Having already logged 500 days in his campaign to be mayor, Richard Corrente portrayed himself as a family man who understands the responsibilities of being married and raising a family at the grand opening of his headquarters Saturday at
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
|
Having already logged 500 days in his campaign to be mayor, Richard Corrente portrayed himself as a family man who understands the responsibilities of being married and raising a family at the grand opening of his headquarters Saturday at Gateway Plaza.
Standing behind a series of ribbons with the word “taxes” written across them, Corrente promised to create an environment to bring jobs and people back to Warwick by placing a moratorium on building fees and promoting the city. He also made a pitch to make it easier for senior citizens to live in the city, saying he would cut their motor vehicle taxes in half.
On the issue of city finances, Corrente called for a “full audit.” He said he would also implement a voluntary pension buyout, which he said has successfully lowered unfunded pension liabilities in other states.
A moratorium on building fees, he said, would have the effect of stimulating the economy, and with more businesses opening in the city and housing construction there would be more jobs and the tax base would grow.
More than once, Corrente pointed out that incumbent Mayor Scott Avedisian has raised taxes every year he has been in office for the past 16 years and that the current budget again calls for an increase in property tax revenues.
He was critical of Avedisian for a hands-off approach to schools, saying that while the charter does not give him the power to make changes in the department, he should have been more active in ensuring buildings are properly maintained and averting situations like the alleged theft of building supplies and appliances by former director of school buildings David LaPlante. He also mentioned former Gorton teacher Mario Atoyan, who wasn’t disciplined for allegedly drawing penises on the arms of two female students, saying he would not allow such situations under his watch.
“The mayor doesn’t know what it’s like to have a wife,” Corrente said. He said Avedisian hasn’t had the experience of raising a family and that he would bring a “family lifestyle” to City Hall.
Citing the loss of 100 homes to recent airport expansion, Corrente was critical of the memorandum of understanding with the Rhode Island Airport Corporation that moved the Winslow Park playing fields and lifted the threat of a city suit to prevent the extension of Green’s main runway to 8,700 feet. He said the city didn’t get anything out of the arrangement other than more soil, water and air pollution and that he “would renegotiate” the agreement.
Corrente put on a lavish spread of food for the opening with dishes of fruits, shrimp, bite-sized sandwich wraps, chicken fingers and Corrente cookies with his name across them. A duo played music and a food truck was parked outside. People came and went, but at 4 p.m., at which time the tax ribbons were unfurled, about 25 people were in attendance, including elected officials Ed Ladouceur (D-Ward 5) and School Committee member Karen Bachus.
Before handing out scissors to those gathered with him to symbolically cut taxes, Corrente vowed if elected to bring transparency to the job. He also charged, “Avedisian has bought a lot of votes with kickback jobs…Warwick can’t afford Scott Avedisian.”
12 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Justanidiot
Mayer Corrente,
You will be elected if you cut taxes, increase services, lower cost of government, increase wages to government workers to attract the best and the brightest, get rid of all the potholes, attend every public function, be available 25/8/366 to hear everyone's complaints, tend to your family, and be the moral compass for the community.
To start.
You will have to up your game after that.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Thank you Mr. Justanidiot,
I'll do my best to live up to your comments, and, to be honest, I think I can come pretty close.
I do want to be your "Mayer", no matter how you spell it and if we fall short of your list I promise it won't be for a lack of trying!
Take good care my friend,
Richard Corrente
Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Report this
Scal1024
I'm curious Mr. Corrente what does not having a wife have to do with being mayor? What a rude, unnecessary thing to say. If you feel you have a legitimate reason to be the mayor, talk about that. Why even bring up something like that? I think it reveals alot about who you really are and how you really think. Personally, I don't think I can support someone who takes cheap shots like that.
Also cutting spending, cutting taxes and providing subsidies to new business, new home builders, seniors (car taxes) sounds great. How do you pay for any of this? How do you make up lost revenue? What leverage does the city have to reopen the airport deal? You know?...the things it really takes to be mayor...
