Firefighters protest tax-exempt Brown

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - One week after Providence's mayor warned of possible bankruptcy, city firefighters are demanding tax-exempt Brown University pitch-in more to the city's coffers.

On Thursday, members of the Providence Firefighters Union picketed on South Main Street, outside a board meeting of the Brown University Corporation.

"What we're doing is bringing awareness to injustice," said Union Vice President Philip Fiore.  "What Brown University's doing to the city of Providence is, as my president quoted last week, disgusting."

Mayor Angel Taveras predicted possible bankruptcy for Rhode Island's capital city unless retired firefighters and police officers agreed to deep cuts in their generous benefits.  The mayor also called on the city's non-profit universities and hospitals to increase their contributions to the city.

Fiore suggested that Brown University's tax-exempt status is what is driving Providence toward the brink of bankruptcy.

"I'm saying that the amount of money that Brown could be contributing to the City of Providence would help us get out of the difficult financial situation we're in."

Another protest was scheduled for Friday morning.  This time, Brown University students plan to rally on-campus, and call for the University to be a good neighbor by increasing its monetary contributions to the city.