Ocean State Current-Anchor Rising contacted the office of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras with regard to the prospect of the City of Providence giving a city building (246 Prairie Avenue) to a private organization – apparently so that the sales proceeds can be used to discharge the operating debts of that organization.

I received two calls from the Mayor’s office today. The first call came this morning from a press person who asked me, three times during the conversation, if we could speak off the record. I declined to do so, citing the involvement of public resources.

A couple of hours later, I received a call from David Ortiz, the Mayor’s Director of Communications & Media Relations. After clarifying up front that we were speaking on the record, it was my turn to repeatedly ask a question; namely, why is Mayor Taveras contemplating giving away a city building to a private organization? Mr. Ortiz did not confirm or deny the premise of the question. Instead, each time OSC-AR asked the question, Mr. Ortiz referred to Mayor Taveras’ concern for the process and what the Mayor believes the process should be.

Below is the mostly complete transcript – I was typing Mr. Ortiz’ answers while we were speaking – of our conversation. Omissions, if any, are completely accidental. The Mayor’s office is welcome to direct corrections to Mr. Ortiz’ comments to myself via e-mail.

DO: I understand that you are looking for a conversation …

MC: Why is the Mayor thinking about giving a city building to a private organization?

DO: So the Urban League began working as far back as October, possibly earlier, with members of the City Council to sell their building to the Aspen Group. Mayor’s office called for a slower, more involved process and a full financial review of Urban League. We needed more infomation before a decision could be made about the future of the building.

MC: Why is the mayor even contemplating giving a public building to a private organization?

DO: What the mayor is contemplating is a conversation with the Urban League Board to review the findings of the financial report that we commissioned and to discuss the financial condition of the organization

MC: You’re still not answering the question. Why would the mayor even contemplate giving a city building to a private organization?

DO: It wasn’t his idea.

MC: But he has the power to make this happen. Why isn’t he saying no?

DO: It is in the interest of the city to make sure that any future use of the building is fully vetted and understood by the public. The Urban League has for many years provided services of value to our community. It’s become clear that they are in tought financial shape. We are not making any decisions before having a very thorough process.

What the Urban League had proposed was a sale of the building that they purported would help them financially and allow the property to become a contributor to the tax roll. What the mayors office said was, we need more information. he mayor’s office called for a full review of the Urban League’s books. That’s where we are at.

MC: Why isn’t he saying no? Why is he working to make this happen?

DO: He is saying that we should not do it without more information. He is saying that the Urban League should not move forward and he will not allow the sale of the building ….What the Urban League has proposed is not something that he will greenlight without more information.

Given the findings of the report, he wants an opportunity to discuss the findings of the report with the City Council President and the Board of the Urban League.

MC: I don’t understand why he is not saying “no” to this idea.

DO: Understood.