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I'm Cally Crossley and this is the Calla Crossley Show the blowback from Arizona's new immigration law has lasted WAY beyond its borders in parts of the U.S. officials are condemning the Grand Canyon state while elsewhere legislators are condoning it unveiling their own immigration enforcement bills. The immigration debate fallout landed here in Massachusetts last week when the house came unexpectedly close to passing a measure that would have barred illegal immigrants from receiving benefits. We'll take a look at how the situation in Arizona continues to reverberate here at home. From there we cross another border with a look at legislation that could bridge the gap between the abundance of unused foods at restaurants and the empty larders that many of the city's soup kitchens. We top off the hour with pop culture and a primmer on adopting a shelter dog. Up next immigration cuisine donation and canine salvation. First the news. From NPR News in Washington on CORBA Coleman a Pakistan born American citizen has been arrested at John F. Kennedy Airport in connection with the failed bombing attempt in New York City over the weekend.

As NPR's Dina Temple-Raston reports the suspect was taken into custody last night while trying to board a flight to Dubai. His name is Faisal Shahzad. He's the 30 year old Connecticut resident who owned the SUV that was driven into Times Square Saturday night full of explosives. The car bomb didn't go off and the evidence found there led investigators to the suspect. Attorney General Eric Holder held a brief press conference to announce the arrest but he provided few details aside from saying the investigation is continuing and that anyone involved would be brought to justice. Law enforcement officials have started searching Connecticut home. He's facing formal charges in a Manhattan courtroom today. Dina Temple-Raston NPR News New York. Meanwhile sources tell NPR authorities in Pakistan have detained two men for questioning in connection with the attempted car bombing. The men may be friends or relatives of Assad suspected of parking the explosive laden SUV. Authorities say the death toll from storms in Tennessee Mississippi and Kentucky is now

at twenty nine. Officials fear that number will rise as waters eventually subside from flooding. Blake Farmer of member station WCPN in Nashville says most of the deaths have occurred in Tennessee. The growing danger is from water contamination. The flooded Cumberland River submerged one of Nashville's two water treatment plants which is still under water after a weekend with nearly 14 inches of rain. Nationals wanted apartment Chief Scott Potter says the entire system is in jeopardy because flood water could flow into pipes if the reservoirs go dry. And if we don't maintain 20 PSII only distribution system there's a good possibility of contamination of the regular supply. The Cumberland River is expected to crest sometime today. The river has already inundated downtown businesses and the massive Gaylord Opryland Hotel where 15 hundred guests had to be evacuated. The hotel expects to be closed for several months. For NPR News I'm Blake Farmer in Nashville. The weather is calmer in the Gulf of Mexico and that will help emergency crews working to restrain

oil floating toward the coastline. In four states workers are laying down booms on the water to block the splash. The spreading globs of oil. This is coming from the uncapped oil well that's still spilling thousands of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico every day. Energy company BP has not been able to cut off the flow much of the industry of for fishing is ground to a halt the tourism industry could be affected. And environmentalists are worried about the effect oil is going to have on wildlife. On Wall Street the Dow Jones industrial average is lower investors are concerned about the financial situation in Greece. The Dow was down two hundred twenty seven points. You're listening to NPR News. With the official end of this Broadway season nominations for the sixty fourth annual Tony Awards have been announced there were some surprises. Jeff Lunden reports the Tonys will be presented on June 13th the Tonys often reflect box office punch but the one bonafide hit musical to open this season was conspicuously absent from the list of

nominees. The Addams Family instead best musical nods went to fail American Idiot. Million Dollar Quartet and Memphis. The only nominee within a original score. All the best play nominees were by American authors in the next room or the vibrator play next fall. Red and time stand still. Among the stars nominated for awards Denzel Washington Scarlett Johannson and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Inja Lansbury For NPR News I'm Jeff Lunden in New York. Residents in the greater Boston area can drink their tap water again some two million people had been instructed to boil it after a huge main broke on Saturday. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick lifted a state of emergency. He's promising an investigation into what caused the rupture of the huge water main. Anti-government protesters in Thailand are considering an offer from that country's prime minister. He'd like to hold new elections this November.

It's an effort to end a political crisis that has left at least 27 people dead and cost the country hundreds of millions of dollars and tourism. It's not clear the Thai protest leaders will accept the offer they just want the prime minister to leave. But Prime Minister obviously it's offer also includes an opportunity for negotiators to rewrite Thailand's Constitution. This is NPR. Support for NPR comes from constant contact dedicated to helping small businesses at nonprofits build strong customer relationships with email marketing constant contact dot com. Good afternoon I'm Kelly Crossley and this is the Cali Crossley Show the blowback from Arizona's new immigration law considered the toughest in the country has blasted way beyond its borders. Over the weekend May Day rallies were held across the nation and here at home we saw the debate play out when the house came unexpectedly close to passing a measure that would have barred illegal immigrants from receiving state and federal

benefits in the state. Joining us to talk about immigration laws and reform is the lawmaker who sponsored this bill Jeffrey Perry a Republican representing the fifth Barnstable district. Representative Perry welcome. Thanks. Good afternoon thanks for having me on the show. Sure. Why did you decide to propose this legislation. Well I proposed this amendment to the budget as a piece of legislation about four years ago for the first time when I saw a model piece of legislation coming out of some other states having to do solely and narrowly with the issue of whether or not Massachusetts in this case wanted to ensure that only legal residents gained access to state benefits. And I filed it again this time in this year's budget for two reasons One is that we see the failures of the federal government not doing anything meaningful on immigration reform and that isn't a conservative or liberal statement that applies to this administration and the previous administration this Congress and the previous Congress has failed to move any meaningful immigration reform forward.

