Body Found at Skyline at Waterplace, “Owner” Mike Mota Claims He Allowed Man to Sleep at Club
GoLocalProv News Team
Body Found at Skyline at Waterplace, “Owner” Mike Mota Claims He Allowed Man to Sleep at Club
Police interviewed Michael Mota, who identified himself as the owner of the Skyline. Mota has been entangled in a legal battle with the City of Providence, which has been seeking to evict Mota’s company for more than a year.
According to Police, Mota told police that the man whose body was found at the Skyline was a former employee.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMota said he had allowed the man to sleep at the facility as he was homeless and was battling health issues.
According to Mota, he did not know how long the man had been dead as the Skyline is only open for special events, and the last time one was held there was in late July.
In 2017, a GoLocal investigative series raised questions about how the administration of then Providence Jorge Elorza pushed through an agreement never properly approved by the City's Board of Contract and Supply to lease the restaurant space at Waterplace Park to Mota and his associates — which became Skyline.
One of Mota's associates in launching Skyline was David Pontarelli — he had been fired by the city as a no-show worker just four years earlier.
Then, the City of Providence repeatedly forgave missed rent payments and cut the rent.
All the while, Mota and his associates were pouring tens of thousands of dollars into the political campaigns of Elorza, newly elected mayor Brett Smiley, then City Councilor David Salvatore, and others. Elorza received more than $10,000. Smiley received $2,000 just days before he was sworn into office.
In 2023, after years of missed payments, Providence City officials sought to evict Mota. Smiley has not returned Mota's campaign donations.