Yes folks, there really are other cities in Rhode Island besides Providence. In 2010, the city of Central Falls informed the state that it could no longer pay its bills. The General Assembly proceeded to pass the Financial Stability Act. The bankrupt city is currently in receivership. And the “receiver” who now dictates policy in the city is former state Supreme Court Justice Robert G. Flanders Jr.
And this is what has happened:
- Mayor and City Council obsolete
- Entire city under the authority of one unelected official who is a non-resident
- Library and Community Center closed
- Police Chief “laid-off”
- Places the “Receiver” as alpha and omega ruler over an American city
When resident Jeff Roter collected almost 300 signatures in a petition before the city council, he proudly proclaimed “We the people won’t stand for this.” Council President William Benson Jr retorted, “We have no power.”
Even Flanders agrees that “the law suspends the usual democratic process.” He believes there’s no problem suspending democracy if it saves money. This justification comes from a man who cut the Mayor’s salary from 72k to 26k, while he himself is paid 30,000 per MONTH.
With many states on the cusp of bankruptcy, with America’s debt speeding towards default, I wonder what solutions our future “Receivers/Dictators” will deem necessary?
