Diossa as Mayor of CF Traveled to China, Israel, Taiwan, East Timor & Dozen Other Locations

Thursday, August 11, 2022

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According to James Diossa’s Ethics Commission Financial Disclosure Statement, he, as Mayor of Central Falls, traveled across the world funded in part paid by third parties.

He is refusing to answer questions if the financially strapped city of less than 25,000 paid for portions of the trips.

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According to Diossa’s 2020 Financial Disclosure, his travel for 2020 included 26 trips to locations ranging from China, England, Columbia, Israel, and one of the poorest countries in the world — East Timor. Ten of the trips were international.

It appears that Diossa improperly filled out the Ethics Commission Financial Disclosure Statement and may have reported many of the trips in 2020, but some of those trips took place in earlier years. The 2020 Financial Disclosure Statement should only list those trips which occurred that year.

Diossa, who is running for the Democratic nomination for General Treasurer of Rhode Island, refused to answer questions about the dates and the total costs.

His campaign spokesperson Alisha Pina, issued the following statement, “These were trips that happened over the eight years that James Diossa was Mayor of Central Falls. On these trips, the Mayor benefited from ideas and relationships that made him a better leader for the city.”

Pina refused to respond to questions about the total costs of the travel, dates of the trips, and if the Financial Disclosure Statement is correct. 

 

Financial Disclosure Requirement

Each year, elected officials and some appointed state and local officials are required by law to complete a Financial Disclosure Statement by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission.

One of the requirements of the disclosure statute is to disclose travel — and the funding source.

Specifically, the Financial Disclosure requires:

Add a response if during the filing year any person or entity provided you with out-of-state travel valued at over $250, AND you would not have been provided with such travel but for the fact that you held a public office or position. Your response will include disclosure of the source, value and description of the travel and related expenses.

Out-of-state travel includes all related expenses such as transportation, lodging, meals and entertainment. All of these expenses are considered together when determining whether the $250 limit has been reached.

For many of the trips, Diossa did list third-party funding, but the funding listed appears to fall short of the total cost of the trip.

 

 

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East Timor trip
PHOTO: MBO Newsletter

More than 10 International Trips

 

Taiwan

 

In one case, “travel, food and hotel” for a trip to Taiwan cost just $1,950, according to Diossa. Diossa wrote the purpose of the trip was:

 

The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), extended a formal invitation to join the 2019 delegation to attend the Gift Ceremony by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Government and Private Enterprises of 6 Dragon Boats to the State of Rhode Island, and related activities, to be held in Taipei, Taiwan from April 13 to 18, 2019.

 

The trip was sponsored by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

 

It is unclear who paid for the remainder of the costs of the trip, and Diossa has refused to respond to questions about the trip and the cost.

 

 

East Timor 

 

The tiny Asian country has been dubbed by the United Nations as the poorest country on the continent and is one of the five newest countries in the world. 

 

According to Diossa’s Financial Disclosure Statement, the purpose of the trip was “To provide young leaders, both American and international delegates, with an opportunity to learn about international affairs through travel and people-to-people interactions that build relationships that last a lifetime.”

 

According to Diossa’s Financial Disclosure Statement, the cost of the trip paid by a third party was $3,957.42

 

The trip was sponsored by the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

 

 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Diossa also traveled to Malaysia. According to Diossa’s Financial Disclosure Statement, the purpose of the trip was to  “present at the “Mayor’s Corner” at the World Urban Forum 9 on my work as mayor.”

 

“Next City” paid $3,500 to underwrite the trip. Diossa refuses to answer questions about the total cost of the trip.

 

 

26 Trips Disclosed in 2020

 

For each of the trips, GoLocal asked for clarification from Diossa. Specifically, GoLocal asked, “Were all the costs associated with the trip paid by the third-party or were some paid by Central Falls and if so, what was the cost to the city? It is not clear when the travel occurred. Can you provide the dates?”

 

Diossa’s 2020 Financial Disclosure Statement has been amended repeatedly since it was initially filed according to the Ethics Commission.

 

 

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