By Scott Zoback

• DIVIDED WE STAND: The concept of charter review has always been one of the most divisive issues in Worcester. Just saying the words will cleave a crowd in two. City Councilor Gary Rosen's motion on Tuesday night — to look at the processes that could be used in a review — proved just how much the issue splits people. Supporters of the item said it was just about looking at the process, not about an actual review. Still, some of their rationales sounded like they wouldn't mind a review down the line. Rosen said he raised the issue of charter review after a number of conversations he heard and was part of, specifically around the election, when people expressed discontent with the current processes — the opt-out system of running for mayor, the make up of the Council, the terms of councilors, etc. But among opponents, there was a definite "if no one is telling us it's broke, why fix it?" attitude. They all talked about not having a "groundswell" of public support and Mayor Konnie Lukes said that just because a small group of talk show callers were calling for a review in the fall, "they don't represent the people." One of those most angry at the prospect of a review was Councilor Paul Clancy. "This is one fishing expedition I don't want to join at this time knowing we have a lot of items on our agenda." Echoing him was a vitriolic Phil Palmieri ("They're like Batman and Robin," said one observer), who said that since constituents aren't asking for a review, we shouldn't do it. "Maybe they're asking the man with the stick," he said, in an obscure campaign reference to Rosen. "Maybe they're asking Councilor Smith." A little charter review is like being "a little pregnant," Palmieri said. "Let them come to the chamber. Let them tell us this is what we need to do," he roared. More important, Palmieri claimed, are taxes, the School Committee's request for $5 million, and public safety. And Palmieri, no stranger to the media, ended with a gem: "Municipal lawmakers will be municipal lawmakers. As long as they are on camera, they'll get up and speak to anyone."

• AN EXCUSE TO SAY "BREAST": And while Paul Clancy, Phil Palmieri, Konnie Lukes and company talked about focusing on more important issues, there was Rick Rushton, talking about making breastfeeding in public kosher, metaphorically speaking. We'll say nothing else on the issue, except that there are few things quite as bizarre as listening to Rushton expound on the health benefits of breastfeeding in the middle of a City Council meeting.

• NO TALKING, PLEASE: For the first time in forever, the councilors let the Economic Development Report be referred with no comment. Why is it such a big deal? The monthly report, which highlights all the major projects in town, generally takes an hour or more to pass while councilors go back and forth with administration officials on various details.

• RUSHTON RIPS RESEARCH: Councilor Rick Rushton has been waiting for almost two weeks to go after the Research Bureau's latest report on public construction, and on Tuesday, he got his chance. Saying the report was amateurish, Rushton went on an all-out crusade. "It's not the actual content, it's the lackadaisical research methods," he said. Councilor Michael Germain agreed, calling it a "biased report" with "pre-determined" conclusions. Later, Bureau head Roberta Schaeffer defended accusations that the group was biased, telling the Council, "We are not anti-union, we are not anti-anything. We are pro-Worcester."

• RUBBER SIDEWALKS LIVE: Thought we had seen the last of Gary Rosen's beloved rubber sidewalks? Think again. Rosen CC'd us this week on an e-mail he sent to Dan Joyce, a representative from RubberSidewalks.com. Rosen wrote that "I also look forward to continuing our discussions on whether Worcester ... should join Boston and Cambridge ... in looking into the feasibility and affordability of rubber sidewalks." And, of course, Rosen couldn't resist a barb in our direction. "I sent the topic of rubber sidewalks by the Worcester City Council about a year ago. Unfortunately, it wasn't taken very seriously by many of my colleagues in elected and appointed positions. My good friend and Worcester Magazine reporter, Scott Zobeck [sic], found it quite amusing and has given me some good-natured digs. However, his skepticism on this issue is shared by many in our city. So I do look forward to continuing my and their education."

• FOR OUR NEXT ITEM, PRESS 4: Kate Toomey is reaalllllly annoyed at calling city departments and getting a machine as their "first line of defense." On Tuesday, she asked the city to look at getting rid of voice answering services, when possible. "We are a service provider. We are responsible and answerable to the public and it's important for us to bring government to a point where we are responsive to the public. Wherever possible, put real people at the end of the phone."

• MCGOVERN PLAYS RICHIE RICH: And think Congressman Jim McGovern has a lot of money on hand already? It's about to grow, exponentially. McGovern is being "honored" at a "Special St. Patrick's Day Celebration," (it's a euphemism for "fundraiser") at Mechanics Hall that features U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, former U.S. Sen. George McGovern, and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray. Most interesting, though, is the appearance of Gov. Deval Patrick. Patrick and McGovern have been at odds in the presidential race, with Patrick standing by Barack Obama, while McGovern supports his old ally Hillary Clinton. o