Providence City Councilmen Blacklisted by New Leadership
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Freshmen Councilmen Davian Sanchez (Ward 11) and Bryan Principe (Ward 13) were also kept off any of the six major committees. Sanchez says he supported Aponte’s bid for Council President while Principe says he didn’t endorse either candidate. The other five freshly elected Councilmen all received committee appointments.
Reached at Thursday night’s Council meeting, Solomon would only say, “The assignments speak for themselves and I’m committed to working with the whole council.”
Four Neighborhoods 'Disenfranchised'
Jackson supported Aponte’s run for Council President as well, but said the unprecedented act of payback also could be because he supported Mayor Angel Taveras during last September’s heated Democratic primary. He said it was sending the wrong message to citizens in four parts of the city.
Jackson, who had been on the City Property Committee for 16 years, is the senior member of the City Council. From 1999 through 2007, he was Chairman of the Finance Committee.
It’s About Power
A council member since 1998, Aponte never publically supported a candidate for Mayor, but said he believes he is being punished following an unsuccessful attempt at running for Council President.
“I can only attribute this to being about power and retribution,” Aponte said. “I ran for Council President and didn’t have the votes and now this is happening. To me, it’s all about power. I’ve been on Committees ever year. This isn’t normal at all.”
Aponte agreed with Jackson’s opinion that not allowing a councilman to be a part of any committee is a huge disservice to their neighborhood. Both men said they plan to stand up and make their presence known at Council Meetings and they were among the few who spoke during Thursday’s brief session.
Aponte called on his fellow Councilmen to be ready to make tough votes during tough economic times and said it was time to fix some of the mistakes made in previous years.
Principe and Sanchez Respond
The freshmen councilmen left off all committees had a more optimistic view despite being shut out by the new leadership. Both Principe and Sanchez agreed that it was a little strange to not be invited to join a committee, but said they were looking forward to working with everyone on the council.
Said Principe, “I don’t think it diminished my voice. I support Council President Solomon and plan to work with everybody. If this was political retribution, I find it very unfortunate because the issues this city are facing are too big for that.”
Regarding the Council President race, Sanchez said he was neutral until Solomon told him there would be Committee positions available. That’s when he supported Aponte. He said he wasn’t too worried about being left in the dark.
“I don't think it will effect me in anyway. I feel like it’s actually a good thing not being in a committee. More time for me now to work in my ward.”
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Comments:
joe bernstein
3:31pm on Saturday, January 22, 2011
Mike Solomon has been a very responsive Councilman when contacted about problems with city services-and he doesn't go around peddling fundraiser tickets either.
He has a stake in the city as the owner of a popular business and employer of numerous people.
I don't know anything about Jackson or Aponte,so I'm not knocking them,just commenting on Solomon.
mark fishd
7:09am on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Really?
How do these two guys complain when they refuse to let the publick know who gives them campaign money.
http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/PROVIDENCE_COUNCILMEN_DELINQUENT_10-29-10_T5K_v19.2152b2a.html
Jackson owes over$ 18,000 in fines, and hasn't filed in years. Aponte owes over$ 8,500 and skipped filing during the past election. And this isn't the first time for him getting fined.
Gross.
Their neighborhoods and the city deserve to know who is giving them money.
Good to see the new council might have some common sense.
Cara Mella
2:52pm on Sunday, January 23, 2011
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Cara Mella
2:53pm on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dear #2,
I don't believe the new council or their new leader is that "sophisticated" yet to punish these 2 men because of there lack of filing. More serious consequences by the Board of Elections for these actions should be put in place... .... But in the mean time Pres. Solomon is just following orders....
Edward Smith
8:35pm on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dear #3,
Aponte is not the council president because he is not exactly a hard working and organized guy, a fact reflected in him owing thousands of dollars in fines to the Board of Elections for failing to file reports that take, at best, 30 minutes to complete.
While he spent an opponent-free summer watching the Mayoral race from the sidelines, Solomon was hustling votes, raising money and doing the kinds of things people who really want to be council president do.