As she looks to take a council seat the wife of the police union’s president takes the floor
EAST PROVIDENCE - Over the last several weeks Riverside resident Christine Rossi has become an almost regular part of East Providence City Council meetings. Appearing under the communication section of agendas, Mrs. Rossi (wife of local police union president John Rossi) has come to the council with items like a petition calling for the removal of city manager Richard Brown and a list of budget cuts she estimated could save more than $4 million.
She also announced plans to run for the city council Ward IV position next November.
Earlier this month, Mrs. Rossi was once again on the city council docket. Her proposal this time out? A series of events throughout the summer that utilize a couple of East Providence’s waterfront parks and could serve as fundraising opportunities for the city and other local groups.
“East Providence is fortunate to have so many miles of waterfront but there is a very short window of opportunity to enjoy it,” Mrs. Rossi said. “I have been speaking to many people over the last few months and all have terrific ideas on how to bring a little revenue into the city and potential ways to celebrate our waterfront and increase Townie Pride.”
Such as the proposed Townie Tides City Festivals. With the recreation department already hosting a series of free summer concerts, Mrs. Rossi said, it could be advantageous to sell vendor space at each of the concerts to local artists and crafters along with advertising signs similar to “tee sponsors” at golf tournaments.
Similarly, Mrs. Rossi said the city should explore a battle of the bands event at Bold Point Park, aptly named Rockin’ the Waterfront at Bold Point Park. An event geared towards youth and families, Mrs. Rossi said that in addition to sponsorships and vendor booths, this party could charge spots to concession stands and trucks at $100 a pop.
Much like the city’s traditional Heritage Days Festival, Mrs. Rossi further recommended selling vendor space and sponsorships at the annual Independence Day fireworks demonstration. Unlike the Heritage Days Festival, however, Mrs. Rossi suggested adding a dunk tank filled with council members and other city officials.
At all three events, Mrs. Rossi’s plan calls for “fun booths” put together by local parent-teacher groups. These booths would be similar to carnival setups, with various groups choosing their own games and prizes. The proceeds from these booths would go towards each group’s fundraising efforts.
Said Mrs. Rossi: “It could catch on.”
To get the ball rolling on all of these ideas, Mrs. Rossi was told by the city council to start contacting the city’s parks and recreation department along with the Heritage Days Festival Committee.
The dunk tank alone should solve the budget deficit! I'd bet if we got the council members to do it, there would be a line down Vet's Parkway to throw balls! Warm up those pitching arms folks!
You got that right Christine!
Only problem could be that Joey thinks he could walk on the water in the tank! LOL
Go Mrs. Rossi. Fresh thinking and ideas is exactly what is needed.
Walk on water...that's funny...lol...I was just thinking at the last council meeting that his commentary sounds more like a sermon each meeting...I would prefer he spent more time on creating ways to bring money into the city than lecture us. Especially with the next meeting bringing us the good news about our wastewater treatment plant. This project will be to the tune of approximately $70 million dollars. No body is going to be able to walk on the wastewater. I would love for the council chamber to be full for the next meeting. This one is going to be of emence importance to the city's taxpayers and if you don't show up and get an education on this one, your doing yourself a huge disservice. Get involved!
Sounds as if she would be better suited as a circus carny, with those ideas. I think we have have enough clowns stuffed in the car already.
Wow Christine
only 5 posts so far? I guess that the posters here are more concerned with defeating teachers unions (and police and fire too) than the real issues facing our city.
Just as Joey faces the camera and sermonizes that his way is the truth and the light...pay no attention to the people behind that curtain,(the real issues) "I will lead you to the promised land! Where there are no public unions and the teachers, and police and fire fighters will kiss my boots and be thankful they even have jobs"
But Joey, what about the sewer plant?..."When we defeat the teachers the sewer plant problems will go away"
Is that true Joey?..."Why would you doubt me? I am the truth!"
And Joey, what happens when the auditor general rules that you cannot file for municipal receivership?..."Well He just can't, I'm always right! And I will fight it all the way to the supreme court!"
"Larisa vs State Auditor General will put MY name in every histroy book in america!"
But what about the city? "Don't you understand? It's not about this city, it's about ME being RIGHT!"
LMAO
There are so many issues facing the city, it's tough to pick a place to start. I've gotten quite an education over the last few months. Every time I ask a question it brings up five new questions. This city has been devastated by poor management. It's going to take years to right the ship.
The budget is as good a place as any to get started and then work our way right through the school department. In my opinion, humble as it may be, the City Council should lead by example. First, the city manager has to go. He has made so many bad choices for this city and wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’ve personally met most of the city’s union heads now and they have each told me they were willing to work with the city and help the cause but Mr. Brown has only one agenda (Joe’s) and that is to break the unions. Each of the men I spoke with said they dug deep to offer the cost savings that the manager asked for and that their proposals were rejected. We could have headed off this budget crisis before it became an emergency. They ALL offered REAL SAVINGS and he just said no because their offers didn’t include Joe’s 20% Holy Grail co-share. I’m talking about MILLIONS OF DOLLARS!!
