Little Rhody made the NYT today!

[LoveTrains]

So I meant to post this here yesterday but accidentally posted on MM. But when I just saw the NYT article, I had to share it with you all. I am curious to know what sandsonik thinks about this. 

www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/us/politics/his-earlier-stints-ended-by-felonies-ex-mayor-of-providence-announces-hell-run-again.html?ref=us

His Earlier Stints Ended by Felonies, Ex-Mayor of Providence Announces He’ll Run Again

By JESS BIDGOOD JUNE 25, 2014



Ending months of self-generated suspense, Vincent A. Cianci Jr., the garrulous and polarizing former mayor of Providence, R.I., whose two stints in office collapsed in felony convictions, announced on his radio talk show Wednesday that he wanted his old job back.



Mr. Cianci, 73, said he intended to run as an independent, startling those who assumed that his protracted public weighing of a mayoral bid could not possibly be serious. They are now left to contemplate the fact that a victory by Mr. Cianci, in a crowded field and with a devoted following, is not entirely out of the question.



Widely known by his nickname, Buddy, Mr. Cianci, who has never lost a mayoral election, won his first term as a Republican in 1974. He held the job for nearly a decade, before he was convicted of assaulting a friend with a fireplace log, an ashtray and a lit cigarette.



He ran again in 1990, and brought parks and construction to downtown, but was indicted, again, in 2001 on charges that included racketeering and extortion. Mr. Cianci joked about the investigation but nevertheless was convicted in 2002 of one charge of racketeering conspiracy, and imprisoned until 2007.



Since his release, Mr. Cianci has been a familiar presence on radio and television in Providence. He hosts a daily talk show on WPRO, and it was here that he announced his news before 4 p.m., nearly an hour into the show and minutes before the official filing deadline.



“Help me make my mind up,” said Mr. Cianci, who said he had signed declaration papers and written a speech but was still undecided on what to do.



A caller named Nicholas told him: “Providence is in an existential crisis right now. I can think of one prescription, and that’s Buddy Cianci.”



At 3:30, Mr. Cianci asked the news anchor, Kim Kalunian, for a news update. “Well, Buddy,” she said pointedly, “we’re still waiting on you.”



In his announcement speech, Mr. Cianci presented himself as an experienced candidate who had brought new self-esteem to Providence through economic development and promotion of the arts in the 1990s.



“We were proud to be from Providence,” said Mr. Cianci, who said he would seek solutions for the city’s blight, areas of economic stagnation and violence, but mostly glossed over his troubles with the law.



Wendy Schiller, a political scientist at Brown University, said that Mr. Cianci would benefit from a multicandidate race, but that his odds were long because of the changes in Providence’s demographics.



“It’s much more Latino, younger, and a lot of the people who loved him and voted for him before don’t live here anymore,” she said. “And with a Latino running for governor and another one for mayor, that base will be energized.” Moreover, Ms. Schiller said, he was responsible for some of the pension problems the city faces today.



On the other hand, she said, “If Newt Gingrich is still around, and Bill Clinton is still around, there’s no reason Buddy Cianci can’t still be around.”

[sandsonik]

Aaaaarghhhh!

That's what I think, LoveTrains.

I have a love/hate thing with Buddy. I guess that's to be expected when you give someone a second chance, and they blow it again.

My admittedly confused feelings about Buddy running again are:

1) Anyone who ever whines about corrupt RI politicians, but supports Buddy now has to shut up for LIFE. No more complaining, ever. You don't really care about legalities or ethics, so quite pretending and shut up. You'll make Providence look like a complete joke.

2.) He's too old. 73. And he just went through treatment for cancer. You can't recreate the past.

3.) Providence is younger and more Latino than when he ran. He'll never win. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, ok, I'm dumb like that. But fool me three times?

4.) He will definitely win. Buddy as an independent against a field of 10 nobodies? Totally going to win.

5.) And I'll secretly be sort of happy. Because no one loves Providence as much as Buddy. No one worked as hard for her. He got things done. If only he would now devote as much time to the South Side or the West End as he did to revitalizing downtown. If he could actually change quality of life and not just attract tourists... People say a rising tide raises all ships, but I think the ships in South Providence are as low as they always were.

But I'll have complete deniability either way - see #1! :-P

I dunno, I have to learn more about Smiley and the other candidates, but....honestly has one of them created the stir Buddy managed in a couple of sentences?

