August 26, 2010

Letter to the Editor

Despicable and disgraceful does not begin to explain the situation described in the front-page story: 23 million taxpayer dollars, storefronts totally vacant as well as many apartments, now with back taxes owed and the developer made all his money up front (“Low-income rate of return/‘Upscale’ Hadley Apartments project now swimming in debt,” Sunday Telegram, Aug. 15). 

There also is the $36 million flooded-out May Street project by ex-City Councilor Stephen Patton, who is now a developer for Worcester Common Ground. They were granted millions for 5 Piedmont St. Again, first-floor storefronts are totally vacant as well as many apartments. Now there’s the Chevalier Furniture plans by Winn Construction, a politically connected company loaded with millions in tax credits, i.e., our tax dollars. 

These projects alone represent over $100 million. With so many vacant buildings, how was this allowed to happen? If this is pork, one thing is for sure: That pork is our hard-earned tax dollars. 

Let’s let U.S. Rep. James McGovern know how we feel in November, and any other politicians involved in this outrageous situation. 

KENNETH BENOIT 

Worcester 

4 comments:

Jahn said...

Christ almighty, I am falling off the wagon here already.. 2nd post today here . They'll have me back at Beechhill if they find out.

So I was thinking about the announcment of the FBI reopening their Worc office after a 17 year hiatus. In the same paper I then read about 2 shootings in the city in the same day. God, as Bill wood say....yew cant make thsi stuff up.

FBI's alleged rational for re openinng in Worc......that it's centrally located. DUH!!!!!! Even a St Johns boy's logic would be quick to retort......"but Worc has always been centrally located?" So the reel reeson they're comin;' back to Woo is???

Hey about this....Worc Common Grd gives em free rent at Main St and Piedmont in their newly built monstrosity. I mean it will save the taxpayers money b/c it will be a looong time b4 they fill that place completely. Plus the FBI saves car mileage b/c they will be located right smack in the middle of where they'll be making most/all of their arrests.

Maybe the CDC's & FBI are now expecting a Woo crime wave given all the NOLO housing still awaiting tenants as well as that still on the drawing board.

The no parking feature of Worc Coommn Grds new office space actaully is an enhanced safety feature as the gang bangers will have no place to pull up in front and pump bullets into it....drive by will be the only option and dammit u gotta be quite the marksmen when youre riding in a moving vehilce trying to make an accurate shot.

Whitey ulger...??? could he be holed up in Main South?? Stay tuned.

I still predict Worc Common Grd will make a move via the City to have the city take Piedmont Alley (Lane?) via E.D. Eminent 'Dough'main

signman said...

WOW!

Steve Foley said...

It seems like someone likes affordable housing less than Bill:

Suspicious fire at affordable housing project

At The Beech said...

So I am reading Nick K in Sundays T&G re: the GB'ing ceremony for the looong awaited Citty Sq II.

I thought I read in the article the new street to be punched through to Union Station will be called Mercantile St., yet Front St as it currently is situated will remain Front St? Is my conclusion correct that we'll essentially have one roadway about a 1/4 mile long from Union station to Main St and it will have two names? Mercantile St to the east and still Front St to the west. I have to be misunderstanding this?

In the same Article Nick goes on to question that fact the free parking garage to be built and given to CITY Sq II on the taxpayers dime will not be built until later or possibly in the final phase of the entire project. IS this why only 1/2 of the current parking garage is being razed in the 1st phase? I assume UNUM will need it as parking space? Will the entire old garage be razed once the new one is built under the nre Front St?

Hey Jahn you moron!!!!!!!! How would the city take its own street (Piedmont Ct.) by eminent domain. Clown !!!!!!!! I think you mean that maybe the state would take it by eminent domain and then hand it off to Steven Patton-Trump in the interestest of public safety, a.k.a. as "municipal" parking facilities with special parking privileges for Worc Common Grounds new Piedmont St edifice