So back to Chandler St.For those of you who don’t know Worcester’s Chandler St., it’s about 2 miles long. At its lower end, Main St., its mostly populated with Worcester’s poorer citizens: Hispanics, Blacks, Vietnamese and Whites.
At the upper-end there’s Worcester’s middle class. The businesses are mostly at the lower end and frequented by its residents, seldom by the upper-end whites. Well, except when Mayor Petty needs a photo op before an election.
From Main St. to Park Ave. there are about 100 businesses bordering Chandler St., many owned by minorities. There is a business association in that area, the Chandler Business Association, made-up of just 10 businesses, some which are not geographically part of Chandler St. (Advantage Benefits on Pleasant St.) or of Worcester (The Somerville Striders Club, of Somerville, 40 miles away).
Is it a business association or club - a good ole boys club? Hey, guess who’s the president? An old white guy named Paulie Collyer who resides at 224-1/2 Chandler St. Smack dab in the middle. Also therein lies the crux of the issue: why are the other 92 businesses not included? Not a Hispanic or Black business is included and they make up about 50% of businesses on Chandler St. So, racism, bigotry or they just forget to send out invitations?
Well if you know Paulie Collyer you have your answer, he has a documented history going back 5 years with the Worcester Police Dept. of confrontations with his neighbors - Hispanics. And locally he has a reputation: He’s a bully and a stalker - targets women and minorities. The internet has dozens of stories attesting to his reputation.
If that’s not enough, check out his business on yelp.
Welcome to Worcester! Or maybe just avoid it.
