>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": WITH INCREASING VACCINE HESITANCY AND AN EVEN GREATER DISREGARD FOR MASKS AND DISTANCING, COULD IT BE REPUBLICAN MEN WHO STAND IN THE WAY OF HERD IMMUNITY IN OUR COUNTRY?

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL'S DR. VANESSA KERRY JOINS ME.

THEN, LATER, BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE ON WHY SHE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR THIS FALL.

I'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY THE OWNER OF CAMBRIDGE'S BAGELSAURUS, WHOSE BAYxDÑi BAGELSAURUS, WHOSE BAGLES WERE JUST NAMED AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION.

AND, FINALLY, THE GREAT YO-YO MA DECIDES TO GIVE BACK A LITTLE, JUST AFTER GETTING HIS VACCINE, THE BEST WAY HE KNOWS HOW.

>>> SINCE EVEN BEFORE COVID VACCINES GOT APPROVAL FOR USE, MANY EXPERTS HAD WARNED THAT VACCINE HESITANCY WOULD BE AMONG THE BIGGEST BATTLES IN REACHING HERD IMMUNITY BUT IN RECENT WEEKS, HESITANCY HAS BEEN DECLINING, PARTICULARLY AMONG BLACK AMERICANS.

IN FACT, A NEW POLL SHOWS IT'S WHITE AMERICANS WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET A COVID SHOT THESE DAYS, WITH ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR HOLDING OUT THE MOST: REPUBLICAN MEN, NEARLY 50% OF WHOM NOW SAY THEY WILL NOT GET THE VACCINE WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO THEM, UP FOUR POINTS FROM LAST FALL.

THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME GROUP LEADING THE CHARGE IN ROLLING BACK RESTRICTIONS IN STATES LIKE TEXAS AND FLORIDA.

THE LATTER OF WHICH SAW LARGE SPRING BREAK CROWDS OVER THE WEEKEND, WITH LITTLE TO NO DISTANCING OR MASK-WEARING IN SIGHT, PROMPTING THIS WARNING FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE C.D.C.

: >> I'M PLEADING WITH YOU FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATION'S HEALTH.

CASES CLIMBED LAST SPRING, THEY CLIMBED AGAIN IN THE SUMMER, AND THEY WILL CLIMB NOW IF WE STOP TAKING PRECAUTIONS WHEN WE GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> Braude: I'M JOINED BY DR. VANESSA KERRY, DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL PUBLIC POLICY AND SOCIAL CHANGE PROGRAM AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, A PHYSICIAN AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL, AND THE C.E.O.

OF THE NON-PROFIT SEED GLOBAL HEALTH.

>> Braude: DR. KERRY, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU, AS ALWAYS.

>> Doctor: THANK YOU, IT IS GREAT TO BE ON AGAIN.

>> Braude: THE G.O.P.

MEN'S NUMBER IS JUST -- IT IS STAGGERING.

IS THIS TRICKLE-DOWN TRUMP.

WE KNOW HE HID THE FACT HE GOT THE VACCINE, AND HE WAS ALWAYS DISMISSIVE OF ALL OF THE COVID PROTOCOLS, MASKS, DISTANCING -- IS IT TRICKLE DOWN TRUMP.

>> Doctor: I THINK IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT IS DRIVING IT.

IT IS CERTAINLY TRICKLE DOWN POLITICS.

AND THE CONTINUING, I THINK, DIVIDE IN OUR COUNTRY ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO RUN OURSELVES, WHO WE'RE GOING TOçó BE, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS IN A PANDEMIC OR IN ANY OF OUR LIVES.

AND SO IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME TO SEE THIS TREND, BUT IT DOES SADDEN ME.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE ONLY WAY THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO GET -- AND THE WORLD IS GOING TO GET BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMAL IS IF WE GET SOME VACCINATION RATE, ABOUT 75% TO 80% OF THE AMERICAN AND GLOBAL POPULATION GETS VACCINATED.

HAVING SUCH A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE BEING UNWILLING TO GET VACCINATED IS GOING TO BE VERY DISRUPTIVE.

