WORCESTER – The Worcester City Council meets on Tuesday, February 8, with a packed agenda from City Manager Ed Augustus.
Two reports are set to be delivered to the Council on Tuesday: a report on opioid overdoses and deaths in 2021, and the Keep Worcester Clean year end report. The Council will also receive a progress report on Augustus’ February 2021 Executive Order to Assess and Address Institutional and Structural Racism Recommendations.
The City Council meets on Tuesday at 6:30 PM in a virtual meeting. To access the meeting:
- Dial 415-655-0001 (Access Code: 2302 449 4402) (Event Password for Attendees: EH22)
- Attend using Webex with this link.
Report on Opioid Overdoses and Deaths in 2021
In response to a previous Council agenda order, Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Matilde Castiel, reported the total opioid overdoses and deaths in Worcester during 2021.
The report shows total overdoses reduced from 893 in 2020 to 826 in 2021, a 7.5% reduction. Deadly overdoses declined from 62 in 2020 to 39 in 2021, a 37.1% decrease.
The type of drug that led to led to overdoses saw significant shifts. Heroin-caused overdoses was the biggest shift, a decrease of 40% from 307 overdoses to 184 overdoses. The largest category is other opiate/opioid, which increased from 536 to 614 overdoses.
The largest age group remained 30 to 39 years old, but dropped 20% to 304 overdoses between 2020 to 2021. The largest increase came from those 50 to 59 years old, which increased 35% to 126 overdoses.
Keep Worcester Clean 2021 Year End Report
The City Council will receive the 2021 year end report from the Keep Worcester Clean [KCW] program, covering July 2021 to Dec. 2021.
The program is responsible for 1,778 sites cleaned and approximately 374 tons of rubbish were removed from city streets and properties. During these months, the Department of Inspectional Services issued 393 citations for KWC related violations, for a total of $42,350.
Of the 1,178 sites cleaned, most fit into four categories:
- DPW Task Force Bulk Item in Public Way: 916
- DPW Task Force Homeless Encampment: 296
- Item on Public Way – Bulk: 233
- Trash Bag Early Put Out: 123
Update on Executive Order on Systemic Racism in Worcester
Augustus will provide a report to City Council on Tuesday on progress of his February 2021 Executive Order to Assess and Address Institutional and Structural Racism Recommendations.
Of 17 line items listed in the report, the status of eight receive a “complete” status. Among those items include removing School Resource Officers, an ordinance banning facial recognition technology, and an ordinance subjecting any proposed acquisition of new surveillance technology to a public process and City Council approval.
According to the update, a city-wide racial equity audit recommended by Augustus is proceeding, with the police department first up for audit.
The racial equity audit, recommended in Augustus’ February 2021 executive order, specifically notes that the audit should begin “with the Worcester Police Department (WPD), Health and Human Services, and Human Resources.” The item is listed as currently in progress, with vendor selections completed and kickoff meetings with departments underway.
However, another item says the “Chief of Police will establish a Chief’s Equity Advisory Council to serve as an implementation working group on the findings and recommendations from the equity audit” and that the “Advisory Council should be solidified prior to start of Racial Equity Audits.”
That item is also marked as “In Progress” with no additional information provided.
See all the items listed in the report to City Council on Tuesday, below.
