Cianci 1-on-1 Interview: Cicilline “Deficit King” and So Much More
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Cianci, in a one-on-one interview with GoLocal, laid out pieces of his platform for his Mayoral run.
Cianci dubbed former Mayor David Cicilline the "deficit king" and called General Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Gina Raimondo "smart and exciting," when he sat down with GoLocal to talk about the political landscape of the 2014 election season, and his plans if elected.
Cianci said that if he wins, he'd want to see the city's books right away.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"I'd want an audit of the city -- I want to see this 'surplus'," said Cianci. "If the city has a surplus right now, well, I can guarantee you we don't have a surplus. If we have a surplus right now, I'd withdraw my candidacy."
For someone who would face a fifth decade in the position of Mayor well into his 70s, Cianci said, "I think the city, which I love very much, needs leadership, a relief pitcher. Someone who would come in for a couple of innings and win the game."
Would that mean Cianci would only look for one term? "I've certainly got a term in me, and if I felt good and the people wanted me, I'd do it again," said Cianci, who resigned from his previous two tenures as Mayor when convicted of felonies.
And if he didn't win this election, who does Cianci see as the second best candidate? "Joe Paolino," said Cianci, of the former Mayor -- who is not seeking office this election.
Looking to Hit Ground Running
In a one-on-one sit down with the former Mayor, GoLocal talked with about what his immediate actions would be upon taking office.
"I would work as closely as I could with the State Legislature to bring about changes to our tax structure in order to make this city more acceptable for current business owners to do business and also bring in new business," said Cianci. "You can't fix the state without fixing the capital city."
"We're one of the highest taxed places in America. We can't raise taxes, we need to reduce expenses," said Cianci. "I would immediately convene a meeting of the Mayors of bordering cities -- I've already spoken with [Johnston] Mayor Polisena on air about it. We'd want to bring together Cranston, North Providence, Pawtucket as well."
As for timing, Cianci said he would do this "right away." "I'm not talking about January, but much sooner. And I'm not talking about the tax collectors in the thirty nine cities. The big bucks are fire, police, and transportation -- roads, repairs - public works. And I'd bring in the unions right away. When I privatized garbage, I didn't bring in the unions early enough. We don't listen to them enough. They have constructive solutions."
When asked about the potential to sell Providence Water Supply, Cianci said that's "always been in the cards," but it shouldn't be sold to fill a financial void.
"I believe that if the right price were offered, it could only be done so if in fact you could still have the great quality and could possibly have a better product and better administrator and more modern way of water treatment," said Cianci. "We have the reputation as the best water supply in the country. It shouldn't be sold at a bargain basement price to plug a deficit. When people say to run the city like a business, it also needs to be run compassionately and effectively. If you run them like a business, you might as well close the prisons, they don't make any money."
Cianci said however that he hoped that bankruptcy would not be an option on the table.
"I would hope not," said Cianci. "Some people say that's the road to success, but I believe that's not the road to success, that would be admitting defeat. I truly believe we can come out of the economic doldrums. Have the unions given up a lot, yes? Can they give up more, that remains to be seen."
Colleges, Constitutional Convention, Candidates
Would Cianci look to extract more from the colleges and universities?
"They contribute a lot to the city, economically, culturally, and even though they pay not as much in taxes as some people think because they should be paying -- the staffs, teachers, students, they pay income taxes -- they pay sale taxes," said Cianci. "They contribute millions to the economy. Granted, those taxes go to the state, not the city -- we need to do all the services."
"I doubt in my head that you argue with these people," said Cianci of the city's colleges and hospitals. "You might discuss, but you need them to effectively grow the city. In all honesty, they're the ones with money. We should embrace them more, utilize them more. When [David] Cicilline hired the firm out of state do design the "P" for the "creative capital" -- you could have gotten a student to to that. My grandson could have come up with that. That's a waste of money, and not utilizing resources…we don't use what we have already."
Cianci also addressed the prospect of a Rhode Island constitutional convention.
"There are easier ways to change the constitution, the legislature can change a law, and pass to the people for vote, rather than have a convention, and wait two years for a vote to enact any proposed changes," said Cianci. "I guess the Legislature didn't listen to me, I'm on the radio when they're up at the State House, apparently."
"There are risks to a constitutional convention, but I think we have to take them," continued Cianci. "We've got the second weakest Governor, to the state of Texas. I'm not talking about the person, mind you, I'm talking about the position. We have to give the Governor some power. The Governor should have a line item veto. The Mayor of Providence does -- I used it, it's an effective tool."
Cianci said that if elected, he hadn't made up his mind about staffing, but he did toss out two names as possibilities.
"A couple of names that come to mind would be Gary Sasse, or Brendan Doherty," said Cianci of former state Director of Administration Sasse -- who has worked as a consultant to the Providence City Council -- and former Superintendent of the State Police and Congressional candidate Doherty. "I think Sasse could just be part time as a consultant...the other people would be the best and brightest."
As for his thoughts on other opponents in the Mayoral field? "Candidate for Mayor," Cianci said of what came to mind for City Council President Michael Solomon. For Brett Smiley? "Interloper," said Cianci.
"A Mayor's got to do five things," said Cianci. "Keep the city safe, provide an education system that is an improvement over what we have now, have affordable housing, have a city with jobs, and provide an exceptional cultural and recreational experience -- and I think those are the things that we did well while I was Mayor."
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