NEW: Cianci Announces Vision for Waterfront Revitalization
GoLocalProv Politics Team
NEW: Cianci Announces Vision for Waterfront Revitalization
"My vision for the waterfront could generate 10-15 million dollars in new tax revenue or more, and holds the potential for a thousand or more new jobs," said Cianci.
Cianci was joined by Providence City Councilmember Luis Aponte, as well as Mark Mendell and Sebastian Martellotto of Cannon Design who were commissioned by the Cianci campaign to design the new mixed-use shoreline envisioned by Cianci.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to Cianci, the implementation of his vision will be good for the economy, the environment, and the city's taxbase and a source of "economic justice" for Providence's South Side.
"For too long this section of the city has been a convenient dumping spot for relocated scrap yards, polluting industries, strip clubs, and other uses not wanted in other neighborhoods of the city," said Cianci.
When asked how his vision for the waterfront compares to that of Democratic mayoral candidate Jorge Elorza, Cianci was dismissive of his opponents' plan to increase exports.
"Elorza says he wants to export, but I don't know what he plans to export. Design? That's what the internet is for. Security services? Used cars to Guatemala? We are not in the used car business we are in the jobs business," said Cianci.
Working Waterfront vs. Mixed Use Neighborhood
"In total the city's waterfront area from National Grid's electric generating facility to the southern end of Field's Point contains approximately 346 aces. My plan calls for reserving 284 acres of 82% of that area for industrial and/or water dependent uses," said Cianci.
Cianci envisions using the remaining 18 percent or 62 acres of the stretch of land for medical research facilities linked to the Lifespan campus, a 200-slip marina and a possible maritime museum, an extended stay hotel linked to the hopital campus, and large open spaces to accomodate soccer fields, waterfront and ethnic festivals and other gatherings.
Shortly following the press conference, the Providence Working Waterfront Alliance issued a statement outlining their strong opposition to Cianci's waterfront plan, which threatens hundreds of blue collar jobs and thousands of water-dependent and industrial business related jobs, according to spokesperson Chris Hunter.
"The Providence Working Waterfront Alliance is strongly opposed to candidate Vincent Cianci’s so called 'waterfront plan,' which is little more than a rehashing of the failed Narragansett Landing plan released by Mr. Cianci some 15 years ago. Put simply, this 'plan' threatens hundreds of good paying blue collar jobs and over a thousand related jobs provided by water-dependent and industrial businesses along the Allens Avenue corridor in the Port of Providence. Hotels, condominiums, and recreational marinas are simply incompatible with the heavy industrial character of our neighborhood," said Hunter.
Questions Buddy Cianci Must Answer to be Providence's Next Mayor
Staff recruitment?
When GoLocal first started looking into the possibility of Buddy entering the race, we asked of his former staff, "Where are they now?"
Buddy's been out of office for 12 years. Anyone of voting age then is now over 30. And anyone who was a Buddy disciple had to move on, forge a new career path, or retire. Much like the voting block -- who is Buddy's new base of support from a staff perspective? Can he snag young social media savvy professionals -- what do they know of Buddy's legacy? Can he lure folks away from secure positions for a high degree of uncertainty?
Buddy's got the headquarters, and is undoubtedly putting a team in place, but seems to be keeping a low-profile as the primary campaigns heat up. Watch to see if he can pull any defectors from the losing Democratic campaigns who see Buddy as the more viable way into City Hall than their former opponent who just beat them.
Age and Illness?
It's no secret that Cianci is 73, and has been battling cancer. Listen to him on the radio, you might think you're hearing man twenty years younger. See him in person, however, and you see a man who has been through...a lot. Noticeably slimmer and more subdued, Cianci cuts a contrasting figure to his younger days.
Don't count out the razor-sharp Cianci to use this to his advantage -- that this is the kinder, gentler, grandfatherly Buddy who plans on swooping back in to show the younger generation how to be Mayor, with his experience.
The question will be if he truly has the health and stamina for the grueling sprint to the finish between the primaries and Election Day in November -- and whether hi opponents will bring that up in private circles, or outright in public.
Laugh Test?
The felonies. The toupee. The fireplace log, lit cigarette, and ashtray. They're all products of Buddy's past, and more often than not, a punchline of a joke.
No doubt Buddy's got the ability to laugh at himself -- and quickly dismiss critics pointing to his criminal record -- but do Providence voters want the glad-handing Mayor with his larger-than-life baggage as Providence looks to emerge from the the recent recession and precarious financial standing?
Voters have seen the self-depricating side of Brett Smiley in his man-with-a-plan ad, but don't expect Buddy to play up his follies to the same extent. He'll cut to the chase and speak to his track record and what he did while in office -- and what he plans to do if elected again. So who will be laughing come November? Stay tuned.
Graphic: nobuddypvd.com
Providence as U.S. Joke?
As far as self-image goes, the Economist's recent Buddy piece, "Freshening the Armpit of New England," didn't do much for the national perception of Providence. "Can America's Ex-Con Mayor Win Again?" quipped the Daily Beast. And how can one forget the Business Insider dubbing Cianci the "Poster Boy of Political Scandals."
While Rhode Island as a whole tries to shake the constant bottom-of-the-U.S. rankings for business and the economy, Providence has worked hard to shed the underachieving image, and was most recently awarded citation from the National Conference of Mayors for being an exemplary mid-sized city. Buddy is running on the platform that he turned Providence around before, and he can to it again. The questions is, will voters give him the chance?
Graphic: nobuddypvd.com
Can he win?
Perhaps the biggest question now is whether Buddy can win. When he entered the race as an Independent -- and former Democrat Lorne Adrain made the switch to join him in the unaffiliated ranks -- the prospect of a four-way finale seemed to be in Buddy's favor, having to capture a seemingly do-able share of the vote.
Now with Adrain out, and whispers that Republican Dan Harrop might not stay in the race until election day, the prospect of a three-way battle and possibly a two-one -- could be keeping the former Mayor up at night...or he could be too busy raising money to meet the winner of the Democratic primary an his general elections challengers starting September 10. Either way, Buddy's chances of getting back in the race have slimmed, but he can never be counted out.
