>> THIS WEEK, THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT CLEARS THE WAY FOR RHODE
ISLAND VOTERS TO HAVE AN EASIER
TIME CASTING A MALE BALLOT AND
THE EFFECT THE PANDEMIC IS
HAVING ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST WAYS IN.
>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS
UNDERWRITTEN BY --
>>  "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS
PROVIDED INSIGHT OF POLITICAL
ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE
ISLANDERS.
I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS
PROGRAM ON RHODE ISLAND PBS.
>> JOINING US ON THIS WEEK'S
PANEL, FORMER MAYOR ANGEL
TAVERAS, ATTORNEY EVA-MARIE
MANCUSO, AND LEGAL ANALYST, LOU
PULNER.
JIM: THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART
OF YOUR WEEKEND WITHOUT.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE?
IF IT IS BY MAIL, IT JUST GOT A
LITTLE EASIER THANKS TO THE
SUPREME COURT, WHICH REJECTED A
REPUBLICAN APPEAL TO RHODE
ISLAND'S SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS
FOR MAIL BALLOTS.
ANGEL, YOU WERE DEEP IN THIS
CASE, YOU HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
GIVE ME A FEEL FOR HOW THIS
EVOLVED BECAUSE YOU HAVE A
RULING IN YOUR FAVOR ON THE
FEDERAL JUDGMENT, IT HAD TO GO
UP TO THE SUPREME COURT.
MR. TAVERAS: IT HAS BEEN AN
HONOR TO REPRESENT THE SECRETARY
AND I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH
SOME OUTSTANDING LAWYERS, THE
BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ALSO
MICHAEL FIELDS, WHO IS
EXCEPTIONAL.
THIS WAS A CASE WHERE WE TRY TO
DO WHAT HAPPENED IN JUNE, WHICH
IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE
TO VOTE BY MAIL AND NOT HAVE TO
HAVE THEIR WITNESS OR NOTARIED.
IN JUNE, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
PEOPLE SELECTED THE OPTION TO
VOTE BY MAIL, WHICH IS THE MOST
EVER, AND GIVEN WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH COVID, WE THOUGHT IT WAS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO WHEN WE
WERE SUED, WE WERE SUED BY
COMMON CAUSE AND THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS, SO WE AGREED
BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO AND THE
REPUBLICANS CAME IN AND
CHALLENGED THAT DODGE MEANT AND
SAID THAT -- CHALLENGED THAT
JUDGMENT AND SAID THEY DO WHAT
WAS BETTER FOR RHODE ISLAND.
THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT
DISAGREED.
THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT OF
APPEALS DISAGREED AND SIX OUT OF
THE NINE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
DISAGREED.
BECAUSE OF IT, WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE A LOT MORE MAIL BALLOTS
THIS FALL AND WE ALREADY HAVE
OVER 40,000 APPLICANTS FOR THE
SEPTEMBER PRIMARY AND TO COMPARE
THAT, IF YOU GO BACK TO 2016, WE
HAD 4000.
WE ARE OVER 40,000 MAIL BALLOTS
APPLICANTS FOR THIS ELECTION AND
I EXPECT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A
HUGE NUMBER IN NOVEMBER.
IT IS AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THE
SECRETARY, BOARD OF ELECTIONS,
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO MAKE VOTING
EASIER AND SAFER FOR RHODE
ISLAND.
JIM: THE SUBTEXT WAS THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY DID NOT TAKE ACTION ON
THIS.
SOME OF THE TOP SENATE
LEADERSHIP IS IN TOUGH RACES,
SOME PEOPLE THEY DID NOT WANT TO
MAKE IT EASY.
THE THOUGHT IS POTENTIAL FOR
FRAUD.
I WONDER WHAT YOU THOUGHT, THE
GOP MADE THAT ARGUMENT, IT WAS
REJECTED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK AS WE HEAD
INTO A MAIL BALLOT ELECTION IN
TERMS OF FRAUD?
