Tesla coming to Warwick in 2019

By ETHAN HARTLEY
Posted 10/16/18

By ETHAN HARTLEY -- The world's premiere electric car company is set to make its first footprint in Rhode Island, right here in Warwick...

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Tesla coming to Warwick in 2019

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The world’s premiere electric car company is set to make its first footprint in Rhode Island, right here in Warwick, following the approval of Tesla’s application for used car and Sunday sales licenses by the Board of Public Safety last Monday.

According to K. Joseph Shekarchi, who represented Tesla during the process, the company plans to open the showroom and sales store early in 2019 and will be re-purposing the 12,500 square-foot building within the Warwick Commons plaza that used to be home to the Filene’s Basement outlet, across Route 2 from the Warwick Mall, which is currently occupied on a temporary basis by Spirit Halloween.

“It will be the first and only in Rhode Island,” Shekarchi said.

The news comes after a couple months of uncertainty regarding a possible Warwick spot for the Palo Alto company that has become synonymous with innovation and whose CEO, Elon Musk, has become ubiquitous in tech circles and beyond for his future-forward (if not lofty) ideas involving everything from privatized space exploration to solving traffic problems through subterranean tunnels – and even flamethrowers.

Originally, Tesla was interested in a spot at 870 Bald Hill Road where a former Hyundai dealership once operated. However, Shekarchi said that the property owner and Tesla were unable to reach an agreement for purchasing or leasing the site, and the deal fell through. That’s where Shekarchi said Mayor Joseph Solomon stepped in.

“Mayor Solomon intervened and made a compelling case to Tesla, and Tesla stayed in Warwick,” he said.

Tesla is unique among car manufacturers as it sells cars directly to its customers, rather than the traditional model of selling to dealerships who then sell the cars.

Requests for comment from Tesla’s corporate office and from Mayor Solomon’s office were not answered by press time.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    We don't have all the details on this new, high-profile addition to Warwick, but at first look this appears to be a big win for Acting Mayor Solomon and the Warwick economy in general. Congrats to Shekarchi, Solomon, Tesla and all involved.

    Happy Autumn everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    I just spoke to Attorney Joe Shekarchi. I asked pointed questions regarding these negotiations. (Did we give away anything?) I learned that the Tesla people tried to move to Warwick under Avedisians administration and got absolutely nowhere, but upon learning that Tesla was looking elsewhere, (Cranston?), Acting Mayor Solomon became very pro-active promising to help with the permitting process saying "If you submit, Warwick will permit." He offered no special deals, no free ride, just a welcoming attitude toward this new business. Shekarchi said that was all it took.

    Again, this may not be the whole story, but it's looking better and better.

    Congrats to all. Warwick needs new businesses. This is a great one.

    Rick

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Finally, the two-time election reject acknowledges the city's vibrant and growing business sector, after four years of lying about it.

    In the waning days of his most recent failed campaign, the two-time election reject even managed to repeat his false claim about the changes in the Warwick business sector in the Providence Journal -- and once again, the only difference it made in his inevitable blowout loss was further proving his complete unfitness for office.

    Honest, taxpaying voters are having a happy autumn knowing that the city's business development is in better hands than someone who so consistently lied about it.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Here is a little front page article from today's Providence Journal.

    http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20181015/warwick-firefighters-sick-pay-under-scrutiny

    This is for the Fake Mayor Corrente, Warwickcitizen, HemiRoyd, Tkpfd, and the rest of the anonymous people that have failed to ever obtain and analyze an official city document.

    The WFD Union President now has capitulated his position and admitted that there was a secret "SIDE DEAL" that Avedisian made with the fire dept. to allow them to scheme the unused sick pay. This "verbal side deal" is in direct violation of the city charter and the city ordinance 2-18 which dictates that all negotiations must be ratified by the city council.

    Now you have evidence of an organized conspiracy to obtain monies under false pretenses where several administration people including the mayor, were involved in.

    Cant wait to hear the excuses now.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Rob,

    When are you and council pres going to payback the money for your records requests. I’ve seen those sworn affidavits that you and Stevie stole from the city. Corrente, you may want to start asking some questions. And also, there is no Side Deal. A contract is a contract. The projo can word it anyway they want.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear CrickeeRaven,

    The "lies" you claim I made came from the accurate numbers I researched in The U.S. Census and the Rhode Island Secretary of States Office. Those numbers didn't lie and neither did I, you anonymous coward of a critic. Hey Mark, why don't you stop collecting your taxpayer-funded pension and get a job? Maybe you could be a crash dummy for Tesla. I'll put your name in, OK Mark?

