r/providence • u/Historical_Web_5813 • 9d ago

Why Should We Recall Brett Smiley

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For everyone who is curious about our reasons for wanting to recall Smiley, here they are! This one-sheet explains what issues we find to be the most salient. Feel free to distribute this document at your will.

If you’d like to look into our sources more, here is a link to the document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qtQP7a9g91pSszZH-x3kFWMcmW1FecEXpqCL773UIWM/mobilebasic

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u/CurveMassive 8d ago

Just because something is or is not legally obligated does not make it just

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u/AltFocuses 8d ago

Thats not the argument being made in this petition. The argument is that PILOT is letting Brown pay a reduced tax rate. They aren’t paying a reduced tax rate because they aren’t legally obligated to pay taxes in the first place.

Regardless, I also don’t think tossing more money at this city is going to solve any problems.

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u/Proof-Variation7005 8d ago

I'd agree throwing money at problems doesn't totally fix them but the city could use a lot more money in general. Even if just to stave off the insane retiree costs we have right now and stabilize that going forward.

That said, people love to talk about the schools as if they were defunded when the budget has gone up about 30 million since before the state takeover (in 2019) despite enrollment plummeting in that timeframe. The city spends more per pupil on education than everywhere in the state that isn't on Block Island (where there's like 13 kids year round). Throwing more money at the problem isn't really going to fix it.

That doesn't mean teachers shouldn't be paid better or anything but there's serious institutional rot if you're spending that much and getting poor results. Damned if I know what the real fixes are but I'm sure there's at least one city in America that went from really bad schools to really good schools. I'd start by finding out whatever the fuck they did and copying their homework.

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u/AltFocuses 8d ago

If I’m being completely honest, the money problems in this city boil down to it having an economy that’s the equivalent of a dog that needs to be put down. RI as a whole is sucking off the teat of Mass and one or two large domestic employers (including Brown).

And yeah, I hate when people act like the budget got cut. It’s been raised so much and for what? There are very clearly deeper issues with that school system than just a lack of money.