LOU: IN THEORY, IN LIGHT OF THE
COVID PANDEMIC, I AM IN
AGREEMENT WITH THE FACT THAT IT
SHOULD BE EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO
VOTE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THE LACK
OF A WITNESS OR NOID REQUIREMENT
MAKES THE ELECTION FRAUGHT WITH
FRAUD POSSIBILITIES AND THAT
MAKES ME NERVOUS.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM EXCEPT FOR THE
FACT THAT I BELIEVE THAT BAD
PEOPLE -- I KEEP THINKING OF
COOK COUNTY IN CHICAGO AND HOW
MUCH FRAUD IS GOING ON
HISTORICALLY AND I'M NOT SAYING
IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I PRAY
IT DOESN'T BUT I WISH THERE WERE
SAFEGUARDS THAT WOULD ALLOW US
TO BE CERTAIN THAT THERE IS NO
FRAUD, THAT THE BALLOTS ARE
LEGITIMATE VOTES BY LEGITIMATE
CITIZENS.
EVA-MARIE: 100 YEARS AGO, WOMEN
TOOK TO THE STREETS AND FOUGHT
TO EARN THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND
WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS WE
HAVE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO
GET PEOPLE OUT SO THEY FEEL
COMFORTABLE TO VOTE EITHER BY
BALLOT, ABSENTEE BALLOTS, OR IN
PERSON.
WITH THE PANDEMIC IN RHODE
ISLAND, WE ARE AN AGING
COMMUNITY AND I KNOW A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT DON'T LEAVE THEIR
HOME OR LEAVE FOR SMALL THINGS.
ALL OF US ARE GOING TO GO OUT
AND VOTE, IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHERE IT IS, WE ARE GOING TO
TAKE THE RISK BECAUSE WE ARE IN
THE GAME, BUT I THINK ANYTHING
BECAME DO TO MAKE THE GENERAL
PUBLIC FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT
VOTING, AND KUDOS TO YOU AND
YOUR TEAM FOR TAKING THIS ON AND
GOING FORWARD WITH THIS, IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WOMEN
DID 100 YEARS AGO TO EARN THE
RIGHT TO VOTE AND NOW TO HAVE IT
SOLIDIFIED LIKE THIS SO WE CAN
DO IT FROM THE CONVENIENCE OF
OUR HOME FOR SAFETY PURPOSES IS
A TESTAMENT TO WHO WE ARE AS A
COUNTRY.
>> AREN'T YOU CONCERNED -- LET
ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
IN MINNESOTA, IT HAS BEEN RULED
BY A HIGHER COURT THAT WHAT THEY
HAVE DECIDED IN MINNESOTA IS
LEGAL AND WILL OCCUR AND THAT
MEANS THEY WILL BE ACCEPTING
MAIL IN VOTES UP TO A FULL WEEK
AFTER THE ELECTION AND THEY WILL
CONSIDER THEM AND HONOR THOSE
BALLOTS, SO MY PROBLEM IS, ARE
WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK
AFTER ELECTION DAY TO BE ABLE TO
TALLY UP WHAT MINNESOTA DID?
MR. TAVERAS: LET ME SAY A COUPLE
THINGS.
I WANTED TO TOUCH BASE ON ONE
THINKER SAID, THEN I'M HAPPY TO
TALK MINNESOTA.
I WANT THE VIEWERS TO KNOW,
THERE ARE A LOT OF SAFEGUARDS.
FIRST OF ALL, BY LAW, YOU HAVE
TO COMPARE THE SIGNATURE ON THE
APPLICATION TO THE SIGNATURE OF
THE VOTER REGISTRATION, THAT IS
WHAT THE BOARD OF CAMPUSES DO.
IN THE PRIMARY, A LOT OF PEOPLE
DID NOT GET A MAIL BALLOTS
BECAUSE THE SIGNATURE DID NOT
MATCH.
THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THEN
COMPARES THE SIGNATURE ON THE
ENVELOPE TO THE MAIL BALLOT
APPLICATION AND EVERY CANDIDATE
IS REQUIRED TO BE NOTIFIED OF
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, TO BE
PRESENT WHEN THEY ARE BEING
CERTIFIED, TO OBJECT IF THEY
WANT TO, THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT GO ON IN TERMS OF
THE VOTER SIGNATURE.
THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT
RHODE ISLAND, WHILE YOU HAVE A
NOTARY REQUIREMENT AT WITNESS
REQUIREMENT, THE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS, WHAT THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO DO, YOU MAKE SURE
THE ADDRESS IS CORRECT, NAME IS
CORRECT, THAT THE SIGNATURE
MATCHES.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THERE
AND THE OTHER THING THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD KNOW, NOT ONLY CANDIDATES
BUT POLITICAL PARTIES ARE
REQUIRED BY LAW TO GET A NOTICE
OF EVERYONE WHO HAS APPLIED FOR
A MAIL BALLOTS.
THOSE ARE REQUIREMENTS.
WITH RESPECT TO MINNESOTA, I
WOULD SAVE TO YOU, IN RHODE
ISLAND, YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT IN
BY 8:00 ON ELECTION DAY, THAT IS
THE LAW.
THAT DID NOT CHANGE.
WITH RESPECT TO MINNESOTA,
DEPENDING HOW MANY MAIL BALLOTS
OR OUTS, EVEN WHEN THE VOTE,
WHEN THEY HAVE NOT FINISHED
COUNTING THE VOTE BECAUSE THEY
KNOW THAT THE MARGIN IS SUCH
THAT IT CANNOT BE MADE UP BY
MAIL BALLOTS, SO I THINK YOU ARE
GOING TO SEE -- WE ARE GOING TO
KNOW THE WINNER SOON BUT IF WE
HAVE TO WAIT A DAY OR TWO, IT IS
WORTH GETTING IT RIGHT AND
MAKING SURE EVERY VOTE IS
COUNTED.
EVA-MARIE: WHAT I WAS GOING TO
SAY IS, 10 YEARS AGO, I
REPRESENTED A CANDIDATE, IT WAS
A LOCAL TOWN COUNCIL PERSON, AND
WE WENT AND I WATCHED THE BOARD
OF CAMPUSES, EVERY SINGLE
BALLOTS, COMPARING THE
SIGNATURES, IT IS A VERY
TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
IN RHODE ISLAND, I THINK WE HAVE
IT DOWN AND THE IDEA IS TO GET
AS MANY PEOPLE OUT, THERE IS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE CRIMINALS,
FRAUD PEOPLE, BUT WE CAN'T SET
UP THE ELECTION FOR THE NEXT
PRESIDENT UNDER THE GUISE THAT
THERE BE A FEW BAD APPLES.
LOU: I AGREE BUT MY CONCERN IS
BACK IN THE DAYS -- I AM DATING
MYSELF, I HAVE DATED MYSELF MANY
TIMES -- WE USED TO DROP
SOMETHING IN THE MAILBOX IN
CRANSTON AND YOU WERE PRETTY
CERTAIN IT WAS GOING TO BE IN
PROVIDENCE THE NEXT DAY.
I MEAN AT THE PERSON'S HOME.
THESE DAYS, IT TAKES 3, 4, FIVE
DAYS FOR THINGS TO GET DELIVERED
IN THE STATE ALONE.
IF THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU PAUSE,
ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT
BEING ACCEPTED BY 8:00 ON
ELECTION DAY, THAT IS NOT GOING
TO HAPPEN, THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS,
THAT LEADS ME TO LEAVE WE WILL
DO WHAT MINNESOTA DID AND THAT
MEANS WE WILL EXTEND THE
DEADLINE FOR THOSE TO BE
ACCEPTED.
MR. TAVERAS: WE ACTUALLY HAVE
DROP BOXES AND I GIVE THE BOARD
OF ELECTIONS A LOT OF CREDIT, --
YOU HAVE DROP BOXES, WHEN PEOPLE
-- YOU DROP IN THE BOXES, A
SECURE DROP BOX, WE HAD
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VOTE THAT
WAY PREVIOUSLY.
I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND I
AM WORRIED ABOUT THE POST OFFICE
BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES, I AGREE
WITH YOU ON THAT.
