Mayor Fung Voices Frustration at Council’s Delay of Roadway Public Safety Ordinance
Mayor Says Council Members are letting politics block a public hearing
CRANSTON, RI— Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung today voiced frustration with Democrat members of the City Council’s Ordinance Committee who voted to delay preliminary consideration of an important roadway public safety ordinance Thursday night.
Instead of voting for the ordinance and sending it to the full council for an open public hearing, members of the committee, including co-sponsors of the original proposal, decided to delay the measure despite ongoing safety concerns in high-traffic areas in Cranston.
“I am disappointed that the committee apparently gave in to political pressure from their party boss, Mike Sepe, and prevented the ordinance from receiving consideration from the full council,” the mayor commented. “I believe the ordinance is the right approach and we need to push forward before someone is seriously injured or killed.
“I’ve said over and over that the intention is not to target panhandlers,” the mayor said. “This is to address legitimate concerns about public safety and is intended to protect motorists, pedestrians, cheerleaders, firefighters and panhandlers.
“We can’t do nothing,” the mayor concluded.
