EDITORIAL: Elorza “Draws the Line” on ATVs - What Could Go Wrong?

Monday, April 11, 2022

EDITORIAL

 

View Larger +

Elorza in 2021 at a press conference about ATVs. PHOTO: Reynaldo Almonte for Latino Public Radio

For years, the illegal ATVs racing around Providence have had [at best] a disinterested enabler in Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and at worse a, de facto, co-conspirator.

The ATV gangs have destroyed Providence's quality of life, committed beatings, and injuries. 

Now, Elorza has issued an edict. In a recent announcement, Elorza said, "Don't come, don't ride your ATVs on our streets. If you do, there will be consequences."

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

In 2021, Elorza made another bold promise to address the issue -- with no improvement after that press coverage.

A recent review by GoLocal shows that the consequences are nearly non-existent.

For one ATVer who was involved in the assault of a Cranston police officer and was charged in the incident in Providence in which a woman was dragged from her car and beaten in front of a child, she received a jail sentence of 60 days.

Some say the gangs "just need a placed to ride." Except they gleefully terrorize city streets, blow through traffic lights, and feel empowered to taunt residents and police alike. They surely don't make a compelling case. After all, they are breaking the law.

The problems of violence, harassment, and injuries began to emerge in 2015 — near the beginning of Elorza’s first term.

By 2017, GoLocal broke the story of the harrowing experience of one Providence mother.

"I was driving close to Wayland [Square], when all of a sudden there was a huge crowd of bikes that came out of nowhere," said Moody. "They were in the left lane as I was in the right.  There were all different kinds -- four-wheelers, those real tall dirt bike ones, as well as the street racing kind."

"So I was going to turn onto the Square. They were to my left, but they were crossing me as I was trying to turn. It was a dangerous turn for them, and I could have hit them if I wasn't cautious," said Moody. "So they started to put their breaks on deliberately in front of me, so at this moment, they kept going and going -- and there were tons of them.  I know some people said 25 or 30, but I saw close to 50."

Moody, who had her children in her car with her, said she started to feel threatened. 

"I'm frantic. There's tons just crowding around, I'm beeping the horn because of the hold-up, and I'm on the phone with the police now," said Moody. "When I was able to get away I took a left on Laurel [Avenue]. There were a bunch of bikes that went another way, but two or three stayed and cornered me. A tall [man] on a dirt bike was next to my window as I was on the phone. I couldn't tell the police even where I was exactly, with one next to me, one in front of the car. What if they pulled out a gun?"

"What was I to do in this situation? He was yelling at me and making scary faces. I had my two-year-old and one-year-old in the car. I was trapped," said Moody. "Eventually they went -- and the police finally said they'd send someone over, but I was scared and I drove away from that area.  I went down a side road. I was shaking -- I needed to stop and calm down."

Moody said she is still distraught following what had taken place. 

"Every time I hear a bike, I imagine them near my house -- did they get my plate?  Were they coming to find me?  I'm really shaken by it," said Moody.  "How is the city going to protect us from these bikers, that I believe are terrorizing the neighborhood?  In the case of them forcing cars to stop on the side of the road, and blocking them -- isn't that terror?"

Immediately after that report in 2017, a number of Providence Police officers told GoLocal that they had been ordered not to stop or arrest ATVers and that the order came directly from Elorza’s public safety commissioner Stephen Pare.

Ten days ago at the press conference by Elorza, the administration said that they would be more "surgical" in their approach in combatting the scourge on the city that has been ATVs.

We ask, what exactly is a "surgical approach"? Our guess is it is one where you go to the hospital and leave with massive bills.

Elorza has been a failure in managing this issue (and many others relating to public safety and quality of life).

Now, he has drawn a line in the sand. 

We hope that he follows through. What would Vegas set the odds to be?

Now, on to PVDFest.

An editorial is the opinion of a publication — specifically, the ownership.

While based on facts and news reporting, it is an opinion intended to discuss critical community issues. Often, the opinion is written with the intention of positive change.

GoLocal editorials have sparked conversations, change, and even the naming of a bridge.

LEARN MORE HERE
 

Related Articles

 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook