Elorza’s State of the City Draws Mixed Reaction
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza issued his State of the City address to a nearly full City Council chamber on Tuesday night, touting achievements from his first year in office and highlighting construction projects on tap for the year ahead — and while some lauded the messages put forth in the speech that is the precursor to his budget proposal in the coming weeks, others questioned a number of the particulars of the address.
“Providence has great bones and our city is ready for its resurgence,” said Elorza during his nearly thirty minute speech. “The foundation has been built and we are poised to see great growth.”
Read Mayor Elorza's Speech HERE
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFocusing on jobs and education, including $20 million over two years for school repairs, Elorza took credit for “taking action” when faced with an $85 million structural deficit by 2021 — including reiterating the claim on Tuesday his fire department restructuring will save $5 million a year.
Paul Doughty, President of the Firefighters Local 799, said following the speech that he was surprised Elorza was still touting that number, in light of recent developments.
“I base that on the testimony that [City of Providence Finance Director] Larry Mancini just gave last week that there were no savings, and they were running a $3.6 million deficit in the fire department,” said Doughty. “So I’m not sure how [Elorza] squares those two comments.”
The firefighters are still locked in a legal battle with the city over the platoon changes put forth by Elorza last year — with numerous grievances filed by the union pending in arbitration.
Neighborhoods - and Tax Breaks - in Focus
At at time when the city is considering tax break extensions for a number of properties —and after the Finance Committee recently turned down one such request — City Council President Luis Aponte said that “shining skyline and vibrant downtown” weren’t enough to make the city great.
“I think the Mayor’s speech really in my mind harkened back to what we need to do to make the city great - we really need to focus in on the basics,” said Aponte. “Great schools, predictable tax base, and reassure residents we’re working as hard as we can to resolve the difficult financial challenges that our city faces.”
“The tone [was] that Providence is still a city of strong neighborhoods, and we need to remember that and invest accordingly. People want to live in cities that have strong neighborhoods that are clean, safe, [where the] streets get plowed and garbage is picked up,” said Aponte. “We need to reinvest in neighborhoods. If we want to become a world class city, it’s not simply because we have a shining skyline or vibrant downtown. It’s because we have safe, attractive, desirable neighborhoods for anyone who wants to come to the city.”
Elorza touted in his speech that the city currently had 30 major construction project worth almost a half billion dollars expected to break ground in 2016, but did not provide specifics. City spokesperson Evan England did not reply to a request for a list of the projects following the speech.
Keith Fernandes with the Providence Apartment Association, who has been an outspoken critic of tax breaks — and tax break extensions — responded to the Mayor’s speech on Tuesday.
“I think what the Mayor said is right — it needs to be a city that works for everybody, not just downtown,” said Fernandes. “He didn’t talk about raising taxes. If you want to do that, you have to stop extensions and tax stabilization agreements that don’t create jobs. “
Looking Ahead
Elorza spoke to how he tackled the city’s structural deficit during his first year, which included: buying streetlights from National Grid to save $15 million over ten years; renegotiating the contract with Roger Williams Parks Zoo to save $9.5 million over 20 years; expanding revenues by $2.5 million per year without raising taxes; negotiating “two-cost neutral contracts” with city unions for FY16; and the promise of $5 million in savings from the fire department changes.
“I’m excited about the prospects of the 195 land. But what we didn’t hear is how we’ll address our short term budget deficiencies,” said City Councilman David Salvatore. “And while I’m a strong advocate of a long term fiscal and economic strategy, until we address our short term obstacles, we’re never going to make it ten or fifteen years out.”
“I think everyone, as consistent with four years ago, has to come to the table. These aren’t easy decisions, it will take political leadership to do so,” said Salvatore. “And the state should be part of the discussion when creating solutions around our finances.”
City Councilman Kevin Jackson said he was optimistic however about the city’s finances going into Fiscal Year 2017.
“I was just talking with the City Auditor today, there were optimistic discussions about potential surpluses in FY17,” said Jackson. “There’s no ‘one time fixes’ like we saw in recent budgets. I don’t know what the total will be, but we’ll get the nuts and bolts soon.”
Related Slideshow: 10 Biggest Issues Facing Providence in 2016
Related Articles
- Is Providence Firefighters’ Social Media Campaign Beating Elorza?
