PawSox stadium deal dead for this session
By Kirsten Glavin
@kirstenglavin
PROVIDENCE, RI – The clock’s run out on the PawSox stadium deal.
According to the state Senate, the window of time needed to discuss the proposal during this session has passed.
"It’s on the back burner for the time being,” Senate President Dominick Ruggerio told ABC6 News, Tuesday. He explained that without the proper legislation from either the Governor’s office or from the Mayor’s Office in Pawtucket, nothing more could be discussed.
"It’s up to Pawtucket, it’s up to the Governor, it’s up to the PawSox… it’s not up to us,” said Ruggerio. “If they come to us with a piece of legislation, we might be able to entertain that in the fall."
New legislation needs to be approved by the Speaker of the House, Nicholas Mattiello, before it’s drafted. Speaker Mattiello questioned the Governor’s support for the proposal Tuesday afternoon, telling media she is sending mixed signals by not endorsing the stadium plan. It was a plan her team helped negotiate.
"The Governor and her staff negotiated the deal with Pawtucket, so I find it highly questionable that they’re not taking a strong position one way or another since it’s a deal that they negotiated,” he said.
In a statement Tuesday evening, the Governor commending the Pawtucket Mayor’s office for their hard work, but said she never received final legislation needed from the city.
Governor Raimondo’s statement read in part:
"I agree with senate president Ruggerio that consideration of a new ballpark is too important to rush, this legislative session."
