Conservative Politics

Also, the heads of the police union are stepping down?!?

Conversation on this post.

He looks about as excited as Worcester is for him to run again.

Best described, in my opinion by the first three comments.

Me, a local longtime activist and organizer, and the (apparently former?!?) Vice President of the police union. Which the rest of this post goes into, because I believe it shows a complete picture of ideologies and problems in Worcester, and ends with breaking news - the new chief steps up from interim, and within a week the president and vice president of the police union step down??? It’s almost as if Worcester is trying to say “It’s not our police, it’s our police union”

Here’s how the conversation played out:

Anthony M Petrone: Moe, is commonsense over nonsense. He doesn’t wait to see which way the wind is blowing before he makes a vote or speaks out. He is a man of integrity & conviction. We need to rally around Moe bc the radical progressive noisemakers have already shown they are going to target him.

Me: You know, progress is actually good?

I can see why the police union would of course support conservative values instead of things that benefit most of society, but outright admitting that Bergman stands against radical progressive values isn't the support you think it is. Conviction to values that are harmful to society isn't a good thing. People voted for him last time because they thought he cared about humanity and not just his own demographics.

As for integrity, he remarked about setting aside the constitution just yesterday when expressing his opinion as chair of the municipal operations, at a meeting where rules regarding stepping down from chairs for the purpose of expression were discussed.

We get it though - since he supports the police, the police support him. The people in power stay in power, everyone both of you cares about wins, society loses. What a net positive result! 🙄

Anthony M Petrone: Sorry we have a different perspective on your theory of radical progressive ideology. I am not against progressive ideas that make sense for everyone. What I’ve seen lately is geared only for a small group and I do not think this will benefit everyone who lives or works in our city.

Me: We don't just have different perspectives, we have different values.

I'm not really sure what "small group" you think doesn't deserve to be prioritized, or why you think the group you represent deserves to stay in power, but I would be fascinated to hear what progressive ideas you actually do support, or how you think anything Morris Bergman has advocated in the past few years for actually benefits everyone who lives/works in our city. Idk about you, but I couldn't care less about candlepin bowling or consolidating a museum into a library statue.

More importantly, he does lack integrity - he cannot argue in good faith, and instead deflects and fear mongers. Even when it comes to basic laws. He has to use a strawman argument rather than discuss basic consumer protection laws, back when crises preganncy centers were on the agenda.

I really have the same question I have for all your coworkers in blue - Who does he protect? Who does he serve? It's certainly not most of the people in Worcester.

Anthony M Petrone: We do have different values so we agree on something- Bravo 👏! Maybe I was not clear enough, my point is anyone who has an issue has the right to speak up and have their voice heard. What I and many others do not understand is why does it have to continue week after week and turn so negative?

I will let Moe defend himself, I think he does an excellent job representing the city and so do the voters. You have never been a fan of his from day one it’s pretty obvious.

If you run at-large you will have the opportunity to debate the issues & let the voters decide who they want to be on the city council. I am confident Moe will get re-elected.

Me: Why does the discussion of their plight have to turn so negative?

Yeah, of course we certainly do have different values. With any due respect, the only time you and your peers show up to council is to victim blame/shame when your coworkers are accused of egregious behavior. Whereas I show up weekly to discuss accountability and proper record keeping so y'all have to actually do your jobs.

Moe hasn't defended himself in the past, I don't think he's about to start so now. But he unfortunately might get re-elected by people who want to maintain the problematic status quo he stands for.

I've never been a fan of his, but I had a little bit of respect from him before I realized he couldn't even debate laws without deflecting and belittling others. he knows how to sound like he knows what he's talking about but he can't actually back anything up, which is why you and him need each others support.

Anthony M Petrone: I have been involved in local,state,federal campaigns in Worcester & Central Ma for over 40 yrs. So to say I only show up when it affects my profession/coworkers is simply wrong.

You do know the egregious behavior you refer to has never been “fact checked” even though we have repeatedly asked for it. Now someone like yourself who is a true proponent of democracy and transparency thinks it’s ok for a report to be dropped with so many unsubstantiated accusations? If the shoe was on the other foot how would you handle this? I think I know you would speak out against it, but

bc it’s towards a profession you clearly don’t like it’s perfectly acceptable.

