RhodeMap RI approved, despite criticism

THE STATE PLANNING Council unanimously approved RhodeMap RI, a comprehensive economic-development plan for the state, on Thursday.
THE STATE PLANNING Council unanimously approved RhodeMap RI, a comprehensive economic-development plan for the state, on Thursday.

(Updated, 3:53 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – The State Planning Council unanimously approved RhodeMap RI, a comprehensive economic-development plan for the state, on Thursday morning.
Before the vote, the council heard from proponents and opponents of the plan, which has been more than two years in the making.
Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee, who supports the plan, said that the proponents, “to their credit,” went out of their way during the public comment period to rebuke some of the claims of the opponents, who raised concerns about socialism and characterized the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as “some kind of nefarious force.”
The plan was funded primarily with a $2.3 million HUD grant, and combines ideas assembled from public, corporate and nonprofit sources over the past year.
Chafee said one community official talked about positive experiences with HUD, while another said while government sometimes makes mistakes, not everything it does is bad, and RhodeMap is an example of something good.
Chafee said the plan will give the next administration guidance as it moves forward, and it can always be amended and adjusted.
“It’s important to have a map as you begin any journey,” Chafee said.
Chafee blamed the opposition to the plan on misinformation.
Michael S. Stenhouse, whose group the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity is against the plan, said he felt like the concerns the opponents raised were not even considered.
“It was like we were never really there,” Michael S. Stenhouse, CEO of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, said after the vote. “The fact that the council unanimously advanced and adopted this ill-conceived plan without even acknowledging the concerns they heard, the passion they heard, from the people—all they did was pretend we weren’t even there and that shows you, and shows us anyway, the danger of unelected bureaucrats accountable to nobody trying to formulate and implement public policy.”
The center said that RhodeMap RI will lead to intrusive interference from the federal government. Stenhouse said they also are concerned property taxes will increase as a result of it.
He said they are encouraged that the plan by itself cannot be enforced, and that when components of it reach regulatory stages, his group again will make its concerns heard.
RhodeMap’s goals are to strengthen the economy, meet current and future housing needs and plan for future growth. It also includes strategies for transportation, land use and environmental protection.
Kevin M. Flynn, associate director of the R.I. Division of Planning, said the last economic development plan the state had was completed in 2000, and is “not particularly relevant today.”
The new plan, he said, delves into issues that the old one did not, such as workforce training, and building upon the state’s strengths “instead of looking at something to save us coming in from the outside.”
“We had extensive public outreach. The opposition flared up in the last month or so and it was really a surprise to us,” Flynn said.
Flynn said HUD funds every city and town in the state through community development block grants and other funding, and has been doing so for 40 years.
“I don’t know why all of a sudden why having HUD funding is key to loss of property rights,” Flynn said, adding HUD had no input on the plan’s content.

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said he was disappointed the plan was approved.

“With the amount of controversy involved and opposition expressed, I am disappointed that RhodeMap RI was approved. If this plan intends to set the direction for our state, it really needs the support of Rhode Islanders. It would have been more appropriate to hold off a vote until after the new Governor takes office next month.

“RhodeMap RI has diverted attention away from the goal of improving our state’s economy. It has no binding effect in law. I prefer to focus my attention on making sure that Rhode Island develops a stronger, better and more vibrant economy that creates new jobs. This plan goes far beyond the scope of economic development strategy. I will continue to work with my members, the Senate President and the Governor-elect to more specifically develop policies, strategies and legislation that improve our economy and promote jobs,” Mattiello said in a statement.

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