City Council Candidates

Illustrations by Lennie Peterson

MAKE NO MISTAKE, the November 2 election is an important one. Next term, Worcester's city council could -- for the first time in years -- grapple with budget cutbacks. Public financing of ongoing and of proposed construction projects will certainly add to any financial pressure. Public-health and quality-of-life issues, including needle exchange, could yet again dominate the debate. And as it does each year, the 11 member council will be asked to sign off on the local tax rate, which has been criticized by both business and property owners as prohibitively high when compared to neighboring communities.

To help voters better understand who will preside over such debates, the Worcester Phoenix asked each of the 20 City Council candidates to respond to questions, which were drafted with the help of grassroots activists and business leaders. All but two candidates, George A. Fox III, who is running in the at-large race and as a mayoral challenger, and Kassra "Sonny" Pazooki, also running in the at-large race, declined to participate in the survey. Eleven candidates are running for the six at-large city council spots and three of the five district seats are being contested. For mayor, at-large Councilor Konstantina Lukes and newcomer Fox are challenging incumbent Mayor Raymond Mariano.

In the at-large race, Dennis Irish, Al Toney, Pazooki, Neil Brosnan, Fox, and Juan Gomez are taking on incumbents Mariano, Lukes, Stacey DeBoise Luster, Tim Murray, and Joe Petty. Three district races are also hotly contested with newcomer Karen Nugent challenging incumbent Janice Nadeau in District 4; Jerry Horton is running against incumbent Steve Patton in District 1. And Wayne Griffin and Stephen Abraham are vying for the District 5 spot. In District 3, incumbent Paul Clancy is running unopposed, while in District 2 incumbent Mike Perotto faces no challenge.

City Council Candidates

Stephen G. Abraham
Cornelius Neil Brosnan
Paul P. Clancy Jr.
William S. Coleman III
Juan A. Gomez
Wayne A. Griffin
Jerry R. Horton
Dennis L. Irish
Konstantina B. Lukes
Stacey DeBoise Luster
Raymond V. Mariano
Timothy P. Murray
Janice L. Nadeau
Karen A. Nugent
Stephen T. Patton
Mike C. Perotto
Joseph M. Petty
Albert M. Toney III

To help you put candidates' answers in context, we've included background information below.

Needle exchange

For the past several years Worcester has distinguished itself by having one of the highest levels of HIV/AIDS infection rates in the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Worcester ranks in the top 15 US cities where AIDS is the leading cause of death among women. For years, AIDS activists and a number of health professionals have urged city council to approve some form of needle exchange; they've cited federal studies that show needle exchange has been effective in curbing the spread of HIV within the IV drug-using population. Such programs, though, have been opposed by activists who warn that needle exchange encourages drug use and contributes to neighborhood blight.

The most recent local proposal, submitted by the Harm and Risk Reduction Coalition, in 1998, called for a comprehensive needle-exchange program to be established at several city clinics. The plans also included mandatory drug rehabilitation. Yet the proposal was rejected by councilors in a seven to four vote. This year proponents are again expected to advocate for needle exchange and could approach city council with the same program.

Minor league baseball

In July, city officials invited a minor-league franchise to play ball in Worcester. The independent Atlantic League, currently six teams (including the Bridgeport Blue Fish and the Newark Bears and soon-to-be seven with the Long Island Ducks), hopes to establish a team here by 2001. Go Worms?

League officials are now looking for a site, at least four acres, that could accommodate a 5000- to 7500-seat ballpark. One site is already under consideration: a nine-acre parcel along Shrewsbury Street on the current Department of Public Works yard.

Though stadium financing has yet to be proposed, other league stadiums have been constructed with public and private funds. Bridgeport, for example, contributed $7 million for construction of Harbor Yard, while New York state has set aside $14 million to construct a ballpark in Long Island. Local officials will certainly debate public spending, if any, on stadium construction. But what could be just as essential are other improvements. Sewer-line upgrades (think of all those flushing toilets), roadwork redesigns, and additional street lighting will be necessary should a ballpark be constructed anywhere within the city. Those improvements, though, would be made with public funds, which councilors would have to okay.

Civilian review of the police department

Worcester Police Department's internal-affairs department has been scrutinized for more than a year. The Telegram & Gazette was forced to file a lawsuit after police, and then City Hall, refused to release unedited citizens' complaints. That raised the ire of many activists who have demanded accountability from the department for years. But what further exacerbated the tension between activists and the department was a series of residents' complaints made public during Human Rights Commission meetings this year. The outcry even prompted Police Chief Edward Gardella to reorganize the internal-affairs department. But critics want the city to do more. What activists call for is a civilian review board to oversee the handling of police-related internal investigations. Though a recent report by the Human Rights Commission does not support such a board, activists aren't likely to give up. Councilors then could be asked this term to establish a civilian review board.