But also in the context of this budget debate which is when I filed the amendment was that if we are cutting local aid we are cutting social services we're cutting good core programs of government. So I thought it was a fiscally responsible thing to do to say OK we recognize that we have to make some cuts but while we're doing that let's make sure that the only people who are legally entitled to receive our benefits are getting them. And so that. The purpose of the amendment in the context in which I filed it now was was the context the bigger context the national one. Arizona with SB 10 70 the bill which has just been passed there was there is in terms of your timing. No my timing had nothing to do with it although you know as I said I have filed this four years ago I filed two years ago and I filed it this year as well so that I can control the timing of the state budget and I file it in this context because of the fiscal considerations but I will tell you that the debate in Arizona and the national debate and the discussions in the media brought a lot more attention to my amendment and certainly last year when I filed it

I only got 40 votes on my side of the issue this year we get 75. But I think the national debate that's going on and in the context of the Arizona debate certainly highlighted this piece of legislation this amendment and brought it to bear but brought it home I should say here in Massachusetts. Now when this was brought up a year ago you just mentioned this is due to sticks. Eighty two against the seventy five for this go around. But the last time it was one hundred and eighteen against and 44 so that's a significant range. What do you attribute that what are your constituents saying to you. Well I think it's twofold First of all last year they studied the amendment the vote was actually to study the amendment only 40 of them voted against studying it. And I think some legislators actually thought that was going to be a study the folks. I voted for the study last year probably thought that the legislature at some level was actually look at this issue and when I brought this forward this year we we found it is not

uncommon on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill perhaps that studies don't really mean studies. They just are a procedural method to kill a bill. And so I think some of the members who voted for a study last year probably recognize that there was never going to be a study again and they thought it was in good context and a good opportunity to vote in favor of pushing this issue along and also as they said the fiscal crisis. It's deeper this year it's more difficult. And I think you know every legislator across the state no matter what they represent an urban or rural or suburban district gets calls from constituents who are legally entitled to receive a benefit and they have been working for decades. They just want a temporary helping hand from government and many times even though they're legally entitled and that is the proper venue and the proper benefits for them. They can't get access to that benefit because there's not enough money in that account and I think legislators are hearing so much from folks that they can't get the benefits and there are. That they need from state government more this year than last but it was a good measure to make sure that only legal residents had access to our benefit.

Well as you know there's been a lot of pushback against the Arizona law which I should also inform our listeners that there has been a clarification quote unquote of the bill so that originally it was that police officers could do whatever they wanted under quote any lawful contact and now that's been changed to a lawful stop meaning if I was running a red light then they could stop and inquire about whatever my legal status may be that says that's a slight difference in the bill but be that as it may there been huge protests on May 1st against this. And a lot of people are concerned that there is just it feels hateful that it is hateful legislation and that not the way to address a legitimate concern. I mean I take your point earlier that Democrats and Republicans have failed in coming forth with some immigration reform. But some of the ways in which this is being approached a lot of people just find distasteful. Well and I you know that's a good public debate for the country to

have and certainly I was concerned with the Arizona statute on the reasonable suspicion standard. I would have said on other shows and in other arenas that the probable cause standard should have been the appropriate standard. And you know so my efforts in Massachusetts are not the same as they're doing in Arizona and quite frankly our problem in Massachusetts doesn't. Come close to the problems that they're having in the southwest. Might my amendment my efforts here in Massachusetts whether it be in the amendment was a legislative process a pretty a pretty simple to say and it's neutral on its face if you look at the bill and you look at the amendment it applies to everyone equally it doesn't apply to any racial ethnic category says everyone who applies for state benefits must go through this process of verifying a few things in it. We're talking about the legal immigration because that's the you know the hard thing in the news but it also applies for identity fraud it also applies for folks who are collecting benefits. But with the same name in different states it also applies to people who may be in prison and somehow get access to some social entitlement program and so what I'm saying is in this difficult fiscal time let's

make sure we're stewards of our taxpayers dollars. We have limited funds especially in this fiscal climate. Let's make. Anyone who applies it. It's not targeted towards anyone I grant you that it applies mostly to illegal immigrants but it's neutral on its face. Perhaps unlike the Arizona statute. Well let me just ask this question because you know a lot of people have said looked at your bill and said OK maybe this is one I could get behind because it seems reasonable to me it doesn't seem as though it is quote legislation unquote. But as you proposed this bill require any resident alien to receiving benefits to be verified first as legal. So but what happens is if you're on documented then you're not going to get any benefits anyway so it's sort of in the leaves in the air a kind of anti immigrant feeling to no purpose because they're not eligible for it for these resources that you're trying to make sure that they don't get you

