March 3, 2012
Mayor Taveras and the Retirees
Rhode Island's Twitter corps has once again provided the public with excellent as-it's-happening coverage of public developments in Providence's fiscal crisis, in this case the meeting held this morning between Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and city retirees. Here's a brief compilation that captures the flavor of the meeting...
Ted Nesi (WPRI, CBS 12):
The Taveras proposal is: 20% health co-pays for retirees under 65; Medicare + supplement plan for 65+; no COLAs till pension fund hits 70%.Ian Donnis (Rhode Island Public Radio):
Applause when D'Amico cites how judge blocked move of healthcare to Medicare for retireesDerek Silva (Prov FF, independent tweeter):D'Amico: we have $1M against $1.2 BILLION in retiree healthcare obligations #providence
Retiree is tough to hear but basically stated Brown needs to pay and water supply board has to be part of the solution.Dan McGowan (GoLocalProv):
Sounds like selling of water supply board is an unrealistic option just being pushed on talk radio.Erika Niedowski (Associated Press):
Taveras: 'People are looking for easy solutions to get out of this. There are no easy solutions to this problem.'Derek Silva:One retiree told the mayor he fulfilled his end of bargain. He had nothing to negotiate. 'You're going to do whatever the hell you want.'
Mayor: I can't guarantee what will happen when I'm not mayor but I will guarantee that if nothing is done it will be worse
Traditional news stories written by Ted Nesi , Erika Niedowski, and Ian Donnis are already available. (Note: This paragraph updated, since original post).
Also, in a replay of events from early February, former Providence Mayor David Cicilline offered a tweet of his own, as major events impacting the City of Providence were playing out in a public forum...
Reading "Horton Hears a Who." http://lockerz.com/s/189192112
Is there a video available? I picked up some kettle corn and coca colas this morning. After warning the unions for 4 years that this day was coming and being screamed at and told that I had no idea what I was talking about in response, I would like to take some time this afternoon to savor the vindication, as well as mark the beginning of Providence's long-overdue return to fiscal sanity.
Posted by: Dan at March 3, 2012 2:20 PMGood catch on the Horton thing. Similarly, last night I checked Twitter to see if anybody was writing about the Laffey premier, and I came across this, randomly, from Texas:
"Flat: KSU'S Larissa Laffey defeats Lia Chafee 90-75, 7-6 KSU"
Andrew, I know you're into the "Twitter corps" thing, but I have to wonder: does the market need a half-dozen paid reporters all tweeting from the same event?
Posted by: Justin Katz at March 3, 2012 5:00 PMLets get one thing straight - the city of Providence has no right to sell the "water supply." They do not own it, so just stop the stupid-talk.
Posted by: Mike Cappelli at March 3, 2012 5:48 PM"former Providence Mayor David Cicilline offered a tweet of his own, as major events impacting the City of Providence were playing out in a public forum...
Reading "Horton Hears a Who.""
Yes, excellent catch, Andrew.
These were benefits that you reaffirmed in your official capacity, Congressman. Now it turns out that the city cannot afford them. Could you be a little more aware of, if not sensitive to, the situation?
Posted by: Monique at March 3, 2012 7:29 PMThese were benefits that you reaffirmed in your official capacity, Congressman. Now it turns out that the city cannot afford them. Could you be a little more aware of, if not sensitive to, the situation?
Posted by Monique at March 3, 2012 7:29 PM
Posted by: Tommy Cranston at March 3, 2012 9:20 PMYeah but don't forget that just last fall "I'm no Angel" gave out contracts with-------compounded Cola's and then gave raises to non-union workers.
He's a snake just like Cicilline and Cianci but he's left holding the hot potato so he comes across, to some, as the hero.
Don't buy it-his true colors will show.