Worcester Politics 101

11/22/2024

*** A Review Of The 2024 National Election Results ***

The GOP won the White House, Senate and House, and traditionally deep-blue states backed Harris at a lower level than Biden in 2020

11/22/2024

***** Piccolol's Restaurant Owner And Shrewsbury St Merchant Association President, John Piccolo, Allegedly Assaulted A Worcester Resident At City Council Meeting *****
In a disgusting display of outright fascism by attempting to silence a critic, Piccolo allegedly assaulted a well known agitator inside city hall.
Piccolo's alleged violence will never ever be acceptable nor tolerated.
If our elected officials continue to host fundraising event at his place of business then they are condoning these alleged violent actions and attempts at intimidation to silence critics.
Folks that IS fascism and it will never welcomed or allowed in our city.
This is a guy who is also the Shrewsbury St Merchants Association President who has a stained the the entire neighborhood with his apparent violent propensity.
This guy needs to be removed immediately from the association if it is to maintain any sense of credibility.
If they do not remove him, then a boycott of all Shrewsbury St businesses is warranted.
People can choose where they want to dine but WP101 will never support a guy and his business that resorts to violence.
If this guy has a license to carry a firearm, then it must be immediately revoked by the Worcester Police Department.
This is a man that just cannot be trusted whatsoever

11/22/2024

****** Denis Dowdle & Madison Properties Viscously Screwed City of Worcester, Massachusetts Taxpayers & Residents *****
The city council needs to address each and every property Dowdle promised to develop and take them by eminent domain immediately.
Any and all tax breaks this fraud received must be paid back in full with interest.
Doing nothing encourages other developers to walk back on their words and promises and that is unacceptable and untenable.
The harm Dowdle and Madison Properties have caused our city is incalculable that is wrapped in abject malfeasance.
This snake oil salesman must be sent packing.
The Worcester City Council must step up and take decisive actions immediately without delay.

Madison Properties President Denis Dowdle was in attendance but declined to speak during the Thursday hearing

11/21/2024

***** Worcester Politics 101 Wholeheartedly & Unequivocally Supports Sean Rose, Former Worcester District 1 City Councilor As A Candidate For Worcester City Councilor At-Large *****
The time to replace the deadwood on the city council starts with defeating MIA At-Large City Councilor Thu Ngyuen.

11/21/2024

***** Hypocrisy Reigns Supreme With City Councilor Haxihiaj And Councilor Ngyuen*****
As reported in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette today:
"This is a sacred place where democracy happens. We have disagreements with each other. This expression of violence and hostility and agrression must stop" according to Haxhiaj.
Quite an odd hypocritical statement coming from Councilor Haxhiaj.
Just recently, Haxhiaj along with Councilor Nguyen, both expressed their violence, hostility and agrression when they vociferously incited and led their supporters inside council chambers leading the protest chants inside city council chambers creating absolute chaos that ended up cancelling the meeting preventing city business to be conducted.
Allegedly, their supporters have also been threatening other city councilors including school committee members.
Haxhiaj is an outright hypocrite incapable of serving D5 or the city at-large.
Haxhiaj just spews her unpopular activism that does not address the needs and concerns of D5.
We all deserve better.

11/21/2024

*** Allegedly Piccolo's Restaurant Owner, John Piccolo, Viscously Attacks City Activist Inside City Hall ***
Doesn't get anymore cowardly and unAmerican when taking despicable terroristic actions wrapped in fascism attacking people to silence them because they don't subscribe to their views.
Totally and completely unacceptable and will never ever be tolerated.
Reportedly, quite a few local politicos have received political campaign donations from the alleged assaulter John Piccolo.
Each and every elected official that received these donations needs to immediately return them.
Continuing to keep these now tainted donations clearly shows they accept, validates and condones the alleged violent behavior exhibited inside Worcester's seat of government.
WP101 will be scrolling the OCPF list to validate and confirm which elected officials, city councilors, school committee members, including the local state delegation who received these campaign donations.
Every elected official who did accept such donations should seriously think about and consider if those campaign donations are worth more than our democratic principles and the idea of free speech free from violence or retaliation
There is no place for this hate in the 508.
Our American democracy demands we defend and allow free speech and expression without the threats of violence hanging over our heads.

