district and also a pretty densely populated district.
Let me get one more call in for your congress women.
We have Rob in South Boston. Rob, you were next
on nice side with Massachusetts Congressman and Laurie Trahan from
(16:30):
the third Congressional district talking about the Stuart healthcare crisis
and how it gets solved if possible.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Go ahead, Rob, how you doing there and thanks for
taking my call. I mean, this is a total disaster
and uh, I mean it seems like that the two
hospitals were held out of the transaction of the eight
and it was basically the bankruptcy court saying that they
(16:56):
couldn't take those two hospitals. But we we're hearing now,
is that the state is you know, it doesn't have
any solutions or exhausted solutions. But I want to maybe
an idea kind of similar to when Havevid Pilgrim got
into trouble and I think the state took it over
(17:18):
in state receivership.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Well, again, we're talking with a member of Congress here, Rob,
But if you if you just put a fine point
in that question for the congressman, I'd appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Go ahead.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
Well, the thing is, I mean, Dan, we have to
come up with a solution.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Feel free to ask the congressman whatever question you want
to get you to a question to do well.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
I think I'm part of lawry is maybe lobby uh
the governor.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Okay, let's get asked.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Well, okay, that's fair enough, that's a that's a question.
Let's see if we get the congressman to respond to that.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Congresswoman, yeah, no, thank you for the for the question.
I mean, my understanding is that they weren't qualified bidders
for Nashoba Valley and Carnie. I mean, that's certainly disappointing
because of how critical these facilities are, and it's devastating
for our communities, and we have an obligation to do
everything possible to keep these community hospitals open, keep the doctors,
(18:18):
nurses staff paid, and keep all those services online for patients.
I'll tell you Governor Heally and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, they've
remained committed to that goal since day one of this crisis.
They know how much work is ahead of us. I
think the next step in that process is seeing what
happens on Friday with the bankruptcy court hearing, where we
expect to learn the prospective buyers of Stewart's remaining hospitals,
(18:42):
and I think that's going to inform what the state
and the DPH can do. I know a lot of
folks are talking about some creative solutions and around what
can happen with all of the hospitals, and I'm definitely
going to be, you know, supporting them on the federal level.
You know, one other thing I'll just say about this,
because you don't talk enough about the accountability and Dan
(19:05):
you mentioned it right before the commercial break. We already
know that Stewart is under federal investigation for their business
dealings overseas in Malta. I believe that investigation should be
expanded to uncover any potential illegal actions taken by Ralph
Dalatori and his fellow executives that are causing this crisis
(19:25):
in Massachusetts and frankly other states with Stuart owned hospitals.
You know, I actually wrote to the Department of Justice
and the Department of Health and Human Services and the FTC,
asking all three agencies to investigate because Stewart's greed is
having widespread impacts on families, not just in my district
but across the state. And I think that's something we
(19:48):
can't lose sight of in terms of having all these
lanes you know, going the local, state and federal, you know,
elected officials kind of working together to make sure people
are held accountable and that this never happens again, no question, Rob.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I know that there was a meeting last night at
Florian Hall in Dorchester, and.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
I believe that the Yeah, I was at the meeting.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Yeah, and Minustinians from the one of our calls last night,
Gregory from Dorchester said it was very disappointing that there
were no solutions offered by by the state, and I
think the representative of the state. It wasn't the governor's office,
but I think it was the representative of the administration
said that there was just no money, uh to.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
To get these hospitals.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
But let's let's wait, I mean, I mean, hopefully, as
Congresswoman Johanna said, we'll get some information on Friday, which might.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
Be one one more note, is nine trillion in any
defund Yeah no.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Yeah, again, I think you should be talking to your
state repent, to your state senator to put some pressure
on the governor's office. But again, thank you for raising
that and getting that.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Information there there.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Okay, I appreciate the call.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Thank you very much, Rob, Congresswoman johan thank you very
much for having spent some time with us tonight. I
want to get you on here more often. Your Congress
that I think really works on behalf of their your constituents.
And uh, I know that this is a big concern
in your district. Yes, the the impact in your district.
(21:24):
So keep us keeping to you whatever you feel and
and and thank you your age. Francis does a great job.
Whenever I talk call, he's he's he's available. He answers
and and when you're not available, he gives me a
pretty clear indication as to why. And uh uh and again,
(21:46):
I think you have a pretty good staff. I will
I will second with.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Yes, I'm one of the lucky ones. Yeah, thank I know,
I know. It's it's all about being able to attract
more people and qualified, empathetic people to the public service.
