NEWS

Worcester residents have their say on how best to spend more than $100 million in federal relief

Kim Ring
Telegram & Gazette
State Rep. James O'Day, center, listens during the meeting at Burncoat High School.

WORCESTER — Given the chance to choose how to spend the city's $111 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds for COVID-19 relief, residents would keep the Worcester Regional Transit Authority free, offer free child care and afterschool programs and help low-income families become homeowners.

The first of three listening sessions designed for residents to give input on how they'd like the city to spend the funds took place Monday evening at Burncoat High School with about 80 people in attendance.

WORCESTER - Worcester residents listen during an open meeting of officials and residents at Burncoat High School, to discuss how to best utilize federal resources allocated for dealing with city-wide community needs, Monday, August 23, 2021.

In break-out groups, attendees offered opinions on how to use the money to address issues in public health, make infrastructure improvements and to address the negative economic impacts caused by the pandemic and to replace lost public sector revenues.

They focused on communities of color and those in low-income situations who were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

More:Worcester outlines how it wants to spend $111M in COVID-19 aid; NAACP makes pitch

They discussed providing premium pay for essential workers, as well, and learned that while there is guidance on how the funds must be allocated, those rules are somewhat flexible.

Rick Cipro, who is running for City Council, said he'd like to see a program offering "really low-interest loans"  that would be paid back quickly so the program could continue in perpetuity.

He said he'd also look for ways to create jobs and provide training for folks to get good-paying jobs so they could afford their homes.

Steve Cary of the city Division of Planning and Regulatory Services, right, leads one of many groups of residents gathered at Burncoat High School.

Polar Park

Some sought ways to fix what they see as problems with the city's recent renaissance noting that there are issues with trash in many areas but near Polar Park, those problems don't exist.

"Polar Park wasn't built for us. We can't afford to go there," Echo Louissaint said. "It wasn't marketed to us."

In another group, Char Scott echoed concerns for those living near the park and hoped that some of the money could improve their lives.

Scott suggested better parking for those who live and work in the area and a way for local folks who want to support local businesses to be able to access those even when there are ball games or events at the park.

"You can make it better for the people who live there," Scott said.

WORCESTER - Etel Haxhiaj, Director of Public Education and Advocacy at Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance., and Worcester City Council District 5 Candidate, raises a question during a meeting of residents gathered at Burncoat High School, to discuss how to best utilize federal resources allocated for dealing with city-wide community needs, Monday, August 23, 2021. T&G File/Steve Lanava

Crime reduction efforts

Some said they wanted to see crime reduction efforts but using different methods. Dawn Moore, a member of the Independent Socialists Group who lives in the Main South neighborhood, said cutting down on the prosecutions of those affected by substance abuse disorder would be a good way to use some of the funding.

Moore suggested treatment for addiction rather than prosecution and, perhaps, working to better understand the reasons why crimes are committed .

Improving communities

Some wanted to better the city's neighborhoods with improvements to parks, more and better trash receptacles and events to bring people together.

"Communities don't feel like communities," Alvin Muragori said.

Muragori, who lives in Webster Square and is a member of the Worcester Socialist Alternative, said enticing folks to know one another through community parks and gardens would help neighborhoods in many ways including encouraging them to help and check on one another.

There were discussions about ways to combat food insecurity and to help small businesses.

CENTRO Consultant on Strategic Initiatives, Scott Dennett, said he did not believe some of the "wish list" items brought up were appropriate and that the guidelines for spending should have been the first topic discussed so the ideas would fit into the parameters set for spending.

Dennett said he'd like to see some funding set aside to bring back the Homeownership Center which could help educate first time homebuyers. The program closed a few years ago and despite promises, was never reinstated, he said.

With two more sessions planned, Mayor Joseph M. Petty said, officials will consider the ideas brought forward at the meetings as they go forward with a spending plan.

Petty said the funds must be spent by 2024 or be returned and, he noted, the time will pass quickly so it's crucial to have a spending plan in place.

Councilor Khrystian E. King said it's important to remember that the city must be governed in a way that allows the continuation of programs started with the funding after the money is gone.