Lynne Simonds for District Four

Wyman Gordon Parcel

2007-08-03T15:49:00.000-05:00

This parcel consists of 17 acres right off Route 290 and 146. Three years ago, Feldco Development emerged with conceptual plans to turn the site into a $55 million mix of retail, office and residential components. Feldco wanted to model the site after Eagle Square, a development it did in Providence.

The only thing that was needed was a zoning change from manufacturing to business-general, BG-6, in order to build a $55 million complex of shops, offices and condominiums. The Worcester Planning Board rejected the zone change, Feldco left and the parcel remains vacant.

This is exactly when a District Councilor is suppose to use their influences to make a zone change like this a reality and attract developments to District 4. Please note the link to another project on Eagle Street above right from another group called Urban Smart Growth LLC. Check out the projects that they have done around the country. These are the types of companies that we should be bringing to District 4, like Feldco, not turning them away by not getting a zone change.

Welcome to the Lynne Simonds for District 4 Blog

2007-07-29T17:13:00.000-05:00

We are changing the nature and the way you can express your opinions on the blog as we get closer to Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2007. We will cover a different topic every two weeks and I will reply to your comments. Plus, we can cover topics of interest to you rather than random newspaper articles.

Here are the topics that have appeared of interest on the Blog to date. You are welcome to add to the list.

The List: The Airport, Treatment of Business (especially small business), Trash Program, Condition of Parks, Closing of the Pools, Taxes & Fees, Council Pay Raise, Economic development (downtown & in neighborhoods), Budget Process, Housing Policy, Retirees Increased Health Care Costs, Transportation, and Casino Gambling.

We will begin with the topic of the Retirees Increased Health Care.

How do you feel about the vote to increase it? What is your opinion? If we get a dialogue going we will keep the topic up for two weeks adding a new topic every week.

I look forward to your participation in the Blog through your opinions and comments. Thanks, Lynne

Campaign update

2007-07-23T15:13:00.000-05:00

Well - its been a while since we posted here - but summer is here, and the election is around the corner. A few business agenda items:

1. signs - they're here, and they are green! let us know if you have any locations in the district where you'd like one.

2. the campaign - we are always welcoming new volunteers to the effort to get Lynne elected. Email us to get involved.

There has been a lot of activity in the district and city over the past few months since we last posted - a new taskforce on homelessness was enpaneled by the City Manager, the city is struggling to deal with a significant deficit, and the pools, again, struggle to remain off the cutting board. All of these issues - homelessness, a solid deficit plan, and pools/youth programs are strong suits for Lynne Simonds with her background in opening youth programs, managing and balancing budgets for her own businesses, and looking at ways to balance the needs of neighborhoods for transparency and accountability from social services with the issue of poverty and homelessness that plagues the district. Contrary to published reports, Lynne does not support "siting at will", whatever that means.

Instead, as she articulated at an Elm Park neighborhood forum, she strikes a balance between responsibility of social service agencies to be good neighbors, and the need to provide citizens of the district who are homeless with the right level of services.

With regards to the $21 million deficit, it is important to remind readers that Lynne would reject the pay raise and put the funding instead into an account for District 4 improvements.

Tax Abatement For New Construction

2007-04-17T13:58:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine from Philadelphia told me the other day that the housing stock was in a horrible decline a few years back and nobody was building. What did they do? They decided to offer a 10 year abatement for taxes for new construction since 1997. It has been a huge success in the Philadelphie. Read here for more information.

Maybe the City of Worcester should consider the same?

City Council Meeting Tuesday

2007-04-09T13:34:00.000-05:00

9e) There is an order by Councilor Haller looking to convert non-owner occupied dwellings to the commercial rate.

That would mean that a three decker that does not have an owner-occupant would then see their taxes doube (12.10 per thousand to 25.32 per thousand). Obviously I am a landlord of non-owner occupied dwellings and am biased against this, but let me ask you this what do you think I will do if this passes? I would most likely go up on my rent.

Putting that aside if you have two identical three deckers side by side, why should one pay double the taxes. I know the arguement that owner-occupied houses stabilize a neighborhood, but I have had some tenants ten years and they stabilize a neighborhood as much as any owner-occupied house.

9f) There is another order by Councilor Haller looking to charge a "user fee" for city employees who do not reside in the City of Worcester.

I agree that we should encourage people to live in the City of Worcester, but should we penalize people who do not want to live in the City of Worcester? I whole-heartedly disagree with this order also. Rather then penalize city employees, who do not reside in the City of Worcester, lets pick targeted areas and encourage city employees to live here by offering a rebate on their taxes?

Lastly how would the City of Worcester enforce either of these orders? More importantly the last thing we need to do is pit owner-occupied dwellings versus owner-occupied dwellings, it is bad enough that we already have commercial and residential dual rates.

Bill

Simple Math

2007-04-09T09:09:00.000-05:00

Do the math:

Councilor Haller votes herself an 84% payraise.

+

The City of Worcester faces a $23 million shortfall.

+

The City will shutter all pools.

=

Time for Lynne Simonds to represent District 4, she will use the pay raise to fund desparately needed projects in District 4.

Progress on homelessness on horizon

2007-04-09T08:59:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of momentum on homelessness in the city, more than I can recall in the past decade. There is the CHAIN Initiative, which promises to spend a year investigating how to "move the needle" on chronis homelessness in the City, and then to implement a pilot strategy. There is the new City Manager's Task Force on homelessness, which will hopefully create a workable blueprint to tackle the issue as well.

I am cautiously optimistic that we may have momentum on the issue that will have real results.

This is extremely important because homelessness is imbedded deeply in the fabric of poverty of District 4. New energy and ideas are needed to galvanize an actionable plan to turn around the lack of housing in the district, and the accompanying tragedies of inner city homelessness.

Lynne has always been a champion of the dispossessed in the city, and I truly believe that she will represent the broad constiuency of district 4, from the tax-paying homeowner to the destitute homeless person. We need a workable blueprint to get the ball rolling.

Database

2007-04-06T07:31:00.000-05:00

We are always working on our database. If anyone would like to be kept abreast of events occurring in the Simonds campaign over the next six months, send me an e-mail at Bill@AdvantageBenefits.com.

We will then enter your name to regular e-mail updates.

Airport For Sale

2007-03-28T13:54:00.000-05:00

Over the past ten years, it has become obvious that we, the City of Worcester, does not belong in the airport business. This year alone, the airport will cost the tax-payers of Worcester (after the MassPort subsidy) approximately $1,800,000. I have been exhorting the City of Worcester to sell the airport for three years now so to see it in the paper today is good news.

Right away we save $1,800,000 if someone else takes over the airport. At the same time, however, the airport although it has gone unrealized is an asset and we should not sell a valuable asset like this on cheap. My main concern right now is that it seems that we are only in discussions with MassPort. We should be conducting a nationwide effort extolling the virtues of this modern airport "FOR SALE" and getting the best possible deal for the tax-payers..

Anne Feeney

2007-03-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

Hey - come join the party for the Lynne Simonds campaign! Folk legend Anne Feeney is in concert for Lynne Simonds at STONE SOUP, 4 King street, Worcester. Thursday, April 4, 2007 at 7PM. Come here some great music for a great cause - getting Lynne simonds elected. Meet Lynne and here our opening act, the Simond's campaign's own Corey Dolgon, musician and Chair of Sociology at Worcester State College.

It promises to be a great night, hope to see you there.

Dave

$21 Million Deficit

2007-03-07T09:50:00.000-05:00

I was wrong, tha actual number is $21 million not $20 million. First thing we need to do is privatize ORH (something I have been saying for three years). The sad part is that we are going to end up long-term leasing it to MassPort for less then I think we could have gotten on the open market. Putting that aside we will save $1,800,000.

Second thing we need to do is stop spending on things we do not absolutely need, can you say Skybridge. The whole special finance district is complete smoke and mirrors. If we do not create sufficient net new sales taxes. the burden of this $7,000,000 Skybridge will only increase the current deficit.

Thirdly, we need to start getting some accountability on projects like City Square or closer to District 4 the South Worcester Industrial Park.

City on the Move

2007-03-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

City Manager O'Brien was on WTAG this morning and painted a picture of the city finances that I have never heard. Our financial pictured was described as being on the bubble with a School Department deficit of 12 million dollars and all the other departments basically have to cut their budgets 5%. I may have some of the number slightly wrong, but it does not sound good at all.

