With two days notice the mayor’s office announced Monday afternoon that Mayor Joseph J. Solomon would deliver the city’s first State of the City address this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Middle School, 2401 West Shore Road. The general public is invited to attend.
Traditionally, Warwick mayors have provided an overview of city operations as part of their budget letter to the City Council.
According to the release, the mayor will speak about a variety of topics, including the current state of Warwick’s finances, schools, economic development, neighborhoods, infrastructure and recreation.
Simultaneously with the announcement from the mayor’s office, the City Clerk’s office posted a notice that the council would hold a special meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Vets for the purpose of hearing the mayor’s speech.
“Throughout my years in public service, I have fought to ensure transparency in government, whether through requiring competitive bidding, or fighting for council review and ratification of collective bargaining agreements,” the mayor said in a statement.
“When I became mayor, I promised the residents of this community maintaining and increasing transparency would be one of my priorities. The State of the City address is one way to help me keep that vow.”
Mayor Solomon made that promise and so far, he's keeping it. I will be there Wednesday night. I recommend every taxpayer attend as well. This is our City. So far, it's getting better. Let's keep it going.
Happy St. Patricks everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
My prediction as follows:
There will not be a power point presentation
There will not be documents with financial information available to the public
THERE WILL NOT BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER SEGMENT
PLACE YOUR BETS
There will be free popcorn!!
I can hope can’t I?
Here's my prediction:
Rather than give credit to Mayor Solomon for doing more than former Mayor Avedisian EVER DID IN 18 YEARS AS MAYOR, in communicating with the taxpayers, Rob Cote will continue to condemn, complain, criticize, and cry that Solomon's not doing enough.
Everyone knows that I am not Mayor Solomons' biggest fan but even I can see that this gesture is a very positive one and he should be applauded for it. I will be there tonight. I recommend that the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab be in attendance as well.
Happy "State-of-the-City-Day" everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Thecaptain, what do you think are the chances that we will hear what happened to the surplus that Mayor Avedisian said the city had when he left office?
From your comment, it seems like slim and none.
So far, Mayor Solomon has not specified what the surplus is, and I don't think that's the "transparency" he promised during his campaign.
I believe that the surplus will not be the number that was given by Avedisian, however, whatever that number is today, it will be drastically less as of July 1, 2019 and continue to be rapidly depleted.
Oh,
And Richard Correte will continue to be the tax cheat buffoon and circus act as he has shown us all.
Maybe he will explain why the council hasn’t paid for the Audit? Maybe he will say that he misspoke when talking about the FBI? Maybe!!!!!
Maybe he will say that everything is bright and wonderful and that Warwick has no problems, that our unions are not paid enough, and that we have plenty of money for more raises.
Well we'll well,
Seems like the few individuals that have been screaming that we are facing a fiscal disaster, have now been proven correct in the mayor's statements
Your all welcome
Captain,
Answer me this, the two things you have been screaming about, two issues that have been debated back and fourth, the FBI and the audit were so big that Mayor Solomon mentioned them how many times? ZERO.
HEY JIMMY,
The mayor most certainly mentioned the illegal side agreements made by the Warwick Fire Dept. thieves. Obviously he cannot disclose details of an ongoing investigation. But rest assured, someone will pay the piper.
Captain,
It’s your opinion that they are illegal, weveill see. But he clearly blamed the previous Admin for sloppy contract work. Not the FD or the union. Where was the audit mentioned?
Captain,
The first ever state of the city and the FBI is “SUPPOSEDLY “ investigating your city and you don’t mention any of it. I don’t buy it.
I sadly predicted this day would come over a decade ago and 4 years ago during a contentious presentation before the city council and a pack chambers full of city employees.
https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190227/warwick-mayor-sounds-warning-about-citys-finances
Where is Bill Lloyd???
https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190227/warwick-mayor-sounds-warning-about-citys-finances
Where’s the audit?
I remember Mr. Cushman. Was that before or after Mr. Howell cancelled your column? The Mayor, city council, public unions and the Warwick Beacon have all colluded to get us where we are today. The Beacon was consistently acting as the public relations department of the Avedisian administration. Now the latest editorial is how we should be pleased to be allowed to pay some of the highest taxes in the country. Low performing schools, crumbling roads and a fire department that made illegal contracts with the Avedisian administration to steal money from the people they are charged to protect.
