Diossa delivers on campaign promise

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI) -- Shortly after his predecessor was imprisoned on corruption charges, newly inaugurated James Diossa made good on one of his major campaign promises.

Diossa announced he will sign the Ethics Ordinance into law, creating a new comprehensive ethics reform package.

"We are taking an important step forward in demanding an open and honest government," said Diossa.  "In doing so, we will put new signs at our city's border that say 'Open For Business' to business leaders who want to create jobs and grow the economy."

• Related: Ex-Mayor pleads guilty to corruption
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The Mayor's ethics reforms focused on: Creating a city ethics code, which will hold city officials and employees more responsible for their ethical conduct; requiring lobbyist disclosure, which will force lobbyists to register with the city clerk; prohibiting "Pay-to-Play," which would end the practice of giving contracts exclusively to high-dollar political donors; and requiring "honorable service" for pension applicants, which would prevent city employees or elected officials from receiving a pension if they have dishonorably served the city.

Mayor Diossa will sign the Ethics Ordinance in his office on Thursday, February 21 at 5:30 p.m. In attendance will be more than a dozen of the bill's supporters, including Phil West & Stephanie Gonzalez, the co-chairs of Diossa's transition committee.