Real estate developer Arnold “Buff” Chace is hoping to reap an incredible tax windfall from the City of Providence when the Providence City Council approves a deal worked out between City Solicitor Jeffrey Dana, and approved by outgoing Mayor Jorge Elorza.

Tonight’s meeting the the Providence City Council Finance Committee was cancelled within an hour of Uprise RI publishing a piece pointing out that buried within the paperwork of the meeting, among perhaps hundred of other tax deals, were at least five of the ten properties Chace worked to remove from their lucrative tax stabilization agreements so they could be reclassified as affordable housing under more lucrative 8-Law agreements. You can read about the meeting’s cancellation here and see the original article revealing a $30m tax break for one of Providence’s richest people here.

It is unknown why elected city officials are so keen to warp the intention of Rhode Island General Laws § 44-5-13.11, aka 8-Law, which is intended to stimulate the development of affordable housing, into a tool for the rich to avoid paying their fair share in property taxes, but a look at the political contributions of Arnold “Buff” Chace might provide some clue.

Chace has contributed over $150k to politicians statewide over the years, according to research conducted by Jackie Goldman for Uprise RI. Current City Councilmembers who have benefitted from Chace’s largesse include:

• City Council President John Igliozzi (Ward 7) $1450
• City Councilmember John Goncalves (Ward 1) $2250
• City Councilmember Helen Anthony (Ward 2) $3000
• City Councilmember Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3) $4000
• City Councilmember Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) $250
• City Councilmember Carmen Castillo (Ward 9) $150
• City Councilmember Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) $250
• City Councilmember David Salvatore (Ward 14) $3500

Councilmember Jo-Ann Ryan chairs the City Council Finance Committee. Councilmembers Castillo and Anthony are both members.

Former City Councilmembers such as Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos and State Senator Samuel Zurier (Democrat, District 3, Providence) are also beneficiaries of Buff Chace contributions.

Future City Councilmembers Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) and Susan Anderbois (Ward 3) each received $500 each for their successful races.

Many other politicians have been gifted with money from Buff Chace, including State Representatives Christopher Blazejewski and Scott Slater, Governor Daniel McKee, United States Representative David Cicilline, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Democrat for State Treasurer James Diossa, State Senators Joshua Miller and Maryellen Goodwin, Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi, and Democrat for United States Representative candidate Seth Magaziner.

As a country, we all recognize the toxic effects that money has on our politics, yet when confronted about accepting donations from real estate developers, corporate interests or lobbyists, individual politicians are affronted and cry foul.

In an interview with Uprise RI, when confronted by the fact that he was taking money from lawyers and lobbyists seeking to expand fossil fuel businesses in the Port of Providence, then candidate, now Providence Mayor-elect Brett Smiley said, “I’ve never accepted a contribution from a donor having an expectation that I take a certain position or not. And that’s no different in this case. People support candidates who they think will be good for the job. And in those guys’ case, they think I’ll be a good mayor, I appreciate their support and I’m happy to have it. There’s not much more to it than that. There was no expectation around support of one topic or another, but rather, what leader will I be for our capital city as we face some pretty serious challenges.” [For the record Brett Smiley accepted a $500 donation from Chace, in 2013.]

It's no secret that Buff Chace & fam are major campaign donors. They continue to flex their financial power in Prov's Mayoral and City Council elections to influence city policy to their benefit. When I take office, I won't stand for these sweetheart deals. https://t.co/RXRvcuX8tP

— Justin Roias (@justinroias) September 21, 2022

“You know what campaign donations are from big corporations and lobbyists?” asked Cenk Uyghur, founder of The Young Turks. “Bribes. They’re bribes when Republicans take them, they’re also bribes when Democrats take them.”