Podcast: Brett Smiley on why he wants to be mayor of Providence

“Providence is to Boston as Brooklyn is to Manhattan,” candidate-for-mayor Brett Smiley told Mark Gray and I in our new weekly podcast. “We need to participate in the Boston regional economy in a way we don’t currently. We are the creative, culturally unique outpost to our neighbor to the north. We need to seize our role in the regional economy.”

Smiley, along with Jorge Elorza, is one of two progressive Democrats vying to be the next mayor of Providence. He spoke about his policy differences with Mayor Taveras, how he would address the city budget, the Superman building and schools and much more.