    Or maybe you could have the courage to actually run for office. You would have to use your real name though. Are you too afraid? Yeah, I'll bet you are.

    For everyone else, Happy Autumn.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Warwick Man,

    I already HAVE asked some very important questions and am anxious to compare notes and hear what information you have. Please call me at 401-338-9900.

    Thanks.

    Rick

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    maybe master mayer can by a tesla car and nots pay taxes on dat

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Umm, Warwick man,

    If you would like to see copies of the checks that I have written to the city for APRA requests, why dont you become un anonymous, and I will be happy to supply you with copies of the checks.

    Also, because you have continually made statements that indicate that you have no clue, I should enlighten you on this point. In accordance with RI law, any city official has the right under the law to request and receive any public document at no cost, on request. So again, you may want to educate yourself. I doubt that will happen.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Not withstanding, the union president went on the record stating there was a side deal (backroom deal) with Avedisian. Get ready to write a re-reimbursement check

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Captain

    Yes the official has that right. They do not have the right to pick up info “YOU REQUESTED” and not pay for said info and deliver it to you. Still waiting on that payment. Get your facts together.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    No checks will be written as we did not do anything wrong. Once again your chasing your own lies.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    "Those numbers didn't lie and neither did I..."

    As was proven on multiple occasions, the two-time election reject dishonestly compared census and Rhode Island secretary of state data.

    Thus, he did lie -- and still is -- when he claims that such an inaccurate and dishonest comparison supported his delusional statements.

    He also continues to engage in conspiracy theories and juvenile insults, further proving why honest, taxpaying voters overwhelmingly rejected his candidacy twice.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • TheSkipper

    So Tesla is coming to Warwick? BIG DEAL! Their cars START at $50,000.00 $75,000.00, $80,000.00 and $109,000.00 for the roadster. There's not an employee all the way up route 2 who can afford to buy one. Okay maybe the lowest priced model if they Take out a TEN year loan on the damned thing. I guess Being "Green" TAKES a lot of Green Too.

    They'll be GONE by 2020.

    Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Readers,

    TheCaptain, AKA Rob Cote, has a bit of truth in his statement. A bit. He says that his "Freedom of Information" requests of documents from the Fire Department are "free". He's semi-right. As far as "Cote" paying for it, it IS FREE. But the hundreds and hundreds of hours that the Fire Department employees spend to gather and copy his endless surge of requests is costing the taxpayers a FORTUNE. Cote doesn't care how much he costs the taxpayers. His ego is satisfied and no one else gives a damn about his findings because Cote will slant them in the worst possible light anyway.

    He says there were "verbal side deals". Newsflash! ANYTIME there is a system in place there is discussion as to its intent. What you can and can't do. These conversations exist EVERYWHERE. These conversations aren't "side deals", but Cote wants you to believe that they are! Cote NEEDS to be right. He can't admit there is absolutely no validity to his claims. So he NEEDS there to be "side deals" even though it was probably just side conversations. Like there are everywhere. In EVERY set of rules and regulations. EVERYONE asks "So what does that mean?" People talk. That's human nature, but what is IN WRITING is the contract that must be followed. Everything else is just acceptable "conversations".

    This is the tale of Rob Cote. The tale of a guy that's ANGRY because the Fire Department and the City Council wouldn't pay his massive requested fee to train their scuba divers. Shakespeare once said "It is the tale of an idiot, full of fire and fury, signifying NOTHING." (Macbeth) What a perfect definition of this sociopath.

    Happy Autumn everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    I too noticed that Warwick's vibrant business climate has again corrected corrente's delusions and bogus FUD statements that we were "losing 5500 businesses" or something crazy like that. It's too bad that the the fake mayor (corrente)'s biggest accomplishment after pestering the city for a couple years, is to taint these otherwise usually apt comments.

    If nothing else, Warwick is certainly healthy for business. But it's much more than that as well.

    As to Joe Solomon being proactive and getting them here, if that were true I'd say "great" but since it was "reported" by failed candidate corrente, cant even be sure if that isnt just another of his delusions. In this case I hope not.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    Wait, I must have skimmed the story too fast, it WAS in the story that Solomon's getting involved seems to have helped nail down another business for Warwick. Great job by Mayor Solomon.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear TheSkipper,

    I have usually found myself agreeing with you but this time I think you missed the mark. Tesla is like Inskip Motors or The Crown Plaza. It might not attract too many Warwick citizens but others will travel to Warwick and that will improve our economy with jobs and tax revenue that will ease the tax needs on the rest of us. I have to give acting Mayor Joe Solomon credit for this one. He earned it. Warwick lost thousands of businesses. It's great news to have this one move in.

