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Johanna

@johanna508.bsky.social

I’m here for #WorcesterTwitter

315 Posts96 Follower95 Folgt
Ben White@speedofwhite.bsky.social · 22h ago

Here is the short police scanner audio from Councilor Toomey's accident on Harrington Way on the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd It's nothing that hasn't already been reported before but for those interested here is the publicly available scanner audio via Broadcastify

gbhnews@gbhnews.bsky.social · 2d ago

The Worcester Police Department says it’s opened an internal investigation into officers’ response to a crash involving City Councilor Kate Toomey. Toomey’s attorney said she did nothing wrong. https://bit.ly/4cHAR8z

Worcester police face scrutiny over response to crash involving city councilor

The Worcester Police Department says it’s opened an internal investigation into officers’ response to a crash involving City Councilor Kate Toomey. Toomey’s attorney said she did nothing wrong.

bit.ly

Dr. Cara Berg Powers@clbergpowers.bsky.social · 2d ago

Where there is a clear disparity is that someone at WPD spent days scouring body cam footage of neighbors protecting an asylee mother from ICE for any bit of possible offense by @etelhaxhiaj.bsky.social. In contrast, this was completely swept under the rug despite clear relevance to Council business

Dr. Cara Berg Powers@clbergpowers.bsky.social · 2d ago

That said, I think that's not an issue of the responders on the scene. Frankly, I think this is how a 60 something white woman near the Shrewsbury line gets treated in the middle of the night on a Tuesday. "Ok grandma, let's get you home" is the whole vibe. That disparity is part of why we need CRB.

Etel Haxhiaj (ha-jee-eye)@etelhaxhiaj.bsky.social · 4d ago

Get this. On the same night Worcester is subsidizing another hotel, they’re voting to fine unhoused folks $25 for sleeping outside. And making the dept., most adverse to accountability & transparency as one of the ordinance’s enforcement authorities.

Johanna@johanna508.bsky.social · 4d ago

If Kate resigns from her seat… which she won’t… but if she did. Jermoh Kamara is the next highest vote getter, right? I think that’s how it works? Let’s manifest!

Bill Shaner @billshaner.bsky.social · 4d ago

You gotta hand it to em “WPD lets public safety chairwoman off on obvious DUI the same week the council votes against a police oversight board” would be a really good way to satirize a corrupt municipality

Etel Haxhiaj (ha-jee-eye)@etelhaxhiaj.bsky.social · last wk.

There were so many new and powerful speakers today representing our community's demand for civilian oversight. How many voices and communities does it take for this city council - the majority of whom are adverse to using their legislative power for good- to listen to community?

Etel Haxhiaj (ha-jee-eye)@etelhaxhiaj.bsky.social · last wk.

Pastor Rizutti's testimony was so powerful it hurt to listen to the things he's been through by WPD. Civilian Review Board should be the absolute bare miniumum policy and oversight they can put on. But most councilors seem completely uninterested.

Dr. Cara Berg Powers@clbergpowers.bsky.social · last mo.

ICYMI @wgbh.org reports that Worcester officials mischarecterized the DOJ decision to close the investigation of WPD. The City Manager and others, including the chair of public safety who never even held a hearing on the report, took an undeserved victory lap. #mapoli www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

Newly obtained DOJ letter sheds light on decision to close investigation into Worcester Police

Worcester city leaders suggested the DOJ may have revoked or rescinded its findings about police misconduct. But a copy of the department’s letter doesn’t make any mention of it.

wgbh.org

L. Stephen@lydiastephen.bsky.social · last mo.

He hasn't seen it work because the only CRB he can imagine is a CRB with no teeth, no funding, no credibility. and he's not about to back any kind of anything that could possibly hold a cop accountable to Worcester residents. because then the cops would be sad :(

Matthew Noe@noethematt.bsky.social · last mo.

If he wasn't saying this, it would be some nonsense that while it works elsewhere it can't possibly work in Worcester. The same line he and the rest of the centrist-leaning-conservative council majority always offer for why we can't possibly make progress.

Dan ☀️@danorz.com · last mo.

on the one hand we could use state and federal money to make our roads safer based on a plan which was written by professionals and which has proven successful elsewhere. but on the other hand a couple of guys don't like it so who's to say which side is right really

TOTC Show@totcshow.bsky.social · last mo.

Plan to transform Chandler Street divides Worcester neighborhood It may seem like a niche issue but people are worked up about the proposed road changes to May and Chandler near Worcester State www.telegram.com/story/news/l...

Johanna@johanna508.bsky.social · 2mo ago

@noethematt.bsky.social I just came across these incredible men and their story. After donating, I thought, do I know any librarians to share this with, to spread the word? Well, I do on #worcestertwitter ! Building the First Library in Gaza After the Genocide chuffed.org/project/firs...

Building the First Library in Gaza After the Genocide

There are moments in history when the creation of a library becomes an act of freedom itself.Here in Gaza, after the genocide, Omar and Ibrahim understood that dreams protected by books do not yield —...

chuffed.org

Bill Shaner @billshaner.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Just in: Second member of the human rights commission resigns after Batista said no civilian review board friday. First Jacqueline Yang yesterday, now Drew Schnoebelen today. 1 member HRC by the end of the week?

To the City Manager, After much consideration, l am resigning from the Worcester Human Rights Commission, effective immediately. I joined the HR in Fall 2024 as a new resident of Worcester with enthusiasm and hope. I felt that becoming a part of this volunteer organization was one way to contribute to the Worcester community, and was strong in my conviction that doing the work on a local level could make a lasting, tangible impact. Unfortunately, I have not observed a healthy, functioning, and effective commission, especially over the last 12 months. I personally feel that over the course of my tenure, city leadership has consistently and purposefully manufactured roadblocks and barriers that constrict the Commission in a way that simply cannot be overcome without major systemic change. It is my personal belief that these purposeful roadblocks and barriers have rendered the Commission a toothless body that primarily exists to be a symbol of advocacy and change which can be pointed to as evidence of the city's efforts, all so that real, meaningful change does not have to be enforced. Simple commission activities like electing new leadership, filling vacant positions, and making basic statements to the public have been met with contention, controversy, and inaction, while more significant projects and repeated policy recommendations have been ignored. Whether or not my observations are shared among all Commission members, the relationship between the HRC and city leadership leads me to believe that cannot in good conscience continue to participate.My hope is that my resignation will continue to draw attention to what I feel is the city's misuse and exploitation of the Human Rights Commission and spotlight one of many challenges the community faces in achieving equity and inclusivity. Nothing about my tenure with the HRC changes how I feel about this city and its people. I will continue to fight for the rights of the people of Worcester. I still believe that real change is possible and that equity and inclusivity are achievable for this community. I trust that most if not all of the Commissioners, past and present, truly want to see change happen and will continue to work towards a better future. Thank you to the people of the HR and the wider community who have fought for advocacy and change. The work continues. Best, Drew Schnoebelen
Johanna@johanna508.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Listening with headphones… all I can hear is heavy breathing in the background. Is that Petty with his mic still on while people talk? It’s vibrating in my eardrums. Who is itttttttt. Ickickick

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Matthew Noe@noethematt.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Look, I never expected the Worcester government to take the documented racism and abuse carried out by the police department all that seriously. But the blatantness of the dismissal is worse than I expected.