City Council Candidate

The Worcester Phoenix
October 22 - 29, 1999

[Features]

Konstantina B. Lukes

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?	Support - I have supported and would support a risk reduction/needle exchange program. The concerns of neighbors have been addressed by locating the program at clinics and with long-range rehabilitation and follow-up services.
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?	Oppose - I do not support public funding of a new sports stadium. If public funding is to be considered for infrastructure improvements, there must be a provision in the contract with a private developer for the stadium which includes reimbursement to the city by means of a share of the profits or some other identifiable stream of income so that the city is paid back for its investment.
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 report, which stated that a civilian review board was not recommended. I have also advocated for a Worcester-based Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination office.
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?	I would support in-kind services, such as the services of the city's grants office, to aid the Youth Center in obtaining more funding, but I would not at this time support increased funding.
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?	Support - I support the Arts District both as a cultural and as an economic development concept and I have in the past proposed the creation of a Sports/Arts Authority to fund such a concept without resorting to city tax levy money. I support state economic enhancement grants, tax incentives, and low interest loans. Tax levy monies would be the last resort.
6. Do you support or oppose increased funding for park maintenance and for expanding the city's tree-maintenance program?	Support - Yes, I support these improvements. However, since we would have to look at ways to fund this program within the city's budget, I have proposed on several occasions that the Parks Department come within the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department which has the resources and equipment to service the city's parks, fields, playgrounds and greenspace.
7. Please rank (1 being the lowest, 5 being a high ranking) the city administration's efforts thus far to revitalize downtown. Please explain.	I would rank the city's efforts as 2.5. If money were sole measurement then 5 would be the rating. However, money has not translated into success. The streetscape program did not result in new business activity downtown. The Centrum only had 17 concerts last year. Union Station is empty. Medical City/Center has generated more debt, $14.8 million, than anticipated. There has been no spin off from the downtown mall and a recent proposal suggested knocking a portion of the mall down.
*8. What is the one* thing that the city administration could do to improve downtown development?**	The most important single accomplishment the city can do to improve downtown development is to build housing on the Lincoln Square vocational school site. A permanent constituency of residents would then be in place to advocate and lobby on behalf of the downtown area as a neighborhood. The presence of that constituency would be the foundation of any future hope for the area.
9. Do you support lower tax rates for business or for homeowners?	I support the lower tax rates for homeowners because shelter is a priority.
10. Has the city administration done its best to curb spending?	The city administration has not in the past done its best to curb spending, although during the last budget session, the city manager made some difficult decisions as refusing to fill positions and fund programs. The prior year, under my advocacy, the council could not cut 1% from the budget.
11. Which of the proposed routes for an airport access road do you support?	No elected office holder, local or state, has voiced to close the airport. There is opposition to the concept of an access road to the airport because there is opposition to the Mass. Highway Department's design through the stable neighborhood of Grandview Avenue. Defending that neighborhood is the fair and right thing to do. Refusing to do any planning for the future of the white elephant we call an airport is the wrong thing to do. We can overcome a wrong design by planning a good design. That task has begun with the formation of the airport task force which I initially requested.
12. What more can be done to encourage young entrepreneurs to succeed in Worcester?	We have a college population of 30,000 students which is an ideal pool of future entrepreneurs. There should be offerings of entrepreneurial programs, outreach and recruitment through the colleges located in the city. The city, chamber of commerce and WBDC should collaborate with the colleges and provide a package of tax incentives, grants and tax increment financing programs.
13. What is your idea of a fun night out in Worcester?	Dinner at one of our many fine restaurants and then off to Foothills Theatre. My husband and I just saw Rumors at Foothills, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys funny and lighthearted presentation and with many exceptionally good performers.
14. Name one of the city's cultural resources that has languished because of poor marketing or leadership.	G.A.R. Hall
15. Why should we vote for you?	Because the city needs a change of direction and leadership and I have the opportunity, ability and willpower to provide that leadership.