Moore: Nellie Gorbea's Insensitivity
Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Moore: Nellie Gorbea's Insensitivity
If you’re wealthy and have close ties to the state government, you’ll be greeted with open arms and treated like a family member. But if you’re a member of a grass roots organization trying to do what your conscience dictates solely in what you think is the best interest of your community, you’ll be treated like the outsider that you are.
GoLocalProv reported on Wednesday that the Secretary of State’s office, last February, sent a letter to the Chief Executive Office of the Pawtucket Red Sox, Michael Tamburro, congratulating him on the fact that his employer was being purchased by well-financed out-of-state professionals with close ties to the Major League Boston Red Sox, before kindly telling him that he needed to register with the state if he planned on doing any lobbying on behalf of the team.
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“Congratulations on the exciting new developments at the Pawtucket Red Sox, a venerable Rhode Island institution,” the letter begins before going on to recommend that Tamburro register with the state as a lobbyist.
Contrast that with the beginning of the letter sent to David Norton, a Pawtucket resident who created a website for a group called Organizing For Pawtucket, which is dedicated to galvanizing people to oppose a new Red Sox Stadium deal in Rhode Island that would be built with taxpayer money.
“It has come to my attention through media reports and the Organizing Pawtucket website that you are the head of Organizing for Pawtucket, and that you may be engaging in conversation with Rhode Island state government officials on behalf of that entity,”, the letter to Norton states.
Completely Different Tone
Notice the difference in tone between the two letters. The first letter, to the representative of a politically strong and connected company, begins with congratulations. The letter to the grassroots organizer is all business.
But Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, when this was brought to her attention by GoLocal, brushed off the differences in tone between the two letters, which were sent for expressly the same purpose.
"I think the purpose of the letters is exactly the same, I disagree there's a difference to them," said Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea on Tuesday.
Of course the purpose of the two letters was the same. (Set aside, for a second, the fact that Gorbea is wrong and that Norton shouldn’t have to register as a lobbyist because he’s not looking for money from the state and only voicing his opinion on an issue.)
Tone Deaf
But what Gorbea isn’t acknowledging is the fact that the letters begin with a completely different tone. The letter to Tamburro is like a letter to a friend. The letter to Norton reads like a letter to someone the writer is disgusted with.
Gorbea did us all a favor however with her comment. She showed us she’s tone deaf.
Meanwhile, Gorbea’s office has admitted that Dr. Charles Steinberg, who is going across the state like a beggar asking citizens for their hard earned taxpayer money so that he and his wealthy cronies can build a stadium at their expense, hasn’t been asked to register as a lobbyist. The reason: the Secretary of State’s office views him as a resource of information for the public!
Subjective Rules and Enforcement
The rules here couldn’t be more subjective even if our government bosses tried to make them so.
The purpose of government should be to protect the weak from the strong.
Yet so often in Rhode Island we’ve seen that notion perverted. The state government is used as a vehicle for the powerful to prey on the powerless. There’s the 38 studios debacle. There’s the corruption at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Center, in which justice was never served and taxpayers were bilked out of $75 million.
And now House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello seems hell bent on making sure Rhode Islanders foot the bill so that the rich dudes who own the Pawtucket Red Sox don’t have to pay for their stadium. Apparently, Gorbea is looking to do her part to make sure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.
Opponents of the latest bilking of Rhode Island taxpayers shouldn’t allow this intimidation and favoritism to deter them in their efforts. Instead, they should double down their efforts and show Gorbea that they won’t be pushed around anymore.
The Ten Biggest Questions Facing the PawSox Coming to Providence
Owner interests?
What are the owners looking for from the state?
It's been one week since the new ownership group of the Pawtucket Red Sox was announced -- and their intention to look at Providence as a potential new location for the Red Sox AAA affiliate. How long this has been their plan is unclear but what is more certain is the new owners are considering the pursuit of some public funding to be on the table. What will they be seeking from the city and state, and how much? As the state still reels from the failed 38 Studios deal, look to see what might be proposed -- and how the public reacts.
Public funding?
How much is the city -- and state -- willing to give?
