On the city council agenda tonight, there was only one item, the evaluation of the City Manager. I arrived early to attend the Public Safety Meeting, and stayed in between. The meeting was sparsely attended on the public side yet full for the city administration side. The gallery had the communications team, and the department heads were in the bullpen next to the media section.
As the night went on, and councilor after councilor gave their feedback, a common theme emerged: the city’s bond rating. Now, before you roll your eyes, I want you to think about that for a minute. Do you even know what a bond rating is? In particular, do you understand what it means in terms of city governance? I am not asking to insult you, or to create a chance for me to explain it to you. I am asking because it is something far in the weeds of governance.
In the Esther Howland chamber, it was a common refrain. It made me really think about the dichotomy in Worcester. Even when people from the community give real, detailed and specific feedback to the administration, they are not concerned with that, as much as the bond rating. you, and your individual voice, does not matter as much as the fact that we have three ratings, from three independent agencies: Moody’s Investor Services has us as Aa3, Fitch Ratings has us as AA and Poor’s Global Ratings has us as AA-. All of these ratings are considered stable, making Worcester low risk for investors. When we sell municipal bonds, companies tend to snatch them up.
What do we do with that money? Well, we financed Polar Park with it. We also financed South High, Doherty High and the upcoming Burncoat High projects with bond issuance. I am simplifying this for the sake of space, but generally we borrowed money for capital expenditures against future potential tax revenues, and we have been good about paying those back in the past, so we have the city equivalent of a good credit score. This was mentioned over, and over, and over again.
Ok, so why is that important? It shows you exactly what the majority of the city councilors value, and trash pickup. Apparently we have a dirty city, and the councilors want the manager to fix that. Bonds and trash.
In the document the city manager submitted with his own self-assessment he opened with the following:
“As we reflect upon the last 12 months and the obstacles, challenges, and unpredictability brought on by national issues, I am pleased to report that the City of Worcester’s position and progress have held steady.”
Held steady. Our position. Our bond rating.
In the document, the city manager does not reflect on his actions in relation to national issues, but he does place blame on them. Interestingly enough, there are no negative sections in the full document. In my mind, I thought, isn’t that strange? During the meeting several city councilors said that the city manager took the hit and took responsibility for things like the press release when the DOJ report came out.
Interesting. I was at those meetings, and I did hear the city manager take responsibility. Yet, the city has spent almost every moment since then refuting the report exactly like Brian Kelly did on December 9th. The city manager took responsibility for the rollout of the press release, but he has never walked it back.
“I am pleased to report that the City of Worcester’s position and progress have held steady.”
Held steady. Our position. Our bond rating. What the administration values.
Many of the councilors mentioned the amount of complaints they receive about trash, potholes, and upcoming construction. Constituents call them, and that’s what is on their mind.
Across the street from my house is a parking lot where around 25 people sleep along a tree line, though the total changes daily. They have carts, backpacks, and items. They are not in an encampment, they just sleep on the ground.
When I first moved there in 2019, there were about 10 people. It has since grown to the group there now. The Quality of Life Team (who got a ton of praise at this meeting), has been there several times to talk with this group. They come, give services, and the groups moves away for a night or two before returning. There is no residential housing near this tree line, so no one seems to care that they sleep there. This group has lived in the city for years. They are Worcester residents. A few times I have spoken with them, checked in, and not one brought up trash, potholes or construction. Nor have they ever discussed bond ratings.
When you live in poverty, you do not think about government, unless forced to deal with it. In general, you go from place to place, and from event to event, just trying to survive. Often, your district councilor is not on your radar. These voices, if they are heard, are asking for food or shelter. From the heat, the rain, or the snow. They are not worried about bond ratings.
“I am pleased to report that the City of Worcester’s position and progress have held steady.”
As the bond ratings have held, the population of unhoused has grown. As the bond ratings have held, the cost of rent has increased to the most in the history of the city. As the bond ratings have held, the population has changed. It has grown, for sure, but that growth includes long-time residents leaving and being replaced by higher income people. Progress.
Increase the tax base. Attract higher income people. Attract large companies. Have a good bond rating.
The reason the city manager cannot see what people are saying about the rent, the inequalities, the structural issues, the lack of concern is because his government does not value those things like he values the bond rating.
In the document, he praises three local exciting things:
“Worcester’s popularity has also risen through its display of academic excellence, athletic performance, and artistic creativity on the international stage:
- Worcester native Stephen Nedoroscik earned two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics and became a viral sensation as the “Pommel Horse Guy;”
- UMass Chan Medical School Professor Victor Ambros won a 2024 Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of micro-RNA – the second professor there to claim that achievement
- Grammy-nominated artist Clairo filmed a music video during a Beyond Wrestling match at the White Eagle – just one of the many exciting things filmed in the city over the last year.
With that momentum at our back, I am proud to present a summary of our FY25 accomplishments to be used in the City Council’s evaluation of the City Manager.”
In a year where he says our position and progress have held steady, he couldn’t find one person who actually lives in Worcester to point out? He takes credit for the bronze medals from the pommel horse guy? (who lives in Florida). The Nobel Guy? (who lives in New Hampshire and has another house in Worcester County). Clairo? Who saw the White Eagle wrestlers (now moved to Electric Haze) on Tiktok and wanted to shoot her video here?
Not one of these things has anything to do with the city manager. Why didn’t he talk about the things he talks about in the Buzz? What about the all-women’s shelter? Some of the high schoolers? What about the people who live here?
They, frankly, don’t come to mind. Increase the tax base. Attract higher income people. Attract large companies. Have a good bond rating.
Last year we saw the cable advisory committee resign after the city manager rejected their report (I was the chairman of that committee). The city continues to negotiate with Charter-Spectrum, who was found to have stolen millions from city seniors and disabled residents by not giving them the discount they agreed to in the contract.
Multiple meetings were filled with protests.
The city began denying citizen petitions on a regular basis.
The city administration now must approve any ordinance the city council votes in.
The DOJ report rocked the city to its core, and the city and police union officials have called all of the victims and the more than 100 officers who spoke to the DOJ liars.
Eureka Street.
Meanwhile, Madison Properties walked away from part of the Polar Park deal, and made another deal in the city with Holy Cross, with zero consequences.
Several of the bigger buildings, and at least one connected to former City Manager O’Brien were implicated in the RealPage price fixing scandal still winding through the courts.
The city has paid out millions this year already in legal fees and settlements for police misconduct issues.
“I am pleased to report that the City of Worcester’s position and progress have held steady.”
He isn’t wrong. He just lives in a different world than we do. I am sorry to report that we, the people of Worcester who are not rich, who are aware of the harm in our communities, are on our own.
Nothing to see here, move along.