Moe has been hit with some insulting remarks by the noisemakers who are trying to rattle him. One would think by now they would quit bc he won’t take the bait. Moe is an independent man who makes his decisions based on what’s best for everyone not just small special interests groups. Like I said previously he doesn’t need me or anyone to fight his battles, he does a pretty good job at it and its reflected in the ballot

Me: Doing a good job at the ballot and fighting battles are two separate things - giving others power to remain in power is the basis of problematic societies, and both of you should have values that don't result in the systemic death of the people you care less about. It's good that he has friends like the Petrone and Lapin family to speak up for him when he can't and his son incorrectly spouts off on my page.

I'm not arguing that Moe can't/won't win - I'm arguing that he doesn't bring sense or progress to the city, he just maintains the problematic status quo. Of course he can win, he's got the weight of the police union and other power hungry entities behind him, regardless of how little he does for most constituents.

With any due respect, the Department of Justice report had been fact checked, and it's also notable that Worcester is the only city that was bad enough for them to also find the pattern of practice of sexual assault by police officers on people who were in custody, not just unconstitutional behavior by the city and it's police department like Springfield and others.

How many of the union you preside over decided to retire rather than getting certified by the POST commission?

Do you think hiring Bergman will change the fact that your Deputy Chief can't be bothered to remember what DEI stands for, or that your counterpart put a hitler stache on Mayor petty over actual public safety measures....?

Voting for Bergman isn't going to suddenly make the WPD reputable again LMFAO

Me: The DOJ addresses your fatuous remark about it not being fact checked, and also clarifies that it's about systemic patterns and not one particular instance, as you should already understand. Likewise it's ridiculous of you to expect them to discuss open investigations. Do you do that as law enforcement? I'd hope not.

Speaking of showing up, you and your coworkers tried to intimidate Project Priceless, but then didn't bother to actually show up the next day to hear what the Department of Justice had to say. If you wanted information, y'all could have gotten it with the rest of the public who wants accountability from your coworkers. But you didn't.

If you're still interested though, I was in the front row and recorded it

Anthony M Petrone: Moe will and has defended people who need & ask for his help, you may not like some of these people or unions but he does represent all of here live & work here.

The DOJ has NOT been fact checked. This is blatantly false. I have sat in on EVERY meeting with the DOJ interviews. This false gas burning rhetoric they produce was written to grab the attention of those who fed them the numerous lies. We have said publicly and privately to the DOJ PLEASE give all these criminal charges. How can a high level federal agency make statements that are so damaging then not ask the DOJ criminal justice side to investigate them ?

As far police officers not being certified this is hilarious. Police Officer’s are leaving this once noble profession bc of they/we don’t get the suppose from those in power. Most of the state representatives & senators in Ma are progressive or play to that crowd for their votes but no dam well majority of their platform is not ever going to pass. Police officers across this country don’t need to be subjected to slander & foolishness that is spewed by folks in your circles.

It’s funny that you seemed to side step my question on not having facts to support allegations like the DOJ report brought forward. You like them can’t have it both ways.. I guess if your a police officer due process need not apply. Anyway thanks for the healthy discussions, I will never not defend people or principles that I am passionate about.

Me: Hilarious that you try to accuse me of side stepping questions, while unable to respond to any yourself. If you eventually think of with any examples of ways Worcester has been helped by Moe, I'd love to hear it!

I've been asking and while he seems to be well liked by people he's given what they asked for, I don't think he's actually done anything societally beneficial, you're another person who likes him because they've benefited from him. With any due respect, you are the small interest group.

Anthony M Petrone: Our benefit is having a person like Moe, who is highly intelligent & not a push over on the city council. If he hasn’t done his job he wouldn’t still be there.

Your inability to answer questions about the DOJ’s handling of their investigation which you know was nothing but a hit piece, again not 1 factual piece of evidence sums it up. I thought you would at least say, yea I see how one could be upset about a 2 yr investigation that only produces 41 pages of fiction or at least no evidence to support their claims? How are you a socialist who only sees what the U.S. Constitution in your own lenses?

You’re not incompetent, which makes it clear at least to me,it’s just your bent up anger towards people with authority.

Anyway nice chatting with ya!

Me: Again, if you or anyone else eventually comes up with any ways Worcester has been helped by Moe, I'd love to hear it!

He's been around for a decade, you think this wouldn't be that hard of a question for his loyal supporters to answer.

