Accusations of Political Pandering, Self-Righteousness Erupt Over Providence Budget Battle

Accusations of Political Pandering, Self-Righteousness Erupt Over Providence Budget Battle

Allegations of election pandering — and self-righteousness — marked a heated City Council Finance meeting on Wednesday evening on the issue of the Council Leadership’s controversial proposed tax structure changes.

Ward 1 City Councilman Seth Yurdin, who represents the East Side, spoke to the process of unveiling the changes last week an “embarrassment” and said the proposed changes that would result in on average of $200 of relief was a political ploy to pit neighborhoods against each other ahead of the next Mayoral election in 2022. 

Yurdin's remarks were met with immediate rebuke by other members after he left. 

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“When I don’t understand something, I got get my answers,” said Councilwoman Carmen Castillo, after Yurdin gave his remarks — and left for what he said was another commitment. “That show we got just now in here is really disappointing. I’m done with that show. Every night gives me a lot of stress — I’m working all day to come here and sit down about how we can get solutions."

“And he says $200 is not money. It’s money for my neighborhood because I live in a poor neighborhood, where people have two jobs to be able to afford rent,” said Castillo. 

Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris followed Castillo. 

“I know exactly what we have to do to survive in neighborhoods we serve. I appreciated what [Councilwoman Castillo] said because Councilwoman Castillo is right. People need to look beyond their self-righteousness,” said Harris. “I’m having a little problem with timing and timeline, too. I appreciate the Finance Committee, you stay here all night long.  This is not a game as the councilwoman said, this is not a show. This is for the constituents.  We represent the whole city of Providence, but we have to be fair.  I feel bad that we had to get a lecture — this is real for all of us, this is real for our neighborhoods. These wards are struggling."

“It’s easy for people to come in point fingers if they’re not here and not doing the work,” said Harris. 

Yurdin’s Remarks 

“The process is not the correct way to proceed. [A] proper budget, if there are cuts to be identified, it should be worked hand in hand with the administration, not have individual council people chipping away a budget that’s not really based on any actual meaningful policy considerations. If there's a baseline or number that the budget needs to be reduced by, then that should be worked out working with the administration,” said Yurdin. “This kind of process, having individual council members sort of unilaterally describe ways to make the city more efficient — while it may be well-meaning, it’s not really following any kind of best practices. I don’t think we’re really experts in how to save money. I would urge a process that is more thoughtful and at a little bit higher level.”

“What’s made this more difficult is this last-minute proposal - which as far as I know are still not before the committee — so the process only came about when it was leaked to the media that leadership was considering — and only through pressure what the actual [plan] was. Now we’re faced with 10 days in the time to address the budget, and now there’s an effort in the General Assembly to cure in part the negligence of the individuals that came up with the plan — which was obviously planned to be introduced and rammed through at the last minute," said Yurdin. 

Yurdin then went on to criticize the amount of relief that residents would see under the City Council leadership proposal. 

“The max benefit a resident will receive is $200. This is not a targeted relief to those who need it most. I would like to have those that introduced it provide any policy based reason — other than anecdotes about how someone is going to be helped — because I am unaware of any basis for establishing this number,” said Yurdin. “[Instead] we are engaging in what fundamentally is a political process that looks like a line has been drawn based on property value, and frankly it’s a precursor to the Mayoral election in a couple of years and seems pretty well designed to pit some neighborhoods against others for political purposes. I think there are many constituents would would pay more taxes if it was articulated why they’re being asked to pay them.  This process has been an embarrassment on the part of the council."

Following his remarks, Yurdin went to leave saying he had another commitment  — and Senate President Sabina Matos asked him how many council finance meetings he’s attended this year.

“That’s not really the point — the point is the actually enact real policy,” said Yurdin.

“But you can’t come at the 11th hour and just give us all this information without taking part in the process, or reaching out to the chairman with your feedback,” said Matos. 

“I can’t believe that it’s only Wednesday, because Thursday when the plan the chair was released — that no one had any notice of — I haven’t been there since Thursday, that’s true, but we’re proceeding as a budget as usual,” said Yurdin.  “I’m here commenting on information that is still not yet made public. It’s still in a press release and that’s it. I don’t think it’s fair for council members to say where have you been when in fact none of these issues have been engaged in any meaningful way.”

“For you, $200 might not make a big difference, but for some people, $200 does make a big difference,” said Matos. 

“That’s a really good point— the people who need it the most are not getting the relief they should get,” said Yurdin. “There are people who might live next door to that person could pay the taxes — the person who need the most are not going to very much help.”