Council candidates questioned
Forum focuses on development, schools, city infrastructure, politics
On Thursday night, the six candidates for Citywide City Council – three Republicans and three Democrats – answered questions from the Cranston Herald and from members of the community in advance of the Nov. 6 election.
More than 50 audience members were present during the forum, which was moderated by Herald reporter Pam Schiff. The six candidates, City Council President Michael Farina, City Councilman Steve Stycos, City Councilman Ken Hopkins, Democrat Sarah Lee, Republican Amy Ricci, and Democrat Gail Harvey, fielded Cranston-focused questions for over two hours.
The following is a summarization of what each candidate had to say about the issues in Cranston.
Would you advocate for more of an operating budget for the schools? If so, how? If not, why?Farina:
We’ve worked as Council to get rid of the “nice-to-have” and use that money for increased school funding, but when the state issues mandates we don’t just have a money tree to pick from. We’re landlocked with how much money we can use, because if the Mayor doesn’t raise taxes, we as Council people think we won’t get reelected if we propose a tax increase. We have to work collaboratively to improve the schools.
Stycos:
The school budget won’t increase unless it’s recommended by the Mayor. I advise people to talk to the Mayor and to come to budget hearings. The path to more school funding is through parents showing up to the meetings during budget season.
Hopkins:
I think schools need to be funded better because the quality of any community is directly related to the effectiveness of its schools. I think supporting an increase in small businesses in the city would bring tax revenue in and provide more funding for schools. But anything else has to come through the state.
Harvey:
The money has to come for schools. Hopefully people will vote yes on the $250 million bond question. We have to also work with the city, the state, and the federal government to see what they can do for us.
Lee:
Under funding the schools doesn’t do anyone any favors. I feel like our schools are a draw for people who want to move to Cranston, they’re one of our greatest assets. Hopefully the $250 million bond issue comes through from the state. As for operating budget, it’s going to take a lot of digging to find where we have extra in the budget to give to schools.
Ricci:
I would try to increase the operating budget for our schools and I would do so on advice from rest of council.
What is your vision for open space in Western Cranston? Development, or keep the farmland?Harvey:
In order to best deal with the open space, we have to talk to environmentalists, not to developers. We have wonderful resources out there, and building something like 80 houses would be a disaster. I’m not against development, but I am for the safety and security of our neighborhoods. We need to protect those lands out there.
Farina:
I love the rural aspect of Ward 4, but you have to balance the needs of the neighborhoods with the needs of the city. Sometimes development makes sense, and I think we’ve done that effectively. But we have to be vigilant to make sure that we’re doing things to keep certain areas zoned A-80, so we stop more housing developments from going through.
Stycos:
It’s turning into a choice between forests/farms and solar farms. I think that the Council, with the Mayor’s recommendation, opened Western Cranston to large solar farms where there used to be trees and farmland. And we need to put restrictions on that before it’s too late. I’m in favor of buying strategic parcels in the Western part of the city using the open space bond.
Ricci:
I’ve grown up in the farms, and I’ve loved looking at them, I love that it’s rural. My vision is that I don’t want it to be that built up too much.
Lee:
There’s been a pressure to build up the easy-to-get parcels, and there are other areas of Cranston that could be developed and revitalized, and we should promote state grants to developers for them to revitalize the city centers. It’s a short-term gain of a few that’s served when you put the solar farms on the farmland, and it would be better for us to have that as farmland. There’s also the water table to pay attention to. We should pay attention to how we use the land, even if it’s zoned A20. Should be careful because it could ruin it for the long-term.
Hopkins:
Recently we had an ordinance committee meeting in which a developer came in and wanted to change zoning across from Western Hills, which was voted down unanimously. We listened to the people that live there. As far as solar panels, I think it’s a good investment for the future. Building houses isn’t because of the costs associated. Building multiple developments in Western Cranston isn’t a good idea. Solar panels are a pretty good investment because we get a return that stabilizes our tax base.
What is your vision for the old Citizens Bank location on Sockanosset Cross Road?Hopkins:
I’ve met with the Garden City neighborhood association, had numerous meetings with Carpionato Group, and I told them him point-blank nothing will be voted on until we see a plan. The traffic has gotten better since Citizens moved out, probably 1,500 cars no longer there. Still anxious to see what development will look like, there’s a potential for big box, gas station up top [at Chapel View]. But we won’t decide anything until we sit down with neighbors.
