Rep. McGovern’s Votes on Ukraine, Israel Aid Explained

Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel Monarrez stopped into the diner to put the best face she could on a bad situation. A $22 million dollar deficit, teachers and administrators laid off. She talked about where the cuts in teachers will come from, and defined the difference between teacher and support staff. She said they looked hard at administration positions and where overlaps may have been occurring. Average class size for the new year will rise to an average of 21, still relatively low. Listen to hear how she feels the future is still bright and the five year plan is still intact. Along with the teacher and support staff layoffs, 22 administrative positions will be reduced, totaling $2.8 million.

Worcester Mayor Joe Petty is for the Rental Registry. He says the City Council began to hear back from the public on this issue and have changed the fine. He says they have heard loud and clear from people who are concerned about inspectors but the Mayor points out other cities have successful rental registries and that this can be a matter of life and death. That he wants to make sure people are not taken advantage of. On the $22 million shortfall, Petty said you have to look at inflation as one of the big factors. He says the inflation factor accounts for over half of the $22 million.

New Millbury Selectman Nick Lazzaro checks in with Talk of the Commonwealth to talk about his victory and what issues he wants to tackle. Lazzaro, who is a recent Holy Cross graduate, owns his own business in Millbury and says that entrepreneurship is something he wants to use to help others get their businesses started in the town. Lazzaro also lays out how he plans to help Millbury residents who are faced with increasing rent and may be priced out of the town they work and grew up in.