While the new ownership has indicated that Providence is tops on their list for a new location for the PawSox, there are other cities and towns that could vie for attention. "I said to Mr. Skeffington, if Pawtucket could pull it out, would they be interested, but he said basically if it's not Providence, it would be a broader catch area," said City Council President Louis Aponte, of his conversation with the new ownership. As the state and its capital city deliberate the best use of downtown real estate -- and the news 195 land -- how much will they be willing to make the new owners happy, especially if they starting pitting Providence against other locales?
Economic impact?
What is the potential economic impact on Providence?
If Providence is the new home of the PawSox, it gets a ball club that has seen attendance at McCoy top 500,000 for 16 straight years -- only Louisville, Columbus, Buffalo, and Indianapolis have longer streaks. "Anytime you can draw in on average 7500 people for games, it brings brings value to the state," John Gibbons, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Sports Commission, told GoLocal in January. "That type of business doesn't necessarily draw in hotel use, but I know those facilities nearby do well when the PawSox play, and I know they bring in tax dollars every night with the sales at the park." Jobs aside, watch to see who conducts economic impact studies -- and what that means in terms of any negotiations between owners and the city.
Jobs retained?
How many jobs will be retained?
Pawtucket's loss is Providence's gain, and the questions is does that go for jobs as well as economic impact. How many of the existing PawSox job holders will see an opportunity in Providence? Will the new ownership bring in new vendors, new office staff, new grounds crew? Will there be any downsizing in an attempt to streamline operations?
Jobs created?
How many jobs will be created?
One of the bigger questions is will a new Sox stadium create any new jobs in a state that certainly needs them. Construction of a new stadium would no doubt provide short-term labor opportunities for the buildings and construction trades, but what about long term opportunities? The development of the 195 land is beginning to take shape after addressing infrastructure needs, and now the city and state are looking to capitalize on the potential to foster high job growth industries. Does a new baseball stadium fit that bill?
New business?
What will get built around it?
The potential location for a baseball stadium that is currently being discussed is the land just to the north of the South Street Landing project, the mixed-use multi-million dollar project will be a new home to a Rhode Island nursing education Center, Brown University offices and graduate student housing as well as a parking garage. There are multiple 195 parcels on the land west of the river. Will addition parking options be needed? The PawSox play approximately 70 home games a year. Who will step up as potential new neighbors?
195 Plan?
How does it fit into 195 development?
Governor Gina Raimondo during her campaign called for the 195 land to be used as a manufacturing hub. “In order to rebuild our economy, we have to start making things in Rhode Island again,” said Raimondo during the campaign. “My strategy will be to take the good ideas coming out of our universities and colleges and turn them into products we manufacture here. We have a historic opportunity with this I-195 land and we have to get it right." There are over eighteen acres available for development -- and Raimondo shook up the 195 commission last month with her own set of appointees, who have yet to make any major moves - as of yet.
Transparency?
What level of transparency will be disclosed?
The announcement of the sale of the PawSox to its new ownership group was followed by a press conference led by new owner James Skeffington. While Skeffington offered ballpark figures for how much a new stadium might cost -- he cited $60-$70 million for other stadiums of its size -- what's unclear is how much the owners paid for the ball club. If the ownership (whose personal wealth combined totals over $1 billion) seeks public funding, how much will they be willing -- and required -- to disclose about personal financial interests?
Big picture?
Should Raimondo focus on larger issues?
Rhode Island's new Governor is entering her third month in office, set to introduce her first budget proposal in two weeks, and is facing tackling a projected $200 million budget deficit. Having recently announced a working group to overhaul Medicaid, following identification of the state's most pressing fiscal issues, can the Governor afford to spend time brokering a deal for a minor league sports stadium? Raimondo spoke of a state Innovation Institute being the cornerstone of her 195 vision -- will subsidizing a minor league ballpark be a focus of the administration?
Track record?
How have other deals performed – Convention Center, Airport, 38 Studios, Produce Market, Providence Place?
Providence hasn't seen major capital projects since Waterplace Towers changed the city skyline following the completion of the Providence Place Mall and the new Convention Center. Since then, the failed 38 Studios deal has brought into scrutiny private companies being underwritten with moral obligation bonds -- and tax stabilization agreements in the city have similarly undergone scrutiny by the city council and taxpaying public. Will a look a past projects play a role in the development of a stadium?
