Allans Vision for Cranston

Two years ago, the people entrusted me to take the reigns of our fine city.  And on the night that I was sworn in, I inherited some major challenges - a budget balanced on anticipated - and unrealized union concessions; a significant overestimation of interest income; a piece of wetlands that, because of a settlement with a concrete company, that we were forced to buy for close to two million dollars; snow and ice storms with not enough money because the past administration grossly under-budgeted those line items; and two newly ratified contracts that promised raises in my first full fiscal year in office.  Top all of that off with the fact that just days into my first term, the State began to reduce drastically State Aid to municipalities (meaning millions to Cranston alone)....and these reductions were permanent - meaning that one time revenues were not going to answer the challenge - we were looking at long term structural change. 

And that was just my first few weeks on the job!!  Even more disturbing is what we have continued to find since.  Old practices that have been in place for years, such as retirees not even paying co-payments for doctors visits when the city had no contractual obligation to do so, buildings in disarray (City Hall’s roof leaked so badly that we had to put plastic over copy machines), and, of course, a rainy day fund over 8 million dollars reduced because of loans to the schools.

            And yet, despite all of the problems, these past two years have been a challenge above all challenges - and for every bit as frustrating as some days can be, the job is the most rewarding one I’ve ever had!

            That’s why I am here to announce, that I love this job to much to leave it - and am asking the people of our great community, this November to continue to put their trust in me as I run for Mayor of Cranston!! read more...