PawSox Stadium Winners and Losers: The 2nd Bloodless Revolution
Monday, September 21, 2015
Call it Rhode Island’s 2nd Bloodless Revolution - the defeat of the proposed PawSox stadium in Providence maybe a seminal moment in Rhode Island’s political history.
SEE SLIDES OF WINNERS AND LOSERS BELOW
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 1935, Rhode Island’s political power was wrestled away from the Republicans and firmly placed in the hands of the Democrats through a series of political procedure moves that shifted the control of the State Senate and the Courts, to mark Rhode Island's first Bloodless Revolution.
Fast forward eighty years -- the proposed Providence stadium supporters included the ownership group of some of the regions most wealthy and powerful men - the Chair of TJX Corp, the former CEO and Chair of CVS, the former Chair and CEO of the once dominant Fleet Bank, to name just a few. Combined, the ownership group's net worth is in the billions.
The ownership group also included the Boston Red Sox ownership.
The owners hired the most powerful lobbyist in the state, numerous public relation consultants, former legislators, and stadium consultants. The building trades unions, close allies of Governor Gina Raimondo, strongly supported the project.
Providence Journal’s longtime columnist Mark Patinkin wrote a column “Providence PawSox park needs the 'Go!' sign," which was just one of many pro-stadium pieces published by the ProJo.
When first announced earlier this year, the project received the support of the powerful Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Council President Luis Aponte, and positive remarks from Raimondo.
Immediately after the proposed Providence Stadium was announced, Pawtucket residents and Mayor Don Grebien complained about the proposed move, but when the financial plan was unveiled in April by Jim Skeffington, a politically diverse coalition of opponents came forward led by progressive activists, Republicans, taxpayers from around the state, and Raimondo raised concerns about the proposed cost.
Never before in Rhode Island history has a coalition of the disenfranchised ever defeated the most powerful political and economic interests.
Related Slideshow: PawSox Stadium Aftermath: Winners and Losers
The Providence baseball stadium looked like a sure thing. Powerful owners pushing the project. Top politicians coupled with influential lobbyists and PR consultants all on board. Then, everything changed.
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