Providence City Council Members Weigh in on Davey Lopes Pool
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Since the announcement that the Davey Lopes Recreation Center swimming pool would not be open this summer -- for low attendance numbers, the Taveras Administration has said -- a number of elected officials as well as community leaders have spoken out about the Mayor's decision to close the popular recreational outlet for neighborhood youth.
With temperatures in Providence expected to be in the 90s for another heat wave this week, GoLocal reached out members of the Providence City Council to get their thoughts and perspective on the situation as the summer of 2013 nears the halfway mark.
"We've expended a lot of funds on a lot of things across the city," said Councilman Terry Hassett. "We say in one breath that we stand for health, and then we make this choice? If I were Mayor, I would have never permitted [Davey Lopes] to close."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHassett, whose father had been a city recreation director, said, "I feel strongly about this. I have a great relationship with the Mayor, but I disagree with him on this. When I see something wrong, I don't stop."
Other council members spoke with GoLocal on Monday to share their views on the current circumstances -- and what might be done to address them.
Funding -- and Timing -- at Center of Debate
Hassett, along with others, heard that estimates for costs to repair the pool were around $40,000.
"I said I would commit $10,000 of my CDBG funds for Davey Lopes," said Hassett, referring to federal Community Development Block Grant money that councilpersons can use at their discretion.
Similarly, others on the council -- including Councilman Kevin Jackson -- have said they would pitch in CDBG funds from their own districts as well.
"I'm not so parochial that I wouldn't offer some assistance to another part of the city in need," said Jackson. "If there was some distress in my district that needed support, I would like to think others would do the same."
However, Councilman Michael Corriea told GoLocal that he thought any financial efforts to fix the pools would come up short this year, given the rec centers have approximately one month remaining in the season.
"I noticed that the Davey Lopes pool was in need of a great deal of repair," said Correia. "If we were to open the pool right away without the necessary repairs, we would be putting children in harm's way. I know Councilman Sanchez is looking for the funds, which I totally support, but I don't see it being feasible to make the repairs necessary this season."
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