Kate Toomey On 9th Run For Worcester City Council

WORCESTER, MA — If Worcester At-Large Councilor Kate Toomey wins back her seat in 2021, she could become the longest-serving member of the Council.

Toomey (not to be confused with Worcester County Register of Deeds Kathryn Toomey) first one an At-Large seat in 2005, the same year as Mayor Joseph Petty. Gary Rosen was also an At-Large seat that year, but he's stepping down after the conclusion of his term.

Prior to becoming a Councilor, Toomey was elected to the School Committee in 1999, 2001 and 2003, which makes her one of the longest-serving elected officials in Worcester, period. She's back in 2021, she says, to continue working on the pandemic recovery, among other items.

We sent each candidate a questionnaire in all Worcester Council races questionnaires to help voters choose on Election Day. Here's what Toomey had to say about his run in 2021:

Why are you running for City Council in 2021?

My name is Kate Toomey and I am running for reelection to the Worcester City Council because I am committed to continuing the work I have been a part of to make positive change in Worcester. Covid has had an incredibly negative impact in our city and especially our lower economically stable communities and our communities of color. We need more adult education and training, so we can get people back to work, so they can secure their housing. We need to ensure our children have good teachers and schools. We need to continue to build upon our infrastructure systems including transportation. We need to ensure that our city employees reflect the diverse community in which we live. We need to ensure that our public safety departments are trained to address the issues affecting our community with addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues.

I commit to advocating for these issues for our residents. I bring a depth and breadth of experience to the City Council that many do not have. In my private life, I have been an educator, involved in the senior care field and in the addiction treatment field. I am also an entrepreneur.

As a former School Committee member, I understand the importance of great schools and the needs of our students. As a City Councilor, I have been Chair of Traffic and Parking, Education, Public Works and Public Safety. I understand the need for technology as our city grows, the importance of a walkable city, and the need to ensure we provide a green Worcester for our children’s future. I also want a city that ensures that no matter what neighborhood you are from, no matter race, religion, ethnicity, or gender, that Worcester is a place you can succeed in and raise a family.

I am proud of Worcester. 116 different countries are represented by our residents who speak over 80 different native languages. I have worked to make sure that our city reaches out to minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses so they have support to expand and access state and municipal contracts. I have advocated for our local restaurants and small businesses during the difficult times we have had during Covid. I also know that we need to ensure our residents have access to good jobs to support their families. Encouraging new business growth helps all of us homeowners as well.

There are now hundreds of housing units planned near Polar Park. What does Worcester have to do to ensure that these developments 1) don't overcrowd the neighborhood and 2) don't push out lower-income residents?

Density is an important element of residential development in downtown neighborhoods. Diversity of housing stock, inclusive of low-income, workforce and market-rate housing creates a healthy balance for the community. If we had only low-income, there is less disposable income to create jobs or drive investment and creation of small businesses to cater to the needs of the neighborhood. Our economic development Staff has done a great job of attracting developers and understanding the elements of what makes a great neighborhood. Research shows that a critical mass of businesses, a mix of uses, an evening nightlife, a residential base, parking options, gathering spaces and walkable pedestrian thoroughfares are all successful elements to have. Parking is something we need to continue to tweak, including alternatives to cars, ride-share options, available motorized scooters, bikes, etc. so that valuable space is used for people, not cars. Public transportation, especially a neighborhood loop, and options for satellite parking all should be considered.

The City Council voted 8-3 in March to adopt ShotSpotter Connect. Why did you vote the way you did?

I voted for ShotSpotter Connect because it was a trial program that offered us an extra mile for Shot Spotter. I listened to the police department about why they wanted to use this, read about the program and asked questions. Since it was to be a trial program, I felt it was worth trying. We are soon to receive a report on the first quarter, and I am heartened by what I have heard anecdotally. There was a robbery at a bank on Park Ave a few weeks ago, and because the officer was in his "box," he was able to respond in 7 seconds. We will continue to monitor the program and I look forward to further reports.

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

I believe we should continue with the fare-free model, as long as we have identified stable funding sources. I rode on a bus a few years ago, but the accessibility to busses in my neighborhood has dramatically decreased over the past two decades. I must cross Route 20 to get to a bus, very dangerous to do.

What's one thing that's missing in Worcester that you would like to see added?

I can’t pick just one! I would like to see a return to retail, but not chain stores. I would love a French restaurant, neighborhood loop trolleys and more flowers and trees in all our communities.