Elorza Blames Social Media in Unveiling FY2023 Budget Proposal
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Elorza Blames Social Media in Unveiling FY2023 Budget Proposal
In a series of Tweets on the budget, Elorza blamed “social media” for people's perceptions of Providence.
While Elorza said his spending plan “builds on seven years of investments in youth, city services, and infrastructure,” the city under his administration has failed to grapple with a myriad of significant issues.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTViolent crime, a beleaguered education system (which had to be taken over by the state) and a significantly underfunded pension system -- that Elorza is now looking to be bailed out by voters -- are all potholes that have defined his tenure as Mayor.
"We've never shied away from taking on the issues that matter and when people in our city are in need, we step up to help!" Elorza Tweeted. "We want to not only help the situation, but also reassure them that they are part of us and that they belong."
“In spite of what we might see on social media…it is [a] spirit of camaraderie, of common purpose, based on these permanent and timeless qualities that our residents will always seek, that is who we really are,” Tweeted Elorza, adding "#PVDBudget."
Providence’s Reality
Crime
In 2018, Elorza famously called a Providence Place Mall shooter a “knucklehead;” the mall has continued to be beset by crime.
ATVs and off-road vehicles continue to plague the city, despite Elorza’s assurances — in his final year in office — that they will not be tolerated.
Over the last several months, Providence’s Chief of Police has even acknowledged that there has been an uptick in juvenile crime in the city.
In his FY2023 budget proposal, Elorza includes $1,000,000 for One Providence for Youth. “Through the One Providence for Youth program, young people can access summer and year-round job opportunities that pay a wage of $15 per hour, providing both a learning and growing experience as well as a source of income,” says Elorza.
Elorza calls for $1.5 million for the 71st Police Training Academy which his office says is expected to develop a class of 50 recruits beginning last next year.
His budget proposal also contains $275,000 for PVDFest. As GoLocal reported in 2021:
“Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is planning to bring back PVDFest. The 2020 PVDFest was canceled due to the pandemic. The last PVDFest was held in 2019 and was riddled with problems including a shooting, a stampede, a failed public safety plan. The shooting was the second shooting at PDVFest in three years of the event. In 2017, Mike Marrow was shot and paralyzed.”
Financial Status
Elorza in his budget address said that the city is on better financial footing than when he took office.
“Seven years ago, when many of us came into office, the city faced deficits and liabilities totaling over $20 million,” said Elorza. “Today, while we are still facing challenges such as the pension system, we’ve significantly improved the City’s finances and turned that deficit into an almost $30 million surplus — and Providence is seeing the benefits.”
The city, however, has failed to significantly address its more than $1 billion in unfunded pension obligations — until now.
“The financial condition of the City of Providence, Rhode Island certainly looks precarious,” wrote top SEC whistleblower Ted Siedle in 2020. “The municipality may need to seek bankruptcy protection in the near future primarily as a result of its over $1 billion in unfunded pension obligations.”
Now, Elorza and elected officials are asking voters to approve over $500 million in pension obligation bonds — which the Government Finance Officers Association warns precisely not to do.
Elorza's $567,341,359 Fiscal Year municipal budget proposal now goes to the City Council.