Plunder Dome, our Blunder Home

The Bud-I says that the abrupt retirement of Providence's director of administration, Frank Corrente, in the midst of a federal probe of City Hall is only coincidental. Right, and winged monkeys will be flying from P&J's orifices at the stroke of midnight.

Residents of Our Little Towne (and, indeed, the entire state) continue to watch and wait for what one City Hall denizen describes as "the other shoe to drop." Whether or not that other shoe happens to be a handcrafted Italian loafer remains to be seen. Much has been made about the Many Moods of the Bud-I. In recent weeks, he has seemed to waver between an uncharacteristic reticence and an over-the-top pugnacity. His recent belittling of FBI Special Agent W. Dennis Aiken and cooperating witness Anthony Freitas has raised eyebrows among pundits.

Of course, white-hot rumors abound all over town and, if anything, Corrente's departure will further fuel speculation. The director of administration has been at the center of many of these rumors due to the fact that he hasn't been seen by anyone at City Hall since the initial raid that bagged Ead and Pannone. And when was the last time anyone has seen Corrente and Cianci in the same room? P&J are among those who believe that, one way or another, Corrente will prove to be a key element to the tapestry that is the Plunder Dome investigation.

One thing is certain: The federal probe into operations in Providence still has a long way to go, and we fully expect the investigation will continue for months, if not years. Federal corruption probes are tough cases, and they just don't fit into convenient news cycles. Prosecutors have remained tightlipped about the whole enterprise. Stay tuned.

John Tabella

Flags are once again at half staff at Casa Diablo with the tragic passing of the deputy secretary of state, John Tabella. Only 35 years old, John had been active in political circles since his teenage years. He provided invaluable assistance to the political candidacies of both US Representative Patrick Kennedy and Secretary of State James Langevin.

Although his political activities were wide ranging, John was the real thing, a public servant. In fact, he exemplified the link between politics and public service. This included countless unpaid hours working for Save the Bay, RIPIRG and a host of other worthy causes and organizations. With his mother, Pat, John created Impact Communications, publishing the "Decision Makers" guide to government in the state, an invaluable resource for the media and concerned citizens alike. This groundbreaking guide continues to be offered free of charge by the secretary of state's office.

P&J first met John when he was a student at PC and was the key player in the revitalization of the state's Young Democrats group. We were greatly impressed by his energy and passion but, above all, by his commitment to effecting change through the elective and political process. John Tabella was an example of what's best in the world of politics, as well as what was best in his generation. A fine man who accomplished much and left way too soon, he will be sorely missed.

Give us a break

It is mindboggling to consider that fat cats like Terry Murray actually have the balls to ask for tax breaks for those earning over $200,000. We guess that missing synapse in one's conscience is all part of being a successful corporate buccaneer.

What is also beyond comprehension is that the General Assembly is seriously considering the proposal, having once again swallowed hook, line and sinker the faulty premise that unless they don kneepads sporting the Fleet, Hasbro, Fidelity and American Power Conversion logos, businesses would be crowding onto every Greyhound bus, Amtrak train and sailing dhow to flee the oppressive business climate in the Biggest Little.

While we should not be surprised these greedmeisters are trying the old "we're outta here" trick that has worked so well in the past, there are other elements of this brazen affront to common sense and decency that have gotten P&J's knickers in a twist, above and beyond what Henry Shelton described quite correctly as "blackmail."

Let's start out with Fidelity's blatant attempt at a buy-off of the legislators by promising to build new offices that will provide 1300 jobs. Funny how that proposal came up right as House members were raising holy hell about the audacity of the moneymen in pursuing this crooked deal. That pursuit was also tainted, with Murray and his privileged posse conducting closed door meetings with the General Assembly leadership to push this preposterous proposal, because they knew what the public's reaction would be. Jeez, guys, maybe you can talk the House and Senate into holding secret ballots on it.

Let's also look at the track records of some of these Rhode Island stalwarts, who have one foot on the platform and the other one on the train. APC got a sweetheart deal, and then failed to live up to it. Hasbro's Al Verrecchia ostensibly lied to Senate Majority Leader Paul Kelly about promising to keep jobs in Vo Dilun, then pulled the plug on the workers in Central Falls. Terry Murray has offed more heads than the Red Queen, as Fleet downsizes and his salary and waistline upsizes. Let them eat calzones, eh, Terry?

The irony in all this should not be lost on Assembly leadership when they hear how highly paid executives would be lured here by the tax incentives. It might be nice to explain that unless the companies they work for are ready to invest in local schools, something business has an abominable track record in doing, more kids will end up asking if you'd like fries with that, and the corporate titans will be loudly lamenting the lack of a skilled labor pool. Also, for many years, corporate leaders have brought top management to Rhody by pointing out the joys and wonders of Narragansett Bay and the state's beaches. It's a simple and very true quality of life pitch for those execs who end up with houses on the water in Barrington and East Greenwich, and a little sloop at the yacht club. Glad to see the leadership, Governor Bigfoot and the Economic Development Corporation planning on killing that golden goose with the Quonset Point megaport proposal. Now that's logic!

Kudos and congrats

. . . to Mike Caito, the Phoenix's local music correspondent lo these many years. Mike combined a unique writing style, knowledge and passion in an unbeatable package. His "Nightswimming" column was easily the most comprehensive and vital writing about the Rhode Island music scene to be found anywhere. Of all the champions of homegrown music, Caito was numero uno. His voice is irreplaceable.

Lucky for us, the Phoenix has cajoled, Bob Gulla, another first-rate music writer, into providing coverage of the local beat. We look forward to his missives.

. . . to John Fuzek, founder and Head Ramrod of the Hear in R.I. music festival which will be coming at you (as always) free of charge this weekend. While there are many helping hands in this huge project, it's been John's single-minded vision and tireless stewardship that has built Hear in R.I. into a truly major event. It's at India Point Park -- the Met Café if it rains (and John says it won't), Saturday and Sunday. Don't miss it.

. . . to Mel Torme: drummer, writer, actor, composer, singer. He was the real deal, a true artist.

. . . to film critic Peter Bradshaw, of the respected British newspaper, the Manchester Guardian, for not being bashful. Reporting from Cannes on the film Barber of Siberia, Bradshaw wrote, "Oleg Menshikov, playing Andrei Tolstoy, the mercurial young cadet officer, just sucks. In fact, he more than sucks. He blows. Tolstoy is very, very tiresome indeed. As they are having sex, with (co-star) Julia (Ormond) masterfully astride this 20-year old ingenu [sic], she breathes: `My beautiful boy.' Excuse me? Beautiful? He looks like Roddy McDowall in Planet of the Apes." Other than that, how was the film, Pete?

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