I lived in Worcester for about 12 years, and lived in both a nice secluded area, and a pretty rough area. Neither were at the top of their category, but I spent a lot of time in the areas on foot.

I left about two years ago, and while I was there the areas I went through were quite safe. The city itself was MUCH safer than when I first moved there. As a man, I understand I've got a bit of a different perspective, but I have walked alone, very late at night (2AM), down some rough streets. I only had an issue one time, and it was near the nice place I lived.

Since you won't have a vehicle, that will help you stay under the radar as far as being a target for theft. The area around Clark is not great, by any means, but its also not the worst. As you said, you're not going out at night alone. Avoid the park if you're by yourself, buy yourself some pepper spray and an alarm, and you'll probably be fine.

Keep to yourself and no one is going to bother you.

Certainly, it must be done right or it can be a disaster. I didn't take your comment as being against it, honestly. I also know that given the opportunity for the situation to be done correctly, people end up being for it. It's a weird paradox.

I don't specifically recall who it was. I would have to dig through my notes.

Going off this comment, and tied to the comment I posted outside of this, one of the most important things for these shelters (which need to be permanent is) is having social workers on sight.

If people are causing problems, doing drugs (depending on the community structure), and not following rules, they get removed from the housing for someone else to have an opportunity.

Not every homeless person is going to be a good person. The same way not every middle class, tax paying, hard working citizen is going to be a good person. People are excellent at self preservation and understanding consequences, so if they know they'll lose their shelter and security, it's easier to dissuade people from being shit bags when they know they have expectations.

It's a shame the city is half assing this. We gave them the blue print in how to make this work, which research and evidence.

I was working with a group that was going to create a tiny home community for the chronically homeless. We pursued this because all over the country there is undeniable evidence that these communities improve the problem with homeless people for multiple reasons.

The city was with us. We had people who were willing to make the houses. We had an area.

Right before we got to pull the trigger the city pulled out. It was a fucking shame, and very disheartening knowing that until someone with political power in city has a kid who is homeless, even evidence and support isn't enough to get the homeless problem fixed.

Has anyone had LL Bean repair stuff older than 15 years old? I had a backpack that I got brand new, and about 5 years ago one of the straps broke, and the material inside started flaking.

I contacted them, asking if they could fix either, and they told me I would have to mail them my backpack and it would take them like 6 weeks to determine if it could be fixed.

You'd have to take the Grey hound to get to NYC but not a bad choice. I used to take them from Central ny to Worcester, added a couple hours to the commute but 0 driving and the ability to sleep. Certainly worthwhile adventure.

I lived in Worcester for about 12 years. I left about two years ago, so I'm not currently up to date on everything, but I visited in October.

The Palladium usually has shows, and it's pretty central to the city (near the good end of Main st). There's a bunch of restaurants in that area that are nice. Plus that area is near other college kids, more specifically Worcester Polytechnic Institute. There likely won't be many students around at the time, but there will be a few. That area is going to be a decent place for you. Highland Street passes down through the college housing and past Elm Park which is pretty nice generally. It connects with Park Ave.

There's also a disc golf track across from Elm Park that's a nice hike. On that street there's a ton of restaurants and bars. As well as an awesome comic/toy shop (That's Entertainment). Definitely check out that street. One of my favorite places to get fried chicken is on the corner of Park and Chandler st, called BT's.

From there head up Chandler towards Main st, and you'll find a bunch of ethnic places to eat, like Africa/Jamaican. It's busy and that street sucks to drive on, and the pedestrians are fucking morons so be careful!

There is also Water St, which has a bunch of bars and restaurants. I don't know what's there anymore, but there's a ramen place. Near the end is Wings Over Worcester if you want late night, drunk chicken decent. Again, there's a bunch of bars, and good night life. Not sure how comfortable you feel being out at night, but it can be intimidating, as the area isn't the safest, but I only ever had one issue in the 12 years I was there, walking the streets after like 11pm. It's relatively safe if you're not an idiot.

You cn also head up Shrewsbury st, where there again are a bunch of restaurants. Great dinners on that street. That will bring you across the bright and out towards Shrewsbury (the town). There's a bunch of stuff out here as well. Definitely worth going out that way. That's route 9 and it will bring you all the way to Natick and Boston if you keep following it. There's a "fancy" mall in Natick, and again a lot of food.

There is also Union Station which will take you into Boston. Definitely worth hopping on the Trai. And checking out.

DO NOT DRIVE IN BOSTON. It's worse than NYC and it fucking sucks. It's a maze. Take the train and walk. Get an Uber while you're there if you need it, but avoid driving. The city is cool as fuck though.

As far as public transit, the public bus has always been solid. I took it for years while I was going to school for my associates and it may run late a few times, but it does well. I took ubers a lot there, and if you plan on going out drinking, take them. I only had an issue once in like 5 years I took them. Theyre great. Over all though, it's a very walkable city, but biking is very rough because there's a ton of hills.

Theres a ton of stuff to do there. Go on adventures, and even just walking around will lead you to something cool!

Is Ken Stafford still around?

Yes, it is. I got my Bachelor's there for robotics engineering. It was difficult, but I learned a lot and it was fun. I met a lot of amazing people.

Prior to WPI, I went to QCC for my associated for engineering. They have an articulation agreement between the schools. This let's you transfer the credits from QCC to WPI with no questions asked, essentially. You have to follow the program though.

QCC was also a great school for engineering. It absolutely prepared me for WPI, especially taking summer classes with Dadbeh, the engineering dept head.

WPI does accelerated classes, so your in class for about 8 weeks, with three classes each, then you go I to the next semester. It's 4 semester a year, so you end up with a lot classes and work. It's all project based, so you're working with a group. This is both a blessing and a curse, but out of all the groups I had, in two years there, I only had maybe 3-4 sub par group mates.

Again, it's difficult, but it's well worth it.

Further more, if you can go to QCC prior, and you do well, and get into Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society and are active, you can get a substantial scholarship to WPI. I ended up with about $60,000 in college debt for a Bachelor's degree, which is roughly the cost a single year. Again, it's difficult but we'll worth it. QCC is very much a "get out what you put in" type of school. If you're hardworking and dedicated, you will learn a lot more than the average student who is just going to college because that's expected of them.

This and Smokestack closing? That's fucking rough.

Worcester was doing so well for a while too. It's a shame they put a stadium in, because from my understanding it's short term profits for some, then a down turn for everyone once the stadium isn't novel anymore.

I had someone total my vehicle, while driving their girlfriends vehicle drunk. Also wrecked a third car. The girl ran off into the woods at like 3AM when she got confronted about it.

She had a laundry list of criminal charges. Absolutely nothing happened to her.

Worcester doesn't give a fuck about drunk drivers.