Worcester City Council Escalates its Contempt for Residents

The Worcester City Council continued its assault on resident participation in city government, prohibiting 13 individuals waiting to comment on items on the city council agenda via phone or internet on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

City Council rules provide for 30 minutes of comments from the public at the opening of every meeting. Until this two-year session of the city council, which ends at the end of this calendar year, Mayor Joe Petty allowed all residents waiting to speak to do so.

Some councilors called for Petty to follow the rules more closely during this council session. In response, Petty has raised motions to suspend the rules to allow all those waiting to speak to do so. Each of those votes passed, allowing all residents waiting to speak to do so. That changed on Tuesday night.

When Petty called for the vote to suspend the rules and continue allowing residents to speak on Tuesday, Russell, Bergman, and Councilor Donna Colorio voted against allowing the remaining residents to speak. Suspending the rules requires eight votes. The vote was 7-3.

Russell did not run for reelection to represent District 3. Colorio’s bid for reelection as a councilor at-large fell short. Both of their tenures end at the end of the year. Preliminary results of the election show Bergman with a 23-vote lead over Jermoh Kamara for the sixth councilor at-large seat. A recount of the results began on Thursday, Nov. 20.

The crackdown on resident participation in city government began in October 2024, in response to a resident petition with 1,500 co-signers. That resolution sought a resolution of the city council, which called for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza, release of hostages on all sides, resumption of humanitarian aid, and the federal government to follow federal laws.

From the time the city council meeting ended on Oct. 8, 2024, to the deadline for resident petition submissions for the next meeting on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 4:15 PM, the city council wholly changed its interpretation of its rules without a vote of its members to change the rules, and without previous notice. Those changes led to denying the resident petitioners access for their petition on the Gaza War to be heard.

While the city council cannot mandate any action in the Middle East, a resolution of the council expresses the will of the elected representative body of the city and signals the municipality’s position to federal representation.

Those petitioners attended the city council meeting on Oct. 15, 2024, where Petty ruled they may not speak to the item prevented from appearing on the agenda. In response, the petitioners engaged in protest chants, preventing the council from conducting other business.

After receiving a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts, which suggested the city council engaged in viewpoint discrimination, the council allowed the petition to be heard on Jan. 7. The ACLU based part of its determination on an item brought by Bergman, which the council voted to approve in October 2023, which condemned the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.

The ACLU also noted that former city solicitor David Moore wrote to the council that it had a long history of taking up petitions and resolutions on issues outside of its direct control.

Since that time, the city solicitor or city clerk has prohibited petitions from residents on matters outside of the areas of parking, crosswalks, speed humps, and similar areas. Sources inside City Hall tell This Week in Worcester that this is at the direct instruction of Petty.

As This Week in Worcester previously reported in September, rejections of resident petitions increased 715 percent from the beginning of 2025 through August 12, when compared to a previous report provided to the city council.

In 1849, Worcester incorporated as a city after previously operating as a town. Starting from the first meeting of the Worcester City Council, it accepted resident petitions. In 1950, when the city changed its governing system to the city manager model, the subjects on which the council would accept resident petitions expanded to a wide variety of policy-related areas.

That changed with the 2024 to 2025 council, which defied 175 years of history and precedent to destroy the tradition of resident participation in city government.

The reality of the situation related to the Gaza petition is quite simple. Petty’s six-member majority on the council holds a range of pro-Israeli positions. The Israeli campaign of collective punishment carried out during the two-year war drove that support among Americans to its lowest point in decades. Their traditionally safe position became controversial. They tried to dodge the question and being forced to put their views on the record, which most Americans no longer share, according to some polling,

The broader attack on resident participation appears similarly related. The city council majority fears taking votes on tough issues. That leads to paralysis in the council, and an unwillingness to act.

Statements by Petty and Bergman during the election debates highlighted this. When moderators asked Bergman about the accomplishments of the council during this term, he mentioned accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Petty also gave a similar answer.

The ordinance for ADUs remained in effect a very short time, before the state house passed statewide authorization. The city had to rewrite much of the ordinance, as the state went well beyond the weak ordinance passed by the councilors.

