Poli-ticks

Here we go again!

By Arlene Violet
Posted 11/17/19

Last week two events reinforced the perception that the state has returned to the “bad ol’ days” when politicians acted like they owned a fiefdom. Here are the new members of the …

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Poli-ticks

Here we go again!

Posted

Last week two events reinforced the perception that the state has returned to the “bad ol’ days” when politicians acted like they owned a fiefdom. Here are the new members of the Rhode Island Hall of Shame:

“EMPLOYEE X” AND FRANK FLOOR, Division Chief
In his most recent Hummel report Jim Hummel targeted 2 employees of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). The employee who is nameless asked a DEM vendor, North-Eastern Tree Service Inc., who has received $1.5 million for past work and who is under contract at present, to fund a cookout for 42 employees of the department. He did. The DEM Park and Recreation Staff were told to thank the company workers for the cookout if they saw them in their respective areas. Mr. Floor approved this arrangement.
What universe do these people live in? Do you have to be a Rhodes Scholar to know that you do not ask a vendor to pick up a tab for a party? These 2 employees should be handed their respective walking papers. It doesn’t matter that Director Floor offered to pay ½ of the tab after the commencement of the Hummel investigation. His tin ear isn’t mitigated by the belated offer to pick up some of the tab or the “ethics training” now ordered for the department. 
(Disclosure: I am Chair of the Board of the Hummel Report)

GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO AND BRETT SMILEY, CHIEF OF STAFF
Twin River's executive vice president, told lawmakers that he had received threats from Mr. Smiley  because of Twin River's opposition to the IGT no bid 20 year $1 billion contract. He reported that initially Mr. Smiley told him that the State would be helpful because the debt ratio it was supposed to maintain might hurt future growth. When Twin River later that day opposed the IGT deal orchestrated by the Governor it subsequently was fined $180,000 for violating that debt ratio. Mr. Chrisafulli maintains that Twin River did pay this amount as a settlement without acknowledging any wrongdoing but the Governor’s office leaked the fine to the media and attacked the company. Mr. Crisafulli also stated that he was told by Smiley that the gambling giant would suffer further regulatory consequences if they opposed the Governor’s deal.

First of all, no “settlement’ should be shrouded. Nonetheless, Boss Tweed would blush if this tactic was employed as retaliation and/or arm twisting. Fortunately, The state GOP has augmented its ethics complaint by adding this element. The Ethics Board should put Mr. Smiley under oath along with Mr. Chrisafulli. The Governor has been particularly vocal in her day-after-day criticism of Twin River. The reality is that this specter of retaliation further clouds the state’s future regulatory function since it could be perceived as payback rather than merit.
While this above behavior dominated the news, at least one state politician, Attorney General PETER NEHRONA, initiated a worthwhile program by holding office hours in locations throughout the state as well as hosting community meetings. He is correct that residents particularly in economically depressed communities don’t know how to access assistance. Kudos to him for holding office hours in Providence and triaging with other community resources. That’s what public servants are supposed to do, not sponge on or threaten businesses.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.

Arlene Violet

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.