City Council Candidate

The Worcester Phoenix
October 22 - 29, 1999

[Features]

Juan A. Gomez

Questions	Answers
1. Last year, the city council rejected a comprehensive needle-exchange program that was to be based in clinics and tied to rehabilitation. Should this proposal be put forth again, would you support or oppose?	Oppose - I am not convinced that such a program would reduce the spread of AIDS, or help reduce IV drug use. The current statistics are inconclusive regarding these results. It sends our children a mixed message to tell them not to use drugs because they are harmful and illegal, while at the same time we give users the tools to use drugs.
2. A minor league baseball league has been proposed for Worcester and a special task force is currently considering different sites within the city to construct a stadium. Would you support or oppose public financing for infrastructure improvements?	I would support infrastructure improvements to help build a baseball stadium consistent with our capacity to fund such infrastructure. I would not support such work if I knew that our city did not have the money to do the work. I believe that the state and the private sector would have to pick up the largest amount of the costs related with such a project.
3. In the past year, the internal-affairs process within the Worcester Police Department has been scrutinized both by the press and by certain members of the council. A number of city groups called for an independent civilian review board to be formed. Do you support or oppose such a board?	Support - I support the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission in their report presented to the city administration, including the idea of a satellite location to collect resident complaints filed against the WPD. I further support the recommendation that school-based Human Rights sub-committees or mini-commissions be established in our different high schools to address such issues within these settings.
4. The Worcester Youth Center provides services and programs for Worcester's most troubled youth. Currently, the city has only provided a small one-time grant to the center. Do you support or oppose increased city funding for the Youth Center?	Support - I support a comprehensive package of services to be provided by the city, local non-profits, hospitals, and the business community at the Youth Center. We must make an inventory of what services are being provided to our youth. We must establish a separate committee of the council to deal with youth issues and not lump it with other committees of the city council.
5. This year, Mayor Raymond Mariano and Arts Worcester proposed the development of an Arts District on Main Street from Federal Square to Hammond Street. The project will likely require public money for infrastructure improvements and development costs. Do you support or oppose city funding for this project?	I would support a scaled-down version of the Arts District. The plan must be further detailed, and must incorporate the input and participation of the existing art and cultural entities in our city.
6. Do you support or oppose increased funding for park maintenance and for expanding the city's tree-maintenance program?	I would not support additional funding, because our city is literally running out of money. I would support the expansion of the Clean City's project, which should attract additional participation from residents and the private sector. I would also encourage an adopt a park program with the local colleges and other business. I would push to create more pocket parks in areas where there are a number of abandoned or tax-title properties.
7. Please rank (1 being the lowest, 5 being a high ranking) the city administration's efforts thus far to revitalize downtown. Please explain.	3 - I believe that our city administration has invested a substantial amount of time, effort and economic resources in revitalizing downtown. These efforts could be complemented by incorporating into the landscape street vendors and performers, more cultural and ethnic fairs and more residential apartments. This will result in increased traffic, and in a healthier social and economic environment for the district.
*8. What is the one* thing that the city administration could do to improve downtown development?**	There is no one thing that can be done to accomplish this. It must be a combination of long-term planning and more events downtown, better lighting, an aggressive marketing campaign, and many of the other suggestions that I made when addressing the previous question.
9. Do you support lower tax rates for business or for homeowners?	I support freezing the budget for a minimum of two years. This would give homeowners and commercial property owners some time to reinvest money into their homes, the local economy or to increase their profits for this period. I would further support evaluating the tax structure two or three years from now, and consider the possibility of cutting taxes altogether.
10. Has the city administration done its best to curb spending?	The city has done OK in its efforts to curb its spending. The message must be clear from the council that our spending must be curbed. We can not ask the administration to cut spending while at the same time demand that we add one more fire class if we do not have the money, or add more money for parks, or for a baseball field, or an Arts District. WE must truly prioritize our spending, and begin operating as if we are in a crisis.
11. Which of the proposed routes for an airport access road do you support?	In order for our city to move forward and progress we will need a successful airport. Unless Massport is committed to increase passenger service by over 350,000 passengers per year, and shows us a detailed plan as to how they intend to achieve this, I would not support our current level of passenger service. If however the need for an access road were satisfactorily justified, I would propose a number of suggestions to help minimize the impact of this important city initiative to those residents that would bear the greatest impact.
12. What more can be done to encourage young entrepreneurs to succeed in Worcester?	I believe that less taxes, less beaurocracy, less regulation, a one-stop shopping destination for developers and entrepreneurs, streamlining the planning and zoning approval process, and the implementation of a marketing plan that highlights our train station, our airport, the Centrum, and other cultural and general interest destinations will help a great deal.
13. What is your idea of a fun night out in Worcester?	A fun night out in Worcester would include returning home from Boston, arriving at our newly renovated Union Station, an afternoon at our baseball park with my wife and children, and walking out after the game onto Shrewsbury Street to one of our wonderful eateries. This evening would culminate with a stroll into our downtown to watch children and adults ice-skating in our downtown rink, and watching some of our street performers.
14. Name one of the city's cultural resources that has languished because of poor marketing or leadership.	Worcester's Memorial Auditorium
15. Why should we vote for you?	I believe that I am one of the most qualified candidates to serve on the Worcester City Council. I have a very broad background. I am bi-lingual. I possess a broad knowledge of our government. I am a business and property owner. I have children in our schools, have a comprehensive educational background. I will also bring a strong team approach to addressing the challenges facing our city. I believe I have the skills, the experience, the track record of performance and the plan to help make Worcester the "Most Livable City in the Region."