Vincent D'Ambra: 13 Who Made a Difference in RI in 2013
GoLocalProv Editors
Vincent D'Ambra: 13 Who Made a Difference in RI in 2013
Providence City Councilman Sam Zurier explained the situation facing firefighters -- and the city. "The City’s collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters’ union sets minimum staffing levels for the Department. In order to fill that number of slots every week, it is necessary for a certain number of fire fighters to work a certain amount of overtime. Once the new class of fire fighters graduates from the academy, it will be possible for the new fire fighters to fill many of the contractual time slots now being filled with overtime fire fighters," said Zurier.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHowever some -- including Monique Chartier with RI Taxpayers -- took issue with the way the city addressed compensation -- and overtime. "The real problem is a Mayor and a City Council, current and prior, who ratified a contract that includes the opportunity for this amount of overtime. Contracts that include such compensation terms are flat-out indefensible and unaffordable. The power to tax and raise taxes cannot be used as an easy substitute for responsible negotiating and budgeting."
Mayoral candidates including Dan Harrop, Lorne Adrain, and Brett Smiley have all pledged to undertake an internal audit of municipal employee costs if elected to office.
13 Who Made a Difference in RI in 2013
Donna Nesselbush
This time last year, marriage equality was the issue to watch in 2013 -- would it finally be the year that Rhode Island made same sex marriage a reality?
Rhode Island State Senator Donna Nesselbush was at the front of the pack of those who made sure it was.
On January 3, 2013, Nesselbush along with Rep. Art Handy introduced legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. While the House had over half its members as sponsors, the Senate had a much more uphill battle to wage. Catholic Bishop Tobin continued to be outspoken against the measure, seeking a referendum instead, but other religious in RI countered his position . RI's Episcopal Bishop, W. Nicholas Knisely came out in its support of gay marriage-- as did the RI Council of Churches.
Ray Rickman
A force to be reckoned with for decades in Rhode Island politics, Rickman once again asserted his position of prominence as elder statesman when the issue of pool closings heated up in a very hot summer in Rhode Island.
The former State Representative and Deputy Secretary of State -- and former president of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, Rickman has been the quintessential power player in RI for decades. An outspoken proponent of gay marriage and opponent of nuclear energy, Rickman this years was a constant presence -- and vocal critic of the Taveras' administration's decision to close the Davey Lopes pool in South Providence.
Angus Davis
One of the state's brightest young stars, Davis has made a name for himself on the Rhode Island business and political scene over the course of a number of years now, and shows no sign of stopping.
The wunderkid who made millions in Silicon Valley before returning to his home state of Rhode Island, Davis set his sights on education reform in the state while on the Board of Regents, before turning his full attention to his new Providence-based business venture, Swipely -- which recently moved from its original Pike Street location to downtown Providence, along with its 70 employees -- and the business is growing.
Judge Sarah Taft-Carter
Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter is perhaps the person now most front and center in pension reform in Rhode Island -- having overseen consent judgements in the Providence pension agreement last spring, and now the state awaits her word in the state mediated pension reform lawsuit, which could have major ramifications on the state's bottom line.
On the city-side, in March, Taft-Carter issued a ruling calling the deal agreed to by Providence's current firefighters, police officers and retirees a "fair, adequate and reasonable settlement" and "a shining example" for other cities and towns, as Providence moved to reduce the city's large structural deficit.
Ted Siedle and Matt Taibbi
Rhode Island pension reform came under national attention in 2013, when former SEC lawyer and Forbes Columnist Edward Siedle first wrote in April a column entitled "Rhode Island's Public Pension Reform Looks More like a Feeding Frenzy" for the financial publication -- which was then followed up by "RI Pensioners 3% COLAs will go to pay Wall Street 4%+ Fees." Soon Rhode Island's pension reform -- and General Treasurer Gina Raimondo -- faced intense scrutiny in both the national and local press.
The heat was turned up even further when Rolling Stone star reporter Matt Taibbi, who'd written such articles as "How Wall Street Killed Pension Reform" and "Bank of America: Too Crooked to Fail," turned his critical eye on Rhode Island when he wrote "Looting the Pension Funds."
