Moore: Deep-Seated Issues in the Elorza Administration Arise
Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Moore: Deep-Seated Issues in the Elorza Administration Arise
Elorza promised voters a move away from the cronyism and know-a-guy culture that has plagued the city in the past. That's a great idea. When government is sold to the highest campaign contributor, the general population loses out. When people are hired based on who they know, or how connected their relatives are, the general public suffers. We need the best qualified people--not the best connected.
Government for the Connected?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSo it was disconcerting when GoLocalProv reported last week that Elorza personally hired Providence dispatcher Jenny Roungreuang, who is now suspended for allegedly giving her boyfriend--a convicted felon--confidential police information. Roungreuang was hired despite the fact that she wasn't on the list of three recommended individuals for the position.
The Elorza administration has failed to explain why he hired this individual. That brings me to my second source of confusion: lack of communication.
But there's more. We also reported last week that Teppco, a propane terminal located at ProvPort, has officially closed its doors. The company has been located in Providence since 1971. The move comes roughly one year after receiving a tax bill that cost about $1 million more than it received the year prior. Since 2006, the company's tax bill increase almost 400 percent from 2014 to 2015. Since 2005, the company's taxes increased by more than 6,200 percent!
But wait, there's more!
The company understands that back in 2005, the city realized that it had improperly assessed the property at the city. But there's no reasonable explanation for the company's $1 million tax hike that it received last year.
Officials at Teppco scrambled for answers. The company's lawyer, Michael Marino noted that he requested information roughly 12 times, and was routinely ignored. It wasn't until he filed a formal access to public records request that he got any response at all. But he still couldn't figure out the rationale behind the tax hike based on the response.
Finally, the company's officials threw their hands up in the air and decided to close the facility that's been in Providence for more than 4 decades. There were 36 jobs lost as a result of the decision.
Lack of Communication
Elorza promised to make economic development a priority during his 2014 campaign. "We can't tax our way out of Providence's budget issues", he would quip. How true. But that's also starting to sound like nothing more than nice sounding rhetoric in light of Teppco's treatment.
And Elorza is correct in saying that the capital city needs economic development. I also think the city needs to cut spending and become more efficient as well. But make no mistake about it: economic development is the key out of the city's fiscal woes.
Yet what happened at Teppco is the exact opposite economic development. By sending the company a tax bill that cost $1 million more than the year previous, without an adequate explanation why, the city did the exact opposite of what an administration concerned with economic development would.
Economic Development's Opposite
And it's not just Teppco. They're not the only business or developer that has had that issue. There are other members of the public, good government activists, and businesses community complaining about the lack of responsiveness from the Elorza administration.
If Elorza is serious about economic development, transparency, and good government, he should give us a full accounting of what happened at Teppco. Why were they sent such a massive tax increase? Why were company officials stonewalled when they tried to gather information ? And what's being done to make sure that a similar situation never occurs again in the future?
It's hard to imagine that those questions are too much to ask, or too hard to answer. Elorza is too intelligent and too talented to allow these sorts of blunders to plague his political career and, what's more important, our city.
Elorza Donors - See 25 Interesting Donors
Chafee & Cicilline Aide
Deb Brayton
$600
Former top aide to Lincoln Chafee and David Cicilline is a big Elorza supporter (following Smiley's exit) and was part of the core group of the failed Anybody But Cianci effort.
She worked for Chafee in DC and came back to RI to serve as Chief of Staff for Cicilline during his tenure that created the City of Providence's fiscal meltdown.
Developer
Alfred Carpionato
$500
Carpionato is the mega developer who is one of the finalists to develop the 195 parcels -- and is the owner of the still yet-to-be developed Fruit and Produce warehouse site in Providence.
He ranks 17th on GoLocal's list of RI's Richest and Most Influential.
Widow of Kim Chace
Elizabeth Chace
$2,000
The founder of Residential Properties, Liz Chace has been active on reforming John Hope Settlement House - she was a former Board member.
Chace is the widow of billionaire Malcolm 'Kim' Chace III.
Director
Michael Corrente
$1,000
Corrente is a film director. His films include Shot at Glory, American Buffalo, Outside Providence, Brooklyn Rules and Federal Hill.
He was one of the early organizers in the anti-Buddy Cianci group.
Corrente is being sued for $5 million.
Son of Governor
Dennis DiPrete
$250
DiPrete is the son of former Governor Edward DiPrete. His brother Tom has donated to Cianci.
Dennis is one of the state's most successful engineers and developers.
PR
Patricia Doyle
$1,000
Doyle's clients include Twin River Casino, Frank Caprio and the Airport Corporation. She was formerly a partner in RDW Group for a couple of decades.
