Nice people watch the machine grind people into meat every day. Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira's family was destroyed. She is still in ICE detention. Her daughter, Nayara (17), managed to reach her sister Clara in Brazil after running away from DCF. Karoline (13) has been missing from DCF custody for a month and was last seen being dropped off in PA. The WPD, Batista, and Petty are responsible for incredible suffering and pain that could have been prevented. Why aren't the mayor and city council raising hell about the welfare of these children? I want politicians who have the moral character to fight for all their residents and even the scales.
Regarding the unhoused folks on Green Street, averting your eyes will never be part of the solution, young or old. Maybe Moe Bergman would find a way to support the unhoused if they camped in the bike lanes on Mill Street. I loathe his presence on the City Council.
Shapegsx photo is stunning. Link to Fred Nathan media failed :-(
Finally, those ACLU / QAnon type folks threw the Worcestery Council Theater 3000 crew for a loop! You guys were full on flummoxed, breh.
Although I don’t find Councilor Kate Toomey’s tweets “riddled with misinformation,” they did leave out what she likely knew: that the Fire Chief’s August 19 letter to the City Manager ignored the real effect of M.G.L. c.148, §26I — namely, its requirement that substantially rehabilitated residential buildings with four or more units be equipped with automatic sprinklers.
In his letter, Fire Chief Martin Dyer described adopting §26I as “symbolic,” saying it would lead to “no new measurable improvement in life safety outcomes.” His formal “Suggested Council Action” was simply: Informational Communication. That framing made the matter seem like a “nothing burger.”
Yet the Supreme Judicial Court, in Holyoke Housing Authority v. State Building Code Appeals Bd., 475 Mass. 231 (2016), held that §26I applies where rehabilitation is so extensive that a structure is rendered “the equivalent of new construction, i.e., in essence as good as new.” The Court added a corollary: “that the cost of installation of automatic sprinklers ordinarily will approximate the cost of installing sprinklers in a comparable newly constructed building.”
From my reading, no other MA statute requires sprinklers in such substantial rehabs of 4+ unit residences. If that’s correct, then the Fire Chief’s letter was incomplete and misleading.
This is a vital discussion. Some argue that adopting §26I could discourage redevelopment and force a choice between vacant buildings or rented ones. Others — like Councilor Haxhiaj — argue strongly in favor, both for fire safety and to protect housing security, citing the 2024 Washington Heights fire where the displaced renters were left in shelters for up to six months.
I can see arguments on both sides, though I lean toward adopting §26I. What’s disappointing is that the Fire Chief’s letter did not lay out these underlying issues, and the Council is not debating them.
Brett, I’d like you to be specific about what you think Mayor Petty and Mo Bergman should —and can lawfully—do regarding ICE. I’ve heard the mayor object to ICE’s actions; that’s not indifference. And Worcester doesn’t have the Wu/Healey/Mamdani-level resources to square off with a federal administration bent on retribution.
On Eureka Street: yes, I wish the police had been better prepared, and I also wish the Council had been proactive to discuss a clear City protocol for ICE encounters. I wish protesters were informed that blocking streets and breaching the peace creates a duty for police to act, that putting hands on officers might be assault, that refusing lawful police orders can have consequences.
We could finger point everyone in sight, but let’s not eat our own. It’s the federal policy you object to. Instead, let’s learn and come together. Let’s not deride our local officials as cranks or worse. I’m grateful for their service. Disagreement doesn’t make them our enemy. They’re doing what they feel is best for Worcester. You disagree here or there. Discuss that with specifics. Let’s stick together — the threat to Worcester isn’t from each other unless we let ourselves be so divided.
Divide us to conquer us — that’s their playbook. Let’s close it, let’s throw that one away, Brett.
Thanks for a great column, Brett. It's difficult to understand let alone describe Worcester politics. You offered some clarity. Voting for change is the only option at this point. Personally, seeing "Petty for Mayor" signs is causing a dystopian angst that's downright creepy.
Worcester government lacks an accountable political center. I favor any discussion or movement towards Charter Reform. Joe Petty is the Mayor of Worcester.
Before reading Brett's column I listened to "Water Lawnmower" in its entirety. Hope the royalties to Kraftwork don't bankrupt the Worcester Sucks empire. Loved it!
And regarding Alta on the Row, who warranties a roof in New England with a thousand holes in it?
