Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not?

Friday, January 09, 2015

Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

 

Hot

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Memory of Jim Baron: Everyone who knew Baron or read the Pawtucket Times or Woonsocket Call was undoubtedly saddened to hear of the news of his passing on Tuesday. Baron was an old school reporter who shied away from the sentimental, had a sharp analytical mind, and wasn’t afraid to ask the tough question—the RI press corps was undoubtedly weakened by his passing.

Gina Raimondo: The first Democrat elected in 22 years and the state’s first female Governor was officially inaugurated this week and it was about time to see that glass ceiling smashed. Raimondo also gave an impressive inaugural speech and signed an executive order on ethics as her first order of business.

Barrington: Often considered a sleepy Rhode Island town, Barrington had a tremendous week in the news. First, GoLocal reported on Wednesday that the town is the state’s most educated community in the state and then on Thursday reported that the town is the most charitable in Little Rhody.

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Rhode Island Teachers: GoLocal’s Stephen Beale reports that Rhode Island has the highest teacher salaries in the nation for public school elementary teachers. One thing’s for certain, if education isn’t up to par in Rhode Island it isn’t because the taxpayers have shirked their responsibilities.

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Paige Dellerman: A 21-year old Junior at URI, Paige Dellerman has designed a cool new bracelet for Alex and Ani, a portion of which a portion of the proceeds benefit Living Water International, a non-profit that provides clean water to developing countries—all on her own initiative. So far, about 200,000 of the bracelets have sold and raised roughly $600,000 for the charity.

Luis Aponte: After a dramatic will he or won’t he secure the votes he needs that went on for about 3 months, Aponte was officially voted council President on Monday. Aponte has a reputation of being an independent thinker who won’t merely go along to get along, and that should make things interesting.

NOT

Anya Rader Wallack: Progressives cheered Gina Raimondo’s selection of Wallack to head up the state’s health insurance exchange, most likely because she implemented a single payer system in Vermont. But here’s the problem: GoLocalProv reports that that state’s single payer system failed. Here’s hoping Wallack is more successful and realistic here in Rhode Island.

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Providence Place Mall: JC Penney announced this week that it intends to close about 40 stores nationally this year and one of them is, naturally, at the Providence Place Mall. That’s not good news for the mall as it will lose one if it’s anchor stores.

Michael Solomon’s critics: The previous council president came under some serious fire last summer for some clerical errors on his ethics reports, particularly from then City Council candidate Michael Long and his then opponent, now Mayor Jorge Elorza. Yet in the wake of Aponte’s election as council president, (Aponte owes significant fines to the Board of Elections for failing to file reports), Aponte has gone relatively unscathed.

Providence School Department: The Providence School Department closed schools on Thursday because it was too cold outside? Last I heard, the Providence School buildings have heat, and as long as that’s the case, schools should remain open.

Single digit temperatures: This is the antithesis of hot. We should always be concerned about the plight of the homeless, but especially during weeks like this past one where the temperatures routinely hit the single digits.

Pawtucket Red Sox: Several news reports say that the Pawtucket Red Sox are considering moving away from McCoy Stadium. That would be catastrophic to not only Pawtucket, and it would hurt Rhode Island families who want to expose their children to baseball at a low cost.

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Russell J. Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, for both newspapers and political campaigns. Follow him on twitter @russmoore713. Email him at [email protected]

 

Related Slideshow: The Ten Most Politically Powerful in Providence

A new group of leaders is taking over the City of Providence - take a look at the top 10.

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10.

Buff Chace - Developer

Regardless of who is the Mayor, the Downcity developer flexes his economic muscle and constantly wins superior tax agreements. 

The visionary developer transformed Westminster Street from a blighted dead zone to a tony-neighborhood.

He has realized tens of millions in benefits in tax breaks from the City over the past two decades and will be back again this year. He still has open issues on a range of properties and is the likely candidate to take control of the Providence Journal’s building on Fountain Street.

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9.