see the only the only point of clarification on that one is absolutely applying your statement to illegal immigrants is true. It does it does apply don't mean if they don't have it there and if the word that you prefer to use is undocumented or illegal whatever it is if someone is not here legally they don't have the documentation to be here. They should not in my opinion have access to state subsidized. Benefit the other thing I'll just note for listeners is my bill does not apply to children does not apply to K through 12 education does not apply for any benefit to someone who is less than 18 years old it doesn't apply to emergency medical care and it wouldn't apply to you know some of the emergency services for anyone whether that be a homeless shelter or emergency food service or emergency medical care you mean ization like carved out all those exceptions because I'm not trying to get at when people are in crisis. No matter legal or illegal what I'm trying to get at is the systemic long term abuse of folks who are not legally entitled to receive our social entitlement programs because for every dollar that goes to an individual who is

not here illegally or is committing a den of the fraud or whatever the case may be that's a dollar that we don't have left to give to our to our legal resident citizens here who in many case have been working for decades paying into the system and just need a helping hand for a temporary period of time. Two questions just to wrap up here. Do you think when you propose this again I assume you will that it will pass. Well I will not have the privilege of proposing it next year I am not running for reelection I am seeking a higher office. I'm a candidate for the 10th Congressional District. OK well somebody is going to do it. I actually think I think Don Thomas and Dan Webster and my folks two representatives who co-sponsored this amendment that they're both seeking reelection and I would think that they would pass and you know it doesn't pass next year. I think it's got a good shot. Passing if two things happen One if the federal government continues to do nothing there's more pressure on the state to do something. And if the fiscal climate continues to be difficult and we hear from more and more constituents who can't get what they need from state government who are legally entitled.

I think that puts more pressure on it. You know my amendment was an effort to do something I had a proposal in the federal system other states to doing it. What was most disappointing to me was the people who voted against my amendment didn't offer their own idea or didn't offer a way to improve my amendment didn't have suggestions on what I was wrong. All they decided was to do nothing and let the problem continue as it is and you know from my perspective that's not acceptable the federal government is failing to do anything this big government is failing to do anything. And meanwhile there are folks getting our benefits who are not legally entitled to do that. I don't think that's right. Well you kind of answered my last question to you which is well whether or not states should be moving ahead because you know as you know the Arizona bill is going to be challenged constitutionally right. And so you know I guess your answer is yes they should. In my perfect world no. I think you know immigration I'm a big constitutional scholar. I teach constitutional law I'm a lawyer I love constitutional law and I clearly understand that immigration was left because of the complexity of the

nation and the need for uniform laws. Immigration was left to the federal government in our Constitution. So in my perfect world states wouldn't have to bother with this because. The federal government would do their job. They decide what the policy of the United States is on immigration. They'd enact legislation that dealt with the 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants whatever that is. And so the states had some direction and some guidance. And in looking at the federal government for for relief whether it be social entitlement programs whether it be a border issue whether it be what to do with the folks who are here until then unfortunately states are left with no choice but to deal with it in my view. OK well you may be one of those people making that case in Washington today. All right Representative Perry thank you so much for joining us. Thank you. Now for a look at how the immigration debate is playing out in Latino in the Latino community here at home. We're joined by Marcella Garcia Marcella Garcia is the managing editor of El planets and Marcello. Welcome back. Thank you thank you for having me. So lots of people were at protests rallies on May the 1st this past weekend.

Protesting representative Perry's bill or the Arizona bill both of it actually. This March the May 1st March had been planned for a long time and it was part of a national effort to rally in against. I mean around the issue of immigration reform into the mandate more comprehensive immigration bill and at the federal level so this is being planned for a long time but he just so happened that the Arizona bill happened everyone was outraged rightly so. So obviously there was more there was more excitement and more energy around the issue on May 1st. There were about 3000 4000 people gathered in his Boston Chelsea where they marched through the streets. Very powerful very powerful March actually. And it was the overall feeling you got just described that there are people just angry about you know the racial profiling aspect of the Arizona law which is you know the essence of it. Are they angry to some extent what Representative Perry said there's been no movement by the federal government to address immigration reform. Oh all of

it it's just the anger about the lack of action. You know federal authorities President Obama they're all deeply disappointed at Obama's lack of action but also regarding the Arizona bill mostly what you would see. Well you know the all the activists and organizers of immigrant organizations obviously are raging and anybody should be outraged at this period no matter if you're Latino if you're black you're anything if this is just not acceptable in this day and age in this country. But if you talk to undocumented immigrants that joined the march and if you talk to the regular worker on the street they're just panicked because that's that's what it does to you if you're an undocumented worker here. You basically live in fear and you come here to work that's it. That's all. That's all your motivation and if you feel that you're going to be prosecuted because this is what this is like a hunt it's like a witch hunt. So you you're going to leave in fear you're going to you know fear that.

