Joff’s Committees: Chair – Strategic Planning Chair – Traffic & Parking Public Works Commerce & Development Education & College/University Relations Health

As a homeowner and taxpayer, I am concerned about the same issues that concern you.

We need better streets and sidewalks, safer neighborhoods, and a vigorous economy that creates jobs and keeps young people in our city. We need to expand the tax base, so that the percentage of taxes that homeowners pay goes down.

We need to keep class sizes small, and work to ensure that our kids get the quality education that they deserve.

We need a vibrant downtown, but we also need vibrant neighborhoods, and well maintained parks for people to enjoy.

I am a hardworking, and active City Councilor. I attend neighborhood meetings, and meet with the residents of District 1 on a regular basis.

Key Accomplishments on the City Council:

• I voted for the lowest residential tax rate to keep property taxes as low as possible for homeowners.
  
  
• I saved the taxpayers and the City of Worcester over $870,000 on its power bills by working with World Energy, a local company.
  
  
• I saved Shore Park from being closed, and made improvements to the facility such as tearing down the barbed wire fence surrounding it.
  
  
• I negotiated a deal for the city to buy the triangle of land containing the World War II memorial in the Indian Hill/Ararat St. neighborhood to preserve it as park land forever, and make sure it is properly maintained.
  
  
• I attend neighborhood crime watch groups regularly throughout the district.
  
  
• I voted to increase the lifeline rate for eligible elderly ratepayers to reduce their water/sewer bills.
  
  
• I voted to increase the property tax exemption for eligible elderly homeowners.
  
  
• I secured additional funding to resurface streets and sidewalks throughout the district.
  
  
• I helped launch a new office for New York Life in Worcester which continues to create new jobs.
  
  
• I worked to get a new state of the art park funded at Indian Hill.
  
  
• I worked to get lights installed at the Joe Schwartz Little League baseball field.
  
  
• I worked to make improvements to Duffy Field.
  
  
• I worked with the Worcester College Consortium to form an online internship program for area college students and businesses.
  
  
• I have done unprecedented work as Chair of the Traffic and Parking committee to move petitions more rapidly through the committee in order to enhance the quality of life throughout Worcester.
  
  
• I organized Joff Smith's Annual Celebrity Auction charity event in 2006 and 2007, which raised over $50,000 for Worcester charities.
  
  
• I return all constituent phone calls in a timely manner, and work with them to solve their issues. I also hold office hours for anyone interested in meeting with me.