Elorza talks up ‘New Providence’ in State of the City

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Mayor Jorge Elorza says he is looking forward to building on what he called the ‘New Providence,’ as he addressed the entire city council Monday night in his annual State of the City address.

Despite some obvious dire issues in the city, like failing schools, fire equipment, and unfunded pensions, his speech focused on how the city has been forging a path forward.

“We are on our way,” said Elorza during his address. “We have work to do. And I look forward to doing that work with you together.”

The forty minute speech touted the city bringing in new businesses to the downtown, creating a sustainability plan to combat climate change, and necessary investments made to the bring the city’s schools into the 21st century.

“We still have all kinds of challenges at our schools, there’s no doubt about that, but for the first time in a long time people are feeling optimistic about what’s happening,” said Elorza.

Those investments, of course, happening in the midst of the state takeover of the public schools.

After the mayor’s speech Council President Sabina Matos said she is still eager to learn more about the process.

“We talked a little bit about the schools, but not enough,” said Matos. “I think this is something that I wish there was more conversation about.”

On the other side, Chair of the Republican Party Dave Talan says the mayor should take a step back.

“At this point after five years I think he should step aside and let commissioner Infante Green and the new school superintendent Harrison Peters who takes over next week, let them do the job that needs to be done,” said Talan.

There was also little mention of the city’s unfunded pension crisis or plans for how to fund it.

Elorza has in the past compared it to climate change, as a long term but definite problem.

“As good as things are looking over the short and medium term, we still have to mind that long term, because unless we address that then all of the challenges and all of the opportunity that we have, they’re just never going to be realized,” said Elorza.

The mayor did say they are working on ways to fix the pension crisis but did not get into specifics.

He also committed Monday night to providing universal pre-k by the end of his term.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2020