This forum is for all district council candidates; all candidates are here today.
Format: 14 total questions, 4 questions across districts (for all candidates), 10 other questions are 2 questions per district; 2 minute opening statements, 1 minute closing
Opening Statements:
Pacillo (D1): so amazing to be here in Mechanics Hall (isn’t it??). Grew more involved in community when she and her partner bought a house in Burncoat area; got an MPH. 3 priorities: quality of life, constituent services, city planning. Led charge for greater engagement and transparency in city meetings. Many endorsements. A lot of people in the city are doing work for others that is not seen. Will be a voice for every resident. (A lot more that I did not type)
Peterson (D1): came to the city in 2002 through his media connections – first job with WXLO, taught him how to deal with business owners, non-profits. Job didn’t pay much, saved enough $ to buy a house in Indian Hill right before market crashed. Got involved bc of his biz background, for last 10 years has run the Worc Bravehearts. Started a literacy program in the WPS. Started a penpal club that connects seniors and kids. Free food/buses for kids to come to ballgames on field trips. Will focus on constituent services. Always rooting for Worcester.
Bilotta (D2): lived in Worcester/D2 for his whole life, has worked as a disability consultant for the past 10 years. Served on Access Advisory Commission for 5 years, currently on Human Rights Commission. There are infrastructure, public housing, affordable housing issues – needs to make sure all residents are thriving. (He spoke well; listen, I didn’t get it all)
Mero-Carlson (D2): PROUDLY serving her fourth term. She is someone who has lived in the city her entire life. Has worked in nonprofit sector for much of her life. 38% of parks are in D2. 17 parks since she has been elected have done some work on. Isn’t a neighborhood in D2 that she hasn’t worked with. 8 years ago, the city just became a city on the move. With George Russell on Public Works and MO and Econ Dev, this city is moving in the right direction; has challenges like housing and homelessness. Looks forward to working on it like they have over the past few years.
Jattan-Singh (D3): grew up in NC, parents from Trinidad and Tobago, went to Johnson & Wales, came to Worcester in 2010, has four kids, substitute teacher at AKF, ever since she became homeowner in 2010, noticed a lot of unpaved roads and no sidewalks. Has tried to petition with no success as well as meet with city manager with no success – this is why she is running.
Russell (D3): 6 term incumbent, before he was incumbent was on the Planning Board, former pres of Lake Quinsig Watershed Association. 100% roll call vote – every time a vote was taken, he has voted. He wishes that he could say yes to every request, but we have to look at the big picture: what’s in the best interest of the city?
Norford (D4): been here for > 20 years, husband/beautiful family that attend WPS, also have biz (Carlito’s Barbershop) and is a homeowner. Involved in DEI in Main South Biz – different business owners and their perspectives helped her become more engaged. Involved with Main South CDC. Club director for kids 3-10 years old. Why not help and be voice of her district in the things that drive her crazy? Wants to see district become better.
Ojeda (D4): resident of Worcester that grew up in D4. build strong vibrant neighborhoods and allow people to take ownership of their lives (not exact quote). Homelessness, drug related problems, violence. D4 needs to be on the map for the right reasons. Showcase beauty & vitality of the district. More opportunities for residents without living in fear. More block parties, neighborhood gatherings. Police is also our neighbors. Tools to thrive not just survive. Detach labels, be who you are. Children must be anything they dream of.
Haxhiaj (D5): absolute privilege to serve D5 residents for a second term. She invites D5 residents to figure things out together, big or small. 3 months in Mill Street neighborhood meeting, 3 months later Stafford Street safety walk after Candice died. 267 Mill Street building support. In May, supported Pleasant St owners whose livelihoods evaporated in fire. Big D demolished last week – Mill Street improvements are going on now. Established Worcester’s first emergency funds. 500 resident issues. Wants to keep working with you.
Rivera (D5): Tonight his oldest daughter has senior night and he’s missing it. [It’s my 20th wedding anniversary, Jose. Suck it up.] Ready to fight for roads, sidewalks, public safety. Friend to small businesses. Will walk into city hall on his first day with a great appreciation for duty – will make D5 a desired place to live, work, play, go to school.
