Issue No. 261  l   October 9, 2008   l   Providence, Rhode Island

 

Mayor Takes Bold Action To Prevent City Employees Who Defraud Taxpayers From Collecting Pensions
Proposed ordinance in response to Retirement Board’s decision to award pension to convicted felon who served time for public corruption

 

Mayor David N. Cicilline yesterday has submitted a proposal to the Providence City Council that would amend the existing pension ordinance to ensure that City employees who serve time for public corruption do not receive a taxpayer-subsidized pension.  The amendment is in direct response to a recent decision by the City of Providence Retirement Board to award a pension to convicted felon Frank Corrente, who served time in federal prison for racketeering, conspiracy and attempted extortion.

“There’s no question, any City employee who serves time for public corruption for betraying the taxpayers of Providence should not receive a pension,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “There is no acceptable explanation for rewarding an individual for bad behavior.”

Mayor Cicilline is introducing an amendment to Chapter 1999-45, Section 17-189.1 of the Providence City Ordinance that would automatically revoke the pension of any employee sentenced to serve one year or more in prison for a crime related to his or her employment in City government.   Any such conviction would be “deemed to be a breach of the employee’s contract with his or her employer.”
 
“The intent of this measure is to ensure that only those who serve honorably receive a pension,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “It’s what the vast majority of residents and hard working City employees who serve honorably every day expect and deserve.  The majority vote of the Retirement Board makes it abundantly clear that such an ordinance is absolutely necessary.”

Mayor Cicilline also expressed concern over the message the Retirement Board’s decision sends to the business community.  “Just this morning we launched a very exciting partnership with the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the business community to grow our economy and create jobs,” said the Mayor.  “Ensuring that people have confidence in City government is central to achieving those goals and the Retirement Board’s decision to award a pension to a convicted felon significantly undermines those efforts.”

Vowing to “do everything in his power” to prevent Corrente from receiving the pension, Mayor Cicilline has also retained attorney Kelly Sheridan to prosecute the case at the Superior Court on behalf of Providence residents.

“We are under no illusions that this will be an easy case,” said the Mayor.  “Mr. Sheridan has advised me that it would significantly strengthen the City’s position in this legal challenge if the City Council affirmatively joins this effort.”

The Mayor said he will be conferring with the City Council leadership in the coming weeks to encourage them to join in this fight on behalf of the taxpayers.

The proposed amendment to the pension ordinance will be formally introduced to the City Council on October 16th.
 

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Mayor Taps New Leadership to Head Policy Initiatives
New Policy Director will lead city’s legislative efforts and help shape initiatives to advance Mayor’s priorities for the City of Providence

 

Mayor David N. Cicilline this week announced that he has appointed state policy and communications expert Matthew G. Stark as his new Director of Policy.  Stark, who previously served as Principal Policy Associate in the State’s Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC), will play a major role in advancing the City’s legislative priorities as well as helping to identify and implement the administration’s policy initiatives. 

“Matthew Stark recognizes the enormous potential of government to impact positively on people’s lives through innovative, strategic urban policies,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “He also recognizes the value of partnership and possesses a unique ability to bring people together and build consensus around important issues.”

“I believe that government can be a positive force for change in folks' everyday lives,” said Stark. “I am extremely excited to become part of an administration that values transparency, accountability and positive results for those it serves. Providence is fortunate to have a Mayor who values substantive solutions, even when they require long-term planning and dedication. I can't wait to get started serving the people of Providence.”

As Principal Policy Associate in the OHIC, Stark managed the identification, legislation and implementation of the state’s healthcare policy goals.  He’s credited with developing and advancing multiple years of legislative packages and managing the rollout of HEALTHpact, an initiative that provides affordable health insurance products to Rhode Island’s small businesses.  During his tenure at the OHIC, he also developed and implemented strategic communications plans and elevated the profile of the agency.

Prior to joining the state, he served as Communications Director for East Greenwich-based Stark Group and was Project Manager for EpiVax Incorporated where he created systems for project management, business administration and grant submissions as well as managed research and development projects.   Stark also worked as Editorial Assistant for the HIV Education Prison Project at Brown University.  

 

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 Mayor Cicilline to Deliver Lesson in Recycling to Providence Students

City’s recycling coordinator to join Mayor at  “teach-ins” as part of an ongoing effort to increase awareness in target neighborhoods beginning October 10th 

Mayor David N. Cicilline and Recycling Coordinator Daisy Diaz Rivera will spend the month of October delivering an important message to Providence elementary school children: you are the key to protecting the future of your world!

