PawSox stadium legislation could be heard in fall session

By JONATHAN BISSONNETTE

PAWTUCKET – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo on Monday evening gave her support to legislation that seeks to finance the construction of a Pawtucket Red Sox ballpark in downtown Pawtucket, calling the stadium a “top priority for Pawtucket” and saying “it’s a good proposal.”

In her statement issued to the media, Raimondo said that over the past few weeks, Mayor Donald R. Grebien “has heard my concerns about the initial Slater Mill Ballpark proposal which did not adequately protect state taxpayers. He and the team listened and they addressed those concerns.”

“I believe Mayor Grebien's revised PawSox stadium proposal offers an exciting opportunity to create hundreds of new jobs, jumpstart downtown development in Pawtucket and keep the PawSox in Rhode Island for new generations,” Raimondo said in the statement. “Under the terms of the proposal, the state ultimately pays nothing for the new ballpark.”

“I support this version of the proposal because without it Rhode Island could potentially lose hundreds of existing jobs and millions of dollars in existing revenue,” the governor continued. “The ballpark is a top priority for Pawtucket. I think it's a good proposal, and I urge the General Assembly to give it a full debate and vetting.”

Grebien late last week in an interview with The Times said he was hopeful that legislation would be introduced in the Senate this week for the financing of a ballpark, with the hope that the General Assembly would commit to vetting the bill publicly during a special session this fall. Without a fall session, the mayor said, it would be entirely possible that the PawSox would be driven out of Rhode Island.

Grebien last week said that the draft legislation has been revised and finalized and it is waiting to be introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman and District 18 State Sen. William J. Conley Jr. Conley told several news outlets that he will introduce the legislation in the Senate today and while the Senate will not hear the legislation before the end of the current session, it could be possible for a special session this fall.

Grebien in a statement on Monday night said: “I am gratified that we are finally moving forward together to have this proposal heard and vetted at the statewide level. Senator William Conley and the entire Pawtucket General Assembly delegation have been supportive.”