Q1 for all candidates on compromise. In setting policy, majority or supermajority required. Is council effective? Compromise y/n? How have you compromised in past?
Peterson: council is very cliquey. Wants to hear both sides before decision. Works for a small baseball team that has come in – head of Worc Sports Commission, teams need to work together. On city council, will make sure he doesn’t enter in with decision premade. Surrounds himself with people who have disagreements with me.
Pacillo: doesn’t always agree with her partner – have to work things out. Was a waitress for 15 years, built on compromise, easy on customers, bartender, kitchen. Important to hear both sides of the argument.
Mero-Carlson: many times that we’ve had to compromise and someone like myself had to compromise. When she first got elected, this was not a labor-friendly city. With work, we’ve been able to have a much stronger TIF policy, wage theft policy. Work on ballpark, that was someplace she needed to compromise.
Bilotta: doesn’t feel council compromises enough or listens to residents. Consider all stakeholders in decisions. In his work at Easter Seals, has had to compromise on different compromise decisions.
Russell: forgot to mention he was in the real estate business! He’d be broke if he didn’t know how to compromise. For me, it’s not right or left, it’s right or wrong. It’s hard to track his voting record. You wouldn’t have a TIF policy if it wasn’t his idea in the first place. I get things done in city hall and in the neighborhoods.
Jattan-Singh: many things have not been moved forward for years. ALSO works in real estate. Many areas for compromise. Good example is in her work to get transactions to close. She’s a mom, she gets four kids where they need to be – buses aren’t effective so she needs to drive them everywhere.
Ojeda: issues of compromise on the council. Short of embarrassing to understand [what is going on right now]. Work at Boys/Girls Club – if negative behavior going on, can use green space with folks to use it during their time.
Norford: for her, it’s not just compromise, but commitment. All of her meetings (Beacon Brightly, Main South Biz Assoc, CDC, etc.) – 445 backpacks – for that kind of giveaway event, need to have compromise. With Church, on Saturdays, to teach kids.
Rivera: the council is a 50-50 – sometimes they compromise, for the most part they don’t. If they did more, they’d accomplish more. Compromise is his bread and butter. IN his work/employees, work together to cover each other. He had to compromise on the way here – his wife didn’t like the tie he picked.
Haxhiaj: has done her best to listen to all points of view. One of the things she found challenging is that there are so many needs – resources are not what you want to please everyone on district. On important values (human dignity, pedestrian, important place to live and thrive), she does not compromise.
Q to D1 candidates: Burncoat School replacement. Will cost more than others because of shared facilities. (Question maker said this is out of their purview – NOTE THAT THIS IS IN THEIR PURVIEW!!!)
Pacillo: $500 mill affects bond rating. Staff, students, should not be in school that does not suit them. Will work with WPS facilities to see what needs to be done with all schools. Make sure schools are equipped to serve all students.
Peterson was speaking about Burncoat when he began campaign. Doherty needed addl $23 million [note the state will reimburse most of that, which Peterson is not mentioning]. Solar panels, school will need to be vibrant for years to come. Widening road in front of it.
Pacillo: green collar jobs, good local union wages.
Q to D1 candidates; Greendale revitalization. WBDC – 250 acres. What would you like to see?
Peterson: at prelim debate, talked about idea for a film studio, with tax credits. Opportunity for us to add jobs and use land that will bring flights to airport, more hotels, more walking to support small biz. Other than that, look at WuXi. Needs to not disturb AKF.
Pacillo: has been attending WBDC meetings for this whole time. Reality is that these will be pad-ready sites for clean manufacturing, advanced tech, life sciences – goal personally to connect with WPS to have pipeline from schools to QCC to these jobs.
Peterson: FILM STUDIO, not movie theater!! Soundstages!! Will work with developers for best use. Exit off 190, connect neighborhoods residentially as well.
Q to D2 candidates. Econ Dev. D2 has UMass, Abbvie, Reactory. City will prioritize new projects. Which parcels? What will econ dev look like in next 5-10 years?
Mero-Carlson: UMass and Abbvie are large employers in D2. D2 is economic engine of the city (this is what question asked, she agrees). WuXi – partnership with public schools to hire graduates.
