The Radio Roundtable Hank and "Big" Ben along with Guillermo Creamer and Randy Feldman look at the City Manager tackling the trash problem in the city. Ben and Guillermo have questions about what happens after the August push to clean up comes to an end and how sustainable it all is. Hank thinks it's weird that there is as much drama over the CM's action in the community as there is. After all no one is pro-litter. Randy, honestly, doesn't think the problem is as bad as most people make it out to be. Says it's a city.
The Roundtable also looks at how much it costs to run for City Council. If you are running At-Large and don't have name recognition how much will it cost to run ads, get signs, etc. to really raise your profile. Do you just want to be in sixth place? Do you want to end up higher and have further ambition beyond just a council member? Can you win without raising money? The importance of knocking doors and standouts. It is all discussed, along with just how important is the west side vote?

The Radio Roundtable On Taking Out the Trash and the Upcoming Election

Dr. Satya Mitra is a candidate for city council at-large in Worcester.  He tells us of his life in India and the significant hardships he faced in his childhood, including the loss of his mother when he was very young and his father's declining health and blindness. How these events helped shape him and his commitment to public service. After completing his PhD in biochemistry, Mitra came to the United States and found his calling, helping others with their taxes and financial matters, eventually establishing a successful tax and financial services practice in Worcester. He feels his expertise in financial management and fiscal responsibility, are skills that he can apply to the city's budget and development
He has also been involved in numerous community organizations and boards in the city.
His work as a leader on these boards will help inform his approach to working with others on the city council, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, consensus-building, and focusing on the city's priorities. He talks about some of the initiatives he has begun in the city and the founding, with his wife, of Joy Guru Humanitarian Services. "A leader is a good leader when he produces another leader, when he gives an opportunity to someone else." 
Mitra points out we are the second largest city in New England and have incredible assets such as the Worcester Art Museum and Mechanics Hall and that we should emphasize these assets more. You can also hear his views on the homeless, WPD and our streets.
https://electdrmitra.com 
Worcester's Preliminary Election is Sept. 2nd  Municipal Election is November 4th.


Meet Dr. Satya Mitra

On this edition of the Radio Roundtable, Matt Wally, Guillermo Creamer and Randy Feldman look at "Mastery Based Grading." Matt and Randy have some real questions on how it would work in WPS with Guillermo and Hank much more willing to give it a go. Mastery Based Grading gives students multiple chances to go back over their work. Getting away from the traditional way a numeric or letter grade is given.
The Roundtable looks at a recent finding from the state AG's office that found Councilors Etel Haxhiaj, Thu Nguyen and Khrystian King violated the Open Meeting law when they issued a press release affirming their support of LGBTQ students. The penalty was being told not to do it again. Hank asks the Roundtable if the ruling will make any difference in the upcoming election? The general consensus is it will not. The Roundtable does note though that the strategy from opponents of the three councilors is to tie it to a pattern of behavior and set up negatives in the voters minds. No one incident is a big deal but can you tie several incidents to a candidate.
The Roundtable also feels that where you land in the preliminary election on September 2nd doesn't necessarily have any bearing on where you will land in the general election. However, if an incumbent does not place in the top six it could be a sign they need to get to work. Candidates to watch include Dr. Satya Mitra, Gary Rosen, Cayden Davis and Jermoh Kamara. All are using different strategies and it will be interesting to see where they finish or a candidate that truly surprises with a strong showing that is not being talked about.

Meeting Law Violation, Preliminary Election, Does Any Of It Matter

Tom Marino, thisweekinworcester.com and Mark Henderson, the 016.com, join Hank and "Big" Ben in running down the biggest stories of the week. This week the news of Chip Norton filing for personal bankruptcy and what that may mean to his holdings such as the Mercantile Center in Worcester. 
They also look at St. Vincent's being back in the news. That they are once again under investigation and have a whistleblower lawsuit that has been filed against them.
A good news story about a ribbon cutting for housing for the homeless but they can't help asking why a project first talked about in 2018 took until 2025 to complete. 
Hide your bird feeders. The black bears are out and they're big.

The Rundown on St. Vincent, Chip Norton and more

Hank and "Big" Ben are joined by Guillermo Creamer and John Keough on the Radio Roundtable to talk about the municipal election and top local topics. 
This week the Roundtable looks at the city's recent loss of a $30 million lawsuit to the town of Holden over sewer fees. Acknowledging Monday morning quarterbacking there were questions and  criticism of the previous administration's overconfidence and poor legal strategy that led to the massive payout. The Roundtable also discussed the city's ongoing cleanup effort, arguing that while it was a positive step, it failed to address systemic issues with trash collection, poor contractor performance, and inadequate infrastructure. The panelists also critiqued the city's communication strategy for the initiative. Finally, the conversation shifted to the upcoming nonpartisan city council election, where the panelists asserted that the election was functionally partisan, marked by political pandering, and influenced by a divide between moderate and progressive Democrats. They discussed the need for a charter revision to empower the council and expressed expectations of low voter turnout for the preliminary election.