This paralysis is no more evident than in relation to the U.S. Department of Justice pattern and practice investigation of the Worcester Police Department. Over 11 months have passed since the release of the report. The council has taken no substantive action. Enough members of this council have stated they would not vote for any oversight of the police department. The next council won’t be any better.

We saw the motivation for this total lack of willingness to protect residents of the city during the last weeks of the campaign, with police union officials campaigning for candidates who will allow the lawlessness to continue.

Petty now takes the position that Rule 2 of the council rules allows councilors to put any item they want on the agenda. However, the rule doesn’t say that.

The rule lists many rights of councilors within the council, but the relevant portion says:

Every member of the city council shall possess and may exercise on an equal basis with every other member all such rights, duties and responsibilities as are vested in the office of city councilor by the city charter and the constitutions and laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States of America. Every member of the city council shall have the right: a) To place items on the city council calendar of agenda items as proposed orders and proposed resolutions;”

Nowhere in the rules does it indicate that councilors are exempt from Rule 11:

“Rule 11. Regarding Propriety of Items

No petition, paper, order, communication or report of any description which deals with personalities, or with matters not within the general supervision 7 and/or relating to city government, or does not specifically state the business to be discussed, shall be placed on any city council agenda by the city clerk. The city clerk, with the assistance of the city solicitor, shall determine when an item is not appropriate for placement on the city council agenda.”

The mayor and his majority coalition are using the rules as a weapon, changing their meaning as convenient for them. It is dishonest and undemocratic.

At the time the petition on the war in Gaza was heard, in January 2025, the mayor said that the council “made a mistake” in taking up Bergman’s resolution in opposition to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. Now, his position is that councilors can put anything they want on the agenda, while he actively shuts out all resident petitions unless related to traffic and parking issues.

I looked through the minutes of each Worcester City Council agenda since 2006. During this time, items related to national or international issues were rare. When placed on the council agenda, they almost always came by way of a city councilor.

Residents are not the problem.

Oct. 9, 2007: Request City Auditor and the Worcester Retirement System to divest the retirement system of any investment in the Sudan. (Perotto, Smith, Palmieri, Rushton) Motion Perotto – Request to add the entire Council as authors to the Order Motion Haller – Further, request that the letters of support from Congressman McGovern and State Senators Augustus and Chandler be entered as part of the Council’s official record. Motion Lukes to amend by adding – because of the genocide occurring in that country. Mayor Lukes suspended the rules to allow the following speakers at the request of Councilor Haller: Joseph O’Brien, Worcester resident Sudanese Worcester resident Michael Benedetti, Worcester resident Order adopted, as amended on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent)

Oct. 28, 2008: Gordon Davis on behalf of Worcester PeaceWorks request the City Council of the City of Worcester to go on record in favor of immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of US military from Iraq which would result in a relief of the tax burden placed on the City’s Veterans Affairs Office (placed on file)

Sept. 27, 2016: Motion Lukes – Suspension of Rules – Request City Council vote to oppose the transfer of the internet control by the United States and request our congressional delegation including Congressman James McGovern oppose the U .S. transfer of the internet control to the United Nations. Further , request City Council request our congressional delegation notify the other members of congress of our opposition as a City to the transfer, and do so by email. Councilor Toomey moved to amend the order to read as follows: Request City Council provide the City’s congressional delegation with a letter stating that they support the opposition of the U.S. transfer of internet control to the United Nations . Order adopted as amended.

Sept. 25, 2018: RESOLUTION of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the Worcester City Council urges Congress to pass legislation that preserves the ability of all current TPS holders to continue living and working legally in the United States; and further, urges President Trump and his administration to preserve the DACA program and urges members of Congress, including our own Senators and Representatives, to take bipartisan action to pass legislation that provides DACA recipients the promised citizenship they deserve and end the uncertainty they face. We urge that the legislation be passed without any additional conditions, whether it be additional funding for border security or measures that would heighten the risk of deportation of other immigrant groups; and FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Worcester City Council encourages Congress to pass asylum laws that make it clear that gender-based violence is not a private issue, but a public health and human rights concern for the international community that impact the health, safety and wellbeing of all residents in our country and those seeking refuge from such persecution abroad; and further, encourages Congress to seek and consider a solution that grants permanent status and a pathway to citizenship to the broadest group of immigrants possible, including undocumented immigrants without DACA and TPS. (Tabled Under Privilege – Lukes September 12, 2018)

