Increase Access to Early Education

Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury) -

"One way to improve the City of Worcester is to increase access and remove barriers to early education. Worcester has recently been experiencing a surge in acts of  youth and gang violence. Although the City will need both short and long term solutions to end the violence, a long term solution to breaking the cycle  is to  improve access to quality early education. This will have a direct impact on the achievement gap and our economy by preparing our children to receive the skills and education they need to open new opportunities for success. Education and employment  help to eliminate crime, violence and other struggles that result from poverty."

Develop the Big Three Downtown

Jim Dempsey, Publisher/Editor of The Worcester Journal - 

"I would like to see the city get serious about developing plans for the Auditorium, the old courthouse, and the Voke School building at the north end of Main Street - all empty and unused money pits. If these three sizeable buildings are left to rot, as was Union Station for many years, they will drag down everything around them.  If they are made viable and are used, they would both anchor and connect the neighborhoods of North Main, Highland Street, and the Salisbury Cultural District. There have been numerous studies and suggestions over the years, especially for the Auditorium (which must be saved--it's a cenotaph, an "empty tomb." a war memorial). It wouldn't be easy, but tackling this and succeeding would show that the city believes in both its history and its future."

A Longer School Day in Worcester

John Monfredo, Worcester School Committee -

"Worcester Public Schools needs a longer school year. There have been research done that indicates that children lose between two or three months of academic growth in the summer time if they are not engaged in learning.  If you multiple that times seven years during their elementary time you are talking about a loss of 21 months.  Thus, we have the academic gap that educators continue to espouse. The children could profit from a longer school day and a longer school year.

Another way of improving the education in our community is to have our children have access to a full time pre-school program.  Again much research shows that  children attending a full-day program do better on math and literacy tests than children in a half day program… then there are many who don’t attend either.    The results indicate a quality early childhood full day program can help make up for the disadvantaged circumstances the accompany many of our “at risk” students.     Research states that the increased time in the classroom yields better results because it provides great opportunity for teachers to work individually with students and allows for a more relaxing atmosphere.    Children at an early age are like “little sponges” for they are capable of absorbing a great deal of information.

As a former principal of a full day preschool program I can attest that it yields great results."

Give Worcester's Youths Good Jobs

Jennifer Roy, WPS Communication Specialist - 

"I truly believe to change Worcester right now we need to employ our youth with good jobs and a fair wage.  As a co-founder of the Girls Inc. Leadership Academy, we've helped high school girls develop skills like time management and interview techniques and even provided funds and went shopping with the girls so they could purchase appropriate interview attire.  When I worked for Unum, I helped create an internship program where South High students are currently interning.  There are many programs in the city that are working to provide youth with internships and employment through organizations like the Worcester Community Action Council and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.  However, I see the need to bring these programs together to collaborate in an unprecedented way to encourage local businesses to provide more opportunities for high schoolers and to market these opportunities to students so they are aware they exist.  In exchange, I think it would be great to publicize the work these businesses are doing in keeping our youth employed and skilled.  I’m hoping to lead an effort like this through the Worcester Public Schools where I serve in the Communications and TV Production departments, and as a local entrepreneur."

Improved Transportation in City

Hilda Ramirez, School Committee Member - 

"There are great cultural assets and organizations willing to give opportunities but the transportation does not allow some to take advantage of the free resources in the city.  We need more frequent bus services and perhaps more lines.  Can the city afford to have free transportation for K_12 students?"

Speed Enforcement Campaign Across City

Gary Rosen, District 5 City Councilor - 

"I think that the speeding of motor vehicles on city streets has gotten out of hand. On a weekly basis at least, I hear this complaint from my constituents in beautiful Council District 5.

Of course, the men and women of our fine WPD have their hands full fighting crime, opiod abuse, and so many other issues that threaten our way of life in the city. Speed enforcement on our streets is done but speeding simply has reared its dangerous head all across the city.

Perhaps a special  "Slow Down, Worcester" campaign, with signage and high publicity in the various media would eventually get many more drivers to see the dangers and they'd work harder to comply with our speed limits."

