Elorza’s Growing Latino Problem — Only 39% Support Him and Performance Under Fire
GoLocalProv News Team
Elorza’s Growing Latino Problem — Only 39% Support Him and Performance Under Fire
Elorza may be of Guatemalan descent, but the growing Latino population in Providence feels disenfranchised from the Elorza administration and new data shows Providence is now the second worst in the country for Latino entrepreneurs.
“It would not be surprising to learn that Elorza’s support among Latinos in Providence is soft. Unlike previous administrations that have sought engage and retain Latinos in decision making positions within the administration and as department heads this administration has chosen to ignore those past efforts,” said Councilman Luis Aponte.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTA poll conducted in early April asked, "Generally speaking do you think Mayor Elorza deserves to be re-elected or do you think it is time for someone new?" Just 38 percent of likely voters who identified as Latino said they support re-election and 39 percent wanted someone new. The remainder were undecided/did not know.
The poll was conducted by John Zogby Strategies — Zogby has been one of the top pollsters in America over the past three decades. The poll was commissioned by State Representative John Lombardi’s campaign.
Lack of Latino Appointments by Elorza
In nearly three and a half years as mayor, Elorza has not appointed any Latinos to the position of department director. Despite sending millions in legal fees to outside law firms, none of it went to Latino-led firms -- the same for nearly every sector of the city's spending under Elorza.
“It would be fair to say that the Elorza administration does not reflect the City’s diversity, particularly when it comes to the Providences Latino community," said Aponte.
Among senior staffers - chief of staff, chief operating officer, legal counsel and city treasurer, one is one Latino descent, said Victor Morente, Press Secretary to Elorza. "Melissa Malone, COO, is of Cuban descent."
“The community feels it is being neglected by Mayor Elorza, that his priority is the East Side. At community meetings he usually does not show or sends one of his staff to deal with the complaints or requests which usually are ignored," said Reynaldo Almonte, the head of Latino Public Radio.
“They always hear the famous phrase "si se puede" but never accomplished,” said Almonte.
Providence ranks 181 out of 182 cities ranked for Latino entrepreneurs according to a new study released this week. Only New Haven, CT ranks below Providence.
"Expect the Hispanic and Latino community’s contributions to the U.S. economy to be nothing short of monumental in the coming decades. Not only is this demographic expected to make up a more than 25% of the U.S. population by 2050 — translating into large buying power — this group is also creating businesses at 15 times the national rate, according to one report," writes WalletHub.
The Elorza administration defends the city's performance.
"The City has taken many steps to better support those looking to establish or grow their business in Providence. With regard to the Latino community, the Mayor visits Latino radio stations monthly to provide updates on what is happening in the City and to promote resources available to the business community," said Morente.
"The Mayor’s Center for City Services (MCCS), the arm of the Mayor’s Office that services constituents directly has several staff members who are bilingual and also offer support and guidance to city resources. Additionally, Grace Diaz took on the role of MBE/WBE Outreach Director for the Office of Economic Opportunity with the aim of increasing outreach and awareness of the program. The City also has a bilingual Small Business Coordinator. An online licensing and permitting system that offers service in various languages including Spanish was launched under the Mayor’s tenure. A program offering English classes for contractors was launched through a partnership with the Rhode Island Builders Association," Morente added.
Providence ranks 178th out of 182 cities in the United States for the lowest median annual income of Latinos.
And, Providence has amongst the highest unemployment rate for Latinos.
Polling Zogby and Della Volpe
The Zogby poll was conducted between April 4-8 and had a sampling of 424. The poll has a margin of +/- 5 percent. Zogby’s clients also include MSNBC, the New York Post, Fox News, Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Gannett News Service, Houston Chronicle, and the Miami Herald.
In a separate poll last fall of likely statewide voters, conducted by Harvard pollster John Della Volpe for GoLocalProv, the perception of Elorza's job performance was also low.
Would you say that Jorge Elorza has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Mayor of Providence?
Excellent: 4%
Good: 24%
Fair: 24%
Poor: 22%
Never heard of: 9%
Cannot rate: 15%
SEE GOLOCAL'S POLL CONDUCTED BY JOHN DELLA VOLPE OF HARVARD IN OCT. OF 2017
GoLocal: Benchmark Poll, October 2017
Sponsor: GoLocalProv
Sample: N=403
Rhode Island General Election Voters Margin of Error: +/- 4.9% at 95% Confidence Level
Interviewing Period: October 9-11, 2017
Mode: Landline (61%) and Mobile (39%)
Telephone Directed by: John Della Volpe, SocialSphere, Inc.
Are you registered to vote at this address?
Yes: 100%
When it comes to voting, do you consider yourself to be affiliated with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Moderate, or Unaffiliated with a major party?