JIM: BUT HERE IS THE OTHER
ISSUE, YOU TALKED ABOUT THERE
WOULD BE A CLEAR MARGIN AND SOME
OF THE SWING STATES, IT MAY NOT
BE CLEAR AND THEY ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO RELY LIKE WE HAVE NEVER
DONE BEFORE ON MAIL BALLOTS.
I HAVE BEEN FILLING IN ON TALK
RADIO, I HAD FIVE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE WORKED TO THE POLLS AND
THESE ARE VETERAN PEOPLE, IT
SKEWS ELDERLY, A LOT ARE
TRAINED, THEY KNOW WHAT IS GOING
ON, IT TAKES TRAINING, ALL FIVE
OF THEM TOLD ME, I AM NOT GOING
TO BE WORKING THIS YEAR.
THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT YOU
WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD EXPAND THE
IN PERSON VOTING.
INSTEAD, THERE IS GOING TO BE A
PUSH TO MAIL BALLOTS.
THE POSTAL SERVICE AND ADDITION
OF THE MAILBOXES, I THINK THE
DROPBOX IS GREAT BECAUSE IF YOU
WANT TO KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO
RELY ON THE POSTAL SERVICE, I'M
GOING TO MY TOWN HALL.
THIS IS OING TO BE AN ELECTION
THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE CALLED
IN SOME PLACES FOR WEEKS.
GO AHEAD.
LOU: YOU MAKE AN INTERESTING
POINT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO VOTE IN PERSON, TO ENSURE THE
FACT THAT THEIR VOTE IS BEING
COUNTED.
MY CONCERN IS THE MEDIAN AGE OF
THE AVERAGE POLL WORKER IS 104.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL HAVE
THE ELDERLY SHOWING UP TO WORK
THIS YEAR.
JIM: WHO ARE YOU GOING TO GET?
COLLEGE STUDENTS?
I DON'T KNOW.
THAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT BIG
CRISIS, WHO IS GOING TO MAN THE
POLLS?
MR. TAVERAS: I THINK LOU MAY
HAVE SOME FUZZY MATH BUT THAT'S
OK.
JIM: IT IS 84, NOT 104, HE IS
OFF MY 20 YEARS.
MR. TAVERAS: IT IS POSSIBLE
THERE WILL BE SOME STATES WHERE
THE RESULTS WON'T BE KNOWN FOR A
LITTLE WHILE BUT I THINK THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS GETTING
IT RIGHT AND MAKING SURE THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE
SAFE.AND TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE-
IF YOU CAN LIMIT INTERACTIONS,
ESPECIALLY ON ELECTION DAY, I
THINK THAT IS A POSITIVE.
EVEN IF WE WANTED TO DO JUST A
REGULAR ELECTION, EVERYONE GOING
TO THE POLLS, WE DON'T HAVE THE
SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE AVAILABLE
TO DO THAT.
THAT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT WE KNOW
WE CAN DO THIS, WE HAVE DONE IT
FOR THE PRIMARY, WE LEARN FROM
IT, IT WASN'T PERFECT, BUT WE
LEARN FROM IT AND HOPEFULLY IN
SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER, I FEEL
CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HAVE A
SEAMLESS ELECTION AND RECORD
NUMBERS BILL VOTE BY MAIL.
JIM: QUICK QUESTION.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE THIS
FALL?
PRIMARY -- IN PERSON OR DROP IT
IN THE BOX?
EVA-MARIE: IN PERSON.
MR. TAVERAS: BY MAIL.
LOU: IN PERSON.
JIM: OK.
LOU: HOW ABOUT YOU?
JIM: I WILL PROBABLY VOTE IN
PERSON BUT I AM ALSO INTRIGUED
ABOUT THE EARLY VOTING.
THAT IS THE OTHER THING WE DID
NOT TALK ABOUT.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING EARLY
VOTING IN OTHER STATES FOR
YEARS.
IT IS 20 DAYS PRIOR YOU CAN GO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THERE IS THE
BIG SURPRISE -- BUYER BEWARE,
AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, MOST
PEOPLE HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND.
IN THE LAST MINUTE,TELL ME
ABOUT THE CARVING OUT OF THE
EXTENSION OF EARLY VOTING.
