PROVIDENCE -- Frustrated Providence firefighters joined generous
Democrats today to greet U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the East
Side home of former Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr. for a fund-raising
luncheon.
The firefighters, who have been working without a contract since 2001,
carried signs showing their support for Clinton while chastising current
Mayor David N. Cicilline for his stance on their contract negotiations.
Numbering about 120, the picketers strolled around the wide Orchard
Avenue lane, on the far side of Paolino's big, white clapboard house.
Held back in part by portable yellow fencing, the group was mostly
quiet, except for one member who kept beating a big marching-band drum.
Some carried blue signs reading "Providence firefighters support
Hillary," while others toted red signs apparently aimed at the mayor,
saying, "NEGOTIATE."
While Clinton avoided passing the picketers when she arrived, entering
the home of Paolino and his wife, Lianne, by a back way on another
street, she left by the front door about two hours later, and made a
point of stopping to speak with the firefighters.
Presidential popularity
While the firefighters were using the opportunity to publicize their
displeasure with Cicilline over their contract impasse, the attendees
inside Paolino's house were contributing at least $1,000 each to help
Clinton's 2006 reelection campaign in New York.
Cicilline had joined the group inside the home before Clinton arrived.
So had fellow Rhode Island Democrats, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. James
Langevin.
They lunched on beef, shrimp and salmon, washing it down with water,
soda, Chardonnay or beer. And they had their pictures taken with Clinton.
"She talked a lot about the Republican Party being much further to the
right than you would have anticipated," William Lynch, chairman of the
state Democratic party, said as he was leaving.
Often mentioned as a presidential candidate, Clinton is one of the
national stars of the Democratic party. Cicilline was a member of the
host committee for the fund-raising luncheon, which was to be attended
by about 150 people.
Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, are
popular in the heavily-Democratic Ocean State.
In a visit to Brown University last Friday, the former president was
greeted by thousands of enthusiastic fans, some of whom waited overnight
outside the Brown Bookstore for a chance to meet the former president
and get his autograph on their copies of his autobiography, My Life.
Paolino acknowedged their popularity today, stepping outside his home
briefly to confirm he had expected more than 100 guests.
Asked if he would like to see Clinton run for president, Paolino
replied, "Wouldn't she make a great president?"
And, he added, local Democrats tease Clinton, saying that she's visited
the area so many times, "she's like a third senator here."
Last September, however, firefighters picketing outside the Providence
Biltmore hotel spoiled an opportunity for 200 local Democrats to meet
Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards. Edwards decided
against attending that fundraiser, saying he refused to cross the picket
line.
The firefighters, members of the International Association of Fire
Fighters Local 799, have been working without a contract since July 1,
2001, and their bitterness toward Cicilline has apparently hardened.
Late last month, picketing firefighters vandalized and spat on the
mayor's car at a Cicilline fundraiser on Smith Hill, according to a
Providence police officer who serves on the mayor's security team.
Cicilline has been asking for concessions on health care, including
sharing costs, from all the city unions. But, he said this week, "This
is a contract that cannot be resolved by me alone."
Firefighter union president Paul A. Doughty said today that their action
was not designed to block Clinton from attending the fundraiser, saying
they support her and many of her views.
But, he added, the firefighters are "frustrated and angry" after going
several years without a contract.
Handshakes and compliments
As she left, a gracious Clinton walked over to the firefighters and
said, "I wish you well in this. I know how frustrating it can be."
Dressed in a gray-blue pant suit and a pearl necklace, she shook the
hands of many of the firefighters -- and stopped to pet a Great Dane
dog, named Contessa, belonging to firefighter Chris Lisi.
"This is a beautiful dog," she said.
As she worked the line of firefighters, Clinton briefly addressed
questions from the press, including whether she regretted her vote
authorizing the United States to go to war with Iraq.
"I don't regret the vote. I regret the way the president used the vote,"
she said, saying the attack should have been launched with more
equipment and troops.
When Cicilline walked out the front door, he drew jeers from the
firefighters. "Liar," some shouted. "Come to the table," shouted others.
Besides the firefighters and press, a handful of citizens gathered on
Orchard Avenue today amid trees still struggling to turn green and some
spring blooms.
Among them was Linda Tapia, an East Side resident armed against the
gray, chilly weather in a Newport sweatshirt.
"I love Hillary, she's brilliant," Tapia said, adding that she also
believes Clinton has character and integrity and would love to see her
run for president.
As a mother of two grown daughters, she also admires the way Clinton
raised her daughter, Chelsea.
"She's got my vote," Tapia said.
-- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay
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