Unaffiliated: 49%
Democrat: 32%
Republican: 15%
Moderate: .4%
Next year, in November of 2018, there will be a statewide general election for Governor and many other state offices. How likely is it that you will vote in this election?
Will you definitely be voting, will you probably be voting, are you 50-50...
Definitely be voting: 78%
Probably be voting: 13%
50-50: 9%
In general, would you say things in Rhode Island are headed in the right direction or are they off on the wrong track?
Right track: 39%
Wrong track: 45%
Mixed: 10%
Don't know/Refused: .6%
What would you say is the number one problem facing Rhode Island that you would like the Governor to address?
Jobs and economy: 21%
Education: 12%
Taxes: 12%
Roads: 12%
State budget: 9%
Corruption/Public integrity: .8%
Healthcare: 3%
Governor: 3%
Homelessness: 2%
Immigration: 2%
Other: 7%
Don’t know: .9%
Over the past three years or so, would you say the economy in Rhode Island has improved, gotten worse, or not changed at all?
Changed for the better: 35%
Changed for the worse: 16%
Not changed at all: 43%
Don't know/Refused: 5%
Over the same time, has your family's financial situation improved, gotten worse, or not changed at all?
Changed for the better: 26%
Changed for the worse: 19%
Not changed at all: 54%
Don't know/Refused: 1%
Recently, a proposal has been made to permit the issuance of $81 million in bonds by the State to build a new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox. If there was an election today on this issue, would you vote to approve or reject issuing $81 million in financing supported moral obligation bonds to build the stadium?
Net: Approve: 28%
Definitely approve: 15%
Probably approve: 14%
Net: Reject: 67%
Probably reject: 19%
Definitely reject: 48%
Don't know: 4%
Could you please tell me your age?
18-24: 7%
25-34: 15%
35-44: 15%
45-54: 20%
55-64: 17%
65+: 25%
Don't know/refused: 1%
What was the last grade you completed in school?
0-11: 2%
High school grad: 16%
Technical/Vocational school: 1%
Some college: 23%
College grad: 34%
Graduate degree: 24%
Don't know/refused: 1%
The next question is about the total income of YOUR HOUSEHOLD for the PAST 12 MONTHS. Please include your income PLUS the income of all members living in your household (including cohabiting partners and armed forces members living at home).
$50,000 or less: 27%
More $50,000 but less than $75,000: 13%
More $75,000 but less than $100,000: 13%
More $100,000 but less than $150,000: 17%
$150,000 or more: 13%
Don't know/refused: 17%
What particular ethnic group or nationality - such as English, French, Italian, Irish, Latino, Jewish, African American, and so forth - do you consider yourself a part of or feel closest to?
American/None: 21%
English: 13%
Italian: 13%
Irish: 12%
Black or African American: 6%
Latino/Hispanic: 6%
French: 6%
Portuguese: 3%
Jewish: 3%
German: 1%
Would you say that Donald Trump has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as President?
Excellent: 13%
Good: 12%
Fair: 14%
Poor: 57%
Never heard of: 0%
Cannot rate: 3%
Would you say that Jack Reed has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a United States Senator?
Excellent: 22%
Good: 29%
Fair: 23%
Poor: 15%
Never heard of: 6%
Cannot rate: 6%
Would you say that Sheldon Whitehouse has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a United States Senator?
Excellent: 17%
Good: 22%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 28%
Never heard of: 6%
Cannot rate: 7%
Would you say that David Cicilline has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a Member of Congress?
Excellent: 9%
Good: 29%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 27%
Never heard of: 6%
Cannot rate: 8%
Would you say that James Langevin has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a Member of Congress?
Excellent: 7%
Good: 30%
Fair: 20%
Poor: 18%
Never heard of: 13%
Cannot rate: 11%
Would you say that Gina Raimondo has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Governor?
Excellent: 6%
Good: 28%
Fair: 30%
Poor: 31%
Never heard of: 1%
Cannot rate: 3%
Would you say that Daniel McKee has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Lieutenant Governor?
Excellent: 3%
Good: 16%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 8%
Never heard of: 26%
Cannot rate: 25%
Would you say that Peter Kilmartin has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Attorney General?
Excellent: 3%
Good: 20%
Fair: 28%
Poor: 17%
Never heard of: 13%
Cannot rate: 19%
Would you say that Seth Magaziner has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as General Treasurer?
Excellent: 4%
Good: 18%
Fair: 24%
Poor: 13%
Never heard of: 21%
Cannot rate: 21%
Would you say that Nellie Gorbea has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Secretary of State?
Excellent: 5%
Good: 21%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 10%
Never heard of: 20%
Cannot rate: 23%
Would you say that Jorge Elorza has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Mayor of Providence?
Excellent: 4%
Good: 24%
Fair: 24%
Poor: 22%
Never heard of: 9%
Cannot rate: 15%
