7 Issues Smiley Has to Deal with (Fast) as Mayor of Providence

1. Can He Lead? Just 7% of Registered Voters Voted for Smiley 

Mayor-elect Smiley won the Democratic primary with just over 41% of the Democratic primary voters. He won with 9,000 votes.

The city has a population of 180,000 and 123,000 registered voters.

Just 7% of registered voters voted for Smiley.

2. Build a Team

In an interview with Smiley just after the primary, he stressed that it is critical to recruit a top-tier administration.

"I think that there are absolutely people in that category who [those that will leave successful careers to work for the city] would be interested in giving back to their community after a successful career, and I hope that some of those people are part of my administration," said Smiley in an interview with GoLocal.

3. Superman Building

The deal that sitting Mayor Jorge Elorza signed on to for the rehab of the Superman building commits the city of Providence to $10 million (low-interest loan, 1%) that was intended for low-income housing, tax stabilization for 30 years, and $5 million in subsidies.

The deal between the city and state with the developer David Sweetser was struck before interest rates skyrocketed.

Smiley has endorsed the deal -- a deal that was tenuous in April now maybe underwater. 

4. Graffiti, Broken Sidewalks, Potholes

Providence is beaten up. For more than a decade, the city has been left to decay and is scarred with graffiti.

Providence looks tired and worn. Streets and sidewalks in many areas are cracked and broken.

While existing staffing of the public works department can file potholes, decades of deferred improvements are going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Smiley made big promises that he would run a competent administration that could get the basics done.

5. Police Contract

The city is on verge of a contract negotiation with the FOP, Lodge 3. The union is looking for significant raises.

Many of the new members of the City Council have spoken out against the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, or LEOBOR. A new contract requires approval by the City Council.

We could see a difficult conflict for the new mayor.

6. Can He Get Big Things Done at the State House?

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza had little success at the State House. 

His multiple efforts to sell the Providence Water Supply Board were blocked.

A number of General Assembly leaders represent Providence. Smiley -- a more skilled politician than Elorza -- should be more successful at the State House pushing his agenda.

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Senate Whip Majority Whip Mary Ellen Goodwin, and House Majority Leader Chris Blazejewski all represent Providence.

7. Renegotiating Agreements with Not-for-Profits -- Brown, Lifespan, and the others

Yale pays New Haven more than $20 million a year. According to Providence records, Brown pays Providence less than $4 million. 

But, with endowments cratering due to the stock market slide, the colleges will be crying poor mouths.

And, Lifespan, Rhode Island's largest hospital conglomerate, reported it lost nearly $50 million last quarter.