Nov. 5, 2009 : Michael Flaherty's next career move

;
; 11/05/09 7:59 PM
;
;;;;GB

Closed Captioning
brought to you by AFLAC:
Ask about it at work.
>> TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON,
BEATEN BUT NOT DEFEATED.
CITY COUNCILER MICHAEL
FLAHERTY PONDERS HIS
POLITICAL FUTURE.
PLUS OXYCONTIN AND HEROIN,
WHY DRUG OVERDOSES IN THE
STATE ARE SKYROCKETING AND
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.
AND JARED BOWEN GOES CENTER
STAGE WITH THREE NEW
PRODUCTIONS INCLUDING DAVID
MAMET'S SEED THE PLOW.
-- SPEED THE PLOW.
>> Rooney: GOOD EVENING.
HE'S BEEN ON THE SPOT SINCE
CITY COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS
AND HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR
MAYOR OF BOSTON FOR THE PAST
YEAR.
NOW MICHAEL FLAHERTY IS A
FREE AGENT.
TUESDAY NIGHT FLAHERTY LOST
TO TOM MENINO 57-42% AS THE
MAYOR WAS RE-ELECTED IT TO
AN UNPRECEDENTED FIFTH TERM.
AND MICHAEL FLAHERTY IS
HERE.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD TO BE BACK.
>> Rooney: TOTALLY RELAXED.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THE
LAST 24 HOURS.
>> SENDING OUT THANK YOU
NOTES AND FIELDING PHONE
CALLS AND E-MAILS FROM FOLKS
WHO WERE EXCITED TO BE PART
OF A REAL COMPETITIVE RACE
FOR MAYOR OF BOSTON.
AND WE RAISED SOME ISSUES
THAT HADN'T BEEN RAISED.
LIKE LIFTING THE CHARTER CAP
AND EMBRACING SOME OF THE
CHARTER SUCCESS STORIES,
LIKE THE NEED TO ENFORCE THE
BOSTON RESIDENCY JOB POLICY
TO PUT PEOPLE FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOODS OF BOSTON TO
WORK AND ALSO TALK ABOUT
DIVERSIFYING THE UPPER
ECHELON OF AT THIS
GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THE
MAYOR'S CABINET.
A LOT OF ISSUES WERE RAISED
AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE
MAYOR HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR,
ALMOST 50,000 PEOPLE VOTED
FOR CHANGE IN BOSTON.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE
PART OF THAT.
AND CLEARLY SETS THE STAGE
FOR THE FUTURE.
>> Rooney: HE SAID HE HEARD
YOU.
IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HE FOCUSED ON IN HIS
VICTORY SPEECH THE OTHER
NIGHT.
DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?
>> WELL, I HOPE SHO.
YOU KNOW, HE WILL BE
STARTING JANUARY 1st WILL BE
HIS 17th YEAR AS MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF BOSTON.
TRY TO MAKE A STRONG CASE
FOR NEW LEADERSHIP, FOR
CHANGE, AND THAT SAID,
CLEARLY DIDN'T GET THE VOTES
THAT NIGHT TO GET IT DONE.
BUT NONETHELESS, IT WAS
STILL A VICTORY THERE
BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO
RAISE THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES
AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL ACCEPT
THAT AND KNOW THAT IN THE
PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS HALF
OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED,
VOTED FOR CHANGE.
AND WE GOT A SIGNIFICANT
VOTE, PROBABLY THE LARGEST
VOTE THAT THE CITY HAS SEEN
AND A CHALLENGE TO
INCUMBENCY.
SO I HOPE HE DOES.
IF NOT THAT PROBABLY MEANS
THAT HE IS RUNNING FOR A
SIXTH FOUR-YEAR TERM.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU HE WILL
HAVE COMPANY ONCE AGAIN.
>> I'M SURE WILL.
>> WATCHING YOUR CONCESSION
SPEECH THE OTHER NIGHT ON
TELEVISION, I THINK I SPEAK
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN I
SAY IT WAS HARD AND IT WAS
SAD.
AND I WAS PARTICULARLY
FOCUSING ON YOUR CHILDREN
WHO LOOKED SO DISAPPOINTED,
SO CRUSHED.