I THINK THIS IS POLITICS AT PLAY.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN PLAY, WHICH IS DEMOCRATIC, AND THEY'VE COME OUT IN FORCE, TRYING TO SET NEW MANDATES AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS, AND BEING ABLE TOçó TALK ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES, AND I THINK THIS IS A BIT OF BLOWBACK AGAINST THAT.

AND IT IS GOING TO HURT ALL OF US IF IT DOESN'T STOP.

>> Braude: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF HIGH-PROFILE GUYS WHO WEIGHED IN ON THIS ISSUE THIS WEEKEND.

FIRST HERE IS DR. FAUCI ON "MEET THE PRESS" BEING ASKED IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF DONALD TRUMP WEIGHS IN.

>> Doctor: I HOPE HE DOES.

TO HAVE SUCH A LARGE PROPORTION OF A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE WOULD NOT WANT TO GET VACCINATED MERELY BECAUSE OF POLITICAL CONSIDERATION, IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

>> Braude: NOW THAT WAS YESTERDAY.

TODAY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS ASKED A SIMILAR QUESTION AND HAD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TAKE.

>> Biden: THE THING THAT HAS MORE IMPACT THAN ANYTHING TRUMP WOULD SAY TO THE MAGA FOLKS IS WHAT THE LOCAL DOCTOR, WHAT THE LOCAL PREACHERS, WHAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SAY.

>> Braude: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE, AS A GENERAL MATTER?

IS IT THE BIG BOYS AND GIRLS WE WANT TO HEAR FROM, OR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WE KNOW AND TRUST?

WHO IS THE MOST POWERFUL INFLUENCER.

>> Doctor: HONESTLY, IT IS BOTH.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE LISTEN TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP -- HE ACTUALLY DID COME OUT, ROUGHLY ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND HE SAID EVERYBODY SHOULD GO GET THE SHOT.

>> Braude: HE SAID IT AT C-PAC.

>> Doctor: BUT IF HE COMES OUT MORE PUBLICLY, IT WOULD HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE.

CERTAINLY WHEN LOCAL LEADERS RALLY, THEIR FOLLOWERS WILL LISTEN TO THEM.

PART OF MY WORK IS I RUN GLOBAL HEALTH, AND WE WORK IN AFRICAN CONTINENTS.

IN WEST AFRICA DURING THE EBOLA OUTBREAK, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS TO CHANGE CULTURE TO DISRUPT THE EBOLA TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE WASHING DEAD BODIES, AS WAS THE CUSTOMS IN THEIR RELIGION AND COUNTRY, AND THE IMANS SAID WE GET THIS IS CULTURE, BUT OUR LIVES DEPEND ON OUR BEING WILLING TO LET GO OF THIS TRADITION, AND GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU WILL BLESS YOU GOING FORWARD WITH THIS.

SO WE KNOW LOCAL LEADERSHIP MATTERS.

IF FOLKS WANT TO BE SAFE, FE FOLKSIF FOLKS WANT A NORMAL FOURTH OF JULY, IF WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL, WE HAVE TO GET VACCINATED.

I'VE SEEN MY COLLEAGUES BEING MORE EXHAUSTED THAN ME, AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ THE ARTICLES ABOUT THE TEXAS NURSES AND DOCTORS, WHO WATCHED THEIR GOVERNOR TOOK AWAY THE MASK MANDATE.

THEY HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED.w3 AND THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES, AND THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHICH IS ANOTHER SURGE.

WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

THE REALITY IS WE'RE IN A PLATEAU RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING WE'RE GOING TO START TO SEE THAT PICK UPWARDS AGAIN.

THAT DOES HAPPEN, WE COULD BE IN TROUBLE.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE LONGER THIS VIRUS IS ALLOWED TO TRANSMIT UNCHECKED WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING VACCINATED, THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE TO GET THE VARIANTS THAT CAN BE DEADLIER, MORE CONTAGIOUS, AND COULD THWART THE VACCINE AND DISRUPT ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>> Braude: DR. KERRY, I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY.

WHATEVER THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER.

SOME PEOPLE SAY 75%, SOME SAY 80%, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, LET'S ASSUME THERE IS THIS HUGE BLOCK OF REPUBLICAN MEN WHO DON'T MOVE AND THEY'RE JOINED BY THE TRADITIONAL ANTI-VACCERS, IF WE DON'T REACH HERDçó IMMUNITY -- THE ISSUE IS WHEN, NOT IF -- BUT IF WE DON'T REACH HERD IMMUNITY, WHAT HAPPENS?