MR. TAVERAS: THANKS TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SECRETARIES
LEADERSHIP, THERE WILL BE AN
EARLY VOTING PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE
CAN KATHY BALLOT AND I THINK
THAT IS IMPORTANT -- AND CASTS A
BALLOT AND I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT.
THE LINES WERE LITERALLY OUT THE
DOOR.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASY FOR
PEOPLE TO VOTE, AND SOME PEOPLE,
THEY ARE WORKING.
FEWER PEOPLE ARE WORKING BECAUSE
OF COVID BUT WE WANT TO MAKE IT
AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO VOTE SO
YOU HAVE A TIME THAT ALLOWS THEM
TO CASTOR BALLOT HOPEFULLY
QUICKLY, SAFELY -- CASTS THEIR
BALLOT HOPEFULLY QUICKLY,
SAFELY.
KUDOS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE IT
HAPPEN.
EVA-MARIE: TO BE CLEAR, THAT IS
WHAT I WILL BE DOING BECAUSE I
WILL BE A VOLUNTEER ON ELECTION
DAY.
FOR SOME REASON, IF I GET CALLED
OUT TO SOME OTHER PLACE, I WOULD
BE ABLE TO DO IT.
I ACTUALLY HAD DONE THAT BEFORE,
GOING TO TOWN HALL FOR AN
EMERGENCY VOTE BECAUSE I
VOLUNTEERED BEFORE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
SEAMLESS IN TERMS OF GOING IN,
THERE IS NEVER ANYBODY THERE
OTHER THAN THE PERSON YOU ARE
WITH RED -- YOU ARE WITH.
LET'S DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO
GET AS MANY PEOPLE TO VOTE AS
POSSIBLE.
JIM: A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE
PANDEMIC, IT IS NOT TALKED A LOT
ABOUT, IS METAL HEALTH ISSUES.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT MENTAL
HEALTH, THIS IS SUCH A NEW
NORMAL, SO WE DECIDED TO GO OUT,
OUR SENIOR PRODUCER SPOKE WITH
DR. JENNINGS, A CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR AT
BROWN, SHE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF
THE CAUSES BEHIND MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
HERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT SHE
HAD TO SAY.
DR. JENNINGS: WE ARE IN A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING MORE
ANXIETY IN TERMS OF 25% INCREASE
THEN WHAT WE EXPERIENCED PRIOR
TO THE PANDEMIC, AND INCREASE IN
PEOPLE FEELING SUICIDAL, YOU HAD
PEOPLE THAT DID NOT KNOW THEY
HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND NOW
IT IS ESTIMATED BY BEING
ISOLATED.
PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY DON'T
AVE PEOPLE THEY CAN TURN TO,
PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF
LAWS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO MOURN IN THE WAY THEY WOULD
TYPICALLY MOURN -- A LOT OF LOSS
AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
MOURN IN THE WAY THEY WOULD
TYPICALLY MOURN.
THEIR JOB OR FAMILY CONNECTIONS
AS WELL.
PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
CHILD CARE OR NOT.
IF YOU CAN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE
HER CHILD IS AT HOME, BACK AND
HAVE A WHOLE SET OF ISSUES.
PARENTS SEE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR
CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE NOT WITH
THEIR FRIENDS, THEY MAY BE
WITHDRAWN.
YOU MIGHT SEE ANGER OUTBURSTS.
THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS, GET AN
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOUR CHILD
IS DOING.
THE ISSUES THAT WE EXPERIENCE IN
RELATION TO RACISM IN THIS
COUNTRY BEING TALKED ABOUT MORE,
THEY ARE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
TRAUMA FROM THOSE ISSUES, MAYBE
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE WILL SEE
LATER ON IN TERMS OF CARE.
