PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A Providence hotel is removing portraits of late Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci in response to a complaint about his criminal history.
The Graduate Providence hotel that opened in April features multiple references to Rhode Island’s capital city, including Cianci portraits in every guestroom. The Graduate is located in the same building as the former Biltmore Hotel, where Cianci lived for a time.
The portraits didn’t sit well with Kath Connolly, who in a letter to management reminded them of “the corruption, crime, fear, and dishonesty” in the city during Cianci’s years in office.
Dear Graduate Hotel Providence: This is an outrage. @GraduateHotel pic.twitter.com/rq06lBKC56
— kath (@kathplace) June 8, 2019
A hotel spokeswoman in a statement Tuesday said the feedback prompted the removal of artwork referencing Cianci.
Cianci was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison after a corruption conviction in 2002. He died in 2016.
The Cianci Foundation in a statement said Connolly’s comments are “disgusting, irresponsible and lack respect.”
