PawSox Stadium Opponents to Up Pressure at State House this Week
Monday, June 22, 2015
The Rhode Island General Assembly might be in the waning days of the 2015 session, but opponents to a Providence PawSox stadium are planning to ramp up their efforts to let lawmakers know they oppose a new deal if put forth -- or a special session to consider one.
Following the delivery of thousands of signatures against a new stadium being built in Providence, a "Keep the PawSox in Pawtucket" rally has been scheduled for this Thursday at 5 P.M. at the Rhode Island State House. David Norton with the group "Organizing for Pawtucket" is coordinating the effort.
"Once again we are encouraged to see democracy in action. Mr. Norton delivered over 13,000 petition signatures to our leaders last week and they still don't seem to get the message," said David Fisher of The Coalition Radio, who has been an outspoken stadium opponent. "The overwhelming public opinion on this issue is clear. We don't want this stadium, and if it means that the Red Sox organization leaves [Rhode Island], so be it."
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The new ownership group of the Pawtucket Red Sox have not put forth a new deal since the one first presented to the public in April -- and shot down by Governor Raimondo on following the Commerce Corporation meeting on April 30 -- but Norton says that opponents are "remaining vigilant."
"This rally is absolutely about showing assembly members (most especially Speaker Mattiello) and the Governor that we remain vigilant and highly motivated," said Norton. "This rally is being held to make it perfectly clear to our elected leaders that a very strong majority of Rhode Islanders are in opposition to moving the PawSox out of Pawtucket and in opposition to building a new stadium in Providence. We wish to leave our elected officials with no excuse, no wiggle room and absolutely no way out of the decision that they may make concerning this issue!"
Norton addressed the possibility of special session at the General Assembly -- following the adjournment of this current one -- and said that the opposition was prepared in the event one is scheduled
"We are planning for a special session to be held on this issue. Speaker Mattiello has mentioned the possibility of public hearings and we are very much looking forward to the opportunity of highlighting how tone deaf our political leaders can be to the will of the people and the tax-payers in Rhode Island," said Norton. "This will be an opportunity for Rhode Islanders to vent their frustration not only on this particular issue but also on the more troubling problem of crony capitalism and suspicion of corruption and backroom deals at the State House."
Norton said he is expecting Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien, who was been opposed to the PawSox leaving the city, to speak at the rally on Thursday.
"We haven't confirmed many speakers at this point but we have reached out to both Democrats and Republicans in the assembly and at the City level in Pawtucket and Providence," said Norton. "Mayor Grebien will be speaking for sure, but we won't have the list of confirmed speakers until Tuesday. It is sure to be an extremely diverse crowd politically: nobody likes this deal at all!"
Special Sessions - in Context
Historian and former Executive Director of Common Cause of Rhode Island H. Philip West Jr. provided historical context regarding recent special sessions at the Rhode Island General Assembly.
"Several times, the General Assembly has come back to override vetoes, but I don’t remember any topic-centered special sessions except the pension overhaul effort in 2011," said West.
"In 2004, lawmakers returned to override Governor Carcieri’s veto of a proposed West Warwick casino. On the fly, Senator Steven Alves and casino backers tried to fix a fatal flaw [in] legislation passed earlier," said West. "Alves proposed a brand new constitutional amendment that crashed and burned. This was not a special session, but it offers an example of what to avoid."
"By contrast, the 2011 special session on pensions worked well because then-General Treasurer Gina Raimondo presented sound data and specific proposals that focused legislative minds on the state’s dire pension predicament," said West.
West said the two sessions offered two different perspectives -- and outcomes.
"Those two legislative exercises represent the ends of a spectrum. The 2004 event was poorly planned, rushed, and chaotic. It became a disaster. The 2011 special session on pension reform appears to have focused minds and led to a sound result," said West.
"I think there could be value in a special session: (1) if a specific plan were available well in advance to allow public discussion, (2) if public hearings drew testimony from technical experts and ordinary citizens, and (3) if the people of Rhode Island were convinced that the legislative result embodied sound policy," said West.
Related Slideshow: Leaders React to PawSox Owners’ Providence Stadium Proposal
The new owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox presented their vision for a new $85 million stadium in Providence -- including a lease agreement from the state that would require the owners be paid $4 million a year for the thirty year duration.
Now, elected officials and business leaders are weighing in on the initial proposal by the ownership group -- see below.
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