>> Doctor: IF WE DON'T REACH HERD IMMUNITY, THEN COVID IS STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT AT A RATE THAT PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO GET INFECTED, WILL CONTINUE TO PRESENT TO THE HOSPITAL, AND WILL DIE.

THE REALITY IS THE VACCINES RIGHT NOW, AT THIS TIME, ALL SEEM TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATION, SEVERE ILLNESS, AND DEATH.

AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN OVERWHELMING OR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING SCREENED FOR CANCER, AND DISRUPTING CARDIOVASCULAR CARE.

IF WE DON'T GET TO HERD IMMUNITY, NOT ONLY WILL THAT CONTINUED AND COVID WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO STRESS THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUR ECONOMY ON TRACK, AND SCHOOLS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REOPEN RELIABLY, AND VARIANTS WILL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP.

AND WHAT VARIANTS ARE IS THAT COVID IS ABLE, JUST BY CHANCE, BY SHEAR LUCK, IT MUTATES.

AND IF IT MUTATES IN A WAY TO EVADE THE VACCINE, OR TO BE DEAD LEAVE, DEADLIER, IT CAN ESCAPE.

AND IF IT REPRODUCES MORE, IT SPREADS MORE.

AND IT IS ONE OF THE OCCASIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT AND THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE, AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HAD TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THE VACCINES DIDN'T WORK AGAINST THE VARIANTS.

SO IF IT DOES THAT, IF YOU'RE VACCINATED OR NOT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE'RE IN COVID MATTER AGAIN, WE'RE DOING THIS ALL OVER AGAIN, WE'RE MASKED AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SEEING OUR LOVED ONES, AND WE'RE WARNING PEOPLE.

THAT'S A REAL REALITY IF WE DON'T GET OURSELVESçó TO HERD IMMUNITY NOW.

WE ARE RACING THE CLOCK, AND I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.

>> Braude: BECAUSE I DON'T DO WHAT YOU DO, I CAN ENGAGE IN SOMETHING I'M SURE YOU CONDEMN, WHICH IS VACCINE SHAMING, AND I KNOW YOU WON'T DO IT, PEOPl BELIEVE IN IT.

BUT ARE THERE TIMES WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN YOUR HOUSE WHEN YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS HERE FOR A SECOND.

WE STILL HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE DYING A WEEK IN THE UNITED STATES FROM THE VIRUS, AND YET AS FAR AS WE KNOW, OF THE TENS OF MILLIONS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE, NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON HAS DIED.

YET THERE STILL IS THIS CONTROVERSY.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?

>> Doctor: WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT IS A VERY COMPLEX ANSWER.

THE REALITY IS, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE POLITICS.

I DON'T JUST SAY THAT IN MY HOUSE.

I SAY THAT ALL OF THE TIME.

NOBODY HAS DIED OF THE VACCINES.

BUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS HAVE DIED OF COVID.

THUNDER IS A REALITY.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMPARISON, THE VACCINES ARE VERY WELL TOLERATED, AND THEY ARE A ROAD TO OUR LIFE AGAIN IN THE WAY THAT WE KNOW IT.

THEY ARE A ROAD TO SAFETY.

TO HEALTH SECURITY, TO ECONOMIC SECURITY, TO NATIONAL SECURITY, OUR INDIVIDUAL SECURITY, AND VACCINES ARE CENTRAL TO THAT.

AND IT IS NOT JUST VACCINES FOR THE U.S., BUT VACCINES TO FOR THE WHOLE GLOBE.

BECAUSE IF A VARIANT COMES FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AND INVADES THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

BUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH US, I THINK, TRULY IS THAT SCIENCE AND MEDICINE AND THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN POLITICIZED.

IT HAS BECOME A POLITICAL TOOL THAT HAS BEEN USED NOW TO SORT OF BE A STAND OF WHETHER YOUR FOR OR AGAINST.

AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE HUMAN RACE, SHOULD BE FOR OR AGAINST.