• Councilor Lukes opposed the ruling of the Chairperson, stating her belief the Item violated Rule 11 of the City Council.
• Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nay (Nay – Lukes)

April 30, 2019: Mayor Petty recognized members from the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts , including the federation’s Executive Director Steven Schimmel, who read a statement in regards to the tragic shooting at Chabad of Poway outside of San Diego, which took one life. Mayor Petty also recognized Rabbi Levi Liberow of the Central Massachusetts Torah Center, Rabbi Aviva Fellman of Congregation Beth Israel and Rabbi Yakov Blotner of Shaarai Torah West Synagogue , who made statements and lead the Invocation.

June 16, 2020: That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby declare that racism is a public health emergency and worthy of treatment, assessment and financial investment in order to eradicate negative health impacts. Further , that the City Council of the City of Worcester implore the City Manager concurrently do the same. ( King , Rose , Rivera, Wally ) Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor King, who moved to amend the item : Further , be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby: 1) Assert that racism is a public health crisis affecting persons in these United States; 2) Promote equity efforts aimed at dismantling understanding, and addressing racism in all its forms while concurrently acknowledging that system racism affects the delivery of human and social services, economic development and public safety; 3) Pledge to enact relevant policies that improve health in Black communities , and supports local, state , regional and federal initiatives that advance efforts to dismantle systemic racism; 4) Support community efforts to amplify issues of racism and engage actively and authentically with communities of color wherever they live; 5) Commit to continue to further its work to solidify and further alliances and partnerships with other organizations that are confronting racism and encourage other local, state , regional and national entities to recognize racism as a public health crisis; 6) To always promote and support policies that prioritize the health of all people, especially people of color and will identify clear goals and objectives , including periodic reports to the City Council, to assess progress and capitalize on opportunities to further advance racial equity. Further , be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Worcester will address racism and public health disparities due to racial inequities. We as a City call upon the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Senate President and the Attorney General to join with us to declare racism as a public health crisis and to enact equity in all policies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item as amended. Resolution adopted as amended on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Dec. 15, 2020: That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby call upon Congressman James P. McGovern to co -sponsor the Puerto Rico Self -Determination Act of 2020 (H.R. 8113). Further , that the City Council of the City of Worcester call upon United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, the Massachusetts Federal delegation , and all of Congress to support the passage of H .R. 8113. ( Rivera , Rose , King , Petty, Wally ) Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Rivera, Councilor King and Councilor Rose , who all spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell and Councilor Rosen, who both moved to add their names as sponsors of the item. Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays.

March 8, 2022: RESOLUTION of Councilor Sean M. Rose – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby call upon our federal leaders and our nation to make nuclear disarmament the centerpiece of our national security policy and join the global effort to prevent nuclear war, as outlined in the Back from the Brink campaign, by: 1) Renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first; 2) Establishing a system of checks and balances ensuring that the President of the United States no longer has the sole and unchecked authority to launch nuclear weapons; 3) Taking US nuclear weapons off hair- trigger alert; 4) Cancelling the plan to replace the entire United States nuclear arsenal with next -generation nuclear weapons; and 5) Actively pursuing a verifiable and multilateral agreement among nuclear -armed states to eliminate nuclear arsenals. Further, that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the United Nations’ Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and calls upon the United States federal government to join the treaty. Further , that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby authorize the passage of this resolution be considered by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN ) for the ICAN Save Cities Campaign , joining cities from around the world in formally supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. (Tabled Under Privilege – Rose February 15, 2022 and Tabled Under Privilege – Petty March 1, 2022) Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 6 Yeas and 0 Nays (Yeas – Haxhiaj, King, Nguyen, Rivera, Rose, Petty) (Bergman, Colorio, Mero -Carlson, Toomey abstained, Russell present).