FRANKLY, SO DID YOU.
AND I JUST THOUGHT, WELL,
WERE YOU SURPRISED?
DID YOU THINK IT WOULD BE
CLOSER, DID YOU THINK --
>> WHEN I WOKE UP THAT
MORNING, OBVIOUSLY I SAID TO
MYSELF THAT I HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PUT
MYSELF IN A POSITION TO WIN.
I FELT PROBABLY, OBVIOUSLY,
THE WORSE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
SPORTED ME WHO STOOD WITH ME
AND ALLOWED ME TO BORROW
THEIR CREDIBILITY WITHIN
THEIR SINGLE OF FRIENDS,
FAMILY, THEY PUT STICKERS ON
THEIR CARS, PUT THEY SIGNS
ON TLARNS.
THEY MADE A CONTRIBUTION.
IT ALL TOOK COURAGE.
IT TAKES COURAGE TO RUN
AGAINST THE POWERFUL --.
>> Rooney: OR TO VOTE.
BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK OH MY
GOSH, HE'S GOING TO FIND OUT
AND TAKE IT OUT ON ME.
>> AND THAT'S ALL REALLY.
THAT REALLY SPEAKS FOR THE
INCUMBENTS AND IT TALKS
ABOUT THE NEED FOR TERM
LIMITS.
BUT NONETHELESS, LIKE YOU
SAID, RUNNING AGAINST A 16
YEAR, WITH A MASSIVE
POLITICAL MACHINE, WHEN I GO
TO VOTE I'M STARTING
PROBABLY NEGATIVE 25,000,
MAYBE NEGATIVE 30,000 H THAT
IS CITY EMPLOYEES, THEIR
FAMILIES AND ALSO A LARGE
CHUNK OF OUR SENIORS THAT
SAID.
WE BATTLED BACK THE ENTIRE
DAY.
HAD TURNOUT BEEN A LITTLE
HIGHER IT WAS A HIGH TURNOUT
BUT HAD IT BEEN A LITTLE
HIGHER IT MOST DEFINITELY
WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT
STORY.
THE FACT THAT WE DID AS WELL
AS WE DID AGAINST THE
MACHINE.
AND IF YOU NOTICE HOW WE
CLOSED THE GAP FROM THE
PRELIMINARY.
WE WERE TRENDING UP SHARPLY
BASED ON OUR POLLING AND
TRACKING POLLING
INFORMATION.
AND HE WAS TRENDING DOWN
SHARPLY.
IF I HAD PROBABLY TWO, MAYBE
THREE MORE WEEKS, YOU WOULD
BE LOOKING AT THE NEXT
MAYOR.
>> Rooney: THERE IS ALWAYSA,
COULDA, WOODA.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT WZ WE
HAD DAN PAYNE.
HE THOUGHT YOU HAD YOUR PEAK
WHEN YOU FIRST ANNOUNCED THE
FLOON TICKET, SAM YOON WHO
HAD BEEN RUNING FOR MAYOR,
WHEN YOU PUT HIM ON THE
TICKET WITH YOU, NOT
FORMALLY BUT PUTTING HIM AS
YOUR RUNNING POINT THAT WAS
THE HIGH POINT.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK YOU
CAPITALIZED ON THAT ENOUGH.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN
ADDRESS THAT.
BECAUSE I HAVE TO SAY I FELT
EVEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,
BACK BAY, BEACON VILLAGE
THAT AREA, I DIDN'T FEEL
LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF
PRESENCE ABOUT THE RACE.
DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU -- AND
WITH MENINO TOO.
WHETHER YOU CONCEDED CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS OR HOW THAT
WORKED.
>> NO, WE TOOK NO
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR GRANTED WE
WORKED EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND NOOK AND CRANNY.
SAM STOOD WITH ME.
I REALLY GOT TO KNOW HIM UP
CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
A VERY CAPABLE INDIVIDUAL.
HE CLEARLY ALSO HAS A BRIGHT
FUTURE.
KEEP IN MIND THAT I JUST
TURNED 40.
HE IS ONLY 39, ONLY 39.
AS YOU SAY, IRISH TWINS SO
AGAIN AND IF YOU REMEMBER MY
FIRST RUN FOR OFFICE WAS
BACK IN '95.
