The Radio Roundtable, Matt Wally, Guillermo Creamer, Randy Feldman and Keith Linhares talk about how recent protests have stopped the City Council from carrying out there business, actually bringing meetings to a halt. A vigorous debate on what is allowable in society when it comes to protest, when does it work against the protestors, what are they trying to accomplish and a conversation over whether the public is being heard. The Roundtable also looks at the politics of an open rift on the council and how that may play out in the upcoming election. Differences of opinion on the new security measures at City Hall which go into full effect on Monday.
Keith Linhares and Matt Wally have differences on Linhares proposal for an improved customer service experience in the city.

The Roundtable on Protests, Security and Customer Service Experience

As always The Radio Roundtable breaks down the biggest local issues of the day. In this case should Worcester get involved in running a supermarket. The Roundtable looks at the pros and cons and also talks about the why behind the idea. The food desserts that exist in the city and why it is hard for Worcester to attract more supermarkets. 
They also discuss the recent decision to cancel the Latin American Festival. How much had to do with a fear of ICE and how much had to do with finances?
Petitions - should all petitions to the City Council go through a councilor or will that have a chilling affect on democracy? Listen in and weigh in Tuesdays from 7-8 a.m. 

Radio Roundtable on Grocery Stores, Latin American Festival and Petitions

Worcester Mayor Joe Petty talks about Housing, Petitions and Grocery Stores. He provides context to the discussion about how petitions get handled and says this idea put forward to have them go through councilors didn't come out of the blue. He talks about City Council meetings getting refocused on taking care of the people's business on Tuesday "You can't just let it get out of control, which it has been I think over the last six months. How do you reign it back in? It's not an open house where people just come in and just speak as long as they want anything they want." - Mayor Petty on the city council meeting process. 
The Mayor also commented on the cancellation of this year's Latin American Festival. "Things will change and for the positive, I hope, and we'll bring this back." - Mayor Petty on the Latin American Festival.

Mayor Petty on Housing, Petitions and More

Mark Henderson, the016.com, and Tom Marino, thisweekinworcester.com, join Hank and Ben is looking at the biggest stories of the week.
A lot of discussion in Worcester right now over petitions coming before the city council and if they should go through a councilor or not. Some are accusing the administration of trying to stifle free speech.
Three on one as Hank alone expresses skepticism over a proposal on a municipally owned grocery store.

The Rundown Looks at the Petition Process

The Rundown looks at top stories in the news with Tom Marino of Thisweekinworcester.com and Mark Henderson of the016.com. Mark, Tom, Hank and Ben talk about the release of new bodycam footage from the Eureka Street ICE arrest and protest in May. There is widespread agreement that the footage will not change anybody's mind and that at this point people have internalized their positions. Mark makes the point that the press needs to keep an eye on what is being released and when it is being released and ask the question is there a reason for the order things are being released.
Also a discussion about AI and how it is being used in newsrooms. Is it going to take jobs away from humans in cities like Worcester or bring information to underserved "news desserts." Hank asked AI to summarize that part of the conversation and here is what he got back.
The impact of AI and automation on journalism, including concerns about potential job losses and the challenges of using AI for news reporting. There are concerns about the impact of AI and automation on journalism, with fears that it could lead to job losses and a reduction in high-quality, human-driven reporting, especially in smaller or underserved communities.
The local news landscape in Worcester has evolved, with different outlets taking different approaches (e.g., advocacy journalism vs. straight news reporting), which has led to debates about the role and value of these different styles of journalism. Is that much different from how Hank would have summarized things?

The Rundown for July 30th

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

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

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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