EDITORIAL

RI can’t allow scandal to derail progress

Posted

Rhode Islanders should be outraged over the 38 Studios fiasco, particularly in the wake of new information revealed through the unsealing of thousands of pages of court records last week.

The documents shed new light on the events that led to the state’s ill-fated, multi-million dollar commitment to former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s video game company. And while some of the revelations are stunning, to the vast majority of citizens who already assume the worst about the deal, there is likely little that will be considered truly shocking.

The documents show disgraced and now imprisoned former House Speaker Gordon Fox and former House Finance Chairman Steven Costantino were involved in talks with 38 Studios long before previously disclosed. Warnings about the company’s fiscal health were ignored by almost all involved in the process. Of course, in 2012, it went bankrupt, leaving taxpayers on the hook for tens of millions of dollars.

Current House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has said he feels “betrayed,” joining other lawmakers in saying he was unaware that a $75 million increase to a job-creation program – authorized by a vote of the General Assembly in 2010 – had already been earmarked for the video game company.

The court documents paint many others, from Fox ally Michael Corso and former General Treasurer Frank Caprio to former Govs. Donald Carcieri and Lincoln Chafee, in a negative light to varying degrees and at various points in the saga. The 38 Studios deal was a bad one from the very start and was nonetheless pushed through thanks to malfeasance and inattentiveness at the State House.

The story certainly isn’t going away – nor should it. The citizens of our state deserve a full accounting of what went wrong and steps be taken to ensure it never happens again.

Mattiello and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed have indicated there will be oversight hearings in the wake of the court documents being released. Litigation remains ongoing, as does a Rhode Island State Police investigation.

And clearly, there have been some lessons learned. The new owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox found a wave of opposition when they sought public money for a waterfront Providence stadium, and state leaders were firm that the terms as presented were unacceptable. The team may ultimately end up leaving Rhode Island, but the best interests of taxpayers are being protected.

What we cannot allow, however, is for the failures surrounding 38 Studios to put the business of moving Rhode Island forward on hold.

Imagine if it were not a minor league baseball stadium, but a different kind of project – one that would result in real economic growth, real job opportunities, real results – for which public money was being sought in recent months.

Would the bad taste from 38 Studios have been enough to stop any positive action? Would the public have trust in state leaders to make the right choices?

Cynicism is understandable. More answers are needed, and the legal and investigative process must fully play out.

But we agreed with Gov. Gina Raimondo, who last week said, “We can’t let 38 Studios paralyze us.” Better days are ahead for Rhode Island, but we must continue the work – and make the kind of smart choices – needed to get there.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • patientman

    The Governor could have done a lot to move Rhode Island forward by not paying the bonds and ordering an investigation.

    Saturday, October 3, 2015 Report this