“He’s thoughtful, but decisive.”
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed could probably have been describing himself. In fact, that was his response when I asked him about the prospects for David N. Cicilline, the 36th mayor of the capital city.
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“He’s going to do just fine,” said Reed.
Reed was among 300 business, political and social services leaders last Monday morning at The Westin Hotel for an “Interfaith Breakfast.” The idea for the breakfast belonged to Cicilline and it served as yet further evidence that his administration will in fact be one based on the idea of “inclusion.”
Mark Formica, vice chairman of Citizens Bank, echoed that theme in his opening remarks.
“It is about inclusion,” said Formica. “It is about people getting together and dealing with issues together.”
Formica touched on another theme. The new mayor, he said, should be afforded patience.
“High expectations can cut both ways,” he said. “High expectations can lead to disappointment. Be patient. The problems and challenges facing the city did not occur overnight.”
Rabbi Jonathan Blake, of Temple Beth El in Providence, the Reverend Dr. Virgil Wood, of the Pond Street American Baptist Church, the Reverend Rebecca Spencer, of the Rhode Island Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Reverend Joseph Guido, of Providence College and three Buddhist Monks all offered their own reflections and prayers for Cicilline and the city.
Rev. Wood talked of fostering a new city where “kindness will be natural” and where “excitement will reign supreme by day and by night.”
Cicilline, who bounced from table to table thanking people for coming to the gathering, later addressed the crowd himself.
“It is right and just that we begin this day spiritually…uttering a prayer for the city of Providence,” he said. “Let’s not simply tolerate, but embrace our ethnic and religious differences.”
Following the “Interfaith Breakfast” Cicilline made his way over to City Hall, where he spent the better part of two hours touring offices and greeting workers. Just after noon, a crowd began gathering in front of the historic structure. By 12:30 it had swelled to several hundred strong.
Prior to taking the oath of office, Cicilline delivered a stirring address. It was bold. And it was honest. He spoke of a city that “has a 30-year history of refusing to exercise fiscal restraint.” He described the huge challenges of fighting for children in poverty, improving public schools and creating jobs.
Those challenges, said Cicilline, are common in American cities. And then he spoke of a challenge that has become an unfortunate part of the very signature of Providence.
“You all know that we have one more challenge to discuss today – perhaps our most serious one — the ongoing impact of a legacy of corruption and unethical behavior in the leadership of city government,” he said. “We are all painfully aware of the violations of the public trust that have occurred in City Hall. Over the past three decades, a culture of self-service, insider dealing, and arrogance – established at the very top – has made us cynical about the capacity of city government to behave ethically, let alone to respond to our concerns. When government is worthy of neither the people it serves, nor the people who work within it, it corrodes the heart of democracy. Cynicism may make for shrewd politics, but it makes for ineffective government and a disengaged citizenry.”
In the end, of course, Cicilline will not be judged by his ability to deliver stirring speeches. He will be judged by results. He’s got a pension system that needs to be fixed. He’s got a police department with severe morale problems. He’s got poorly performing public schools in too many city neighborhoods.
But this idea of inclusion, of honest government, just might hold the key to making so many other things better.
At the inauguration, as the snow began to fall at a steady clip, I came across labor and business sharing an umbrella.
George Nee, secretary/treasurer of the AFL-CIO, and Arthur S. Robbins, a local businessman and a general partner and developer of the Providence Marriott and other ventures, took in the festivities side by side.
I asked how Cicilline could best go about the task of creating new jobs in the city.
“By having an ethical and honest administration,” said Nee. “And I am absolutely convinced that that is what he is going to do.”
Robbins echoed Nee’s comments.
“I second that,” he said. “It’s going to be great for the state. He respects the individual. He respects people.”
Imagine that. Being honest. Listening to the ideas of others.
It’s a pretty simple formula for economic development.
