PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Providence's mayor says the city has "survived the worst of our fiscal storm" but that its recovery is taking hold slowly and urgent action is needed to boost its economy.
Angel Taveras was delivering his state of the city address on Tuesday evening.
The first-term Democrat says his administration has brought Providence back from the brink of bankruptcy after facing a $110 million deficit and a "Category 5 fiscal hurricane."
Taveras won millions more in voluntary payments from tax-exempt universities and hospitals and negotiated settlements with unions and retirees that freeze pensions and make other cost-saving benefits changes. But he says the city must act urgently to develop its economic assets, including its port, arts community and the so-called Knowledge District.
Taveras is also calling for "reasonable, common-sense" gun control legislation.
