Providence Councilor Opposed Liquor License, Got $500, Then Backed It—Now Not Sure
Friday, March 17, 2023
Providence City Councilman John Goncalves opposed, then supported, a liquor license application in Wayland Square near a school -- and now, after GoLocal raised questions, he says he is undecided.
Goncalves, who represents Ward 1 (East Side and Fox Point), sent a letter on July 21, 2022, to the Providence Board of Licenses regarding the application by “Estiatorio Flli” at 225 Waterman Street for a full BV liquor license for a new Greek restaurant.
In his opposition statement, Goncalves said he believed a liquor license at the location would "negatively affect the quality of life” on the busy East Side street.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The proliferation of more bars and liquor access in this neighborhood is a serious concern for the neighborhood’s quality of life,” he wrote.
Just feet from the proposed location is the Croft School.
The application was never considered by the Board of Licenses in the summer of 2022, for several reasons.
The proposed location is within 200 feet of a school -- under current law, a business is not allowed to apply for a liquor license within that proximity in certain areas.
Board of Licenses Chair Dylan Conley told GoLocalProv that in addition to that, more than 50% of abutting property owners within the 200-foot radius objected to the application, which by law meant it was not even eligible for consideration by the board.
"We Met with Him and We Educated Him"
The only way the liquor license could be approved is if the owners circumvented local regulations and the Providence Board of Licenses and went to the State House.
A week following his letter, on July 29, 2022, Board of Elections records show that Goncalves received a $500 campaign contribution from the owner of the business seeking the license, George Potsidis. It was the developer's first donation to Goncalves, and the councilman was running unopposed for reelection.
Documents secured by GoLocalProv show that Goncalves then changed course and, by December 2022, asked state legislators to provide an exemption to allow for the liquor license for the proposed business, in which he referenced lobbyist Jeffrey Padwa, he is the former Providence City Solicitor and was the lead counsel on the Fane Tower project.
"This letter is being sent in follow-up to your conversation with Jeff Padwa and to kindly request your support and introduction of legislation that would provide an exemption to the legal remonstrance involving the application for a BV license to be located at 225 Waterman Street," wrote Goncalves.
Padwa, the lawyer and registered lobbyist for Potsidis company said when asked by GoLocal why Goncalves reversed course and went from strongly opposing to supporting the proposed license, said, "We met with him and we educated him.”
A week after his stated opposition, Goncalves received a donation from the business owner. Goncalves ran unopposed in 2022.
Goncalves went on to state in his letter that he would propose a resolution in support of the special exemption at the City Council level.
Providence legislators and Padwa then began a push this session at the Rhode Island General Assembly to allow for the special liquor license carve-out in Wayland Square, touting Goncalves' support.
Now, Goncalves told GoLocal he is unsure if he is even going to introduce the City Council resolution.
Goncalves' appeal to Senator Sam Zurier to introduced legislation in support of the license at the State House - and pledge to introduced a Council resolution.
Liquor Law Politics
Bills were introduced in 2023 in the Rhode Island House of Representatives by Edith Ajello and in the Rhode Island Senate by Senator Sam Zurier to allow for the special exemption for a liquor license at 225 Waterman.
On March 1, Padwa testified before the Senate Committee on Special Legislation to allow for the carve-out for "Estiatoria Fili."
Zurier — a former City Councilman — told the Senate Committee that they had Goncalves' word that he would introduce a resolution in support at the municipal level.
“With regard to local approval, I’d like you to know that the Councilman who represents this district has promised us that he will file an ordinance to get approval by the council and we will certainly not present this to the full Senate unless or until such an ordinance passes the Providence City Council,” said Zurier.
Padwa in his testimony added that the original location of the Croft School had opened in close proximity to other liquor-serving establishments.
Based on the information provided by Zurier and Padwa, the Senate Committee approved the measure, which would, as mentioned by Zurier, require full Senate approval to move forward.
Goncalves, however, told GoLocal on Thursday he is now “unsure” if he will introduce such a resolution at the City Council.
“We’re waiting for letters of support and opposition. There are people reaching out on both sides,” said Goncalves.
Goncalves refused to comment on his promises to legislators and Padwa, and said that the donation from Potsidis, the involved party, that he received days after his expressed opposition to the liquor license application in the summer of 2022 had no bearing on his decisions.
Padwa — and Zurier — affirmed to GoLocal that they had both been given assurances by Goncalves he would be introducing the resolution at the City Council; Zurier provided the letter that Goncalves had sent to him.
Despite Goncalves' now reticence, Padwa said he stood by what he sees as the underlying merits of the liquor license application, which had received letters of support at the Board of Licenses by non-abutters in 2022.
“There were rumors of this being a late-night bar, which is not true,” said Padwa. “This is a restaurant that would bring jobs and be a great addition to Wayland Square.”
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