Lawsuit Loss and Election Pandering

Hank Stolz and Ben White along with Guillermo Creamer, Mark Henderson and Tom Marino break down the Worcester Preliminary vote. Five keen election observers but five very different takes on what exactly the results mean for November.
Consensus that it was a good night for Moe Bergman, Gary Rosen and Jermoh Kamara who all to some extent exceeded expectations. A tough night for Khrystian King and his ambition to be Mayor as he finished fifth in the preliminary.  A great night for Mayor Joe Petty seeking a historic eighth term.
Are the results a rebuke for the progressive movement, with Mayor Petty, Kate Toomey, Moe Bergman and Gary Rosen finishing 1-4? What are the chances for Incumbent Donna Colorio, Dr. Satya Mitra and Cayden Davis, all on the outside but knocking on the door? 
Races to watch; School Committee District E with Kathy Roy receiving 42% of the vote but "progressive" challengers Nelly Medina and Noelia Chafoya receiving over 50% of the vote. With Chafoya out of the race do all those votes go to Medina? What will increased turnout in November bring. District races, several of which pit more "progressive" candidates against more moderate candidates. 
Interesting side conversation about the influence of media and social media sites. Are these sites just echo chambers, helping to bring out new voters or not adding much to the conversation?
Vote Tuesday November 4th in the Worcester Municipal Election.

An In-Depth Look at the Worcester Preliminary Results

District 2 Worcester City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson joins the Radio Roundtable, Matt Wally and Randy Feldman to talk about a variety of issues facing the city. Including housing and the big developments happening around Shrewsbury St. How building more housing can help with the homeless crisis (or not). Housing first or treat root causes of homelessness such as addiction and mental illness first? 
The ongoing war on litter. 
Does Worcester need to sue the state over the Holden sewage deal.

Candy Mero-Carlson Joins the Radio Roundtable

Worcester City Manager Eric Batista drilled down on issues he is working on including the war on litter. In August the city launched a coordinated, multi-departmental "blitz" in to aggressively tackle litter before the start of the school year. An expansion of the residential drop-off program in August was highly successful, with over 1400 appointments made, indicating a strong community desire for accessible disposal options.As Batista said "If we provide the access to our community, they will take advantage of that, of the resource... And so we want to take a step back and re-look at that program, how can we enhance it? How can we provide more access? Because we know that people are willing to take advantage of it.
The City Manager acknowledged that Worcester has a significant housing shortage He said it is  driven in part by a population increase of 20,000 people over ten years without a corresponding increase in housing units. He points to 1600 affordable housing units in the pipeline, part of a broader strategy to create a spectrum of housing options, including senior housing, tiny homes, and permanent supportive housing.
The conversation segued from housing to homelessness. The city's approach to homelessness is rooted in providing shelter and housing first, but Batista stresses that success dependes on intensive, wraparound supportive services to help individuals adapt and manage daily life. "It is not just simply placing someone in an apartment and letting them go and say, see you later. No, no. It's what are the wraparound services and the supportive services that can be provided to this individual so they can start to learn and adapt and understand what it is to live under a roof." 

Worcester City Manager Eric Batista

The Radio Roundtable, Hank and Ben along with Randy Feldman and Guillermo Creamer, look at  how the five contested district races can affect turnout this November. The Roundtable discusses how hotly contested district races can affect candidates vying for At-Large City Council seats. More than one District race has a left-right dynamic in these non-partisan races. They particularly look at how those vying for the sixth At-Large seat can be affected by heavy turnout in District races.
Another topic on the agenda looks at how sports, festivals, restaurants and more, give Worcester its own identity. Do people think about going to Worcester the same way they think about going to Boston or Providence?
Holy Cross student Bryce Maloney wrote a thought provoking op-ed in The Holy Cross Spire about how many students look at Worcester. The panel discusses town/gown relations.

Radio Roundtable

District 2 Candidate Rob Bilotta joins Matt Wally, Guillermo Creamer and Randy Feldman to talk about the local issues of the day including issues specific to District 2. 
Among the topics are if endorsements really matter and how they help or hurt a candidate. General agreement that they can help voters get a sense of the candidate and what they might stand for but as Bilotta said ultimately it comes down to the face to face contact. 
The Roundtable talked about an initiative this week to get people to walk more. That led into a discussion of is Worcester a walkable city? The Fare Free WRTA was talked about with a discussion about how to have it better publicized. 
Bilotta was asked questions on housing and affordability. The issue of decorum also came up.    

District 2 Candidate Rob Bilotta Joins the Radio Roundtable

Radio Worcester is the home of Talk of the Commonwealth with Hank Stolz morning program as well as radio programs and podcasts for the top organizations in Central MA.  Find them all at www.radioworcester.com

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