Anthony M Petrone: Voted for lowest residential tax rate every year in attempt to save taxpayers money especially our elderly on fixed income.

Had 1 million (extra funds)dollars transferred out of a DPW water & sewer account that no one had a clue about until he discovered it. Money was then transferred to assist with taxpayers outrageous water bills.

Led the charge on Pleasant St years ago on the families who were getting their back yards flooded and city & state would not assist them.

There are many of things Moe has done for Worcester residents which is why he will be elected again.

Let’s have more chats on DOJ sometime love to see if you can assist us with getting the DOJ to at least start the ball rolling to prosecute those police officers who have committed these disgusting crimes.

Me: While it's great that you'll call them disgusting crimes after dismissing complaints and ignoring people's testimony, you will never be ready for the accountability that conversation requires because it starts with admitting how long you and your coworkers ignored problems you benefited from, even if you yourself might not have participated in those particular egregious behaviors.

As I already addressed from the DOJ report, the issue wasn't just problematic officers, it was problematic systems, which you as vice president of the union have worked hard to support defend and maintain.

If each of the people in your union protected everyone, and not just themselves, then they'd have spoken out against the problematic peers - but they didn't, and if they did they were shut down.

As a union, you could have protected people who wanted to stop the bad apples. You didn't. You got them paid more to be accountable via GPS and cameras, and supported their legal defense to avoid records of problematic officers being released for years with the Telegram.

Our taxes are higher than ever, and backyard flooding for tanuck isn't really much to write home about. I'm glad you and your family has benefited from him, but just last week he voted down senior discounts which would have saved people more than he could have ever helped with a few peoples water bills.

Anthony M Petrone: The allegations that were reported are beyond disgusting. Your comments about benefiting or helping those who allegedly have done something wrong is bizarre. First of all these allegations have no name to them, no dates to them, no locations to research and try to see what the heck they are talking about in this 41 page report. They took information from people who clearly were well-versed, we know who all the players were that fed the DOJ attorneys.

I will continue to say, bring the names forward, not to WPD, but to the DOJ criminal division so these alleged situations can be fully vetted and then prosecuted. I told this to the DOJ attorney in a meeting in January.

The fact of the matter is, it will not happen because there are no names to put to these incidents. You’re a little misguided when you say as a union rep, we are not supposed to defend our members when allegations are brought forward and in many cases have no merit? If a member violates any policy or worse a law he/she should be held accountable. It’s funny how you & many of your group members only have a problem with WPD, as if there are no other dept’s with issues going on? The hatred toward police in the city by these people is really sad. Worcester is a safe city and it’s bc of the work these men/women do every day/night.

How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot and people made allegations with no facts produced just words that were cherry picked to grab the attention of the anti-police movement?

Your dislike for Moe is alarming, but you’re in the minority, like I said he will get reelected because he does listen and he does help people.

There are things that he cannot do based on the powers and duties of a city councilor, but the fact that he’s not afraid to speak out, especially when they’re individuals like yourself-associated with groups that clearly have their own agenda that he won’t prescribe to is a feather in his cap.

Me: Again, as a union, you could have protected people who wanted to stop the bad apples. You didn't. You and Cipro advocated for an environment where bad apples flourished, and the DOJ report is the impact.

Just like Moe, you deflect rather than ever discuss actual accountability or responsibility. This all comes back to where we started - You and Moe are conservative, and likely nothing you actually stand for is beneficial to the majority, nothing is for Progress.

But sure, if enough people vote for him, it doesn't really matter whether he helps people outside his own demographics or not, he can still be elected, obviously

Anthony M Petrone: How can one protect people who did bad when no one will give facts? I am not deflecting anything you’re the one who is pretty good only seeing & hearing what you like and only then posting, be a little fair it will help in your quest to be a city councilor.

You didn’t say a word about assisting with DOJ , getting information on these alleged “bad apple” who have done horrible acts.I would have thought you would have been all over this but again it doesn’t fit your agenda facts don’t matter to you.

I far from a right wing conservative, fiscally yes, socially I am a moderate.

Moe will defend himself his record is out there but he has a lot to be proud of such introduction of speed humps,adding additional $1,000,000 for first time homeowners fund and restoration and rededication of the “Citzens of Color WW II Memorial”.

Have a good weekend !

