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Jen Niles's avatar

Thank you for what you do! I am not sure how I discovered your newsletter but it's been giving me an inside look at city politics that I never would have encountered otherwise. I had been eagerly awaiting your impressions of Tuesday's meeting, because I was there and had to sit out on the hall, having found my usual balcony perch already full. Sorry you are (unsurprisingly) burnt out at the moment. Hope you have a relaxing holiday anyway!

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Bill Shaner's avatar

Thank you! Past couple weeks have been quite a lot haha. I love hearing that from readers that's exactly what I'm trying to do. There is sooo much background and inside baseball you need to understand and local press just doesn't get into all that historically

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Ann Toomey-Doane's avatar

So disappointed in the Worcester PD, Council and Town Manager for not recognizing the cancer controlling the Worcester Police Department. Shameful! I guess the PD controls the shots! Women are always dispensable. Trump would be proud!

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Bill Shaner's avatar

We're heading toward a sort of inflection moment where I think we're going to find out whether or not city hall even /can/ reform the police department yeah

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Amy Ebbeson's avatar

Thank you, and also curse you! Mostly thank you- I was there and I was terrified. I said my name and where I live to that room full of testosterone emitting frat boys with guns. I was playing in my mind what I would do when I got arrested, where was an escape route from this room (there wasn't one) and how I might need to jump in front of Etel if that rabid dog got loose. It's so validating that you felt the same.

The curse you part is for being so damn validating- I have been telling myself every day since then that I am being dramatic, I'm safe, nothing will happen to me. After reading your deep dive, I am even more afraid. It’s so beyond a few extremely scary bad apples. The message was loud and clear- the police are going to continue to do whatever the hell they want, and if you’ve got something to say about it- good luck to you.

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Bill Shaner's avatar

I'm happy I was able to validate how you're feeling... it IS scary. And we need to be clear eyed about that

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Tom W's avatar

DARVO DARVO DARVO

Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender

I’m relatively new to Worcester so only know so much about the WPD’s deep rot but thank you for insight into their truly disturbing collective response to any attempt at reform.

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Seanie D's avatar

When you mentioned Ferrando ordering the cops to leave on the stream, my first thought was that it sounded like a bizarro version of this scene from “Malcom X”: https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxqEfk_DhiArfdMCdz2ozHoysgn9UFp32Q

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Bill Shaner's avatar

Damn. GREAT call. That's exactly the sorta discipline we're talking about here

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Gino Nuzzolilo's avatar

Great piece 👏

Absolutely nailed it!

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