In a press release published today by the Rhode Island General Assembly, Representative Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) is urging Newport voters to support the bond authorization question for local resiliency infrastructure on next month’s election ballot, as well as the four statewide bond questions.
Question 6 on the ballot asks Newport voters to authorize up to $98.5 million in general obligation bonds to finance numerous projects in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan to make city infrastructure more resilient in the face of frequent flooding from rising sea levels.
“Many of the projects that would be funded by Newport’s bond are long overdue, and all of them are smart investments that will protect our city’s people and public resources from the dangers and degradation that are posed by the increasingly frequent flooding and storm surges we experience here. These projects, and the proposed borrowing, have been carefully studied not only by city leaders but also by the state treasurer’s office, and they have confirmed that our city can safely afford to finance them,” said Representative Carson said. “I would go a step further and say we cannot afford not to do this important work to make our city more resilient. Newport’s identity is, of course, inextricably linked to the ocean, and we need to protect our waterfront from crumbling into it so our streets, buildings, parks and historic sites remain safe and usable now and in the future.”
The local bond proposes to fund, among other projects:
- $6.1 million for road and sidewalk improvements
- $12 million for Easton’s Beach, including demolition of the carousel and snack bar buildings, and the start of replenishment of eroded sand.
- $10 million to remove the soil stockpiled from the construction of the new Rogers High School construction project and the remediation of the Harrison Avenue landfill. The fill from the high school project was originally planned for use at the former landfill, but was deemed too silty.
- $3.75 million for the city’s share of the repairs to Cliff Walk.
- $20 million to replace the Perrotti Park bulkhead, replace the Harbormaster building and other park repairs
- $5.375 for Easton’s Pond
- $1.375 million for stormwater and engineering for the North End.
Representative Carson also urges voters to support the statewide bond questions, which fund worthy initiatives that address some of the state’s most urgent needs and its future. Two of those questions include funding specifically for projects in Newport.
Question 4 is a $53 million green economy bond, which would provide funding for many environmental, green economy and open space initiatives, including $3 million for repairs to Newport’s Cliff Walk and $2 million for resiliency projects.
“Much like Newport’s local bond, approval of this bond would help the state position itself for a more sustainable, resilient future,” said Representative Carson.
Question 5 is a $10 million cultural arts infrastructure bond to help preserve and improve the facilities of local arts institutions. Included in that bond is $2 million to support Newport Contemporary Ballet’s efforts to construct the Center for Arts, Dance & Education at 435 Broadway. The bond would also provide $2 million each for Trinity Repertory Company in Providence and the Tomaquag Museum for a new building at the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston campus, as well as another $4 million that would be distributed to other arts organizations around the state to improve their facilities. Representative Carson introduced the legislation (2024-H 7770) that initially proposed this bond, which was later included in the state budget bill.
“Many of our cultural institutions suffered permanently from the pandemic shutdown, and few, if any, received the financial assistance that helped other sectors bounce back. This bond would help our arts and cultural institutions with some major infrastructure projects that will ensure they can thrive well into the future,” said Representative Carson.
Question 3 would provide $120 million to help address the state’s housing crisis through affordable housing and homeownership initiatives.
“As the state grapples with a severe housing shortage and skyrocketing home prices and rents, the housing initiatives that would be supported through this bond can help ease the pressure so people statewide and here in Newport can find the housing they need,” said Representative Carson.
Finally, Question 2 would authorize borrowing of up to $160.5 million for a biomedical sciences building at University of Rhode Island and a cybersecurity building at Rhode Island College, two buildings that that would house programs to train Rhode Islanders for some of the leading sectors of the economy.
Representative Carson asked that voters keep in mind that the ballot questions will be on the back side of the ballot handed to them at the Nov. 5 election, so after filling out their choices of candidates for federal, state and local offices, they will need to flip the ballot over to vote on the questions. Voters who would like to vote by mail must register for a mail ballot by Oct. 15. Early in-person voting will also be available at City Hall during regular business hours from Oct. 16 though Nov. 4 at 4 p.m.
Representative Carson, who will appear on the ballot, but is running unopposed, will join What’sUpNewp for a one-on-one conversation at 10 am on Tuesday, October 22 to speak about her campaign, her past term, and what she hopes to accomplish in her next term.