Mayor Cicilline and Rivera will conduct teach-ins at a different Providence elementary school each week beginning October 10th at 2pm as part of an ongoing effort to encourage residents to recycle. The four schools have been selected for teach-ins because they are located in Providence neighborhoods where participation in the City’s recycling program remains low. 

“We’re taking this message directly to our students because we know that children can be very persuasive when it comes to convincing their parents and other adults to change their behavior,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “Recycling not only protects the future of our world, but it saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the tipping fees the City pays to the landfills.”

The Mayor and Rivera will conduct the teach-ins at the following schools in October:

October 10 at 2pm | Bailey Elementary School | 65 Gordon Avenue  
October 23 at 11am | Messer Elementary School | 158 Messer Street 
October 29 at 2pm | D’Abate Elementary School | 60 Kossuth Street
 
After the initial October launch, the teach-ins will continue on a monthly basis throughout the 2008-2009 school year.
  

 

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Park as Muse: Artwork of India Point Park on Display at Gallery at City Hall

Opening reception set for Friday, October 10, from 5 PM to 7 PM

 

The Gallery at City Hall is currently showcasing “Park as Muse: Artwork of India Point Park,” an exhibit of 30 Providence artists that derives its inspiration from India Point Park.

The show is sponsored by Friends of India Point Park and features the work of artists ranging from individuals at the beginning of their artistic careers to an unknown photographer who worked in the 1940’s to well-known professionals who exhibit at galleries in New York and other parts of New England. The show features photographs, oils, watercolors, a quilt and poetry.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, October 10, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on the second floor of Providence City Hall.  Mayor Cicilline created the Gallery at City Hall to showcase the work of local artists on a monthly basis.  The Gallery at City Hall is open during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  

 

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"Fitness Boot Camp" Workouts to be Held on Blackstone Boulevard

Workshops focused on promoting fitness while encouraging residents to enjoy Providence parks

Mayor David N. Cicilline today announced the Providence Parks Department has partnered with Fitness Together to launch Healthy Parks: Fitness Boot Camp, an initiative designed to promote fitness at Providence parks.  Fitness Together, a fitness center located on Elmgrove Avenue, will offer residents a series of exercise workouts on Blackstone Boulevard in October as part of a pilot program.  The goal is to offer similar workouts at other parks throughout Providence.

The Healthy Parks: Fitness Boot Camp pilot will be offered on Blackstone Boulevard across from Lippitt Park on Saturdays at 10 a.m. on October 11, 18 and 25. 

“Physical fitness is critically important to our overall health and well being and Healthy Parks is a wonderful way for residents to enjoy our public spaces while staying in shape,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “It’s my hope that this initiative will expand to neighborhood parks throughout the city so that even more residents can take advantage of wonderful program.”

The boot camp workouts are designed to address all aspects of fitness including cardiovascular and muscular endurance, agility, balance, and flexibility.  Each exercise will be performed for a set amount of time that will allow participants to push themselves at the appropriate level.  Workouts will last forty-five minutes and allow for stretching time.

The workouts will start promptly at 10 a.m., but participants are asked to arrive twenty minutes early to fill out paperwork.  Participants should also bring a mat or a towel, a water bottle, and a desire to be fit.  For more information, contact Robert McMahon at the Providence Parks Department at 785-9450 or Aaron Atwood at Fitness Together at 369-7660.

 

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Feature: My City

City’s Recycling Coordinator Daisy Diaz Rivera: “The best part of my job is helping people who want to do the right thing, do it.”

Each time you throw something into a garbage can bound for the landfill, do you ever think about how much it’s costing you?  According to a report on municipal cap and recycling by the RI Resource Recovery, Providence sent nearly 67,000 tons of waste to the Central Landfill last year costing the City and taxpayers $32 a ton, or a little more than $2 million to dispose of our non-recyclable waste.  However, when Providence sends recyclable trash to the municipal recycling facility, the cost per ton is zero.  If that’s not reason enough to reconsider the way we think about recycling, perhaps the city’s first Recycling Coordinator, Daisy Diaz Rivera can offer you more reasons to not only go green, but save green as well.

Much has been accomplished already since Rivera hopped on board exactly one year ago this month.  For example, this past February, the City launched its recycling website, www.providenceri.com/green.  Among the wealth of resources and information contained in the site is a special page titled, “Ask Daisy,” in which gives residents an opportunity to email Rivera their questions about the whats and what-nots of recycling in Providence.

