Mayoral hopeful Chris Young looks like a balloon about to burst. “I don’t want to intimidate you by looking at you,” he practically shouts to an already agitated audience, “but I can humbly say there is no better fighter for [Providence].”
Frustrated laughter ripples through the basement of the Rochambeau Library where the second of three mayoral forums is taking place. Six men, all hoping to be the future mayor of our city, sit facing a substantial slice of Providence’s public – older citizens from the East Side mixed with a handful of bright young things – and no one seems impressed.
We are deep into the second hour of a question and answer session covering topics ranging from crime to universal pre-k to exposed power lines, and the current issue under discussion is the 195 relocation project. It’s become blatantly clear that no matter the question, most of the candidates echo the same themes: community engagement (we can’t get development done if we don’t work together!), making the city more enticing to outside investors (how can we expect to boost the city’s economy and build a beautiful space if businesses have to pay ridiculously high property taxes?) and ending the “know-a-guy” kind of corruption that often makes Providence into a national joke. Even Dan Harrop, the sole Republican candidate, agrees that political transparency and public involvement is key to the 195 development initiative.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here