Assumption College Homelessness Forum

2007-03-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to sit on a panel discussing homelessness last Friday at Assumption College. Capacity crowd of over 100. The issue remains divisive. Lynne's balanced position on keeping non-profits accountable while insisting on quality services for low-income people is what is needed for a healthy district - she discussed this all at length at the Elm Park debate in 2005.

An idea was floated at Assumption that shows the lack of seriousness with which Haller sometimes approaches this issue. The ideas was for colleges to build housing for the homeless on their campuses with their endowments. Where does one begin with that absurd proposition?

We need real-world solutions that will reduce PIP's census, include the surrounding towns, and help these homeless citizens succeed who lack strong representation in the district currently. Pie in the sky notions like building homeless beds at educational institutions makes it sound like the Khmer Rouge are in charge in the ideas department of district 4.

UniverCity Partnership

2007-02-25T17:58:00.000-05:00

A few years back I was on a task force that looked into the PILOT headed by Rep Leary. We all realized that there was very little the City could not legally to impose a property tax, but that there were other options.

The key to the whole task force was that Representative Leary, who did an excellent job, brought people in from CEO for Cities who brought in reports on how other cities work with their non-profits, in particular Pittsburgh. After a few months, we came out with a really good report on how we could maximize the assets (monetary and intellectual) on the non-profits in the the City of Worcester. Amongst the many recommendations was that we should have an agency dedicated solely to these efforts.

Recently I have read about the PILOT issue being brought up again by some of the councilors. As a result I decided to check out the agency that was created by our task force the UniverCity Partnership. I got to tell you that I was rather disappointed. Although I have not heard of many of our recommendations being implemented, I was hoping that I have read something different. Quick can anyone tell me who heads this Partnership??? If you want, you can check out the report here.

If you want to see how this is suppose to be working check out the City of Pittsburgh's University Partnership or the Providence Plan. Instead of going down the PILOT road again, maybe we should reconvene the task force and take a look at our original recommendations and see how we have done so far?

Fire Department

2007-02-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

In the paper today there is a story regarding fire department restructuring. Bottom line is that the number of companies from 23 to 21 — Engine 1 at Brown Square and Engine 10 at Park Avenue will be decommissioned.

This is beyond me and I have no idea exactly what this means, but it tells me one thing. For the city administration to take a step like this the budget needs to be in alot more trouble then anyone is saying just yet. All the more reason to question things like a Skybridge.

Stay tuned to budget numbers over the next few months.

PressMet

2007-02-15T15:39:00.000-05:00

Rumor has it that they are closing their doors soon. Think we had a blog here not too long ago that there is balancing act between the existing businesses that has to be watched or businesses will leave and further erode the commercial base.

This will truly be a large loss for the City.

Soft Second Mortgages

2007-02-05T09:28:00.000-05:00

Many of these new home-owners are helped by the City of Worcester to buy their homes with second mortgage from the City of Worcester. I believe that these are CDBG monies from HUD called HOME funds. It is a great program since it puts alot of people "over the top" into home ownership, who may be right on the fence from being able to qualify or not.

Basically the new home-owner, in addition to their primary mortgage, gets another loan from the City of Worcester (a 2nd mortgage). They do not have to pay it back, thus the term "soft" mortgage. Now that is how I understand it, believe me I could be completely wrong, here is a link that does a better job.

Here is a problem that I see. As the real estate market stabilizes, or even drops, the equity in some of the properties may disappear, especially if one does not own the underlying land. If these properties were to go into foreclosure and be bought by someone who is not low to mod income during the "affordability period", the "soft" second has to be paid back by the participating jurisdiction (PJ). Here is a better link.

Can anyone confirm, clarify any of this?

CDC Land Lease

2007-02-02T13:30:00.000-05:00

I just read through one. Although the deed is straightforward (2 pages), the accompanying land lease that a home-buyer signes is confusing (38 pages). If anyone wants a copy, I can e-mail one to you. Drop me an e-mail Bill@AdvantageBenefits.com

The home-owner owns the dwelling but not the land that the dwelling sits on. Instead the home-buyer leases the land for 99 years at $50 per month. Per the terms of the lease the home-owner is reponsible for the property taxes, insurance, upkeep, etc.

The part that gets confusing is when the home-owner wants to sell the house. The landlord has first right of refusal and there is a requirement to sell the home to a "low to moderate income" person amongst other things including "the sale price to a third party shall be subject to DHCD's and to AHTF's approval."

Bottom line, to me, it looks legal to have the home-owner pay the property taxes on the land since that is part of the lease. The thing that jumps out at me is that the home-owner is limited when they try to sell the house. In the event the real estate prices went up, they may not be able to sell it at the corresponsing market value and reap the profits.

City Revenues May Slow Down the Next 6 Mos

2007-01-30T18:41:00.000-05:00

As I see more and more foreclosures everyday in the newspaper, it really worries me that the property tax collections will be below forecasted over the next six months. Couple that with lower forecasted revenues from tax titles properties and car excise tax, the City of Worcester should be careful with any additional debt.

By the way business has been very slow so far in 2007, which also may lead to lower collections. I do not know why this surprised me, but I just heard Eddy's restaurant on West Boylston St closed on Saturday. My point being that I do not think voting for items like a SkyBridge, which does have a degree of risk, should be approved at this time.

Lynne Simonds for District Four

2007-01-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

Lynne Simonds for District Four

I just wanted to again welcome everyone to our blog. Please make comments, ask questions, offer your opinions and views. I hope to use this as one of the many ways to introduce myself and to open a dialogue with those interested in learning more about me, why I am running for the District 4 Council seat and why I believe I am the best person for the position.

I have great concerns about many issues in District 4. For example, I am still upset about an 84% raise to the Council members. It was so unfair to the taxpayers of our city. I plan on not accepting the full raise maybe 5% and paying taxes on the whole amount but setting up an account to use the balance of the increase on projects in District rather rather than sending it back to the general fund to be lost forever. The money should be used in positive ways in District 4.

Job creation and increases in revenues are two ways that we can offset the continous increases in property taxes and fees. We need to help the taxpayers find relief. We need to encourage businesses to stay and come to Worcester. Just recently, two successful businesses have moved out of District 4. Curtis Cab and Woodmeister both growing and with potential jobs for our neighborhood, especially for people without transportation.

Why has Barbara Haller not been proactive on the development of the Wyman Gordan Parcel and the South Worcester Industrial Park. We need jobs and we need to increase revenues. Plus, we need to be supporting the businesses we have in District 4. The lack of commercial tax base development leads to higher property taxes. We also need to retain the jobs we have in our District

We also need to support the residents. They want housing in their neighborhoods but they want it to be affordable housing and owner occupied. Just a couple of weeks ago Barbara Haller against the will of the neighbors and the abutters in District 4 recommended that they should accept a 21 apartment building to be built on the old Citybuilders property. She did not hear their concerns or respect their strong and reasonable opposition. A comment from one of our bloggers noted that Barbara has a "pretty miserable record since Nadeau left" especially when it comes to no job creation but job loss and no economic development.

Lastly, I want to note I have great concerns about the appointment of Barbar Haller to the Land Use Committee and her being the appointed chair. I think it is an insult to the existing members that one of them was not appointed the chair. I would have not accepted the chair. I worry that Barbara will use her position on this committee to further attack social service sitings and she will use her position to try and hold up the process when agencies are trying to locate much needed services in our comunity.

Most importantly,

I see Barbara's appointment to the Land Use Committee as a potential for a major conflict of interest. Her housemate owns approximately 40 parcels and properties in the Main South area. At the very least she may have to recuse herself from many votes so I ask how effective can she be chairing this committee? All I can say is we better be vigiliant.

I am working on a brief profile of myself. I will post it soon. I want to thank all of you who have made comments to our blog. I want to be available and open to your views and opinions. So keep them coming.

