Today's Providence Journal has an article by Mike Stanton that describes the situation which led to David Cicilline's brother John Cicilline writing a bad check for $75,000 to the City of Providence.   The check was written by John Cicilline for the city to hold as collateral so that his client, Nelson Garcia, could have a lien on his property removed in order to come up with the money to pay his taxes.  Unfortunately, once the city removed the lien, Nelson Garcia still didn't pay his taxes, and the check written by John Cicilline turned out to be bad.  The mayor's own brother pulled a fast one.

     Tax Collector Robert Ceprano and former Finance Director Alex Prignano alerted several individuals close to Mayor David Cicilline, including his former Director of Administration John Simmons, former Chief of Staff Christopher Bizzacco, and aide Rita Murphy.  Despite all these people being brought into the loop, not one made any mention of the tax situation to David Cicilline. 

     I can understand not bringing up every delinquent tax bill to the mayor, but when a tax bill is approaching 6 figures, and the Mayor's brother secured a lien release with a check that was bad, and the person who owes the money turns out to be a campaign contributor, don't you think he should be told?  I do, and from what I've read, I doubt he was in the dark about the situation.  I also find it comical that no one could get in touch with John Cicilline.  Why didn't they just ask his brother the Mayor to make a call?  Maybe David could have asked John about it while they were discussing John's indictment earlier this year.

     Mayor Cicilline likes to talk about what an honest administration he runs.  All I know is that I'm looking forward to the results of the investigation being conducted by the State Police.  Until their findings come back, there is a cloud over City Hall.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/Cicilline_Bad_Check_09-28-08_F2BO1LQ_v17.1297fa8.html