    Happy Autumn TheSkipper.

    Happy Autumn everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    WwkVoter, it's really proof of his defects as a candidate [and now former candidate after his blowout loss in September] that the two-time election reject continues to repeat his lies:

    "Warwick lost thousands of businesses."

    This is objectively false.

    For the benefit of readers who value honesty, here is the factual and provably correct data about Warwick's business sector, excerpted from this article and already posted in multiple other comment threads on this site: http://warwickpost.com/numbers-game-corrente-claims-of-lost-businesses-dont-add-up/

    1.: [W]hile the Census showed 8,410 firms in 2007 in Warwick, updated numbers from the U.S. Census showed 8,299 firms in the city as of 2012 — a difference of 111.

    2.: [T]he Rhode Island Secretary of State reported 4,485 businesses in Warwick in an email to the city dated July 20, 2016 that she provided to the Post — a net increase of 735 since Corrente last gathered information from that department.

    3.: The city’s numbers, reflected in an April 13, 2015 response to Corrente’s public records request and furnished to the Post, show yet another trend: A net gain of 98 businesses from 2007 through 2012 [3,835 to 3,933], and a total of 3,844 reported in 2014. Overall, that means the city added a net of nine businesses between 2007 and 2014.

    4.: What is clear from a correct review of the data is that whatever the methodology, none of the reporting entities — the city, the state, or the U.S. Census — show anything near the 4,666 lost businesses since 2007 that Corrente is claiming.

    So, the two-time election reject dishonestly compared data from two sources -- because they use different definitions of what counts as a business -- and then still falsely claims that the city "lost thousands of businesses."

    WwkVoter, it is a mystery why the two-time election reject continues to repeat this lie, except to satisfy a pathetic need for attention -- and in that case, he is as much of a failure as he has been in running for office, since the only attention he has received has been negative, as he continues to willingly and repeatedly humiliate himself with his false claims.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Dear Idiot, (Corrente),

    Once again you showcase your complete lack of knowledge of the system. Corrente states "But the hundreds and hundreds of hours that the Fire Department employees spend to gather and copy his endless surge of requests is costing the taxpayers a FORTUNE".

    The fact of the matter is that there were never hundreds of hours expended by anyone other than me. Each record request that is made, under the law, the municipality can charge $15.00/hr plus a fee for copies. Since the vast majority of these records that have been requested have been sent by PDF, there are little fees for copies, but there are hourly fees that I paid for. These records are all kept electronically so it is a click of a mouse, no research needed. You really are an uneducated dope.

    Furthermore, the vast majority of the records that obtained the information proving the scheme, were kept in 3 ring binders, that under the law, I have the right to visually inspect.

    (a) Except as provided in § 38-2-2(4), all records maintained or kept on file by any public body, whether or not those records are required by any law or by any rule or regulation, shall be public records and every person or entity shall have the right to inspect and/or copy those records at such reasonable time as may be determined by the custodian thereof.

    I guess you missed the part in the article of the journal where the union president volunteered the information to the reporter that the WFD had a "side deal" with the mayor. His words, not mine. But then again, you would have missed that part because you are in fact a blithering idiot.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Captain, your wrong. The projo wrote “Side Deal”. The union president did not. And when are you going to pay back the money you and Steve Merolla owe the City for info he picked up (stole) for you. We have all of that paper work. It was illegal what you did. Admit it.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Warwick Man, at one time it seemed as though the "accounting error" theory was acknowledged as a possibility by some of you. Now if I have this right, you suggest there is no money to be paid back because everything done was legal? If this agreement WAS made between the previous admin and the WFD are you saying in that case there will be no money paid back?

    Second, can you be specific with what you're accusing Rob/Merolla of? Is it that Merolla had access to records that Rob didn't and Merolla provided those records to Rob? I'm just trying to follow exactly what is being said without getting lost, just looking for a clarification.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Scal,

    I’m saying the contract speaks for itself. There was no Side Deal. The city wanted to go to a monthly payout. (We have that info). There is no money to be paid back because it is what the city agreed to. THERE IS NO COMSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD. As far as Rob, he ordered all these documents (boxes of them) which take time and cost money. He had Merolla pick them up, claiming he was getting them for a constituent. That is illegal since Cote did not pay the city. Merolla and Cote are in this together. We have all the paperwork that was investigated in this matter. They still have not paid.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    #1, Merola as a councilman is entitled to request documents at any time and for ANY purpose he wishes.

