Turtleboy Investigates

Robert Branca Has Paid Off Every Worcester Politician He Needs To To Get $1.2 Million In Tax Breaks To Build Apartments On Grafton Hill

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Earlier today we wrote this article about Joe Petty’s slum sociable to Grafton Hill with some business developer who is looking to build some high rent apartments on Wall Street:

Masslive Does Puff Piece For Petty’s Slum Sociable Through Grafton Hill, But Here’s What Grafton Hill Really Looks Like

For those of you not familiar with Wall Street, it is not nearly as glamorous as it sounds. It’s filled with discarded couches and broken dreams. We went through all of the pictures on the Masslive story about it, and we noticed that almost every single person on the walk about was a politician there for the photo op. Kate Toomey must’ve been stuck in traffic because she rarely misses an event like thi. As a matter of fact there was only one person who worked in the private sector – the guy with the blueprints in this picture:

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Gotta love how they’re all just standing in a pile of shit while Petty desperately tries to suck in his gut as it sags over his pants which are clearly too small for him. Worcester is where everyone wants to move to though!!!

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Anyway, we did a little Google search on the guy with the blueprints. His name is Robert Branca. He owns Branded Realty Group LLC and his family owns at least 70 Dunkin Donuts in New England.

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And look what comes up when you Google him:

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Check Out All This Money Joe Petty Is Getting From Non-Worcester Residents Just With Last Names A-C

We’ve actually written about this guy before. Very savvy and successful businessman with a reputation for urban development. And donating money to a political campaign is pretty standard. But here’s the thing – Branca asked for $1.2 million in tax breaks for this development project. And this came AFTER he gave $300 to Petty’s campaign:

A $1.2 million dollar tax break is being considered to help local company Branded Realty Group LLC build market-rate apartments on the long-abandoned parcel at 100 Wall St., once the home of the popular El Morocco Restaurant. Under the proposed agreement, Branded Realty Group LLC would receive a 70 percent real estate tax exemption over a 15-year period. The property would actually qualify for an 80 percent exemption, according to a letter to the council from City Manager Edward Augustus Jr.

The three City Councilors who served on the economic development subcommittee and would ultimately decide whether to grant this gigantic tax break to a Petty donor were George Russell, Sarai “Ti-ti ho” Rivera, and Dicky Rushton. All three of them are well known soldiers for the Petty/McGovern crime family. And not surprisingly they had nothing but great things to say about Mr. Branca:

Russell and fellow subcommittee members Frederick Rushton and Sarai Rivera praised the work of Branded Realty Group, citing the locally-owned company’s long history of development in the city, including several properties on Shrewsbury St., as well as its civic donations.

“They don’t just come in in the middle of the night, they are very visible in our city,” Rivera said. “You can see that by the level of investments they have made.”

This is how politics works in Worcester. You throw some money in the canteen fund and you get $1.2 million in tax breaks from the machine that you financially support. Don’t forget – the democrats are the party of the little guy!!! They hate big business and corporations that try to evade taxes!!!

But wait, it gets better. Robert Branca doesn’t get to where he is if he didn’t learn to hedge his bets. What if Petty lost the election last year? Then he’d be proper fucked begging Michael Gaffney for $1.2 million in tax breaks. That’s why he did this:

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LOL. He gave Gaffney $100 as insurance in case he won. I gotta give it to the guy, I admire his hustle. He understood that a tax break from Petty would cost three times as much as he hoped a tax break from Gaffney. He paid what it took to get the job done.

If you keep looking up the name Robert Branca on the OCPF’s website he’s also given given $950 to Petty over the years

Screen Shot 2016-08-26 at 11.10.33 PMScreen Shot 2016-08-26 at 11.06.35 PM

$100 to Ti-Ti Ho

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$50 to Kate Toomey

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$300 to Phil Palmieri

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and $50 Dicky Rushton

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At the time Palmieri was the district councilor where this land is located, so it makes sense that his payoff was higher. Why did Kate Toomey get the cash? Probably because he figured throwing her a bone would make her feel like she was a part of the team. That’s all she really wants. It’s also hilarious that even though Ti-Ti Ho and Dicky had the same power and served on the same economic development committee, Ti-Ti Ho got twice as much as him.