ALL OF OUR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE, AND ALL OF OUR FAMILIES ARE ON IN THIS.

OUR ECONOMY IS ON THE LINE IN THIS.

THE WAY WE WANT TO LIVE.

WE ALL WANT TO BE FREE AGAIN AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUR FAMILIES AND TO CELEBRATE AND DO THINGS.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS TOGETHER, WE'RE ALL GOING TO SUFFER TOGETHER.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S THAT POLITICALIZATION OF THIS PANDEMIC THAT IS GOING TOçó BE ONE OF THE GREATEST TRAGEDIES, IÑi THINK, OF OUR TIMES.

>> Braude: I, FOR ONE, AM FOR LIVING.

VANESSA KERRY, GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: A WEEK FROM TODAY THE U.S. SENATE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON CURRENT BOSTON MAYOR MARTY WALSH'S NOMINATION AS LABOR SECRETARY.

AND ASSUMING HE'S CONFIRMED, SHORTLY AFTER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KIM JANEY WILL TAKE OVER AS THE FIRST BLACK AND THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR OF BOSTON FOR THE REMAINDER OF WALSH'S TERM.

WHILE SHE'S GETTING USED TO THE JOB, A BUNCH OF OTHERS WANT IT THEMSELVES, INCLUDING LONGTIME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHIEF JOHN BARROS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JON SANTIAGO, AND CITY COUNCILORS MICHELLE WU, ANDREA CAMPBELL, AND ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE.

THE DORCHESTER DEMOCRAT HAS REPRESENTED THE CITY AS AN AT-LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER SINCE 2016.

SHE'S ALSO THE OWNER OF THE DORCHESTER YARN AND FABRICS STORE, STITCH HOUSE, AND A FORMER SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AT EAST BOSTON HIGH.

ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: COUNCILOR, IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> Braude: SO IT IS A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE CREW, I MUST SAY, OF THOSE ANNOUNCED SO FAR.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE RACE THAT THE OTHERS DON'T?

>> I SAY FOR ME AND MY CANDIDACY IT ISçó ABOUT MY WORK BUILDING A BUSINESS, MY WORK AND TIME IN THE CLASSROOM AT EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR 13 YEARS, AND THE WORK I'VE DONE ON THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL OVER THESE LAST FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OR SO.

>> Braude: WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU'VE DONE IN THE FIVE AND A HALF YEARS ON THE COUNCIL?

>> I'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS I'M VERY PROUD OF, BUT MY WORK AROUND OUR SCHOOLS AND AROUND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS ACROSS THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF MY WORK INFORMING IN FORMING THE SPECIAL COMMISSION HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO END FAMILY HOMELESSNESS.

OVER THE LAST FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, I'VE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF MY TIME FOCUSED ON THAT WORK, AND I'M PROUD OF IT.

AND WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO, OF COURSE, TO END FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY AND OUR STATE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I'M PROUD OF AND FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON.

>> Braude: YOU SAID THE OTHER DAY ON CHANNEL 5, IF MARTY WALSH HAD RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE RUN.

HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS OVERALL JOB PERFORMANCE?

>> MAYOR WALSH HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS AND IMPACT THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON OUR CITY, OUR RESIDENTS, ON OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I'M GRATEFULñr FOR THE SERVICE.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT ADVENTURE FOR HIM.

BUT THE PARTNERSHIP I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE WITH HIM OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO TOGETHER AND IN PARTNERSHIP AND THE THINGS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH HIM ON -- I WORKED WITH THE MAYOR TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A FULL-TIME NURSE IN EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

I'VE WORKED WITH HIM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND OBVIOUSLY WORKED WITH HIM TO PASS A NEEDLE ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN RETURN SHOTS TO THEIR LOCAL PHARMACY, AND THIS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ON THE SPECIAL COMMISSION TO END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HIM, ME AS MAYOR AND HIM AS LABOR SECRETARY.

>> Braude: AS I MENTIONED, YOU WERE A TEACHER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

HOW WOULD YOU RATE MARTY WALSH ON THE SCHOOLS?Ñi ACHIEVEMENT GAP IS EMBARRASSING AND DESCTRUCT DISTINCTIVE.

