City officials blamed inequities in the ways additional assistance appropriations were allocated to Springfield relative to other Massachusetts cities.
Out of Massachusetts cities, nine are larger than 75,000 residents, and Lowell was fifth most dangerous or safest.
Springfield was the only Massachusetts city included on The Advocate's list.
They point to a case in the eastern Massachusetts city of Lowell.
The company has 3,000 employees in the central Massachusetts city, which has a population of 163,000.
He graduated from Classical High School in that western Massachusetts city.
Dorchester as a separate municipality would rank among the top five Massachusetts cities.
Coupons worth a dollar will be distributed to poor mothers for use at farmer's markets in 10 Massachusetts cities.
"I lived with history in Worcester," he said, remembering the Massachusetts city where he grew up.
Boston, a paragon of the problems in Massachusetts cities, experienced numerous challenges that led to racial problems.