It was back to the future at Warwick inaugural ceremonies Jan. 7 at the Crowne Plaza.
Francis X. Flaherty was at the podium. It was 40 years to the day since he was sworn in...
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It was back to the future at Warwick inaugural ceremonies Jan. 7 at the Crowne Plaza.
Francis X. Flaherty was at the podium. It was 40 years to the day since he was sworn in as the city’s 11th. Mayor. He was soon to swear in Frank Picozzi, the city’s 16th mayor and the first to serve a four year term.
After serving six years as mayor, Flaherty made a bid for governor that he lost in a Democratic primary.. But that was hardly the end to Flaherty’s public service. He was named a Rhode Island Associate Supreme Court Justice in 2003, a job he held until 2020 when he retired. But Flaherty remains active. Apart from swearing in mayors [on Jan. 6 he did the honors for North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi] he makes appearances at local events such as the Warwick Rotary Club where he spoke on Thursday. And you’ll find him on the tennis court at least once a week if not more frequently.
Last Tuesday, however, was a flashback. I don’t recall what he said four decades ago as he stepped into the role of mayor. Nonetheless, he sounded like he was ready to take the helm again.
“This is a great city. Although it has become the state’s second largest city, and vital to the state’s well being as a commercial, industrial and transportation hub, it still retains its residential core and the values that come with that core.”
He then named off the city’s villages starting with Pawtuxet. He talked about the city’s colonial roots that was greatly expanded by the move of WWII veterans and their families to the city in the 1950s.
“This municipality is a community of overwhelmingly good people, and good people deserve good government. The voters have endorsed the work ethic, diligence and character of the Mayor, City Council and School Committee.” It sounded like an inaugural address.
I doubt Picozzi expected Flaherty to give an address. Flaherty was there to tell him to raise his right hand while his wife, Kim, held the Bible, which he got around to doing.. But as it turned out, Flaherty’s remarks were just what the ceremony needed. He projected a big picture of how the city has evolved and how it has retained some of its small town feel. On the other hand, Picozzi offered insight to the connection between city government and its people as he devoted most of his remarks to naming his staff and defining the jobs they perform.
Flaherty gave a broader picture of the changes he’s seen when he returned to the Crowne Plaza to speak to the Rotary Club two days later..
As a Vietnam veteran he harkened back to the war and the shift in attitude to military service. There was a time when service to the country was an honor, but today the branches of service have difficulty recruiting. He is troubled so many young people are self-centered. He advocated mandatory military service.
Locally he pointed out the population of the city remains virtually unchanged in 40 years, yet the student population has declined from 14,000 when he was mayor to about 8,000 today. Pension reform that now doesn’t give teachers retirement benefits until they are 67, has lessened opportunities for young people and discouraged them from entering the field.
Third on his list of changes is a growing lack of respect for police officers, which he likened to placing the burden on law enforcement officials of proving they’re not guilty. “It’s so easy to make complaints against them,” he said. Flaherty said society needs to step up and defend them.
The decline in newspapers in this country was next on his list. He is appalled that the Providence Journal has given up editorials, saying “without editorials, I don’t know if you have a newspaper.” Flaherty said the gap in news coverage is being replaced by “news that is tainted by one side or another.”
That took him to a change in politics.
He recalled days on the City Council when he differed with his colleagues in council chambers and were friends. . “It doesn’t mean they were evil, it was just not the same opinion.” That’s not the case today.
He also spoke of how Trump capitalized on the economy and illegal immigration, which resonated with the traditional blue collar base of the Democratic Party while the Democrats focused on such issues as abortion and the environment,. “This time it really cost them,” he said.
The official portion of the Warwick inaugural lasted 45 minutes, if that. Yet with an abundance of appetizers and refreshments, the event went for at least another hour. There were no speeches, no announcements, nothing official…just a coming together of community. It was a great start for Picozzi and those he will be working with.
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