    #2 Heard on the radio today that Ken Block was visited for an unannounced "fire inspection".

    Keep digging.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    I’m shocked this story is getting this attention seeing as it’s completely false.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    WwVoter,

    Hi is entitled to paperwork HE requested, not to pick up paperwork Rob Cote requested and doesn’t pay for.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear WwkVoter,

    My numbers came from the U.S. Census and the Rhode Island Secretary of States office. I submitted them to John Howell of The Warwick Beacon BEFORE I asked him to print them in his newspaper. They showed that 4,666 businesses and 5,800 taxpayers had moved out of Warwick in the last ten years. Those numbers are accurate.

    Where did your numbers come from and what are they?

    Happy Autumn everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Warwick man, (anonymous coward )

    Once again you have all of your facts wrong. Tell me, what documents (boxes of them) did I request?

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    But it is enjoyable watching your department humiliate themselves by attempting to harass Mr. Block today. Just please keep giving us all the free air time. Mr. Block submits a public records request on the fire department yesterday, and today the show up at his office saying that they got an anonymous phone call that he has building violations.

    Same thing happened to councilman Ladouceur the day after he shot down the purchase of a fire truck. Your strong arm intimidation tactics are laughable and the fire department looked like complete fools today. Only to be superseded tomorrow.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    By the way, here is the link to the WPRO pod cast of Councilman Merolla on air today and the facts about the WFD harassing Mr. Block.

    http://www.630wpro.com/podcasts/

    Very interesting listen. Warwick man, take your head out of your buttocks and listen if you can.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    WwkVoter, go ahead and repeat my earlier comment, which includes direct and specific references to the correct information about Warwick's business sector, for the two-time election reject.

    His pathetic attempt to bully you instead of acknowledging this information is one of the many defects in his behavior that we and our honest, taxpaying neighbors know because he has so willingly repeated it on this website.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Dear Pea Brain Corrente,

    You said the following :

    "TheCaptain, AKA Rob Cote, has a bit of truth in his statement. A bit. He says that his "Freedom of Information" requests of documents from the Fire Department are "free".

    Can you please indicate where I said that? The LSD you are using is beginning to really show signs of brain disease. Ya gotta get off the drugs man.

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Another "SIDE DEAL" made by Avedisian without council approval.

    Faced with court action, Avedisian, firefighters adopt new contract

    Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2005 1:00 am

    By MARK SILBERSTEIN

    After his administration was harangued and bombarded by the media on the issue, and after the majority of the City Council agreed to court action to halt the practice, Mayor Scott Avedisian announced late last week that he re-negotiated terms of the tentative contract agreement he first reached with the city's firefighters' union in February, agreeing to scuttle plans for the lucrative 80-percent pension reimbursement for employees on the force with at least 30-years on the job.

    In a prepared release issued, Avedisian said the union gave their "overwhelming" approval to the changes last Wednesday, modifying the existing tentative accord from three years to a one-year agreement, while setting forth terms of yet another three-year pact that would extend the firefighter's labor contract until June 30, 2009.

    According to the mayor's statement the city and the union went back to the bargaining table "after it became apparent that a provision of the current contract had become a political issue that has been misrepresented to the public."

    "I began discussing the existing contract with [firefighter union President] Warren Wright back in June when I felt that there was ample indication that two things were happening: a lack of support for 80-percent [among the City Council] and consistent biased reporting from the Beacon that never gave me the opportunity to talk about the fact that the 80-percent initiative would have resulted in one less person in the pension plan for each person who stayed until the 30th year," Avedisian remarked in a statement.

    Terms of the new one-year agreement, according to the release, include a provision to retain a 3.5 percent pay increase; establishes a committee to conduct a study of fire apparatus replacement issues and requires a report to the Mayor and City Council six months from when the contract is signed; eliminates the restriction on the number of employees allowed on each promotional list; and includes a caveat that the city will submit legislation to the City Council to allow Fire Department employees who retired between July 1 and Sept. 18, 2005 to retain the 80 percent of pay pension rate.

    So far, four firefighters have already retired under the higher pension reimbursement, even though payments have been issued by the city in apparent violation of an existing statute contained in the City Charter that clearly requires the City Council approval before any pension hikes take effect. Avedisian directed the City Finance Department begin paying out the higher rates, arguing it had been the practice of leadership that pre-dated his own that traditionally permitted higher pension rates be paid until the appropriate legislation was submitted to the city council.