Am I going to come home to am I going to be the poor Am I going to get arrested or will I see my children you're going to see all this family separation. So it's really heartbreaking it is a lot of people say listen we in Massachusetts don't live in a border state so we don't really know what we're talking about because some have described the Arizona law as quote a cry for help from the state saying we waited for you federal government you didn't do anything. And so this is what we're going to do whether you like what we're doing or not. This you know something had to happen we're being besieged by crime we're being pleased by drug cartels. Though I have to note listeners that in today's Washington Post column by Eugene Robinson he points out and quotes a sheriff from Arizona saying that it's not true that crime has not gone up. Violent crime has not gone in fact it's gone down in the last decade and that Arizona at least is not suffering from this drug cartel. Issues that some other border states but be that as it may you know this is you know people say you know hey we don't live there and they have a right to try to figure out how to

handle this if the federal government isn't. Well the problem is it is wrong I think to the find the problem in those terms in the context of or we are a border state or we are north borders they whatever it is wrong because the issue is that the federal immigration system is broken and you have we have to fix it. That's that's the issue. And you know when we defined the problem like Representative Perry was saying you know that we don't know how bad it is down there or whatever I've been in the border and it's horrible it's horrible I mean to see it's like a war zone and like you say Be that as he may it's not just right to define the problem like that because you know it takes away from from the the real debate and then we get caught up in these divisive issues and which I think it's what's happening is what you get what you see get the play in the media and that's where people I think they want to be shot they want to be you know it's just it gets us away from the real problem which is to fix the immigration system period. How would you like to see the problem

framed so that people could understand what's going on I mean you won't get any pushback from me about racial profiling because I've been profiled so I know exactly what that what we're talking about here and this is a racial profiling bill. But you know in terms of everybody on the table agreeing even representative Perry that not even but you know he's saying look we've got to do something. So how do we frame it. I mean I know it is a larger conversation is not just for you right. Right now it's very complicated that's why the debate gets poisoned because they just take the most divisive issues and then you you see politicians and election years like he's just saying represent a pair is running for a congressional seat that in my opinion he just wants to become the next Scott Brown. So you know it's at least that's how Latinos see it. You know we don't get it's just highly hyper critical. But anyway going back to your point it's I would like to see or would like to see him get educated on the issue. The problem is that there is said the man for workers that we're not meeting and there's people here willing to work.

They're coming here because they can. There's the law. The systems are the law system is broken. And that's what's bad about it. You know the laws are broken so we need to fix it these people are coming in there is jobs and then we're prosecuting them. What we need to fix is the system now. You just have to look like I was talking to somebody yesterday we all know and and immigrant or I know an undocumented immigrant. We deal with them at every second of our lives in Dunkin Donuts and you know it landscaping how and why and this why is this directed at employees yours because of the exact people can't get work if somebody is not employment Exactly and that's when that's when you get or run into exploitation because the employers are willing or are there basically are free to do whatever they want. You know they get exploited. And so you run into all these issues but the truth of the matter is that you have to go to the source it's an economic based problem. You have to fix you know it's a demand based issue. There's demand for work so they're coming.

We did a piece here not long ago about the Vermont dairy farmers who have hired a number of Latino workers because they can't nobody else is interested in the business and several of those farmers are out in the open saying. I'll tell you I'm hiring undocumented workers. Now you tell me where I'm getting some workers from. You know we have a different discussion. And so it's been very interesting because it's an important industry in Vermont. That's in our region here and it's called some of the lawmakers that have a pause to try to figure out how they can frame this. But you have a situation where in Arizona it is so extreme. A lot of folks have already stepped up to boycott it so we've heard from cities around the country San Francisco Denver West Hollywood St. Paul Minnesota where they are forbidding municipal employees from going anywhere in Arizona to make a statement about it and in fact there's two Boston city councilors here considering pozole. So it seems like Arizona is going to be kind of on the hot seat for a while. Yeah I think it is going to.

I welcome that you know it's symbolic but of course he keeps the issue on the debate and you know as long as we can shed light on the real issues that's what's important. This this bill here in Massachusetts represented Perry you know he's talking about how immigrants are taking away dollars. But it's he's got a lot of normal Look at that bill and they say it's not the hate bill that Arizona is it's no one is about what about the money that the immigrants are coming are bringing in. They're paying taxes they're paying sales taxes they're paying income taxes state taxes. He's not taking that into account. So for every dollar that he says they're taking away they're also contributing to that dollar. So it's unfair it's uninformed. So I think you should just do more research. Well I don't think this is the end of our conversation about this as you know. So I appreciate your coming in to talk to me about it. I mean Alec Crossland we've been talking about immigration with my guest Marcella Garcia the managing editor of Del planeta Marcella thank you for joining us thank you.