Posted by Lynne Simonds @ 1:10 p.m.

infant mortality

2007-01-24T16:10:00.000-05:00

Here's an issue that should be tackled as this shameful statistic indicates that we need to do more in District 4 to alleviate poverty.
Infant mortality rate doubles in WorcesterCity’s 13.9 deaths per 1,000 births leads state

By Elizabeth Cooney Telegram & Gazette Staff and Kate Plourd SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAM & GAZETTEecooney@telegram.com

BOSTON— Worcester’s infant mortality rate more than doubled from 2004 to 2005, reaching 13.9 deaths per 1,000 live births — the highest rate in the state, according to the state Department of Public Health. The city’s rate is up from 6.6 in 2004, with a three-year average of 8.2 deaths per 1,000 births, the DPH said in releasing its annual infant mortality data yesterday. Bruce Cohen, director of the division of research and epidemiology at the Center for Health Information, told the state public health council yesterday that although the trend is not statistically significant, the state needs to watch communities such as Worcester and Springfield

Springfield’s mortality rate was 10.6 deaths per thousand in 2005, the state’s second highest. The statewide rate in 2005 was 5.1, up from 4.8 in 2004. Julie Wisniewski, director of the Worcester Healthy Start Initiative, said that although the new data is alarming, the three-year average shows that the rate has stayed fairly consistent. The Worcester initiative is a federally-funded program that helps women get pre- and post-natal health services and is available for free to all pregnant women and families with babies under two years in Worcester.

Ms. Wisniewski said many women served by the initiative have problems getting proper health care because of cultural and language barriers. “People who are enrolled and participate in our program have healthier babies than other women in Worcester,” Ms. Wisniewski said. A preliminary analysis by the state could find no evidence that mothers or newborns in Worcester received inferior care during birth or in the weeks following. State authorities reviewed births to mothers from surrounding communities who delivered at the same hospitals as the women from Worcester and could find no similar spike in infant deaths. “So it does not appear to be an issue of access to higher medical care,” Sally Fogerty, an associate state commissioner of public health, told the Boston Globe. Dr. Marianne E. Felice, chairwoman of pediatrics at University of Massachusetts Medical School and longtime member of the Worcester Infant Mortality Reduction Task Force, said the high rate of infant mortality in Worcester in 2005 was caused in part by the high number of multiple births — twins, triplets or more — compared to the year before.

Thirty-six infants born in Worcester died before their first birthday in 2005, compared to 17 in 2004. Of the 2005 deaths in Worcester, 12 were from multiple births; only two were from multiple births in 2004, she said. Twins and triplets are at greater risk of being born prematurely, which means they are more likely to have a dangerously low birth weight, among other problems. Massachusetts has the highest incidence of multiple births in the country, said Dr. Dale Magee, a Shrewsbury gynecologist and vice president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. That stems from two factors: Mothers in Massachusetts tend to be older, and older mothers tend to have more twins.

The other reason is that because they are older, there’s a higher incidence of infertility. Massachusetts, one of the few states to mandate infertility coverage by insurers, has the highest rate of in vitro fertilization in the country. “That’s becoming a greater issue for infant mortality, especially for prematurity,” Dr. Magee said. “Across the state, nearly 30 percent of infant deaths occur among multiple births.” Other factors are associated with infant mortality, including poverty, smoking, marital status, education and other socioeconomic forces. But even when these elements are accounted for, the problem persists, Dr. Felice said. Stubbornly high infant mortality rates in the early 1990s led to the Worcester Healthy Start program. “We’re not happy with the numbers,” Dr. Felice said about the 2005 rates.

“We can explain them. We believe this is right in line with what we’ve been seeing before, and we have a plan in place to investigate the problem with more depth over the next year.”

Lynne Simonds for District Four

Sweetheart Deals Redux!

2007-01-23T15:27:00.001-05:00

From the most recent InCity Times

."...The sole response by Haller is to express outrage at the tactics used by Simonds, but I say to Haller, cut out the phony baloney outrage and finally do something about the situation. It looks and smells like a conflict of interest...Maybe is hoping that the short attention span of the district's voters, with the lowest turnout for any district in the city, will kill the issue. After the last election season, it should be noted that Simonds was closing the gap, some 300 votes difference. This election season does not bode well for Haller..."

M. Regan

Kudos to City Admin

2007-01-23T08:18:00.000-05:00

City has now changed the FOG (fats, oil and grease) ordinance to focus solely on sink drains, not mop or floor drains. This makes alot of sense and is in line with other towns and cities translation of the State Plumbing Code. Restaurant owners now should have no problem complying with the ordinance.

Don't get me wrong some restaurants may still have to spend some money (thousands not hundreds) to upgrade or install a grease trap that complies with the current requirements, but it is pretty clear that they should have this equipment. Putting a grease trap on a map sink and/or floor drain not only seemed useless but put an unfair burden on the restaurant and put Worcester itself on an uncompetitive advantage with surrounding towns and cities.

Abandoned Building Ordinance

2007-01-21T15:20:00.000-05:00

This is a great ordinance that needs to be enforced to the fullest extent. Besides the obvious that most are aware to secure windows and doors so people can not enter and to remove any unsafe material, there is one part of the ordinance that I do not believe is being enforced as well as it can be.

7. Maintain liability insurance on the building and furnish the deputy commissioner with a copy of said certificate of insurance; and,

The City of Worcester should be a place that business-owners see as being business friendly. At the same time, the City of Worcester should use whatever means possible to let owners of abandoned buildings that City of Worcester does not want abandoned buildings, which are inherently dangerous.

DCU Special District Finance Zone

2007-01-18T19:15:00.000-05:00

I am getting kind of confused by the financing on this but the two recent articles in the Telegram that I have read the past week but here is what I come up with. This is not a a TIF or DIF, but something completely new created during Governor Romney's last days in office, the DCU Special District Finance Zone. It is a fixed geographic area consisting of four parcels: the Hilton Garden Inn, the Residence Inn by Marriott on Plantation Street, the DCU Center arena and convention center and the Major Taylor Boulevard parking garage, including its retail space and operations.

The bill authorizes the City of Worcester to borrow up to $30 million to finance the construction of the “sky bridge” and upgrades to the DCU Center. The initial loan order recommended by the manager initially authorizes $5.125 million in bonds to be issued for the $7 million sky bridge project. The balance ($1.875 million) of the financing for that project is already part of the city’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan. How does the City of Worcester pay this back?

The special district designation allows “net new” state tax revenues, such as meals and sales taxes, collected at those establishments to be redirected to the city. The state will continue receiving existing tax revenues from establishments in the special district financing zone, but it will dedicate the "net new" revenues from that zone to the city so it can repay the loans that are taken out for the sky bridge project and improvements to the DCU Center.

Two things can happen.

First the DCU Special District Finance Zone will do additional business and the "net new" state tax revenues collected will be redirected to the city, pay the notes and cost the city tax-payers nothing.
Second the DCU Special District Finance Zone does no do any additional business and does not create any "net new" state tax revenues. In the later case the note would have to be paid back so I would think it would come out of the City's general fund.

All I am saying is that there is some risk here. In fact Mr. O’Brien emphasized that the loan authorization limits any further capital improvements to proceed beyond the first allotment of $5.125 million. He said further work would be dependent upon the revenue-generating success of the DCU Special District Finance Zone. The loan authorization requires the city manager, with the assistance of the city treasurer, to report to the City Council on revenues generated by the special district, to demonstrate that they can financially support additional capital improvements beyond the first allotment.

In the end the questions is will these investments create the additional "net new" state tax revenues to pay the notes thus not cost the taxpayers of Worcester?? Reminds me of buying stock on margin. If the stock goes up, you can make some great returns. On the other hand if the stock drops, you get a margin call.

District 4 Candidate Simonds Reviews Race and Diversity

2007-01-18T15:41:00.000-05:00

District 4 Candidate Simonds Discusses Diversity and Race

From Clive McFarland's column -

Meeting should have looked issues head-on
One of the most revealing discussions on race relations in Worcester took place Thursday evening at the Worcester Public Library, where board members of the Worcester Youth Center and members of the community faced off over the use of the “N” word by the center’s executive director, Denise Calderwood. The key revelation wasn’t that the meeting confirmed, if ever there were any doubts, that race still matters and that people still have a difficult time talking about it. It was that community members were so busy feeling slighted and board members feeling so unappreciated that both sides passed up opportunities to start the frank dialogue on race that so many feel is needed in the city.

