Thursday, November 27, 2008 THANKSGIVING DAY Happy Thanksgiving to all. I've been considering how fortunate we are to live in a nation that sets aside a day soley to offer thanks to our Creator for the countless blessings that are continually showered upon us. Even in these troubled times marked by economic and political turmoil, as we look around the world we must recognize how fortunate we all are. In Church last night, we were reminded of the words in Deuteronomy (Chapter 8) that remind us that it is not the work of our hands that creates wealth but the Lord who give us the ability to do so. Being humble and giving thanks is not for the benefit of God but for us. We feel better and think more clearly when we place ourselves in a positive frame of mind, recognizing all of the good things in our lives, community and nation. We live in a world of bounty. Let us all re-dedicate ourselves to working together to wisely employing it. 9:41 am est Thursday, November 6, 2008 What Happened on Tuesday/The Future On Election Day, we were gratified to see the results of our work. While we did not win the election, we have many reasons to celebrate. With your help, this campaign was able to register new voters and re-interest many dormant voters in the issues facing our town. The number of people who read the local newspaper is extremely small, and through the door to door, and word-of-mouth campaign many people were made aware of recent decisions of the council that affect their lives, of the dire financial straits of our community and some of the possible solutions they might consider. As you ponder the numbers, consider this: This campaign was true to conservative Republican values, began from ground zero in June, operated with very little money all of which came from individuals. (We received no money from politicians in power, corporations, unions, or contractors with an interest in West Warwick projects.) We took hard stands on tough and controversial issues. We did not engage in smear tactics or any other activity that is typical of local "dirty politics" (although we certainly received our share of that from the other campaign). Without identifying any of you personally, when we voiced these values clearly and identified specific issues, our supporters included people of every race, ethnic group and political persuasion, from the Ron Paul Libertarians to mainstream Democrats and Republicans to people on the far left. When you speak openly, honestly, are willing to listen and respect other people's opinions and be willing to learn from them, when you adhere to the principles of individual liberty and freedom and equality for all people on which our great nation was founded, you will be heard. Stay involved.    In a community where no Republicans hold office, in a state where literally the number of Republicans in the legislative branch can be counted on both hands, we ran against a well-organized machine that was able to identify its voters and ferry them to the polls by the carload. It was also an election characterized by many new voters, motivated by their desire to vote in the Presidential election, who may not have been aware of the local races and issues. Facing all of this, we achieved just over 38% of the recorded votes. (The actual total may never be known because of the large number of "undervotes" which were not counted.) That is an amazing achievement and demonstrates that their is a strong desire for change in this town!   Our challenge now is to harness this energy and enthusiasm into a positive force in the community. As our new President-elect said, "Together, we can do it!" He was right. You, the voters, donors and volunteers who worked so hard for this have shown that you are a force that must be recognized. This web site will continue. I will continue to be try and be a voice of reason and common sense in West Warwick. I strongly urge all of you to continue your vigilance, to attend meetings of the Zoning Board, Planning Board, School Committee and Town Council. Let them know you are there, that you care and that they must deal with you.       Finally, I must tell all of you how much I appreciate the telephone calls, notes, and emails that have been pouring in since Tuesday night. Your support and encouragement means more to me than I can ever put into words so please understand when I simply say, "Thank you so much." During the campaign, several people volunteered to pass out literature, place my sign in their yard, talked with their neighbors about the issues, to be checkers at the polls, etc. We could not possibly have achieved the vote we did had it not been for your involvement.  I don't know  exactly what the future holds for me, but I promise to do my best not to let you down. 7:02 am est Sunday, November 2, 2008 THE FINAL PUSH These last few weeks have been such a marvelous experience. I've met so many nice people and have listened as they told me of their frustrations with the way that our Town has been managed. We've attended numerous community events, and have been greatly encouraged by the positive responce our Campaign is receiving from citizens of every political background. Many who have never voted for anyone but a Democrat have told me that this year they are voting Republican becasue they are so angry with the direction of the town. Several people we've reached out to have now become involved with the politics of this Town at a new level of intensity. One fine gentleman has taken it upon himself to print and distribute flyers on behalf of this campaign. Others have written letters, introduced me to their neighbors, donated money to help with printing costs,  etc. A special word of thanks must go out to ouor former Councilman from this Ward, Leo Constantino and his lovely wife Cheryl, who have mailed postcards all over the Ward, at their own expense, urging voters to support me. All the signs are pointing to a very close race. No candidate wins by themselves. Is is only the hard work of the citizens....knocking on doors, making telephone calls, sending out mailings, engaging in discussions with everyone they know that elections are won.    