HOW DID HE DO IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

AND WE NEED TO DEFINITELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, DO BETTER FOR OUR KIDS.

WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THIS LAST YEAR AS KIDS ARE NOW RETURNING SLOWLY BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT GAP CONTINUES TO WIDEN.

WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS DURING THIS TIME AND THROUGH THE TIME OF TRANSITION.

ESPECIALLY AS WE PLAN AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE BOTH THE ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND THE OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES THAT OUR SCHOOLS DELIVER TO OUR KIDS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

I HAVE BEEN, AND I'VE HELD OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE MAYOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE FAILED OUR KIDS.

BUT, AGAIN, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOME GREAT STRIDES IN THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, BUT IN PARTICULAR MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE OFFERING BOTH A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM AND THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORT SERVICES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR TEACHERS, FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

>> Braude: YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT THE TEACHERS' UNIONS, INCLUDING THE BOSTON TEACHERS' UNION, VOTED TO DELAY THE OPENING OF "K" THROUGH 12, AND BEYOND THE DATE THE STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER HAS SET UNDER HIS NEW POWERS.

DO YOU SUPPORT THAT?

>> I WILL TELL YOU I WANT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND FULL-TIME.

BUT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING IT SAFELY, THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THIS WORK THOUGHTFULLY, AND FOR SURE CONSIDERING THE SCIENCE.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT SO MANY OF OUR KIDS HAVE BEENçó IN SCHOOLS FULL-TIME SINCE SEPTEMBER.

AND IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, A NUMBER OF OUR HIGH-NEEDS KIDS HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL SINCE SEPTEMBER.

SMALL BREAK, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE MIDDLE, BUT TODAY MORE KIDS HAVE RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOMS.

NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEKS AFTER, MORE KIDS WILL COME TO THE CLASSROOM.

WE NEED TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE OUR KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE SMARTLY.

>> Braude: SO DO YOU SUPPORT THE DELAY THAT THEY'RE ADVOCATING FOR, OR YOU DON'T?

>> I SUPPORT BEING FOSSIL ABOUT REOPENING SCHOOLS.

AND I WANT TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

I WILL SAY, AND SORT OF THIS IS A COMPLEX SITUATION, FOR SURE.

I WANT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME IMMEDIATELY.

I WANT MY OWN CHILDREN IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME IMMEDIATELY, BUT WE DO HAVE TO PROCEED WITH A CERTAIN CAUTION AND A CERTAIN ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY PLANS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE.

SOME OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE TIGHT.

SOME OF OUR CLASSROOMS ARE SMALL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THAT.

AND I WANT DO DO TO DO IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND WE CERTAINLY NEED RESOURCES TO GET THERE.

WE HAVE TO GET THERE SOON.

OUR KIDS ARE DESPERATE FOR IT, BOTH ACADEMICALLY, AND ALSO EMOTIONALLY.

OUR KIDS ARE IN PAIN, HURTING, AND DISCONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO.

>> Braude: COUNCILOR, WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT.

AT ONE POINT BOSTON WANTED THE OLYMPICS, AND AFTER THAT, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AT WHYDET CIRCLE, AND NOW IT SEEMS WE MAY END WITH A WAREHOUSE.

IS THAT A GOOD USE OF THE CITY?

>> WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE WANT THE GATEWAY OF OUR CITY TO LOOK LIKE.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC CITY, THAT INCLUDES SHINY NEW BUILDINGS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN WELCOME VISITORS TO OUR CITY IN A VERY APPROPRIATE WAY.

WE HAVE TO TAKE A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT THAT PROPOSAL, AT THAT DEVELOPMENT, AND WHAT WE WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.

>> Braude: CAN YOU IMAGINE ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH AN AMAZON WAREHOUSE IS A WELCOMING GATEWAY TO THE CITY OF BOSTON?

>> IT IS REALLY HARD TO IMAGINE.

>> Braude: IS THAT A NO OR A YES?

>> IT IS REALLY HARD TO IMAGINE HOW THAT COULD BE AN APPROPRIATE GATEWAY TO OUR CITY.

>> Braude: ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE, I WISH YOU LUCK.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> THANKS, JIM.

>> Braude: NEXT UP, NEW YORK HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED THE HOME OF AMERICA'S BEST BAGELS.

