Elorza Defends Trip to Hawaii — Taking Staff, Partner and Baby UPDATED
GoLocalProv News Team
Elorza Defends Trip to Hawaii — Taking Staff, Partner and Baby UPDATED
The city’s schools have been identified as being among the worst in the country by one of the preeminent education research universities, but the mayor’s office tells GoLocal that it is critical for Elorza to travel to Hawaii for a trip to the 87th Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He will be traveling with staff, his partner and their child.
“Staff traveled with him and family members joined. Only staff and the mayor submit for reimbursement after travel and these are not city dollars. The costs associated with the conference will be paid by the Providence Tourism Fund (PTF), which is fundraised into once every four years,” said Emily Crowell, Director of Communication for Elorza.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe trip to Hawaii was unveiled on GoLocal on Thursday morning and City Council Finance Chairman John Igliozzi told GoLocal that Elorza should cancel the trip.
"I can't believe the Mayor is out of town during budget negotiations. I had to read [the news] twice, I could not believe it," said City Council President Sabina Matos.
Earlier in June, Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young announced he would not be attending the conference -- due to optics.
"I didn't want to hear people's outcry," Young told the Baltimore Business Journal. "Like when I went to Detroit, it was all business and some good things started. And I just don't want to hear 'oh why is he there when he should be here in Baltimore? The crime is so bad in Baltimore...the city needs you here.' "
“The Mayor left today for the trip and Travel costs associated with the conference will be covered by the Providence Tourism Fund, which was founded to help the City of Providence prepare for the 77th United States Conference of Mayors held here in June 2009. Reimbursements are submitted after so I don’t have a total at this time,” Crowell told GoLocal.
“Mayor Elorza was invited to participate in several key discussions throughout the entirety of the conference. While there the Mayor will be a panelist alongside national leading voices during sessions focused on the Census (the only End-to-End Census Test was conducted in Providence County and the Supreme Court ruled against the addition of a citizenship question today), Education and Health (the City’s Eat, Play Learn, PVD initiative won a Childhood Obesity Prevention Award and a $25,000 grant at the 2018 USCM Winter Meeting for its work in expanding youth summer learning and employment opportunities), Community Development and Housing (the City's EveryHome program which has successfully brought back nearly 600 formerly vacant and abandoned homes to productive use will be highlighted) and Immigration,” she added.
“We have had several buyers in Providence withdraw offers this week since the real estate tax proposal came to light and we have gotten calls already from sellers who are interested in selling the homes based on the proposal. Most of those are in the highest assessed properties,” said Sally Lapides, President/CEO of Residential Properties Ltd.
Lapides did not want to comment as to if Elorza should cancel his trip, but said on Wednesday, “What I do know is that there are lots of families on the East Side that are looking in the suburbs to send their children to public schools.”
“Mayor Elorza serves as a USCM Trustee, Co-Chair of the Immigration Reform Task Force, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Community Development and Housing and member of the 2019 Nominating Committee. As always, while at the conference, Mayor Elorza will use this opportunity to connect with municipal leaders from across the country and share best practices, new advancements and discuss the work and challenges, including education, here in Providence with global thought leaders,” said Crowell.
“Additionally, the Mayor will be in close contact with the team here to stay updated on ongoing conversations both around the recent announcement and budget. We will update the Mayor on any developments here in Providence during the conference,” she added.
This story was first published 6/27/19 3:39 PM
Updated Friday 6:46 AM