Harvey:
It would not be a TopGolf facility. And it’s not fun trying to get around to Shaw’s, to the library [when it’s congested]. I think we need to look at this space as an opportunity of mixed-usage. Encourage businesses to come in, because that’s tax revenue, but also have housing development. Want to have living and shopping together.
Stycos:
This points out a real problem on the City Council. Whatever vision the Council may have or the neighbors may have, the Council, at the Mayor’s recommendation, gave away the power to influence in a major way the development on that site by giving Carpionato a wide discretion on the zoning. Should have said as a council that you come up with a plan, we’ll look at it, and adjust zoning. We gave away that bargaining power up front. When someone wants to develop something, we need to have them come in with a proposal and we’ll consider zone changes after we hear the details of the proposal. They key power is the zoning, and now they have the right under a C5 zone to do a lot of stuff, and if they want to do certain things they now have the right to.
Ricci:
The plan for the Citizens building should depend on the impacts on the traffic, and the resident’s needs and wants. The plan needs to be more discussed more in order to finalize it. What is your position on Harrington Hall and the sex offender population in Cranston? What steps will you take to ensure the numbers stay at the agreed-upon levels?
Farina:
Harrington Hall as a shelter of last resort is something we need in this state; unfortunately it’s the only one in the state. Until the state finds a solution to add another shelter of last resort, we shouldn’t just close it. I’ve been working with Mattiello on how we more effectively manage population. Cranston police has on-site officer to track them right now. It’s a tough spot to be in, I don’t think shutting it down is right, but we need another shelter somewhere other than Cranston, that’s only way to solve the problem.
Harvey:
I live in Ward 6, [Rep. Bob] Lancia has gotten robo-calls letting us know about sex offenders at Harrington Hall. If there were another facility that’s opened up I would recommend that Ward put in safeguards.
Ricci:
I agree with Farina. I believe there should be another location opening up before this one, and maybe increased security budget to monitor that one. I want to keep our children safe.
Stycos:
It’s a difficult problem, one that the City Council can’t solve on its own. I agree with Farina that it won’t be solved until another shelter is created. We can work with the state and provide emergency housing as well.
Hopkins:
One of the biggest problems we have is that at 7:00 in the morning, Harrington Hall empties out, and we need to protect kids going to school, the kids on busses. I’ve highly recommended a state police branch on the campus, the presence of state police in that area would give a feeling of more protection and they won’t dare come into our community. We need a greater police presence in the area, and state needs to step up.
Lee:
Harrington Hall is a tough situation, and we need another facility away from Cranston. It’s over capacity there. We get the dumping ground – we have to ACI and Harrington hall both in Ward 6. We get reimbursed at the same rate that Providence does for having colleges, for having the ACI, but inmates are not taking part in local economy, shopping at the store. We could petition for increased funding.
The following questions were taken from the audience and were only answered by those candidates who chose to.What would you do to make sports and recreational facilities on the eastern side of Cranston on par with the Western side?
Hopkins:
We’ve got the space, we just need to utilize it more. Through bond money, we built the Cranston East gymnasium, which is state of the art.
Stycos:
Ciba-Geigy site might be a possibility for some recreational facilities, because they’re interested in at least passing some of the land to the city and we should be pursuing that. I put a resolution urging to talk with them about it.
Farina: An issue we have on the Eastern side of city is land availability. There are only two open spaces south of Reservoir Ave. (Ciba-Geigy site and Cullinan construction site) and we have to make sure those two spaces can be utilized.
If elected, will you support changing the structure of the Council so all sub-committees consist of two minority members?
Harvey:
Absolutely yes. When John Lanni was council president, he made sure it was two minority parties. This is a no-brainer, it should be done.
Lee:
We need to support the democratic process. Sometimes city and quality of life issues can be made more partisan than they need to be, and having two people of minority party on every committee is a good start.
Editorial note: On this issue, Stycos and Farina have gone back and forth, with Stycos saying that the committees are stacked in favor of the Republicans, and Farina saying that these are the Council rules and they make decisions based on Cranston, not on party.
