We’ve been here before. Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello are on opposite sides of a public investment.
Gov. Raimondo says that the deal reached with the Pawtucket Red Sox to build a new stadium using publicly issued bonds is a good one, while Speaker Mattiello disagrees, saying the risk is too great.
The issues here are political courage and priorities.
Gov. Raimondo has underplayed her support of this most recent deal with the PawSox. She is now finally saying it’s a good deal, but her delay in doing so may have emboldened its opponents.
Speaker Mattiello for his part seems to be channeling all those who see a 38 Studios disaster in every public investment, no matter the particulars.
Speaker Mattiello is in the wrong, and his lack of vision will not seem so insightful when the Worcester Red Sox have their first Opening Day in the not-too-distant future.
As for Gov. Raimondo, she long has said that the state needs to get past 38 Studios and embrace smart investment in the state and its people. She needs to walk that talk just a little more energetically.