    Last month, the Democratically controlled council agreed to seek "injunctive relief", voting 8 to 1 (including the two GOP representatives) to take the mayor to court in hopes of obtaining a temporary restraining order to bring a halt to the higher pension payments.

    Council President Donald Torres (D-Ward 2), who was the only council member to vote against court action, said yesterday that he was still discussing the issue with fellow council members but hoped they would agree to withdraw the resolution that sought legal intervention.

    Those already benefiting from the higher, 80-percent pension reimbursement rates include:

    • Fire Marshal John Campopiano, 56, who earned $79,262.04 before he left the Fire Department. Now, based on the 80-percent reimbursement rate, he is getting paid $77,773.54.

    • Deputy Chief John Feeley, 54, who earned $79,262.04 before leaving the department, now gets paid $78,447.46.

    • Battalion Chief Henry Heroux, 53, who earned $73,526.96 before leaving the department, now earns $72,771.14, and,

    • Capt. Glen Scowcroft, paid $64,553 before leaving the force, is now earning $63,315.46 in retirement.

    None of the figures include the value of city-paid medical and dental coverage until each retiree reaches the age of 65, less employee contributions based on the terms of the tentative agreement Avedisian announced in February. According to the mayor, those same provisions will continue.

    "The old contract called for $11 per week co-pay," Avedisian said. "That remains unchanged and is in effect for all four years," he said.Â

    Effective July 1 of this year, firefighters have been contributing the weekly sum towards the cost of their medical insurance — the first unionized workers in the city to agree to a co-pay provision.

    City Personnel Director Oscar Shelton estimates the co-pay amounts to a firefighter contribution of approximately $47.67 a month. The monthly cost of a Blue Cross policy for individuals Shelton said runs the city $418.71 a month, or a family plan that is $1,024.23 a month.

    Shelton noted the tentative accord reached in February also raised the co-pay firefighters would shell out if they were treated in an emergency room from $25 a visit, to $100, describing the increase as an incentive to discourage personnel from using a hospital or walk-in emergency settings rather than first seeking out their own physician for treatment. The difference, Shelton added, is expected to result in "significant savings" for the city.

    Torres, who remains confident the city council would never have approved the 80-percent rate even if the mayor introduced the appropriate legislation, criticized the figure and the precedent it would have established for other unions in the city. With the Warwick Police and the municipal employees union prepared to open negotiations soon on new contracts, and the teachers contract still unsettled, Torres feared if the council approved the 80-percent rate other unions would have expected the same, something he emphasized neither the city nor the taxpayers could afford.

    Shelton said yesterday that he was among the team that participated in renegotiating the firefighters contract, revealing a shift in the administration's position since he as Personnel Director had not been included in face to face talks that resulted in the mayor's February announcement.

    Avedisian commented in a prepared statement, "Oscar Shelton is always part of every contract team that we have — whether he is sitting at the table or not, he is always there to give advice and counsel."

    Bringing Shelton to the table this time, remarked Torres, was a "wise move."

    Other members of the negotiating team this time around, said Shelton, were the mayor, union President Warren Wright, City Solicitor John Earle and Assistant City Solicitor Diana Pearson who has routinely represents the administration on labor relations issues.

    Effective Sept. 18, Avedisian's statement indicated, "no employee shall retire at a percentage higher than 75 percent," a rate the council recently approved, but only after it took the administration nearly three-years to submit the necessary legislation covering terms agreed upon in a multi-year contract that had been in effect since 2002.

    In addition to the new, tentative one-year accord, the mayor's release detailed that the proposed three-year agreement that would take effect next July 1 and expire on June 30, 2009, contains 3.5 percent increases for the first two years and a 3.75 percent increase in the last year.

    The cost to taxpayers, explained the mayor, would be the percentage increase of each year plus $74,000 per year to bring firefighter longevity payments in parody with other municipal employees. The added costs, the mayor noted, would be offset by approximately $150,000 annually in health insurance savings.

    Council President Torres said that Avedisian has not shared any such information with him or, to the best of his knowledge, any members of the city council.

    "If history repeats itself we'll get those numbers at the start of the 2006-07 budget hearings," Torres said, frustrated that the mayor, in his opinion has not made detailed contract information public knowledge.

    City Councilman Steve Merolla (D-Ward 9), a vocal opponent of the 80-percent pension increase, cited his own example of what he believed was the mayor's lack of public disclosure when he raised a document for the audience to see at the Sept. 19 council meeting, remarking the "chicken scratches" on the document was the only evidence he had that Avedisian even had a tentative agreement with the firefighters.

