New 4-year mayoral term has McAllister thinking

By JOHN HOWELL

Last time Governor McKee and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi hosted a reception for City Council President Steve McAllister, political pundits figured Democratic leaders were teeing McAllister up to run for mayor. McAllister shrugged off the speculation and made a point of having Mayor Frank Picozzi join them for a group photo at the event.

On March 19 the Democratic leaders will host another reception for McAllister at the Crowne Plaza and this time McAllister’s tone has changed.

For starters, it’s 2024 and so far no Democrat or Republican has stepped up to challenge the city’s first independent mayor. And making the position all the more appealing, this will be the first election since the City Council changed the term of mayor from two to four years with a limit of two terms. Whoever wins this year will have an extended mandate to accomplish their platform.

There’s no question Picozzi is running for reelection. In advance to the announcement scheduled last night at a fundraiser at Chelo’s Restaurant , the mayor expressed his confidence in being reelected.

“I’ve got a record,” he said, touching on how in the last three years $65 million has been spent in city infrastructure and on capital improvements. He pointed out the biggest chunk of that has been American Rescue Plan Act funds, but about an additional $20 million has come in earmark grants.

With infrastructure improvements in place or ongoing, Picozzi said he is focused on economic development.

“City Centre is finally coming together,” he said. He points to the development of 1,000 rental units in the area bounded by the airport to the east and Jefferson Boulevard to the west. He points to the number of hotels in the city, adding there need to be more restaurants.

“There are not enough good restaurants in Warwick,” he said. As for encouraging development, Picozzi said he has turned that over to the Planning Department and the boards and commissions overseeing planning and zoning. He said board and commission appointments are not based on party politics but on their expertise and what they can do for the city.

“I don’t have any influence over them,” he said.

“No games are played here,” he says of developments within the city. “What was going on before wasn’t working.” Since taking office, Picozzi said the city has issued more than 200 certificates of occupancy to businesses.

McAllister said he has worked well with Picozzi, “and I look forward to continuing to work with him to help assist Warwick residents.” Nonetheless, he added, “At this time, I am exploring all my options and will be talking with family, friends, constituents and residents over the next few weeks to get their thoughts and ideas on what the next four years should look like in Warwick.”

McAllister offered his own thoughts about the challenges of the next four years.

“We are building two new high schools, all the federal ARPA money will have been spent, and budgets are going to be really tough.  I also have concerns about the impact climate change is having on our city, and the costs of every type of housing in Warwick,” he said.

With the backing of the Democrats, who control all but two locally elected seats in Warwick – the mayor’s post and Senate District 29 held by Republican Anthony DeLuca – McAllister would seemingly have a formidable citywide team in terms of manpower and financial clout.

“I don’t get the big checks from the lobbyists…the difference is that most of those people (McAllister supporters) can vote for me,” Picozzi said. Picozzi built his first campaign for mayor off his popular Christmas light show and the thousands who follow him on Facebook.  During the pandemic shutdown, Picozzi vowed to bring some good cheer to residents and mounted his digital display on his truck. He covered every street in the city. He installed an app enabling people to see where he was and at what time he would show up. What he found on his travels besides people cheering him on were Picozzi for mayor lawn signs. He thought it over and decided to run.  He said he has 19,000 to 20,000 followers. But he’s not thinking of this as a Facebook campaign.

“I have a record to run on; I’m not worried,” he said.

Emphasizing the federal funds will be gone, McAllister pointed out “difficult budgetary decisions will have to be made” going forward.