Dear Neighbors and Friends
So many of my neighbors were as devastated as I was to hear the abrupt news of the PawSox ownership’s decision to move our team to Worcester. They, just like me, grew up in Pawtucket going to the PawSox and love taking their kids there now.??
As I meet more and more Fairlawn and downtown residents on the doors, their comments are consistent they are sad, upset, and angry about the loss of such a family friendly, cost effective entertainment option that was ours. This team was part of the fabric of this community. They are also consistent that Mayor Grebien did everything he possibly could to keep this team, even in the face of constant roadblocks at seemingly every turn.??
One such roadblock that they are particularly angered by is that our district councilor, my opponent, did nothing to help keep the team and, in fact, opposed them staying. Last year, while the Senate was studying the bill, Tim Rudd voted against a resolution supporting keeping the PawSox in Pawtucket. The Speaker of the House later pointed to lack of full support in Pawtucket as one reason for the House not to pass the deal.??
As scientific polling shows, and my experience on the doors confirms, over 90 percent of the people in Pawtucket wanted the team to stay. Instead of looking out for their interests, my opponent was busy playing politics and opposing a positive initiative for Pawtucket to serve his own interests.??
In a final, inexplicable act of ill-advised and out of touch political gamesmanship, my opponent took to Facebook after learning of the surprise announcement by the team and blasted the Mayor’s administration for not keeping him personally informed of the team’s plans while he was holding a political event. This is not leadership. This is immature behavior by an out of touch egotist who chose rather than to stand with Pawtucket in its dark hour to instead attack the one leader who never gave up on this issue and fought tirelessly for Pawtucket to keep the team and redevelop downtown.
I’m deeply saddened that I will no longer be able to bring my son to PawSox games. I’m equally as troubled that so many in Pawtucket will be denied the same opportunities in the future, and that that this point of community pride has been lost. I cannot do anything about the owners’ decision to leave, but I can ensure that the District 6 City Councilor puts the needs and wants of the people above his own political interests. If I’m fortunate enough to be elected, I will always put Pawtucket’s best interests first and not simply oppose things that are in the City’s best interests because it gets my name in the paper or appeals to a small group of my political allies. I want to be a voice for all and Pawtucket will always come first for me.
Jeffrey Appiah is a candidate for Pawtucket City Council, District 6, and life-long Pawtucket resident.