Democratic nominee for mayor David Morales looks to wrestle Providence in a new direction
Tim Yean
Managing Editor
(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) – David Morales can make many comparisons between being a wrestler and a politician, namely being responsive to fans, and perhaps as mayor, to whole constituencies. After his September primary victory, he now looks to win by pin in Nov. 3’s upcoming election for mayor of Providence.
Morales, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, faces Republican Dave Talan, who shares many policy agreements with current Providence mayor Brett Smiley.
Morales, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated the incumbent Smiley in Sept. 9’s primary election, earning 52% of the vote. Despite the two being in the same party, Smiley did not endorse Morales, citing vast differences in their political stances.
“I pay no mind to any of the rhetoric that we might hear from Brett Smiley in relation to not endorsing,” Morales told Anchor TV Interviews. “I think that is completely fine; that’s his political decision to make.”
The most spoken-about of the policy differences is rent stabilization, where Smiley and Talan are both in heavy opposition to the idea. Morales calls the policy a “very thoughtful proposal.” Asked if it would drive away developers from building new housing, Morales says that there would be exemptions in place that would allow for new housing development to continue. He points the issue of high rents to companies such as Strive, which “buy dozens of properties within a given neighborhood and then dictate what the rental market should look like.”
“I believe it’s wrong,” Morales said. “I believe it’s wrong that we’re in a situation right now where a working family, a working family of five, has to now cram themselves into a two-bedroom apartment because they wouldn’t be able to afford any other alternative.”
On bringing teachers to work in the Providence Public School District, which the city regained control of this past summer, Morales says there are too many tasks on the shoulders of city educators, sometimes having to act as social workers and even interpreters. Morales emphasized that improved staffing levels are a must.
“That looks like having more teaching assistants, teachers that are certified in bilingual education and at the same time, more counselors and social workers that can account for the social and emotional needs of our students because it continues to be a demanding need within PPSD,” Morales said. “And we’re hearing it from students, families and educators alike.”
On raising nightclub age requirements to 21-plus following the September death of a University of Massachusetts Dartmouth freshman at Mezzo Lounge, Morales wants to re-evaluate the policies currently in place. Part of that is creating a special provisional license for clubs that wish to remain 18-plus clubs. He called Mezzo Lounge a “repeated offender” and referred to clubs such as LGBTQ+ friendly EGO Providence that do not see many incidents.
“I think that it is important that if that establishment were to continue safely hosting 18-plus nights, that they have some discretion to do so, but that there’s actually a way for the city to monitor that,” Morales told Anchor TV Interviews.
On ICE, Morales denies that when in office he would direct Providence police to arrest ICE agents, a claim Dave Talan made on his Anchor TV Interviews episode. He’d rather fight against the federal agency by using the City Solicitor and Attorney General’s office to “prosecute fascist ICE agents and file suits against the Department of Homeland Security when they are harming our neighbors.”
“We’re not going to be putting our Providence police officers in a position of danger,” Morales said.
On local Question 7, which asks voters if the city should divest money from “foreign countries conducting severe violations of human rights,” Morales fully supports the question. Questioned whether his tenure as mayor would result in increased acts of Islamophobia and antisemitism, Morales says he is focused on creating a “Providence for all” and taking action against instances of hate and bigotry.
“We as a government have a responsibility to make sure all of our neighbors feel safe,” Morales said. “And that starts with being able to not just have conversations, but being able to take action when there are cases that stem out of hatred.”
When asked to call the war in Gaza a genocide by Israel, he said yes, saying he doesn’t think “it’s controversial to say that there is a genocide happening in Gaza.”
Over the course of his campaign, which he had launched in September of last year, Morales says that he has learned that voters “want a mayor that loves this city,” and that residents are appreciative of one who is present in everyday life in each neighborhood.
“From the moments that I’ve been able to spend from the North End to South Providence back over to Downtown and the East Side, it’s been an absolute pleasure to watch as neighbors feel excited by the hope that we’re providing, not just based on our values, but also the ways in which we present our city.”
Early voting in Providence has already begun. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Rhode Island College will close classes for the day to allow students to vote.
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