Elorza Administration’s Top Staff Are All White
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza promised a new era and inclusion, but his top appointments to top level management positions in the administration are all white.
The appointments stand in stark contrast to the City of Providence which is less than 50% white, according to the latest Census data from 2010 -- which should see significant change in the the next count.
"Where is the diversity at the top Elorza Administration? There's none," said NAACP Providence Branch President Jim Vincent. "I need to talk with him. He needs to understand the politics, or he won't be reelected."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTElorza recently appointed Russell Knight to head up the Department of Public Works, and East Sider Wendy Nilsson to the Parks Departments (amidst questions as to her qualifications). Elorza's top two aides -- Chief of Staff Tony Simon and Chief Operating Officer and former opponent-turned-supporter Brett Smiley -- make over $250,000 combined.
In addition, Elorza elected to keep on schools superintendent Susan Lusi, Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare, Chief of Police Hugh Clements, Acting Fire Chief Clarence Cunha, Director of Operations Alan Sepe, Director of Finance Larry Mancini -- all white.
The administration does include diversity among the ranks, including State Representative Grace Diaz in the 6th highest paid position on the Mayor's payroll as Senior Advisor for Community Outreach at $55,000.
Several boards and commissions have diversity in leadership. Keith Oliveira is President of the Providence School Board, Dr. Jeffrey Williams was recently appointed head of the Licensing Board. However, board positions are for the most part part time, and paid a small stipend -- if at all.
Despite the lack of diversity in his uppermost ranks, the Mayor said he is committed to furthering diversity in the administration.
"The Elorza administration is committed to supporting and capitalizing on the strengths of our diverse City, as demonstrated by the wide diversity of race, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation in the Mayor’s senior staff, department directors, and board and commission appointments," said Elorza press secretary Evan England.
Impact of Social Equity
Last month, State Representative Ray Hull (D-6, Providence, North Providence) reached out to Elorza, calling on him to establish a director-level liaison with the city’s African-American community to serve as a point of contact and address concerns of racial disparities and unequal treatment.
Hull issued the call "in response to a continuing series of national incidents demonstrating troubling treatment of communities of color by local police departments and a new report by the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU which found significant differences in how black Rhode Islanders are treated from childhood to adulthood."
“The City of Providence has a unique opportunity to get in front of this situation and send a strong message that it is taking steps to confront racism and discrimination, while ensuring fair treatment for all its citizens,” said Hull. “I have seen people of color, and in particular African-American citizens, feel intimidated and be treated poorly by authority figures, including the police, and I have witnessed the insensitivity some members of the department have shown in dealing with the city’s African-American community.”
Just what does a lack of diversity mean for the city -- and the state?
On March 31, Tanvi Misra wrote for Atlantic Cities wrote "Another Reason to Promote Social Equity in U.S Metros: Job Growth."
Misra wrote, "In an upcoming issue of Urban Studies, Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor report that cities that tend to be more socially inclusive also show longer periods of economic growth—defined here as three or more years of uninterrupted growth in employment numbers. Analyzing 184 urban areas between 1990 and 2011, the researchers found that, among several factors linked with growth spells, the "largest and most significant predictor" was a metro's income inequality."
(And in other recent data, Providence County's income inequality ranked among the highest in the country).
As for equality in city hall, Vincent offered his perspective.
"David Cicilline brought in a black Communications Director, Karen Southern of Channel 12, Cybil Bailey in HR, and Seth Mitchell for Head of Neighborhood Services," said Vincent of the former Providence Mayor. "Taveras had Angela Romans as an education advisor, but now there's no one in Jorge's inner circle. Cicilline hired more blacks in high ranking positions than Taveras and Elorza combined."
Vincent had called for more diversity in the Raimondo administration leadership back in February
"She's doing better," said Vincent of the new Rhode Island Governor. "But even she should do better."
Related Slideshow: 10 Questions Elorza Has to Answer as Mayor
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