Right now, the need is for volunteers to assist on election day. If you are able to give a couple of hours on Tues. Nov. 4th. Please contact us.   9:29 am est Tuesday, September 30, 2008 RIPTA and YOU Last night's public hearing at Warwick City hall regarding the proposed elimination of bus routes gave me a renewed hope in the future of America. People from all segments of our society can come together to tackle problems. The good old fashioned common sence of the people was on display as many good ideas were presented for the Board's consideration. These are not selfish people asking for handouts from the taxpayers, rather, they are hard-working people asking for the opportunity to be able to participate in the life of the community that can only be achieved by having mobility. Several people stated that they would gladly pay more in fares to pay for the increased fuel costs.  While I can count on one hand the number of times during the year that I ride the busses in RI, I belive it is vital for the health of our economy and well-being of the public that the service be maintained and increased. The challenge is to do so in an economically viable fashion.  Businesses large and small rely upon Public Transportation to allow their employees to get to work and the customers to get to the products and services they provide. The handicapped  and elderly depend upon the availability of bus service to visit doctors, shop for groceries and visit friends and get to work. Everytime we are stuck in slow moving traffice, imagine what it would be like if RIPTA was not in operation and a few thousand more cars were on the roads at he same time. Our time, gas, wear on our vehicles is precious too. The elimination of service would effectively be a tax on us all.   Mark Therrian, was quoted on WPRI-TV news in August as saying that the current 12 million dollar deficit was likely to double in the next four years. Earlier this summer,Chairman Robert Batting, resigned sighting uncooperative management and non-transparency of finances. This are just a few of the indicators that the problem is a structural one which will not be fixed by a one-time cutting of routes.  We are the smallest state geographically and the most densly populated. We should have the most efficient public transportation system in the nation. 5:16 am est Wednesday, September 24, 2008 On ZONING LAWS and ELECTIONS At last Tuesday's Council meeting, an amendment ot the Zoning laws was introduced which would negatively affect many small businesses, and small landowners, by increasing the required set-back from their property boundaries for the placement of boats, trailers, RV's, even storage pods. While, the arguement can be made that it is a good-faith effort to make the town more attractive and prevent hazardous situations from developing, the reality is much different. In fact, this amendment seems to have been enacted at the request of a small number of residents who feel that their peaceful enjoyment of their property is being compromised. While the Council certainly can be assurred of their votes in November, I am concerned about all of the other people in this town who now face fines. One woman I spoke to felt that her home faced potential damage. I asked the Town Solicitor, if there were already ordinances on the books that allow a homeowner redress for a situation that endangers their property and he replied that there were. I belive that it is bad public policy to enact laws without careful consideration of what the possible outcomes will be. Laws are not for the prupose of securing votes.(A press release was issued to the Kent Coubnty Daily Times.)   In an election year, we see Zoning Ordinances being used to supress the citizens Constitutional rights of expression. Tom Jones's signs regarding the Water Park are a perfect case in point and I applaud him for taking the case to the Courts. These laws are being selectively enforced to benefit the "powers that be", not to protect the citizens or encourage the lively public debate which our forfathers intended for us. 9:24 am est Monday, September 8, 2008 PRIMARY DAY Tomorrow, on the heels of the National Conventions, most Rhode Islanders will have the opportunity to choose from among candidates those they wish to have to chance to select from in November. I have often heard people say that they don't feel as if their vote makes a difference or that the system is somehow fixed. But a look at past election results shows that many elections are lost by only a handfull of votes. How will you feel if your candidate were to loose by only one vote and you stayed home?   I've been greatly encouraged by the number of people discussing the issues in depth. I know of people who have voiced their ideas and concerns to politicians recently and the politician's public positions have changed.  I've been proud to see newly registered voters get excited about the process and devouring as much information as they can abouit the issues as they prepare to vote.   In America, the government is created and maintained by the people; it is only as good or bad as we allow it to be. Voting is a priviledge and an obligation of citizenship. While I do not face a primary opponent tomorrow, I will be at the polls. I look forward to seeing you there.   12:56 pm est Monday, September 1, 2008 DIFFERENCES REVEALED AT PARADE Happy Labor Day to Everyone! This marks the traditional end of summer and the return to school, work and the serious side of life. It also marks the beginning of the political season in earnest. The public starts paying more close attention to the candidates from which they will choose their representatives in various levels of government for the following term. We have all learned that the words alone are not enough upon which to judge a candidate. We look at their records and their actions in everyday life to help us judge who will best reflect the interests and values of the society.  While not a political event, the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society's annual Feast and Parade is such an important part of the life of West Warwick that other aspects of our community are revealed in its' fesivities. We saw the best of our Town, such as the talented bands, the beautiful and talented children who are eager to participate in the life of this town; we saw their hope that a bright future awaits them here. Our pride, the hard work that produces prosperity respresented through the abundance of beautiful fruits, vegetables and flowers, the finely kept homes, vital small businesses, and the renovated Royal Mills that the parade route passes, etc.  was all reflected. For most people, this provided thier first opportunity of the season to see the candidates for election and re-election up close and in person. While some rode, others walked up and down the hills, reaching out to meet the public. Some sat in comfortable chairs atop floats, as