Lame-duck Providence Mayor David Cicilline is using his bully pulpit and prominence as a tactic to win the election for U.S. Congress, in the struggle to replace Rep. Patrick Kennedy. Considering the high esteem invoked by the Kennedy name in New England, it is a sharp contrast to see Cicilline repeatedly misrepresent the facts regarding jobs during his tenure in Providence. More coincidental is the contrast between the mayor and one of his opponents, Rep. David Segal, who is a title Plaintiff against Cicilline in 2006.
One might think that if Providence had average unemployment (USA: 9.6, in June), the Mayor could bellow: "I am doing an average job on jobs!" Instead, Providence is abysmal (11.5) and second only to New Bedford, MA in all of New England. Does he think RI voters are in bubbles of ignorance, thus running repeated ads about his "job creation"... or is has he identified an elite democratic minority he feels will carry him through a 4-way Primary on Sept. 14th?
The TV ad shows the mayor proudly at CAPCO Steel, where folks were hired for a training program through the First Source list. Although his campaign is trying to stray from First Source as the shining “program,” it has been linked quite prominently to the 25 Capco jobs before.
February 9, 2007: Mayor Cicilline: “The City’s Department of Planning and Development has worked hard over the past several years to implement a more comprehensive First Source ordinance that makes developers partners in our efforts to create new employment opportunities.”
Rather peculiar statement from the mouth of a man deemed NOT IN COMPLIANCE with a jobs ordinance (First Source) that would provide local preference in exchange for tax breaks. Particularly considering Cicilline said he would enforce the ordinance along his mayoral campaign trail in 2002. Let’s review...
March 10, 2006:
Judge Stephen Fortunato describes the suit as “the City, through its bureaucratic apparatus, has created a regime, and I so find and will explain as I go along, that is in no way compliant with the clear mandate of the First Source ordinance.” Dare v. Cicilline, 9.pdf
“Mr. Deller was clear at Page 30 of his deposition where he said they are not in compliance with the requirements of the First Source ordinance.” Dare v. Cic, 10.pdf
It is almost unbelievable that Cicilline would ever try to take credit for First Source, as though he did not recall the efforts of grassroots social justice organization Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), along with city council members and RI Jobs With Justice... as though he is unaware that DARE and others have been hounding the city to ENFORCE First Source over the past four years, since defeating the mayor in a lawsuit. In fact, both WRNI andAdWatch have fueled Rep. David Segal’s public call for Cicilline to cease and desist his claims.
Ironic that Mayor Cicilline’s faux victory statement in 2007 came at the steps of the controversial Renaissance Hotel. This hotel is currently refusing to let the workers organize, which is indeed part of the deal they made for massive tax breaks, and a protest is scheduled for Wednesday. During the lawsuit, the City “does agree that these construction projects where there is some sort of a tax treaty or other favorable treatment is under the aegis of the First Source list ordinance.” Dare v. Cic, 11.pdf
Judge Fortunato (who won numerous awards for his commitment to civil rights) noted of all Mayor Cicilline’s deals up until 2006: “it is true that in some of these tax treaties, if the developer does not comply, then they can lose their tax break; but what they are complying with is certainly not the First Source requirements...”Dare v. Cic, 12.pdf The challenge the Court found at the time was that the Mayor was not providing an agreement for the developers. Instead, he notes that Deller’s “jawboning” developers into some voluntary compliance is not fulfilling the ordinance. He goes on (Dare v. Cic, 15.pdf) to note “historical context” of what “shall” be done for the people of Providence (as the ordinance states) and not what “may “ be done. “Voluntary compliance has done nothing for the poor and racially prejudiced in this country. It never has and in the near future probably never will. “
What does the Mayor’s lawyer (Anthony Cottone) say when directed to draft an agreement for the developers (warning them they wil lose their tax break if not in compliance) and order to compose a list of 150 people for the First Source jobs list?
“And I would move for a stay so I can go up on appeal by cert.”
Fortunato informs Cottone that its a clear ordinance, clear the City isn’t compliant, and doesn’t believe there is “any substantial probability of success” on appeal. He states, “with each passing day that has brought us to this point, the people entitled to the benefits of this ordinance, going without the benefits of it -- it is tough out there finding jobs. It is tough out there getting training. It is tough out there getting jobs that pay decently. Each day is a day of delay.” Dare v. Cic, 18.pdf
“The public interest will be served by having people from all neighborhoods, from all income groups, from all races and ethnic backgrounds, get a shot at the jobs as defined by the representatives of the people of Providence, and not defined by G-Tech, and not defined by any other builder who wants to come in here and make millions on the backs of taxpayers.” Dare v. Cic, 19.pdf
By 2009, just 500 people had found jobs through the First Source list, despite over 3000 residents being on the list and tax breaks being handed out to just about every development project in Providence over Cicilline’s term. Furthermore, only 15% of the jobs were to People of Color-- far short of the 50% compliance rate, and embarrassing for a city that is overwhelmingly non-White. This year’s State of the City Address, notes, “hundreds of people have been placed in jobs through our First Source program.” One can wonder how many it could have been if the Mayor used it between 2003 - 2007, and if he would actually enforce it.
Does Mayor Cicilline deserve credit for Providence having one of the highest rates of unemployment in the nation? Does Providence hold a heavy responsibility for Rhode Island having one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country? He has not enforced the “strings attached” to the tax breaks for developers and corporations. The likes of which grow fat off the people, while failing to exchange decent jobs and affordable housing. Not surprising, considering Cicilline donated $1000 to prototypical "Insider," real estate mogul Joe Paolino in a Congressional run. Paolino was Providence mayor (1984-1992), lost to Cicilline in 2002, and mulled another run in 2010.
David Segal is holding a press conference on Monday, at the Providence Superior Court, 250 Benefit Street, where DARE and the City Council defeated Mayor Cicilline in 2006. All the while, claiming the First Source ordinance is a feather in Cicilline’s cap.