    "The previous contract was meant to encourage veteran members of the department to stay on the job longer, thus reducing costs that would be associated with the salary and benefits of hiring new employees," Avedisian's press release went on to say.

    Based on the mayor's reasoning, if a firefighter could be retained for at least 20 years the city saved money by not paying, in this case, a pension equal to 50-percent of the employee's salary, plus their health insurance, in addition to the salary and benefits associated with the hiring of a replacement.

    Figures supplied by the city treasurer's office indicate that this fiscal year alone, retirees will receive $10.7 million in pension payments, an amount reflecting both city and employee contributions to one of two retirement funds.

    "The Warwick Firefighters' Union looked at the fact that the previous contract negotiated with the city earlier this year was weighted heavily in the city's favor and did not offer our members much opportunity for advancement," commented Warren Wright, whose remarks were included in Avedisian's press statement.

    "Accordingly, in light of the City Council's comments, we felt there was no reason to continue and decided to alter our contract language," Wright's statement went on to say. Wright did not return a phone call from the Beacon seeking comment.

    Merolla, who sponsored a resolution seeking a temporary restraining order against the continued payout of the 80-percent pension reimbursement issued his own statement last week, applauding Avedisian for his decision to reverse course on what he labeled a "giveaway."

    "The mayor can whine; he can call me names; he can question my motives when I challenge him on an issue, but at the end of the day if he backs off a bad deal for the taxpayers because I spoke out, I will continue to do that," Merolla remarked in his statement.

    "This was not about politics," Merolla continued. "This was about fiscal responsibility and putting the interests of taxpayers ahead of the special interests and I'm glad the mayor was pushed into reconsidering his position."

    Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    sew, da 4666 business is a net loss?. wowser that is one bidness per each one of the 80000 taxpayers. why weren't we informed. someone should have been screaming this from the mountain tops

    Thursday, October 18, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Justanidiot,

    As you know, I DID shout it from the mountaintops...and the intersections, and the parking lots, and in fliers, ads, and articles, The Beacon etc. As you know, my numbers came from the U.S. Census and the R.I. Secretary of States office. WwkVoter claims I'm wrong but has not given ANY RESEARCH. He/she hasn't shown ANY numbers from ANY organization to dispute mine. An empty can clangs the loudest.

    And old friend, if Warwick "Cuts Taxes - Cuts Spending" we will INCREASE the number of taxpayers which will INCREASE the total tax revenue. That's basic economics no matter who is Mayor. Getting back to Tesla, this new business is a great first-step toward increasing our number of businesses. Credit one for Solomon.

    Happy Autumn Justanidiot. Always great to hear from you.

    Happy Autumn everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Thursday, October 18, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Justanidiot, we know the two-time election reject repeated his lie at every opportunity -- and that it remains a lie, no matter how much effort he puts into ignoring the true information that I provided above.

    That's the information that WwkVoter is referring to -- factual, verifiable, and honest comparison among three sources of data that proves his statement to be a lie.

    Thursday, October 18, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    I have to agree and back up CrickeeRaven's numbers. Both the US Census Bureau and City Data sites state the same statistics that he mentions in his comment below. If RC is working off of other numbers then the question is what is the source? As many of you may have notices, I have a problem with unsubstantiated facts being thrown out that cannot be easily verified. So, if Warwick has been losing thousands of businesses since 2007, why isn't it recorded on state and federal sites?

    Friday, October 19, 2018 Report this

  • Putty900

    Holy cow! I worked with Corrente at Shawmut Mortgage years ago! I just moved back to Warwick, my favorite city in RI. He lies?! It can’t be! He never pulled any fast ones at the mortgage company (spoken sarcastically). But seriously, is it worth it to even answer him?!! He loves it, you can tell. Just ignore him. He’ll go away eventually.

    Monday, October 22, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    Putty900, unfortunately he is not going away. My issue with him is he posts facts and information that doesn't match up to what can be found in public records and websites. If he is going to continue to put out blatant lies, we will be here to call him out and provide facts and statistics that can be easily found and verified. Obviously, the citizens of this city are not stupid, or at least not stupid enough to vote for him in two elections but that hasn't stopped RC from shoving himself down everyone's throat. For every lie he pumps out, there will be a handful of people to prove he him wrong. Nice to know that his reputation has remained consistent throughout the years.

    Tuesday, October 23, 2018 Report this