The Most Powerful Woman in RI Is Not Who You Think It Is

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

GoLocalProv News Team

Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris

At this point in time, the future of the largest private investment in the City of Providence in the past two decades is squarely in the purview of one unlikely decision-maker.

Low profile City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris is the key vote to a veto override and the $300 million 46-story Fane Tower moving forward.

While Governor Gina Raimondo may have an ever-growing national profile, she has failed to sway Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza to approve the project, Harris is de facto emerging as the deciding vote to override Elorza’s veto.

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Last Friday afternoon, Elorza infuriated Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello, and building trades union head Michael Sabitoni by vetoing the approval to increase the height restrictions to allow the 46-story Fane Tower to be built.

Elorza’s veto can be overridden by the Council with a two-thirds vote. The Fane Tower’s approval passed by a vote of 9 for, 5 against, and one abstaining.

Harris, who represents Upper South Providence and the West End, two of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, is said to be more than aware of the financial benefits of the Fane project. The City would receive nearly $7 million in permitting fees, more than $4 million annually in taxes, and would create an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 jobs.

SEE THE NUMBERS ON THE PROJECT BELOW

Harris is the only no vote that has voiced any consideration to revisit the project and she is the focus of fierce lobbying. The Council member refusing to vote is Council President David Salvatore who is the full-time State House lobbyist for the RI Realtors.

Despite his abstentions, Salvatore has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the project and has refused to answer questions about a potential conflict of interest. Salvatore has not sought a specific advisory opinion from the Rhode Island Ethics Commission on the project. But, he has repeatedly taken legislative action on the project -- voting to send measures to committee -- and has failed to recuse himself from consideration of the project.

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Harris issued a statement on Tuesday stating, “It’s clear to me why many oppose this project, but it is less clear why and what the real, long-lasting benefits are for this City and my neighbors. I’ve read that I have little time to come to a conclusion on this matter, but I am working hard on behalf of my neighbors and all citizens of Providence to come to a decision that will be in our best interest."

She went on to say, “Finally, as a former a tradeswoman (yes, I was a welder), I am in full support of our tradespeople and our unions. I know full well what this kind of project can mean for the men and women who work to build our City every day. However, I am thinking about and reflecting on the totality of this project.”

Harris is No Elorza Crony

In September 2017, the friction between Elorza and Harris blew up. Harris blasted Elorza for taking credit for the sale of Barbara Jordan I, the privately owned development on the South Side which she said she and Councilman Luis Aponte had led the effort to bring in an outside management firm to take over.

Elorza's office made the announcement undercutting Harris that RI Housing was financing the sale to OmniNY, the New York-based, minority-owned firm whose leadership includes former Boston Red Sox player Mo Vaughn, who Harris said she had been in close talks with throughout the process.

"I'm done with the Mayor -- this is the final straw. I can't have this happening," said Harris. "It's demeaning me, it's bullying me and he's working against me. I can be your best ally...but don't bring me to the other side. You don't want to see that other side."

SEE THE NUMBERS ON THE FANE PROJECT BELOW