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Scal1024,
Avedisian has always had a "hands-off" policy toward the school department. I believe his not having a wife, kids, homework etc. kind of lifestyle contributes to that. He doesn't relate like I will. It's not rude. It's just a fact. His lifestyle doesn't relate to students/children etc. like mine does.Thank you for saying that my plan for cutting taxes, providing rebate checks, new home buyers, new construction etc. is a good one. How do we pay for it you ask? Well, if you attract more taxpayers Warwick will receive more total tax revenue. We can then use some of that extra money to honor our seniors by paying half of their car taxes for them. I really do like your airport question. What leverage do I have to re-open the airport deal? None. But I have already spoken to them on two occasions and their new director, Peter Frazier seems to be open minded, and appears to want a better relationship with Warwick residents, so I will pursue it. What do we have to lose? Avedisian got us nothing, so we have "nothing" to lose. I'll bet I can do better. Want to help me? I'll bet the two of us could do better. Hey, we can't do any worse. We gave them the tax revenue of over 100 homes and they gave us nothing in return except more pollution.
Thanks, as always, for your comments, Scal.
Richard Corrente
Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
Mayer corrente,
Thanks for clarifying your position. Come out of the vague shadows and speak what you really feel. You know that the community is behind you. Man up and give us the straight talk.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Report this
Scal1024
Mr. Corrente, thank you for your response. I now understand where you were coming from with your comment on having/not having kids in the school system, I just happen to disagree on that point.
I get the idea of giving tax breaks out to try and bolster ecomnic development... I just wonder if we can afford it. People say that pensions and retiree health care are eating up our budget. Without a solid plan on how to fix those problems I just don't think we can cut taxes and pay for it with spending cuts. Revenue will have to be made up somewhere and if taxes aren't raised how do you get there? How many seniors will qualify for a 50% car tax cut? How big of a hole will that create in car tax revenue?
Growth will not do it alone, what areas will spending be reduced? I know your plan is to ask for department by department reductions. Does that alone make up for the lost revenue? I think there are alot of fair questions to be asked about these proposals and how much revenue will be lost/generated. Thank you for your earlier response, I do appreciate it.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Report this
Wqqtyyy
This is disgraceful, lacks judgement, and most importantly is an insult that you have the nerve to have a d before your name. How can you sit there and not having a wife disqualifies you from being mayor. What about gay people? What about people who prefer not to be married? What about the fact that you are running as a democrat? Anyone who even considers you as a person worthy of a vote after reading this needs to reaxmine things.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Report this
Wqqtyyy
This is disgraceful, lacks judgement, and most importantly is an insult that you have the nerve to have a d before your name. How can you sit there and not having a wife disqualifies you from being mayor. What about gay people? What about people who prefer not to be married? What about the fact that you are running as a democrat? Anyone who even considers you as a person worthy of a vote after reading this needs to reaxmine things.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
"I believe his not having a wife, kids, homework etc. kind of *lifestyle* contributes to that."
Interesting choice of words -- or, one specifically.
Sorry, Robert, this voter is not buying it.
So his lack of a wife and kids led to steady tax increases instead of huge peaks and valleys that have fiscally ruined several communities.
So his "lifestyle" led to three top-rated pension funding plans.
So his inexperience with "homework" got him elected eight times.
I give you this for credit, Robert: You are showing what you have right up front. There's no subtlety about you.
Wasn't there just a huge backlash against an adult using her online platform to humiliate a high schooler for how she gender identifies? Wasn't this same adult's argument, essentially, that gender identity is a "lifestyle" that can be "fixed" lest it scar children psychologically? And here you are, arguing "lifestyle."
Now, also consider this:
You've spent thousands of dollars already this year paying for ads in the Beacon [Google > ri campaign finance > Public Information], and you just got the unchallenged platform of the lead story in the paper. As of 8:30 Wednesday, this online story had gotten 308 views. The Beacon distributes 6,100 copies.
That's in a city of 80,000.
So I suppose that set of facts can be conflated to show that your experience with child-rearing has led to your ineffectual spending and lack of name recognition after "500 days campaigning."
And finally, let me ask you: as a husband and father, don't you prefer predictable and incremental costs over time than huge swings in income and bills? Warwick has taxed incrementally year to year. Warwick has not erupted in fiscal disaster while maintaining city services.
It's early yet, Robert. You'll figure out something.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
glad to see warwick is going the way of trump and running a code word campaign.
today's password is homo sapien.
discuss
Thursday, May 19, 2016 Report this
Scal1024
Sad that you'd repeat that same line of attack on tv Mr. Corrente. If you think going on morning news and lobbing personal attacks is a good idea then good luck. Continuing that line of attack will guarantee you one thing...a hefty defeat on election day.
Thursday, May 19, 2016 Report this
howdydoody
Wonder what Corrente plan is for the schools. Scott always says he has no say in the schools. Passes the buck
Thursday, May 19, 2016 Report this