Providence
Expecting politicians to act with sexual propriety is loser’s bet, I know. And you can call me an up-tight, un-modern Puritan prig or whatever, but it just isn’t good when the Mayor of the largest city in the state–someone who is, correctly and properly, a role model for minority youth–reveals he is having a child…
Steve Malanga looks at the national problem of cities in over their heads (particularly because of pension promises) and uses Providence (and New Haven, CT) as examples: Cities are also running out of fiscal alternatives to deal with their deficits. Like states…many cities have used one-shot revenue deals, hidden borrowing, and other gimmicks to bolster…
The conversation was mainly of Esserman and arbitration when Monique called in to the Matt Allen Show, on Wednesday. Stream by clicking here, or download it.
If you skipped the historical essay to which Marc linked on Monday, give it a read. It concerns the making of the pension mess in Providence, and its most valuable insight, in my view, is the light that it shines on the entire dynamic created by public sector unions. The defining statement comes from firefighter…
Both sides in the debate over educational reform at Hope High School in Providence have made reasonable points. Those associated with the school note improved scores and a vitalized environment when reforms were under way. Those associated with the district cite the need to educate all of Providence’s students and a need for consistency across…
I don’t know Providence finances well enough to quibble with Mayor Angel Tavares’s budget proposal, but in emphasis and presentation it stands in stark contrast to Governor Lincoln Chafee. Tavares led with controversial and concrete initiatives for spending reduction, while Chafee led with a massive tax increase. Maybe they’ll get to the same place —…
The report on the Cicilline Adminstration’s fiscal inadequacies has dropped. The major findings, according to the ProJo: — “The Administration transferred funds from the Undesignated Surplus (Rainy-Day Fund) without approval of a majority vote of the City Council as required.” — “The Administration did not provide financial information on a timely basis to the independent…
In an op-ed in today’s Projo, First District Congressman David Cicilline defends his defense of his record as Mayor of Providence, as well as defending the record itself…Five days before my election to Congress, last November, I said that Providence was in “excellent financial condition.” Today, Mayor Angel Taveras faces a critical deficit, and people…
Not to belabor the conversation about high-priced union executives, but certain aspects highlighted in our comment section point directly toward one of Rhode Island’s major problems. As Marc mentioned, yesterday, the head of Local 1033 of the Laborers’ International Union, representing 900 municipal workers, Donald Iannazzi, makes $265,870. It’s worth pointing out that the city’s…
WPRI’s Ted Nesi has done some digging and found out more about the Tavares/1033 deal, particularly how much it has “saved”: The wages, benefits and other provisions outlined in Local 1033′s contract were projected to cost Providence’s city government about $60 million per year, adding up to $240 million over four years, according to calculations…