PAWTUCKET-- Rhode Island's social media sphere is alight with rumors of the premature end to Pawtucket Red Sox management's so-called "Listening" tour. Earlier this year - in the face of OVERWHELMING public disapproval of the team's initial exorbitant ask for public subsidies to build a new stadium in Providence - team ownership announced that they would hit the road and hold public meetings in all of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns to try to win public support for the proposed multi-generational financial black hole.

After the initial  proposal, several grassroots organizations popped up to express reactions that ranged from mild dissatisfaction to full-blown outrage with the team's proposal to subsidize the new stadium 100 percent on the backs of Rhode Island's already overburdened taxpayers.

Unfortunately, the rumored end to the "Listening tour for the hard of hearing" - much like the few stops made on the tour - raises more questions than it answers.

Is this a roundabout admission that the tour was just a PR stunt, and public input on the stadium was never welcome or wanted?

Is it a tacit admission that, Lucchino, Steinberg, et al. continue to think that Rhode Islanders are a bunch of ignorant rubes who don't know what's in our own best interest?

After the premature end of the 2015 legislative session, House Speaker Nick Mattiello hinted that a special session may be in order to address the stadium proposal. Rhode Islanders await the announcement of this session with bated breath.

The last - and most important question is this: Is the end of this supposedly democratic process of public input merely a sign that business as usual continues in Rhode Island, and team ownership has finally greased the right palms, in the right dollar amounts, and issued the correct winks and nods to the people in the right positions - like a third base coach to a runner stealing second - for the General Assembly to cram this inappropriate use of public dollars and public space down our collective throats?

Continuing Mayor Donald R. Grebien’s efforts to create a more business-friendly City Hall and to revitalize its historic downtown, a Washington, D.C.-based professional development organization has provided assistance to Pawtucket. Under a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for disaster recovery and economic resilience, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) brought a volunteer team of experts to advise the City on downtown development strategies, real estate financing, and combating vacancy and blight. IEDC is a membership organization of over 4,600 economic development organizations and professionals. 

Hosted by Mayor Grebien, the Department of Planning and Redevelopment and the Pawtucket Foundation, the IEDC team met in February of this year with local and state officials, business owners, the financial and arts communities and other downtown supporters to discuss and find ways to move the city forward. 

“Strengthening Downtown,” the final technical assistance report, brings customized recommendations to the city and its partners for progress in reshaping and reinvigorating Pawtucket’s center. The report lays out steps for a clear development strategy, suggests ways to organize, engage and attract new market segments and insists upon strict( code compliance and safety. “Pawtucket is a gem,” said project manager Sarah Garcia of IEDC. “It’s tight urban layout along the river is perfectly suited as a gateway to the Blackstone River Valley National Park to the north and as a satellite neighborhood to Providence.” 

“We are eager to put these strategies into action,” stated Mayor Donald Grebien. “Pawtucket has had great success with the renovation of its historic mills and its 307 acre Arts & Entertainment District.  We look to connect and bring that energy into the City’s downtown.”  Aaron Hertzberg, Executive Director of the Pawtucket Foundation, welcomed the release of the report. “We are step by step putting together the changes that open up and expand the downtown. Our partnership with the city is strong, and we look forward to increasing focus on this area and results.” 

To receive a final copy of the report or to submit comments, please email Herb Weiss, Pawtucket’s Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer at hweiss@pawtucketri.com.

Download the full report below. (PDF Alert!)

In light of recent events, we thought our theme song should be updated.

PAWTUCKET - The communities of Pawtucket and Central Falls have agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding that would merge the Emergency Management Agencies from the two communities. This project would establish a two year cost-sharing, pilot program for Pawtucket and Central Falls. The two merged agencies would be responsible for maintaining not only day to day operations and disaster planning, but also managing emergency operations from one central Emergency Operations Center during a local or statewide declared state of emergency. 

“This partnership between Pawtucket and Central Falls will increase public safety for the residents of our communities by improving response time, training and services,” stated Pawtucket’s Mayor, Donald R. Grebien. “Additionally, both of our communities will see increased savings and efficiency by merging the two agencies together. Through this partnership we are achieving a level of service neither of us could achieve on our own for a fraction of the cost,” continued Grebien. 

“During my administration, the City of Central Falls has consistently found Mayor Grebien and the City of Pawtucket to be a great collaborator on cost saving consolidation initiatives like this,” said Mayor James Diossa. “Central Falls and Pawtucket have already achieved cost savings by consolidating our housing inspection department through a trial agreement. Our communities are leading the way on this front to the benefit of the taxpayers of our respective cities.” 

Pawtucket Emergency Management Director, Norm Menard and Central Falls Director, Chief Robert Bradley, worked collaboratively on the process of exploring the merger of the two agencies. The process, which began about eighteen months ago, culminated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Mayor Grebien and Mayor Diossa. Mayors Grebien and Diossa have also expressed interest in partnering with Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency to stage shelter supplies at the facility in Pawtucket.

This was absolutely TOO brilliant not to share with you all. Many thanks and doffing of hats to Andrew Stewart who created this mashup.

On July 3rd, Governor Gina Raimondo issued a media advisory announcing a press conference to address plans to "Examine, Improve,... analyze and strengthen" our state's criminal justice system. Also speaking at the conference will be  House Speaker Nick "Pauly Walnuts" Mattiello, State Attorney General Peter Kil-more-tin, and retired superior court judge Judith Colenback Savage. We at The Coalition would like a few questions asked and answered at the conference:

Will the justice system be reimagined as one where the 38 Studios fiasco will be investigated?

Will any of the improvements be the reinstatement of the law that would shield people who call 911 in the case of a drug overdose from criminal prosecution?

Will this presumably more robust justice system hold our elected officials to a higher standard and stiffer penalties for corruption?

Will this new justice system be justice for all, or continue to unfairly harrass and prosecute Rhode Island's minorities?

We would also ask that the Governor brush up on the Bill of Rights before initiating any changes to our criminal justice system.

You can read the full media advisory below