Bilotta: UMass and Abbvie are really great. As we push, (1) don’t go overboard to tax relief for developers. (2) continue to make sure development has good paying jobs for residents.
Mero-Carlson: one of the things she does is meet with every developer. One of the first things she asks is wages for our people. Most important thing is for people to work in well-paying jobs.
D2: street safety. Prioritization for Complete Streets approved for MassDOT – 22 projects in 3-5 years – what are your priority projects for D2?
Bilotta: redevelopment of Lake Ave. Like Mill Street, has turned into a speedway. Safe for pedestrians to cross as it becomes more densely populated. Make sure streets are accessible to pedestrians, bike, wheelchair users.
Mero-Carlson: the city has been going after speed aggressively. Working on people who park on sidewalks. [this does not answer the question at all] Proud that WPD is working on the speed in the city. Public safety is a concern and a top priority.
Bilotta: speeding issues have been going on for 4-5 years – think proactively, do things every year and that we continue to improve sidewalk accessibility.
Q for all candidates. Dual tax rate battle. Are you in favor of single or dual?
Haxhiaj: I will answer the same as two years ago. We take a very narrow view of this issue. Proudly voted for lowest possible resident rate this year. At MOAD forum, what are we doing for minority/bipoc owned biz, will always stand up for homeowners but also small biz owner workforce can barely afford to live in city
Rivera: I don’t see Worcester doing a single tax rate, or dual tax rate. He doesn’t have a magic bullet. It doesn’t help if we block new biz growth. Incumbent opposed new gas station on Park Ave. We need electric charging stations. Answer is to encourage smart biz growth.
Norford: she’s a homeowner and business owner and knows how it feels. Taxes are so high on biz side. Unfortunately, losing businesses post-covid. ARPA was not available for small businesses. It seems like she wants a single tax rate.
Ojeda: engages with renters daily. Taxes impact people differently. He has a business and his rent has increased 3-4 times. Vehicles, fuel, construction materials, tires, affected by inflation. Housing crisis – but incentives for new homeowners, would love to understand this.
Jattan-Singh: things taxes are too high on both sides. Encourage more biz growth. If we had more homes built, there would be more income. Shrewsbury’s taxes are lower. [They’re not, really, it’s a lower rate] The taxes are too high period!
Russell: lowest residential always
Bilotta: keep taxes low for growing families and seniors. Important to keep residential low, but find ways to support small biz owners to help grow local economies.
Mero-Carlson: lowest residential always. Prices of homes through the roof. Homeowners have taken the biggest hit. Time for city to be creative with businesses.
Pacillo: they bought house in 2017 and it’s doubled in price. Will always support lowest residential tax rate but will look at it thoughtfully every year. Intermediate tax for commercial landlords/LLCs who own 12+ units, not owner-occupied. Think creatively to help homeowners and small businesses.
Peterson: will never solve tax problems by bickering on floor of city hall. Look at town of Auburn and Webster. Construction projects are all residents – need commercial. We have to increase commercial base. Commerical going down – wrong direction.
D3 Q: Complete Streets (similar question to the previous D2 q)
Jattan-Singh: Sunderland Road needs a sidewalk. Eminent Domain! Heywood Street sidewalk. Traffic calming on Heywood and Grafton Street. Lake Ave is crumbling.
Russell: my opponent is correct – what about Whipple, College, etc., streets in the city. Watch on the city of Public Works committee of May this year. Commissioner of DPW this year, Sunderland would be very difficult – $4.5 million. Those bills would be paid by abutter.
Jattan-Singh: the rules can be changes – even though they are written, they are set in stone. That is the first thing she will change when elected!!
D3: trash, despite clean team – further measures needed?
Russell: address pockets of issues in D3. We need to look at this in general. Asked city admin of how much we actually pay in yellow bags. [note: he got that report and I have blogged on it]
Jattan-Singh: bulk should not be charged, don’t charge people for any trash. This is why there is dumping on Granite Street.
Russell: has wanted open bulk disposal – state says that it would need to be classed as a transfer station.
Q for all: affordable housing. How do you think council should address? Other policies? What role does private sector have?
