GoLocalProv Interview: Cicilline Plans Transition to Congress
Stephen Beale, GoLocalProv News Editor
GoLocalProv Interview: Cicilline Plans Transition to Congress
Cicilline told GoLocalProv he is in the midst of two transitions—handing off the reins of city government to Mayor-elect Angel Taveras and putting together his Congressional staff and agenda.
“It’s a busy time, I’m obviously still fulfilling my responsibilities as mayor of Providence and also working hard on completing the transition process of the incoming mayor and also preparing to go to Washington,” Cicilline said. “It’s an especially busy time but very exciting.”
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Unfinished business as mayor?
One obvious thing that remains incomplete is a budget for the current fiscal year. But that is in the hands of the city council, Cicilline said, adding that he expects they will pass one before the end of the year. Other priorities before he leaves in January include:
• “revolutionizing” how the city does permitting, by allowing applicants to submit building plans online so city departments can review them at the same time, speeding up the time it takes to get a permit
• completing the launch of a new city Web site
• overseeing the new high school version of the Providence After School Alliance
The greatest challenge facing Taveras
Cicilline thinks it's the possibility of continued cuts in state aid to communities: “I think if the state budget crisis doesn’t improve and more cuts are made to local governments that will be a really tough challenge … how to absorb even more cuts and protect the level of services. …That will be a challenge until this economy turns around and the state’s in a position to restore some of what it took away from local government.”
What he will miss most about being mayor
“Without a doubt it’s the best job I’ve ever had and it’s a job where I’ve been able to have a direct impact on people’s lives. …. What you do as a legislator in Congress has broad impact and really wide impact but may not feel as direct because you’re setting national policy. It’s really important and can have a huge effect on people’s lives but it’s different.”
Advice for the next mayor
Cicilline said his conversations with Taveras are private—but he did share one piece of public advice he’d give him, based on lessons learned from his eight years as mayor. “It’s important in your schedule to kind of ensure that you set aside some time to do the work of developing good policies and meeting with your department directors and understanding and brainstorming solutions,” Cicilline said.
“It’s very easy for your schedule to get filled with the other responsibilities of Little League banquets, and ribbon cuttings, and all this stuff which is really important, but if you don’t put in your schedule what I used to call governing time… it’s easy to for that day to go by without almost any time to do that work.”
Concerns about a GOP House
Cicilline made Social Security privatization an issue in his race against Republican John Loughlin, and he told GoLocalProv that the issue did not end with his election. “I feel very strongly about protecting Social Security and that will be a fight that I know we’re going to have. There have been Republicans all across the country who have talked about privatizing,” Cicilline said. “I think it is a bad idea and I will do everything I can to stop it.”
He said he also is concerned about Republican plans to hold off on middle class tax cuts - unless cuts for the richest Americans are approved - and said he is "concerned" that Republicans favor tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs and do not take climate change seriously.
Top priorities in Congress
Cicilline did not reveal who he has in mind for his staff, saying he would have a better handle on his office’s budget after he heads to Washington for an orientation on Nov. 14. He said he would be speaking with Congressman Patrick Kennedy and the state’s Senate delegation on what committee assignments he should seek.
Cicilline said he acknowledges that Congress would be under Republican leadership, but he said he remains committed to the many policy proposals he aired during his campaign, including: expanding access to capital for small businesses, creating a national infrastructure bank, and establishing a Made in America grant program for manufacturers. “My interest really (is in) how to make the right kind of investments and develop the right kind of policies that will really private sector job growth,” Cicilline said.