Johanna Hampton-Dance On Run For Worcester D2 Seat

WORCESTER, MA — Voters in perhaps Worcester's most diverse City Council district will have a choice in 2021 between a three-term incumbent and a newcomer.

Johanna Hampton-Dance is challenging Candy Mero-Carlson in 2021 for a host of reasons — chief among them a lack of diversity on the Council and the ballooning cost of housing as Worcester experiences a development boom (a majority of it in District 2, which includes Polar Park and the core of the downtown area).

This will be Mero-Carlson's first general election challenge since she won the D2 seat in 2015 following more than a decade of representation by Philip Palmieri. Hampton-Dance entered the 2021 election early, way back in June 2020, acknowledging that she would have an uphill battle against Mero-Carlson. At the time, the nation was experiencing an upheaval following the George Floyd murder, and Hampton-Dance felt the sitting Councilor wasn't taking an active enough role in examining police reform.

Worcester Patch asked both Mero-Carlson and Hampton-Dance to answer a candidate questionnaire ahead of the Nov. 2 election. Here's what Hampton-Dance said:

Why did you decide to run in 2021?

I love Worcester, but there are some things that need to change. As a lifelong Worcester resident, I grew up attending Worcester Public Schools, and as an adult I have worked to make my city a better place. I decided to run in 2021 because there is a lack of diversity on the current council that has dominated over the years and for too long, too many people in our city (and my district) have been ignored. I’m running because I know that the city needs to change and invest in the people of Worcester — in taking care of our vulnerable populations, the elderly, the youth, and unhoused neighbors who need our support.

Over the years, I have worked with my neighbors to make meals for the unhoused in the community. I’ve advocated for the city to take better care of our elderly and plow our roads to ensure safety for all. I know the value of my local corner shop to my community and believe in the power of local-owned businesses. As District 2 City Councilor, I will use my experience and expertise to be a new voice on the City Council and be a microphone for our community.

Worcester has seen a lot of new development in recent years, a lot of it in District 2. But what parts of the district outside the downtown and lakeside areas do you think need to be redeveloped?

Many people in the city are prospering as companies rebuild over vacant industrial land, however as this revitalization occurs there are many others who are left behind or at risk of being pushed out by rising rents and lack of a social safety net. I would be a voice for those who are negatively affected by the ongoing real-estate development projects and ensure they are able to share in the rising prosperity in our city.

If I had to choose, although all of our neighborhoods are important, I would say Bell Hill is in need of immediate care. Bell Hill is located on Route 9 which is one of our major roads in the city and all of Massachusetts. People speed along this thoroughfare as it transitions around the neighborhood and this causes many accidents in the area. Bell Hill could give drivers and pedestrians a great first entrance into our city, but currently, this first impression is filled with congestion, litter, and dangerous intersections. I also think Lincoln Street is in need of care, as are many other streets and neighborhoods throughout the district. My goal will be to treat each neighborhood with equal care and attention.

D2 also contains some of the city's main roads, including Belmont, Shrewsbury and Plantation. What are some of your transportation priorities in the district?

Transportation around the city should be free. Public buses not only help ease traffic congestion in our district and city but also can be better for the environment and our local air quality. According to the 2019 Worcester Regional Research Bureau’s "The Implications of a Fare-Free WRTA" report, "In 2018, farebox revenue made up 14 percent of the WRTA’s total operating expenses." Fees and fares are barriers and disincentives for ridership and with such a low revenue from the farebox, now is the time to continue the Zero Fare system and make the investment to ensure the city has free, reliable, public transportation for all. The pandemic showed how low-income workers without transportation relied on the WRTA to get to and from work, home, and grocery stores. As the city gets more congested with cars and visitors to Polar Park, free buses can be part of the solution to alleviate congestion. Buses should be frequent and accessible, and I support making ZeroFare permanent because making the WRTA free for all means we will be a more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming city.

Worcester has seen a renewed debate about police spending since summer 2020. What's your view of the police department budget, and do you think some of its resources should be redirected to social services?

As District 2 City Councilor, I will champion a return to real community policing. We need police to continue to walk a beat in the neighborhoods and get to know the residents who make up this great district. Having the police better connected to the communities they police will lead to safer places for all of us to live.

I support both a reform platform and a stable budget for the WPD. Some of the reforms needed by the WPD are extensive, like recurring training in nonviolent de-escalation and less reliance on weapons. I feel that the budget the police receive is sufficient, but the police do not need more than what is already allocated to them. Just like any other department that has a budget the police are no different and need to work with what they are given.

I believe the funding for increased social services, mental health treatment, and neighborhood improvements can come from other sources, such as better tax assessments of commercial properties, Community Preservation Act funding, and state and federal grants.

As a City Councilor, what do you think your role is in stopping or slowing the climate crisis?

As a City Councilor, I plan to work closely with organizations fighting climate change and promoting the Green New Worcester Deal. I would advocate for any new developments seeking special permits, zoning changes, or tax increment financing to provide the smallest carbon footprint possible, and I would make any approvals or benefits contingent on meeting the targets agreed upon.

Additionally, I would work with organizations like Sunrise Worcester that have a clear plan for the city. As a city we need to listen, take note, and act, by helping to execute what needs to be done to preserve our land and quality of life. Climate crisis issues harm our community every day and cause chronic health issues like asthma which most affect our low-income communities. The longer we take to move forward on the implementation of a green Worcester the more damage is being done. Action is my plan, and with every action before the City Council I will ensure environmental justice is part of the discussion.

If you win in November, what will be your priority (or priorities) coming into office in 2022?

We currently have multiple public health crises happening simultaneously, including mental health and addiction treatment in addition to the larger twin pandemics of covid-19 and systemic racism. My first priority will be to address the housing concerns and crisis in our city. I have been a strong advocate for more affordable housing and I know the importance of keeping families in their homes. Although new developments have been built, only a certain number of units are subsidized. This subsidized number of units is not nearly enough to make a dent in our unhoused population. I will listen to constituents and their concerns and put into action a plan that is people-fueled. I will fight to make sure funding is going into the appropriate programs that support equitable change for our youth and all of those who need someone on the frontlines working for them.

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