Elorza Passes Over New Licensing Board Nominee for Chair
Kate Nagle, GoLocal News Editor
Elorza Passes Over New Licensing Board Nominee for Chair
Newton was nominated to the board by Elorza after Dr. Jeffrey Williams stepped aside as board chair to spend more time on his ministry.
"I didn't go into this wanting to be in charge, or not wanting to be in charge," said Newton. "I've lived in the city since 1974, I felt I had something to contribute. We'd had discussions about the chairmanship, then I recently had probably a 30 second conversation [with Elorza], when he said he thought he might want someone else, and I respect that decision, and I said that's your decision, and I said thank you very much."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Mayor's office did not respond to request for comment on Friday.
Newton currently serves as Assistant Administrator for the state's Minority Business Compliance Office within the Department of Administration as well as serving on the Ocean State Business Development Authority, Housing Resource Commission, Neighborhood Development Fund and numerous other organizations.
"I think Charles would have been an excellent chair because of his MBE experience, he's got experience overseeing panels that tackled issues of a judgmental nature," said NAACP Providence Branch President Jim Vincent. "I supported Charles for the board, and when I got wind that he was being considered for Chair, I was excited. I don't know the reasons for the Mayor's decision. It's his call, and I thought Charles would have been excellent."
Board Shakeups
"My understanding is that from what I've heard is that Sen. Pichardo is expected to be elected the next chair, but that's not official, just what you hear in the hallways," said City Council President Luis Aponte of current Vice-Chair Pichardo. "Given here is now three chairs in less than a year, there's an opportunity for [him] and the administration to send a clear message that there will be stability moving forward, and there's an opening for them to rethink things -- efficiencies, improvements."
Currently, the board is comprised of Pichardo, who serves as Vice-Chair; Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan; Luis Peralta, former board chair Johanna Harris, and the opening left by Williams departure that Newton is expected to fill.
Sharon Steele with the Jewelry District Association, who has been active with the board of licenses due to nightclub issues, said she believe that the only qualified board member to be chair is Harris, who served at the helm before Elorza had appointed Williams to replace her.
"I'd heard that until just recently, that Charles would be chair, but it now appears that's not the case," said Harris. "On that board, we have one person who is a real live attorney, whose spent her whole life in corporate law. The only person who is qualified is Johanna Harris, and anything less than that is a miscarriage of the responsibilities for which this board exists. We once again have violence in the jewelry district, we have guns, property damage, threats, graffiti, public urination. Why is this happening? Because Harris doesn't take crap from the attorneys."
Harris, who had been embroiled in the $3 Bar controversy on Federal Hill which saw the nightclub shut down amidst public debate over episodes of violence in the surrounding neighborhood, was the subject of an ethics complain by the bar's lawyers about her working for the city in a HR capacity, allegedly in violation of the law.
"How is Pichardo serving as chair not a conflict of interest? He's in the General Assembly, and he's got members -- Mattiello, DeSimone -- coming in to back these bad actors pretending to be restaurants when in fact are nightclubs," Steele continued. "I was there when Pichardo spoke out on behalf of Ada's Creations, who owes $59,000, and in violation of the law have still not entered into payment plan. He spoke out on their behalf, then voted to let them STILL not be in compliance with the law when all other establishments are required to be. "
10 Questions Elorza Has to Answer as Mayor
Department staffing?
Economic Development. Chief of Staff. Policy Director. Who will Elorza place in these key posts? Will former opponent Brett Smiley play a role? Will Elorza keep on any key Taveras staffers?
There are multiple questions in this category, and Elorza should be making moves shortly as to what his administration will look like. Will former opponent Michael Solomon be part of the team? Look to see.
Budget deficit?
Opponent Buddy Cianci famously said during the campaign that if there was a budget surplus in the City of Providence, he'd drop out of the race.
Councilman Terry Hassett told GoLocal that a close watch on the budget would be necessary in the coming year, as a "deficit exists." So how will Elorza tackle the fiscal challenge? He's talked about looking at city government department by department. Where will he make cuts if necessary? Or will Providence see taxes being raised?
Police force?
The Providence Police Department recently graduated a new class of officers from its academy -- but council members to community leaders are pointing out the numbers are still below even minimum staffing levels.
Will Elorza look to push through a new academy when he takes office?And how will he handle issues surrounding the department -- which following the most recent graduation, was at the center of intense public scrutiny?
Car Tax Changes?
Elorza said during the campaign that he wants to raise the car tax exemption from where it stands at $1,000 back to where it once was at $6,000.
So how's he going to make this happen? He teamed with Raimondo at the Olneyville press conference to pledge that if elected they would work in tandem make it possible. Will Providence see more aid from the state to fill the tax revenue hole?
Tax Breaks?
Tax stabilization agreements (TSAs) between developers and the City of Providence came under close scrutiny in 2014, as a report from City Auditor Matt Clarkin showed that the city wasn't collecting nearly what it was owed on the properties that cut special tax deals with the city in the name of development and job creation.
One council member -- Sabina Matos -- proposed putting a freeze on new TSAs until a full review was done, and a standardized process was put in place. Will Elorza continue to use TSAs as a tool in the economic toolbox?
195 development?
The 195 land, while in the hands of the State -- and 195 Commission, rests squarely in Providence, and as such, its redevelopment will have a profound impact on the economic future of the city.
How active will Elorza be in the process of courting businesses to put their stake in the ground and be part of the urban renewal process in Providence? Lots of work is already underway with the roads and infrastructure -- how soon will shovels be the ground for tenants?
Nonprofit relations?
As part of his administration, Mayor Angel Taveras ushered through historic PILOT (payment-lieu-of-taxes) agreements with the city's nonprofits, in order to obtain some fiscal relief from the tax-exempt institutions at t time when the city desperately needed it.
Will Mayor Elorza look to go back to the colleges, universities, and hospitals should the city find itself in difficult circumstances once again?
Jobs?
Elorza's jobs plan as proposed during the campaign included such components a supporting entrepreneurs, women, and minority-owned businesses, and promoting a mentoring program with the city's colleges and universities.
One of Elorza's proposals included the doubling of Providence's exports over the next five years. How is Elorza going to make this happen? He mentioned used cars and design exports during debates on the campaign trail. What policy moves will Elorza unveil to make this prophecy a reality? And where will Providence see the jobs?
School success?
Central to Elorza's education plan is the concept of community schools, so that the buildings are utilized long after the school day for increased learning and recreation opportunities for the surrounding neighborhoods.
Elorza has called for less emphasis on standardized learning, and has proposed an investment in technology in the classrooms. Where will Elorza find the money to achieve these goals -- and will they translate into academic success?
One Providence?
In the next two weeks, Elorza will be making staffing decisions that will set the tone for the new administration. Elorza won overwhelmingly on the East Side -- will he cull his talent from the 02906, or will he reach out to leaders across the city to comprise an administration reflective of the entire city's population? How will Elorza achieve the vision of "One Providence?"