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
RECEPTIVE IN THE AREA OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE
ARE COVERED AND MAKING SURE
PEOPLE ARE GETTING SERVICES IN
TERMS OF TELEHEALTH AND PEOPLE
BEING ABLE TO GO ONLINE, THAT IS
A WAY IN WHICH THE PANDEMIC DID
OPEN UP AVAILABILITY, WE STARTED
BH LINK.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
VERY POSITIVE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK
ME DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE
PANDEMIC, I AM NOT LOOKING FOR
FRIENDS WHO MA HAVE DROPPED OFF
-- I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST
TIME YOU HAVE BEEN TO A FUNERAL,
BUT THEY WERE SO MANY PROMINENT
PEOPLE AND CLOSE FRIENDS, THAT
IS THAT END-OF-LIFE GRIEVING
CELEBRATING PROCESS AND WE HAVE
BEEN ROBBED OF THAT.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO A FUNERAL SINCE
MARCH?
LOU: I LOST MY FATHER-IN-LAW A
MONTH AGO AND I WAS DEVASTATED,
AS WAS MY EX-WIFE, HER DAD IS
THE ONE WHO PASSED, AND EVEN HIS
WIFE OF 50 YEARS WAS UNABLE TO
GO AND PAY PROPER RESPECTS AND I
THINK THERE IS A TRAGEDY THERE
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS
MENTAL HEALTH AVAILABILITY IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
FEELING DETACHED AND FEELING
GRIEF OVER THINGS THAT ARE OUT
OF THEIR CONTROL.
I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET
THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
EVA-MARIE: WE DISCUSSED MENTAL
HEALTH IN OUR HOUSE EVERY DAY.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS THAT ARE
MSW'S AND ONE OF THEM WORKS IN A
SCHOOL AND SHE IS AMAZING.
WHAT SHE TOLD ME, WHICH I
THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, NOT
ONLY DOES SHE TEND TO HER
STUDENTS INDICATED SHE HAS
WORKED WITH BUT ALSO HER
COLLEAGUES, PEOPLE ARE SHARING A
LOT BECAUSE THEY MISS EACH OTHER
AND THEY HAVE THAT CAMARADERIE
AND PEOPLE OVERLOOK CERTAIN
THINGS BUT EMILY AND I SPEAK
ALMOST EVERY DAY BECAUSE I WORRY
ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE
SHE IS DOING SO MUCH WITH OTHER
PEOPLE.
OUR OTHER DAUGHTER IS THE SOCIAL
WORKERS ARE REALLY WORKING AND
DOING UNBELIEVABLE WORK RIGHT
NOW TO TRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY
TOGETHER TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.
I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF, YOU
KNOW ME PRETTY WELL -- I AM NOT
MADE TO ISOLATE.
THAT IS NOT WHO I AM AND IT IS
HARD.
I DID GO TO A WAKE, MY GODCHILD,
FIRST COUSIN PASSED AWAY LAST
WEEK FROM EARLY ONSET DEMENTIA
AND I WENT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE TO
THE WAKE AND TO NOT BE ABLE TO
HUG MY AUNT AND COUSINS, IT IS
SO COUNTERINTUITIVE.
JIM: YOU ARE A HUGGER.
MR. TAVERAS: I HAVE NOT BEEN T
A WAKE SINCE MARCH, BUT I HAVE
EXTENDED MY CONDOLENCES TO
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.
THAT IS DIFFICULT.
I ALSO FIND IT DIFFICULT -- MY
MOM IS A SENIOR CITIZEN AND
BEFORE THIS WAS GOING TO THE
SENIOR CENTER, SHE IS ABLE TO
LIVE ON HER OWN THANKFULLY, IT
HAS BEEN HARD BECAUSE THERE IS
NO MORE SENIOR CENTER TO GO TO.
SHE DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE
HOUSE.
SHE IS AT RISK, GIVEN SOME
DIFFERENT ISSUES.
IT IS HARD TO GET HER OUT OF THE
HOUSE IN A SAFE WAY AND FOR
MONTHS, I DID NOT VISIT BECAUSE
UNTIL THE GOVERNOR LIFTED THE
ORDER, I WAS WORRIED FOR HER,
THAT I COULD BE ASYMPTOMATIC AND
SPREAD THAT TO HER.