Police are seeking to charge the suspect with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

11/21/2024

***** Local State Delegation Supports Drastic Cuts In The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) *****
Callously tossing aside the most vulnerable amongst us including 285 local farms, the local state delegation refused to stand up and defend those in need and those providing our local grown food.
Folks this is exactly who and what our local state delegation is.
They first and foremost serve Senate President Spilka and House Speaker Mariano first.
They all bend their knees to the Beacon Hill power structure no matter the harm it causes people back here in Worcester and Central Mass.
Imagine how much callous disregard they each have against those most in need including those who grow the farm foods that feed our families.
Next time you see any of them, which is like looking for Waldo, make sure to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas as their dining room tables will be overflowing with food and cheer while the rest of the needy go without and sit at empty kitchen tables.
It's who and what they are.
A special shout out and thanks goes out to:
Dan Donahue for State Representative David LeBoeuf, State Representative
Jim O'Day for State Rep State Rep Mary Keefe State Rep. Daniel Donahue
Representative John J. Mahoney Senator Mike Moore Robyn Kennedy for State Senate
Job well done screwing families and farmers!

The maximum benefit a household can use will be $20 a month, due to a $10 million deficit in the state's fiscal year 2025 budget.

11/21/2024

*** City Managers Response To Attack At City Hall ***

11/20/2024

*** Dennis Dowdle & Madison Properties Dawdled & Diddled Leaving Our Taxpayers On The
Hook ***
Without question, debate nor delay The city needs to take by eminent domain all remaining properties not yet developed and completely recind any and all DIF's and TIF's awarded to Madison Properties.
Worcester will not be left holding the bag for Dowdle and our city will be made whole whether Madison Properties likes it or not.
This guy and his company are persona-non grata going forward

A $792,000 shortfall prompts talk of an eminent domain taking on lot next to ballpark.

11/20/2024

In the City of Worcester, Massachusetts everyone is entitled to their own opinions and points of views whether we agree or disagree.
To hear there was an alleged assault on a known critic of the city inside city council chambers by a local restaurant owner is unAmerican, uncalled for and completely unacceptable.
Democracy demands free speech that is free from violence and intimidation.
This will not go away nor be swept away.
Tenacious accountability and blowback for this business owner will be definitely coming his way upon confirmation of this alleged assault.
American democracy demands it and the American way of life depends on it.
(WP101 does not agree with the views and opinion's of the alleged assault victim but they do deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else)

11/20/2024

**** UMASS Chan Students Decry Shortage Of Homeless Shelter Beds *****
When will UMASS Chan students demand their school construct shelter beds and provide services on their campus?
They won't.
Their attendance at last nights council meeting was time for showboating, finger pointing and blaming others while not looking introspectively and asking what they themselves can do with the help of their school.
Do these students actually care about the homeless?
Because if they did they'd start with their very own campus at Lake Ave.
UMASS Chan sucks up city taxpayer provided services while providing next to nothing back to the city, our taxpayers, residents or our homeless population in return.
How about these students look inhouse at their UMASS Chan administration and their callous disregard for the homeless crisis first, before criticising the City of Worcester?
This is another glaring reason why Worcester needs a full fledged up and running viable PILOT Program across the entire city.

Councilors express frustration over project delays and financial shortfall; homelessness issues also discussed

11/19/2024

***** House Speaker Mariano & Senate President Spilka Working Overtime To Undermine The Will Of 72% Of MA Voters Authorizing State Auditor To Audit The House *****
Over 2,300,000+ MA voters decided overwhelmingly to have the State Auditor lead these audits of the MA House of Reps along with the MA State Senate.
Any attempt to do otherwise is an affront and insult to the voters here in the commonwealth as well as to our democratic principles where every vote is supposed to matter and our elected representatives are expected to honor and carry out the will of the voters unimpeded.
Without question our local state delegation here in Worcester and Central Mass will march in lockstep with Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka and line up against the will of the massive majority and their votes.
David LeBoeuf, State Representative State Rep. Daniel Donahue State Rep. James O'Day State Rep Mary Keefe Representative John J. Mahoney Robyn Kennedy for State Senate Senator Mike Moore will never, ever step up to respect the will of the voters only when the ballots are cast for them in elections.
We all certainly deserve much better than this clown show that's for sure.

But the state auditor said she still isn't getting the cooperation of lawmakers.

