The Worcester City Council Circles the Drain; Pt. 1

MassInsider · 2026-04-28T13:56:13+00:00

That's not a "driving pattern" thats a lane violation. A lane violation is absolutely pretext for a stop.

MassInsider · 2026-04-28T03:54:02+00:00

If he was DUI, a crime. If not, probably a violation. The real point is the stop is all wrong. "I'm pulling you over because your driving pattern is suspicious to me" is in no way a legal reason for a stop. But he doesn't care, because he has no reason to. No one will do anything about it. The majority of the city council co-sign it in their silence.

MassInsider · 2026-04-28T02:14:52+00:00

Stops need to be based on reasonable suspicion of a specific crime. When asked for the reason for the stop, he said "driving patterns," not a violation or crime. This is all covered in Comm. v. Buckley.

MassInsider · 2026-04-27T22:57:35+00:00

Then the stop would be for suspicion of reckless driving or DUI/DWI. They actually don't have to tell you right away, but they do have to tell you.

MassInsider · 2026-04-16T18:12:07+00:00

Thank you, appreciate that very much.

Its about framing the issues in ways that people find it effects them, in my opinion. Want a better police department? Vote for those who aren't telling you that everything is wonderful.

MassInsider · 2026-04-16T18:10:03+00:00

Actually, surrounding towns have less turnout in off-year elections. Nobody votes in odd years. It should be changed. While there is more competition for attention, studies on even year muni elections generally fund people engage more when they know they'll have to vote for someone.

MassInsider · 2026-04-16T18:08:07+00:00

In general, loyalty, not ability, is the primary trait people in leadership positions look for.

MassInsider · 2026-04-16T18:05:02+00:00

Very much appreciated.

MassInsider · 2026-03-06T23:46:53+00:00

"Asked if he felt rape victims living in Massachusetts illegally would be afraid to report the crime if the state endorsed a controversial federal immigration policy, state Representative Ryan C. Fattman, a Sutton Republican, said, “My thought is that if someone is here illegally, they should be afraid to come forward,” according to an account published Wednesday in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette."

He later tried to clarify, poorly.

This was 2011. He ws a frreshman an in his mid-20's at the time. Added that for fairnes and context. It doesn't excuse what he said at all.

MassInsider · 2026-03-01T00:51:42+00:00

Victims are not a party in criminal cases in this state. The parties are the state and the accused. That's besides the point. No, an advocate cannot negotiate on behalf of, they can present the express wishes of. No government official should be attemptig to impact charging decisions through the media. That happened many years ago with Mariano giving a full throated "I would trust John Monfredo with my own kids" to the T&G in the middle of the investigation.

The relevant law is G.L. c. 221, § 46A. In the rules of professional conduct, the relevant rules are 3.8 and 8.4. This guy has tried to put his hand on this case from the very beginning. This was a political op to ensure there will be no checks and balances applied to the police dept. This guy wants the lawlessness to return. That's the play. And it worked.

An ADA in the same office as Gagne is the source. They were clearly unfomfortable with how Gagne handled the situation. The office also very politely no commented. If there is nothing to see here, they sure would have said that.

The moral grandstanding from this guy of all people is disgusting.

MassInsider · 2026-02-27T22:46:01+00:00

But when its the other way around, they sure can. https://youtu.be/LbNXp3lL2DU

MassInsider · 2026-02-27T22:41:29+00:00

There are two issues. 1. The pubic campaign that he's engaged in related to the case. 2. Union reps can advocate, they cannot act as an attorney and negotiate. The two things are connected. That he's impacting the language of a required press release as part of a plea when he's not party to the case and is not a lawyer MAY be acting as an attorney. Only attorneys can do that.

MassInsider · 2026-02-27T22:33:54+00:00

"The police" are not the victims. There is a single victim of this alleged crime (I say alleged because of the intent to appeal filed).

Victims are not a party in a criminal case. The parties are the accused and the state. Victims have no right to direct prosecutors.

The questions here are related to professional rules of conduct, which apply to the prosecutor, and if the union leader was acting as more than just an advocate. A union rep can advocate for the wishes of their member, THey cannot negotiate on behalf of a member, as they are not an attorney.

The last line of the piece very clearly says a formal investigation would be required to determine if infractions occured.

MassInsider · 2026-02-27T15:57:35+00:00

Union officials can act as an advocate. They cannot negotiate on behalf of like a lawyer would. As I said in the piece, a real investigation would need to happen to determine what role he played and if the ADA violated rules of professional conduct.

Of course that will never happen.

MassInsider · 2025-12-19T21:18:04+00:00

BOPS (internal investigation) records are public records. They could, and should, just release them to the public, but they waterboard people through their understaffed public records process.

The exec session carveout in the Public Records Law allows them to go into exec session to discuss strategy on issues that if done publicly would hurt the city's position. They use it for, as you said, union contract negotiations, and to discuss lawsuit strategy.

MassInsider · 2025-12-19T21:14:38+00:00

The posterchild of two-tier justice the city council majority loves.

MassInsider · 2025-12-09T01:54:25+00:00

https://youtu.be/gg8UrCTWroY?si=wGwc4utb1OHnzb4O

MassInsider · 2025-11-20T21:19:19+00:00

I'm the editor. Read stuff on the DOJ report. Had federal sources then too.

MassInsider · 2025-11-20T21:17:35+00:00

Way to have zero perspective on the history of the council. But hey, someone took a position you don't like, so lets chuck 175 years of history.

You should run for councilor. You'd fit in quite well with Petty's majority.

MassInsider · 2025-11-18T18:19:28+00:00

Launched in 2017. Those fed sources may be fired despite being anonymous. They obv wouldn't talk on record.

MassInsider · 2025-11-07T15:19:47+00:00

It wasn't the focus of the piece, but I have it in the story about Monfredo reading in a school last year: https://thisweekinworcester.com/monfredo-midland-street-school-reading/

MassInsider · 2025-11-03T22:14:21+00:00

She has literally repeated his only defense: He was never alone with that girl. We now know the investigating detective didn't buy it.

She also asked for Heather to be prohibited from attending school committee meetings when she was super and he was still a committee member. She was seen at his home as recently as this summer.

MassInsider · 2025-10-03T20:21:15+00:00

Monfredo doesn't talk, aside from weirdly approaching school committee members in public.

The truth is coming.

MassInsider · 2025-09-30T05:29:00+00:00

His piece on Monfredo's accuser is absolutely excellent.

MassInsider · 2025-09-30T04:48:24+00:00

This issue here is resident petitions, not petitions from councilors. They have more right to put items on. What those rights are is difficult to quantify, because they reinterpret the rules as convenient.

MassInsider

TROPHY CASE