Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Perhaps the Mayor could take better care of the very people who put their lives on the line than he does providing a sanctuary city for illegals.

How dare he hold the firefighters at bay when they are out there every single day answering the call of the alarms?

I understand the need to reduce costs to the city. Start with making it mandatory to run EVERY city employee through eVerify.

Then the Mayor should call up the Governor to see how he cut costs to the State and then implement them into a city directive.

Perhaps he could save a LOT of money by not printing every English document into Spanish.

If Cicilline continues his vindictive anti-union activities-specifically his vendetta against the Prov.firefighters-he will find himself off the very short list to replace Kennedy, if Reed is appointed Sec.of Defense,(which I personally would find incredibly ironic),and Kennedy runs or is appointed to Reed's Senate seat.Actually,I would find it amusing to watch Cicilline languish as mayor,much as Cianci did and thankfully so ,I might add,can you imagine the damage that felon could have done on a state level.Unlike Cianci though,he will continue to enjoy carte blanche with the Prov.Feds,(now that's irony),due to what appears to be a unique relationship with them - a relationship the extends to his family ,defies logic, and is sure to continue when Spiderboy replaces Corrente.

"But the Unions..." is all you need to know about this story. The Mayor is finding a way to save taxpayers a tremendous amount of money but the Unions object. That is the problem in this State - Unions and their inability to recognize that it's the taxpayers money that pays their members and the need to answer to the taxpayer not themselves.

Isn't the mayor in arbitration with the firefighters and supposed to operate under the existing contract? Another broken promise. Doesn't the city have contracts with these other unions? I'm sure that they have grievances pending regarding the "or equal" clauses in their contracts, if this is not equal. Either RIBCBS was way over priced for what was being provided or United Health is reducing the benefits to undercut them. Meds not covered that were or at a higher rate (reduced formulary), less proceedures covered in the body of the contract, etc. There is a reason not being told for the vast difference in price. Sounds like this is not an "or equal" plan. Perhaps the mayor should form a "task force" made up of all these unions and both healtcare providers to see where these savings really are. If the mayor is already willing to pick up treatment in progress to reduce the coversion problems, than there must be bigger problems coming which will cost the taxpayers more.

I've worked for the City of Providence for over 20 years. I enjoyed FREE healthcare benefits until Cicilline became mayor. I'm not complaining! I’m thankful to have a good job with good benefits, and work hard for the city. Local 1033 seems to think they are entitled to some special benefits just because they are union members. You should have heard some of my co-workers complaining about the move to United! I work with people who are not qualified for the jobs they have, but are employed because they know some councilperson. I work with people who cannot read or write English!(like some of the posts here) Yes, these are the union members who are complaining. They should be thankful to be employed. Next up Mayor Cicilline should trim the ranks of 1033 and really save some money! Mayor Cicilline has my support!