AND I LOST.
AND CAME BACK FOUR YEARS
LATER AND DEFEATED THE
LEGENDARY DAPPER O'NEILL.
SO I WILL STAY ACTIVE AND
INVOLVED NOT ONLY IN MY
COMMUNITY BUT IN CIVIC
AFFAIRS ACROSS THE CITY AND
WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY TO
SO WHETHER OR NOT THE MAYOR
IS RESPONSIVE TO THE ISSUES
THAT I RAISED AND FOUGHT FOR
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS
CAMPAIGN.
>> Rooney: WHAT IS ON YOUR
PLATE DO YOU THINK.
IF ATTORNEY GENERAL MARTHA
COAKLEY IS ELECTED TO THE
UNITED STATES SENATE, MIGHT
YOU BE INTEREST INED
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
>> WELL THERE IS OBVIOUSLY
POTENTIAL FOR SEISMIC
POLITICAL CHANGES HAPPENING
CLEARLY WITH THE SENATE RACE
AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE RUNG.
SO YOU KNOW, WON'T RULE
ANYTHING IN OR OUT AT THIS
TIME.
FOR ME IT'S JUST GOING TO
GET BACK AND WITH RESPECT TO
LONNIE AND THE KIDS, I HAVE
TO GET TO HOCKEY RINKS AND
PICK UP THE SLACK.
SHE HAS BEEN GREAT, REALLY
HOLDING THE FORT DOWN.
SO MY FIRST OBLIGATION,
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MY WIFE
AND CHILDREN.
AND THAT SAID, IF THEY KIND
OF GIVE ME PERMISSION TO
ENGAGE AGAIN IN ELECTIVE
OFFICE, THEN I WILL TAKE A
LOOK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> Rooney: WHAT ABOUT THE
WORKFORCE.
I MEAN YOU HAVE TO GET A
JOB.
>> WELL, I'M TRAINED AS A
LITIGATOR AND I'M A PARTNER
WITH THE LAW FIRM OF ADLER
POLAK AND SHAN RIGHT HERE IN
BOSTON AND RHODE ISLAND.
>> Rooney: YOU GO BACK TO
THAT FULL-TIME.
>> THAT IS ABOUT TO GET
RIGHT BACK INTO IT.
AND AGAIN THAT IS WHERE MY
TRAINING AS A FORMER
PROSECUTOR AND ALSO AS A
TRIAL ATTORNEY.
SO THAT IS SORT OF A NATURAL
FOR ME AS YOU SAW DURING THE
DEBATES.
BUT NONETHELESS, MY PASSION,
MY INTEREST IS IN PUBLIC
SERVICE, HELPING PEOPLE.
SO I WILL OBJECT VEYSLY HAVE
TO SHIFT TO ACCOMMODATE AND
TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
BUT THAT SAID I WILL
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE
LANDSCAPE AND YOU KNOW, I
HAD CALLED THE MAYOR THAT
NIGHT TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON
A HARD FOUGHT VICTORY AND
WISHED HIM AND HIS FAMILY
VERY WELL AND HAD MENTIONED
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS
AGAIN IN FOUR YEARS.
>> WHAT DID HE SAY.
>> HE SORT OF CHUCKLED AND
SAID YOU KNOW, HE SAID
THAT --.
>> Rooney: HARD TO THINK
THAT WILL DO THAT AGAIN IN
FOUR YEARS BUT WHO KNOWS.
>> HE SAID HE WAS ONLY GOING
TO SERVE FOR TWO TERMS THEN
A THIRD AND A FOURTH AND A
FIFTH.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS ONE
TO WATCH.
AND I WOULD VERY MUCH YOU
KNOW, BE INTERESTED IN A
REMATCH FOR SURE.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE
VERY EXCITING AGAIN FOR THE
CITY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN I
CAN'T REMEMBER HOW LONG WE
FINALLY GOT THE POLITICAL
JUICES FLOWING IN BOSTON.
AND THAT'S GOOD.
THAT IS HEALTH FO OUR CITY
IT IS GREAT FOR DEMOCRACY
AND WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO
RAISE SOME VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUES.