July 19, 2022: That the City Council of the City of Worcester does affirm its stance for full abortion rights and reproductive equity for all,  in opposition to the United States Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and does hereby urge state and federal elected  officials to codify abortion rights and other reproductive rights. (Nguyen, Russell, Rose) Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 7 Yeas and 3 Nays (Yeas – Haxhiaj, King, Nguyen, Rivera, Rose, Russell, Petty) (Nays – Colorio, Mero-Carlson, Toomey) (Bergman abstained)

Oct 25, 2022: Mary Sacksteder request City Council adopt the attached Resolution relative to recognizing the legitimacy of the duly and democratically elected officials of the city’s jurisdiction, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States of  America, regardless of personal preference. (Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays)

March 21, 2023: Motion Mero -Carlson – Suspension of Rules – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the passage of the “Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act ,” H .R. 645, and calls upon the United States federal government to pass said legislation. Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero -Carlson, who introduced the item . Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty moved to adopt the item. Resolution adopted.

Worcester City Council Leans into Less Resident Access, Contradictions on Drones

Council Leans Into Less Access

After a dominant political victory by Mayor Joe Petty to serve his eighth term, his majority leaned into some fears of the minority by restricting access to public comment in the first city council meeting after the election.

Mayor Petty himself motioned to suspend the rules and add thirty minutes to the period for public access, 13 people were waiting in the Zoom waiting room. Suspending the rules requires 8 votes of the available eleven. With Councilor Thu Ngyuen still not attending to vote on council matters, the measure failed despite 7 voting for the suspension of the rules, with Councilors Moe Bergman, Donna Colorio and George Russell voting against.

Councilor Bergman has placed many items on the agenda this city council session aimed at limiting the time residents can speak, what petitions they can file, and who can come to the council to speak. In his rationale for voting against the measure he said, “I will be opposing this, only because, my sense is that we are getting a lot of the same repeat comments on one particular item, and from a number of people out of the Worcester area.”

The person who spoke immediately before Councilor Bergman’s remarks, Eric Stratton, a Worcester resident, spoke about drones and the city’s investment in police technology. Many people came to speak about Councilor King’s item 14m on regulating rodeos in the City of Worcester. There is no way to know what the 13 people were going to speak about. The legacy of this session of Worcester’s City Council will be both strife and suppression of speech.

Haxhiaj Stands Up for Firefighters Again Despite Endorsement Flip

Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, fresh off of her recent loss in the District Five race, which has been partially attributed to the firefighter’s union pulling their endorsement after a member driven petition, decided to fight for more firefighter requested policy including both more jobs and in-school fire safety training for Worcester Public School students.

City Manager Batista Forgets What He Said Two Meetings Ago

The council voted to request a report on drone technology from the city manager by a 6-4 vote. During the city council meeting on Sept. 30, City Manager Eric Batista said:

“There are different types of drones out there in the market. The ones that we are talking about here, and the reason I know a little bit about it, is because the chief (Chief of Police Paul Sacuier) and I have talked about it because he went to a conference, and this is something that is happening across the nation, that people are exploring. These drones would be dispatched directly, from a dispatch center, they would be dispatced, the drone is like in a box on the top of the roof, opens up, the drone goes up, goes directly to the site, utilizing AI, utilzing any information that they provide. There’s not somebody directly that’s managing it. The drones that we have right now requires somebody to be trained to operate that actual drone.”

At the council meeting last night, City Manager Batista had a different take:

“This was something that was presented at a conference, and this was something that we came to understand in this order as well. The chief expressed some ideas and thoughts about what he had seen at the conference, and that’s the extent of the conversation that I had. There was no discussion of implementation, budgeting, anything of that nature; it was a discussion like any kind that I have with any kind of staff member that they come back and discuss their learning and findings. That was the extent of my conversation with him (Chief of Police Paul Saucier). I know there has been some discussion in the committee related to this, but there is nothing right now concrete that has been put forward or even a proposal or anything.”

“What I know of this technology, is that it is a technology that is somewhat of a box, that it is on the roof of a building, and that drone can be dispatched for the purposes of responding to a call and having some surveillance that can inform the police department or any public safety officials in terms of what is happening in that location, so that they know how better to deploy their staffing and better serve that community based on what is happening. Now, there will be people that will have to see this footage in real time as it is happening, as that is being dispatched, but that’s the extent of my knowledge on what they do. Some people have claimed that they can potentially use AI to do this, but again that is not something that I know.”

