Angelini’s defining quality may be he doesn’t like to sit on the sidelines. And, over the course of a 50-year career, he hasn’t, being a voice of reason and change in his many roles: As a board member, he helped pick the last three CEOs of Hanover Insurance Group; on the Massport board, he advocated for the state to purchase Worcester Regional Airport from the city, resulting in $100 million in investments. Entering his late 70s, Angelini is going strong.
During this spring’s meetings of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority, Angelini was the driving voice behind efforts to improve downtown, including advocating seizing the rundown Midtown Mall from its owner via eminent domain.
Where is the Central Mass. community headed? I’m bullish on Worcester, and this is an extremely opportunistic time. As an urban center 40 miles from one of the country’s most successful cities, we have challenges, but they are outweighed by distinctive advantages. This is the time to exploit them. Increasing employment by attracting businesses, improving rail transportation to Boston and building the best urban school system in New England are essential. We need to accomplish these urgently. Time is our enemy, and not our ally.
That would be quite the read: I’m an open book, for better or worse.