“The subject of race and diversity needs to be discussed,” Lynne Simonds, credited as a founder of the youth center, said that evening. “We have to talk about these things in the community.” Yet, the evening was generally spent talking around, instead of about, the issue of race and diversity. Yes, community members were absolutely right in demanding better accountability from the Worcester Youth Center’s board, and yes, board members were egregiously wrong in putting up a defensive front when their lack of urgency in investigating the incident was questioned. But what, for example, would have been the tone of the meeting had board members, instead of becoming combative, taken the time to introduce Ms. Calderwood to the community members, as her husband did in an e-mail he sent me. “She created and ran a youth center in Florida for years, a community resource that served the same diverse population the Worcester Youth Center does,” he wrote. “To this day, the several generations of teenagers who belonged to the Flagler Teen Center in Palm Coast, Florida, still refer to her as ‘Miss Denise,’ a term used as a sign of respect and love for someone who always treated each of them as valuable human beings entitled to respect. “Denise was respected by everyone in the African American community of Palm Coast and Bunnell, Florida, was a member of the NAACP and was recognized for her civic contributions as woman of the year by the Flagler County African American Cultural Society.” What would have been the tone of the meeting had more community members coalesced around speaker Al Chavis’ contention that the widespread use of the “N” word by African-American youths was because “they are uneducated about the word.” The “N” word incident at the center was precipitated by a group of young people using it on a music track they were recording. “We didn’t pass on the struggle to the next generation,” Mr. Chavis said of how the word still cuts him deeply, and how he had fought to erase it from the public vernacular. Yes, it is important that we demand accountability of the individuals who are helping to mold the lives of our children, but all too often we forget that the accountability begins with the young people and with the people in their inner circles — their parents, friends and neighbors. Charles Luster, a member of Concerned Black Men, understands this level of accountability. The faith-based group, which consists of educators, businessmen, clergy and other community members, is undertaking a number of initiatives to, among other things, help young people become more accountable. The group, which petitioned the City Council recently to rename Central Street the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, has launched a basketball league, which so far has drawn the interest of some 30 young people. The league, which plays at the YMCA on Main Street every Saturday at 9 a.m., has received support from community organizations such as the Sheriff’s Department, the district attorney’s office and Emmanuel Baptist Church, and a member of the Masons. In addition to playing ball, the young people will learn valuable lessons in respect for themselves, their community and their history, Mr. Luster said. “Sometimes we are our worst enemies,” he said of the prevalent use of the “N” word. “For many of our youths, the term is just a way to make money. They don’t care what effects it has on people. Their job is to spread ignorance. We have to redirect our youth, tell them that they don’t have to do what some fools are doing.” Yes, Thursday’s meeting was an opportunity to have a real dialogue about race and diversity; instead it may become what School Committee member Ogretta McNeil, an attendee of the meeting, feared it would. “Race matters, and there are a lot of things going on in the community that we should discuss,” she said. “Unfortunately, you tend to get energized for a moment about one thing, and then you forget about it.” Contact Clive McFarlane by e-mail at cmcfarlane@telegram.com .

Lynne Simonds for District Four
http://www.lynne4district4.blogspot.com/

District 4 Councilor candidate Simonds reflects on incoming Mayor

2007-01-16T16:53:00.000-05:00

From last week's Worcester Magazine:

By councilors’ accounts, Murray put a tremendous amount of time into rounds of daily phone calls and e-mails to make sure everyone was on the same page for a vote, to appease an angry colleague, or to criticize someone who was a little out of line. Lukes, who wasn’t always in Murray’s loop, was not part of the circle, yet must now assume its center. That’s going to take a long daily call list and real attention to colleagues and other constituencies.
On the surface, it wasn’t always visible how much spit and duct tape Murray was using behind the scenes, and it is incumbent on Lukes to continue putting in some of that work.
Of course, Lukes doesn’t romanticize intra-Council harmony to the same degree as some of her fellow councilors. And, making it tougher, her colleagues aren’t going to go out of their way to make it easy on her.
“She has to build consensus. In some way, she has to listen. Not to come in with an agenda, I worry about that. That was one of Murray’s best traits. He listened and he was willing to take different points of views,” says longtime city activist and 2007 District 4 candidate Lynne Simonds. “It’s one thing to be the devil’s advocate. But when you’re the leader, you can’t be.”
Simonds voices the sentiment current pols privately espouse. “She has to have a concentrated effort to build some bridges,” she says. “And she’s going to have to say ‘sorry’ sometimes. In the long run, that’s going to be best for her leadership. And best for the city.”
Does Lukes have a realistic shot of gaining the full support of the Council in the next six months? The energetic campaign for next year’s mayoral election alone will probably make that difficult. However, if she measures her actions and reactions and works overtime behind the scenes to talk to key councilors, she could surprise a lot of people with a smooth-running Council.
Simonds cites some of that behind-the-scenes work that Murray did so well. “It doesn’t mean she can’t be a strong mayor, but she has to be fair. She’s going to have to work a lot harder behind the scenes — talk to committee chairs ... to councilors.”
And, says Simonds, looking forward to November, “She does a good job, that’s the best message she can give to the public.”
Lukes knows that a cohesive Council is critical, and is confident she can pull it together. “I’ve learned to overcome the personality conflicts that occurred because people didn’t agree on the issues,” she says. “To get fixated on that is to be an amateur. [The question is], can the City Council acclimate itself to me?

office vacancy

2007-01-15T12:17:00.000-05:00

From Worcester Regional Research Bureau report on downtown office occupancy. It seems that Worcester pretty well matches other cities in the region. However, there is room for improvement, and CitiSquare will probably rejuvenate much of downtown.

However, as much of District 4 falls into downtown, it would be important to have a comprehensive business plan for retaining and filling the gaps noted below:

Downtown Worcester Office Occupancy: 2006 Survey
September, 2006
Center for Community Performance Measurement
The Research Bureau Office Occupancy: 2006
" the amount of space currently vacant could potentially support almost 2,500 additional workers in the downtown area. This fact highlights the importance of continued job creation and business expansion efforts in the City."

Job Creation

2007-01-14T09:43:00.000-05:00

I do not think the importance, or should I say economic spin-off, of job creation can be over-estimated. Lets say, for example, a development like the Malls at Route 146 had come to the Wyman Gordon Parcel. It would have not only given us jobs for people in the area, but increased the commercial tax base which in turns helps provide residential tax relief for the entire district. Keep in mind that a developer wanted to place a mixed used mall here, but was unable to get a zone change to proceed. In addition it would have also provided additional rental opportunities to landlords in the area and developers selling condos...

I believe Curtis Cab also in District 4 on Dewey Street for years, now is on Higgins Street?? Too bad companies like Curtis Cab and Woodmeister, successful companies that are growing, decide that in order to keep growing that they need to leave District 4.

Main Sout poorest community in county

2007-01-13T17:45:00.001-05:00

More on poverty in Main South - notably, that Main South is poorest community in county. Where is the job creation needed to challenge this facts:

Asia comes to Main Street and may learn to speak Spanish: Globalization
in a poor neighborhood in Worcester

Robert J.S. Ross1, with the assistance of Kate Driscoll, Angeline Bilotta,
Brandy Finley, Sasha Hnatkobvich, Joseph Posner, Corrine Robinson and Emily
Salomon.

Introduction: immigration
The community known as Main South is among the poorest in Worcester County: 17.9% of the City population fell under the official poverty line in 2000, but 28.5% of Main South residents did.

Main South poverty rates vs. Iraq poverty rates

2007-01-12T23:04:00.000-05:00

"Nearly 5.6 millions Iraqis are living below the poverty line, according to our most recent studies of Iraq's 28 million inhabitants."

From the United Nations News Services

Now, I know poverty is different in Main South and Worcester, I see a lot of it everyday. Nonetheless, interesting to see comparable rates of poverty. We changed course in the last election, why not think global and act local?

Lynne Simonds for District Four

Unemployment in Main South

2007-01-12T22:48:00.000-05:00

From Clark University's website:
"over 78 percent of 12,000 residents of the one-square mile area of Main South are of low or moderate income and over one-fourth of the residents live at or below the poverty level. Unemployment is twice the national average and 44 percent higher than Worcester's average. "

Lynne Simonds for District Four

Poverty in Main South

2007-01-12T22:09:00.000-05:00

For a long time, I have maintained, and cited, the fact that the engine driving homelessness in Worcester and the region is poverty. Check out the astonishing poverty rates in the Main South area of District 4. Appalling, and a clarion call that the focus needs to be on a new "war on poverty," rather than bashing the agencies that struggle to cope with the unbelievable rates of poverty.