HE WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO, WE
GOT HIM TO CHANGE HIS STANCE
AND POSITIONS ON SOME VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUES SO IT IS MY
HOPE THAT HE HEARD THAT.
AND HE ADOPTS AND AMENDS
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.
>> Rooney: COULD YOU ADDRESS
THE FIREFIGHTERS ISSUE FOR A
MINUTE.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIT OF A
FLIP ON THAT AS I THINK YOU
SAW IN THE PAPERS TODAY THAT
ORIGINALLY THE FIREFIGHTERS
BACKED YOU AND YOU KNOW,
GENERALLY YOU BACK
LEADERSHIP.
BUT NOW THERE IS KIND OF A
PULLBACK WHERE THEY ARE
SAYING YOU NO YOU KNOW, WE
THINK IT'S TIMES TO MAKE
AMENDS WITH THE CITY.
WE WILL HAVE MAYOR MENINO IN
OFFICE FOR ANOTHER FOUR
YEARS.
WE NEED TO GET THAT CONTRACT
DONE.
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO
ARBITRATION BY THE END OF
THISIER, I'M BLANKING ON HIS
FIRST NAME ED KELLY, THEY
ARE THINKING MAYBE IT'S A
TIME TO MAKE A LEADERSHIP
CHANGE AT THE TOP.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.
>> ANY TIME THAT YOU HAVE
SORT OF A PROTECTED BATTLE
EVEN IN THIS INSTANCE I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO, WORKING
WITH OUR MAYOR.
HE'S OUR MAYOR, HE WAS JUST
RE-ELECTED AND I CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT THE CITY SO PUTTING
ALL THE PERSONAL DIFFERENCES
OR POLITICAL DIFFERENCE AS
SIDE, IT IS TIME TO COME
TOGETHER AND WORK FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF BOSTON.
THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION AND OUR MAYOR
WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO
USE ME AS AN EXCUSE.
HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO ROLL
UP HIS SLEEVES AND IRON OUT
A CONTRACT NOT JUST WITH THE
FIREFIGHTERS BUT WITH OTHER.
>> DO YOU THINK WAS HIS
FAULT IT DIDN'T GET DONE.
>> HE HAS HAD 16 YEARS TO
IRON OUT AND NEGOTIATE
CONTRACTS ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY WITH THIS PARTICULAR
INSTANCE.
THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE
MANDATORY DRUG AND ALCOHOL
TESTING, THE BUCK STOPS WITH
THE CEO.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE
AVERAGE FIREFIGHTER WOULD BE
OKAY WITH THAT OR IT IS THE
BRASS AT THE TOP.
>> FOR MAN TORE RANDOM DRUG
AND ALCOHOL TESTING.
>> YEAH.
>> NO I THINK THE ENTIRE
UNION EMBRACES AND
RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR
THAT.
INCLUDING THE LEADERSHIP.
THEY NEED A COMMITMENT TO
MAKE SURE THE BRAKES WILL
WORK THE HYDRAULICS WILL
WORK, I THINK THERE ARE
OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE
IRONED OUT AND ALSO KEEP IN
MIND THAT YOU KNOW, THIS
PARTICULAR BARGAINING UNIT
ASIDE, THE WAGE FREEZE WAS
USED LAST TIME, LAST YEAR
WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET.
THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE THIS
TIME AROUND SO IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IS THAT CUTS ARE
GOING TO ACTUALLY GET A
LITTLE DEEPER NEXT YEAR
COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT
WE CANNOT EXERCISE THE WAGE
FREEZE.
AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN
IS THAT IT IS GOING TO KICK
IN, STEP INCREASES ARE ALSO
GOING TO STEP IN.
SO I PREDICT IF THIS
ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T ADOPT
A PERFORMANCE REVIEW IN
CITIES STAT WHICH IS WHAT I
PROMOTED, THAT THERE WILL BE
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
LAYOFFS COME JANUARY,
PROBABLY IN THE HUNDREDS.
>> Rooney: ALL RIGHT.
MICHAEL FLAHERTY, GOOD LUCK
TO YOU.
>> LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
BACK HERE AGAIN SOMETIME.
>> Rooney: HAVE FUN WITH
YOUR KIDS FOR THE SHORT TERM
ANYWAY.
>> I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU, BOSTON.