Up next a look at legislation that could put the adage Waste not want not to use. We'll be back after this break stay with us. Support for WGBH comes from you and from new Center for Arts and Culture. Treat your mother to an evening with StoryCorps founder Dave Isay who pays tribute to the most influential fascinating and indomitable figure in all of our lives. Mom May 6th new Center Boston dot org. And from safety insurance working with independent agents in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to provide coverage for homes autos and business and

supporting the world weekdays at 3:00 and 6:00 here on eighty nine point seven WGBH. Spring is here and so is the WGBH annual Bet on Red Sox tickets. Restaurant gift certificates incredible getaway packages new items appearing and closing every day and every bit helps support the WGBH programs that you depend on. Visit auction dot WGBH dot org. This is eighty nine point seven. WGBH Boston NPR station for trusted voices and local conversation with the take away the Diane Rehm

Show and the Emily Rooney show explore new voices with us all day long here on the new eighty nine point seven. WGBH the WGBH spring auction is underway with new items appearing in the closing every day and every bid supports the programs that you depend on visit auction. Good afternoon I'm Kelly Crossley. My guest Paul MCMURTRIE a Democrat representing the 11th Norfolk District has proposed a bill that would give restaurants and cafeterias the freedom to donate their cooked leftovers to food pantries and homeless shelters without fear of being sued if anyone gets sick from it. And to sweeten the deal participating restaurants could could get a tax break for their contributions.

The bill is in committee until May 7th. Representative McMurtry welcome. Welcome. We're also joined by Ashley Stanley She is the founder and executive director of love and spoonful a nonprofit that is already working to partner restaurants with soup kitchens and shelters. Ashley Stanley welcome. Thank you for having me. OK Representative McMurtry tell me why you push this bill forward. It actually started out of a request of my brothers who worked for a short period of time at a corporate kitchen and saw that at the end of the day the waste that was just put into trash barrels rather than into homeless shelters or. Institutions of need and also I think when I was having some earlier conversations I remember speaking of working as a boy in McDonald's and was always bothered by the 10 minute rule after 10 minutes of food expiring would be just tossed out and I remember mentioning to a manager at the time why don't we have this go on to food pantries and long before hunger

became a international social cause. And so it troubled me and I feel it's the right thing to do as you know I've said to others it's a common sense measure just to partner up with organizations and charities to help feed hungry people. Now when you ask your boss that Largo when you worked at McDonald's was his answer because we can't be sued I want to be you know not having any direct conversations with restaurant owners. It was basically a liability issue. And that's a culture that we want to try to change through this legislation to try to get an opportunity for restaurants to be comfortable about it and to make these contributions without fair of litigation. Now was this a lawyer thing that let's just make sure we don't get sued or has anybody actually been sued because of this. I think it's just you know there's just this culture out there that is the fear of being sued. And you know trying to change that culture too. To this legislation to allow folks

to feel comfortable that they're actually doing something good and won't have any fear of retribution that will come back and probably perhaps cost my livelihood. OK actually how much food is wasted. Ninety six billion pounds of food is wasted a year. There are forty nine million Americans who are hungry. Wow. That's roughly 27 percent of all available edible food in the United States. And the gap between abundance and need is growing and the need is growing and it's just you know talking to Paul earlier today and as love and spoonfuls goes out and and we do what we do. And tell us what you do. We go out and we were a food rescue. Essentially we perform the pick up and distribution of fresh perishable prepared unserved food that would otherwise be discarded and we repurposed that to soup kitchens homeless shelters food pantries that can handle that amount of food so that it can be served and doesn't get wasted. What are you talking about the

kind of sandwiches that would have been left over when Representative McMurtry was working at McDonald's or something else. Not necessarily I mean right now the bulk of what we do in three months we've rescued 15000 pounds of food. We've done a lot with a little as we've gotten started and a lot of what we're doing right now with give me some examples of markets like say Whole Foods Mr. Jones we do fresh produce. Lean meats whole grains. It could be anywhere from 600 pounds of food a day to 800 pounds of food a day just on average. And so really what we're trying to do is make sure that this kind of food repurchasing is being done in a safe efficient and responsible way so that good food can be repurposed and get people fed. Now one of the problems that always comes up when you talk to people who are involved with homeless shelters and with food banks is that they don't get enough of exactly the kind of food you're talking about right. They get the non-perishables which is what we who donate are asked to contribute because that makes sense you can hold it for a while.

But except that everybody else in the world and doctors and scientists say the kind of food that's being thrown away is what everybody should be eating right and that's and that's our focus that's our mission that's what we're focusing on. We want to show up we want to be able to provide this good healthier food that's available that's the thing that really got me. Nothing extra has to be produced. Nobody has to spend any more money making extra food it's available right now and we've found that there's just such an incredible abundance to get to where it needs to go and we'll keep doing it and the need is there. Representative MCMURTRIE this into a commonsense bill. Are you having overwhelming support are you having it still make the case. No I well I'm with every piece of legislation you continue to make the case as it goes through the process. Fortunately for this piece which was filed bout six to eight months ago there has been some pretty bipartisan support from across the commonwealth and I believe there's 20 or so legislators of my colleagues who have signed on to the bell.

