On Mon. Oct. 20, Democrats of Clark University (DCU) and Students Defending American Democracy (SDAD) hosted a forum to meet District four Worcester City Councilor candidates, incumbent Luis Ojeda and challenger Ted Kostas. The event was open to the public, all Clark students, faculty and staff and live-streamed in preparation for the upcoming election on Nov. 4.
The forum was held in Tilton with around 70 attendees. DCU tabled in the back, encouraging people to register to vote in Worcester, arguing you should vote “where you sleep.” Flashcards were offered for attendees to write questions for the candidates.
Ojeda, an educator of 40 years in Worcester public schools and a graduate of UMass Amherst, says he has been serving Worcester for years without “realizing he has been doing the work of a city councilor,” and he wants to continue doing the work. He wants to revitalize Worcester and keep Worcester graduates in the city by retaining “golden pipelines” from college to a career.
Kostas, a businessman in the food service industry and a graduate of Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University, says that, although involved in politics, he’s not a politician. He says nothing is getting done in Worcester politics, and he wants to change that.
Both candidates are graduates of the Worcester public school system. Kostas aims to review what’s being taught in the curriculum and offer free tutoring to students. If elected, he would also focus on opening a shelter for veterans and supporting food kitchens.
Ojeda says Worcester public school students, although they are working hard, learn in unfavorable conditions. He wants to fix rampant facility issues, such as a lack of heating. He also wants to invest further in community organizations and after-school programs and partner with schools to provide students with food on Fridays for the weekend.
Ojeda is currently helping decide between three locations for a winter shelter for unhoused people. He wants to improve unhoused people’s mental health and expand affordable housing. He is working with All Saints Church to open a full-sized community kitchen, and he says former students of his are willing to volunteer time to cook food.
Both candidates reject cooperating with ICE. Kostas says they will not work with them because the council deals with “municipal business only” and when they work in Worcester, “they’re here for a purpose” and that purpose is not the city council. While Ojeda says he will not work for ICE because he wants to support his residents.
Ojeda says ICE only reaches out to the Worcester government when they need something, and the Worcester city council is not there to support ICE.
In light of the Worcester Police Report by the Department of Justice, Ojeda says the Worcester Police Department (WPD) needs more accountability, transparency, and oversight. He trusts the new chief, and the council has implemented new DEI training for both the Worcester Fire Department and the Worcester police. Additionally, he wants to create de-escalation training for officers.
Kostas thinks that, since Massachusetts already has a state review board, there should not be a civilian-run review board at the municipal level.
As the drug problem in Worcester continues, Kostas would work with the WPD, “which [he] support[s] fully” to try harder in neighborhoods and streets to find the people selling the drugs. Ojeda wants to keep offering rehabilitation support to those struggling with addiction, even if some might refuse. He wants to expand community youth programs to help protect kids from future drug abuse.
Both Kostas and Ojeda are worried about rising unaffordability and rent prices. Ojeda wants to implement rent control, and he wants to build more affordable housing when the funding is available. Kostas wants to increase the supply by building more apartments to match the demand for housing.
Although potholes remain a highly pertinent issue, Ojeda says they only have $150,000 for road repairs, which is not enough. Kostas agrees it is not enough and says he would “twist a few arms” to gain more funding.
Both candidates want to extend the end date for Worcester’s fare-free bus system and want to update the bus routes to reach more places; Kostas also wants to raise the frequency of buses.
Voting is Nov. 4, and the closest polling location to Clark is Saint Peter’s Church at 929 Main Street, Worcester, MA. As Democrats of Clark University say, “Vote where you sleep.”
