See full version: Joseph R. Paolino Jr
Joe also facilitated the development, construction and lease back arrangement of a new police station for the City of Cranston. He also oversaw the construction of a new post-secondary technical school for Katherine Gibbs. Paolino Properties owns 444 Westminster Street, which is home to the City of Providence Economic Development, Inspection and Standards, and Law Departments, as well as Workforce Solutions.
“My great dream was to be mayor of providence.” here
In January 2014, Joe purchased of a 20-story downtown office tower, at 100 Westminster Street, and two smaller properties, at 30 Kennedy Plaza, for about $60 million. He is now the only Rhode Island resident to own a high-rise building in Providence. The 350,000 square-foot high-rise houses offices for Providence Equity Partners, Bank of America and the U.S. Attorney’s office.
As the former Mayor of Providence, former Director of the RI Department of Economic Development, and former Ambassador to Malta, Joe brings an unparalleled depth and breadth of experience to Paolino Properties.
Following his Ambassadorship, Joe returned to Providence and shortly thereafter sold his first property — the historic Turk’s Head Building. “I got a $125,000 commission and I said ‘Forget politics!’ I was hooked. It was a little more than the two hundred dollars my father got for his first commission, which encouraged him to get into my grandfather’s business, however, it was the same principle. I realized it was finally time to join the family business in earnest. Working with my dad was priceless because he truly taught me so many things about the business. He always taught me, ‘work with your tenants, work with the people that want to do business with you so they want to continue to do business with you again and again and again.’ He taught me that no deal is impossible to make if you believe in it, and the complicated deals are the most fun because they give the greatest sense of achievement.” [links]
In 1994, at the request of President Clinton, he became United States Ambassador to Malta. As Ambassador, Joe worked with the U.S. intelligence agencies and helped facilitate the investigation of the Pan Am 103 crash. Joe was instrumental in getting large American corporations like General Electric and Boeing to do business with Malta. He successfully managed to get U.S. Navy ships back into Malta’s waters — they had been banned by the socialist government in 1971. here
Our country is built upon the notion that the people are able to choose their leaders through a majority opinion voiced at the ballot box. However, this concept has become more and more uncommon throughout our democracy, from local city council races all the way up to federal elections — and the result is that people are being elected who have barely grabbed a third of all votes tallied.
Some examples from our own history include Buddy Cianci’s historic 1974 victory over Joseph Doorley Jr. (he won by just over 700 votes and received about 45 percent of the total votes). When he won in 1982, he got about 41 percent of the vote. When Lincoln Chafee won the governorship as an Independent in 2010, he did it while garnering only 36 percent of the vote — as the vote was split three ways between him, Democrats and Republicans. Gina Raimondo won her gubernatorial race over Allan Fung in 2014 with only 40 percent of the vote.
Even I benefited from this system, as I only won around 42 percent of the vote during my election bid for Providence mayor in 1984 because of the competition among the three parties. It makes me wonder — should politicians get elected without gathering at least 50 percent of the public’s vote?
To students interested in careers in diplomacy, he recommended a few pathways, such as the Foreign Service or political experience. He also stressed travel and opening up one’s world view as a necessary prerequisite for a career in diplomacy — or any career, really. “My advice is to know more. Travel, read, explore.” here
Gov. Raimondo is partnering with the Brookings Institution for a comprehensive study of Rhode Island’s economy. I have total confidence in the researchers at Brookings, especially Michael Fascitelli; a Rhode Island native and product of our prestigious educational institutions. I encourage Mr. Fascitelli and the entire team to focus on how we can capitalize on Boston’s boom. This measured, data-driven approach to economic development is exactly what our state needs. There are no cranes in the air or shovels in the ground and that needs to change.