It was heard in committee on March 2nd. And just as a testament to the nature of the bill after the public airing the folks in the audience applauded this and the folks that were there for it not specifically for this piece of legislation but other pieces of legislation that were before the Judiciary Committee and that said to me that this makes sense this was sort of the public's response to yes let's continue with this and in fact was commented on that day that the chairman of the committee said that that was the only bill that he's ever been in committee that has ever received received applause so as the process continues and the support. Begins to grow and continues to grow. Then hopefully we can I see this through the process and it become can become a law and we can make a difference. We're speaking with Representative Paul McMurtry who is a Democrat representing the 11th Norfolk District and he's proposed a bill that would give restaurants and cafeterias the freedom to donate their

cooked leftovers to food pantries and homeless shelters and also actually stand Stanley who is the founder and executive director of Loving Spoonful a nonprofit that's already working with partner restaurants. Now if this is your operation where expand it. Actually yes. What that lower costs what that you know what what would happen in addition to providing better food for needed. Well two things that I just want to mention really quickly. We are 100 percent behind representative Macartney's bill. I think it's there is federal protection right now it's from the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan act. I think here in Boston it would be so terrific to have. A local state statute to point to really allowing people sort of that comfort and really to disarm this issue of liability. It talks about safe compliant regulations. You know the way that it gets done. We are a nonprofit. There is a tax benefit to donors who are donating food. Any donations for that matter that

come towards us. So as our it's a win win. Well it is a win win and truthfully this is the kind of project that's happening all over the country. City Harvest in New York the pioneers you know Food Runners in San Francisco fill abundance. This is something that Boston really can and should participate in. The response is overwhelming. I haven't sat down with one person and said you know this is really what we can do in the kind of impact we can have as a community and had someone turn and turn around and say you know that that's a bad idea. This is something that at the very least is Appeals intellectually beyond emotionally beyond as a community social issue. We have Jack Nolan on the phone he's the aquisition and distribution manager at the Pine Street in hi Jack. Hi Kelly how are you. Fine. This bill passes what's it going to mean for Pine Street Inn. Well I would be it would be fantastic. The plan is to eat in the end right now. We prepared 21:00 know each day and 50 percent of that comes from donations. And if the word

gets out to these local restaurants that we are able to accept food. As long as its two are properly and it can be used on a daily basis I think more people will start donating. Can you tell us just how much. How many more people are needing food now. Well from here like I say I mean in general the increase is just gone through the roof so what could this do to help you with that. That those numbers those new numbers would be it would be fantastic. Any kind of donation that comes in for food I mean there was always a need for food people and there really shouldn't be. But when food comes in I mean we could incorporate it right away to help those people that are in need. Even local banks banks the rise during the economy last year has gone up and we and the cost of that and the cost of food not only that but there have been a few. People that have come even to

Prince we didn't just receive a meal even though they don't stay here and could certainly benefit them as well. Well thank you very much Jack my sorority the great now powerful Delta Sigma Theta cooks for Pine Street in Soho I asked and get a firsthand look. Thank you so much. Thank you Representative McMurtry to me this sounds like you know leftovers at home like you know I know a lot of people like leftovers but every creative cooks that's what's all happening on the Food Channel. That's what I watch there's like talk about repurposing food for fancy people. So this just again it just makes so much sense. You know I'm just shocked that I think a lot of us are surprised that this was not already happening is what I'm getting to. Well you know I agree and it's one of those things if I have an opportunity to make a difference during my years in the legislature then if this happens to be one of the biggest differences I can make then it would be a pretty fulfilling mission. OK I just want to piggyback on that if I can. You know this is something that

really is just so common sense as you say the food is available. And with Jamie Oliver's efforts with Michelle Obama's efforts this is food that is in many cases organic it's fresh. These clients of Pine Street whom we work with very closely have eaten vegetables out of a can of fruit out of a can their whole lives and and and the idea of being able to bring them whole grains and leaner proteins and fresh produce at no cost on either side as a community that's the kind of participation that really can make a difference one. So that food waste becomes eliminated. Americans pay a billion dollars in taxes to incinerate wasted food every year and that's not what's already in the garbage or can't be used that's food that can be used. And so a lot of this just has to do with sort of connecting the dots. A real community effort you know we Twitter all the time hunger relief equals team sport. And the more people we have talking about this it really does give a voice to I think what's in the back of so many

people's minds. Why are we throwing so much food away. There is enough food out there. We have to be able to go get it. And that's what we're trying to do. Well you know those of us who are reared with those parents it's people are hungry you better clean your plate we understand that as well. And I've got a fund raising suggestion for you. Yes you need to get a recipe contest in honor of Representative McMurtry done what's the best repurposing recipe I think Calley Will you come in MC. I certainly could do that. All right. We've been talking about ending hunger in a new way with Paul MCMURTRIE a Democrat representing the 11th Norfolk District. And Ashley Stanley the founder and executive director of love and spoonful a nonprofit that rescues perfectly good food and gives it to emergency food providers who need it. Representative McMurtry and Ashley Stanley thank you so much for joining us for having us. Thank you. Coming up it's our regular feature pop culture. We'll be back after this break stay with us. But the

