INVESTIGATION: Providence Pool Closings Allegedly Tied to Mismanagement

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor

 

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Providence leaders look at the Davey Lopes pool when it was closed in 2013; it has since been shut down again, along with other city pools.

Questions about the City of Providence's recent sudden closure of its five public pools -- during a heat wave -- have been raised by some who are asking for full disclosure as to why the decision was made, and not made public by the Elorza administration until now. 

GoLocal was first to report the story on Wednesday, and multiple sources reached out with their perspective on the development. 

"I've been told that the real reason [the pools closed] is that the city used cheap paint when they had to do some [maintenance] at the beginning at the summer," said Davian Sanchez, the former City Councilman who helped lead the effort to reopen the Davey Lopes pool after it closed in 2013 amidst allegations of political retribution.  "I was told the city used paint that they weren't supposed to, and if that's the case, someone should be punished."

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Providence resident Lisa Scorpio, whose son had been working at the Davey Lopes pool this summer, said that he showed up to work, only to find the pool gates locked. 

"I think a lot of people want to know the real reason why this happened," said Scorpio.  "Are they somehow saving money by not paying these kids this week? Don't forget, Davey Lopes was just re-done last year -- why was it lumped in with all the other [pool closures], if the water issues were elsewhere?  It's ridiculous.  There's so many bad things happening right now.  It's not just the little kids who need the pools, what about the teens who had jobs cut short?"

Pool Companies on Materials

On Wednesday, Deborah Schimberg, chairwoman of the Providence Pools Commission, which was formed in the wake of the closure -- and reopening -- of Davey Lopes pool, spoke with GoLocal about the circumstances that led up the closure of the pools. 

"There's just been so much neglect -- thankfully it didn't happen in July," said Schimberg. "They were supposed to be open this week. They have to be safe, and they have to be not putting swimmers at risk."

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The Davey Lopes pool was shuttered before the end of the season this year.

Schimberg noted that the Department of Health had been on hand to inspect the pool at Neutaconkanut --- which DOH addressed on Wednesday.  

"The inspection on August 12 was part of RI DOH’s annual inspections," said DOH Spokesperson Christina Batastini.  "During this inspection, the pool water was cloudy.   Samples of the water were taken.  As a result of the pool cloudiness, the pool was voluntarily closed until sample analysis could be returned."

DOH could not confirm Wednesday the results of the investigation, however the city said it was due to "calcium scale" buildup. 

"City pools have been closed due to a buildup of calcium scale that was first observed following heavy rains last week. Over time, calcium scale can make water appear cloudy and impede visibility," said Elorza spokesperson Evan England. 

Pool company professionals weighed in on their experience with abnormal pool water issues.  

"Usually, calcium will not make the water cloudy," said Paula Vital, one of the owners of Aquidneck Pool in Portsmouth.  "Cloudy water usually comes from pH issues, or chlorine being too low or high.  Calcium issues usually means the finish gets rough and prickly.  You can do acid washes to soften it up, but it's time consuming -- and if it's a pool that's been painted, you have to be careful about what's used."

Steve D'Andrea with Lakeswide Swimming spoke to issues that around paint selection.

"I think it's a good idea [the city] being proactive, and erring on the side of caution," said D'Andrea.  "Cloudiness issues aside, it could be a number of things, and calcium scale could still very will be plausible for the closures."

"We don't do cement pools, so what you use for paint is up to your own philosophy," said D'Andrea.  "You can use VOCs, or epoxy -- I would probably go with an epoxy based paint, it's all how it holds up against the pool's structure, and with the water."

England said that the city was looking into why the calcium issue could have arisen.

"Pools are painted by the city. There are a number of factors that could have led to increased calcium levels and we are exploring them," said England.

 

Related Slideshow: Timeline of the Davey Lopes Recreation Center Pool Controversy

The controversy surrounding the Joslin Recreation Center Pool closure is just the latest city pool issue involving the Taveras administration. The pool at the Davey Lopes Recreation Center has been a highly contested issue since its closure in July of 2013. 