Apparently, he knew and then did not know. I think the city council should take a long look at the inconsistency on technology that has such wide-ranging implications. This Week in Worcester has reported previously that there is no current American city that has AI deployed drones.. Further, as illuminated in the city manager’s new position, there is no city that currently has transparency on the costs of this technology. Chula Vista, California, had a line item in 2022 for $1.5 million dollars, far from Councilor Bergman;s estimate in the September 30 meeting of $30,000.

Cleary the votes are already there for the council to push through unproven, unaccountable and expensive technology. The new incoming council is expanding the votes for something they all have no idea about.

Worcester EMS Union Warns of UMass Medical Staffing Levels

WORCESSTER – A local union representing EMS professionals issued a statement on Monday, Nov. 17, warning of worsening staffing issues at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Over 100 International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP) Local 95 members working as EMS professionals at UMass warned that workers’ ability to provide adequate prehospital care may be compromised by the staffing shortages. They say they have reported to hospital management scenarios that include just one ALS ambulance available for emergency calls in Worcester.

Workers said they began expressing their concerns when management began focussing on the new in-patient North Pavilion Facility. The facility opened in January.

The medical center and the local 95 are negotiating an agreement related to the new facility and its impact on the EMS workforce. Part of those negotiations includes maintaining appropriate emergency coverage.

IAEP National Director Phil Petit said that if management cannot resolve the concerns raised, “then we have no choice but to cease the work that is currently being done by our paramedics at the North Pavilion.”

Image Courtesy of Facebook/ Worcester EMS Local 95

Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays

WORCESTER – Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25.

Three U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys, including one assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s office in the district of Massachusetts, one to the district of Rhode Island office, and the third posted at an office in New York told This Week in Worcester they received briefings on the plan.

The attorney in the Massachusetts office said that they attend a Baptist church in Massachusetts and is a registered Republican. He said that he does not see how this plan is in line with either American values or Biblical doctrine.

The attorney in the Rhode Island office confirmed both the briefing and internal discussions about the legal issues surrounding arrests at churches over the past three months.

The attorney in the New York office spoke in depth about the plan being recently updated to include mosques and liberal synagogues in the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s recent win in the New York City mayor’s race.

The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. All three said the plan is not regional to New England, but a nationwide strategy.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has fired several U.S. Attorneys and staff members since the beginning of its term in January, including two forced out this month in Miami.

Multiple versions of the plan are being reviewed by DOJ staff lawyers. The topic is a regular part of operational discussions between staff at the DOJ and the DHS.

Both attorneys also said that the Trump administration is pushing high-ranking Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) officials for public support of the plan, including Hispanic pastors.

Two Hispanic pastors who lead Southern Baptist churches in New England say that SBC President Clint Pressley and its executive board received briefings on the plan and discussed it with Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller and White House Border Czar Tom Homan.

An SBC representative says neither Pressley nor its executive committee received any briefing on the plan.

A Hispanic pastor who leads a Pentecostal denomination in New England told This Week in Worcester that ICE agents visited his church several times and another visit came from an individual who identified themselves as an FBI agent. In all three conversations, agents asked questions about the names of specific congregation members, their home addresses, and the frequency they attended church services.

All three pastors asked that This Week in Worcester not reveal the names of their churches.

Multiple prominent Protestant leaders say that two pastors close to Trump have given their approval of the plan. The first, Paula White-Cain, is a televangelist, long-time spiritual advisor to Trump and leader of the White House Faith Office.

The other, televangelist Mark Burns, was an early supporter of Trump in 2016 and a board member of Pastors for Trump in 2023. Burns is also co-founder of the NOW Television Network.

The Trump administration has not approached Franklin Graham, a prominent Evangelical minister. Graham is the son of Billy Graham and president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (DGEA) and Samaratian’s Purse, a humanitarian organization that does missionary work. Graham has advised Trump on several public policies, and has led several prayer campaigns for Trump.

Several people close to Graham say it would be highly unlikely that he would support such a plan.

Both Southern Baptist pastors told This Week in Worcester that they fear scenes similar to the arrest of Rosanne Ferreira de Oliveira on Eureka Street in Worcester on May 8 unfolding inside their churches. On that day, DHS, CBP, ICE and other federal agents held de Oliveira’s children in custody to get her outside her home and to the scene, so they could conduct an arrest without a warrant.

After de Oliveira’s arrest, ICE released a statement saying she is in the country illegally and a violent criminal who attacked a pregnant woman.

The court dropped criminal charges against de Oliveira at her next court appearance. As multiple outlets later reported, de Oliveira had authorization for legal presence in the United States with a pending application for asylum. While in custody after her arrest, a judge approved de Oliveira’s application for asylum.

The federal government did not appeal that decision, despite having the right to. Instead, they released de Oliveira.

This Week in Worcester contacted the ICE office in Burlington by phone. A spokesperson who declined to identify themselves hung up when asked about the press release.

This Week in Worcester reached out to Dr. Terry Dorsett, Executive Director for the Baptist Churches of New England, the largest Baptist organization in New England. The BCNE is an affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention. No response was received at the time of publication.

This Week in Worcester also found that the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is conducting multiple free seminars on church protection training in the Worcester County area. There are events scheduled on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at The Gun Parlor in Worcester, on Friday, Nov. 21, in Lowell, and on Monday, Nov. 14, in Leominster.

Elite Defense Training in Leominster leads those trainings. Elite Defense Training owner Richard Bosivert said the following in response to an inquiry by This Week in Worcester:

“The curriculum and intent remain strictly focused on church safety and emergency preparedness. The subject of ICE, immigration enforcement, or federal agents entering a church has not come up in our trainings. It’s not a topic we provide instruction on, as it falls outside both our mission and our area of expertise. We work with a wide range of congregations when invited, but we do not track or categorize churches by ethnicity or demographic makeup. Our role is simply to support any faith community that requests safety training.”

One of the attorneys said part of the operational plan involves undercover ICE and FBI agents attending and documenting church security plans. Groups like Elite Defense Training teach volunteer church members how to handle individuals who disrupt church services and to manage scenarios like active-shooters or medical emergencies. Most churches with security plans eventually file those plans with local police and fire departments. Massachusetts state law enables local law enforcement agencies to decline providing support to ICE. This likely leaves these security plans outside the reach of federal agencies.

Federal agencies conducted multiple coordinated operations in Charlotte, North Carolina, over three days starting Nov. 14, which led to the arrest of 81 and included targeting a church. These operations appear similar to the operations described in the briefings the attorneys attended.

There are 661 registered religious organizations in Worcester, ranging from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim congregations. Worcester is also home to 17 Buddhist organizations.

Another prominent part of the plan is the promotion and distribution of the CBP Home Mobile App to Spanish-speaking churches. All three of the pastors received email and mailed correspondence with the CBP app information. The CBP homepage says that, “DHS is using the CBP Home Mobile App to incentivize the voluntary self-departure of aliens illegally in the United States.”

See the Neighborhood Meetings This Week in Worcester

WORCESTER – The Worcester Police Department is encouraging residents to attend their neighborhood watch meetings to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in their neighborhoods and to share any concerns or questions they may have. Representatives from the city also regularly attend these neighborhood meetings.

There are over 50 Neighborhood Watch Groups in Worcester. Meetings are held regularly — often once a month in various locations in the city.

Contact the Worcester Police Department’s Neighborhood Response Team at (508) 799-8664 for more information.

Here are the neighborhood meetings this week in Worcester.

Wednesday, Nov. 19

• Indian Lake Neighborhood Meeting, Worcester Business Center, 67 Millbrook St. – 6 PM
• Brown Square Neighborhood Meeting, 639 Franklin St. – 7 PM

Thursday. Nov. 20

• Mill St Area Neighborhood Meeting, Stearns Tavern, 72 Coes St. – 6 PM
• Union Hill Neighborhood Crime Watch Meeting, Worcester Academy Capozzoli Athletic Center, 121 Providence St. – 6 PM

Wednesday, Nov. 26

• Quinsigamond Village Crime Watch, Journey Church, 46 Greenwood St. – 6 PM

Ex-Assumption Student Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cyber Extortion

WORCESTER – A former student at Assumption University students will serve a federal prison sentence for hacking  into the computer networks of two companies and extorting them for ransom.