The next step will be to sit with the teachers and NEGOTIATE. Being a lawyer, all Joe knows how to do is litigate. (Not much of a people person really) COURT CASES COST MONEY! Money we don’t have to spend. The hard truth of the matter is that the teacher’s were and still are willing to hammer out a deal. The school committee didn’t have to ram this deal down their throats and spend over a half million dollars to do it. They could have worked it out. I haven’t spoken to the teacher’s union leader yet, but I have spoken to many teachers. Another issue with the school side of the budget is the six figure new hires. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Their new offices were just completed in the basement of the administration building on Burnside Ave. in Riverside. I can’t wait to dig out how much that cost. Stand by for future updates on that one.
Other topics that are troubling include laying off 28 fire fighters, privatizing our janitors, stripping the canvassers office, neglecting the rec center, hiring a police chief from outside the department, buying a bunch of $6000/ea thumb print time clocks and then never installing them (they’ve been sitting around collecting dust for years), the wastewater treatment facility that we allowed to become so run down it’s going to take $70 MILLION to get it up to DEM’s par, public buildings that go without repairs, rising taxes, rising sewer rates and I’m just getting started. This city council hasn’t gotten ONE THING ACCOMPLISHED this year except raise taxes and lower morale.
I’m outraged and I’m on a mission. Whether I get elected to council or not, rest assured I’m going to keep bringing these facts up to the city management until things change.
Well said! We could use someone like you in our town.
I don't believe we have anything to worry about as far as union president John Rossi's wife, being elected.
1. "There are so many issues facing the city, it's tough to pick a place to start." SHE HAS NO IDEA WHERE TO START.
2. "I've gotten quite an education over the last few months." A PERSON WITH A FEW MONTHS EDUCATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE DOG CATCHER, LET ALONE COUNCILMAN.
3. "Every time I ask a question it brings up five new questions." CLEARLY IS CONFUSED .
4. " First, the city manager has to go." CANNOT WORK WITH OTHERS.
5. "I’ve personally met most of the city’s union heads now..." NOW WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOUR REAL AGENDA IS, WIFE OF POLICE UNION PRESIDENT.
I think that's enough, in it's own words, to sink it's own ship.
We taxpayers are tired of being strong-armed by these union thugs.
We the people are not going to elect the wife of the police union president, that is confused, under-educated, union pandering, and confrontation for a single agenda; the promotion of unions at taxpayer expense.
Stop wasting our time with these moronic posts.
Oh...yawn...you again...do you ever leave the house? Yes, I am married to John. This is not a breaking story. The City of East Providence needs less of your kind of spin and more solid decisions to get us out of our current situation. There's no confusion on my end. We need change and we need it now! So while you're sitting and spinning, I'll be worrying about how to get this train back on the tracks. Why don't you go over to another story and wind yourself up.
See folks? This person who wants to be a leader cannot even overcome her inherent nastiness to woo constituants.
Sitting and spinning you say, Rossi? Hoo hoo! By the looks of your picture in the article, you do a LOT of sitting and spinning.......sitting at the dinner table and spinning the fork into your maw.
See how that works, Ms. Nasty-Mouth?
GET IT THROUGH YOUR GRAVY-FILLED HEAD.....WE DON'T WANT, AND CANNOT AFFORD YOU UNION 'GIMME-GIMMES' ANY MORE!
Sticks and stones my small minded friend. Big girls need love too...lol. You're welcome to join us for dinner any time...
Dan, I think you just had some love interest......
Dats more attention than you have received from the fairer sex all this year! And from a hot-blooded powerful italian, no less.
Now go over for pasta and wine....maybe she can git you a job.
AKA you told us before that you live in Bristol and before that it was Portsmouth and then down south. Maybe Mrs. Rossi said something mean and hurt your feelings because she has read enough of your crap to know that you are a small minded, little dweeb and liar who believes his own stories.
I am new to RI and Riverside having moved to a beautiful home in 2007. I was excited to move to the northeast having lived in Chicago, Raleigh, Atlanta and Fort Worth. However, I never would have guessed the level of immaturity of the citizens. Regardless of what side you are on this type of behavior is inappropriate. The city has the potential to be a great city but I just do not progress happening given the current behavior of the “adults”. Wake up folks your kids are watching.
Russomike, Learn whats going on and get involved.this state needs some fresh blood . If you don't mind me asking, did you retire here?
Response to russomike
Welcome to R.I. though I have not commented on this post because I feel no matter who she is we have no record of here she is talking new idea's so I think she should be given a chance. One never knows a person fully until they enter the arena of politics most of the time.
To her relations and marriage and what ever it matters not. Well some people tow the line no matter what not all do. It is the same in most families you can have conservatives, liberials,independents etc. not all people agree with each other. Blood is thicker than water but that applies to politics very rarely. Ig you dont believe that come to a family cookout at my house in the summer LOL.
So welcome russomike but do be aware this state is allways in the top 5 for corruption in the country. LOL
Jack
ROSSI FOR DOG--CATCHER! OOPS.....LOOKS LIKE SHE ALREADY CAUGHT ONE.