I've gone from being completely against the idea to...entertaining it. Our pessimism is our own worst enemy and Buddy seems to be able to give us hope.

[LoveTrains]

Since I'm a relative newcomer to the city and state, I don't really know what to think. I thought Smiley had a cute ad (it's like a Wes Anderson film! - )

But I thought he seemed petty with the comments he made after Buddy announced yesterday. Because of the work that I do, I actually have met a few of the candidates and know some people who are involved in a few of the campaigns. I will need to be doing my research over the summer to determine who to vote for in the Dem primary and then of course the actual contest in November. 

[Deleted]

I'm not an active poster on this board, but saw the discussion on another.

I think it's hysterical that a convicted felon is running for mayor (and by the way his felonies were during his mayoral term).

What is even more hysterical is that the local paper posts this story which talks about the outfit choice of the campaign worker who delivered the papers. Way to skirt the issue (oh, I think I even made a pun!)

www.providencejournal.com/politics/content/20140625-cianci-chooses-the-same-former-campaign-worker-to-once-again-file-his-papers.ece

[LoveTrains]

Yup, everyone knows the felonies were during his mayoral term. There is actually a much lengthier ProJo article that I posted on MM that actually talks about Buddy and the fact that he is a convicted felon.

I mean, I love to crap on the ProJo but that's allowed because I live here. That was not the only article they have posted about the issue.

[terpsfan]

I haven't had a chance to talk to my dad about this (but I think I heard his head exploding all the way from MD). Off topic, Doug White looks exactly the same. He's an icon!

[LoveTrains]

Jun 26, 2014 14:58:02 GMT -5 kevin arnold said:

Hi fellow Rhodislandahs!!!!

I <3 Buddy. I can't quit him. I don't think he'll win though.

Do you live in PVD?

[LoveTrains]

Jun 26, 2014 17:44:56 GMT -5 kevin arnold said:

Jun 26, 2014 17:39:54 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Do you live in PVD?

Yes.

I like it here. I moved here five years ago.

[mnvegas]

Why am I not surprised by this? Oh I know, typical Buddy!

Is he still making his pasta sauce?

[forreals]

I'm only sad I can't vote for him!

Just kidding! I wouldn't vote for a convicted felon... Or would I? So much internal conflict RI's most favorite mayor brings up in me!

I lived in PVD in the late 90's/early 2000's and was always... Amused? Intrigued? Disgusted? Seeing him drunk around town.

[LoveTrains]

Jun 26, 2014 19:10:51 GMT -5 mnvegas said:

Why am I not surprised by this? Oh I know, typical Buddy!

Is he still making his pasta sauce?

Yes.

[sandsonik]

Jun 26, 2014 14:24:06 GMT -5 terpsfan said:

I haven't had a chance to talk to my dad about this (but I think I heard his head exploding all the way from MD). Off topic, Doug White looks exactly the same. He's an icon!

Is this where I can put my unfounded, gossipy anchor bashing?  Anyone I've ever known who's met Doug White has been quite underwhelmed by the experience. As in, "Gee, I waited on him almost every day and I still don't think he ever said hi or recognized me."

[sandsonik]

Jun 26, 2014 14:58:02 GMT -5 kevin arnold said:

Hi fellow Rhodislandahs!!!!

I <3 Buddy. I can't quit him. I don't think he'll win though.

^^I thought that at first.

I'm beginning to wonder.  There's something like 7 people running for the Dem nomination, 1 running for the Repub, and two independent.  Those Dems are really going to have to beat each other up for the primary nom.  Considering that it's a group of relative unknowns, except for Solomon, those smear jobs are going to stick.

Buddy is a force of nature.  He's just so much bigger than life compared to those guys.  He could win it with only 37%.

[terpsfan]

Jun 26, 2014 22:34:51 GMT -5 sandsonik said:

Jun 26, 2014 14:24:06 GMT -5 terpsfan said:

I haven't had a chance to talk to my dad about this (but I think I heard his head exploding all the way from MD). Off topic, Doug White looks exactly the same. He's an icon!

Is this where I can put my unfounded, gossipy anchor bashing?  Anyone I've ever known who's met Doug White has been quite underwhelmed by the experience. As in, "Gee, I waited on him almost every day and I still don't think he ever said hi or recognized me."