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We are WGBH to walk and not doubt bank of thought. I'm Kelly Crossley and this is the Calla Crossley Show. You know if you hear that music it's time for pub culture. Last week the U.S. Post Office issued stamps featuring five dogs and five cats adopted from a Connecticut based animal shelter. The stamps are part of the stamps to the rescue promotional campaign. So joining us to talk about the virtues of adopting a pet is a joy in of all things dogs Monica Collins Monica Collins writes Ask dog lady the syndicated pet lifestyle advice column. She also host ass dog lady the radio show airing Wednesdays on WCAU am in the Merrimack Valley. Monica Collins welcome. Thank you Kelly. Now before we had to dive into this conversation I know our listeners are dog lovers. Yeah. So please give us a call if you have any questions about adopting a pet or putting a pet up for adoption or if you have a great story about your shelter dog. We're at 8 7 7

3 0 1 89 70. That's 8 7 7 3 0 1. Eighty nine seventy. So how exciting is this new stamp issued. It's very exciting I brought a sheet for you to look at raising these list listeners there are number of Oh there are. Look you are like you. There are five dogs five cats. And when the post office issues a commemorative like this it does certainly raise the awareness. Ellen generous is tied up in this campaign in that she is donating so many meals to shelters she now owns a dog food company halo pet food rather company and so she's donating so many meals to so many shelters because Ellen is still living down the big fiasco of a big fiasco adopting a shelter dog appropriately. You know right. She gave away a shelter dog inappropriately. So what's the best way then and why a shelter dog to begin with I guess. Why should you adopt

a dog. I think you do it to save animals that sounds so hokey but I think it's true. I think that every dog every cat is a creature a living creature and they're also different. I talk to many many people they tell me that after their beloved dog dies they will wait a while and then adopt another dog and every dog is different. So waiting out there in shelters all over this country are dogs who need homes and it's just kind of the you main thing to do. I mean because there is so much pet overpopulation and pets occupy a lot of space and this is from people giving away their dogs. I mean how do we get to pet overpopulation to begin with. Pet overpopulation is a when you don't spay or neuter your dog Alfonso that lets a lot of animals run amok and many of them go to

shelters. So if everybody gets on this campaign of adopting a shelter dog I mean how many shelter pets are out there to be adopted. Really. Oh millions millions. Why does a figure forty nine million stick in my head I mean there are a lot of there are a lot out there. What are your what are your. The people who write in to you and ask questions what I say about having the experience of getting a shelter animal. I get more letters from people who have adopted from shelters or gotten their pets. Some people may be offended that we even use the word adopted to refer to dogs but it is very much like bringing home a family member. When you get a dog from a shelter I think that shelter dogs when you get a wonderful dog from a shelter and you bring it home and you and you bring it into your family and into your home. I think it's the greatest feeling in the world so that a lot of people feel that glow and they are. And I hear a lot of stories about shelter dogs although I also get

the little letter like I got this week from someone who had had a rescue pappy. You know what they are they're the little dogs that look like they have little pigtails. Yes. And this dog was biting well not biting people but biting things and chewing a lot in. And this person wrote me. How long does puppyhood last. This was a question this person should've asked at the shelter. Yeah puppyhood last can last a while. Has the economy forced a lot of people to give up their pets. Yes. And so some of those pets in the shelters in our word were loved but they can no longer people can't afford them. Yes. In fact I've talked to shelter directors who have said that the pets that were surrendered because of the economic crisis are the best pets for adoption because they're very well trained. They're very well mannered. They just need a home.

I can only imagine the emotional scenes at the shelters in these people giving up their their pets. OK Alec if you want to get me you know we try and from now to Sunday that's said to say that kind of thing to feel that kind of loss that people would feel. Are there thoughts that people have about shelter dogs being less then are there any Myst that you need to dispel now I'll dispel them. There is the myth that shelter dogs are less than that they have been abused so that their behavior is bad that they do all sorts of bad things like they guard their food they they bite you. They do stuff like that. In some cases that's true. But that could be true with the dog you buy from a dealer right. Absolutely. OK. Also if you get a dog from a really good shelter let's say the Animal Rescue League of Boston let's say the AMAs PCa that has been surrendered and then it's gone through temperament tests and then they won't adopt out the dog unless the dog has been vetted as it were.

