Solomon Rented to Head Shop Across from School Before City Tobacco Ban
Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor
Solomon Rented to Head Shop Across from School Before City Tobacco Ban
When the First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in 2013 the validity of Providence's anti-tobacco laws, Solomon said at the time, "The Court's decision is a big win for Providence. We have been working hard to protect our children from the dangerous, addictive habit of tobacco use, and today's ruling upholding our anti-tobacco ordinances will help us build a healthier, stronger and safer city for our children."
Land records show that Solomon acquired the property in 2004, but the structure burned down to the ground in 2012.
Smoking Focus
In 2002, the head shop was featured as part of a Providence Phoenix article, under the heading "The Best Places to Get Phunked Up."
"The selection of blown glass (ranging from $25 to $390) is infinite at Phunky Stuff, and the requisite back room cove is filled with water and hookah pipes in all shapes and sizes at reasonable prices," wrote the Phoenix in the piece, noting the "tobacco-use only equipment" was on once side of the store intended for ages 18 and up.
Meanwhile, the City of Providence was working to halt the sale and promotion of tobacco products. In a release following the favorable court ruling, the City explained the rationale behind the decisions.
"Providence's anti-tobacco laws prevent the sale of fruit- and candy-flavored, non-cigarette tobacco products and ban tobacco pricing and promotional strategies. The City Council adopted the ordinances and Mayor Taveras signed them into law based on research that shows strong public policy and careful oversight of tobacco helps to reduce youth smoking rates."
City Continues to Address Tobacco, Smoking
GoLocal recently reported on Rhode Island's "toxic debt" from the use of tobacco bonds, following the state's efforts to balance the budget in 2002 and 2007 from tobacco settlement money.
"When tobacco companies agreed to turn over this money to compensate the victims who were mislead about the deadly effects of smoking, that's what the states should have spent the money on," Karina Holyoak Wood, Director of Tobacco Free Rhode Island told GoLocal . "Now we're living with the legacy today of leaders who didn't use that money to help people with their battles against lung cancer, or provide cheaper coverage -- we were meant to put that money into prevention, which is the best strategy.
In July, Solomon along with City Councilman Seth Yurdin proposed legislation to ban smoking in public parks in the city.
Council President Solomon said at the time, “The Council has a strong track record of adopting laws that protect children from the dangers of tobacco. By prohibiting the use of tobacco products in our parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers, we will reduce the amount of exposure our kids have to nicotine and second-hand smoke, as well as the health risks associated with tobacco."
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.
