RIDEM SUES TIVERTON TO BLOCK ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER

You can't make this stuff up. RI Department of Environmental Management, the State agency charged with safeguarding the environment, is now suing Tiverton. Our offense? Our Town Council passed an ordinance regulating fishing tournaments on Stafford Pond, a major source of drinking water. That's right, RIDEM is fighting a community trying to protect its environment! Why? No doubt these tournaments are a source of revenue for RIDEM, so instead of putting in place sensible regulations themselves, they sue a community for trying to do so. After all, what could possibly go wrong with unregulated boats and fuel on an area's drinking water supply?

The next time someone asks you how far beyond rational RI State government has gotten, you need only point them to the Sakonnet River Bridge tolls and RIDEM suing to stop a town from protecting its envirnonment. Hard to believe we have State (or quasi-State) agencies putting their financial needs above the good of the people they serve.


http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x273440789/DEM-files-suit-against-Tiverton-to-overturn-Stafford-Pond-ordinance

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

LEGAL BATTLE TO STOP TOLLS CONTINUES

The legal battle against tolls continues, and hopefully a court will step up and stop SRB tolls. But these tolls were put in place by our State officials, and whether to remove or increase them is a political decision. We need as many people as possible to get involved, to call and/or write the Governor, leaders of the House and Senate, and members of the Committee studying alternatives to tolls. The committee report is due in January, and our State leaders must be encouraged to do the right thing and create a fair, non-destructive means of funding bridge maintenance across RI.

http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x273439155/U-S-Court-of-Appeals-OKs-withdrawal-of-Sakonnet-toll-appeal-sends-case-back-to-District-Court

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

STATE BRIDGE-MAINTENANCE COMMISSION FORMS

Good to see local elected officials (Representative Jay Edwards, Senator Lou DiPalma, and Senator Christopher Ottiano) appointed to this Commission, which will explore alternatives to tolls as a means of funding state bridges. The outcome of this Commission is key to eliminating the 10-cent "training toll" set to begin in August for good, and putting into place a responsible, fair, non-destructive means of funding bridge maintenance across RI.

The 10-cent toll was enacted with the idea that it would keep the toll option open until this Commission's work is done early next year (a lawsuit making the obvious claim that the bridge was "substantially completed" last year when it opened to traffic is still pending). Our State leaders now have an opportunity to come up with a statewide means of funding bridge maintenance, which treats all taxpayers equally and fairly, and that doesn't require economically-destructive tolls.

And the people of Rhode Island, especially those in the East Bay most affected, have an opportunity to stay informed and get involved in pushing our State leadership to do the right thing for all Rhode Islanders. Spread the word to all you know across RI. Call or email not only your Representative and Senator, but the Senate and House leadership, the Governor, and leaders of RIDOT and RI Bridge & Turnpike Authority. The system only works when the people step up and make it work.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/house-senate-leaders-appoint-lawmakers-to-commission-to-study-funding-for-state-bridge-maintenance/

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

NEW PROVIDENCE BRIDGE: WILL IT ALSO HAVE TOLLS/"USER FEES"?

If State of Rhode Island policy is now to require tolls (or "user fees" as the euphemism goes) on new bridges, can we expect to see tolls placed on this new bridge in Providence? On all new bridges going forward? Or does only the East Bay get that honor?

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130715-rebuilding-begins-of-major-bridge-carrying-route-95-through-providence.ece

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

THE SIMPLE TRUTH: SAKONNET TOLLS ARE TO FUND RITBA, NOT MAINTAIN NEW BRIDGE

Read this article and decide for yourself whether RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority is primarily concerned with the needs and financial well-being of the people of RI, or the financial needs of RITBA. They aren't looking to charge what's needed for bridge maintenance. They are looking to charge whatever they decide RITBA needs to fund its operations, most of which have NOTHING to do with the Sakonnet River Bridge. This is why they look to raise $20 million/year from tolls when SRB maintenance is less than $2 million/year.

Even if you buy the hypocritical argument that bridge users should solely pay for maintenance (hypocritical since only East Bay residents & businesses would be forced to fund maintenance this way), how can anyone justify making SRB users pay for the $2 million in SRB maintenance, PLUS another $18 million of RITBA's budget? Anyone who supports the Sakonnet Toll should be required to answer these simple questions about the fairness and logic of the tolls, not to mention the economic destructiveness.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x273433759/At-a-dime-per-car-RIBTA-looks-for-a-way-to-turn-a-Sakonnet-Bridge-toll-profit#axzz2YqJluqQZ

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

RITBA CORRECTS DOUBLE-CHARGING; STILL NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CHARGING CREDIT CARDS MORE THAN AUTHORIZED

Although it's good RITBA is acknowledging & correcting the double-charging issue in this article, it has nothing to do with what happened to me & many others. We weren't double-charged as the result of some computer glitch. We were told the cost for 2 transponders was $45, we authorized a credit card charge of $45, and RITBA ignored what was on the form and charged $70. Either RITBA still doesn't understand what happened, doesn't care, or is hoping people won't notice.

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/wpri-jamestown-dozens-of-ez-pass-customers-overcharged-fees-rhode-island-bridge-and-turnpike-authority-tolls-sakonnet-jmq

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

RI RANKS 49th AS BUSINESS-FRIENDLY STATE; HOW DO BUSINESS-KILLING TOLLS HELP?

Rhode Island is ranked 49th out of 50 states for being friendly to business. State leaders have pledged to improve that image and reputation. Now, can someone explain to us how imposing a business-killing toll on a major road, against the adamant and near-unanimous opposition of area businesses, elected officials and residents, helps the State's image as business-unfriendly?

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI


http://blogs.wpri.com/2013/07/10/why-does-ri-lag-minnesota-and-mass-in-the-cnbc-rankings/