Poverty Rate according to the United States Census
Census Tract # 7312.01- Percent below Poverty level
345 Total families in census tract
23.3% of the 345 families
276 out of 345 have related children under 18 years old
28.8% of the 276 families
115 out of the 345 have related children under 5 years old
27.1% of the 115 families

Families without a husband present:
221 Total families in this census tract with a female householder and no husband present
46.7% of the 221 families
203 out of the 221 families have related children under 18 years old
52.9% of the 203 families
73 out of the 221 families have related children under 5 years old
46.5% of the 73 families

CENSUS TRACT #7313
Percent below Poverty level
753 Total families living in this census tract
38.6% of the 753
518 out of the 753 families have related children under 18 years old
46.5% of the 518 families
260 out of the 753 families have related children under 5 years old
60.4% of the 260 families

Families without a husband present:
Percent below Poverty level
283 Total families with a female householder and not husband present
53.7% of the 283 families
246 out of the 283 families have related children under 18 years old
59.8% of the 249 families
117 out of the 283 families have related children under 5 years old
71.8% of 117 families

These numbers are dreadful, and I will update them as I can. WE CAN DO BETTER, and we must focus on this problem. Can you imagine, that in one census track, 71.8% of families with children under 5, with single moms are mired in poverty? What does this say about our priorities as a district? What does it say about the great thrust of the Democratic party of the past - where is it? The Dems used to always stand up for the poor, it was the trademark of FDR onwards. I worry that we are losing that, and that this district in particular lacks proper, and fierce, representation for the poor.
Lynne Simonds for District Four

South Worcester Industrial Park

2007-01-12T20:39:00.000-05:00

Last night we had a meeting of the task force. Refering back to an earlier press release (picture to the right) phase 2 (road construction and infrastructure improvements) starting in 2003/2004 should be done Spring of next year (2007). In other words, overall Phase 2 has taken approximately 3 years.

We have waited a long time watching the South Worcester Industrial Park(15 years at least) and to date not one job has been created and it is highly unlikely that we will see one job in 2007.

Let me add one thing.. The current people working from the Economic Development Office for the past 6 months have been excellent and a breath of fresh air.

Canal District

2007-01-10T17:28:00.000-05:00

I was at a zoning board meeting and I noticed another restaurant either on Water or Harding, I forgot the actual street, looking for relief of parking. This got me to thinking. I know we keep hearing alot about all the new restaurants happening in this area and I think it is great, but what about the employers in this area.

In particular you have Table Talk Pie and Pressmet. I wonder how they feel about these changes?? Are they happy?? Do they feel threatened?? I do not know the answer, but I hope someone is talking to them to let them know that we want employers like this to remain in District 4 (I think that is still part of the District).

Even if it is not in the District, they are both valuable assets for the City of Worcester. It is a real balancing act between the existing business and the new condos/restaurants, lets hope we are able to do it.

Anonymous posts

2007-01-09T16:01:00.000-05:00

There has been a great discussion here on issues facing D4 - issues like patronage, large pay raises, rampant dumping, and ignored parks. I just wanted to say that a few bloggers told me how much more credible it can be if you put your name to a post in the blogosphere. You automatically lose points, according to a friend involved in bluemassgroup.com , when you are cowardly with the blog (according to him of course!!!!).

Personally, I welcome all takes and views, it makes for a lively discussion, on say, how to represent homeless/poor people. But for those who choose to not hide behind the mask afforded by your laptop, I recommend signing on as your own blogger on blogspot.com. Its easy, and you could even use a "nom de guerre." Here are some names that are not taken when I last checked at blogspot.

mainsouthweaponsofmassdestruction - props to www.worcesteractivist.org
iheartsweetheartdeals
or even
closedownshelterssendthemtorussiawithlove

any non-anon comments?

Lynne Simonds for District Four

"mending fences" reposrt on the nieghborhood impact of group homes in Main South Area

2007-01-09T00:57:00.000-05:00

A few folks asked me to paste the mending gences report that students at worcester state and i did last spring. I'm not sure how to download the piece (upload) and did not want to just paste it, so I am giving you all two web addresses--the first for the report and the second for an interview with me about the report. let me know if anyone wants more info about it.

http://worcester.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/4452.php

http://www.pieandcoffee.org/2006/11/

Absentee Landlords

2007-01-08T19:41:00.000-05:00

There are alot of good absentee landlords in District 4. The problem is the one or two absentee landlords in every neighborhood that can completely ruin the neighborhood. In the my area I can think of two landlords, one who has been in WoMag (picture to the right links to most recent story) every time they list the ten worst properties, and another who between them own approximately 10-15 parcels. Every one is a complete mess.

A concerted effort that targets the one or two bad landlords in every neighborhood and aggressively pursue corrections of all existing code violations would help the quality of life for those who need to live near or next to these properties. A few years back, I read a report from the Worcester Regional Research , entitled Revitalizing Worcester Neighborhoods. It was excellent, give it a quick read.

Amongst many things it recommended was a Dirty Dozen Program similar to one set up by the City of Toledo. I believe the City of Worcester, not WoMag, has a Top Ten Problem Properties Task Force, but when is the last time you have seen this list?? Instead of a new ordinance lets make the Top Ten Problem Properties highly visible and put the full force of the City Manager Enforcement Team (CMET) focused on these ten properties.

Pseudo-Intellectual

2007-01-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

Here my favorite Hallerism that does not appear outside her writings in any sociological writing.

"social service ghettoization" - no evidence to back this up. I refer blog readers instead to the Chair of Worcester State's Sociology Department whose new study actually shows that social services in one area of District 4 are :

supported by neighbors
don't detract from property values
don't add to crime

She also has referred to addicts as "social misfits", and we cannot forget her most famous declaration, that she was the only "legitimate person," walking down Main Street.

I recommend a focus on absentee landlords, who have been ignored while social service agencies have been lambasted.

Lynne Simonds for District Four

Telegram Editorial

2007-01-08T15:32:00.001-05:00

Great editorial today in the Telegram about Common Cause Massachusetts and their efforts to "to triple the number of communities that have all key public records posted online. Those records include the agendas and meeting minutes of selectmen and city councils; budget documents; the municipal code, ordinances or bylaws; and, where applicable, town meeting warrants, minutes and results. " Click here to access the web site.

I could not agree more with Common Cause Massachusetts. One of my pet peeves is that the Airport Commission basically operated in anonymity, but now have begun post the minutes to their monthly Airport Commission Minutes. To that end I commend Councilor Haller for updating her website letting her constituents know where she stands on the issues. A well informed electorate in District 4 only benefits all of us.

2003 SWIP Press Release

2007-01-07T18:37:00.000-05:00

Check it out:

(click above above to read the press release)

Job Creation??

2007-01-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

South Worcester Industrial Park on Canterbury, Southgate, Gardner and Armory Streets has literally been on the drawing boards for at least 15, maybe even 20 years. Map to the right is a little hard to read, hit the link above if you want to see it better. To date not one job has been created from the South Worcester Industrial Park.

Grease trap issue. I know it sounds very mundane but if the current requirements (to have grease trap on every drain) are enforced, businesses will get out of business and jobs will be lost. Next time you are out in a restaurant ask the owner about it.

Woodmeister on Washington Street has moved to Holden.

Wyman Gordon parcel remains vacant.

Haller's new website

2007-01-06T18:06:00.000-05:00

Haller has revamped the website, probably in reaction to the Worcester Magazine piece that discusses how close the election was last time, and this very blog! Some comments:

1. She should at least learn to spell her opponent's name right. 43% of the people in her district knew where to find it last time.

2. The pictures at the top of the website include what appears to be the College of the Holy Cross and perhaps the Worcester Tornadoes? I am unaware of her role in the founding of either.

3. Record distortion. Haller's website indicates under the candidate comparison section that Simonds, or as they prefer "simond", stands on the opposite side of the fence from Haller with regards to tax cuts, job creation, education reform, and several blank categories as well, they stand opposite. Since we have 30% unemployment* in the district, I'd love to see what jobs were created. As I have learned is necessary in blogging, Specifics, sources?

*mass unemployment figures

letter in Telegram

2007-01-05T15:33:00.000-05:00

From today's Telegram and Gazette:

Last night I watched the City Council Meeting and watched my District Councilor, Barbara Haller, say that she canvassed the District as to whether or not she should vote in favor of the City Councilor pay increase from $15,750 to $29,000. She proceeded to report that she had received “overwhelming” support to vote in favor of the 84% increase for herself.

