Moore: Elorza's Misguided Guatemalan Tour
Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Moore: Elorza's Misguided Guatemalan Tour
Just last year, then candidate Jorge Elorza campaigned around the City of Providence telling everyone who would listen that Providence would be making a grave mistake by electing Buddy Cianci Mayor of Providence once again given that he had been convicted on a single corruption charge.
Now, fast forward one year later, and Mayor Jorge Elorza is on what's being described as a trip to Guatemala, meeting with that country's President to discuss potential trade deals with the City of Providence. The only problem is the fact that the President of Guatemala makes former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci look like a choir boy.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBy all accounts, Guatemala President Otto Perez Molina is one bad dude. His Vice President stepped down over a kickback scheme over imports into the country run by his own personal secretary. Molina's son-in-law was arrested for drug trafficking last month. And Molina himself is suspected, has been accused, and all but implicated in war crimes during that countries civil war during the 1980s.
One Bad Dude
If it weren't for the fact that a national election is taking place in Guatemala next month, and the fact that Molina isn't up for reelection, the President would, by most accounts, have been thrust out of office.
Like so many of the rest of us, Providence City Council President Luis Aponte thought it was crazy that Elorza decided to meet with such a scandal-ridden administration.
"How come no one Googled this guy?" Aponte wondered. "The first five things that come up are related to corruption."
Aponte was stating the obvious question that everyone else was wondering.
Providence Problems
What made matters worse was the fact that things aren't exactly smooth sailing back here at home. The city was forced to prematurely close down its pools, during a heat wave, no less, due to potentially unsafe water quality. I wonder if the government officials in Guatemala showed Elorza what clean swimming pools looked like?
And the mayor still has unfinished business with getting the platoon shift reform in the fire department settled once and for all. (An initiative I credit the mayor for undertaking, by the way.)
So while there's plenty of problems back at home, Elorza was toasting with the corrupt Guatemalan President. That doesn't look so good.
A Hero's Return
Look, on one hand, it's understandable why Elorza would have wanted to visit the home country of his father. The visit did, in a sense, reflect well on America. It showed that our country is still a place where a immigrant can come and within 40 years his son is becomes a Mayor of a major United States City. Elorza's visit to his father's native country was a hero's return.
But at the same time, there are many unanswered questions about the trip. First of all, what was Elorza's stated goal of the official visit? That hasn't been explained. Was it to encourage immigration from Guatemala to the United States? If so, what was promised other than Elorza's lobbying to increase the chance for immigrants to attend public universities and obtain driver's licenses?
Who Paid the Bill?
Secondly, who paid for the trip? And if public money was expended, how much? Was it a worthwhile expenditure in the investment?
These official trips by American mayors and other government officials deserve more scrutiny from the press, and the general public moving forward. They seem to be good fun for the politicians who make them, but not much is gained for the constituents they represent. They're just junkets.
It's unfortunate that Elorza went on such a questionable and perhaps ill-advised trip during relatively turbulent times in the City. Hopefully, this will send a message to other politicians that they should take care of business at home before they travel abroad.
Ten Issues Elorza Can't Hide From
Staffing Costs
Elorza has announced a slew of hires to date -- including the position of Chief Operating Officer in addition to Chief of Staff, as well as two Deputy Chiefs of Staff. Outgoing Mayor Taveras' former Director of Administration was the highest paid city official at $196,086 in total compensation before departing (but retaining a private contract with the city). To date, Elorza has not responded to requests for salary information for his administration. Once the budget is submitted he won't be able do hide.
One Time Fixes
The current Administration loaded up this current year's budget with one-time stop gap measures. So while next year's budget gap is projected to be anywhere between $17 million and $24 million, Elorza's also got to factor in where the city will get the money -- roughly $7 million -- from the one time fixes in FY15 that won't be on the table in FY16.
Council Relations
When Elorza was elected, and announced his transition team, he didn't give likely council-President Luis Aponte heads up or prior notice. The council has two new faces in the way of Mary Kay Harris and Jo-Ann Ryan, but the remaining 13 seats are returning. Will Elorza work in tandem with the council -- or will it be a more hands-off approach from the Mayor's office?
Body Camera Funding
Since Elorza was elected, the fallout from grand jury decisions Ferguson and New York has brought a new reality to cities -- both in protests and policing. While law enforcement members said they would support the use of body cameras -- and some community members sided with them, while others did not -- the question is where the funding of both the technology, and manpower to oversee it would come from, given the current constraints of a force that is looking to get up to full complement .
195 Development
Developments since election day have included the purchase and sales agreement for a dorm on 195 land -- and reaction from those who are opposed to tax breaks for such a project. Will Elorza work in tandem with the 195 commission to articulate a vision for the future use of the land, or will it largely be dictated by outside interests? And with minority contractors looking to be sure to be part of the process, there are more questions than answers at this point.
East Side Crime
East Side Crime: In December, residents, and a City Councilman, flagged crime issues on the east side as and issue, and Elorza did not respond to request for comment. Whether it was a seasonal aberration, or indicative of a long-term trend, the uptick of crime has residents concerned about the safety of the community.
Superman Building
Whether it be Citizens Bank or another bidder, the looming behemoth at 111 Westminster continues to need to be addressed. High Rock Development failed in its attempts over the past two years to gain traction for apartments coupled with retails space. Will Elorza play a driving role in determining the fate of the downtown anchor? With the reconfiguring of Kennedy Plaza, whether or not the Superman building can find a tenant is an issue Elorza cannot hide from.
Blackstone Boulevard
The initial proposal for a sub-division of the Granofff property on Rochambeau and Blackstone Boulevard -- which faced vocal opposition from neighbors -- did not pass the City Planning Council. But could the team of Granoff, Moses, and DeRentis, husband of Chief Operating Officer Brett Smiley, come back to the table for a new lot subdivision based on new lot allotments? If so, Elorza will have a major issue on his hand that he's been able to stay out of until now.
Labor Issues
Following an election that saw most of labor's support got to Cianci, labor issues are at the forefront. "Right now one of my top priorities is to get a tentative agreement and subsequently a collective bargaining agreement that respects Providence teachers and the amazing work they do everyday," said Providence Teachers Union head Maribeth Calabro. However, even labor leader Paul MacDonald said he sees bigger issues -- the council. "Can he get the support of the city council will be a bigger challenge for him than labor. The big question for the Mayor is he willing to work with the Teachers, firefighters, hotel/bartenders and the big one the Laborers union 1033," said MacDonald in Decemb
Affordable Housing
During the campaign, Elorza's announcement that he would create a bonded $5 million revolving loan program to redevelop foreclosed and abandoned properties in Providence was met with questions from affordable housing advocates as to its impact both on the market, and neighborhood redevelopment.
"There are lots of questions here. I'm not sure it's been completely vetted for a long term strategy. You can't just fix a house and sell it, and cross your fingers and hope it works," said SWAP's Carla DeStefano. "What this program needs to do is work within the greater context of neighborhood revitalization, and incorporate best practices from other states, and our knowledge." How Elorza will work with the affordable housing community to articulate his vision -- and succeed -- will be a major test