I DO THINK IT IS DIFFICULT, IT
IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M
GLAD PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING ON
BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST THE
PHYSICAL INJURIES THAT PEOPLE
ARE SUFFERING AND PEOPLE WE HAVE
LOST, BUT ALSO THE HEALTH-CARE
CARE WORKERS, OUR SENIORS, ALL
OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION, SO WE HAVE TO STAY
FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT
IS GOING TO BE A LONG HAUL, IT
IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO GET
BACK TO WHATEVER THE NEW NORMAL
IS.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
JIM: FINISH UP, LOU.
LOU: I AM SEEING AN UPTICK IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ALSO
SEEING A LOT OF IT IS CAUSED BY
ALCOHOLISM ACROSS THE BOARD AS
FAR AS AGES ARE CONCERNED.
JIM: EVA, WHAT YOU HAVE THIS
WEEK?
EVA-MARIE: I LIKE BEING IN THE
ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.
I HAVE MY DEMOCRAT VEST, I
BROUGHT MY HOMEMADE MASK, AND I
HAVE ALL KINDS OF GOOD SWAG.
THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
CONVENTION, I SAY KAMALA HARRIS
LAST NIGHT WAS UNBELIEVABLE,
SECOND ONLY BY BARACK OBAMA.
IS HE JUST UNREAL?
I LOOK AT IT AND SAY TO MYSELF,
JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS,
THEY ARE SO POSITIVE, EVERYTHING
HAS BEEN POSITIVE AND UPBEAT IN
THE WAY OUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE.
THAT IS MY KUDOS.
YOU GO, GIRL.
JIM: YOU WISH YOU WERE IN THE
ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED, DON'T
YOU?
EVA-MARIE: IT IS NOT THE SAME
BEING ON THE COUCH GOING LIKE,
YES.
JIM: YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
GOING LIKE THIS IN THE
BACKGROUND.
EVA-MARIE: THE OTHER THING, I
WAS UNDER RADIO SHOW TO SAY JOE
BIDEN -- JILL BIDEN IS AN
ITALIAN.
I DID A VIDEO CHAT WITH HER WITH
THE ITALIAN AMERICAN DELICATE
AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HER
HOME, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT MINE.
WE NODDED AND I SAID, THAT TYPE
OF RELATIONSHIP WITH WHO WE ARE,
THAT IS WHAT AMERICANS ARE
ABOUT.
JIM: I TEXTED EVA WHEN SHE WAS
TALKING ABOUT THE NOODLES.
LOU, OUTRAGE OR KUDOS?
LOU: I'VE GOTTEN OUTRAGE.
IT IS A LARGE CONCERN AND THAT
HAS TO DO WITH GOVERNOR
RAIMONDO'S UNHEALTHY PROPRIETARY
INTEREST IN THE $1.2 BILLION
THAT SHE RECEIVED FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP US
DEAL WITH THE COVID CRISIS.
ORIGINALLY, SHE DID NOTHING FOR
THE BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT ARE SHUT DOWN, MOST OF THEM
MAY NEVER REOPEN.
AFTER FIVE MONTHS, $15,000 FOR
THESE BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS BEING
MANAGED BY A GROUP IN MINNESOTA
AND I LEARNED THAT THINGS TO YOU
, SO THAT IS A CONCERN.
THERE IS $1.2 BILLION AND SHE IS
MAKING $100 MILLION AVAILABLE
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEY
HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH 1000 HOOPS
TO GET THAT $50,000 AND THE
$50,000 IS LIKE A FLY ON THE
FRONT OF AN ELEPHANT, IT IS
NOTHING.
SHE IS STILL TALKING ABOUT
EVERYBODY GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
AND BEING OUTSIDE AND LEARNING
OR WHATEVER ELSE THEY CAN DO,
SHE WANTS EVERYONE BACK IN
SCHOOL, YET SHE IS NOT WILLING
TO GIVE THE $1.2 BILLION TO
THESE PEOPLE TO FIX THE SCHOOLS
AND MAKE IT SAFE WITH THE
CHILDREN.
WHAT SHE IS SAYING TO THEM IS,
GO AHEAD AND SPEND THE MONEY,
SHOW ME THE RECEIPT AND I WILL
REIMBURSE YOU.