I was there last night.
Solomon gave a detailed report to the taxpayers. (First one of this century!) It wasn't all rosy as some critics claimed it would be. He was serious. He was transparent. He was what Avedisian should have been since 2000. He exposed the many behind-the-scenes deals Avedisian was infamous for. He took accountability and responsibility for correcting them and shared the credit with the other union leaders, City Council members, and department heads for it. The Avedisian dealings and hidden agenda has been vastly improved even by giving the "State-of-the-City" address last night, something Avedisian would never have done. Enormous problems caused by Avedisian have been uncovered. Mismanagement of funds by Avedisian's administration was found everywhere! Everyone in that audience last night left with a belief that Warwick is in better hands now that Avedisian is gone. A Mayor who mismanaged the taxpayers money in every department of the City, went on vacation 14 times in 12 months, and worked for RIPTA while he was Mayor, had to go. I only wish someone had stopped him sooner.
Happy St. Patricks everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
What I saw was an hour of the new mayor blaming the old mayor for decisions that they all made.
Mayor Solomon talked about the $4.2 million deficit in the FY18 budget; didn't the council pass that budget without a tax increase? And wouldn't that tax increase have avoided the deficit?
He also talked about the contracts and neglected roads; didn't the council have the chance to vote on those contracts and put road repairs on the ballot, or at least add more money to the paving budget before this year?
That was not the accountability or transparency that Mayor Solomon promised during his campaign.
Mayor Solomon never ran against Avedisian, but he sure sounded like he was campaigning against the former mayor last night.
He needs to quit talking about the past and get to work!
Solomon is in a very weird spot where the buck was passed for 20 years by him and his colleagues only to find himself where the buck finally stopped.
"Irony became the head that bit its tail and then there is no way out." - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
richard corrente, show me where I said I "don't want don't want anyone looking at Avedisians dealings."
The rest of your comment is just nonsense, which I'm learning to expect from you.
Dear HillgroveHal, AKA "HH"'
AKA probably CrickeeRaven, AKA Mark Carroulo, (in my opinion),
You demand that I show you where you said "I don't want don't want anyone looking at Avedisians dealings".
Well, it looks like I struck a nerve (just read the stuttering in your comment!) so I will be gentle.
You said it when you said (and I quote)
1. "What I saw was the new Mayor blaming the old Mayor"
2. "he sure sounded like he was campaigning against the former Mayor last night.
3. (This is my personal favorite) "He needs to quit talking about the past and get to work!"
Those are some of the quotes that make me believe you don't want anyone looking into Avedisians dealings. One has to wonder why you are so serious about that. Does Avedisian (and/or you) have something to hide?????
You anonymous coward of a critic!
Happy St. Patricks everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Corrente,
Cant you just SHUT THE F*&K UP? There is an old saying - If you keep your mouth shut, one can only think your a moron. As soon as you open it, you relieve all doubt. There certainly is no doubt !
Thecaptain, I have no idea what richard corrente is talking about -- do you know who these people are that he's complaining about?
I also don't understand why he's so angry that I pointed out Mayor Solomon's history on the city council, or why he thinks I'm these other people because I made that point.
I agree with you -- his words only prove how much of a moron he is.
richard corrente, you did not show me where I said "I don't want anyone looking at Avedisians dealings."
You misinterpreted what I said and acted like a fool by making stupid accusations.
I can see why other commenters on this site think you're such a moron: You keep giving them proof.
Corrente seems so demented that its doubtful he has ANY shame at all. Even when called out on blatant lies, he motormouths on. The only purpose calling him out serves is to prevent some new hapless reader from actually thinking his contributions are anything more than demented BS.
The city is in a major jam and we dont need the distraction.
wwkvoter,"demented" is an excellent description. In barely a week on this website, I have seen richard corrente badger and insult other people, make up stories, and generally make a fool of himself.
And yet he seems to think that behavior "serves taxpayers."
Like you said, the only positive in how other people reply to him is that it warns new readers not to trust a word he says.
