Click here for the new Anchor Rising & Ocean State Current page
September 18, 2005
Rhode Island's Initial Pork-Reduction Goal should be at least $50,000,000
Looking over the specific projects listed in the highway bill, Rhode Island’s absolute minimum goal should be to redirect $50,000,000 of earmarked funds towards rebuilding New Orleans. This doesn’t mean that the total cannot be more, but $50,000,000 should be the minimum.
There is $49,000,000 available, just in bikepath funding ($38,000,000), plus a few other projects listed below.
I don’t want to come across as a Darth Vader conservative, suggesting that funding for anything green be eliminated. Rhode Island’s bikepaths and trails and parks are a tremendous quality of life resource. But they are a civic luxury. At a time when another American city needs help finding the resources for civic necessities, we cannot justify Federal funding for our civic luxuries.
| Transportation Improvements for the Washington Secondary Bicycle Facility/Coventry Greenway/Trestle Trail (Coventry) | $4,000,000 |
| Transportation Improvements for the Northwest Biketrail/Woonasquatucket River Greenway (Providence, Johnston) | $6,000,000 |
| Transportation Improvements for the Blackstone River Bikeway (Providence, Woonsocket) | $10,000,000 |
| Transportation Improvements for the Jamestown Bridge Demolition--Bicycle Access/Trestle Span Demolition/Fishing Pier (N. Kingstown) | $4,000,000 |
| Acquisition of fee or easement, construction of a trail, and site improvements in Foster | $1,000,000 |
| Open space acquisition to mitigate growth associated with SR 4 and Interstate 95, by non-profit land conservation agencies through acquisition of fee or easement, with a match requirement of 50% of the total purchase price | $8,000,000 |
| Transportation Enhancements at Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor | $500,000 |
| Restore and Expand Maritime Heritage site in Bristol | $500,000 |
| Transportation Improvements for the Colt State Park Bike Path | $2,000,000 |
| Construct trails and facility improvements within the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge complex | $1,000,000 |
| Completion of Washington Secondary Bike Path from Coventry to Connecticut Border | $7,000,000 |
| Completion of Greenway from Johnston to Providence | $5,000,000 |
About Community Crier
About Engaged Citizen
Administrator
I'll say it, although it's not politcally correct: RI should not give up its federal money to help New Orleans.
Many of the projects such as the I-195 bridge work and the Sakonnet River Bridge are necessary projects to Rhode Island. Before I'm accused of being selfish, let's take a look at New Orleans.
Yes, New Orleans is in rough shape, but I believe Speaker Hastert was onto something when he asked whether it would be worth completely rebuilding the city. What is new New Orleans going to look like? Many of the people living in New Orleans before Katrina have said they're not going to come back. The city is still sinking every year and is still nearly 20 feet below sea-level. That has not changed.
Should we really try to re-create a southern metropolis at 20 feet below sea-level? Wouldn't it be better off to make New Orleans a mid-sized urban tourist attraction, keeping the French Quarter and rebuilding the operating port? Those were only the really two things that city had going for it before the storm. Do we really want to spend the money to restore a city that had a high crime rate and a high poverty rate?
These are difficult questions and in today's environment can appear as being racially or culturally charged, but they deserve as discussion.
Posted by: Anthony at September 19, 2005 5:09 PMRhode Island should give up its pork to help Katrina victims and itself.
End the War On Drugs.
End Republican Socialism: price supports for criminals.
Posted by: M. Simon at September 21, 2005 12:43 PM