Adrain's Campaign Manager
William Foulkes
$1000
Foulkes was the campaign manager for Lorne Adrain and a member of the ill-fated Anybody But Cianci group. Foulkes' wife, Helena, is a top executive at CVS and was recently named one of the top women in business in the US by Fortune magazine.
Developer
Aram Garabedian
$1000
Garabedian made millions with the malls in Warwick and downtown real estate like the former Amica building.
He was the biggest opponent of the development of the Providence Place Mall.
Gilbane
Nancy Gilbane
$1000
While William Gilbane of the mega-wealthy construction family is doanting and betting on Cianci, Nancy is going for Elorza. The family Gilbane has an estimated wealth of $1.4 billion.
Former Top Cicilline Aide
Carol Grant
$1000
Former Chief Operating Officer for then-Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Grant was the go-to person in City Hall.
Previously, she had been an executive with Verizon, Textron and now she is with Second Wind.
Thomas Guerra
$500
While Tom donated to Elorza, his father and visionary behind the transformation of the former Brown & Sharpe complex into the leading live-work environment in the City of Providence - now the Foundry office complex and the Promenade apartments -- donated to Cianci.
His family made GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
Former Hosp. President
Constance Howes
$500
The former President of Women and Infants Hospital is now an executive with Care New England. Her husband Kelly Sheridan has ben a lobbyist for everything from the Providence Chamber to big tobacco.
#19 on GoLocal's ranking of the Richest and Most Influential.
Waterfront
Chris Hunter
$500
Hunter is lead consultant for the Working Waterfront in Providence - the group is at the forefront of the battle between the pro-industrial users like Sims Metals (Elorza) and the mixed use plans of Cianci. This week the two Mayoral campaigns made charges and counter charges about what is the right plan for Allens Avenue and the Port of Providence.
Founder of BIF
Saul Kaplan
$500
Saul Kaplan is emerging as the biggest thought leader in RI. His BIF Summit attracts many of the country and world's biggest thought leaders in business.
His Business Innovation Factory is a business think tank and consulting firm. He is the former EDC director and a business MINDSETTER™ to GoLocalProv.
Real Estate Mogul
Sally Lapides
$750
Lapides is the CEO at Residential Properties and was one of the organizers of the anti-Cianci group. She is recognized as a leader in the community and a major East Side influencer.
Set Designer
Eugene Lee
$750
Lee is a Tony Award winning theater designer. He started at Trinity and has designed TV sets for Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
He has designed many of Trinity's Reps' most elaborate sets.
Union Leader
Karen McAninch
$250
While police, fire, teachers, Teamsters and city workers' unions have gone with Cianci, McAnnich is one union leader to sign on with Elorza.
She is with the United Service and Allied Workers of RI.
Beer Distributor
Timothy Moran
$500
Moran's beer distribution company - McLaughlin & Moran - is one of the largest in the region. He has now relocated to Florida.
Taveras' Lawyer
Thomas Moses
$1000
Moses is the boss of the firm Moses & Alfonso - one of the top political firms in the City. Recently, the firm paid a $4.4 million settlement for the firms involvement with 38 Studios.
The firm has been a strong supporter of sitting Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.
Former Fleet Bank CEO
J. Terrence and Suzanne Murray
$2000
The former CEO of Fleet Bank built the bank into one of the largest in America before selling to Bank of America. The bank has the tenant at the now vacant Superman Building. Murray now lives in Palm Beach, Florida.
While the Murrays lives outside of RI for most of the year, they still ranked #36 in GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
Former GOP Leader
Lila Sapinsley
$500
Once the Minority Leader of the Senate Republicans in the 1980s, Sapinsley has been a leader in the moderate wing of the GOP in RI for years.
She was a regular guest on A Lively Experiment for more than a decade.
Former BankRI CEO
Merril Sherman
$1000
The former BANKRI CEO was once rumored to be a candidate for Mayor of Providence. Sherman has been active in politics and the community.
She is now a special master in resolving the federal forclosure crisis. She ranks #23 on GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
Former Brown VP
Richard Spies
$120
Spies came to Brown from Princeton and served as the #2 for Ruth Simmons for a decade. He drove the negotiations with Cicilline and Taveras.
Spies continues to live in Providence.
Former Hasbro
Alfred Verrechia
$500
Verrechia was the longtime executive and ultimately CEO of Hasbro.
Today, Verrecchia serves on the boards of Iron Mountain, FM Global and Lifespan -- and previously, RIEDC and CVS.
He ranks #20 on GoLocal's Richest and Most Influential.
Super Lobbyist
Christopher Vitale
$1000
Vitale is a big time lobbyist up at the State House and close ally to former Speaker Gordon Fox. His Capitol City Group represents healthcare and energy clients.
