5 Questions For: Richard Cipro, Worcester D1 Council Candidate

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester residents living in City Council District 1 will have three choices on the September primary ballot with incumbent Councilor Sean Rose facing his first challenge since he won the seat in 2017.

Worcester Patch has asked each of the three candidates — which also includes Richard Cipro and David Shea Jr. — to answer a questionnaire to help voters get to know them better.

Cipro, 55, is a Worcester police sergeant and president of the IBPO 504 union, which represents ranking members of the department.

Here's what he says about his 2021 City Council run:

Why are you running for City Council in 2021?

Worcester is truly a special place to call home. As a life-long Worcester and District 1 resident, I am very passionate about the direction of our city. As I have watched and listened to our City Leaders words and actions, as well as walking our diverse District 1 neighborhoods, I hear the growing worries that the culture within the City Council has become too divisive, creating fear and anxiety, and not fully representing the needs of our citizens. The current District Councilor is not providing the representation that District1 residents deserve. As a Worcester resident, employee, Father, Grandfather, as well as an Army Colonel I know I have the attributes required to be an effective council member. Those include problem solving, the ability to provide viable solutions to complex and challenging issues, being a team player and most importantly Proven Leadership.

District 1 demands a Councilor that is skillful in establishing positive working relationships with our RESIDENTS, other council members, community groups, and business representatives. I have devoted my life to public service. I will put my knowledge, expertise, and energy to work for our city and specifically District 1.

A lot of development in Worcester has been focused on the downtown and Polar Park area. What parts of District 1 do you think are in need of redevelopment, and are you focused more on jobs or housing?

I agree, much focus has been devoted to Polar Park leaving neighborhoods feeling alienated. District 1 does not have these huge swaths of land for large business, there are many small business owners in and around the district. As far as redeveloping, The Old Greendale Mall and the Cinema North will soon have new tenants providing taxes and hopefully job opportunities. The Mid West Boylston Street area I believe needs some assistance in attracting business, I am speaking about the Old D’Angelo’s and Barbers Crossing area, two key lots that could be developed. However, let us not forget the current business owners and what they should expect from the city. We should have weekly street sweepers up and down the corridor once or twice a week like Boston provides. Owners could sweep debris in front of their business into the streets on those sweep days. City Trash receptacles should be placed in areas and beautification projects of flowers etc. should be done in and around all business, not just those in certain areas of the city. This is not something out of the ordinary that I am suggesting, as the city does this in downtown and around the Polar Park. This is something I will be asking for if elected.

Jobs would be the priority. A well-paying Job will lead residents being able to afford housing. The city is above the state mandated affordable housing criteria, which is a wonderful thing we should always strive to exceed the standard. Maybe we could move the needle a little more, but what we need are jobs. We need to get more business into the city. Without well-paying jobs residents will not be able to afford housing and all the other elements that come along with home ownership or renting. Job Creating Businesses will definitely help to keep residential property taxes low, making renting apartments or owning a home more affordable.

The City Council voted 8-3 in March to adopt ShotSpotter Connect. How would you have voted and why?

I would have voted in favor of this innovative technology. First, it was for a PILOT Program for the connect portion of Shot-Spotter, so nothing was permanent. Secondly, $250,000 although not insignificant is a reasonable sum of money for a PILOT Program, as it also included expansion or the Police Departments overall shot-spotter capabilities, adding several towers. Shot Spotter itself has proven to be vital in the city’s fight against gun violence. There have been at least 23 victims of gun violence this year and approximately 35 guns taken off the streets, much of this due to success of shot-spotter. The connect portion just allows Police to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively, by focusing on areas where crime is occurring. It is proving to be an effective tool. We must embrace modern technologies that help to detect and combat criminal elements in our neighborhoods and city. Criminals are using technologies and we must keep pace. This item eventually passed, even though the current councilor voted against this. If he had his way the city would be less safe and secure.

What's your stance on making WRTA buses free permanently? Following up on that, when was the last time you rode a WRTA bus?

So that last time I rode a city bus was in my teen years. I would frequently take the number 30 from the summit and go downtown or to a friend or relatives’ house. It cost me 30 cents to do this.

Overall, our Local, State and Federal Transportation nodes need significant improvement. I am amazed as I have traveled that I can take a train from England to France in a few hours but must use my car to move from MA to NH. The nation needs more investment in efficient modes of transportation. That being said, I do believe WRTA bus should be free as long as local tax levy funds are not used to support this. There are Federal or State Transportation funds and grants that can be earmarked to accomplish this.

What's your favorite spot in D1 and why?

This is a difficult question to answer. Being a lifelong District 1 resident, I have many favorite areas. The neighborhood where I grew up right across from St Christopher's Church, my time at Norrback Elementary, hanging at the Summit or Slattery’s Spa with my friends, learning to swim at the YMCA, my years at St Peter-Marian, or swimming in Indian Lake all bring back great memories. If I had to pick one area it would have to be Kendrick area, specifically Joe Schwartz Little League. I played there in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, Minor League through Babe Ruth. In fact, my father was the president of the Board of Directors there in the late 1970’s. During the season we would always be at the field, whether we were playing a game or not. Many of the relationships and friendships developed during that time and continue today.