Raymond V. Mariano: My Christmas gift list for Worcester leaders and a few special friends
Santa called me last week; he’s been struggling getting his work done — with all of the recent supply chain problems. So, he asked me to put together a list of gifts for some of Worcester’s leaders and a few friends.
Joe Petty: Our mayor needs a bus driver’s cap to wear and a Massachusetts bus driver’s license so that next year when the school department starts its own bus company and enough bus drivers don’t show up; he can literally be in the driver’s seat.
Carolyn Jackson: Santa, now that the nurse’s strike is settled, give Ms. Jackson a trip to Whoville to see if her heart can grow three sizes on Christmas Day.
Jim McGovern: Our congressman would like a new GPS driving system that allows him to get anywhere he wants to go only by taking left-hand turns.
Khrystian King: Our Lone Ranger of a city councilor often finds that he’s voting all by himself on the City Council. Santa, please bring him a Tonto so at least he has someone to talk to.
Sean Rose: After a bruising re-election campaign, Santa, please bring Sean a voice that he is not afraid to use every Tuesday night so that the people who re-elected him won’t be disappointed.
Maureen Binienda: I’m told that School Committee members have pooled their money and bought the superintendent a special gift: a first edition copy of “The Death of Caesar” signed by Marcus Junius Brutus himself. Et tu Joe.
And to enjoy her new book, Santa could you bring her a gift certificate to Travelocity so this dedicated teacher and administrator can find a nice place to sit and read — maybe somewhere with a beach.
Charlie Baker: Many people were surprised and disappointed when our hard working governor announced that he wouldn’t seek re-election. Santa, please bring Charlie the game “Sorry” that he can play with all of those who are sorry he will be leaving.
Anti-vaxxer/anti-mask protesters: Santa, these folks are truly special. Please send them one of your elves who will follow them around and who repeatedly kicks them in the shins every time they punch a flight attendant, threaten an elected official, or scream at a parent or child on their way to school.
Ted Cruz: For one of the biggest blowhards in the United States Senate, please bring Teddy a Big Bird stuffed toy that he can punch and a baby’s pacifier that Chuck Schumer can stuff in Teddy’s mouth every time he tries to open it.
Worcester City Council: These folks are so darn quiet; it’s hard to know when they are in the room. Santa, can you get each of them a cow bell to hang around their necks so the rest of us know when they are present and a couple of megaphones that they can pass around, on Tuesday nights, that will amplify their voices so we can hear them if they ever actually say something.
Liz Cheney: Santa, I’m not sure you can do this, but would it be possible to put the Wyoming congresswoman’s picture on a box of Wheaties? At a time when few of our elected officials — Democrats and Republicans — are willing to stand up and put their country ahead of their party, she has shown exceptional courage and put her career on the line to do what she thinks is right.
St. Vincent nurses: Santa (aka Marty Walsh) thank you for helping our nurses get a new contract that lets them get back to their jobs caring for the rest of us.
Karyn Polito: Another office to run for.
Dr. Michael Hirsh: A 100% vaccination rate in Worcester.
Kelloggs: Santa give this company the largest piece of coal you can find. With a CEO who made more than $11 million last year, they are now permanently replacing 1,400 striking workers who had the audacity to strike because they were forced to work as much as 80 hours a week and 16 hours a shift.
John Monfredo, Dianna Biancheria, Jack Foley, Gary Rosen and Matt Wally: Santa please send them our thanks for their service.
Gordon Hargrove: I know I wrote a couple of weeks ago that there will never be a statue of him anywhere, but Santa, this guy could use a new Friendly House building that serves the people he cares so much about and that we can then name after him.
Republican election officials: To all those men and women who stood up to the pressure and the threats and still refused to corrupt the integrity of our election, please bring them peace.
Telegram & Gazette: Santa, if you can get Worcester’s daily newspaper to bring back Dianne Williamson — my favorite columnist — for a few more columns, we’d all appreciate it.
Rand Paul: The senator from Kentucky has repeatedly voted against providing federal money for natural disasters around the country — like Hurricanes Sandy and Maria. But now that his state has been hit with a terrible tornado, Paul wrote President Biden a letter begging for federal assistance.
Santa, please bring him a button that says “Really, I’m not a hypocrite.”
For our children and grandchildren: And for all the children and grandchildren who will inherit the world we are creating for them, could you use your magic to give them a world with a little less hate, less violence, and a lot more green to help save the earth.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone.
Email Raymond V. Mariano at rmariano.telegram@gmail.com. He served four terms as mayor of Worcester and previously served on the City Council and School Committee. He grew up in Great Brook Valley and holds degrees from Worcester State College and Clark University. He was most recently executive director of the Worcester Housing Authority. His column appears weekly in the Sunday Telegram.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Raymond V. Mariano: My Christmas gift list for Worcester leaders
