Rep. Cicilline Hears Economic Woes on East Providence Walking Tour

Rhode Island U.S. Rep. David Cicilline visited East Providence Thursday, where he took a walking tour of local businesses and listened to residents share their concerns and ideas for solutions.

The tour began at the , where Cicilline mingled with seniors buying produce at the farmers market stand. The tour later included stops at , , and , all on Warren Avenue, before breaking at for lunch and then heading out for another leg of visits.

Cicilline was initially joined by Mayor Bruce Rogers at the Senior Center at 10:30 a.m., along with Assistant Mayor Thomas Rose Jr. While Rogers did not accompany Cicilline on the rest of the tour due to another engagement, he commented on what Cicilline's visit meant for him and the city of East Providence.

"It's always good to bring your congressman to the city," Rogers said. "There's somebody in Washington fighting for us; and yes, I think he's that person."

Rogers also stated that he sought Cicilline's insight on issues relating to the city, given the now congressman's past position as Mayor of Providence.

"We spoke about the deficit," Rogers said. "[Cicilline's take on it was] to have the School Committee and the City Council work closer together. Essentially, just because the school committee doesn't levy taxes, they still need to work with the council as if they do."

In his initial stop, Cicilline rubbed elbows with the city's seniors and took questions pertaining to Medicare and Social Security. Cicilline heard concerns of local residents who are fearful of cuts to the federal programs they say they rely on.

Riverside's Agnes Gomes was one such senior who greeted Cicilline at the 610 Waterman Avenue stop. A staunch supporter, Gomes said she finds comfort in what she sees as the congressman's commitment to protecting the social safety net.

"I love him, he's great," Gomes said. "Hes trying to help us seniors. When you don't have anybody looking out for you, it's nice to know he's there."

Gomes added that she is "troubled" by talk of privatizing both Medicare and Social Security.

Before the second scheduled stop on Cicilline's tour, Assistant Mayor Rose proposed an impromtu visit to the area of the city that was impacted by . Cicilline and staff followed in a separate car, as Rose led them to the residential area consisting of dead-end streets and foreclosed homes off of Waterman Avenue on the edge of Seekonk.

Both Rose and Rogers said that Cicilline's office is working with East Providence to push through the FEMA grants needed to build a retention pond in the area to prevent further flooding. The city has already been approved for a matched Block Grant to assist in the replacement of pipes to prevent further flooding.

After hearing the impacts the sluggish economy has had on Stereo Plus's Margaret Fonseca, Cicilline recounted his efforts to provide federal assistance to East Providence on this issue.

"My office has been working with the City of East Providence with respects to several grant applications, some that involve that area and the flooding...," Cicilline said. "Just seeing it gives the context of understanding of what that issue not being addressed is."

The range of small business owners visited during the first portion of the tour told the same story to the congressman, one of fading prosperity comprised of empty tables and low sales activity. Cicilline asked each business a simple, yet targeted, template of questions: What is keeping your business back? What do you think government can do to help you? The answers were resoundingly the same, with people answering the first question with the new reality of low demand. In short, there are "no customers," all responded.

Cicilline viewed the repeated "no customers" answer through a macro lens, citing the unemployment situation as the root cause, essentially stating that if people do not have jobs, businesses have no customers. Cicilline left with them a sheet of paper listing relevant statewide agencies and a brochure designed to welcome phone calls from constituents. He also assured that he has been hard at work in Washington supporting policies that will help put places like East Providence back to work. Cicilline pointed to his co-sponsoring of a bill that would raise the cap needed for a small business to receive a loan from a credit union and the 6-point Democrat-endorsed "Make It in America" agenda, which is centered on reestablishing a manufacturing sector.

At Campinos Restaurant on Warren Avenue, the staff told the congressman their financial fears, with one man saying he is afraid to lose his benefits should he go down to a 35 hour work week. Another relayed the woes of their customers, saying that people talk to the staff about "how they're going to pay their mortgage."

After having lunch at Madiera Restaurant on Warren Avenue, Cicilline and his staff scheduled visits at and the on Waterman Avenue. The congressman said he plans to visit East Providence again in the near future.

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