First Bristol Corporation and Paolino Properties are among New England’s premier real estate development firms, engaged in the acquisition, development, construction, rehabilitation, and management of office, retail, and hotel properties throughout New England. more
With that boom has come higher prices, and that’s the opening for Providence and Rhode Island to attract jobs. The combination of proximity to Boston and easy public transit, good universities and hospitals, and lower costs should make Providence a magnet for companies strained by Boston’s rising prices. Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and Mayor Jorge O. Elorza have been working to expand these strengths. Though Amtrak and the commuter rail already provide speedy, traffic-free transportation to Boston, they should run more frequently. In the long term, our leaders should encourage the construction of truly high-speed rail.
First Bristol and Paolino Properties also garnered support from the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, securing a 15-year Tax Incremental Financing agreement. It also received a 10-year tax stabilization agreement from the City of Providence, both of which were necessary to make this project a reality.
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Joseph R. Paolino Jr. served as mayor of Providence from 1984-1991 and was director of the Rhode Island Department of Economic Development from 1991-1994. He is currently managing partner at Paolino Properties. Providence is facing a crime wave that is consistent with other major cities in America. When thinking about how we got here, there are a number of factors. First, the pandemic. For nearly 18 months now, we have been dealing with the challenges that come with it. People have been cooped up inside their homes for far too long, something so many of us have never dealt with before in our lifetime. Second, mental-health challenges. Being stuck indoors for so long is just one of the contributing factors to the mental-health issue. Other issues include working from home, social disruptions, and economic uncertainty. Third, unemployment. The pandemic saw record unemployment last year. Thankfully, it is rebounding and I’m hopeful it will continue to do so. However, more than 7 million people remain out of work and federal unemployment benefits expire in early September. Fourth, the respect of enforcing laws that protect our quality of life. I am referring to laws against public urination, people riding ATVs through residential streets, loud music blaring in our neighborhoods creating public nuisances, panhandling, and the homeless sleeping on the steps of Providence City Hall. And finally, the lack of police officers. Providence is funded for 500 police officers, but the city only has 390 on the payroll right now. When a city like Providence has over 100 vacancies on its police force, it begs for some swift reform. We’re fortunate a new police academy class will be graduating in November. That will put close to 50 new police officers on the streets. But we also have to remember many men and women are ready to retire which would reduce that 50 down to 20. What Providence needs to do right now is continue with recruitment and have candidates ready for an additional two to three future police academies starting after the first of the year. Going forward, recruitment should continue and never stop. But there is also the potential for a golden opportunity to fill many of those vacancies right now. Reaching out to the retirees of the Providence Police Department. They are already trained and know the city well. When I was mayor of Providence, I helped institute the “75-day rule.” It is similar to the state’s policy which allows a retiree to work up to 75 full days or 150 half days without their pension being suspended. Suspending the rule or changing it to say 12 months would help the police department with staffing issues and we will see a reduction in the crime rate. Retirees wouldn’t have to worry about losing their pension benefits and they would make some extra cash on the side. Sure, it would be a double dip for them but for all the right reasons. Isn’t safety worth it? Providence is sitting on more than $100 million in federal COVID money and the state has more than $1 billion in COVID money. One of the best ways to spend some of that money is on public safety. Providence wouldn’t even need to worry about providing health benefits as retirees already receive health benefits in their retirement package. By utilizing that federal money, the Providence Police department can also work on hiring counselors and psychologists to help with mental-health issues since it is so prominent in our society right now. Things won’t get better by sitting on the sidelines hoping for a miracle. But by coming up with a plan to put more boots on the ground, things likely won’t get any worse. There is only one way to find out. We have to try for the better good of us all and the city we all love. My suggestion to elected officials in Providence is simple: Act now and lead our city to safety.more
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza joined Joe Paolino Jr. to discuss crime in the city, education, pensions, the ‘Superman’ Building, and whether or not he’s considering a run for Governor of Rhode Island on the show that aired August 29, 2021 on ABC6.
Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green joined Joe Paolino Jr. to discuss masks in public schools, vaccinations among teachers and students, and the new Providence Teachers Union contract on the show that aired August 22, 2021 on ABC6.