It’s a decades old problem. It will take decades to solve and may never get better. Worcester brags about its colleges but does nothing to energize the college experience for the students. The city needs to embrace the student population. Zoning changes, permitting process, incubator space, music festivals, etc.

The state needs to do more to accelerate job growth in cities other than Boston. Better infrastructure, more support for 21st century public transit, and more public-private partnerships.

It’s hard for any of this to occur without the help of the city council and a long term commitment from the state. The colleges are are a nuisance and after thought to the city council. Anything west of 128 is flyover country for Massachusetts’ state government.