City News caught up with Rivera this week to ‘Ask Daisy’ some questions in person. 

When did you start as the City’s Recycling Coordinator?
I came on in October of 2007. So, this month is my one-year anniversary with the City.

What did you do before you began working for the city?
I came here from Puerto Rico when I was 8 years old, so I’m a ‘nearly’ life-long resident. I was educated in Central Falls and graduated from Brown University with a degree in Classics. I thought I’d be an academic, but I fell in love with government and public service. Before coming to Public Works, I was in the nonprofit sector focusing on education issues.

Tell us briefly about some of the duties you have in this position.
I feel like a recycling coordinator is equal parts analyst, educator, and cheerleader. You’re an analyst when you investigate and weigh what kinds of programs would best meet the needs of our constituents. You’re also an analyst when you think through how to improve upon the work we do. You’re an educator when you’re in a meeting or in a classroom helping people understand why putting a bottle into the blue bin is so important. You’re a cheerleader when a resident calls for information about what to do with their computer: you put them on the list to have it picked up for recycling – but you applaud them for their commitment to good environmental stewardship. It’s important to let residents know how much we appreciate their efforts.

What do you like most about your job?
Helping people get the most out of their recycling program. Trash is a part of our every day lives in the same way that roads and good drinking water are; they’re a critical piece of what government provides for its citizens.

Of course, we are now at a turning point as a society for how we must think about our relationship to the world around us.  Global climate change makes that necessary.  Part of what helps us respond to the challenge is to redefine our relationship to trash. 

So the best part of my job is helping people who want to do the right thing, do it.  And of course, helping people who haven’t quite gone through this thought process to re-imagine their relationship to trash and its impact on the world around them. It’s great to stand in front of a roomful of people who aren’t clear on this and be a part of their ‘AHA’ moment.

In your own opinion, why is it important to recycle?
It’s good for the environment – really one of the great environmental success stories. It’s one of the easiest ways to cut down on the release of greenhouse gases. It also reduces waste and conserves resources, it preserves landfill space (a real issue here in RI), it saves energy, creates jobs, and is good for the economy.

For those who might not know, what are some of the key recycling measures, or programs, that are currently in effect for Providence?
Recycling is the law in Providence according to Article III, Sec. 12-61.2 of the City Code of Ordinances.  It is also mandated by state law (RIGL 23-18.8-2) that every city’s solid waste management plan must include recycling and be environmentally sound. So, we’re moving in the right direction.

In February of 2008, we launched the City’s recycling website: www.providenceri.com/green. The site includes information about how to recycle and what to recycle, an announcements and news feature, and an interactive section (“Ask Daisy”) where constituents can ask me questions directly. We also have a trash and recycling day lookup tool. Last time I checked the statistics, it had been viewed over 6,000 times by over 1300 unique visitors. I’m very proud of it.

We won a highly competitive NRC/Coca Cola grant for 60 event recycling bins valued at over $3,000. This equipment and the support of our partners allowed us to offer recycling services at events taking place in the City. It’s been very successful. Just this past September, we teamed up with the organizers of the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K to recover 1200 pounds of recyclables in just one day.

What have you discovered to be some of the most asked about questions that residents have about recycling?
Residents are curious about the cost. Every time we haul 1 ton of trash to the landfill, we pay a fee of $32.  When you consider that Providence sent 66,683 tons of waste to the landfill last year, the cost involved is sizable. Now, when we haul 1 ton of recyclables to the municipal recycling facility, we pay nothing.  So, if we all recycle more as a community, not only are we doing the right thing for the environment, we’re actually saving money.

Also, there’s the question of cardboard: it’s actually one of the most valuable of the materials you can recycle. To prepare it properly, flatten it and (if very large) cut it down to pieces of 3 x 2 (not 3 x 3) and bundle them with string. By doing this, it can be loaded onto the trucks without getting stuck anywhere.

What’s in store for the near future and where do you hope Providence will be in its recycling efforts down the road?
We have an innovative outreach project coming down the pike. We’ll also be focusing on e-waste in anticipation of the statewide e-waste ban in January and continuing our work with Providence schools. It’s an exciting time for the program.

Providence will certainly have one of the most dynamic and active recycling programs in the state. That’s my prediction.

For more information on the Providence Recycling Office, go to www. providenceri.com/green. 

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