HANDLING PROVIDENCE'S PANHANDLING PROBLEM

Former Providence Mayor and now super real estate magnate Joe Paolino had an op ed piece in the pro-Jo entitled "let's set aside anger and discuss St. Joseph's." Paolino recently bought St. Joseph's hospital and when he unveiled his plan to turn the facility into a home for the homeless, the neighborhood was outraged. In his piece, Paolino admits he was wrong not sitting down with neighbors in the Elmwood section to outline his plans but he says it's not too late. Paolino says the Providence  Renaissance is a thing of the past citing the vacant Superman building, companies moving out of downtown and panhandling welcoming visitors to providence on exit ramps, North main Street, downtown, Elmwood Avenue and broad Street. Sounds like a soft backhand to Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza to me. Paolino says he wants to bring in neighborhood organizations as partners to provide community services on sight noting St. Joseph's provided care to people from all walks of life for over 100-years. He says he wants to recapture that spirit and build on its mission of service and compassion. Paolino's lone mistake was he blindsided the Elmwood neighborhood with his plan but at least he's offering a solution to the homeless and panhandling problems in Providence while the sitting mayor does exactly that...sits on his hands.


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