PROVIDENCE – Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien on Wednesday delivered a letter to state lawmakers, pleading the case for legislative action to help the Pawtucket Red Sox build a new ballpark in his city.
“Without progress this year, I am convinced the team will have no choice but to seek a new home,” Grebien wrote in the letter. “We can’t afford not to do this.”
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The mayor subsequently held a press conference in front of the Statehouse, urging the public to support the Triple-A team’s proposed $83 million financing package. The deal includes a commitment from the team – known popularly as the PawSox – to pay $43 million plus construction-cost overruns.
State taxpayers would pay $23 million. City taxpayers would pay an additional $15 million.
The deal was detailed in drafted legislation that accompanied the letter. But it’s unclear whether the mayor’s efforts will lead to any legislative action this session.
The three recipients of his letter, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, have all said it’s likely too late in the current legislative session – set to end sometime mid-June – to pass the proposed deal.
And Mattiello says he will not allow the legislation to be introduced in the House without it coming directly from Raimondo.
Grebien, however, is adamant a decision is needed soon, saying the ownership group has only committed to working solely with Pawtucket until July 1.
Afterward, he added, “all bets are off.”
The ownership group could not be reached for comment.
City officials have negotiated with the team owners – led by Larry Lucchino, former president and CEO of the Boston Red Sox – for about two years. The state joined those negotiations beginning earlier this year, Grebien said.
On Wednesday, the mayor expressed disappointment in Raimondo, saying she told him as recently as Friday she would support the deal.
“It was my understanding the governor would support this,” he said.
He also pointed to the fact that R.I. Commerce Corp., an arm of Raimondo’s administration, was part of the negotiations that led to the current deal.
Despite the involvement, however, Raimondo has provided lukewarm public support for the deal, and largely punted the decision of whether to act to the General Assembly.
“Legislative leaders just decided there wasn’t enough time in the session, so I’ll respect that decision,” she said about the PawSox deal on Wednesday.
Legislative leaders, however, point a finger back, saying Raimondo needs to act first.
“Speaker Mattiello’s position has not changed,” said Larry Berman, spokesman for Mattiello. “Until a bill on the stadium is submitted with Governor Raimondo’s name on it, he will not consider it.”
Ruggerio said earlier this week he’s open to the idea of holding a special legislative session later in the year to decide on the deal. Such a session hasn’t happened since 2011, when the General Assembly met to pass then-General Treasurer Raimondo’s controversial state pension reform.
Mattiello, however, is not willing to entertain any deal unless it bears Raimondo’s name.
“That applies to this session, in the fall, or next year,” Berman said.
Eli Sherman is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Sherman@PBN.com, or follow him on Twitter @Eli_Sherman.