What do you think of Mayor Allan Fung’s rhetoric on working with ICE and how would you stop them from destroying families in Cranston?Hopkins:
I would never separate a family, unless they are of criminal background and that needs to be addressed. If they’re a hardworking family, that’s absolutely ridiculous. Some of the best people I ever dealt while coaching were immigrants from Dominican Republic that had no license, no registration, that went on to get a great education with no financial aid.
Harvey:
This whole controversy started at the national level, and this state was founded by Roger Williams, who said everybody gets a fair shot. Cranston’s Latino population is 13.3 percent. The Dominican community provides some of our biggest businesses. Families pay taxes, live here, and this is no way to treat people.
Stycos:
In his campaign for governor, the Mayor’s linking of crime to immigrants is disgraceful. We should be a country that welcomes our diversity. The Mayor is out there saying I’m going to get immigrants and Police Chief is saying we’re not doing anything different from before, or we’re doing the same thing as Providence.
Farina:
Colonel [Michael Winquist] has said he will enforce laws in city and state. I obviously would not support ICE going in and separating children and their mothers.
Lee:
Our nation was founded on immigrants, and some of this becomes more rhetoric and I don’t know how much can be enforced. A lot of entrepreneurs in our area are immigrants, they’re very good at starting businesses, and we need new businesses. We should be more supportive than what the Mayor is espousing. Where are all of the affordable housing developments for low-income people in Cranston as required by state law?
Lee:
I feel like the costs of rent and housing have skyrocketed in last three years. There are desperate people who want a place to live and have difficulty. Difficult for people to find affordable housing, we all need to chip in and do what we can, look for solutions in the community. There are a lot of people out there who need it.
Stycos:
I think it’s something we need to look at as a community. I’m disappointed that we don’t seem to have any activity in Cumberland farms area, and there’s been no attempt to get funding.
Farina:
There does need to be more of an effort on affordable housing in the city. You’re seeing a lot of one-family developments, haven’t seen a lot of others in the last 8-10 years.
Hopkins:
BASF property, 22 acres along Mill St., could be cleaned up by federal government and use that for affordable housing. Need to get the federal government involved in cleaning it up.
Harvey:
I live in an apartment complex owned by the Carpionato group, and I have been seeing rent raises but no raises in social security or pensions. Why can’t we think of mixed-usage for elderly or people living on pension or incomes? It’s difficult to find an affordable apartment, doesn’t seem that that’s right. We need to look at the whole picture, not just the bottom line. What will you do to elevate the arts in our community to be on par with sports?
Farina:
Supported Stycos’ idea to bring arts commission back and I support arts in schools.
Lee: I would support arts by having more public events that celebrate the arts and by giving out more awards for art.
Hopkins: Anyone who participates in extracurricular activities in school seem to have better attendance, better grades, and more go on to college to get a four year degree. I would emphasize the participation in extra-curricular activities in schools. Also have a parade starting in Garden city and heading down into Rolfe St. to support the arts coming soon.
Would you support a strong comprehensive solar ordinance to curtail solar developments in Western Cranston?
Farina:
The Council made a mistake in 2015 in codifying the solar subdivision laws. We need to look long and hard so we don’t have what’s happening with the solar farms happen in Western Cranston again.
Stycos:
I voted against the zone change that the Mayor tried to sneak by the council that allows solar farms. We did succeed to put minimal limits on solar farms, but the building department is not enforcing them (top soil can’t be removed, has to be cleaned up, noise level has to be quiet). Something needs to be done, we need to get together and figure out exactly how to regulate them.
Hopkins: We need to take a hard look at the buffer zone. Make sure residents are protected from looking at them and being protected by them [solar farms]
Do any of you hold a concealed carry permit to hold a firearm?
Farina:
I have a concealed carry permit, but rarely carry a firearm, only use it to carry back and forth to the gun range. Only time I carried was when we couldn’t secure a police officer for a heavily attended Council meeting. I shouldn’t be the one protecting everyone but if there’s that many people I have a concealed carry permit for that.
Hopkins:
I do not have a concealed carry permit but I do have a permit to have a gun in my house, to protect my family.
