Tiverton
On first hearing that Tiverton might be the site of a new on-land wind farm, I was more or less ambivalent, but with the feeling that the project would provide more benefit than detriment. But details on the structure of the initiative raise concerns more fundamental than Rhode Island’s habitual not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) attitude: Nine communities…
So, test scores for the science NECAPs are out, and the main topics of conversation have been: That Portsmouth leads the pack, with 51.7% proficiency in grade 11, after having rearranged its science curriculum dramatically. That demographic gaps in scores have increased. That scores overall have nudged up. Of course, by nudging, I mean about…
The folks down on Bay St., Tiverton, where toxic soil from long-ago industrial use of the land had contaminated back yards and led to health problems for residents, just can’t to win: … the contractor, Envirologic, has stopped work and filed for bankruptcy, leaving many of the homeowners with craters in their yards or replacement…
By way of an update on the local situation, here’s a press release from Tiverton Citizens for Change (TCC) President David Nelson: Citing the important free speech issues involved in the case, the ACLU of Rhode Island today announced it has agreed to represent Tiverton resident David Nelson, the president of a local tax reform…
Justin’s post announcing Arruda and Durfee’s despicable lawsuit against Dave Nelson here. The following press release from the defendant was in my in-box this morning. Note well the second paragraph describing a demand that Dave rat out his fellow concerned citizens, apparently for the crime of behaving like … concerned citizens. A principle of democracy…
It’s always notably plausible that there’s a larger truth in the mix when I agree with Bob Kerr, but while his column lamenting the possibly fatal restrictions that the Tiverton Town Council has placed on an annual charity event, this year, counts in that regard, I’d suggest that he should think on the larger lessons…
Government reform is, ought to be, and may have to be a coherent movement from the municipality to the federal government. Here in Rhode Island, it’s easy to see how a broad set of principles and tactics applied across government tiers have corrupted (and expanded) government and hobbled our society, and mutual support and encouragement…
I’ve referred, on Anchor Rising, to an erroneous conclusion of mine related to state aid and Tiverton’s school budget, so I should point to my correction, here, as well. In essence, when I stated that Tiverton was receiving more than predicted in state and federal aid, I didn’t realize that the state’s methods include “restricted”…
I’m keeping up the posting over on the Tiverton Citizens for Change Web site, including the observation that the drum that the Tiverton School Committee beat prior to our financial town meeting are now being played in West Warwick: Sports programs and part-time employees join the list of recommended cuts school officials hope will compensate…
Well, we got beat at the Tiverton financial town meeting. Liveblog here, and post-game here. Tiverton’s tax levy will now go up a minimum of 7.88% in the middle of the worst economy in a century, with house values plummeting, businesses closing, and for sale signs loitering for months on end on front lawns around…