- Elorza to Join Providence Forum Urging Parents to Speak with Kids
- NEW: Elorza Joins Federal Lawsuit Against Backpage.com
- NEW: Firefighters to Picket Elorza Fundraiser Tonight in Providence
- BREAKING: Providence Firefighters Score Court Victory Against Elorza’s Staffing Plan
- City Council, Unions Not Worried About $62 Million Gone From Providence Pension Fund
- Chairwoman Of Park Commission Leaves Derogatory Message On Newport City Councilor’s Voicemail
- Providence City Council Committee Rejects Extension of Tax Stabilization
- Moore: Elorza, Firefighters Must Reach Settlement on Platoon Shift
- Elorza Tackles Crime, Protestors at East Side Community Forum
- NEW: City Council President Aponte “Excited” at Prospect of PawSox Coming to Providence
- City Councilors Make Pitch for PawSox to Come to Worcester
- City Council Approves Amendment to Limit Student Housing in Residential Areas
- NEW: McKenna Named Chief-of-Staff for Providence City Council
- Prov. City Council Hires Consultant to Conduct Firefighter Staffing Study
- NEW: Antunes to Be New Press Secretary for Providence City Council
- RI ACLU Asks Cranston City Council to Further Investigate Police Practices
- Providence City Council Candidate and Campaign Worker Arrested by State Police
- NEW: Council President-Elect Aponte Learns of Elorza Transition Team from GoLocal
- Luis Aponte: 15 To Watch in RI in 2015
- NEW: Solomon Receives Endorsement from Councilman Luis Aponte
- NEW: Senate Finance Chairman DaPonte Holds on in District 14
- GoLocalTV: Sen. DaPonte Says Senate Did Not Know About 38 Studios
- NEW: Aponte Elected Council President, Matos Pro Tempore
- Elorza, Aponte Nominate Six to Providence Ethics Commission
- Elorza and Aponte Announce Tax Break Plan for Providence Neighborhoods
- Aponte Says Talks with PawSox Ownership About Victory Place Forthcoming
- City Council to Consider Major Overhaul of Providence Tax Breaks
- 8 Questions with Providence City Council President Aponte
- Will Providence City Council See Fallout Over Ward 3 Battle?
- New Solomon Ethics Violations Alleged by Providence City Council Candidate Long
- Providence City Council Members Question Dormitory Deal on 195 Land
- Providence City Councilwomen: 15 to Watch in RI 2015
- Providence City Council Grades Snow Removal Efforts
- Russell Moore: City Council Pays Are Too Low
- NEW: City Council Candidate Long Files Ethics Complaint Against Solomon
- Jeffrey Angelo Announces Candidacy for Ward 5 City Council Seat
- LISTEN: City Council to Battle Taveras Over Residential Tax Rate
- Providence City Council Proposes Tobacco-Free Parks
- Elorza Declares November “Epilepsy Awarness Month”
- Moore: Elorza’s Demotion of Fire Chief is a Head-Scratcher
- EDITORIAL: In 2016 Rematch, Elorza Beat Snow in the First Round
- City Council to Battle Taveras Over Residential Tax Rate
- GoLocalTV: More Protests in Guatemala Following Elorza Trip
- Riley: Troubling Facts in Providence Pension Plan
- Elorza Travels to Guatemala to Meet with Discredited President
- Providence Firefighters to Hold Rally Against Elorza
- Roger Williams University Paid Elorza to Teach a Cancelled Class
- Elorza Creates a Committee to Look at Gun Violence
- Riley: Amateur Hour in Providence Pensions
- Progressive Dems Release Elorza’s Campaign Promises on TSAs
- NEW: Oliveira Blasts Elorza, Resigns from Providence School Board
- Community Reacts to Oliveira Resignation and Elorza Interference
- Candidates Are Starting to Line Up to Take on Elorza for Mayor of Providence in 2018
- Riley: Why Does Hoyle Allow Providence to Cheat Retirees and Other Cities Can’t?
- Riley: Providence and Rhode Island Pension Funds Hemorrhaging Money
- Riley: GASB 68 is Here and Reports are Due
- GoLocalTV: Mayor Elorza, Community Kick Off Say Cheese Opening in Prov
- Riley: Warren Buffett, Jorge Elorza and Jack Bogle
- Elorza Fires Dancing Cop: Sides React
- City Council President Aponte Demands Answers for Elorza’s Guatemala Trip
- Moore: Elorza’s Misguided Guatemalan Tour