Housing Crisis Focus Of Worcester May Day Rally

WORCESTER, MA — Labor and community groups in Worcester will rally on May Day Wednesday, focusing on a host of economic issues affecting local workers and residents living in deep poverty.

The Worcester Community Labor Coalition — a group made of multiple labor unions, neighborhood groups and civil rights groups — will hold the rally at Worcester City Hall with a special focus on housing.

"This International Workers Day, we’re rallying to end the housing crisis in
our city and across our state. We’re calling for living wages, affordable housing, fair contracts,
responsible development, and treating unhoused people with dignity," the coalition said in a news release.

The May Day event falls just over a year after the Worcester City Council approved an inclusionary zoning ordinance that requires new developments to include affordable units. However, most developments in Worcester have been on hold in recent months due to economic factors, including a broad slowdown in lending for commercial projects.

Two of the newest developments in Worcester around Polar Park, meanwhile, are renting units at or above $4,000 per month. The most expensive unit in The Cove, which will open later this summer along Green Street, is a 937 square-foot two-bedroom apartment that costs $4,265 per month.

Forbes recently ranked Worcester the third-worst rental market along the East Coast, behind Virginia Beach and the New York City metro area. Worcester had the second-lowest rental vacancy rate among areas Forbes looked at, and local renters faced the third-highest year-over-year rent increases.

Worcester's May Day rally will begin at 4 p.m. at City Hall, and will feature Lew Finfer of Massachusetts Action for Justice, Jeuji Diamondstone of Renewable Energy Worcester, Robert Bilotta of the Worcester Affordable Housing Coalition, Kawanee Dozier of Training Resources of America, Dálida Rocha and Gloria Ramirez of Neighbor to Neighbor, Steve Teasdale of the Main South CDC, Roberto Diaz of Worcester Interfaith and Fred Taylor of the Carpenters Union Local 336 & Worcester NAACP.