Focus on Future of Public Education

Brian O'Connell, Worcester School Committee -

"We will improve Worcester - and strengthen our community for future generations of its residents - by focusing on public education as a key and vital municipal priority. We can, and should, expect the best from our schools, and, to make that feasible for them, we must  pursue the many opportunities available to us:  to apply aggressively for pertinent federal, state, and non-profit grant funds, to maintain the integrity of our schools' physical plant, to renovate and/or replace appropriate schools with state funding, to acquire vital technology, texts and supplies, to keep our students and staff members safe in our schools, to offer our students healthy and constructive activities throughout the year, to partner with parents and interested residents in the education of our young people, and, above all, to maintain within our schools an ordered and intellectually vigorous academic environment focused on student achievement. Our students are truly our future, and the time, effort, and support we invest in them - to equip them all to thrive throughout their careers and in life - will pay dividends for our community for decades into the future."

Open the Blackstone Canal

John Giangregorio -

"The most transformative plan Worcester can do now is to put its efforts toward opening the Blackstone Canal on Harding Street in downtown Worcester behind Union Station. Our research partners at WPI have concluded that the $30 Million project would stimulate $100's of Millions of economic development,  investment, thousands of jobs, millions in economic activity, and improve the city's marketing appeal. No other plan has the capacity to change the city.

Over the past ten years the conversation about the vision of opening the canal  has helped brand the neighborhood as the "The Canal District" and has attracted entrepreneurs and revitalization. There is no livelier District in the city.

Worcester needs an attraction to gain a larger share of the Tourism dollar. Tourism is a $18 Billion industry in Massachusetts making it the third largest industry segment. Tourism built on the history of the Blackstone Canal , Worcester's role in the American Industrial Revolution and Worcester's history provides a lot to talk about.. With the creation of the new Blackstone River Valley National Historic Park and construction of the new Quinsigamond Village Visitor Center Worcester is positioned to benefit from this new opportunity. With the Chamber assuming the leadership and funding for Tourism, the widely known success of the National Park Service, and broad community support the time is now to create this new signature facility.

A great deal has already happened in the Canal District independently of city money. The States Environmental Bond Bill contains $3 Million for the next step to design and produce plans at the states expense. Let's keep moving in the right direction to keep this project on track!"

Diversify Worcester's City Government

Jennifer Gaskin, President of Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association - 

"We can improve Worcester by electing leaders that are more reflective of the community they represent. People need to feel that they are being represented by people they can relate to and by being able to relate leaders are better able to support the community they represent."

Put Flouride in the City's Water

Robert Baumann, Associate Professor of Economics at Holy Cross -

"How about putting fluoride in the water? Lots of research finds the only effect is fewer cavities. Just the kids won't have to take fluoride pills."

Expand PILOT Programs for Non-Profits

Gary Vecchio, President of the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association - 

"There are many needs we have in Worcester and most of them require financing. Therefore, I believe one of the quickest, easiest, and fairest ways to improve Worcester would be for the city to send a letter to each non-profit which does not currently pay taxes or some form of PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) and request such a payment.

This annual letter would state the valuation of their property and what their full tax bill would be if they were required to pay taxes. The request would be for them to pay the percentage that reflect the portion of the city budget that covers police, fire, DPW, Health and Code, and Communication. That would be about 18% of their full tax bill. This is how PILOT payments are based in many communities which negotiate them.

Of course any payment would be voluntary, because non-profits are not required to pay taxes. However, there are some non-profits that make PILOT payments now and some of them pay full taxes on all of the property they own, such as Friendly House and each and every CDC.

It never hurts to ask, and each individual entity can determine what they can afford to pay or if they want to pay at all. With taxes going up each and every year for homeowners and businesses, which is also reflected in the rents that people and businesses pay, simply asking each non-profit to contribute to paying for some of the vital services that they use on a regular basis is both fair and equitable."

Ensure Educational Opportunities

Senator Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) -

"One way we can improve Worcester is to ensure great educational opportunities- our people are our greatest strength and we need to give them every opportunity to succeed."
 

