By Tessa Roy, WPRO News
Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien said Tuesday that he believes the Pawsox will accept a newly drafted Pawsox deal as it’s currently proposed, but the clock is ticking as this year’s legislative session is slated to end.
“If by the end of the session, we don’t have a bill, then I don’t think there’s any more discussion… [the team] hasn’t threatened that, they haven’t said that, but that’s just the reality,” he said.
The House Finance committee heard the latest draft of the Pawsox stadium bill, backed by House Speaker Nick Mattiello. The Speaker has claimed the state would be off the hook if the deal goes south, leaving the onus on the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency.
Grebien proposed two “minor tweaks” to the bill on variable rate bonds and to the eminent domain portion of the bill to help create jobs. He urged lawmakers to approve the plan as moving to Worcester could still be an option for the team.
“My instincts are absolutely they will be here, they want to be here… I’m trying to make sure that we’ve got a bill so I can sit down and have the conversation with them because I can tell you if we don’t have a bill, they’re gone,” he said.
