EDITORIAL: Elorza Flips and Flops — Signs Budget He Promised to Veto, Ignores the Real Issues

EDITORIAL: Elorza Flips and Flops — Signs Budget He Promised to Veto, Ignores the Real Issues

What a difference a trip to a good getaway destination can make -- it can really clear your head.

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza just ten days ago promised to veto the Providence City Council’s budget, but a trip to Hawaii seems to have transformed the Mayor’s perspective.

“I am pleased that by working with my colleagues in the City Council, we have passed a budget which balances our residents interests fairly and continues to make critical investments in our communities to move Providence forward,” said Elorza in a statement after the budget was adopted by a vote of 11-4.

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During the past week plus, Elorza has been criticized for going on his paid trip to a Mayor’s conference with his son and partner, but he may have read the that Wall Street Journal — the most influential business publication in the United States (maybe the world) — dubbed Elorza’s school system  “an education horror show — a case study in public school failure and lack of accountability.”

He may have read about a vicious murder on Federal Hill, a cultural and retail neighborhood that is under steep decline under Elorza.

In signing the budget Elorza said, “This budget builds on the responsible budgeting practices that have put our city on sound financial footing in recent years and continues investments to create opportunities for our youth, supports major arts and culture programming residents and visitors enjoy, and reflects our strong commitment to improving schools during this critical time.”

It seems that despite being in office for five years, the Mayor will say everything possible to play sleight of hand to distract and ignore the pending $1.3 billion unfunded pension liability.

If you think Johns Hopkins evaluation was tough on the plight of the Providence schools, wait for the next round of consultants to analyze Providence’s endless financial malfeasance.

The Wall Street Journal will have to get out their thesaurus to describe Elorza’s financial mismanagement.

But on to PVDFest— just remember to wear to body armor.