Improve School Safety Equipment

Robert Pezzella, Worcester Public Schools Safety Liaison -

"As the School Safety Liaison for the Public Schools primarily responsible for keeping schools safe for all students , I would make a major investment in modern ,state of the art security apparatus and equipment in order to meet the current challenges facing us in Worcester schools on a daily basis. This might require a shift in resources where grant money is not available and  it could take away from other academic line-item budget accounts ,but we are at a critical time where this issue needs to be brought to the forefront again with policy and elected officials.

Regarding gang and youth violence, we need to expand the model we created the last two years with the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative by hiring more community outreach workers to literally walk our city streets and convince a lot of these misguided youth to stop in nightly recreational and mentoring programs in our schools that we started recently among our SSYI partners, including the Police. Maybe some of these teenagers who are victims and perpetrators of gun violence might 'come around' and see there's hope for some of them. Easier said then done, but let's keep trying to turn a few kids lives around for the better.

Reverse Trend of Absentee Landlords

Matthew Wally, At-Large City Council Candidate

"The abundance of multi-family properties throughout the seven hills of Worcester is a tremendous asset to this city. When utilized as an option for a first time homeowner, a "three-decker" can offer an affordable path to homeownership.  In addition, when managed properly the units in these properties can offer a safe and clean environment for those families who are not in a position to buy a home of their own.  

Unfortunately far too often absentee landlords purchase these aged properties, forego the capital improvements needed to bring the units up to decent living standards, and don't keep up with routine maintenance costs. The negative effect this trend has had on Worcester has been devastating.  

The city of Worcester would benefit greatly if they focused on three strategies to reverse this trend: the promotion of owner occupancy, the support of private investors with the experience and capability to properly manage these properties, and stricter enforcement of absentee landlords who have no regard for their obligations as owners."

Offer Businesses Economic Incentives

David LeBoeuf, Divisional Program Manager and Special Assistant to the Director at the Innovation Insitute at Massachusetts Technology Collaborative -

"Municipal governments have a responsibility to improve the overall economic ecosystem of a community and foster conditions for growth. One of the ways cities have done this is through the use TIF agreements. Specific TIF agreements are often criticized for not providing the intended public benefits. 

We as a City can do a lot more to encourage business development that compliments community development. An alternative/ complimentary program the City could offer involves using what I like to call benchmark based economic development incentives. The specific form of relief would kick in after the applicant meets certain criteria or performs certain actions the benefit the overall wellbeing of the city.

Examples of benchmarks can include, (but are not limited to): 
- Locating in a neighborhood with high unemployment. 
-Committing to hire, train, and employ residents of surrounding neighborhoods.
- Building a formal partnership with a public school/contributing a small profit percentage to the Worcester Public Schools.
- Providing mentorship efforts to small businesses. 
- Adding a certain number of new jobs that are filled by Worcester residents- with an emphasis on hiring women and people of color. 
- Offering in-kind services or contributing a certain percentage of profits to a local non-profit. 
- Hiring local youth for summer jobs and providing paid internships during the rest of the year. 
- Establishing a new business intended to fulfill an unmet need in the community.
-Providing incentives for new hires to live in Worcester. 
- Using business resources to help market Worcester as a liveable community. 

This strategic approach would not only encourage business development but the development of socially responsible businesses directly invested in improving the conditions of Worcester and it's people. 

The key to making a program like this successful is to have residents, industry, and city officials come together to determine exactly what the benchmarks would be and the level/type of incentive offered for meeting each benchmark."

Sponsor More Community Activities

Jennithan Cortes, Distict 2 City Councilor Candidate -

"One way that we can improve our city and better serve all the residents of Worcester is by investing in our core value of being a family-friendly neighborhood city and thus sponsoring more (daily, weeknight, weekend) community activities that are family oriented. We should be maximizing the use of one of our greatest resources in Worcester and that is our healthy inventory of beautiful parks to host activities such as but not limited to picnics in the park, concerts, plays, games, movies, etc that all members of a family can enjoy together. High School bands, local theater troops and dance companies are just some of the many partners and community organizations that should be invited to showcase and hone their talents while entertaining our family, friends and neighbors, truly a win-win. I believe this to be a great endeavor (and service) that the City of Worcester can proudly stand behind as we promote a strong family structure and build a sense of community pride by coming together in celebration of both. An old school belief in a new world era, but worth the time and effort to preserve."