Smiley Attacks Morales on Police Funding | Providence News

Providence News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 9, 2026 · 1m

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s first campaign ad goes after his main rival, State Rep. David Morales, accusing him of wanting to “defund the police” — a claim Morales denies, saying he’s always believed in police’s vital role and that Smiley is trying to scare voters by attacking him on affordability and housing. Smiley’s ad also touts his own record: violent crime at a 35-year low, historic lows in homicides, and crackdowns on illegal ATVs — all while boasting a campaign war chest over ten times larger than Morales’s. With early voting just over a month away and their first debate looming…