Rivera: inclusionary zoning helps. get people investing in city.
Haxhiaj: she and Bilotta pushed for strong(er) inclusionary zoning, which would have created more affordable units. Majority of council shot that down. Affordable housing trust paid for with CPC. Will help people retrofit homes. Council and manager can only do so much.
Ojeda: we are facing a housing crisis. Refugees and those with low incomes not causing crisis. Identify solutions from past, look at other cities, our numbers are rising, our pop will continue to grow, families are coming and we should get ahead of it. TIF for homeowners for reduced rents.
Norford: Main South CDC, Common Ground. We can create ADUs (?) – incentive to help them. Land that we have to develop and build houses to get through this crisis. Federal funds.
Russell: with city manager’s team, look at plan from last night. A lot of programs candidates are talking about were mentioned last night. ADU idea was his. [I feel like at least three people have claimed it was his idea]
Jattan-Singh: agrees that many things on that report. One that is not is city-owned vacant properties, senior center units could be renovated and rented out as affordable. Agrees with Norford about Fed funing.
Mero-Carlson: Sarai Rivera said how amazing it is that there are so many new programs to help with affordable housing. Those aren’t coming online tomorrow – city council is working tirelessly on housing and homelessness.
Bilotta: Worcester Affordable trust fund, owner-occupied rehabilitation, City council missed a huge opportunity in passing on a larger inclusionary zoning ordinance.
Peterson: we are not attracting the right developers. Section – we want more 60% AMI units. Reduce number of parking spaces needed for unit. Tiny homes, worked in other cities.
Pacillo: Dunn’s report last night very good, rethinking zoning – ADUs that Councilor Russell has been trying to get. Would be better if friend could have ADU for her mom.
D4 q: Clark University expansion to redevelop a block on Main Street. How would you work to strengthen town/gown relations?
Ojeda: Clark us trying – they have made a chance on what project will look like because they listened to residents. Hold them accountable. Continue making sure – be creative in ways – speak with Joe Corazzini, everyone thinks Main South is just D4, but it’s the heartbeat of D4.
Norford: definitely need to hold them accountable. Her business is across from the building Clark wants to demo. Corazzini will be at the next biz association meeting. Wants to see them provide more to D4.
Ojeda don’t want people to think he’s all for Clark – he’s all for Worcester. Make the youth involved and understanding.
D4: econ growth. What do you perceive as barriers? What will you do to overcome?
Norford: with Main South CDC, “I Love Main South” lot – 6 commercial units, rent to own. This will allow business owner to own the property. More venues to help businesses.
Ojeda: agrees. Became part owner of Pleasant Street TDI. TDI is only for three years – we have to hold ourselves accountable but educate ourselves. Prepare youth.
Norford: after pandemic, small businesses are struggling. Resources to help them thrive in this economy. Expenses increasing daily.
D5 on homelessness. City Council has directed CM to explore solutions. What to do this winter?
Haxhiaj: group of doctors, nurses, etc. There will be an increase in homelessness. Issue that affects people who influence homelessness. Have to expand shelter bed capacity. CM has been working hard with lt gov to find suitable spaces to house folks this winter.
Rivera: there are folks who refuse housing. Look at Mass and Cass. Opponent says sweeps cause problems – but what about the problems homeless people cause? WHAT ABOUT OUR RIGHTS? [Screw you, Jose. People are people]
Haxhiaj: people who through no choice of their own live in encampments, cars, people who through no fault of their own do not live in a home. We are not relocating homelessness from one corner of the city to the other. This does not solve homelessness. (just listen, she is amazing, I cannot believe I know this woman)
Q on turnover in WPD
Rivera: likes city manager, Saucier is transparent. 38 officers short right now, right amount of officers will only help growing city population. Don’t defund the police.
Haxhiaj: D5 one of the safest places in the city. Met with interim chief Saucier, good meeting about transparency, DEI, DOJ inverstigation, make sure recommendations are followed and implemented.
Rivera: as long as city council works with the dept, don’t make them sound like the’re always doing something wrong in the city.
Q on Council avaluations (my battery is dying; I’ll post when I hear the video)
Nicole, Worcester 