This is what I said 4 days ago:
Thecaptain
My prediction as follows:
There will not be a power point presentation
There will not be documents with financial information available to the public
THERE WILL NOT BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER SEGMENT
PLACE YOUR BETS
4 DAYS AGO
This was a major mistake. The city is set up with robo calling. The residents should have been notified several times in advance that this meeting was taking place. It was docketed at the very last minute in accordance with open meeting rules. There was no visual presentation, there were no documents to take home and study, there was no question and answer segment. MAJOR MISTAKE.
Now the city council needs to release the 5 year study which was performed by YKSM. They need to hold several town hall meetings and allow residents to comment and ask questions. They need to put forth (and be honest) what strategy (strategies) they are reviewing and present how these tactics will impact the residents. This should be performed by each council member in each of their wards to give every resident the opportunity to understand the dire financial condition this city is in. (which by the way, myself and Cushman have been screaming about for years). Also this action will ensure that each councilman understands the financial condition of the city which as of now it is crystal clear that they don't.
In the absence of the above taking place immediately, you will see a cover up and a kicking of the can down the road, only to be proceeded by a max tax increase and also a huge supplemental tax increase. Mark my words, it is going to happen.
If there's a five year study that WE PAID FOR, why is nit not released immediately upon completion? Rob you guys should APRA that now.
Where is the cities Fire Department Audit? I know the answer....
Wwkvoter,
Every resident should be calling their councilman demanding that the YKSM report be released immediately.
HEY JIMMY,
Where is the report from Ward Fisher that the WFD paid for, for the sole purpose to discredit me and to indicate that there was no illegal scheme pertaining to the theft of tax dollars with unused sick time manipulation and vacation manipulation? If I was wrong they would be shoving it up my wazoo so fast and hard. But they cant, because I am spot on correct, and my analysis has been verified. Just like you were wrong and continue to be wrong about 100% THERE IS NO FBI INVESTIGATION, you are once again wrong.
You are a WFD employee who does not even have the courage to use your name. But thats ok. Wait till you see the hair cut you guys are going to take with the next contract. Why do you think everyone involved in the scheme has jumped ship?
I am hearing that more handcuffs will be needed in the city. Stay tuned, another scheme about to break.
Captain.
Release the audit. We finally agree on something. As for the Union Audit. We have it. The results will come out when necessary. As it has nothing to do with you, at this time you don’t need to see the results. They are very interesting I might add. And yes contrary to what you have been told the city is well aware of the union results. Same paperwork and documentation that YKSM has. I wonder why the city doesn’t want to release it?
Gotta tell ya, all these things you think are illegal aren’t and the next one about BHs makes me laugh too. You never like to give both sides of the story. So much time you spend on this stuff. Keep up the good work though. If you know so much about our contract can you atleast tell us when it will go into effect. I need to plan things out. Thanks in advance.
You have proven yourself mentally unstable, and harass us enough at work. There is no way I would give you my real name. I certainly don’t need you camped out in a tree peeking in my window, or worse.
HEY JIMMY
Just to refresh your memory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_R58FT8iUs
Capt.
Captain,
As I’ve said before in time we will see who has ALL
the facts. You may be right. But you may also be wrong. I will FULLY admit if I’m wrong. Will you?
Absolutely
But the difference is that you will take the coward position and remain anonymous.
We are talking about very large numbers with some simple questions that need to be answered.
1. The current Mayor has 18 years of service on the City council, 6 years as the President. He is also a lawyer and accountant. How did we get here to this point, a financial train wreck, with your experience and education? The same for Merolla.
How is it possible on the issue of contracts could side deals be made after the fact without Council oversight of the final document which changes the scope of the original provisions? There is no such thing as being a little pregnant. You can't participate or submit a materially flawed document and by all parties agreeing make it a legal, binding agreement. This opens up all kinds of doors involving Title XVIII including collusion and fraud which might explain the FBI and or IRS-CID looking at this matter. Where are these two documents? One the Council saw and signed off on and the second one with amended language, allegedly changed by the Executive branch? If the new Mayor can't shed some transparency on this mess and we have to hear it from the Feds, there are a whole lot of people who should swing from the gallows...What a mess...
HEY JIMMY,
You may want to review the Dan Yorke State of Mind show that aired tonight where the city council president states at the end of the show that indeed he has been interviewed by the FBI. So whats you next comment?
https://www.wpri.com/dan-yorke-state-of-mind
Dum de dum dum !!
Maybe he was interviewed for being a shitty lawyer dum de dum dum dum