By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza submitted a petition to the city’s Board of Licenses Monday to void all operating licenses of the Shark Bar and Grille, after the establishment was identified in the corruption scandal involving former Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox.
As part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors, Fox, the former House Speaker and Vice-Chairman of the Providence Board of Licenses, admitted that he accepted a $52,500 bribe from the owners of the restaurant in 2008 in exchange for a liquor license.
Elorza says public corruption is unacceptable.
“I was disturbed to learn that the Providence License Board was used as a platform for bribery,” said Elorza in a statement.
“The petition filed today sends a strong message that there will be no tolerance for corruption in our city and I hope the License Board moves swiftly to void the Shark Bar’s license.”
The board has not yet scheduled a show cause hearing.