Worcester Youth Center

The Worcester Youth Center provides services for some of the city's most troubled youth -- but it's had its share of trouble, too. Opposition from business owners forced the center and city officials to sit down with a federal mediator. Problems between teenagers and the police erupted in February 1997 after police maced the center's director. Finally, this past year, at the urging of local officials, the center moved out of its Main Street storefront location to Chandler Street. In exchange, a number of city officials -- City Manager Thomas Hoover included -- promised more support. But to date, only a small one-time city grant has been approved for the non-profit organization, which serves a growing number of kids with tutoring, mentoring, and educational programs. We have asked candidates if they support increased city funding for the Youth Center.

Arts district

This summer the Mayor's Office and ARTSWorcester announced plans to create an arts district in Main South. The proposal, which could provide tax breaks to artists who live and work in a designated area, has been lauded by neighborhood activists, area artists, and politicians alike. Proponents say an arts district is a good way to rejuvenate a languishing and underdeveloped downtown neighborhood. But no arts district can work without public spending on infrastructure improvements and building renovation. The first building to be renovated is the Community Builders-owned Burwick Building located at the corner of Main and Madison streets. Community Builders is expected to ask for public assistance to renovate the five-storey site, which potentially is to be converted into loft and performance space. We have asked candidates if they support such funding.

Parks and trees

Currently, the city's per-capita spending on parks, trees, and open space is among the lowest in the Northeast. As a result, area parks have deteriorated, and the city's street trees are dying in dramatic numbers. A recent survey by the Regional Environmental Council and the state Department of Environmental Management found that 64 percent of the city street trees are in fair or poor condition. Local officials argue that the Parks Department must have a significant increase in funding if the tree population is to be saved and if maintenance of local parks is to be improved. We have asked candidates if they support increased city spending on parks and trees.

Worcester's downtown and entrepreneurial support

No candidates' survey would be complete without a question on Worcester's downtown. First a bit of editorializing, though. For years, city officials have silently witnessed the almost-complete destruction of Main Street north of Madison: vacant buildings; ugly facades; stealth-like parking-lot construction; and small business owners clamoring for better lighting, street improvements, and financial support. It's shameful. But fortunately, it appears that chapter's over. This year, the Worcester Business Development Corp. (WBDC) brought on heavy-hitter David Forsberg to launch a downtown-improvement initiative. The non-profit WBDC intends to fund brownfields redevelopment, has provided small-business loans, plans to support downtown housing initiatives, and is working with the beleaguered Fashion Common Outlet Mall on Front Street. Construction is nearly completed on the Medical Center, roadwork is underway to connect Route 146 and the Mass. Turnpike, renovations at Union Station -- though no tenants have been named -- is almost complete. In total, there's more than $1 billion in construction underway. But more can be done -- particularly when few people can be found on Main Street after sunset. The Phoenix asked council candidates a number of questions concerning development. Councilors need to acknowledge that young people are investing in some of the most high-profile ventures within the city. What more can be done for them? And then there are the existing cultural resources. Frankly, many of them aren't promoted at all. We've asked them to identify one that has suffered because of poor marketing.

Local tax rate

City council is responsible for setting property tax rates each year. For the past several years, the council has fluctuated on providing reduced tax rates for business or for homeowners. The current rate is 18.5 percent for residential properties and 37.6 percent for commercial properties. In comparison, Holden's rates are 18.2 percent for both residential and commercial properties, while Springfield's are 20.6 percent for homeowners and 36 percent for businesses. Critics of the tax rate point to the city administration and its failed efforts to curb municipal spending. Councilors, in particular, have argued that the administration must propose spending cuts in order to reduce taxes. We have asked candidates if they believe the city administration has done enough to curb spending.

Access road to Worcester Regional Airport

To generate more customers at the local airport, the state has proposed constructing an access road, which would ease traffic and promote quick highway access. The plans, none of which has been finalized, have drawn fire from neighborhood and environment activists and many politicians. Of the seven proposed routes, five would require the taking of private properties in the James Street area through eminent domain. Opponents point to the woeful number of passengers using the airport, 76,329 in 1998, and argue any road construction is unnecessary. They also say that the real problem at the airport is the lack of flights, not access to the airport itself. We asked candidates which of the proposed routes they support.

Municipal elections are on Tuesday, November 2. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. So please make sure you vote! If you have any questions about where you vote, call the Worcester Elections Commission at 799-1134.