I DON'T KNOW ONE SCHOOL
COMMITTEE BUDGET THAT HAS THE
MONEY TO SPEND $300,000 ON NEW
AIR-CONDITIONERS, THEY DON'T
HAVE THE MONEY SO THAT THEY CAN
SHOW RECEIPTS AND GET A
REIMBURSEMENT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE IS
DOING WITH THIS MONEY, SHE CAN'T
EAT IT FOR THE BUDGET AND WE ARE
SITTING HERE WITH $1.2 BILLION
THAT IS JUST SITTING THERE, SHE
IS FIDDLING WHILE ROME IS
BURNING.
JIM: YESTERDAY, I WAS AT THE
BRIEFING AND SHE TALKED ABOUT
SHE HAS DONE THE KNOCK IT OFF,
NOW SHE IS SAYING, TAKE IT
OUTSIDE.
ALL I CAN THINK OF WHAT'S
FIGHTING WITH MY BROTHERS AND MY
FATHER IS LIKE, TAKE IT OUTSIDE,
BOYS.
ANGEL TAVERAS, LET ME WELCOME
YOU BACK.
YOU WERE ON YEARS AGO WHEN YOU
WERE THE MAYOR.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
HAD YOU AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, SO
HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK.
DO YOU HAVE AN OUTRAGE OR KUDOS?
MR. TAVERAS: I WANT PEOPLE TO
KNOW, NOT TO ADJUST THEIR
TELEVISION, I AM 25 POUNDS
HEAVIER.
MY KUDOS, PIGGYBACKING ON EVA,
IS JOE BATTING -- IS JOE BIDEN
AND HIS SELECTION AS -- AND HIS
SELECTION OF KAMALA HARRIS AS
HIS RUNNING MATE.
IT SHOWS THE KIND OF LEADER THAT
JOE BIDEN IS BECAUSE HE COULD
HAVE PICKED SOMEONE ELSE, HE
PICKED SOMEONE WHO HE CLASHED
WITH DURING THE PRIMARY DEBATES
ENTERING THE PRIMARY SEASON AND
HE DID SO IN A WEIGHT THAT I
THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP
TRANSFORM OUR COUNTRY.
I GIVE HIM A LOT OF CREDIT FOR
TAKING THAT STEP, IT IS NOT EASY
TO DO THAT.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, AS A
FORMER PUBLIC OFFICIAL, I KNOW
TAKING CRITICISM CAN BE
DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES WE LIVE
IN A SHELL BUT I GIVE MICE
PRESENT BIDEN A LOT OF CREDIT
AND GIVE HIM READ IT BECAUSE I
THINK HE IS APPEALING TO THE
BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE SO
WE NEED THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER.
THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT
TOGETHER IN OUR CURRENT
PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING TO DO
THAT.
WE NEED JOE BIDEN AND I AM
HOPEFUL.
EVA-MARIE: WHEN I VOTE FOR ANY
CANDIDATE, MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE I
HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH
GOVERNOR CHAFEE, I ALWAYS SAY,
TELL ME WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE AND
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE.
I LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
I HAVE SAID THAT TO YOU BEFORE.
KUDOS TO YOU, BRINGING IN A TEAM
OF PROFESSIONALS THAT WANT TO
GET INVOLVED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUPERSTARS
AROUND JOE BIDEN, PEOPLE THAT
ARE NOT -- THAT ARE JUST
BRILLIANT, PEOPLE LIKE ELIZABETH
WARREN AND DOWN THE LIST, BERNIE
SANDERS, OTHERS THERE, IT IS
AMAZING.
JIM: THREE ATTORNEYS ON THE
SHOW, WHAT A SHOCK THAT IT WOULD
GO QUICKLY.
WE HAD TO BRING EXTRA OXYGEN
INTO EACH ROOM.
I THOUGHT, WE HAVE A LEGAL
ADVICE -- A LOT OF LEGAL ADVICE
ON THIS SHOW.
WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU AGAIN, THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
♪
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
♪
[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE
AND MATTRESSES]
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
♪
>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS
UNDERWRITTEN BY --
>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS FOR
SIGHTED INSIGHT ON IMPORTANT
ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE
ISLANDERS.
