Khrystian King On 2021 Worcester At-Large Council Bid

WORCESTER, MA — Incumbent Worcester At-Large Council Khrystian King won his seat in 2015 and has returned to the Council every year since. He's back this year, he says, to continue working on a host of issues ranging from food insecurity to gentrification.

King, 50, a social worker, is running in a typically large field of At-Large candidates. Ten people are running for six seats. That includes incumbents Joseph Petty and Donna Colorio, who are both running for mayor, and Moe Bergman, Kate Toomey and Matthew Wally — who is attempting a switch from the District 5 seat to At-Large.

Longtime Councilor Gary Rosen is not running for reelection this year, and four challengers are hoping to at least scoop up Rosen's seat: Guillermo Creamer, Thu Nguyen, Peter Stefan and Bill Coleman III.

We sent each candidate a questionnaire to help them make a choice in 2021. Here's what King had to say about his reelection bid:

Why are you running for City Council in 2021?

Six years ago, I was elected to help make Worcester an equitable place to live. Together we have successfully advocated for social and emotional support for WPS students, brought sports back to our middle schools, secured speed cushions to calm traffic and fought for an enhanced municipal response to work towards realizing safer and healthier neighborhoods. While the city continues to enjoy many successes we know that challenges remain.

These challenges that have been exacerbated by the pandemic include but are not limited to the following: food insecurity, the plight of the unsheltered, health disparities, gentrification, mental health resource accessibility, the wage gap, the educational gap and more. I have been blessed to serve Worcester for almost thirty years as a child protection clinical social worker, and I've served youth and families in this community through many life crises; even as I have concurrently used my unique opportunities and experience to serve Worcester as a coach, social worker, and elected official. I humbly ask for your vote on or before Nov. 2 so that I can continue the work.

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?

I will continue to be in support of the city designating 20 percent of [the city's $110 million federal stimulus payment] toward the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. I will continue to advocate that the City Administration formally establish and adopt a comprehensive strategy for municipal gentrification mitigation. Worcester needs more low-income and moderate housing options versus workforce and market race housing opportunities / development.

Further, I support inclusionary zoning as a tool to be applied as we move toward the achievement of an equitable housing balance. We as a city must work harder and smarter to achieve such balance as a means to counter resident displacement and to keep children, families, and our workforce living right here in Worcester. We can and should do more collectively.

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

ShotSpotter Connect is experimental technology, it is not evidential or verifiable. ShotSpotter Connect is not ShotSpotter, they are two distinctly separate products; ShotSpotter Connect uses predictive analytics/artificial intelligence to anticipate police response to theorized crime, while ShotSpotter does not. Evidence based research shows that predictive policing analytics and algorithms often result in racial biases and over policing of communities of color/committees of lower socioeconomic status.

Additionally, Shot Spotter Connect is not formally vetted nor is it evidenced based, tested or formally vetted with finality. Again, There is no empirical data that proves that ShotSpotter Connect actually works. The city is investing in technology that is not vetted while there are evidence-based tools out there; that could help the community successfully reimagine public safety.

Currently, the Worcester Police Department employs four or more crime analysts that do the very same work ShotSpotter Connect is automated to do. There is a strong probability and likelihood that those very positions would become fully automated; thus reducing the Worcester police force in human form. I am opposed to automation that will result in the loss of local jobs.

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

Reliable and frequent public transit is a necessity for Worcester if we want to realize our full growth potential. Fare-free will help folks improve upon their social mobility, infuse the local economy, while improving upon the environment at the same time.

I unsuccessfully attempted to use the bus this summer going from Green Street to the Village. Unfortunately, I missed the bus twice that day and given the wait time for the next bus I ended up getting a ride home.

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

I’d like to see two more city pools built using one time ARPA funding. Public swimming pools have been proven to increase safety in communities, allow for social access, ADA approved pools allow, improved health outcomes for the elderly, provide educational opportunities, swimming lessons, lifeguard training, creates jobs, encourages fitness and more. It’s time to bring back our pools. One city-owned and maintained pool for the second-largest city in New England is just not enough. I’d also like to see more family/adult recreation venues such as King’s, Top Golf, Apex in Marlborough, the old Jillian’s, places to play pool, etc.

More Worcester At-Large City Council election 2021 coverage:

• Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty On 6th Term, What's Next For City
• 5 Questions For Moe Bergman, Worcester At-Large Council Candidate
• Kate Toomey On 9th Run For Worcester City Council
• 5 Questions For Worcester At-Large Council Candidate Bill Coleman
• 5 Questions For Matt Wally, Worcester At-Large Council Candidate