Me: I didn't say "Right wing" conservative, you added those two words. You and Moe Bergman do stand alongside a lot of "right wing conservative"s though, and they are certainly harmful for society, and I appreciate your attempt to distinguish yourselves from them. It indicates you know they're in the wrong. Moe and Donna consistently vote together, so the public can draw it's own conclusions on how "right wing" he is.

As I've said at city council, speed humps were a band aid and we got those instead of actual infrastructure improvements. A million bucks for new home owners is great, but very limited in the current market which he's done nothing about, or helps any of the other thousands of renters being priced out of their homes. There's a lot he's voted against that would have been way more helpful than either of those, and they're actually a really great example of how he helps some people in some areas instead of improving Worcester. He's supposed to represent Worcester at Large, not Tatnuck Square - that's Colorio's district lol

This isn't about facts - this is about you choosing to believe what makes you comfortable, rather than ever considering responsibility or accountability (for you, or your coworkers). It's the exact ideology that resulted in the DOJ investigation, equity audit, and many settlements for aforementioned bad apples wrongdoing (probably a significantly higher number than the things you're mentioned he got for the city)

I'd say that you don't actually want facts, you want to be able to provide more paperwork than the person claiming they were hurt so you don't have to listen to them or hold your peers accountable. You want to give your buddy an opportunity to deny it so you can believe him instead of her.

I get people in my email inbox a few times a month with WPD stories, and while I recognize that not all officers are bad hearted, the reason so many of you do bad things is because you're self-centered, and supported by a lack of documentation worse than any other department of our poorly managed city.

It's a fact that many people have been sexually assaulted by the police while in custody. Has it been proven? No. That doesn't make it less of a fact, you simply don't want to believe it because then you'd have to reconcile your part in that, your responsibility.

As law enforcement, you have to care about what is documented - but also as law enforcement, you have chosen what is and isn't documented, while remaining entirely unaware of natural prejudices biases.

Step one to protecting people would be believing that people's experiences are facts, something you still remain unable to do and unwilling to do. Which is why I ask you and Moe Bergman again: Who Do you Serve, Who Do You Protect?

It's rhetorical. Have a lovely weekend.

Anthony M Petrone: I am not distinguishing myself from anyone. I simply said I am not a ring wing person. And I am glad you know who I supported please fill me in?

Talk about self centered, you refuse to see or admit the fact the DOJ report is full of allegations that were not substantiated. The people who fed these allegations had their reasons to try to shame WPD. You would be all over this if these allegations were made towards you or your small group, I could hear you now demanding to get the facts….

Moe could give you a 1,000 permanent real estate tax credit and you would still find fault. Nothing he has done would ever be good enough and nothing WPD could do would ever make you happy. The best part about this is we live in a world that we have these choices so keep up the good fight.

For the record, Rick Cipro & I did not seek re-election we decided after 9yrs as police official union leaders and over 25 total we felt the need to pass the torch to some younger police officials. ✌️out !

Me: Thank you for ending your service!! If only Moe had the same sense, and any sense of leadership that someone would actually want to take his place.

Right, and I didn't say "right wing" - you did. I only called you a conservative. As opposed to a progressive which (may I remind you is where this all started) is a good thing.

You're objectively wrong, I apologetically thanked WPD earlier today - and already posted about it lol.

I don't need to know who the report is talking about, I've heard first heard accounts and I assume you have too, and if you haven't then it's because you weren't a safe person for them to disclose to, probably because you demand proof, and I really don't know what you're expecting here, an officer to have included their rape in a police report? You and I both know how many medical situations go undocumented, and which side medical officials take. You don't actually care about the people harmed by the WPD enough to believe them.

What he has done is maintain, and exchange power, and of course his allies will vote for him - he's useless to them without that power, and everyone knows that. That's why he talks about how long he's been a councilor, other than being really good at deflecting due to his side gig as a mediocre landlord real estate attorney, it's sorta his only redeeming quality.

So yeah, because it's about Worcester, and making this city a better place you are absolutely right. Moe could give me a million tax credits and it wouldn't improve Worcester. That's the problem with self centered people - they want things for themselves. I want Worcester to be better for OTHERS. Not just me and my family. If Moe ran for District 1, maybe I could have some respect for him, but he certainly hasn't done much, if anything to improve Worcester.

I'll certainly keep up the fight! Thanks again. ✌️