Who are they and what do they make?
A few people have asked me recently both here on RBDN and in the real world where they can find out things like the number of people the City of Worcester employes or what they get paid. There’s no easy answer to that with out a course on public records requests, but a quick and dirty solution has been available for awhile from the Boston Herald.
Have fun kids.
Worcester Payroll
Original post by Brendan
The street vendor war continues
The continued discussion of how to regulate Worcester street vendors Tuesday may have been the most exciting City Council meeting Worcester has had in some time, but not in a good way. It was a ridiculous exercise in just how juvenile, provincial and poorly informed some of our elected and appointed officials are. In particular, Mayor Lukes and Councilor Palmieri went out of their way to embarrass themselves and the City of Worcester. The eye rolling, face making and insults hurled at colleagues and constituents, you have to wonder if these two even realize people actually watch the meetings at home. Foolishness aside, the opposing armies in this debate have defined themselves and in effect, speak for themselves. It’s actually quite interesting when you look at the lists, as they break out into rather obvious personality types.
Representing Team Bat Shit Insane:
Mayor Konnie Lukes
At-Large Councilor Joseph Petty
District 2 Councilor […]
Original post by Brendan
A barroom full of nonsense
Here are just a few of the completely nonsensical arguments laid out in todays Telegram and Gazette by Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme regarding the cities new and ‘improved’ police detail policy for drinking establishments.
A bar or club may pay a couple of hundred dollars for one police officer to work a detail for four hours, but the city can face hundreds of thousands of dollars in liability if the officer has to use force to subdue an unruly patron and/or is injured while doing so, the chief said yesterday. The new policy should address that issue as well, he said.
So the obvious and immediate result of this policy will be either rebate checks to city taxpayers or increased funding to other city services? I can’t wait to see the savings during next years budget hearings.
“Think about it from this perspective; an officer is hired for $200 and the […]
Original post by Brendan
Th-th-th-that’s Alta folks!
This week Worcester Magazine reports the closing of the Alta Café at the hands of the Worcester License Commission. A mixed blessing for the neighborhood to be sure, as they’re slowly running out of people to blame common bad behavior and terrible public safety oversight on.
As expected, local curmudgeon Billy Breault wins the “I’ll eat my hat” award with this line:
“I think it will make for a much safer area.”
Glad you went on the record with that Billy, now when the area is exactly the same a year from now we can completely discount you and your inane opinions.
link
Original post by Brendan
Time to meet Worcester’s Street Vendors
Here are just a few of the individuals Mayor Lukes and Councilor Palmeri insist pose a serious threat to the city of Worcester.
Original post by Brendan
Maybe you could pave over Elm Park?
You just know you’ve got a winner on your hands when a newspaper story dated Tuesday, July 22, 2008, starts with the line
In her first neighborhood walk this year, Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes and a small group of officials took a walk on Highland Street yesterday…
Someone please tell me they’re working off the fiscal calendar.
This reads like nobody involved has been on Highland Street for 15 years. While mention is made of both the Boynton and the Sole Proprietor expanding their already huge parking lots and Councilor Haller is working on a valet plan involving Elm Park School the merchants involved agree on one thing:
But merchants and officials agreed the main sticking point for Highland Street is its lack of a municipal parking lot.
Is that a joke? 40 Highland St anyone? That lot could definitely fit more cars if it was re-lined and it’s 600ft […]
Original post by Brendan
Not that anyone is keeping score
There’s an article in todays T&G about an art heist from the semi-permanent public art installation at Elm Park in Worcester. While the story is full of interesting bits of information such as Rob Antonelli, Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, having to explain to his staff that they were to look out for the sculptures after they noticed, but failed to report one missing. Makes one wonder what, exactly, his staff thought their job was up until this point. But it’s one magical quote from Assistant City Manager Julie Jacobson regarding the boosted statue really takes flight on it’s own:
“It’s upsetting that it didn’t even make it 48 hours,” Ms. Jacobson said yesterday. “This isn’t just an attack on a piece of art. It’s an attack on the whole community.”
Actually, what’s upsetting is the Assistant City Manager doesn’t seem to realize the art works were installed […]
Original post by Brendan
Thank you for flying Air Zoback
Most of you are familiar with Scott Zoback from the pages of Worcester Magazine. Now familiarize yourself with Scot Zoback as a guy who got stuck on a flight where a naked guy had to be subdued by a professional soccer team. Here’s the email dispatch from the field:
From: szoback@gmail.com
Subject: Nudity on planes is for lovers. Only.
Date: July 19, 2008 12:13:23 PM EDT
To: buckpaxton@gmail.com
You guys remember that scene in “Airplane” when the naked chick runs in front of the camera with her boobs all-a-bouncin? Great times.
Except when it happens in real life.
I was on a flight from Boston to LA yesterday that was already pretty interesting—the couple next to me had gotten off the flight before it started after the woman freaked out that she couldn’t fly, hyperventilated, cried, and bolted off the plane. Her husband debated with […]
Original post by Brendan