IS HE THE ONE?

 

   

Since chattel slavery  and now in the age of Systemic Racism, our communities have searched for the Black Messiah. 

    Eric Batista is a Btown man from Puerto Rico. Is he the one who can lead the City of Worcester away from Systemic Discrimination?  He has been appointed  the chief executive officer of the City, the City Manager. 

    Mr. Batista had a dubious start. He was in charge of  the task force regarding police in the Worcester Public Schools.  The task force was not opened to the public. I complained, but Mr. Batista did not respond. 

    When going from Assistant City Manager to City Manager, Mr. Batista inherited several systemic discrimination issues. He discussed the issues at a December 14, 2022 public meeting. Members of Mass. Human Rights and Progressive Labor Party attendeed.

    The first was the implementation of the body cam ordinance which the police union is still resisting

    The second is the duties of the Diversity Officer. The three previous people holding that position quit abruptly. Mr. Batista said that he was restructuring the position. He has not given us any details.

    The third issue is how to file a complaint against the City. It used to be that the Worcester Human Rights Commission took complaints against the City, including complaints against the Police Department. At this time the Worcester Human Rights Commission cannot  take any complaint.

Mr. Batista has indicated that the Worcester  Human Resources Division now takes complainsts against the City. He said it has an Investigation Department. The City has not yet publicized this procedure for complaints

    Mr. Batista is no messiah. Let's hope he is competent, transparent , honest, and uncompromised.