EDITORIAL: Shekarchi and Lawson’s Bad Washington Bridge Joke

EDITORIAL: Shekarchi and Lawson’s Bad Washington Bridge Joke

Coming soon to Rhode Islanders is another kick in the (pick your body part) by Rhode Island General Assembly Leaders, Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Senate President Val Lawson.

On Monday, Shekarchi and Lawson announced that “In Light of Forensic Audit, Speaker and Senate President Call for Another Oversight Hearing on Washington Bridge.”

In their joint statement, the two said:

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Rhode Islanders who rely on the Washington Bridge have had their daily lives disrupted for too long.  We were deeply troubled by the findings in the forensic audit, which became public for the first time over the weekend.   The General Assembly has held two joint oversight committee hearings on the bridge and required monthly transparency progress reports in state statute.  The General Assembly intends to conduct an additional rigorous oversight hearing, where all options remain on the table such as putting state officials, including Director Alviti under oath.  Prior to the next oversight hearing, we will consult with the Office of the Attorney General. In addition to more public transparency, Rhode Islanders deserve a safe, reliable, and operational Washington Bridge as soon as possible.

This gets more and more insulting.

After the first “oversight” in February of 2024, it was clear the General Assembly leadership had the fix in to cover for Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti.

As Ken Block wrote in a MINDSETTER™ column in October of 2024, "Rhode Island’s Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is an out-of-control mess. Director Alviti has spent the better part of a year lying, deflecting, and generally obstructing any effort to understand how his organization failed to detect that a major bridge deteriorated to the brink of failure."

Then, they announced a second Oversight hearing in February of 2025. GoLocal's Josh Fenton asked in an email to Shekarchi’s communication director, Larry Berman prior to the hearing:

 

Larry, 

Has the legislature engaged an independent counsel to assist in the review of the Washington Bridge?

Has the legislature hired an out-of-state independent technical advisor?

Will witnesses be served subpoenas and be sworn in before giving testimony?

Thank you,

 

The answers were no. Nothing. The Oversight Committee has an outside attorney who specializes in employment law. Another bad joke.

In fact, Lawson and McKee secured a raise for Alviti — a pay increase.

We all know why Alviti is sacred. He was and remains the handpicked choice of the Laborers’ International Union, the omnipresent force over Governor Dan McKee and the General Assembly leaders. READ GoLocal's Investigation: ORGANIZED INFLUENCE - ALVITI: The Keys to the Scheme

Now, after more and more information has piled up, the General Assembly, going into an election year, is going to hold yet another oversight committee hearing.

It is all a bad joke.