Honestly, I’m kind of surprised. I thought it cost a lot more than $100 to buy off Sarai Rivera. I thought she charged at least $500 so she could buy some more t-shirts for every 15 year old she could find in Main South. But I guess all it takes is a Benjamin for a savings of $1.2 million. At least Petty makes him pay for the tax breaks. Rookies.

 

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54 Comment(s)
  • GaffMore
    November 19, 2019 at 8:45 pm

    Wow Clearly a Mike Milky Frosted Tips Gaffney blog. Without the courage to put his name on it.

  • Joseph Schmo
    August 31, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    I would like to see any one of the City’s counselors walk these streets alone, No Cops/ NO BALLS! I grew up in the Grafton Hill area and lived there many years, it has now become a scary place. I lock my doors when driving through, too many losers out and about. Nuff said Joe Putty? I dare you…

  • Facts
    August 29, 2016 at 2:36 pm

    The city council got this one right TB. All 11 of them voted for it. Even the ones that didn’t get donations.

    Gaffney voted for it because it was the right thing. That land is huge and it was sucking the neighborhood down a black hole. Nobody else, even the city, could afford to do anything about it for 2 decades. It was bringing down property values around it so the city would LOSE taxes if it didn’t move forward.

  • Whambulance Chaser
    August 28, 2016 at 7:50 am

    TB you said he threw a few bucks into the canteen.

    Did you know that his he and Dunkin’ Donuts actually bought the Worcester Firefighters an actual canteen unit? Box 4 special services canteen. It has been huge for first responders.

  • Mayor of Morons
    August 28, 2016 at 2:48 am

    Did someone seriously spend time writing this and pasting screenshots of this guys contributions to Worcester city councillors? Who sponsors this….WAIT….do these local businesses PAY someone to effing WRITE THIS??????? BAHAHAHAAAAAAA

  • God Save the Queen
    August 28, 2016 at 1:14 am

    So with the tax break and all the cash exchanges I’m left to wonder if fast Eddy is gonna plow the hill to these estate like apartments during the Winter or not just like everyone else who ACTUALLY paid their taxes last year ???

    • Jackson
      August 28, 2016 at 11:54 pm

      No plowing this year either. Paul moosey is going through more growing pains.

  • Waaaahmbulance!
    August 27, 2016 at 10:56 pm

    Jesus Christ Mr Lynch. How many times do I have to answer to a call for help concerning your hurt HIV infested dick? You don’t have insurance, and David is spending your cash assistance on cocaine.

    At this point, the best I can do is give you a bandaid and some golf balls.

  • August 27, 2016 at 10:09 pm

    Yo kevie no story same old same old

    Yo momma be a fat lazy slob POS

    Yo dada be a gutter drunk loser

    Yo brother be a drunk, drug dealing POS

    You just a standard killer POS

    Get a job faker

  • Kevin Lynch
    August 27, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    All day I have been sitting here waiting for a new story. What do we have to wait till 1am again?

    • Toby
      August 27, 2016 at 10:10 pm

      How is your Facebook group Kevin? Can’t add anything else to it can ya. You shouldn’t play as someone else.

  • Rosie perez
    August 27, 2016 at 9:07 pm

    15 year old site told you I was off tonight

  • Rhode Island Politician
    August 27, 2016 at 9:01 pm

    Amateurs! In Lil Rhody, we create non-profits and make ourselves 6 figure executives of the organizations. Then our “friends” just donate to the non- profit (and get a tax break to boot)!

  • Publius
    August 27, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    Thought TIF was to create permanant jobs? this is a big f u to every homeowner still sticking around. A big dump on the face of working people.

    • ZOMBIE HOTEL
      August 27, 2016 at 9:44 pm

      So how much of those $1.2 million were you going to be paying until the zombie junkie acpcolypse that was the 20 year abandoned El Morocco was demolished?

      Oh right. nothing.

      YOU were happy to let the neighbors of that giant overdose central junkie crash pad bring down the neighborhood. So, it was YOUR fault?

  • Billy
    August 27, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    Where is the Fiesty vs. Bob flame war on this?

