Harrop Found Guilty of Housing Violations
Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv Contributor
Harrop Found Guilty of Housing Violations
Harrop and his partner Keith Light, who had purchased the Sigma Chi house on Mt. Auburn Avenue in 1992, were both charged with lying to the board following an investigation.
Harrop agreed to make a payment to the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust Fund as part of the settlement and confirmed the incident to GoLocal in an interview on Friday.
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The Harvard Crimson originally reported in 1992 that that two graduates alleged that Harrop and Light evicted them from the rent controlled property in order to rent to Sigma Chi fraternity.
According to sources cited in the article, Harrop and Light had indicated to the rent board in 1992 that they had intended to live there, which would have allowed them to evict the tenants, but subsequent Crimson coverage in 1995 reports a scenario in which Light and Harrop tried to convince the board they lived there.
The board ruled in favor of the displaced tenants, saying Harrop's case "wasn't even close."
"His entire occupancy is a sham, calculated for the sole purpose of defrauding the control board," Assistant Counsel to the Board James Packer said at the time. Two Sigma Chi house members ultimately confessed under oath that they lived at the house without either Harrop or Light.
Crimson reporter Sewall Chan wrote in 1995 that the board "also found Harrop's entire testimony to be false."
"Dr. Harrop brazenly, blatantly, repeatedly, and consistently committed perjury during this hearing," said Packer.
Harrop's two opponents in the November 6 election -- Providence Housing Court Judge Jorge Elorza and former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci -- did not provide comment on the information uncovered on Friday.
Questions Daniel Harrop Must Answer to be Providence's Next Mayor
Party Politics?
Providence hasn't seen a Republican Mayor for thirty years. The last, of course, was Vincent "Buddy" Cianci's first tenure at the post from 1975 through 1984. But when Buddy came back in 1990, he saw his path to victory as an independent.
Harrop's Republican credentials certainly are unwavering. The former candidate garnered nearly 17% of the voted in 2006 against David Cicilline. Can Harrop convince enough predominantly Democratic and independent Providence voters that a GOP Mayor is the way to go?
Big Issues?
Privatization. Receivership. Education reform. Harrop has bold ideas in the traditional Republican vein to turn things in the state's capital city around. The question is, are Providence voters open to bold ideas? One such proposal -- having free parking for an hour at meters around the city -- seems to be a pro-business no-brainer.
By contrast, other candidates are talking about spending more on programs. Can Harrop's vision of spending less resonate in a city with high crime and struggling schools?
Relatability?
The erudite Dr. Harrop is just that -- a highly educated East Side white male. While GoLocal asked the same question of Brett Smiley -- i.e. can the city's diverse voting base relate to the wonkish East Side liberal, the same can be asked of the conservative Harrop. Smiley for his part has been a stalwart at community events around the city.
While Harrop backs the "swim empowerment" effort to allow for recreational opportunities throughout the city following the close -- and opening -- of the Davey Lopes poll, has he actually had enough boots on the ground in the ciy's urban communities to convince voters he's their guy?
Buddy Factor?
Harrop has been at the forefront of pointing out former Mayor Cianci is a two-time felon. When Buddy entered the face at the end of June, Harrop told GoLocal, "I am more concerned with with his attempt to re-write history and downplay his part in the scandals surrounding Providence pensions which are going to throw the city into bankruptcy."
The doctor will undoubtedly hammer Cianci hard once the primary season is through and the field is set to three. The question is, can Harrop stand up to criticism lobbed at him by Cianci should the time come? For better or for worse, Cianci has name recognition. Harrop does not.
Can he win?
How much is Harrop willing to bankroll on his own in an attempt to take the city's highest post? He loaned himself $100,000 back in 2013 for the effort. While he's currently in good shape on paper, at least -- he's got $130,000 cash on hand -- the question is whether he's got the resources, and resolve to go the distance in a sure to be bruising three-way general election against the winner of the Democratic primary and Buddy Cianci.
