Weekly Roundtable: Voting Power, City Responsibility, and One Very Big Lizard
By Hank Stolz | Radio Worcester
Photo- Radio Worcester
WORCESTER, MASS.- Hank and Ben are joined by Mark Henderson of The 016 and Tom Marino of This Week in Worcester to break down some of the top stories making news across the city.
The roundtable opens with a discussion on voting patterns in Worcester’s municipal elections, focusing on the well-documented trend of strong voter turnout from the west side. A recent article reignited debate by implying that West Side voters are to blame for the underperformance of progressive city council candidates. The panel dives into whether that critique holds water—and how voter engagement differs across neighborhoods.
Next, the group tackles Worcester’s ongoing battle with litter. While there’s general support for the city’s clean-up efforts, Tom Marino shares his wish that the City Manager would show the same level of urgency and ownership on other pressing issues, such as housing, infrastructure, and public trust.
The episode wraps with a lighter but wildly popular story: the saga of “Goose,” a five-foot-long water monitor lizard who had the city on high alert until he was finally captured. The hosts reflect on how the unexpected reptilian visitor became a viral sensation and briefly upstaged local politics in Worcester.
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