EDITORIAL: Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asians Need Not Apply in Providence

EDITORIAL: Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asians Need Not Apply in Providence

It appears that Mayor Jorge Elorza’s “One Providence” is only for Whites.

If Bill Clinton was proverbially America’s first Black President, then Jorge Elorza seems to be vying to be Providence’s last white Mayor.  

Elorza’s promise of “One Providence” seems to have been misunderstood by many of us. For many of us, we thought Elorza was promising a more inclusive, racially and economically balanced city. 

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It was a great goal, but 100 days into his administration it appears that the “One Providence” was a pledge to only appoint Whites to the high paying $100,000 plus positions in his administration.

Appointees should be the best and brightest and should have the highest qualifications, but it is hard to look at these appointments and make those claims.  None were recruited by search. Not one can claim to have a national reputation. A number of them have had no direct experience.

Moreover, the staff of the administration should, in some part, reflect the composition of the city.  The Ferguson Police force was roundly criticized in the Justice Department report for only employing 4 officers of color on a police force of 54. Providence is a minority majority city and residents of color should resent that they pay taxes, volunteer in the schools, and are loyal city residents, but the “good jobs” only go to residents who are white.

How White is Elorza’s staff?

Off the top twelve positions in city government appointed or re-appointed by Elorza, he is 12 for 12 in appointing whites.  Moreover, all of them live in predominately white neighborhoods or live outside the city.

Here are all the positions:

The Chief of Staff

Chief Operating Officer

Public Safety Commissioner

Fire Chief

Police Chief

Finance Director

Director of Operations

Public Works Director

Chief Engineer at the Water Supply Board

City Solicitor

Newly created Chief Innovation Officer,

and, the most controversial, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation – all of them are white.

None of them were hired through a professional search.  A number are just holdovers from previous administrations even going back to the Administration of Buddy Cianci, and each is paid near or in excess of $100,000.

Qualifications in doubt

Some of his appointment’s qualifications are in question. Wendy Nilsson’s experience and qualifications fail to meet the minimum criteria of the City Charter nor do they meet the Elorza administration’s job posting. She was paid $2,500 per year, had no staff oversight, and has never lead and type of organization.  Her small nonprofit hosted park events a couple times a year.

In Providence, the Elorza administration has neither recruited the best and brightest, nor created an administration that reflects the City.  Moreover, a good Mayor would achieve both – an administration with the best talent and that reflects a sweeping array of experiences.

This is not the “One Providence” we were expecting or should have to live with.