Barry, you are so polite. "Our leadership needs to do better" is quite restrained. Maybe our leadership should start leading. Maybe it should listen to the people (Mayor Grebien still claims the city is paying attention to comments about Morley Field--from his close associates, perhaps?but I have heard not one positive comment about the parking lot from the people writing, posting, demonstrating. . .) . Same thing with the Kennedy hub. Very few people who actually use the buses have supported moving the hub. For all the time and money that's been wasted they could have rebuilt the station, done some rerouting, and hired a full-time cleaning crew to keep the entire place clean. They could have done many other things, but no. They just have meetings, wring their hands, and don't listen to the people who live the problem or offer real solutions.
this was longer and more convoluted than I could really follow, but my takeaway is the bureaucracy and political leadership failed the people who badly need this housing to actually make it available in a timely manner. I don't see how anyone will be held accountable for the long delay. Along with the bridge fiasco, the continued deadlocks on Morley field and the RIPTA hub at Kennedy Plaza, and the hacks of key data bases, it seems our leadership needs to do much better
What a long read and no resolution. These people still don't have a roof. We are going into the 'winter' phase in R.I., the cold is about to sweep in, and still nothing. Having read Peter's thoughts, we can agree that R.I. is dysfunctional. What leadership? We have a governor who looks to hold others accountable - he sounds like our newly elected idiot-in-chief. Never take the blame when someone else will do. The delay is an excuse. Blaming Covid and supply chains is getting old. Meetings are a rehash. The law about hotels/dorms really doesn't apply. Each pallet stands alone. Exemptions exist for minor things but not a roof over someone's head. Where is Shekarchi on this? He's mentioned 'homeless' but he should have intervened, gotten an exemption. These people talk a good tune but can't sing.
Does our 'blue' state government realize that on 1/20/2025, there's a new administration and RI won't be getting any more handouts? Reed loses his chairmanship and he brings home the bacon.
If the pallets need paint, hand those who are going to occupy the village a paint brush. If any have skills, use them. They want shelter now so they need to participate to move this along.
This should have been done from the start. Many value their independence so they need to step up and prove it. I'm not heartless but when I want something, I work for it. If there are beds, someone can put sheets on them - it doesn't require a skill. We want them inside but haven't asked them to do anything. We enable them to walk the streets all day when they could be working on their new homes and getting ready for move-in day. A little effort on the part of the homeless buys some good will.
Thank you for reporting on this. I was disappointed that The Providence Journal and other sources missed so much of the important stuff.
Barry, you are so polite. "Our leadership needs to do better" is quite restrained. Maybe our leadership should start leading. Maybe it should listen to the people (Mayor Grebien still claims the city is paying attention to comments about Morley Field--from his close associates, perhaps?but I have heard not one positive comment about the parking lot from the people writing, posting, demonstrating. . .) . Same thing with the Kennedy hub. Very few people who actually use the buses have supported moving the hub. For all the time and money that's been wasted they could have rebuilt the station, done some rerouting, and hired a full-time cleaning crew to keep the entire place clean. They could have done many other things, but no. They just have meetings, wring their hands, and don't listen to the people who live the problem or offer real solutions.
Here's my opinion in the matter: Why Nobody Lives in ECHO Village: A Case Study in Lousy Leadership — https://peternightingale.substack.com/p/why-nobody-lives-in-echo-village
this was longer and more convoluted than I could really follow, but my takeaway is the bureaucracy and political leadership failed the people who badly need this housing to actually make it available in a timely manner. I don't see how anyone will be held accountable for the long delay. Along with the bridge fiasco, the continued deadlocks on Morley field and the RIPTA hub at Kennedy Plaza, and the hacks of key data bases, it seems our leadership needs to do much better
What a long read and no resolution. These people still don't have a roof. We are going into the 'winter' phase in R.I., the cold is about to sweep in, and still nothing. Having read Peter's thoughts, we can agree that R.I. is dysfunctional. What leadership? We have a governor who looks to hold others accountable - he sounds like our newly elected idiot-in-chief. Never take the blame when someone else will do. The delay is an excuse. Blaming Covid and supply chains is getting old. Meetings are a rehash. The law about hotels/dorms really doesn't apply. Each pallet stands alone. Exemptions exist for minor things but not a roof over someone's head. Where is Shekarchi on this? He's mentioned 'homeless' but he should have intervened, gotten an exemption. These people talk a good tune but can't sing.
Does our 'blue' state government realize that on 1/20/2025, there's a new administration and RI won't be getting any more handouts? Reed loses his chairmanship and he brings home the bacon.
If the pallets need paint, hand those who are going to occupy the village a paint brush. If any have skills, use them. They want shelter now so they need to participate to move this along.
This should have been done from the start. Many value their independence so they need to step up and prove it. I'm not heartless but when I want something, I work for it. If there are beds, someone can put sheets on them - it doesn't require a skill. We want them inside but haven't asked them to do anything. We enable them to walk the streets all day when they could be working on their new homes and getting ready for move-in day. A little effort on the part of the homeless buys some good will.