BUT NOW "FOOD AND WINE" MAGAZINE IS CHALLENGING THAT MONOPOLY STATUS, ACCUSING NEW YORKERS OF SETTLING FOR MEDIOCRITY, WHILE A NEW GENERATION OF AMERICAN BAKERS FIGURED OUT JUST HOW EASY IT WAS TO GET INTO THE GAME.

AND THEIR LIST OF BEST INCLUDES SHOPS IN OREGON, L.A., KENTUCKY, NORTH DAKOTA, AND LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM WHERE I'M SITTING, BAGELSAURUS IN CAMBRIDGE.

OWNER AND BAKER MARY TING HYATT JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: MARY, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Braude: I LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY FOR 15YEARS.

EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY NIGHT I WOULD GET IN LINE AT H AND H BAGELS, AND THEN GET THE SUNDAY "NEW YORK TIMES."

WHAT IS IT ABOUT A BAGEL?

I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE I DID IT EACH WEEK.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT A BAGEL?

>> I HAVE GREAT MEMORIES ABOUT BAGELS, TOO, AND I GREW UP IN BALTIMORE, WHICH IS NOTçó THE CAPITOL OF BAGELS.

BUT I HAVE THE SAME KIND OF FOND MEMORIES.

YEAH.

MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE CHEWINESS AND THE CREAM CHEESE AND HOW YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY.

>> Braude: THOSE ARE BOTH GOOD.

THE SHARING IS NOT MY KIND OF THING, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE I'M WITH YOU ON.

WHY BAGELSAURUS?

WHAT SETS YOU GUYS APART?

>> WELL, WHEN WE SET OUT TO CREATE OUR BAGEL RECIPE, MY GOAL WAS JUST TO MAKE THE EXACT BAGEL THAT I WANTED TO EAT.

AND WHILE I GREW UP EATING A LOT OF BAGELS, AND I ALWAYS LIKED TO TRY DIFFERENT BAGEL SHOPS, I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE.

EITHER IT IS A LITTLE TOO DENSE AND HEAVY, OR THERE IS NO CHEW TO IT, OR IT DOESN'T HAVE A CRISP ENOUGH CRUST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE WEREN'T SETTING OUT TO -- WE WEREN'T SETTING OUT TO BE A JEWISH DELI OR A REPLICA OF A NEW YORK BAGEL SHOP.

WE JUST WANTED TO CREATE A GREAT BAGEL SHOP FOR CAMBRIDGE.

>> Braude: AND YOU HAVE.

IS BAGEL A COMFORT FOOD?

I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT UNTIL I KNEW YOU WERE COMING ON.

IT IS A COMFORT FOOD, ISN'T IT?

>> I THINK SO, FOR SURE, YEAH.Ñi >> Braude: COMFORT FOODS, I'M ASSUMING -- I HAVEN'T SEEN THE STATISTICS -- HAVE EXPLODED DOING A PANDEMIC, WHEN COMFORT IS WHAT EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR, AND SAFETY.

SO IT FITS THE TIME PERFECTLY, DOES IT NOT?

>> YEAH.

I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT LIKE THAT, BUT, YES, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU.

YEAH, DEFINITELY A COMFORT FOOD, AND PEOPLE SEEM TO BE REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO GET IT.

>> Braude: HOW ARE YOU DONE, BY THE WAY -- IT HAS BEEN A YEAR, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW THIS FAR BETTER THAN I, AND HOW HAVE YOU DONE AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THIS YEAR AS A BUSINESS?

>> YEAH.

IT HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

WE CLOSED EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, IT WAS OUR LAST DAY IN BUSINESS BEFORE WE DECIDED TO CLOSE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND AT THAT POINT WE WERE STILL IN THE DARK ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, MAYBE WE'LL TAKE A TWO-WEEK BREAK, LIKE THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS.

OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AND WE STAYED CLOSED COMPLETELY FOR A MONTH.

AND THEN WHEN WE OPENED AGAIN, IT WAS VERY SLOWLY.

WE JUST DID ONE DAY A WEEK, A COUPLE OF BAKERS CAME IN.

