Ashwin Prabaharan ’26 and Will McHale ’26
Editors-in-Chief
This past week, the Spire had the opportunity to interview Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty. Due to scheduling conflicts, we were unable to hold an in-person interview but the Mayor was kind enough to answer some questions through email. We touched on Worcester’s economic development, his plans for his 8th term in office, the closure of Anna Maria College, and advice for Holy Cross students.
Our first question touched on the Mayor’s November victory that gave him his 8th term in office. “Being reelected to an eighth term is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply grateful for the support of Worcester residents,” said Mayor Petty. “My expectations remain consistent: deliver meaningful results and continue earning the community’s trust. A key priority is improving all districts in Worcester, but particularly Main South by strengthening infrastructure, walkability, foot traffic, and overall neighborhood vitality.” The Mayor also touched on the need for greater housing in the city, which “remains one of our most pressing challenges.” In recent years, “Worcester has added thousands of units in recent years, with more in the pipeline, but this is still insufficient,” said the Mayor, and he asserted that by 2036, we must add approximately 10,000 new units, about 1,000 per year, to ensure affordability for working families, seniors, and young adults.” Mayor Petty is also prioritizing “modernizing all Worcester high schools,” which is being done with the Burncoat High School entering the feasibility phase” and the “potential inclusion of Burncoat Middle School,” which could mean “the City and Massachusetts School Building Authority will have invested more than 1.3 billion dollars in school facilities.” Finally, to address the AI revolution taking place across the nation, the Mayor is “finalizing a Mayors Task Force on Emerging Technologies to attract jobs in artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, cybersecurity, health technology, and financial technology.”
With the closure of Anna Maria College, a local Worcester institution, we asked him of his thoughts on the state of higher education in Worcester and for any advice he would offer college presidents facing fiscal or policy challenges. “Higher education is central to Worcester’s cultural and economic vitality,” said the Mayor. “The closure of Anna Maria College is disheartening, as it reduces opportunities for students, especially those from Worcester Public Schools, to access diverse educational pathways.” The Mayor asks for college presidents “to view the City as a collaborative partner because Worcester’s institutions are essential stakeholders,” and the City is “committed to supporting them as they navigate financial and policy pressures.”
We also asked Mayor Petty about his thoughts on how Holy Cross students can be better at becoming engaging members of the Worcester community given both the physical and at times perceived social distance between our school and the city. “College often creates a bubble where students live among peers with similar experiences. This can make it challenging to connect with the broader community,” said the Mayor. He recently attended the Build Day Rally for Working for Worcester which reminded me of the powerful impact colleges can have on their surrounding neighborhoods.” Mayor Petty offered some direct advice: “take advantage of the opportunities Worcester offers. Whether through professional interests or community events, engagement can enrich your college experience. This relationship is reciprocal, as the City relies on students to contribute new perspectives, ideas, and creativity.” The Mayor emphasized that regardless of the duration of our stay in Worcester, “it’s your home, the people are your neighbors, and you should feel welcome here and a sense of responsibility to its people.”
Finally, we discussed the city’s notable fiscal growth in recent years which has in part attracted the development of educational institutions and other businesses as well. We asked the Mayor to what he believes that can be attributed. Among greater public and private investment, Mayor Petty said that “expanding housing options, growth in life sciences and biotechnology, arts and culture, and renewed confidence among residents and employers” is to be credited. “Major companies are choosing Worcester, small businesses and restaurants are opening, cultural institutions continue to thrive, and expanded airport service has strengthened our connectivity.” He said that “progress is the result of clear goals, strong collaboration, and sustained commitment.” Though there is much to celebrate, he acknowledges the continuing “identity divide,” where “one part of the city is growing and prospering, while we struggle with housing affordability, food insecurity, and access to essential services. Closing this gap remains one of our most urgent priorities.”
We thank the Mayor and his office for their collaboration with The Spire for this special interview. We very much appreciate their enthusiasm to speak directly to Holy Cross students and engage the student body further. The Spire remains steadfast in bringing Holy Cross first-hand insights from Worcester’s leadership, and hopes to continue such interviews with other stakeholders.
Featured image courtesy of WGBH
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