11/19/2024

*** Polar Park Financing Is A 30 Year Project That Will Pay For Itself As Originally Envisioned ***
The usual very few negative nellie naysayers will pounce on any blip or tidbit they can latch on to deride to spew abject falsehoods regarding the most transformative economic development project ever undertaken in the City of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Polar Park is on firm footing where safeguards are in place to protect taxpayers and the city.
It would appear Dennis Dowdle and MadisonProp.com now owes the city for the left-field pad buildout already constructed in anticipation of Madison Properties life-sciences building.
Mr. Dowdle now needs to step up and make the city whole and that is unquestioned.
In any minor set-back, new opportunities arise that will seal the deal.
No one can argue that a 2 year pandemic and extremely high interest rates because of it has caused delays on may proposed project not only here in Worcester but across the country.
Not on city or town across America has been immune from these economic realities.
Worcester surely needs more hotels and this pad-ready site is a perfect location.

Ballpark district is short $792,000. Meanwhile, the tax deal for Left Field Building, once slated for a bioscience development, has been terminated by the developer.

11/18/2024

***** City Administration Surrenders To WPI *****
*** Updated-11/18/24: WPI Parking Kiosk Pilot Program Petition filed with and accepted by the City Clerks office and will be on the City Council agenda to be heard on 11/26 in city council chambers ***
Worcester gets short shrift in this deal where it will be the taxpayers who will have to pay the increases in taxes to cover this WPI created shortfall.
Taxpayer dollars cleaned up the brownfields including the remediation efforts required to allow the hotels to be built and then WPI sweeps in and scoffs them up.
These current miniscule current PILOT Program payments do not add up and its the taxpayers and residents who bear the burden.
The time is now to implement a total comprehensive parking meter kiosk pilot program on all public streets surrounding the WPI campus to make up the dollar revenue shortfall this present deal has created.
If the parking kiosk pilot program is successful, then it needs to be replicated on the streets surrounding Clark U, Holy Cross, etc...
The time for the city to fight back and recover lost revenues from these very profitable non-profits is at hand so that we can recover the city taxpayer costs subsidizing the colleges.
Property owners, business owners and homeowners subsidize city services for these profitable non-profits each and every year and that's no longer tenable.
During the college school calendar year, the residents of Worcester have absolutely no parking available to visit and enjoy Institute Park because WPI students hoard all the parking spots with a wink-wink nod by the WPI administration.
The time is now to change the paradigm and start supporting Worcester residents and families ability in accessing our public park.
An order will be filed shortly with the city clerk to have this issue heard on the city council floor.

WPI released a statement to the college community that the resolution balances student housing needs and the city’s economic vitality

11/15/2024

*** We Can All Agree With Mayor Joe Petty & City Manager Batista's Statement ***
Violence, hate, racism, etc...against anyone in our city, no matter their status, creed or the color of their skin will never, ever be acceptable nor tolerated.

Statement from Mayor Joe Petty and City Manager Eric D. Batista on Worcester being a welcoming and inclusive city.

11/15/2024

*** Heartless Maura Healey Taking Food Out Of The Mouths Of The Most Vulnerable Amongst Us ***
Healey, aided and abetted by Worcester's local state delegation:
David LeBoeuf, State Representative State Rep. Daniel Donahue State Rep. James O'Day State Rep Mary Keefe Robyn Kennedy for State Senate Senator Mike Moore
The most vulnerable amongst us will suffer needlessly as will the farmers who grow the food for all of us.
This is a cruel penny wise pound stupid move by Governor Maura Healey and we have a local rubber stamp state delegation that will allow this to happen.
The local state delegation does not represent the people of Worcester and Central Mass....they cowtail, cower and owe allegiance to those inside the Rt 128 beltway first and maybe our cities and towns might get a leftover morsel.
We all deserve better, especially the most vulnerable amongst us.

Effective Dec. 1, the cap for the HIP program, for purchases of local fruits and vegetables from farm vendors, will be cut from $80 to $20 a month.

11/15/2024

***** One Can Reasonably Expect Trump To Name The Pillow Guy As The Next Surgeon General *****
Trump's administration appointments defy logic and reason.
Batten down the hatches because chaos is headed to America and where our mortal enemies across the world are rejoicing and dancing in their streets.

Trump says he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

11/14/2024