Right. So you have some measure of protection as you do and you can also to always talk to shelter workers. Now that's different because one of the things that you say is do not go to Craigslist and get Nonono worst thing you can do because. Because there's no there's none of that venting there's none of that. You know if you want to dog on the cheap you'll go to Craigslist and people are giving away their dogs or. But no one you should never get a dog that's being given away quote unquote always that should that dog should go through the shelter system or the rescue system. What are some other tips that people should know about adopting a shelter dog. Well let's say you love a certain breed Let's say you love West Highland terriers like you like. There is no reason that you need to get a puppy from a high class breeder. I mean you can of course if you want to spend a couple thousand dollars but if you go through rescue if you look up the West Highland

Terrier rescue there are people all over this country involved in doing rescues of puppies that are grown dogs that have lost their homes for whatever reason and then you can adopt you can adopt a full bred dog. It's not just months. All the mutts are the heart of the shelter. I have to say listeners we just have a few more minutes if you want to call ask dog lady please do it. We're speaking with the doyen of all things dogs Monica Collins about shelter dogs and United States Post Office just putting out a adopt a shelter pet stamp a special issuance of a stamp. So is it best if parents are going in to get a dog for the kid. Yeah a kid should pick not the parents right. How does that work. I mean just to make certain that even though you have to go through a lot of other stuff there I would say let's say you're going into a shelter Let's say you went this afternoon to a shelter which would that

be nice. You know you would be let into the shelter and you would walk the cages in the shelter because there are cages in the shelter it is kind of like being in prison for dog or the pet the pet. And you're looking for a dog that engages is social or you're looking for a dog that is keeps unto itself. You can tell that by looking at the dog and the shelter workers will help you. But if you go in with your child it is really important that the pet potential the potential pet relates to the child through the bars you know sniffing. You can also take the pet out for a walk. Oh really. Oh yeah. Yeah get a real sense yeah you can get a sense you know you mention the shelter workers a couple times a day. They seem to be the point people in a very serious way in this process. They are and I'm getting a sense that a lot of people that probably write to you as you just mention that woman

earlier do not use them to the fullest if they could. Nonono they should be used to the fullest because they are great they really are they are. I have great respect for law enforcement. I also have great respect for animal rescuers. I really do I don't think I could do it myself. What I could do and what many people could do is let's say you were thinking about getting a dog. Let's say you call up the the Animal Rescue League of Boston and you say can I come there and volunteer. Because they need volunteers to take the dogs out. So you could get used to one maps a little just to test out your whole thing right. We got a caller Lily in Boston. Go ahead Lily. Hi I am I have a question for the guest and ask your lady go right ahead. I know a lot of people you probably contact with their dog they don't want to go through a shelter because they don't want the potential of the dog staying in a shelter for months and months and also a lot of shelters you know might get overfull. So what's a good

way I mean I don't want to adopt or or give up my dog to Craigslist but what's a good way if someone wants to give up their dog and doesn't want to go to the shelter because they don't want to worry about. You know being there for a long time or having an overfull shelter or shelter or turning away dogs. Now I got it. Thank you Thank you Lily. Now I didn't ask what kind of dog Lily had. Larry still in line. I don't think I have a little Chihuahua mix. But you know hopefully getting it out is OK. Little you know the best thing I would do is go through the risk you like while rescue. I would go to excuse me I would go to Petfinder. Do you know Pat Petfinder on the web. Yeah I was there before I would use Petfinder way before I would use Craigslist Paradine or other on line things are good but just in general is just. Well I would I would not I would not put it on my dog and I've read through the Craigslist postings. It's just too easy.

You need something that that has more of a layer some vetting going some some vetting some layered going on and Craigslist is just you put it up there you know there and you have no idea. OK I think we have another caller. Go ahead please. Mary Mary. Hello How can I marry you mention West Highland terriers a moment ago. Yes and I just want to talk about this very good experience I had adopting a West Highland Terrier a male named kept. Oh yeah I think years ago. Yeah the West Highland terrier I had a female Unfortunately she was hit by a car. And um a few months later I got on the New England West Highland Terrier website and I was actually looking for different breeders to find another puppy and I called this breeder in random and she said well you know I also take in West Highland terriers we feel we bring them into the world. We have a responsibility to find homes for the ones that come back to us.

Right. And that I have a 2 year old son his name is Kip. If you'd like to come to him. And he's he's absolutely wonderful. It's just as you said he was I think the situation was there was a family reunion. And there were over 100 people in the home. And he bit someone because they tried to take a chicken bone away from him thinking he was and they were bit right and the family had two young children but I think they panicked. He's wonderful. He fetches the newspaper he brings you when you come in the door. Thank a dog lady smiling. I said I don't need to be like everybody. The company contact with and I just want to tell people if you're thinking about it you know it's just wonderful. Thank you Mary Joyce thank you so much Mary for your co-anchor you thank so very I want to ask you though just from go camp Camp was the

name when you got the dog. Yes. Why did you decide to keep camp and did you think about changing the name at all. It just suited him. OK. Has his temperament that. How happy he was. It just really suited him. Well that's good thank you. Well I guess that just proves your point does Lady. One can be happy at the shelter. No really I think adopting a shelter dog can make you a happy person for the rest of your life. All right and then you can support the shelter movement by buying one of these stamps from the post office. Michael Costin's thank you so much for joining us. Thank you Carol. Monica Collins writes Ask the dog lady the pet lifestyle advice column syndicated to over 400 daily and weekly newspapers. She also hosts ask dogleg of the radio show airing Wednesdays on WCA am in the Merrimack Valley this is the Calla Crossley Show today's program was engineered by Kate Conklin and Alan Mathis and produced by Chelsea murders our production assistant is Anna white knuckle be we our production of WGBH radio.

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