Lisa Baldelli-Hunt
After serving in the General Assembly as a State Rep from 2006 to 2013, Baldelli-Hunt set her sights on the City of Woonsocket's highest seat this year, and in November became the second woman ever elected to the position, beating incumbent Leo Fontaine by roughly 2 to 1 margin.
Running on a reform platform, Baldelli-Hunt said the city had been underfunding its schools, and questioned previous Fontaine's disclosure of the city's finances. “I’m angry. As a legislator, I feel that I’ve been misled at a time we’re trying to push through legislation to avoid municipal bankruptcy,” Baldelli-Hunt said in June.
Vincent D'Ambra
When GoLocal uncovered that the 40 highest paid city employees in Providence collectively earned $6.3 million in pay and benefits in fiscal year 2013 -- and that topping the list was fire rescue captain Vincent D'Ambra, whose total compensation was $218,145 -- the spotlight was placed squarely on municipal pay in the city of Providence.
That $200,000 salary -- and five and six-figure overtimes uncovered -- sparked calls for reforms, as Providences Internal Auditor Matthew Clarkin's first quarter report for fiscal year 2014 projected that the city's $4.7 million fire callback budget is likely on pace to cost more than $1 million over budget for the year.
Men's Basketball Coaches
It was a good year to be a men's college basketball coach in Rhode Island. And their schools responded accordingly.
As GoLocal's Scott Cordischi reported in April, "First, Ed Cooley received a raise and had his contract extended by Providence College. Then it was Dan Hurley getting extended by URI. Today, Bryant University announced that it has extended the contract of its men's basketball coach Tim O'Shea through the 2019-2020 season."
Taylor Swift
One of the world's biggest music stars this year decided to make Rhode Island her backyard in 2013. And it wasn't exactly small change.
Swift, the chart-topping country and pop sensation opted to call Watch Hill "home" in April, when she purchased her waterfront Westerly property for $17.75 million -- in cash. Taxes? A cool $9,600 and change a month.
Sightings of Swift ensued, whether it was with famous Hollywood friends at the Olympia Tea Room, or on a tongue-in-cheek tee shirt (which was soon pulled from the shelves. Swift posted photos of herself and friends on her blog, enjoying the 4th of July in Rhode Island at her seaside estate.
Nick Garrison
The Rhode Island beer renaissance got a big boost from Foolproof Brewery in Pawtucket, and founder and owner Garrison, along with brewmaster Damase Ollson, immediately made a major splash on the regional -- and national -- beer scene.
Foolproof scooped up three medals at the 17th Annual Great International Beer and Cider Festival in Providence in November which featured five hundred and seventy-five beers and ciders from around the world, taking first place in the Golden Ale category, and earning silver medals in the Robust Porter and Russian Imperial Stout divsions. Garrison -- and Foolproof -- have officially arrived.
Evan Granoff
One of the 2013's biggest events for Providence -- the reopening of the historic Arcade downtown -- wouldn't have been possible without the man behind the project, developer Evan Granoff.
The country's oldest indoor shopping mall that opened in 1828 closed its doors in 2008, leaving the Greek revival as an empty anchor between Weybosset and Westminster Streets. In 2010, GoLocal talked with James Hall, Executive Director of the Providence Preservation Society, about the historical significance of the Rhode Island landmark. After much speculation, the city confirmed in 2012 that plans were underway to redevelop the space into retail and living spaces, in the way of "micro-lofts".
Christina Paxson
The 19th President of Brown University, Christina Paxson came to Providence with an impressive resume, having previously served as Dean of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and bringing expertise in economics and public health.
Paxon found herself -- and Brown -- in the midst of national attention when students along with the public protested a lecture intended to be given by New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. The lecture, which was scheduled for October 29 at the Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions, was cancelled after more than 30 minutes of interruption.
Deborah Perry
The Executive Director of the YWCA of RI, Deborah Perry has been advocating for women across the state for years based on the YWCA's mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
In April, Perry and the YWCA hosted its 5th Annual Women Holding Office celebration, where it recognized Susan Farmer and Kathleen Connell with the Isabelle Ahearn O'Neill Award, who was Rhode Island's first female legislator. Farmer was the first female elected to statewide office of Secretary of State, and Connell was the third, following Arlene Violet's distinction of being the second woman elected statewide -- and first woman elected to Attorney General in any state.
