Worcester City Manager Eric Batista on Tobacco Rules, Traffic & Youth Jobs

City Manager Eric Batista Discusses Worcester’s Latest Initiatives

“I think our role was to really try to put together a policy… that was balanced not only to address the health of our communities, but also give businesses and hookah lounges the opportunity to thrive.” — Eric Batista

By-Staff
Graphic- Radio Worcester

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Worcester, MA- Radio Worcester’s Hank Stolz speaks with Worcester City Manager Eric Batista to get an update on some of the biggest issues facing the city.

Hank begins by asking about the role of Worcester’s city administration in implementing the city’s new tobacco regulations. “I think our role was to really try to put together a policy, a regulation that was balanced not only to address the health of our communities, but also give businesses and hookah lounges the opportunity to also thrive in our community,” said the City Manager.

The Worcester Board of Health has approved new regulations that balance public health objectives with business interests, particularly for hookah lounges and smoke shops. The regulations consolidate previous rules into a single document, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and impose stricter caps on smoke shops, where youth access to tobacco products has been a growing concern.

The conversation also turns to the city’s comprehensive traffic safety initiative, which is built around the “three Es”—enforcement, engineering, and education—rather than enforcement alone. A major infrastructure project featuring two roundabouts at the Chandler Street and May Street intersection near Worcester State University has been in development since 2016 and is being funded with federal dollars. The project is designed to improve traffic flow while reducing crashes and increasing pedestrian safety.

The administration plans to hold community meetings this fall to address resident concerns and explain the benefits of the project. However, Batista notes that making significant changes becomes increasingly difficult as projects move through the design process. “…oftentimes when the design gets to 100% design, it’s very difficult to go back and alter the design completely,” he explains.

Batista also highlights the success of the city’s summer youth employment program, which has placed more than 108 young people in jobs across multiple city agencies and community organizations, including new opportunities with the Department of Public Works.

Finally, the discussion focuses on Worcester’s ongoing efforts to bring more people downtown. Community engagement has been strengthened through initiatives such as FIFA World Cup watch parties on the Worcester Common, which have attracted thousands of visitors, along with popular events including outdoor movies, roller skating, and the Out to Lunch series.

“It helps people to actually frequent businesses,” Batista says. “It allows me to say, ‘Hey, you know what? I’m going to park in this garage… and I’m just going to walk the next few blocks.'”