    • FiestyLawyerLady
      August 27, 2016 at 6:54 pm

      He’s gone away for a little while, taking a much needed vacation away from the online world. He did tell me to basically go fuck myself, choke myself, and hang myself before he left though. He went out in style. Isn’t it nice here?

      • Rosie perez
        August 27, 2016 at 8:24 pm

        No your still here was no trouble to came along ,Bob was posting here.long before you .SJW BLM lover trouble making phony could go on and on but I just wasted enough my time

        • FiestyLawyerLady
          August 27, 2016 at 8:28 pm

          Don’t attempt to write differently. Way too obvious. The Rosie Perez name was used before with proper English. Sorry I blew up the spot on Gentleman Lawyer.

          P.S. Bob is the only person who has ever called me an SJW. I only remembered because I am sooooooo far from being an SJW.

          Nice to know you’re still lurking… Lolz…

          • Rosie perez
            August 27, 2016 at 9:05 pm

            No same person just a little off tonight. Not bob or Kevin just a long time reader who sick of your , 15teen Yr old girl shirt. Got you to out your spot on grafton st. Definitely wasted enough time

          • FiestyLawyerLady
            August 27, 2016 at 9:35 pm

            If you’re going to threaten me, why do it indirectly? Do it with balls, pussy. I go to Worcester often. Listen for that NY accent and come say hello. The best thing to do is make sure I’m alone Greg, you don’t want my husband to be with me; your masshealth wouldn’t cover that type of hospital stay.

            What a man… Hides behind a name to throw punches at my accent and then threatens a woman online. No wonder why your wife left, fucking pill popping junkie. No way you have been sober for 11 years. You’re too incoherent for that.

          • FiestyLawyerLady
            August 27, 2016 at 9:36 pm

            She only keeps the last name because of the two kids. She makes that pretty obvious on facebook.

          • Rosie perez
            August 27, 2016 at 10:50 pm

            No one threatened you, and you and professor’s strap on isn’t a husband

  • August 27, 2016 at 5:35 pm

    Checkout who kevin lynch is related to now you no why he gets out of crime

    Uncle steven lynch congressman yup lynchiee get out of jail free card

    • Wabbitt
      wabbitt
      August 27, 2016 at 6:23 pm

      Yep, cops suck but crooked politicians are just fine in Kevin’s world.

  • August 27, 2016 at 4:37 pm

    Kevin look into this further his brother inlaw is a fitchburg cop and one of the leaders of the good old boy network

  • reddog
    August 27, 2016 at 2:50 pm

    they dont teach you this in school,but this is how business is conducted in the real world. Dont know this guy,but he seems to be very successful. We should learn from this guy,not hate on him. its just the cost of doing business.

  • Steven Stover
    August 27, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Sarai works Main South. $50 for a blow and a $100 gets you anything you want.

  • Politics 101
    August 27, 2016 at 1:04 pm

    In other news, Water is wet!

    Your boy Trump gave money to everybody, especially Hillary Clinton when she was a NY senator. It’s just how life works

  • Cell Mate
    August 27, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    I’d listen to Kevin. He gave very little and RECIEVED alot in prison, hes a expert. He bobbed his head like a circus seal for hours for the fellas.

  • Joe Max
    August 27, 2016 at 12:08 pm

    Typical sell-out politicians, nothing new. Mariano used to do his Mayor walks in that area, a generation ago. It’s far worse today, nothing much has changed for the positive. Lots more heroin, drugs and shootings too.

  • Realist
    August 27, 2016 at 9:01 am

    What is the point of the article? I agree with one of the previous comments which stated that this article could have been written by Gaffney or Mesfin. Shoddy and pointless reporting there TB!

    • True Reality Speaks
      Mirror Mirror
      August 27, 2016 at 12:37 pm

      No one cares what you think or agree with. Go back to Huff Po, troll.

      • Realist
        August 27, 2016 at 4:18 pm

        Oh, Okay. I’ll make sure to never disagree with TB again! Get a clue tool.

  • Brendan Rys
    Beej
    August 27, 2016 at 8:06 am

    I think this is pretty normal for a businessman to give money to various politicians – it’s business, not personal! I am an acquaintance of Rob – and I think politically he’s a conservative. And a heck of a nice guy.