Let me state here that I am a lifelong resident and registered voter in District 4 and this increase certainly does not receive my support, anyone in my family’s support nor anyone in my neighborhood that I canvassed. Exactly where did the City Councilor receive this support in District 4?

One of the reasons I heard that this 89% was justified was that this was the first raise since 1986. This argument may work for someone like Councilor Clancy or Lukes, who has been a city councilor since 1986, but how does that argument work for the others. In the case of our District 4 City Councilor Barbara Haller, is she not taking credit for Councilor Nadeau’s service from 1986 until her election in 2001 to justify the 89% raise?

In closing, I do honestly feel that the City Councilors may be underpaid and deserve an annual cost of living increase, but approving an 89% pay increase for themselves as schools are closed, pools can not be opened each summer and basic services like trash removal cost me $1 per bag is simply unfair. I only wish I was able to approve my own pay increases at my job.

Sincerely,

Patricia Clark
Worcester, MA

Lynne Simonds for District Four

Grease Traps (FOG)

2007-01-05T03:22:00.000-05:00

Many of you may not have heard about this, but ask any restaurant owner and they will burn your ears off for the next hour. Grease traps are required in restaurants to prevent grease from entering the sewerage system, clogging said system thus preventing costly maintenance. This makes sense. The City of Worcester is cracking down and making sure that all restaurants are in compliance--makes sense.

Where is gets kind of confusing is that all drains are being required to have a grease trap; for example, a mop sink. There is alot of confusion on this since some of this is coming down from the EPA. In the end if every restaurant (keep in mind this includes Pizza Places, small breakfast joints, etc) in District 4 is required to put a grease trap on EVERY drain---people will end up going out of business.

Lynne Simonds for District Four

2007-01-04T13:33:00.000-05:00

Lynne Simonds for District Four

I want to welcome WoMag readers to our blog. I look forward to receiving comments and answering questions from the residents and neighbors of District 4. It is very important that you know where I stand on issues facing our District. I want you to see that you really have a choice in the upcoming election of November 2007. I want to represent all of District 4 and I want to earn your trust and support. Get to know me through our blog.

As noted in the Worcesteria section of WoMag of January 4, 2007 there is "a deep philosophical divide" on the issues facing and impacting District 4 between Lynne Simonds and Barbara Haller. I want you to know there are also policy differences. For example, I would not have voted myself a salary increase of 84%. The timing alone of proposing and voting a raise of any magnitude is questionable due to the current financial pressures already facing the citizens and residents of Worcester. Not to mention the negative impact on the current city budget such increases in salaries are bound to cause.

I will comment further on this issue and others over the coming days. At this time, I wanted to take the opportunity to say welcome WoMag readers and to thank
Scott Zoback for mentioning our blog and noting our campaign is in full swing.

Comments by Lynne Simonds
January 4, 2007

InCity Times Letter from Lynne

2006-12-25T18:26:00.000-05:00

InCity Letter

The 10 worst housing properties in Worcester as of November 22, 2006 are all in District 4. The District that is represented by Councilor Barbara Haller who spends hours giving lip service to closing the PIP shelter but never offering solutions for improving or moving it. She is always shaming and blaming social service agency properties and the people living in their houses for causing problems rather than giving them credit for the positive impact they more often than not have on neighborhoods. She is constantly singing the praises of the Main South CDC as the role model when in reality their next 24 units of housing only represents about $120,000 in new tax revenue. My question is what is the cost to develop and build those 24 units? Thank goodness at last the Main South CDC gets it and is building some environmental friendly housing in District 4.

How much of our tax revenue is spent on the cost of the city services needed to address the issues of the 10 worst properties in District 4? Not to mention the human cost felt by the tenants, who are forced to live in these often dangerous, unsanitary, rodent infested, trash ridden, and unsafe properties. Forced to live there due to a lack of affordable well-maintained rental properties and afraid to report the conditions in fear of retribution from their landlord. Plus think of the negative impact those landlords and their unkempt properties have on the neighbors and the neighborhood overall.

I suggest that Councilor Haller might better use her time not just editorializing about these properties, but rather to step up to the plate and help the Health and Codes Department to more aggressively target absentee landlords. Support the neighbors and the tenants living with these conditions by working with them and helping them to know what they can do as tenants and neighbors to put pressure on absentee landlords. And then at budget time support the Code Department and its inspectors by demanding more money in the budget to hire more staff.

This issue of absentee landlords and blighted dangerous properties in District 4 has to be targeted because it is a major a public safety issue in the District. Plus, it is only right that people living in District 4 have affordable and safe rental properties to live in, especially when the rents they pay are so outrageously high.

Those of us living in District 4 need leadership that will no longer allow these properties to languish. We need a change in direction and focus in District 4 that fosters proactive education for all landlords and tenants and enables the codes division to concentrate on fixing the worst of the worst properties. If a raise for Councilor Haller were dependent on her performance for holding the absentee landlords of the 10 worst properties accountable in District 4 she would not get one.

Submitted by Lynne Simonds
December 18, 2006

Lynne Simonds for District Four

Ten Worst Properties Letter to Worcester Magazine

2006-12-25T18:24:00.000-05:00

WOMAG’s “Home Sweet Hell Hole” cover story, November 22, 2006, brings attention to absentee landlordism, a phenomena all too common in Worcester, and one that has a disproportionate impact on Worcester’s District 4. All ten properties highlighted in WOMAG’s cover story are found in District 4, where Barbara Haller resides as District 4 City Councilor. I often wonder what the district would look like if more of her energy was spent on holding accountable neglectful absentee landlords, supporting and advocating for tenants who live in substandard housing close to her home. Picking on the poor and blaming social service agencies and homeless shelters for District 4’s problems is easy. Taking a deeper look and holding absentee landlords accountable for dangerous, rodent infested, unsafe properties is hard. We need leadership in District 4 that takes neglectful absentee landlordism seriously and advocates for more funding for Worcester’s Health and Code Department to havethe resources intact to deal with the severity of this problem. We need leadership in District 4 willing to confront those who own property and are abusing the fundamental rights of residents in order for District 4 to recover dignity long lost to investors looking to make a buck. Jennifer Solin

THE PRACTICAL

2006-12-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

Thinking a lot this Christmas day about how important it is to have a councilor in 4 who would stand up for the homeless, and represent them instead of trying to chase them away with a broom of white privelege.

Readers of this blog, ye should know that this is an important campaign, which we lost by only two hundred votes last time.

If you really believe that you are a proponent of social justice, whether for the homeless and poor, as an environmentalist, or for a rebounding vibrant district, this is a campaign you need to step up to. Lynne's agenda is a positive one, that's why so many people vote for her.

WE NEED YOUR ENERGY TO WIN!! so many creative people stepped up last time, it was amazing. We need to focus on the practical, door to door volunteers, cash, cash, and cash. and more cash. and people to make calls, work on agenda items, appear at meetings, hold coffees.

WE HOPE THAT IF YOU CARE A WHIT ABOUT poor PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT, that you will realize this campaign is more than just about Lynne's vision, its a group effort of great people working towards a new vision for people who are traditionally left behind.

Happy Holidays!

Campaign Issue

2006-12-24T08:15:00.000-05:00

Should Lynne run on the fact, when elected she will only accept a 5% raise each year based on the existing $15,750?

Year 1 $16,537
Year 2 $17,634

Versus $29,000??

Chapter 58 Section 8

2006-12-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

This is a section of the Mass General Laws that allows a city or town to waive back taxes typically under the premise that without the taxes being waived, the project will never get done. In addition there needs to be a time provided for the rehabilitation, while the end product will provide affordable or low income housing.

The April 26, 2005 Assessors Report of the City Council Council Agenda lists recipients of tax breaks from Chapter 58 Section 8 . In 2003, 12 Castle Street, owned by the Castle Street Development Corporation, had $15,496.38 in back taxes waived for the "redevelopment of affordable housing".

Has this building had rehabbed thus providing affordable or low income housing?

InCity Times

2006-12-22T18:38:00.000-05:00

Letter from Lynne was printed in this week's edition..