if enthrowned, others carried a load (candy, pencils, information etc.) to benefit the public. Sometimes little things reveal a lot!       7:51 am est Wednesday, August 6, 2008 TOWN CHARTER CHANGES SHOWS WE NEED A CHANGE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL! If ever there was a time for public outrage, last night provided it! The Town Council took an "end-run" around democracy by proposing a series of changes to our Charter which will be placed on the November ballot for the public's approval. Now changing the charter to keep it up to date and to provide for the changing needs of the community is neccessary. But to publicize the changes in the morning newspaper, hold a public hearing on all of them that evening and submit the changes to the Secretary of States office the following morning, is anything but sensible. A Charter Review Commission is to be formed next year which would have the opportunity to review the entire charter, gather input from all members of the public, obtain expert opinions on what the ramifications of some the of changes might be, etc. It is a lengthy, in-depth proceedure. Our charter is like the US Constitution. It the supreme governing document for our community. Changes are not to me made lightly or speedily. While the Council says that they have been working hard on this for a long time, why won't they grant the same consideration to the public?  As I listened to the discussion last night among council members, it was clear that as they considered each of the proposals, new ramifications of each started coming to mind. A change in one provision would substantially alter the meaning and intent of another proposed change, what would be the effect of straggering the terms of office, etc. etc. If they had truly worked as diligently as a Review Commission could have, they would have thoroughly understood the ramification of each proposal. The entire document would have been examined as a whole entity and everyone in the community who wished to have a voice, could have been heard. The proceedure they followed was not good public policy, manigerial policy, or good government. They should know better! Despite several voices, including my own, at the onset of the hearing counselling them to wait and allow a Commission to conduct this important work, the council decided to rush ahead and put these changes on the ballot. What is more distrubing is that the wording of some of the changes was altered as the course of their discussion allowed them to see different aspects of their ammendments. This will only add to the confusion in November and quite possibly lead to legal challenges. What was their motivation do you suppose???! I've sent press releases to the Kent County Daily Times and the Providence Journal on this matter. Help elect a Town Council that is interested in the publics interest this November!         12:23 pm est Monday, July 28, 2008 Protecting Neighborhoods...Crime As I've been listening to the concerns of 4th Ward residents, inevitably they voice their concerns about changes in their neighborhoods and how it affects the safety of their property and persons. While police foot patrols give confort to the residents and provide an opportunity for the officers to really get to know their "beats" and the people who live their, their are other activities that people can engage in which cost no money and have added, immediate benefits for all who get involved. I'm speaking of the old-fashioned way of neighbor looking after neighbor. This can be formalized into Neighborhood Crime Watches, wherby a liason from the Police Department works with the members of the Watch. Sometimes grant money is available to help support and expand their effectiveness. Even without a formal organization, being on good terms with ones neighbors is the lest expensive and most effective method of crime prevention ever devised. For years, my immediate neighbors and I have mutually watched out for each other. While I cannot prove that crime was lowered because of this, I think we all became closer-knit as a community,  we certainly were more relaxed knowing the we "had each other's backs", and I can site several instances where vandals were apprehended because of this informal relationship we organized.   Before the days air-conditioning, television and now computers drew people indoors, there were many eyes on the streets. It was difficult to think thaty one couold get away with something without being noticed. Today, we have to make an effort to pay attention to our surroundings, who is in our neighborhoods, and reprt unusual activity. The Police are our champions, but it is unfair of us to depend upon the police department to be everywhere at all times. We must take some of the responsibility upon ourselves to look out for our corners of the world. I've included a couple fo links to organizations that you may or may not have heard of The National Night Out Campaign  http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno/ and the Natioonal Crime Prevention Council http://www.ncpc.gov.sg/   One of the things that I would like to accomplish is to establish neighborhood organizations which would bring together residents with community and state officials on a regular, ongoing basis to discuss all of their concerns, from roads and sidewalks, to crime, to beautification projects and economic developments, to building codes, etc. These have been very effective tools to build a sence of community, and to keep the attention of elected and appointed officials on the issues that are most important to the people who support them. We'll talk more about this as the days draw on.   11:10 am est Thursday, July 10, 2008 Tonight's PUC Hearing for the Kent County Water Authority In addition to the letter already submitted as a part of the public record, I attended tonight's hearing and offered an additional testimony requesting the Commission to gather additional information before making any decision on the rate hike. Others who testified echoed the same comments in various ways and there was a visible sense of frustration over the managemnt practices of this agency. The most noticable thing about this hearing was the fact that not a single member of the of the West Warwick Town Council attended to defend the interests of the public or the town government. (The rate hike also applies to the hydrant rent which gets passed along to the taxpayers on top of the individual water bills we pay).  8:08 pm est

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