U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman sentenced Matthew Lane, 20, of Sterling, to four years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $25,000, restitution of $14,075,540.58 and forfeiture.

Lane pleaded guilty to cyber extortion conspiracy, cyber extortion, unauthorized access to protected computers and aggravated identity theft in June 2025.

The sentencing took place on Oct. 14. The office of U.S. Attorney Leah Foley announced the sentencing on Thursday, Nov. 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

According to federal prosecutors, between April and May 2024, Lane agreed with others to extort $200,000 from a telecommunications company by threatening to leak customer data previously stolen from the company’s network.

Prosecutors also say that between August and December 2024, Lane used stolen login information to access the network of a software and cloud storage company that primarily serves the education industry. After accessing that company’s network, they say Lane transferred personal information of students and teachers to a server he leased in Ukraine.

Similar to the first company, the software company and others later received threats that the names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, medical information, residential addresses, parent and guardian information, passwords, and other data of 60 million students and 10 million teacher would leak if the company did not pay $2.85 million in Bitcoin.

Gardner Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder for 2017 Homicide

WORCESTER – Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early Jr.’s office announced that a jury found a local man guilty of murder in connection with a death in Gardner in 2017.

A Worcester County Superior Court jury returned a guilty verdict of first-degree murder in the trial of Matthew Vanier, 40, of Gardner.

Gardner Police discovered the body of Randy Vaillancourt, 56, of Garder, inside his home on Dec. 7, 2017. The medical examiner determined the death a homicide and the cause of death blunt-force trauma. Investigators found some items missing from the home.

Vanier faced arraignment in Gardner District Court on Dec. 21, 2017. A Worcester County Grand Jury indicted him on Feb. 21, 2018.

The judge scheduled sentencing for Dec. 2. The first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Changes to Early Education Residential Programs Open for Public Comment

BOSTON – The office of Governor Maura Healey and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), a division of the Executive Office of Education, announce the first update of regulations governing residential programs for children since 1995.

Residential programs provide care and housing for children up to age 18, or 22 for certain children living with disabilities, in a group care setting outside of their family home. Many in these programs have complex behavioral health and or social-emotional needs or are otherwise in need of additional complex support.

The department says the changes made include staff professional development requirements in the areas of:

• Trauma-informed and responsive care;
• Working with LGBTQ+ populations;
• Sexual abuse and grooming;
• Cultural responsiveness;
• Missing or absent children; and
• Use of surveillance cameras

The new requirements also bring ECC regulations into compliance with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s regulations it updated in June. Those changes affected seclusion practices and require more comprehensive treatment plans that consider a child’s long-term goals, trauma history, culture or religion, LGBTQ+ identity, and behavior needs.

The new requirements also create requirements for residential programs to share more information with their boards related to EEC licensing reviews and investigations to improve accountability and transparency.

“Residential programs provide important care and support for children and families with some of the most complex needs. These updates will promote more inclusive and safe environments for all children and boost this critical workforce,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I encourage parents, community members and programs to submit public comment and share their feedback.”

The ECC is currently accepting public comments through Jan. 12 at 5 PM.

Sharing comments live takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 3 PM to 4:30.  Those who wish to attend must RSVP.

ECC also accepts comments via this form or by mail. More information is available here.

Infant Formula Recalled for Botulism Contamination

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that an infant formula manufacturer issued a recall for possible botulism contamination.

ByHeart, Inc., based in New York City, voluntarily recalled all lots of its powdered infant formula on Nov. 11. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its investigation of an outbreak of infant botulism linked to the company’s produce on Nov. 8.

Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. An infant who inhales or swallows spores produced by the bacteria can led to spores growing inside the body. Symptoms can take days or weeks to appear.

DPH says the symptoms include:

• Constipation;
• Poor feeding (sucking and swallowing);
• Loss of head control;
• Difficulty swallowing;
• Decreased facial expression;
• A weak or altered cry; or
• other signs of muscle weakness

Exposed infants must receive treatment quickly or symptoms may progress to flaccid (floppy) paralysis and breathing difficulties.