I'm glad we've got you know, a great team. So
thanks Stan, thanks for having me on. It was really
great chatting with you. And we'll stay on this and
report this is you know, there's going to be a
(22:11):
process and we look forward to you know, coming back
on and sharing our thoughts as more as it developed.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Appreciate it very much. Good luck on Friday. Thank you
very much. Congressman Laurie Trahan, Democratic member of.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
The Congressional delegation from the third Congressional District here in Massachusetts.
When we get back after the news, are going to
talk about two stories today, one in the Boston Globe
about transparency that they find the Heally administration frankly lacking,
and also a star out of the Boston Herald that
(22:44):
did not I'm sure sit well with the Governor's office.
Today we'll pair those stories like like wine and food,
if you will, right after this break at a little
bit after nine thirty. But we thank Congressman Johan for
spending some time with us tonight, and I thank.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
The allers who called in as well.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Back on Nightside right after this, we're changing topics.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on wz Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
So today's been kind of a rough day for the
Heally administration. I woke up this morning and picked up
my Boston Globe at the end of the driveway, and
the front page story in the Boston Globe of an
excellent story written by Stephanie Ebert and Deirdre Fernandez. We've
(23:33):
invited both, or either Stephanie and Deirdre to be on
the program. One is on vacation and I think Stephanie
said she was not available, might have been traveling, But
I want to talk about this tonight. The front page
graphic basically shows the report with a lot of black
(23:54):
lines and essentially says what the state won't say about
the shelter crisis. As I have read this story several
times today, six hundred serious incidents have been reported by
the state to the state by providers who run the
shelters since January of twenty twenty three, so that's less.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Than twenty months ago.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Forty complaints have been submitted by shelter families and staff
at that time. So there's all sorts of problems with this.
In addition to the fact that the contract, one of
many the Boston Globe requested last spring to examine how
the state is spending about one billion dollars a year
in emergency selters, was provided in July with the name
(24:36):
of the vendor blackedout.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
This is according to the Globe.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Now, okay, the secrecy is extreme, even in Massachusetts, a
state with a poor track record of providing government records
for public scrutiny. You know, when folks run for office
in Massachusetts, one of the things they always talk about
is more transparency. Government transparency. You will open up the books.
(25:01):
Sunlight is the greatest disinfected.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
That is what they talk about in these campaigns. But
the Heally administration, according to the Boston Globe, is failing.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Miserably, miserably.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
They started off by saying in August, this is the
first paragraph of the article, just to give you a
sense of it, and the reason that I do this
one is good journalism, and two I want to give
credit to whatever media source does the work. In this case,
I did the work of reading this story in the
(25:35):
Globe this morning, But the reporters who did the work,
and the staff, Stephanie Ebert and Deeeder Fernandez, they have
done a piece here that needs to be read by.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
All of you, and some of you, I know don't
get the Globe.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
In August of twenty twenty three, so that would be
a year ago, a state housing official signed a contract
to rent one hundred and forty nine hotel rooms to
homeless families at taxpairy spence. With a spiraling homeless crisis,
an influx of migrants, and the state shelters past capacity,
(26:09):
the urgency was clear. The state agreed to spend sixteen
point three million dollars at the hotel through the end
of June, so that would have been.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Let's see, that would have been eight.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Months, four hundred thousand dollars of it before the deal
was even finalized, so the state was paying money even
before the deal was finalized. Who got paid the state
won't say. The contract one of many the Boston Globe
requested last spring twenty twenty four to examine how the
(26:44):
state is spending about a billion dollars a year in
emergency shelters. Was provided in July with the name of
the vendor blackedout. That's what we are talking about. The
story went on. It's really an interesting story. It talks
about all of the frustration that they have. Now the
state of course uses as an excuse, well, we want
to make sure that people are protected and we don't
(27:07):
want any sort of violence. Well, you can have protests,
and there have been some protests, and there have been
some protests by some nasty groups of people. But that's
why police exist in communities and why the state police exist,
to make sure that people have a right to voice
their concerns peacefully, peacefully and without intimidating individuals. So here's
(27:34):
a couple of paragraphs that I want to share with you.