Nice people watch the machine grind people into meat every day. Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira's family was destroyed. She is still in ICE detention. Her daughter, Nayara (17), managed to reach her sister Clara in Brazil after running away from DCF. Karoline (13) has been missing from DCF custody for a month and was last seen being dropped off in PA. The WPD, Batista, and Petty are responsible for incredible suffering and pain that could have been prevented. Why aren't the mayor and city council raising hell about the welfare of these children? I want politicians who have the moral character to fight for all their residents and even the scales.
Exactly right!
Tremendous.
Thanks dude!
Regarding the unhoused folks on Green Street, averting your eyes will never be part of the solution, young or old. Maybe Moe Bergman would find a way to support the unhoused if they camped in the bike lanes on Mill Street. I loathe his presence on the City Council.
Shapegsx photo is stunning. Link to Fred Nathan media failed :-(
Finally, those ACLU / QAnon type folks threw the Worcestery Council Theater 3000 crew for a loop! You guys were full on flummoxed, breh.
Although I don’t find Councilor Kate Toomey’s tweets “riddled with misinformation,” they did leave out what she likely knew: that the Fire Chief’s August 19 letter to the City Manager ignored the real effect of M.G.L. c.148, §26I — namely, its requirement that substantially rehabilitated residential buildings with four or more units be equipped with automatic sprinklers.
In his letter, Fire Chief Martin Dyer described adopting §26I as “symbolic,” saying it would lead to “no new measurable improvement in life safety outcomes.” His formal “Suggested Council Action” was simply: Informational Communication. That framing made the matter seem like a “nothing burger.”
Yet the Supreme Judicial Court, in Holyoke Housing Authority v. State Building Code Appeals Bd., 475 Mass. 231 (2016), held that §26I applies where rehabilitation is so extensive that a structure is rendered “the equivalent of new construction, i.e., in essence as good as new.” The Court added a corollary: “that the cost of installation of automatic sprinklers ordinarily will approximate the cost of installing sprinklers in a comparable newly constructed building.”
From my reading, no other MA statute requires sprinklers in such substantial rehabs of 4+ unit residences. If that’s correct, then the Fire Chief’s letter was incomplete and misleading.
This is a vital discussion. Some argue that adopting §26I could discourage redevelopment and force a choice between vacant buildings or rented ones. Others — like Councilor Haxhiaj — argue strongly in favor, both for fire safety and to protect housing security, citing the 2024 Washington Heights fire where the displaced renters were left in shelters for up to six months.
I can see arguments on both sides, though I lean toward adopting §26I. What’s disappointing is that the Fire Chief’s letter did not lay out these underlying issues, and the Council is not debating them.
Brett, I’d like you to be specific about what you think Mayor Petty and Mo Bergman should —and can lawfully—do regarding ICE. I’ve heard the mayor object to ICE’s actions; that’s not indifference. And Worcester doesn’t have the Wu/Healey/Mamdani-level resources to square off with a federal administration bent on retribution.
On Eureka Street: yes, I wish the police had been better prepared, and I also wish the Council had been proactive to discuss a clear City protocol for ICE encounters. I wish protesters were informed that blocking streets and breaching the peace creates a duty for police to act, that putting hands on officers might be assault, that refusing lawful police orders can have consequences.
We could finger point everyone in sight, but let’s not eat our own. It’s the federal policy you object to. Instead, let’s learn and come together. Let’s not deride our local officials as cranks or worse. I’m grateful for their service. Disagreement doesn’t make them our enemy. They’re doing what they feel is best for Worcester. You disagree here or there. Discuss that with specifics. Let’s stick together — the threat to Worcester isn’t from each other unless we let ourselves be so divided.
Divide us to conquer us — that’s their playbook. Let’s close it, let’s throw that one away, Brett.
One final thought. Isn't a speed hump just an inverted pothole equally effective at slowing down and damaging cars?
Thanks for a great column, Brett. It's difficult to understand let alone describe Worcester politics. You offered some clarity. Voting for change is the only option at this point. Personally, seeing "Petty for Mayor" signs is causing a dystopian angst that's downright creepy.
Worcester government lacks an accountable political center. I favor any discussion or movement towards Charter Reform. Joe Petty is the Mayor of Worcester.
Before reading Brett's column I listened to "Water Lawnmower" in its entirety. Hope the royalties to Kraftwork don't bankrupt the Worcester Sucks empire. Loved it!
And regarding Alta on the Row, who warranties a roof in New England with a thousand holes in it?