WE WERE NERVOUS TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

THERE WAS ALL OF THIS MESSAGING ABOUT DISTANCING AND SO WE ONLY HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WORKING.

AND WE WOULD DO ONE DAY A WEEK PRE-ORDERS FOR BOTH BAGELS, AND WE WOULD SELL OUT ONLINE INSTANTLY.

IT WAS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING FOR COSTUMERS, BUT WE WEREN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT WE COULD DO, SO WE STARTED VERY SLOWLY.

AND THEN IT MOVED TO TWO DAYS A WEEK, TO THREE DAYS A WEEK, AND NOW WE KIND OF HAVE OUR NORMAL MENU BUT NOBODY COMES IN THE SHOP.

SO IT IS ALL TAKEOUT AND WE HAVE A PICKUP WINDOW.

SO IT IS PRETTY DIFFERENT.

AND ONLINE ORDERING AND NOBODY IS COMING IN.

A LOT OF CHANGES.

>> Braude: HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING, FROM HOW YOU DEAL WITH YOUR CO-WORKERS TO HOW YOU MARKET YOUR PRODUCT THAT WILL SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> I DO KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT FROM THE BEGINNING THAT BEING ADAPT TABLEADAPTABLE IS SUPER IMPORTANT, AND THIS YEAR CERTAINLY CHALLENGED THAT.

BEFORE WE STARTED, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE AN ONLINE MENU.

AND NOW I'M NOT SURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

SO I'M SORT OF THINKING AHEAD TO HOW WILL THIS LOOK LIKE HOPEFULLY IN SIX MONTHS, WHEN THINGS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT?

WILL WE BE CONTINUING HOW WE'RE OPERATING NOW WITH THE ONLINE MENU AND PEOPLE PICKING UP AND THEN ALSO INTEGRATING PEOPLE COMING INTO THE SHOP?

WILL WE EVEN HAVE SEATING INSIDE THE SHOP AGAIN?

I'M NOT SURE.

BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS ARE DIFFERENT WITHIN THE SHOP.

THERE IS A LOT OF COLLABORATION AMONG THE STAFF THAT DIDN'T EXACTLY EXIST BEFORE.

BECAUSE WE'RE ALL -- OUR METHOD IS JUST SORT OF STREAMLINED NOW.

>> Braude: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PUT ON A BAGEL?

>> OH, MY FAVORITE THING?

A BAGEL WITH BUTTER IS KIND OF MY GO-TO.

EVERYONE LOVES CREAM CHEESE, AND I DO, TOO, BUT A BAGEL WITH BUTTER IS PROBABLY MY FAVOURITE BECAUSE YOU CAN REALLY TASTE EVERYTHING.

>> Braude: PURE AND SIMPLE.

>> Braude: I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE FROM DELAWARE UNTIL YOU SAID IT AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW.

THE KEY QUESTION IS: DOES JOE BIDEN EAT BAGELS, DO WE KNOW?

>> OH, MAN, I HOPE SO.

I WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO COME TO THE SHOP.

HE HAS GOT TO EAT BAGELS.

HE LOVES ICE CREAM.

SO HE MUST LOVE COMFORT FOOD.

>> Braude: HE DOES?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> Braude: MARY, I'M GLAD YOU'RE ALIVE AND WELL, AND I WISH YOU LUCK.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECOGNITION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.xD >> Braude: AND FINALLY TONIGHT, ONE BRIGHT SPOT THAT MADE MY WEEKEND AND I'M SURE THAT OF A FEW OTHERS.

NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE RETURN OF SUNLIGHT WITH DAYLIGHT SAVINGS, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FAMED CELLIST YO-YO MA, WHO, AFTER GETTING HIS SECOND COVID VACCINE DOSE AT BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PLAYED A SURPRISE CONCERT FOR THOSE WAITING IN THE 15-MINUTE OBSERVATION AREA.

♪♪ >> Braude: HE TOLD RICHARD HALL OF THE BERKSHIRE COVID-19 VACCINE COLLABORATION THAT HE WANTED TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK.

AND THAT HE DID.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU ALL HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE DO SO WITH THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

I'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND STAY SAFE.

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LITTLE MORE FROM YO-YO MA.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Braude: HE TOLD RICHARD HALL ♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.