Big H/T to John Loughlin for spotting and vigorously denouncing this yesterday morning on WPRO. (Article in yesterday’s Providence Journal by W. Zachary Malinowski.)

Langley said the sale would allow the Urban League to pay off its debt, including $378,500 owed the city and the Providence Economic Development Partnership. But the building and land, which the city recently had assessed at $2.75 million, was deeded to the organization for $1 in 1990 with the proviso that the building be returned to the city if the Urban League moved out. Langley asked the city to drop that interest. In response, the Taveras administration commissioned the financial inquiry in conjunction with deciding on the organization’s request.

Obviously, if the building at 246 Prairie Avenue is sold, the Urban League would have to move out. But at that point, by the terms of the 1990 sale, the building becomes the property of the City of Providence.

In short, Mayor Taveras is working to give a building that belongs to the City of Providence to the Urban League RI so that they can sell it to pay off their debts.

This is wrong and outrageous. Providence’s real estate properties belong to the city’s taxpayers and residents. They do not belong to the Mayor, whoever it may be, for him to hand out to his buddies or politically favored organizations.

This needs to stop. Now. If it doesn’t, Loughlin is right: the Attorney General needs to get involved.