10 Questions For Luis Ojeda, 2023 Worcester District 4 Council Candidate

WORCESTER, MA — For the first time in years, every single city council election in Worcester this year is competitive, meaning every incumbent (or multiple incumbents in the case of the at-large race) is facing a challenger in 2023.

Voters in Worcester will go to the polls Nov. 7 to elect the next slate of councilors for the coming two-year term. To help voters make their decisions, Worcester Patch sent 10 questions to each candidate running for city council this year, including both incumbents and challengers. We'll publish them ahead of Election Day as candidates return them.

District 4 candidate Luis Ojeda is running in for the District 4 council seat long held by Sarai Rivera. He is a longtime District 4 resident and assistant principal at University Park Campus School, which is also in the district. Here's how he answered our questionnaire:

What is the main job of a city councilor in Worcester?

The main job of a city councilor is to balance and represent the interests of voters and other constituents in making policy and budget decisions, and enacting law to govern the city. District councilors work to address the needs and concerns of residents and organizations in their district and collaborate with other council members to develop solutions.

The council in 2022 began a national search for a new city manager, but then stopped to hire Eric Batista. What are your thoughts on the city manager hiring process both recently and in general?

I think the council decided on the best fit to expedite the hiring process for the city manager role based on decisions made at the time. With Eric Batista’s background and him serving as acting city manager, he was familiar with the role and responsibilities, and needs of the city. In general, hiring processes should remain transparent, fair, and equitable, and ultimately bring forward the person best fit for each role.

If you could pick three goals for Batista to work toward in the coming council term, what would they be?

Develop a multi-faceted homeless first approach to resolving concerns related to the unsheltered involving a group of organizations and various stakeholders invested in addressing the housing shortage.

Address quality of life concerns related to neighborhood safety, traffic, green space availability, cleanliness, and other issues brought to council.

Find ways to increase the city budget to hire and diversify personnel across departments experiencing staffing shortages and be creative in recruiting Worcester residents.

This summer, Batista told councilors he was declining to act on an order they voted affirmatively on (crisis pregnancy centers). Do you think that’s an appropriate response, why or why not?

The city manager is expected to carry out the policies and directives set forth by the city council. The appropriate response would have been for Batista to act as directed on the issue of the crisis pregnancy centers or bring his concerns back to the council floor.

Some city council subcommittees meet infrequently, sometimes only a few times a year. Do you think subcommittees should have a fixed schedule so they have a minimum number of meetings per year?

I think subcommittees can hold regularly scheduled and ad hoc meetings. Depending on the type of committee and number of issues or objectives needed to be addressed, meeting times could either be fixed or scheduled as necessary to make decisions or resolve concerns.

Serious allegations about the conduct of the former police chief were recently made public in news reports. Do you think councilors should have an oversight role when serious allegations are made against city employees?

Because the city council cannot request the appointment or removal of city employees the city manager is responsible for, the council should inquire about and be kept informed of all happenings and decisions made regarding cases where there are serious allegations of misconduct against city employees.

Homelessness is on the rise in Worcester. The city has pursued a policy of sweeping camps, and we’re heading into the cold weather season with a shortage of temporary shelter beds. What should Worcester do about this issue in the short and long term?

In the short term, Worcester can determine which of the vacant buildings in Worcester could be used for shelter beds and offer incentives to housing agencies in both the private and non-profit sector to support unsheltered individuals during the winter months. As for the long term, Worcester can develop a city-led initiative where agencies work collaboratively to help those in need.

Councilors can use personal privilege to hold items before a meeting, delaying action for a week or longer. Do you think councilors should disclose why they’re holding items before doing so, why or why not?

Councilors should disclose why items are being held in an effort to be transparent about the on goings of city government.

There are many large, blighted parcels around Worcester, with the former Big D supermarket perhaps the most recognizable. Would you support a new tax on blighted parcels to ensure property owners don’t let them sit for long periods?

I would support a new tax on blighted parcels to ensure property owners don’t let them sit for long periods of time. Blighted abandoned properties can pose many risks, be unsafe, and should be properly maintained.

What’s one thing you think you want to achieve as a city councilor if elected?

One thing I want to achieve as city councilor if elected is empowering the residents of District 4 to be more involved and make a difference in their neighborhoods. I’d like to help expand neighborhood ambassador initiatives, involve our youth, and work to build relationships with law enforcement focusing on safety and transparency.

More profiles in this series:

• Maydee Morales, At-Large
• Domenica Perrone, At-Large
• Dave Peterson, District 1
• Jose Rivera, District 5
• Thu Nguyen, At-Large
• Feanna Jattan-Singh, District 3
• Etel Haxhiaj, District 5
• George Russell, District 3
• Johanna Hampton-Dance, At-Large