I can believe that. I refuse to believe anything bad about Frank Colleta though. I watched him every single day before school. Mario Hilario on the other hand..ugh

[sandsonik]

Jun 27, 2014 8:42:37 GMT -5 terpsfan said:

Jun 26, 2014 22:34:51 GMT -5 sandsonik said:

Is this where I can put my unfounded, gossipy anchor bashing?  Anyone I've ever known who's met Doug White has been quite underwhelmed by the experience. As in, "Gee, I waited on him almost every day and I still don't think he ever said hi or recognized me."

I can believe that. I refuse to believe anything bad about Frank Colleta though. I watched him every single day before school. Mario Hilario on the other hand..ugh

I'm with you on both of those...though I adore his name.

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch using proboards

[preppy]

As someone who was born and raised in RI I wasn't overly surprised to hear this. While I don't necessarily agree, I do think he will win. I have already seen a ton of support from my fellow Rhode Islanders on social media.

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2014 14:03:07 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Since I'm a relative newcomer to the city and state, I don't really know what to think. I thought Smiley had a cute ad (it's like a Wes Anderson film! - )

But I thought he seemed petty with the comments he made after Buddy announced yesterday. Because of the work that I do, I actually have met a few of the candidates and know some people who are involved in a few of the campaigns. I will need to be doing my research over the summer to determine who to vote for in the Dem primary and then of course the actual contest in November. 

the kid in Smiley's ad used to be in my playgroup

[LoveTrains]

Jun 27, 2014 12:59:12 GMT -5 preppy said:

As someone who was born and raised in RI I wasn't overly surprised to hear this. While I don't necessarily agree, I do think he will win. I have already seen a ton of support from my fellow Rhode Islanders on social media.

But are they Providence voters?

It seems like "RI'ers" in general support Buddy, but at the end of the day, the demographics of the city are changing, and if they don't live in PVD, their voice doesn't matter in the election. 

[LoveTrains]

@septimus your playgroup up in Cambridge? interesting.

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2014 13:43:28 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

@septimus your playgroup up in Cambridge? interesting.

yes. 

[LoveTrains]

Jun 27, 2014 13:47:32 GMT -5 @septimus said:

Jun 27, 2014 13:43:28 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

@septimus your playgroup up in Cambridge? interesting.

yes. 

Did you know he was going to be in the ad or was it a surprise just now? 

I really do like the ad. I am definitely undecided in this race! 

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2014 13:49:22 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jun 27, 2014 13:47:32 GMT -5 @septimus said:

yes. 

Did you know he was going to be in the ad or was it a surprise just now? 

I really do like the ad. I am definitely undecided in this race! 

his mom posted it on FB

[preppy]

Jun 27, 2014 13:42:52 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jun 27, 2014 12:59:12 GMT -5 preppy said:

As someone who was born and raised in RI I wasn't overly surprised to hear this. While I don't necessarily agree, I do think he will win. I have already seen a ton of support from my fellow Rhode Islanders on social media.

But are they Providence voters?

It seems like "RI'ers" in general support Buddy, but at the end of the day, the demographics of the city are changing, and if they don't live in PVD, their voice doesn't matter in the election. 

Not all, but many of them are Providence residents.

[terpsfan]

Jun 27, 2014 13:42:52 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jun 27, 2014 12:59:12 GMT -5 preppy said:

As someone who was born and raised in RI I wasn't overly surprised to hear this. While I don't necessarily agree, I do think he will win. I have already seen a ton of support from my fellow Rhode Islanders on social media.

But are they Providence voters?

It seems like "RI'ers" in general support Buddy, but at the end of the day, the demographics of the city are changing, and if they don't live in PVD, their voice doesn't matter in the election. 

Agreed...nobody I know that still lives in RI (grew up, went to college, then came back, married, kids, etc) lives in PVD.  Nobody.  Not even DINKS.

[LoveTrains]

Jun 27, 2014 14:06:53 GMT -5 terpsfan said:

Jun 27, 2014 13:42:52 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

But are they Providence voters?

It seems like "RI'ers" in general support Buddy, but at the end of the day, the demographics of the city are changing, and if they don't live in PVD, their voice doesn't matter in the election. 

Agreed...nobody I know that still lives in RI (grew up, went to college, then came back, married, kids, etc) lives in PVD.  Nobody.  Not even DINKS.

You know me. I'm a DINK.