Response to Fenton-Fung's Claims on Budlong Pool - Mayor Kenneth Hopkins
Mayor Kenneth Hopkins, Guest MINDSETTER™
Response to Fenton-Fung's Claims on Budlong Pool - Mayor Kenneth Hopkins
Her call for a “timeout” in the Budlong Pool discussion and renovation plans is perfectly understandable. As a creature of the General Assembly, the representative lives in a culture of study commissions and “holding bills in committee” when people do not want to make tough decisions.
As Mayor, I do not have that same “kick the can down the road” luxury of operating this city. When faced with an outdated and closed pool when I took office, I made tough choices and determined that the depression-era-built pool facility has seen its last days. I will no longer use quick-fix band-aid approaches and pass the buck on to future generations in this city.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTI must assume her statement in part was to inoculate her husband, as my administration is about to release a compelling and eye-opening report about the condition of the pool. The report by the highly qualified aquatic and pool design firm Weston & Sampson of Boston, MA details severe problems with the present facility. Those issues include lack of compliance with current legal and safety regulations and issues, obvious structural concerns, and the infeasibility of operating a safe and proper pool program with the outdated facility.
Mrs. Fenton-Fung speaks of the previous administration “getting the pool up to snuff” for a photo opportunity. Having participated in many opening days as a coach, we only played when we were ready, and the conditions were optimal from a physical and operational basis. The days of just filling a leaking pool and hoping arcane filtration equipment will survive another summer have long passed.
Contrary to her suggestion that we have used a top-down approach on this issue, I have met with and listened to many people in formulating an action plan for the next generation of the Budlong Pool. There are those in this community who don’t want to really address the issues of the pool but rather want to have an issue to attack me politically.
For those who have taken the time to objectively understand the challenges of restoring this facility and to make sure it lasts for another fifty years, they agree with my approach as a prudent investment of tax dollars and a bright recreational opportunity.
I am not surprised that the state representative did not contact my administration to discuss the pool or meet and understand the real facts. It does not fit in with her story line to really know what is going on with the pool and its future.
On September 6th at 6:00 pm, in the Cranston High School East auditorium, I will host a briefing for the public on the Weston & Sampson report and status of our plans for a safe, new, and modern Budlong pool. I invite the state representative to attend and get the real facts and story on my administration’s plans.
I appreciate the residents of Cranston for their patience and understanding the challenges we faced in bringing forward a new and better Budlong Pool. We will all enjoy a new, safe, and modern pool facility.
When the game is on the line, you only call a timeout if you do not know what to do. When you have a good game plan you let your team execute to a victorious result.