Continued PIP saga

2006-12-22T16:42:00.000-05:00

Continued saga of the PIP. While Haller basically wags a finger at absentee landlordism run rampant in the district, a major crisis, perhaps the major crisis in the District, she continues to beat the dead horse issue of the PIP shelter in a recent letter to the Telegram. She wants to close it down, once again, as winter approaches. Why does she always want to close it in the winter, even after our experiencing four dead people directly linked to the cold (Mike Odorski trying to get to PIP freezes (Haller protested that vigil), two die in a trailer flier (Breault blames PIP), and the one death at Washington Square last winter)? But, then again, she doesn't support scattered site, housing first models either (i.e. house the homeless in the their own homes). She made sure she was at the the recent major housing conference in the city, where, ironically, she received applause as elected officials were acknowledged (what is her housing policy anyway?) She was there with other housing malcontents Breault and Comeux, who are known to oppose housing first.

So, if we close the PIP, and we don't create new housing, where do the estimated 100-200 PIP residents go exactly?

ALSO, ISN'T SHE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THESE PEOPLE AS THEY LIVE IN HER DISTRICT???

Just another example of how Haller chooses to represent the elites in the district, and ignore, or malign, the poor. Perhaps we can build snow caves for them this Christmas.

Lynne Simonds for District Four

School Committee Pay Raise

2006-12-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's paper, in case you missed it?

WORCESTER— School Committee members, riding the city charter-mandated coattails of city councilors, will nearly double their annual salaries next year, their first raises in nearly 20 years, and from now on can count on inflation-based raises every two years. Article 4, section 4 of the city’s charter calls for School Committee members, other than the mayor who also serves as school board chairman, to be compensated at a rate “equal to fifty percent of the salary established for members of the city council …” The councilors voted themselves an 84 percent raise Tuesday night, increasing their annual salaries from $15,750 to $29,000 beginning Jan. 10. The mayor’s salary was hiked 89 percent, from $18,000 to $34,000. Every two years the salaries will be adjusted to reflect the inflation rate.

The council action means that school board members’ annual salaries next year will jump from $7,875 to $14,500.

City Manager 5 Year Financial Plan

2006-12-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

About two months back the City Manager announced a 5 year plan to tighten the fiscal budget. Amongst many things was to cut back out the debt and increase the City's free cash position. Since that time we have increased the City Manager's pay by $50,000, increased the City Council payroll by approximately 180,000, increased the pay of the DPW Chief, waived $190,000 of fees for the Performing Arts Center.

Performing Arts Waiving of City Fees

2006-12-19T20:22:00.000-05:00

I meant to post this last week, but I forgot. Before I go on, I look forward to the opening of the Performing Arts Center. Recently the City has moved, and I believed it was approved, to waive $190,000 in fees. Now I know that sounds like alot of money (it is) and sounds unfair, but let me review the fees to build a single family home in the City of Worcester.

If you build a three bedroom single family, you incur $4,000 in water and sewer fees. Now you add building permit fees from all the various departments (Electrical, Plumbing, etc), you are looking at another $2,000. In other words a single family house runs approximately $6,000 in fees.

The Performing Arts Center is a $28,000,000 dollar endeavor and can not afford to pay $190,000 in fees. To top it off,it will be a non-profit and will only pay taxes for the first 7, or 8 years, that it is open. On the other hand a builder, who wants to build a single family in District 4 will have to pay approximately $6,000 in fees. Does it seem fair that one develop, who actually will generate taxes forever unless bought by a non-profit, will have to pay fee while someone else does not???

Lets take another example--the Greek Church at Elm Park in District 4. They have a $12,000,000 project in the works should they pay the fees?? Bottom line is that once you start waiving fees, you are starting down a slippery slope where do you stop?? People with the appropriate political influence can get their fees waived and those who do not pay?

I hope if Lynne is elected that she does not give anyone preferential treatment, unless it is of course something that is District wide not on a spot basis.

City Council Pay Raise

2006-12-19T20:20:00.000-05:00

Official Vote to approve 9-3. Voting against Lukes, Rosen andPalmieri. Watching the meeting tonight District Councilor Haller mentioned that she had spoken to people throughout to the Distict and received "overwhelming" support in favor of the pay raise.

DAVEpage

2006-12-19T18:43:00.000-05:00

DAVEpage

City Council Pay Raises

2006-12-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

Today' s paper contained District 4 Councilor's response to the projected pay raise:

District 4 Councilor Barbara G. Haller, a retired electrical engineer, said she supports Mr. Murray’s proposal, because she believes higher pay would allow more people without independent means to serve on the council. She said the current pay does not make up for the long hours, many night meetings and work in the community that being a councilor entails.

“We’re talking about fairly low dollars compared to the overall budget,” she said. “For getting people to run for office, especially in District 4, $15,000 doesn’t cut it.” The extra pay would be “a more adequate representation of the time and energy it takes to do council work,” Ms. Haller said.

Airport

2006-12-13T22:54:00.000-05:00

I have another blog that I maintain all about the airport. Do not ask me I have gotten into this, but I do find the airport/airline business fascinating:

http://www.worcesterma.blogspot.com

I am convinced after watching activities up there for two years that we need to put the airport up for sale. I know at first that sounds crazy, but it is a huge parcel of land with great facilities. The problem is that the people running it can never turn it into the asset that it should, instead it is basically a laibility to the City of Worcester.

I only bring this up, since although Lynne will obviously concentrate on District 4 issues, there are other issues outside the District 4. Finding a buyer for the airport would alleviate us of the annual drain caused by keeping the airport open, input a one time capital contribution, create property tax revenues and hopefully a successful airport will create even more economic spin-off that we simply do not realize right now.

Bottom line, I say we can consider the selling of the airport as an issue. That it from me tonight.

Issues

2006-12-13T22:44:00.000-05:00

Good Meeting tonight. Economic development, or should I say the lack thereof, within District 6 has been a rather large problem. On a small scale our district includes 3 areas (there are only 5 such designations in the City of Worcester) that have been designated as a NRSA (Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area):

Main South through the Main South CDC
South Worcester through the South Worcester CDC
Chandler Street through Common Ground

The NRSA has a component to help small businesses including facade improvements, business promotion and employee training. To date I know of no business in any of these threee designated NRSA areas, who have benefited from these efforts.

On a larger scale, District 4 has two large commerical parcels ripe for development:

South Worcester Industrial Park (SWIP)
Wyman Gordon parcel

Can you imagine how much different the District would be if these areas contained businesses that provided jbs. I must admit that Paul Morano and Heather Kamczyk have done a great job the past 6 months on SWIP cleaning up some parcels and for the first time in a long time, there is some hope. At the same time I have heard about the South Worcester Industrial Park for literally 20 years and to date it has not provided one job, while something like Gateway Park (started much later) appears to be flourishing.

Vacant

2006-12-04T11:21:00.000-05:00

Telegram Today

Main South video finds hope in the ’hoodScreening opens dialogue

WORCESTER— Pregnant drug addicts, prostitutes, violent criminals, homeless alcoholics, poverty, mice and mosquitoes are all part of life in the city neighborhood with probably the highest concentration of vacant and abandoned buildings. Residents of Main South describe these problems in “Vacant,” a new multimedia production filmed and photographed by the Main South Oral History Project, made up of a Clark University graduate student working with a 56-year-old neighborhood man and three local teenagers.

The 40-minute work — a combination of still photos and video footage narrated in English and Spanish with subtitles in both languages — was screened yesterday afternoon for the first time at the Boys & Girls Club on Tainter Street. Its creators say they want the video to spur activism and redevelopment and help put abandoned buildings back to use by getting them renovated, a trend they depict as already happening in the neighborhood. Describing the old Sears & Roebuck building at 661 Main St., one of several narrators says the display window of the vacant and dilapidated edifice, most recently owned by Caravan Coffee, is “dirty and disgusting.”

“I always wonder when my building is going to fall over,” says Deb Sinha, who lives in a run-down apartment building on Castle Street next to several abandoned buildings he says are frequented by homeless people, rodents and raccoons. “But rent is cheap. I guess that’s the reason I stay there.”

The city councilor who represents the neighborhood, District 4 Councilor Barbara G. Haller, makes several appearances, talking about a once-dilapidated abandoned building she eventually moved into at 34 Castle St., and expressing cautious optimism that the neighborhood is slowly turning around.

One woman calls her building at 5 May St. “one of the biggest crackhead areas in town.” Another resident tells interviewers that prostitutes, pimps and gang members with guns are everywhere on the street. “It’s not safe here,” a woman says of her block. Dennis Hourihan, 56, one of the filmmakers, says part of the problem is “there is no work in Worcester.” “There used to be shoe shops, piano shops,” he said. “It’s all gone.”