Myrth York - Politico

The former State Senator from the East Side and three-time failed candidate for Governor has become a major power in Democratic circles both in the city and statewide. She went all in for both Gina Raimondo and Jorge Elorza and she won big. 

Recently, she scored an appointment to the Beacon Insurance Board as a part of a Chafee-Raimondo agreement.

York has been the Chair of the Zoning Board during the tenure of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. The changes to zoning on Federal Hill under the York leadership of the Zoning Board have been widely scrutinized.

York is seen as a major mentor and supporter to Brett Smiley, the City of Providence’s newly appointed Chief Operating Officer.

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8.

Buddy Cianci - Former Mayor, Radio Talk Show Host

He lost the election, but make no mistake about it -- the two-time convicted felon and talk show radio host still casts a big shadow. He came within a couple thousand votes of winning the Mayor’s office again.

Cianci still talks to every player in the City nearly every day. He strategically uses his radio show to set the agenda.

The new Council leadership has a number of Cianci supporters among their ranks. 

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7.

House Majority Leader John DeSimone 

With the resignation of Gordon Fox in 2014, the City of Providence’s influence in the legislature took a big hit losing the Speaker’s office. DeSimone rose to majority leader as part of the Speaker Nick Mattiello leadership team.

DeSimone will be the key to the City of Providence’s financial well-being. Elorza and Smiley will need to quickly build a strong relationship with DeSimone.

With the State of Rhode Island facing a $200 million budget deficit as well as a potential further hit due to the loss of gaming revenue with Massachusetts facilities coming online, the appeals of the City of Providence for financial support will be difficult.

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6.

Joe Paolino - Former Mayor and Developer

The former Mayor of Providence upped his investment in the City of Providence with a $60 million deal in January of 2014 to purchase three major buildings in the financial district.  

That investment further extended the Paolino empire in Providence.  He continues to be a national player in Democratic politics and fundraising, but his economic interests are embedded in Providence.

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5.

Sabina Matos, Council President Pro Tempe

Matos, who will be formally elected President Pro Tempe of the Providence City Council, has firmly established herself as the most influential Latina in the City of Providence. 

Her savvy strategy to team with Aponte creates a trifecta of Hispanic power in the City of Providence - the three most powerful positions are all lead by Hispanics.

The Rhode Island College grad who represents the 15th Ward - the Olneyville and Silver Lake neighborhoods,-- is emerging as Providence’s most influential woman.

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4.

Tony Simon, Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff for Mayor Elorza comes to the City from Sheldon Whitehouse’s office. He served as Rhode Island Deputy State Director for the junior senator and his transition to City politics should be smooth.

He is knowledgeable about the City’s politics and obviously well-connected with the Congressional delegation and the State House. 

His challenge may be will he -- or Smilley -- have the Elorza’s ear.

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3.

Brett Smiley - Chief Operating Officer

The former political fundraiser, then candidate for Mayor, and now the City of Providence’s Chief Operating Officer knows a lot about politics, but has no experience in running a city. 

Smiley and Elorza’s relationship will be critical to the the new Mayor having a productive agenda.

Smiley has to be careful to serve the Mayor and foster Elorza’s agenda. As a consultant he had many masters. As a candidate he had many plans, now he has to be staff.

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2.

Luis Aponte - City Council President

Aponte was first elected to the Providence City Council in 1998. He is one of the first Latino candidates ever elected in Rhode Island and the true trailblazer in Providence when he was elected as Providence’s first Latino member of the City Council.

Aponte is seen as thoughtful and progressive. During the course of his tenure he has often been the bridge between the neighborhoods and downtown.

With nine votes on the Council, Aponte can at a minimum share with Elorza setting the City’s agenda. 

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1.

Jorge Elorza - Mayor of Providence

The former RWU Law Professor and Housing Court Judge is facing a tremendous number of difficult and complex problems:

  • Budget shortfall
  • Poor performing schools
  • One of the highest commercial tax rates in the nation
  • Concerns about crime
  • Decaying city infrastructure
  • Unfunded pension liability
 

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