This is the frustration that the Boston Globe now feels
towards the Healy administration, an administration of the Globe proudly
endorsed just a couple of years ago. The state classifies
any sort of media involvement in its shelter system a
(27:54):
quote serious incident, requiring that the provider, meaning the person
who is getting the money from the state, file a
report with the housing agency as they would for police,
fire or ambulance calls, or if there was an accident
that triggered a hospital admission. The result has been uncommon
security and suspicion by providers. So in May, a Globe reporter,
(28:18):
obviously one of the two reporters who wrote this piece,
tried to interview the owner of a motor lodge along
Route one in Saugus. The reporter was issued a no
trespass order and to stay off the property. So much
for the unfettered practice of the First Amendment. In Massachusetts,
(28:39):
when a website reported that someone accused of raping a
child had been transferred from a family shelter to one
for individual homeless adults, the director of the Self Middlesex
Opportunity Council that runs the shelter declined to explain its
policy for admitting someone accused of a sex crime. Instead,
that spokesperson referred the Globe to Kevin O'Connor. Kevin Connor,
(28:59):
the state House spokesperson, He acknowledged his agency is not
in charge of eligibility at those adult shelters. Many of
which have a low threshold for enrollment, which means anyone
can get in, even people who are active drug addicts,
and except individuals kicked out of the state run family
shelter program. When a Globe reporter reached out to Bob
Clement with Park Lodge Hotel Group, a broker that the
(29:23):
state is paying to help find hotel rooms, okay, he
said he'd be happy to talk, but couldn't. The state
has explicitly asked vendors to refer their press inquiase to Connor,
he said. Only after hearing back from the state did
Clement answer questions. Even town officials have been rebuffed when
(29:45):
they request information. They're not being upfront. They're hiding behind
legal language, said Kelly Douner, a councilor city councilor in Taunton,
where the city's only hotel is serving as a homeless shelter.
The bottom line is this, We deserve transparency. It is
(30:05):
not the Healey administration who is using their money. They're
not using the committee to elect more Healey's money to
shelter the migrants who are being a courage to come
to Massachusetts. They're being sheltered by taxpayer money. I think
most of us understand that, okay, and because taxpayer money
is involved, there should be transparency.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Now. The same day that.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
The Globe, much to their credit, took on the Healey
administration for their lack of transparency, the Boston Herald data
piece by Chris van Buskirk about what they call the
Grand Hotel Tab that the Governor's Office of Governor Healy
has spent thousands on high end accommodations four soiren five
(30:55):
star hotels. We're going to get to all of that,
but my question to you is pretty simple. Do you
think that the Healy administration has the right to hold
back from the public information about where the money is
being spent, how it's being spent, who's benefiting from the money,
so that we can make sure that these decisions that
(31:17):
are being made as to which hotels are receiving how
much money, are being made fairly, openly and honestly. Or
do you agree that the Healthy administration has a right
to keep the public totally in the dark, absolutely totally
in the dark over these financial decisions that now are
(31:39):
going to be about a billion dollars a year to
house people who are coming into the state under what circumstances,
we have no idea. I'd like to open these lines up,
and I'd like to talk about this for a while.
And I hope that you are as upset as I am.
And I also want to congratulate the Globe. The Globe
has really done a great job here real journalism in
(32:01):
the Boston Globe, which they are able to do. There's
no doubt about that. Taking on an administration that the
Globe has been pretty supportive of and that the Globe
endorsed in the last gubernatorial election six one, seven, two, five,
four ten thirty, six one seven, nine three one ten
thirty or triple eight nine to nine, ten thirty. This
is about transparency, It's about your tax money. It's about
(32:24):
policy decisions that are being made that may or may
not be good policy decisions. And the only way that
we can judge the value of these these decisions is
to have as much information as possible during this conversation.