But “Vacant” is also a vehicle for hope. The filmmakers included shots of the handsome new Boys & Girls Club and views of colorfully and artfully restored affordable three-deckers on Hollis Street that are part of the massive Kilby-Gardner-Hammond urban reclamation project. “Main South has changed a lot,” Eliut Martinez, a Hollis Street man who moved here from Springfield 20 years ago, says in Spanish.

After the screening, some in the audience of about 50 split up into small discussion groups and wrote down their responses to the video and how they would like to improve the neighborhood. Erin Anderson, a 23-year-old student in Clark’s graduate program in community development and planning, was the project’s coordinator. The video, produced in six months with $3,500 in grants and support from nonprofit groups, is a call to action, Ms. Anderson said. She said she plans to burn the footage onto DVDs and distribute them to community groups and city councilors.

“The idea is to get people thinking and working on issues surrounding vacant buildings in their neighborhoods,” the Seattle native said. One person in the audience, Stephen D. Patton, a former city councilor who is now executive director of Worcester Common Ground, a nonprofit community development corporation that turns dilapidated buildings into affordable dwellings, was impressed by the video’s melding of criticism and optimism. “It’s always good to get it right from the street,” he said. “I did largely sense some hope. I’m not sure that five years ago you’d be able to say that.” The other members of the project are Linette Serrano, 18, and Betsy Jovel and Meiry Salinas, both 16.

Support was provided by Clark University, Family Health Center of Worcester, the Regional Environmental Council, Worcester Youth Center, Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

PIP Shelter

2006-12-03T20:09:00.000-05:00

The past week there have been new calls to close the PIP. I have to admit that I do not have a very good understanding of this issue, but my question is that when people demand closure of the PIP should there not be an alternative plan expressed? Maybe one was stated, but I missed it.

As far as people living at the PIP being involved in murders, I know many people who do not live at the PIP but use 701 Main Street as their address. In reality although they may sleep there at various times, I would not necessarily call the PIP their home. In other words, if the PIP was closed the people involved in these crimes would disappear from the district.

Lynne Simonds for District Four

2006-11-24T17:18:00.000-05:00

Lynne Simonds for District Four

Why we need to support Lynne.

Lynne has been a good friend of mine for some time now. I have never met someone who is as passionate or committed to this District as Lynne. She seems to be everywhere I turn - helping with the new park being built by Women Together, meeting with seniors in the Webster Towers (she was the only dancing candidate at one forum), standing up against tax sweetheart deals, and promoting a great platform for everyone in the district.

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT LYNNE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD CANDIDATE!!!!!!!!

Contrary to rhetoric about people who are "pro-neighborhood." Lynne lives it - she's been here for decades, slogging it out for youth, for cleaner parks, for cleaner properties, for less crime, for less dumping and more economic development.Second, she stands up for all citizens in the district, from what I have seen - whether helping College Hill neighbors worried about developments that include dynamiting ledge, or a real plan to help Elm Park. This is a campaign that is important for the people of this district - it is a microcosm of Deval Patrick's campaign insofar as there is a mass of grassroots people powering Lynne's run, and I can tell this groundswell will match the 100 plus volunteers we had last election day.This campaign is crackling with energy already, and I am rearing to go.Lynne Simonds for District Four

Worcester Mag

2006-11-22T16:01:00.000-05:00

Just came out today. Correct if I am wrong but are the ten worst properties listed in the issue in District 4?? It appears that way to me.. What particularly bothers me is that DJ Realty (Conrad Swartz) properties on Grand Street (39-43) and Grand and Canterbury corners has been on the worst ten properties for years.

Sweetheart Dealing in Main South

2006-11-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

Shame on Who?

Worcester Magazine should be complimented on their “30th Anniversary Issue” especially their section highlighting their “Most Controversial Stories.” Every time I ride by 809 and 811-813 Main Street, I want to thank WoMag for their January 16, 2003 cover story, entitled “Sweetheart Deals,” which has since prevented transactions exemplified by the sale of these blighted vacant lots.

In the summer of 2002, the City of Worcester Executive Office of Neighborhood Services had control of these 2 abutting lots on Main Street. The first was 809 Main Street (8,400 sq feet) and the second was 811-813 Main Street (4,695 sq feet). Imagine the potential of 13,095 square feet of land on a heavily traveled Main Street; the possibilities are endless.

What happened to these lots?

Although there was an advertised auction by the City Treasurer for these lots and three parties, which I am aware of were interested in bidding; the properties were never auctioned. Instead these two parcels were sold separately to the 800 Main Street Realty Trust, via direct negotiations on August 19, 2002.

Book Page Address Price Buyer

27246 252 811-813 Main Street $10,000 800 Main St Realty Trust

27246 256 809 Main Street $17,500 800 Main St Realty Trust

Why were they sold separately?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (40B) requires a public bid, if the $25,000 threshold is broken. Although the total sale price exceeded $25,000, the requirements of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to publicly advertise these parcels were avoided by conducting two separate sales under $25,000 each.

What was suppose to happen to these lots?

Per the terms of the deed, the land is to be exclusively for off street parking for the adjacent properties abutting this land. More importantly the commencement of the development of this land had to start within one year. Although work has begun on a parking lot at 807 Main Street, no work has ever been started on these specific lots.

Who is the 800 Main St. Realty Trust?

The person who signs, as trustee for the 800 Main Street Realty Trust, is Frank Zitomersky. One of trustees, however, was City Councilor Barbara Haller, but she terminated all interest in the trust in a document (bk 28006 pg 147) dated December 13, 2001, 9 months prior to these sales. This document, however, was not recorded until 3 months after the sale recorded on November 6, 2002.

807 Main Street

Councilor Haller must really like the 800 Main Street Realty Trust, because she sold 807 Main Street (10,930 sq ft) for $1 (bk 25928 pg 357) to the 800 Main Street Realty Trust on February 8, 2002. Why would anyone sell a property (807 Main Street) for $1 in February, 2002, to the 800 Main Street Realty Trust, when she supposedly had no interest in this trust effective December, 2001?

807 Main Street Corp

On August 19, 2003 (exactly one year after the initial sale), 809-811-813 Main Street were deeded (bk 31292 pg 117) from the 800 Main Street Realty Trust to 807 Main Street Corp, Frank Zitomersky, President. Can the City of Worcester now enforce the terms of the initial sale to the 800 Main Street Realty Trust on the 807 Main Street Corp to develop the parcels into off street parking?

This is my response to the accusation of “Shame on Womag” for calling this a “Sweetheart Deal.” My detailing of the transactions of theses parcels is to let your readers decide for themselves. It is also to validate the thinking of and to give a voice to other developers, businesses and residents of Main South who for a long time have believed it was a “Sweetheart Deal.”

REAP Ordinance

2006-11-12T08:23:00.000-05:00

In light of the City Manager's new 5 year plan to limit borrowing and improve the City "free cash" position, it only makes sense for a stronger enforcment of the REAP ordinance. I believe it stands for Revenue Enforcement and Protectin (REAP), I could be wrong. Both goals of the City Manager are extremely important to maintain our bond rating. A slight drop in the rating next year can cost the City of Worcester millions of dollars.

It more or less says if you want to do business in the City of Worcester; for example, licenses to sell alcohol, building permits, occupancy permits etc, you can not owe the City of Worcester any monies. It only makes sense. Why would I do something for you, if you owe me monies??

The City of Worcester needs to enforce this ordinance to its fullest extent.

2006-10-24T10:40:00.000-05:00

During the past two years I have listened to the people of District 4; while attending neighborhood meetings, talking to folks at the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Center, hearing concerns about a lack of services for us all, but especially the seniors and the youth of our neighborhoods. Complaints about the loss of rights and opportunities at the Webster Square Towers and listening to the proliferating problems of small business people who feel under siege or ignored, from Main Street to Highland Street to Vernon Hill.

As a resident of this district for over 25 years, I have listened, I have shared your concerns, I have acted on them and when I am elected to represent you I will act even more quickly and effectively. A neighbor on Benefit Street shows me a festering neighborhood garbage dump that has been ignored for months, years even. An older neighbor and friend of mine on Canterbury Street tells me how she feels things have changed drastically for the worse after we lost Councilor Janice Nadeau. The safety and financial concerns of the seniors I meet throughout the district are a cry for help.