GoLocalProv | News | 10 Biggest Stories of 2022

#7 Diossa’s World Journey and Lacking Paperwork

The continuing investigation into James Diossa, the previous Mayor of Central Falls and RI’s Common Treasurer-Elect continues. 

Presently, GoLocal has filed a grievance in opposition to the Metropolis of Central Falls for failing to supply Diossa’s journey data.

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Learn This Story Revealed in September of 2022.

A GoLocal investigation, which started greater than three months in the past, uncovered 26 journeys by then-Central Falls Mayor James Diossa — lots of the journeys had been to unique locations.

Now, GoLocal has uncovered greater than a dozen extra journeys and an try by Diossa to cowl up the true value to taxpayers for his journey prices.

Diossa is working for basic treasurer in Rhode Island, and if elected, he might be accountable for roughly $10 billion in retirees’ pension funds.

In whole, the journey paid by third events, partially paid by third events, and paid completely by the Metropolis of Central Falls whole almost 50 journeys and value greater than $80,000.

Central Falls could also be greatest identified nationally for its 2011 chapter, and it’s Rhode Island’s poorest metropolis. Per capita earnings in Central Falls is simply $15,910 a 12 months.

Of the 26 journeys GoLocal beforehand uncovered, ten of them had been worldwide, together with East Timor, Malaysia, England, Mexico, Colombia, China, and a number of journeys to Israel and Taiwan.

Diossa’s marketing campaign claimed that these 26 journeys had been paid for solely by third events.

However that declare by Diossa’s crew was a lie.

The false assertion helped him get by a tricky Democratic main in opposition to Stefan Pryor.

Diossa received by 11,660 votes.

Diossa’s Lies About Journey Prices

After GoLocal’s preliminary story was first printed on August 11, Diossa’s spokeswoman Alisha Pina mentioned throughout an look on WPRO with Tara Granahan that very same day, “No taxpayer monies had been spent on any of those journeys.”

A GoLocal Entry to Public Information Act (APRA) request filed with the Metropolis of Central Falls on August 12 — which was repeatedly delayed by Central Falls Metropolis Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk — when launched to GoLocal this week, confirmed that Diossa charged town 1000’s of {dollars} for the journeys — these very journeys that his marketing campaign mentioned had been paid for completely by third events.

Jerzyk, a long-time Diossa crony, can also be a registered State Home lobbyist and a former director of a hemp firm in Rhode Island.

The monetary paperwork turned over to GoLocal by the Metropolis of Central Falls unveiled that the crash-strapped metropolis paid 1000’s of {dollars} to underwrite near-endless journey.  Greater than $1,100 {dollars} in Central Falls was spent on a visit to England, which was sponsored partly by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council — the group receives its funding from state and federal taxpayer {dollars}.

Diossa charged the Metropolis of Central Falls for a portion of his journey to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The primary sponsor of the journey was a company known as Subsequent Metropolis.

A visit to Colombia sponsored by the Colombian authorities additionally was partially underwritten by Central Falls taxpayers, in line with metropolis data.

Diossa refused to answer questions concerning the journeys, the prices or the deceptive statements.

Undisclosed Journeys, Together with Dubai, Value Tens of 1000’s Extra

GoLocal has additionally discovered quite a few different journeys paid for with metropolis funds, together with a visit to Dubai, within the United Emirates. That journey was absolutely paid for by Central Falls residents and value almost $6,000, in line with metropolis data. Information present that airfare and resort fees alone exceeded $5,200.

Town refused to offer a proof of the aim of that Diossa’s journey to Dubai. Diossa didn’t reply to questions concerning the Dubai journey.

Whereas Diossa was touring, retirees of the Metropolis of Central Falls had been being hit with main cuts to their pensions because of town’s chapter.

However, Dubai was simply one of many journeys that Central Falls residents picked up the tab for — there have been greater than one other dozen journeys.  

Questions About Diossa’s Reporting

Extra questions come up about Diossa’s reporting of the particular prices. Based on Diossa’s Rhode Island Ethics Fee monetary assertion, he traveled to China in 2019. The overall value of the journey was reportedly simply $400.00. It’s unclear what the precise value was and if the Metropolis of Central Falls paid for the stability.

The price of Diossa’s journey whereas he served as mayor was not reported by Central Falls as journey within the price range; as a substitute, entries had been recorded within the Metropolis’s basic ledger underneath “skilled growth & coaching.”

In whole, Diossa spent months touring in the USA and throughout the globe — the tab paid by third events and Central Falls taxpayers.