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July 2nd, 2013

Taveras Admin's Decision to close pool called Political and Racist  

 
Race:
 
“This is a class issue and a race issue. I'm angry and I've been this way for years. This administration (Taveras) is making it worse. We have them turning all the pools into what they're calling "safe pools," three and four feet deep--a swimmer can no longer use them,” said former State Representative Ray Rickman.
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July 2nd, 2013

Taveras Admin's Decision to close pool called Political and Racist

Politics: 
 
Councilman Kevin Jackson: “I'll tell you what I know. Our rec (recreation center) directors who run summer camps usually put together list of teens to work at these camps, to work at water parks. They were told that kids who put down they were in the district of any one of the council members who voted against the budget would not be hired.”
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July 9th, 2013

Youth Reaction

George Lindsey Jr. Age 13:
 
"It's been terrible since the pool's closed and it's been so hot. I've just been being in my house and sitting under the A/C. I go outside and play basketball, but then I come back in, because without the pool there's nothing else to do.
Being outside is just aggravating. People get into fights and stuff, but I don't want to get involved in that.  What I wish I could do is go to the pool. But we can't anymore since it's closed down."
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July 13th, 2013

City Report on Pool 

A report on Providence recreation written by a Mayoral Fellow to Angel Taveras – which was leaked to GoLocalProv -- showed that the city administration ignored its own commissioned analysis, while it has systematically reduced recreation services, notably the closing of city pools.
 
The report, drafted for the City by fellow Matthew Kramer, was presented to key members of the Taveras administration in August of 2011, and made strong recommendations about improving existing recreation infrastructure and expanding programs for city youth.
 
Read more GoLocal Prov coverage here. 
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July 15th, 2013

Crackdown on Employees Speaking About Pools

In July, the City of Providence has reportedly wrote up Davey Lopes Recreation Center Director George Lindsey following several stories which saw members of the community speaking out to express their concerns for the lack of swimming options during the recent heart wave, with the closing of the Davey Lopes pool coming on the heels of the shuttering of the Joslin Recreation Center pool last year.
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July 15th, 2013

Rep. Williams Calls on Taveras to Open Pool

Representative Anastasia P. Williams (D), who has represented District 9 in Providence since 1992, sent an official letter to Mayor Taveras calling for a "practical solution" to addressing the closure of the Davey Lopes pool in South Providence.
 
Read the Letter here
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July 16th, 2013

Council Statements: Councilman Terrence Hassett

"How can you isolate kids like this, and not let them swim.  I just think that's improper. These are young impressionable kids, who making friends at the pools, spending time with their families. What's better than that?"
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July 16th, 2013

Council Statements: Councilman Kevin Jackson

"We need to make sure this doesn't happen again.  I believe the City knew what they were going to do, and just didn't reach out to us to give us enough time or options."
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July 16th, 2013

Councilwoman Carmen Castillo

"I've reached out to [Councilman Sanchez] to work with him on this. I want to work with him to find out more about what can be done to reopen the pool."
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July 16th, 2013

Councilman Nicholas Narducci

"I don't think we should be closing any recreational opportunities for kids right now.  When you're having murders, violence, it's not time to cut the programs."
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July 16th, 2013

Councilman Michael Correia

"Out of all honesty...this pool has been in this position for quite some time.  The lower end had been used, but the deep end had been filled in. This isn't something that has happened over night. It's another piece of city property that's being neglected.  Everyone should have gotten together sooner to address the issue in order the fix the issue, either it was overlooked, or neglected."
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July 16th, 2013

Councilman Luis Aponte

"The city's attempts to close pools, or replace them with waterparks...it's about insurance, liability.  It's not lost on us."  
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July 16th, 2013

Councilman Davian Sanchez

"At our rally, we got a petition with over 300 signatures to keep the pool open. Since then, I've got a lot of phone calls, and they've all been positive. Most of the council supports this. State reps and senators have come out in support of this. And it's being held up by one person...the mayor."
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July 16th, 2013

Councilman Samuel Zurier

"I have no comment. I don't have enough information at this point."
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July 29th, 2013

ACLU Letter

A letter sent to the ACLU of Rhode Island by Providence City Council candidate Anthony Sionni claimed that the City of Providence violated its charter because "city residents have been denied the right to petition the Recreational Advisory Board as provided by the City Charter because that board is not presently in existence."
 
Read the letter here
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October 18th, 2013

Contractors Offer to Repair Davey Lopes Pool

Providence City Councilman Davian Sanchez announced Thursday that several minority contractor associations in Providence are "willing to provide the complete the necessary repairs" of the Davey Lopes pool that was the center of controversy this summer when closed.
 
Read more GoLocal Prov coverage here 
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October 21st, 2013

Sanchez: Taveras Threatened to Cement Over Pool

Elected officials, neighborhood leaders, and community supporters turned out Monday morning at Davey Lopes Recreation Center in South Providence in support of keeping the center pool open, with the aid of contractors offering free labor to fix the pool -- which City Councilman Davian Sanchez said he was told by the Mayor's office would be cemented if he didn't vote for the budget.
 
"I was told by an aide of the Mayor -- who was just a messenger -- that if I didn't vote for the budget, the pool would be closed, and ultimately cemented," said Sanchez.  
 

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