City Council: Don't close Ladder 6!

In a City of Worcester's size it continues to amaze me that the direction of the City is lost on many folks and the laissez-faire attitude is the equivalent to driving with your eyes closed.

More information flows like molasses from City Hall to the people and, usually, when the people receive the information, it's too late to do anything because that ship has already sailed.

Well, I certainly hope the ship hasn't sailed regarding the Providence Street Fire Station.

Ladder 6, which sits at 100 Providence Street, has been in this location for well over 100 years and serves a large section of Worcester--Vernon Hill, Union and Grafton Streets-- without a fire station.

Yes, the new fire station, that is under construction on the location of the warehouse fire of 1999, will be beautiful and purposeful, but this fire house will have to not only serve downtown Worcester, but the surrounding hills as well.

For an area where a number of schools, public parks and swimming pools exist, one would think that it makes more sense to have a fire station that sits atop a hill versus in the "valley", which can be difficult to climb during snow falls and ice storms.

It doesn't take Ray Charles to see the ridiculousness of having one fire station cover the entire East side of Worcester, but it does beg the question of, "Do the people that live in the non-posh side of Worcester deserve to be treated like red-headed step-children?" The answer is simple and should be a resounding "No!".

It's going to take residents of Worcester to let their District Councilor and Mayor Konnie Lukes know that this issue can not be swept under the rug and the Providence Street Station must remain open. Time is of the essence.

Black History Month Spotlight: Oklahoma

A little known fact about Oklahoma is the Greenwood neighborhood was known as "Negro Wall Street" (commonly referred to today as "the Black Wall Street") due to a number of prominent black businessmen and families.

The oil boom of the 1910s were very good to many and blacks benefited as well.

Big Decision

So, I went to vote today, but prior to walking into the school where I'm slated to vote, I had to really think about whom I was going to vote for.

Also, I stopped and gave "Thanks & Praise" for ALL the people, Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Red,etc., that risked their lives & those that died so a Black man from the US Virgin Islands could vote! A heart-felt Thank You!

This nation is truly amazing & it still baffles me how far we've come but, at the same time, I know we have a long way to go still.

The real Patriots will go out & VOTE today!

Sports: Superbowl XLII wrap-up

Fans throughout Massachusetts are feeling a bit deflated and if I didn't say that I, too, am just a little bit saddened by the New England Patriots not winning Superbowl XLII, I'd be lying.

While I remain a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, I do root for New England (Geography does count for some of it, but I'm a Yankee fan), but yesterday the Patriots looked sluggish and out-of-place.

Maybe the pressure finally got to the Patriots or maybe it was Giselle's fault for being in the stands cheering for her man Tom, whatever it was, the G-Men wanted it more and they got all in Brady's business.

Listen to Akrobatik's Sports Rap Up, courtesy of JAMN 94.5 FM (Boston):