    • Jay
      August 27, 2016 at 8:41 am

      We’re not blaming the businessman, we’re blaming the politicians who cut people favors in exchange for donations.

      • business as usual
        August 27, 2016 at 9:04 am

        Any that isnt a shithole doesnt need to give tax breaks to people to build housing or establish a business front.

        • business as usual
          August 27, 2016 at 9:05 am

          *any city

  • Boss Tweed
    August 27, 2016 at 6:54 am

    Petty makes me vomit

  • Jay
    August 27, 2016 at 2:40 am

    Good catch, TB. This is exactly how Worcester politics works and it’s nice seeing a news outlet actually expose it.

    • business as usual
      August 27, 2016 at 4:32 am

      This is how it works everywhere. 1.2 million is chump change compared to the 1.3 billion Elon Musk has bilked from Nevada and he says he needs more.

      If you get rid of Jen Roy’s job and one other you can offset the tax break cost per year.

    • Realist
      August 27, 2016 at 8:57 am

      Worcester politics?

  • Kevin Lynch
    August 27, 2016 at 12:43 am

    On one hand you state that the hill is run down and on the other hand you complimentary t this man as being great for urban development. So what is the problem???

    And you add that he has invested on Shrewsbury street. So this guy gives a few hundred dollars and he is criticized. He actually is a bit stingy if you ask me but then again if he gives into the community in other ways then I applaud him.

    Now, it isn’t surprising reading this and feeling that Gaffney wrote it and or Mesfin.

    Overall I think the tax break is kind of high as it would be nice to see like only $500,000 tax break and another $500,000 tax break automatically diverted to say youth programs in Worcester to assist in skill building for their futures. But that is just my opinion.

    • Vj
      August 27, 2016 at 1:00 am

      Die slow Kevin

    • Tek
      August 27, 2016 at 2:42 am

      Do you think anyone cares about your opinion

      Because they don’t

      • Realist
        August 27, 2016 at 8:55 am

        What about yours?

    • Kevin Lynch
      August 27, 2016 at 3:38 am

      I don’t really have enough money from the crazy checks Dave and I get every month to be giving money to politicians. Neither of us really feel like working. But I do offer to share the free groceries we get every day from the food pantries – Dave and I only eat donuts and twinkies anyway. To try to get some big favors, I offer not to make up slanderous stories about politicians and post them on Topix and FB.

      If I’m really desperate, I’ll shake people down for a couple of grand, tickets to Red Sox and Patriots games and a ride in a convertible.

    • Pep
      August 27, 2016 at 9:08 am

      The tax break is a bit high, but what are we getting for that abandoned lot now? And anyone else proposing anything decent without a tax break? Sometimes It seems that our only alternitive is publicly funding a CDC to build more low income housing. This guy is local, not some Big City developer, and he knows how to make a project like this a success! The kind of place I may want to live!

      • Jack
        August 28, 2016 at 11:49 pm

        On Wall Street? Life expectancy is 30 days.

    • PG
      August 27, 2016 at 9:16 am

      Kevin Lynch is a convicted murderer that went to jail for 7 years for manslaughter. How much of a property tax break did you get in jail, Kevin?

  • TheGrid
    August 27, 2016 at 12:16 am

    So what exactly is the problem? Stricly business as far as anyone should be concerned and something that would’ve happened if your boy Gaffney got elected anyway. Don’t mix the guys business with your political views.

  • Wabbitt
    wabbitt
    August 26, 2016 at 11:52 pm

    That’s all it costs to get tax breaks in the city of Worcester? Shit – get my checkbook! Even on my salary, I can buy my very own elected official!

    • Bob strong
      August 28, 2016 at 11:47 pm

      Most corrupt city in the Northeast. Just never investigated by the feds as its too pissant to bother with. Wait til they come here, will be masssive inditements, Chris Hansens kitchen will be full-up.

    • But but but stupid FACTS!
      August 30, 2016 at 7:19 pm

      You forgot about coming up with the millions you need to do build the thing you want a tax break on and actually doing it. Also, you forgot about the hundreds of thousands in taxes on top of that break that you’re gonna have to pay after you manage to build it even with the tax break that aren’t being taxed on the abandoned shithole there now.

      Reading can be fun!

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