Solomon Failed to Report PEDP's Conrad Building Loan in Ethics Filings
Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor
Solomon Failed to Report PEDP's Conrad Building Loan in Ethics Filings
See Solomon's 2005 - 2013 Ethics Filings BELOW
The Conrad Building property, of which Solomon has an outstanding Providence city loan dating back to 1988 as a minority shareholder, was listed at its location at 385 Westminster Street in his ethics reports for 2009 through 2013. The Hummel Report's Jim Hummel first reported in that Solomon still owed the city 24 years later on the $500,000 loan
However, Solomon's reports for 2005 and 2006 list "1355 Westminster"; 2007 lists no property on Westminster, and 2008 and 2009 list "1150 Westminster" -- and nothing at 385 Westminster.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"In 2012, Michael amended his ethics commission filing to reflect more than the required description of his real estate holdings and correct the address for his minority holding in the Conrad Building. Prior to 2010 the building was incorrectly listed. As previously noted, Michael is not the managing partner of the LLC and is a minority share holder," said Jake Bissaillon, campaign manager for Solomon.
While the wrong information for years 2009 and 2010 were fixed in the 2012 amendment, no amendments were filed to correct the false and/or omitted information given in 2005 through 2008.
Outstanding Issues
In the course of the questions posed in the Ethics Reports, Solomon did not mention Conrad -- or its LLC -- in replying to the question, "List the name and address of any business of which you have a 10% or greater ownership interest -- or $5000 or greater ownership or investment interests."
Hummel reported in 2012 that $3.5 million in private financing was secured in 1988 to develop the Conrad building into condos.
The Solomon camp did not respond to whether the Conrad building business interests - or debt to the city -- needed be reflected in the answers. In none of the Ethics documents between 2005 and 2013 was there any indication, however, of an outstanding loan between Solomon and the City of Providence.
Last week, opponent Brett Smiley refused to sign a People's Pledge to curb outside spending in the Mayoral race unless all candidates paid back any outstanding liabilities to the taxpayers before spending any money on their campaign. Elorza said was "more than willing to sign on to the stronger pledge with [Smiley], even if Michael Solomon declines."
Question of Report Amendments
Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion noted what saw as the role of the Ethics Commission -- and that was ultimately getting the most correct information, even if that meant amendments.
"It's been my experience that when the Ethics Commission is confronted with a financial disclosure issue such as this they have historically not punished when the filer makes an amendment, such as former Speaker Gordon Fox did when he amended his prior filings to include the loan from lobbyist Ray Rickman. They don't seem to want to dissuade folks from filing amendments by punishing them because having the information public is the ultimate goal," said Marion.
Marion continued, "Financial disclosure is different from other parts of the Code of Ethics, such as the nepotism prohibition and revolving door for instance, which are designed to change behavior. The point of financial disclosure is to get information out to the public so they can judge for themselves. The Commission has been aggressive in going after non-filers and fining them in the past."
Solomon Ethics Filings:
Questions Michael Solomon Needs to Answer to be Providence's Next Mayor
Staff Turnover
Since Solomon has announced his candidacy for Mayor, he has had three campaign managers and a plethora of political consultants have walked away.
Solomon received kudos when he tapped former Taveras consultant/staffer and former GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™ Matt Jerzyk, but Jerzyk left the campaign as a paid consultant. Rumors continue to swirl as to whether he still supports Solomon.
It will be hard to convince voters that he can build a strong management team which all the chaos on the campaign.
PEDP Questions
Big Questions About Solomon's Role with PEDP
Michael Solomon has loaned his campaign hundreds of thousands of dollars to run for Mayor while he owes the federally investigated Providence Economic Development Partnershipww (PEDP) in excess of $400,000 on a loan for the Conrad building that has received numerous extensions and was given in 1988.
As GoLocal first reported in 2011,
"Twenty-five percent of the small business loans given by Providence’s economic development program are at least 90 days past-due, leaving the city on the hook for more than $3.3 million, GoLocalProv has learned.
The Providence Economic Development Partnership (PEDP), an initiative that includes 16 small business owners or politicians and is chaired by Mayor Angel Taveras, is currently stuck with a tab of $3,358,637.67 in delinquent loans, according to Joshua Teverow, the lawyer who represents the PEDP."
Cianci Factor
Can Solomon Stand Up to Cianci?
Since Cianci announced for Mayor two things have happened: 1) Solomon has been invisible 2) Brett Smiley has proverbially punched Cianci in the nose.
Most bizarre is that while Smiley has had surrogates like former Projo political columnists Charlie Bakst attack Cianci, Solomon, who trumpets having scored massive public endorsements, has seen none of those endorsements raise the question if it is a good idea that a two time felon be re-elected Mayor of Providence.
Pothole Factor
Solomon Owns Every Pothole in Providence
Solomon claims to be the architect of the City of Providence's economic recovery. He claims he partnered with Angel Taveras to clean up the economic mess left by former Mayor David Cicilline.
Like Taveras, Solomon will also have to explain the performance of the Providence Schools, crime, graffiti, and the horrific condition of Providence Streets.
It Solomon couldn't create a strategy for filling potholes, should he get a promotion to Mayor?
Biz Experience
Solomon Claims Business Experience
One of Solomon's claims is that he is a successful businessperson. His official bio says, "he is a local business owner—he is the proprietor of the popular and successful Wes’ Rib House in Olneyville, as well as Cozy Catering. He is a member of the Olneyville Business Association as well as the Knights of Columbus, the Lions Club, and the Chamber of Commerce."
The business may be built in glass. His Cozy Catering has been hit with more than a dozen health code violations - one being rodent droppings (see violations HERE).
This coupled with his failure to pay repay his PEDP loan undermine his claim to be a competent business leader.
Old School
Background - Political Family
Solomon comes from an old school Democratic machine family. His father, Anthony Solomon served as General Treasurer and in the legislature of Rhode Island for more than two decades. Solomon's political career ended when he ran for Governor and won a venom dripping primary against then Warwick Mayor and now Projo lobbyist Joe Walsh. The senior Solomon then was beaten in the General Election by then Cranston Mayor Ed DiPrete.
Each week for the next six weeks - GoLocal will look at the key questions each Mayoral candidates need to answer to win the Capitol City's top spot.
