Just last October, pretty much every City Council candidate at Worcester Homeless Action Committee’s candidates night, jumped up to declare their support for local CORI reform. And while City leaders “evaluate” the proposed “Fair CORI Practices Ordinance”, the Worcester Police Department has again recommended increasing CORI use in Worcester.
Chief Gemme recently encouraged the License Commission to create a policy requiring local event promoters to be CORI’d by the police prior to being allowed to hold an event at one of Worcester’s clubs.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported on Nov. 20, 2008 , that Chief Gemme recommended to Worcester’s License Commission that they put in place an ordinance which would require any “promoter” to be CORI checked before being allowed to hold an event at a Worcester club. I spoke to Deborah Steele at the License Commission and she said that at this point, “It’s something the Chief proposed at the last meeting to the Commission, there’s nothing in writing.” She said at this point it is not scheduled for further discussion yet.
While the course of this proposal remains unclear, it comes just a few months after City Solicitor David Moore re-wrote Worcester’s new anti-vendor ordinance, through which approval of vendor applications was moved under the WPD. City leaders retained a CORI requirement in the re-written anti-vendor ordinance and City Council complied over community objections. So now if you want to sell hot dogs on the corner, or pedal roses after-hours club to club, you’ll need to have the Chief’s Office run your CORI before nodding their approval.
So while the proposal targeting promoters isn’t up for discussion yet, it’s clear that more CORI remains on some people’s agenda, while others work for less.
Each of these ordinance changes are in direct conflict with EPOCA’s proposed “Fair CORI Practices Ordinance” which has been endorsed by community groups throughout the City. In part, the proposed ordinance states:
1/ The question, “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” will be removed from applications for employment with the city and its contracted vendors.
2/ Employers will not conduct a CORI check on an applicant unless a CORI check is required by law or the employer has made a good faith determination that the job is of such sensitivity that a CORI check is warranted (i.e. involving children or other vulnerable populations, law enforcement, or large sums of money).
Chief Gemme’s proposal comes in response to police reports that there has been an increase in violence at local clubs, recently and most notably at Club Venue.
Sadly though, as is the case with many such ordinances, enforcement will primarily target people of color. Presently there are only a very small handful of nightspots owned by Blacks and Latinos, and just a few catering to these ethnic and cultural groups. It’s only because of a system of promoters that area Hip-Hop, Bachata, Salsa and Salvadoran, Brazilian and Ghanaian performers are able to find venues to perform. If Worcester’s club and events scene reflected the diversity of our City there would be far less of a need for promoters to sponsor one night events at local spots, and late night revelers would be dispersed between attractions.
If this ordinance moves forward, you can be sure no-one will ever get around to pulling CORI checks on the promoters passing through the Hanover Theater because of their liquor license or event promoters at Worcester’s Municipal Green Hill Park Country Club once their liquor licenses are secured. Nor will they be knocking at the doors to the Hibernian Club. No, this ordinance will be directed at only one group of people, and for that reason it needs to be soundly rejected
Worcester City Councilors made a commitment to CORI reform in Worcester. They have a responsibility to move forward, TODAY, and an equal responsibility to reject and counter efforts to do the opposite.
See Also: Clive McFarlane 11/10/08- "CORI reform on back burner but simmering"