Cranston Democrat Ferri responds to Cranston Republicans article: Dems are “more financially responsible”

Editor’s Note – Robert Ferri, Cranston City Councilman, submitted this article in response to the article that ran yesterday in RINewsToday.com – “Cranston Republicans to “bring people together & respect differing views” announce Council leadership, endorsements” (https://rinewstoday.com/cranston-republicans-take-steps-to-bring-people-together-respect-differing-views-move-cranston-forward/)

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I would like the opportunity to respond to your news story today about the Republican Party in Cranston.

As you know, I ran successfully as a Republican for City-Wide Council in 2020.  I was elected based on my commitment to be an independent voice and that I would use my  business and financial experience to help guide the city through the financial challenges I felt were coming.

The title of your story states that Cranston Republicans to “bring people together and respect differing views”  If this is true then why in the story do they continue to take political shots at me?  

On March 30th I made a difficult but necessary decision to leave the Republican Party in Cranston because I refused to be a rubber stamp to the Republican Caucus and the Administration. 

At that point I had always listened to the residents of the city and made sure I was sensitive to their needs. I always voted based on facts and never to party pressure. There were instances that as a result of me exercising my independence, I was alienated and ridiculed by my own party.  Please be reminded that the City Council is a separate voice from the administration.  It should never be a rubber stamp for the administration.

There has been a continued false narrative about me.  First and foremost, I voted against a budget that contained a $12 million structural deficit, a tax increase, and it used half of the Covid funds.  Now we have learned that there have been 21 job eliminations.

Let it be known that I am the head of the Finance Committee and have to this day never been asked to sit in on helping solve the financial mess the city is now in.  I stand by my decision to be on the team that is far more financially responsible than the Republicans in Cranston.

I support for City Council a team that will be financially responsible:

Jessica Marino, City-Wide

Robert Ferri, City-Wide

Robert Wilson, City-Wide

Lammis Vargas, Ward 1

Aniece Germain, Ward 2

John Donegan, Ward 3

Peter Rivelli, Ward 4

Larry Warner, Ward 5

Dan Wall, Ward 6

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Thank You for your time…

Robert Ferri, City Wide Council Vice President