DPH says parents and caregivers should throw away ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula immediately. They also say to take a photo of the lot numbers on the bottom of the cans and check for any formula removed from the original packaging.

After disposal, wash all surfaces the formula may have contacted with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.

Any infant which consumed the company’s products should be brought for immediate medical attention.

Old Grumbly Fan’s Week 11 Patriots Preview vs. the Jets

Week Ten, another win, and maybe we have to start reevaluating this team, and what it can do now. The Patriots came through with a win, only one point off of our projected margin, and they did it with something we have not seen in a while.

Coach Mike Vrabel had a great game with the Patriots dominating most of it. Although the final score was 28-23, the game never felt out of hand, and frankly the Patriots dictated play. It has been a while since we could say that of a Patriots team.

I am not going to get ahead of myself. I am Old Grumbly Fan. No Super Bowl glory predictions in Week 11. That said, the Bucs are a good. well coached team with an MVP candidate in Baker Mayfield. They are banged up, but they are still good. That is a playoff team the Pats just beat. Further, New England finishes 4-0 against the NFC South this year.

Coach Vrabel could be heard chanting, “NFC South Champs!!’ with Stefon Diggs in the tunnel after the game. At 8-2, Vrabel has the team ready for a playoff run.

On third and goal from the 2, Drake Maye threw the worst pass of his career in the fourth quarter. He tried to force a play and paid for it. At the time it was 21-16, and the score was in the balance for the only real stress point of the game. It was a bad throw by a second year QB. That said, despite ending his streak of 200+ yards and a 100+ rating, Maye went for 270 with two scores. His season stands at 2555 yards, 19 TDs, 5 picks and a rating of 113.9. He is outplaying the Bills’ Josh Allen in the division, and in some places is the front runner for NFL MVP. That pick will be a point of focus for the coaching staff for the rest of the year, and he can’t do that often and get away with it. It is a sign of the strength of the team that the defense picked up Maye.

Unlike last week, Maye bounced back immediately in body language, which is a great sign. He continues to grow in front of all of us.

Josh McDaniels had his best game since his return. This was by far the most balanced attack. Against the aggressive Bucs D, the Pats only allowed 1 sack on the day. The running game was balanced and explosive, with TreVeyon Henderson going off for his first big game of his career with 147 yds and 2 long touchdowns. It was great to see the team lean on the outside reads, and not stuff the ball into the middle of the line. Tampa seemed uncertain against the run for most of the game.

The defense came up clutch once again. Christian Gonzalez continues to grow into a dominant top-5 cover corner, and his tackling continues to impress. When he gives up plays, it ends there. Mayfield got 273 and 3 TDS but a chunk of that was on Tampa’s last drive before an attempted onside kick. The defense gave up its first 50+ yard rushing day to Sean Tucker with 53, but otherwise continued to be the number one rush D in the NFL.

Stefon Diggs went 5 for 46 with his third touchdown in three weeks, and he recovered the onside kick to seal the game. His leadership continues to be evident. With Mack Collins, the receiver room has been a leader all year in playmaking. Great signing for the Patriots.

Old Grumbly Fan Predictions

8-2 and rolling, the Patriots have the dread Thursday Night Game against the lowly Jets. The Jets have won their last two games against Cincinnati and Cleveland. In the Cleveland game, the Jets had back to back special teams touchdowns with a kickoff return, followed by a punt return for a score after Cleveland’s next drive. Justin Fields only threw for 54 yards, which will not get it done against a surging Patriots defense. The game is in Foxboro, and the Patriots are 7-1 since 2006 and have won 6 in a row. The Patriots are 19-4 all time against the Jets at Gillette Stadium.

Having to turn around and come back after both playing good games against strong defenses, I give the Patriots the advantage at home. Maye is playing too well. Now, sometimes division games are funny, but I expect the Patriots to roll.

Patriots 42 – Jets 13

Bonus Thursday Night Fantasy Prediction: The Jets have struggled against tight ends all year. I predict Hunter Henry has a good game, let’s say 5 catches for 75 yards and a TD.