I think it's an important one. We'll be back on
Nightside after this quick break.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
By the way, just to touch upon the story in
The Herald today which sort of a one two punch
to the administration, and the Herald is trends to be
more critical of the Heally administration and the Globe, and
the Globe story is just an incredibly well documented story,
But in the Herald story the headline Grand Hotel tab
(33:14):
Heley's office spent thousands on high end accommodations basically destroyed
by Chris van Buskirk, Governor more. Heley's office state at
four and five star hotels across the world multiple times
last fiscal year, racking up thousands on taxpayer funded credit
cards for swanky digs, according to data provided the Herald
through a public records request. I guess there's no way
that they could redact those decisions, one of which was
(33:41):
a trip to Quebec. They stayed the healthy administration personnel
stayed at this luxury hotel, the Fairmont Leschatel Frontenac.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I have been. I've never stayed there, but I have
been to Quebec. That is as.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Expensive a hotel as you will find in There's no
doubt about that. And it just goes on and on
and on. The State police also stayed. The Massachusetts State
Police stayed at the Chateau Frontenac. This is a problem
that all of these administrations have, A spokesperson for the
(34:19):
Massachusetts Republican Party said, imagine and trusting someone with your finances,
expecting them to improve your life, only to discover they're
indulging themselves in lavish accommodations around the world. That's exactly
what Governor Healy's doing with your tax dollars or arrogance
and blatant disregard for the people she's supposed to serve
in shocking. It just it's interesting. In Rome, they stayed
(34:43):
at the Meridian Visconti, a four star hotel that the
ownership describes as a luxury escape. The record show the
governor's office spent just over fourteen thousand dollars at the
hotel during the trip, the officials said, totaled just over
thirty thousand dollars. I believe is that is when she
when to meet the pope in Rome. Let's go to
the phone call is going to go to Stephen Weston.
(35:04):
Stephen and Weston first up this summer nights.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Like righthead Stephen, Hi, Dan, thanks for taking my call,
our first time call a long time listener.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Well, thank you very much. It's always fascinating to me.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
What gets people to the telephone. Give you a run
of applause here from a digital studio audience. Go right ahead, Steve.
Speaker 6 (35:25):
So So, my comment was more about the housing the migrants.
But but what you're talking about about the about the
Healy administration. You know, I'm a you know, small business
owner in Massachusetts, and I you know, I would like
to see on those trips, what did they accomplish, you know,
you know, if they're if they're you know, using all
(35:47):
these funds, all these tax bay funds, and you know,
for these lavish digs. You know, Okay, well, you know,
what did you accomplish on that trip? And what did
you do for the tax pase of the of the
state And if they and if they can justify some
you know, and and the reality is they they probably
did little to nothing for the tax payers of the state,
(36:08):
and they indult as you said, they indulge themselves.
Speaker 9 (36:11):
But well, there there was a spokesperson for the Healthy
administration who said, many of the trips this is quoting
from the globe, the governor or her staff have take,
have took, have offered opportunities to build political and economic ties.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
With other elected officials or business communities.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
You know, that's that's public relations speak.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
That doesn't tell me what was accomplished.
Speaker 6 (36:37):
It's it's complete double speak. And then and and and unfortunately, unfortunately,
you know, the silent majority that that we are we
we we just we keep accepting this and it's unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Just government, keep your government of same people. So tell
us about your your reaction. Look, we're spending a billion
dollars on migrants coming into the state. No effort has
been made to cut back that spending. And all we
want to know is what hotels are benefiting from this,
(37:11):
how much money is involved, what.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Services are being provided.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
You know, we talk about a few thousand people that
are being accommodated, five six thousand people, but it's a
billion dollars a year. That's insane.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (37:27):
I can tell you for personal knowledge that there are
motels out there that, prior to this crisis were lucky
if they were at fifty or sixty percent occupancy at
you know, one hundred and fifty one hundred and twenty
(37:49):
five dollars a night, yep. And now they're at one
hundred percent occupancy and the state is paying them four
times that in some.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Cases, I have seen that, and I concurrect with everything
you've said there. Uh, And that's the information the Globe
was seeking. And that's the information that the Heaally administration
is withholding.
Speaker 6 (38:11):
Yes, and and and and that is you know, that
is straight from the course's mouth that I that I've
received that information. And it's really it's really egrievous. And
and you know, to that, to the you know, to
the to the owner that had indicated that to me,
you know, they they were you know, they they they
(38:34):
frankly felt guilty about it, but they said, if we
don't take it, others.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Will absolutely and absolutely.
Speaker 6 (38:42):
And how can you how can you blame the business?
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Steve, Let me do this. I don't want to cut
you short. Can I hold you over to the next hour.
I got to take the newscast. My my producers tell
I mean we got to break. Let me hold you
over here because I'd like to get a little bit
more information from me in this.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Okay, Can you hold absolutely? We'll take you right after
the ten o'clock news.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
If you'd like to jump on board six one seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty
This is an important subject.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Please do not pass up this opportunity to call
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