Mayor Grebien responds to the PawSox leaving

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@ChloeLeshner

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — We’re hearing from Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien for the first time since the PawSox announced they’re going to Worcester. He says the entire state is already mourning the loss but he isn’t pointing fingers although it’s clear Rhode Island’s deal went wrong somewhere.

Mayor Grebien is staying positive despite the loss of the PawSox but he did admit that all of the key players, that’s him, the Governor, Senate President,Speaker of the House and team leadership, never once sat down all in one room to nail down the deal.

Mayor Grebien not looking to cast blame, saying it’s not Pawtucket who lost the PawSox.

"Worcester won the minor league franchise through not so transparent processes by offering subsidies that extended outside any best practice," he says.

He and Governor Raimondo say the deal Worcester offered is nothing Pawtucket or Rhode Island would or could compete with.

"The owners, all of whom are multi–millionaires, wanted more from taxpayers and we have a job to protect taxpayers, which we did. And now Worcesters given them the richest deal that could be given,"says Governor Raimondo.

Mayor Grebien points to the mindset after 38 Studios for hindering his efforts to push the deal through.

"There’s always that, they don’t want to give any money to anybody because of what happened with 38 Studios but you have to invest," he says.

The money Worcester offered aside, Grebien says to the best of his knowledge the team would’ve accepted the version of the deal approved by the Rhode Island Senate.

"It got to the House and it was a whole different process to change the dynamics, and change the conversation. But in fairness to the leadership and the delegation, the end result wasn’t what we wanted but everyone was there plugging along," says Grebien.

Governor Raimondo says that’s where the deal fell flat.

"How many times have you said, the Speaker is the most powerful person? The Speaker has a mind of his own, so does the legislature, and that’s appropriate," says Governor Raimondo.

ABC 6 News has been reaching out to Speaker Mattiello since the PawSox announced its deal with Worcester. We’re told he’s  out of the state for the week.
(C) WLNE/ABC 6 2018