David Cicilline seems to love spending taxpayer dollars on reports.  It might be because they're very official looking and make it look like he's actually doing something productive.  Now, David Cicilline seems to be focused on arts and culture.  You might recall him paying $100,000 to an out-of -state firm to come up with the name "the Creative Capital."   Now, his cultural plan has expanded, along with the cost.

     Here are some of the highlights of the Mayor's cultural plan:

•Creating a Downtown Cultural Authority that would help coordinate marketing efforts for downtown arts and cultural groups such as AS220, Trinity Rep and the Providence Black Repertory Company.

•Nurturing arts-related businesses, particularly in fields such as film-making, graphic design and digital media, where the city is already strong.

•Establishing a network of neighborhood cultural centers using existing resources such as libraries, schools, parks and community centers.

•Reviving the Art in City Life ordinance, which mandates that a percentage of the cost of city building projects be spent on public art. The ordinance, which is similar to the state’s One Percent for Public Art law, has been on the books since 1980 but is rarely enforced.

•Leveraging the resources of local colleges and universities to boost arts and cultural programming and education in Providence schools.

•Using money from the federal stimulus program to create arts-related jobs for city youths.

•Continuing the city’s “Providence, the Creative Capital” advertising campaign, while coordinating promotional efforts more closely with local arts groups.


     As a life-long Providence resident, I already see the city as a cultural center.  Besides the colleges and universities, including RISD, we have museums, galleries, Trinity Rep, Black Repertory Company, PPAC, Waterfire, AS220, etc.  If you want an example of how strong the arts community is, just think back to the last few New Year's Eve celebrations.  The city couldn't afford First Night, so the arts community created Bright Night.  The city already has a strong arts community, and there's no reason this won't continue to develop.

     Mayor Cicilline must also recognize this strength, yet he continues to push ideas that seem wasteful.  This is especially true since he was complaining recently about how Providence needs the revenue sharing funds which were eliminated from the recent state budget.  If the city is facing such a dire economic future, then how can he support the creation of more government positions and additional expenditures to strengthen an already strong part of the city?

     If you look at the highlights listed above, David Cicilline suggests creating a Downtown Cultural Authority, establishing neighborhood cultural centers, spending a percentage of the cost of city building projects on public art, and the "Creative Capital" advertising campaign.  How can someone complain about needing state aid and talk about the Providence budget in dire terms, then propose this degree of spending?  It's mind boggling.

     The aspect that seems the most hypocritical is his reliance on colleges and universities to use their resources to improve arts in the public school system.  Would these be the same institutions who the Mayor claims are a drain on the city, and whose students are a drag on local government?  Now, it seems like he values them again, since it's politically expedient.  Providence is a cultural center, and the colleges and universities play a major role.  Just look at the importance of the Rhode Island School of Design.  Where would Providence's arts community be without their students and alumni in the community?

     Rather than spend money on an area of the local economy which seems to be doing just fine, David Cicilline should consider looking into aspects of municipal government which do need improvement.  Perhaps he can work on reducing the size of government, making the city attractive for middle class families, improving public transportation, and assuring that property taxes are paid.  All are important, and all should be addressed by the Mayor.