State Green Party Press Release

Rhode Island - Gerritt for Mayor
GERRITT: Conviction of Mayor Cianci Means City Can Now Move Forward.

GREEN FOR PROVIDENCE MAYOR- (401) 490-7602/office, 331-0529/home
PRESS RELEASE- For immediate release- June 24, 2002
Contact: TIM McKEE- 401-273-2763

The Greg Gerritt for Mayor campaign noted today that "the ethical challenges Providence faces on its way to being a great city became considerably smaller today with the conviction of long time Mayor Vincent Cianci on a corruption charge. No city can truly serve its people when government corruption is rampant, and the conviction of the mayor eliminates a major stumbling block."

The just finished trial portrayed a city in which public officials routinely lie and take illegal campaign contributions in return for favors, tax breaks, and contracts. The shadow that casts on the city is palpable, and diminishes the civic spirit of the people and their ability to get things done properly. The conviction of the Mayor, even if it is only on the one conspiracy charge, helps break up the corruption and encourages all of the people to help sweep the crooks out of City Hall.

All over Providence people have expressed disgust for the corruption and a wish for it to be over. We now have that opportunity. Gerritt stated, " I have talked with hundreds of people throughout the city in the last few months, and they are nearly unanimous in their desire to eliminate corruption as a step towards returning to a government of the people, by the people, for the people. They all respect what Mayor Cianci has done in terms of building monuments in the city, but they are ready for a change. This conviction makes it easier to clean up City Hall and the culture of corruption that pervades it." "Now the city can actually get back to solving problems like the affordable housing crisis, revitalizing the economy, fixing the schools, and cleaning corruption and violence out of the police department," Gerritt noted.

Gerritt also noted that his campaign has been on the streets for 4 months already, and will continue to run even more actively from now until November 6, continuing to excite the movement for real change in Providence, especially in the neighborhoods the Renaissance has not reached.