Housing, small business struggles, and equity dominated yesterday’s discussion as residents pressed candidates for answers.
WORCESTER, Mass.—Yesterday, the African Community Municipal Forum, organized by MOAD, brought residents together with City Council candidates for a direct conversation on housing, equity, small business struggles, and community priorities.
The forum created space for Worcester’s African community to raise questions and concerns, with candidates responding in real time.
Who Attended
Candidates present included Etel Haxhiaj, Issa Yusuf, Cayden Davis, Owura Sarkodieh, Robert Bilotta, Dr. Jessica Pepple, Ted Kostas, Luis Ojeda, Jermoh Kamara, and Keith Linhares & Khrystian King.
All of them spoke during the forum. Following the event, What’s Up Worcester reached out to every candidate for follow-up comments. As of publication, only Etel Haxhiaj and Ted Kostas provided additional responses. We will continue to update readers as more candidates reply.
Etel Haxhiaj: “The community should pay attention to who shows up.”
Councilor Etel Haxhiaj said she valued the chance to connect with residents but expressed disappointment at the candidates who did not attend. She specifically criticized her opponent, Jose Rivera, for skipping three forums.
“It was disappointing that my opponent Jose has now skipped three forums to avoid debating me and engaging with voters. It wasn’t just him—there was a group of candidates and current councilors who skipped this forum focused on Worcester’s African communities. The community should pay attention to who consistently shows up and who is consistently missing.”
Etel praised MOAD for highlighting skyrocketing rents and the lack of affordable housing at the start of the discussion. She added that Worcester must do more to address affordability and that she will continue to follow the African community’s lead on setting priorities.
“Looking ahead, I will leave it to the African community to decide their priorities, and I will follow their lead. I will continue to raise up issues of equity, particularly with funding and resources, as I and others did when Worcester received ARPA funding. I appreciate MOAD’s sustained organizing work, as well as the other organizations that came together for this forum. We need to keep working together.”
Ted Kostas: “Small businesses are suffocating.”
Candidate Ted Kostas said the forum was well-organized but noted that time limits prevented him from expanding on his proposed solutions. He focused his comments on high property taxes, small business pressures, and affordable housing.
“The forum was organized well, but the time allotment was too short. I had my hand up several times to rebut but wasn’t chosen, and I didn’t get the chance to explain my solutions. I would have liked to discuss more about the struggles of Worcester’s small businesses and families.”
Kostas argued that property taxes are straining both entrepreneurs and residents.
“High property taxes are suffocating them. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and many are being pushed to the brink of closure. As taxes rise, so do rents, making it harder for families to stay afloat. We must ask ourselves: what kind of community do we want—one where shops and eateries thrive, or one where they’re forced to close?”
He added that the council needs actionable housing policies rather than general statements, and he called for more frequent opportunities for community dialogue.
“Forums like these aren’t just meetings—they’re bridges. They allow the African community’s voices to be heard loud and clear. Each perspective matters, and these gatherings open the door for collaboration. I envision more frequent forums, maybe once a month, with one-on-one discussions between candidates and residents. That’s how you build trust.”
Kostas also emphasized his personal connection to immigrant and African communities, citing decades of work helping families navigate housing, immigration, citizenship, and small business challenges.
Why This Forum Matters
The MOAD forum showed that Worcester’s African community is asking pointed questions on housing, affordability, and equity—and that candidates are expected to respond directly.
- Etel Haxhiaj pointed to equity in city funding and criticized candidates who avoid forums.
- Ted Kostas stressed the financial pressures on small businesses and families, and called for solution-driven leadership.
Other candidates participated during the event, and we are still awaiting their follow-up responses.
The Next Step
Worcester was recently named a Housing Choice Community by the state, but the forum made clear that recognition alone doesn’t address the day-to-day reality of rents, taxes, and business survival.
As more candidates respond to our follow-up, What’s Up Worcester will continue to share their positions so voters can hear directly from the people seeking to lead.
What are your thoughts on yesterday’s forum? Which issues do you believe Worcester leaders should prioritize? Share your views with us at press@whatsupworcester.com.
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