First for the unserious. "That’s why we’re putting our efforts into the resource center and trying to look to see if we can look at additional permanent shelter beds in the city on top of the current overflow work that we’re trying to do." Looking to see if we can look. With apologies to the City Manager, please try to make the bullshit less obvious and painful to the rational mind.
Now for the serious. Great coverage of the unsheltered crisis, Bill. After reading your commentary, my only coherent observation is that there currently isn't the will to address the issue from the very top all the way down. The Trump administration's best efforts will always focus on eliminating the problem, including, if not preferring, human beings. RFK Jr. is the secretary of Health and Human Services. Horrifying!
And speaking of all the way down, the folks in charge of Worcester's best efforts to address the issue haven't impressed me. WCHR, the developer of the shelter on Oriol Drive, still doesn't appear ready to commence work anytime soon, while SMOC has stepped in to operate a limited, makeshift operation at that location.
I haven't heard much discussion about Trammel Crow appearing close to completing their 220-unit market rate project directly across the street on Oriol Drive. One of Jose Rivera's Chamber of Commerce talking points in the recent campaign suggested, "rolling out the red carpet to developers". Opening a homeless shelter across the street from a shiny new residential development doesn't sound very red carpet to me. Stay tuned.
"Michael Hirsh is stepping down as the city’s medical director. Between losing him and Mattie Castiel and Etel Haxhiaj there goes like 99 percent of the city’s brain trust on its most pressing issues."
First for the unserious. "That’s why we’re putting our efforts into the resource center and trying to look to see if we can look at additional permanent shelter beds in the city on top of the current overflow work that we’re trying to do." Looking to see if we can look. With apologies to the City Manager, please try to make the bullshit less obvious and painful to the rational mind.
Now for the serious. Great coverage of the unsheltered crisis, Bill. After reading your commentary, my only coherent observation is that there currently isn't the will to address the issue from the very top all the way down. The Trump administration's best efforts will always focus on eliminating the problem, including, if not preferring, human beings. RFK Jr. is the secretary of Health and Human Services. Horrifying!
And speaking of all the way down, the folks in charge of Worcester's best efforts to address the issue haven't impressed me. WCHR, the developer of the shelter on Oriol Drive, still doesn't appear ready to commence work anytime soon, while SMOC has stepped in to operate a limited, makeshift operation at that location.
I haven't heard much discussion about Trammel Crow appearing close to completing their 220-unit market rate project directly across the street on Oriol Drive. One of Jose Rivera's Chamber of Commerce talking points in the recent campaign suggested, "rolling out the red carpet to developers". Opening a homeless shelter across the street from a shiny new residential development doesn't sound very red carpet to me. Stay tuned.
Worcester endures.
"Michael Hirsh is stepping down as the city’s medical director. Between losing him and Mattie Castiel and Etel Haxhiaj there goes like 99 percent of the city’s brain trust on its most pressing issues."
True dat.
Re: the Ballard passage, “piles” is also a British slang term for hemorrhoids, so it’s a doubly grotesque metaphor.
Re: WPD cruisers with solid blue lights on in the daytime, this was announced back in October as a test of “high visibility patrols” — https://www.worcesterma.gov/announcements/worcester-police-department-test-high-visibility-patrols
Oh yeah I meant where he was posted up - next to the bridge. The bit about the blues on was for color purposes (lol)