Plastic flamingos cover mayor's lawn

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I., April 20 (UPI) -- An anonymous person paid $100 to have the lawn of a Rhode Island mayor's home covered in 100 plastic flamingos as part of a school fundraiser.

Patti Streit, a volunteer with the East Providence school district, said the flamingos planted on East Providence Mayor Joseph S. Larisa's lawn Sunday night represented the largest "flock" to be ordered since the fundraiser for the local high school's post-prom party began April 1, the Providence (R.I.) Journal reported Tuesday.

Larisa welcomed his "new friends" to his lawn and joked about having conversations with them.

"They told me they lost their jobs in Florida before landing this gig -- and they have no healthcare, so they support real co-pays in East Providence," Larisa said.

"They also think higher taxes are for the birds. A little bird told me I am looking good for re-election, and they all offered to help add a feather to East Providence's tax cap before they flew the coop. Concerned for the city's future, the flamingos said they would volunteer their time after I informed them that with all the state budget cuts, we had no money to feather their nest."