Rhode Islanders Provide Suggestions for Raimondo Policy Summit
Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor
Rhode Islanders Provide Suggestions for Raimondo Policy Summit
After previously announcing that the event would be closed to the press, the event is now open to the media -- and 80 Rhode Island "thought leaders' will be in attendance.
SLIDES: See What Rhode Islanders Want Addressed at the Summit BELOW
“Rhode Island is in a jobs crisis and my first priority as governor is to create a plan that will grow jobs,” said Governor-elect Raimondo when the event was announced last month. “This summit will provide me with an opportunity to get ideas and direct feedback from Rhode Islanders on the front lines of policy, business, labor, social service and innovation. I am excited about the opportunity to tap into this wealth of knowledge and build a plan that will help get Rhode Islanders back to work.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe three hour event is scheduled to take place from 5 PM to 8 PM.
"If the Governor-elect’s intent is to outline her objectives so that the private sector understands her goals, then this short summit might be a success," said Rhode Island College Professor of Communications Valerie Endress. "There’s certainly value in doing that."
"Yet, from our research at RIC we know that voters tend to be more cynical than they were four years ago. In this long recession, they are looking for less “public talk” and more results. Inside this atmosphere, another Rhode Island “summit” would appear to do little to gain the public’s confidence," continued Endress. "Out of the gate, not inviting the press/media to the entire event was a misstep. It’s also a tall order to emerge from this brief summit with actionable steps that the Governor-elect can enact, with the hope that she can achieve intended and promised results. This would appear the only way to turn around public cynicism. "
First Steps
During the campaign, Raimondo released a fifty-page jobs plan focusing on "particular areas and industries that will create thousands of new jobs quickly and position Rhode Island to grow and create even more jobs long into the future" -- which offered a strategy for "five particular areas and industries," which included advanced manufacturing, workforce development, infrastructure, tourism, and small businesses and startups.
"Regardless of what ideas come out of the summit, from the point of view of the governor elect all of the PR that she will get will make the summit successful," said veteran Rhode Island pollster Victor Profughi. "From the point of view of the the state’s best interest, brain storming, meeting and sharing face to face will be useful."
As for whether the Governor-elect will need to implement any of the ideas that come out of the sessions, Profughi offered his opinion.
"[Raimondo] will not need to implement any of the ideas, but for maximum benefit at least some of the suggestions should probably be implemented to keep the PR value of the sessions going."
Lasting Impact?
"A successful outcome would be building consensus on how to move forward," said Darrell West, Vice President of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. "There always are ideas on how to develop the economy but it is hard to get ideas implemented. Much of the governor's success will depend on whether legislative leaders embrace key ideas. If they don't support her ideas, nothing will change."
Endress said that actions would be what Rhode Islanders would ultimately be looking to see.
"It may have been more productive for the Governor-elect to meet with a random group of ordinary citizens in the public forum and convene smaller “thought leader” meetings at the State House, after the inauguration, as normal order of business. I doubt whether Rhode Islanders will be impressed by good intentions," said Endress. "What will make this Governor-elect a success is economic development and jobs. In the eyes of her constituents, anything less is merely is window dressing."
Raimondo Policy Summit Suggestions
"Immediately make a strong and clear statement addressing the avalanche of police killings, systemic injustice and misconduct." -- Richard Wayne Garganta
"Start with firing Gist. Hire someone from RI. There are plenty that are qualified. Every governor elect promises jobs. Fair taxes. Fair car tax in particular!" -- Tom Aquino
"Please refuse to repeal voter ID. There is NO reason you shouldn't need to prove who you are to vote, given that you need an ID for a library card, to buy liquor or to return items at a store without a receipt." - Karen Hogan.
"Tourism. tourism. tourism. work with what assets that are in place." -- John Paul Gauvin
"I wish you would hire people in Rhode Island." -- Jill Beth Forman
"The heart of the economy will come from self employment before we establish industry. Cut the sales tax, cut red tape for start-ups and invest in small self employed / small business." -- Mark McLinden
"I've worked in the Rail Road industry for 30 yrs, I have tried to bring rail jobs to the state for years. The MBTA and its contractor Keolis need a place in RI to repair and maintain a large amount of equipment in the Quonset Point Industrial park. so far only a small amount of work is being done there. I had a plan that involved using the skill trades training program to create high paying jobs and bring the rail industry to RI utilizing the North East corridor from Boston to Washington." -- David Pina
"Repeal the car excise taxes. Abolish them at the State level and throughout all individual municipalities. Refuse to implement any portion of Rhode Map RI as it strips sovereignty from towns, encroaches on personal property rights, and was committed by unelected quasi-official bureaucrats. Examine Detroit. Repeat in Providence. Don't touch voter ID laws. Examine Colorado and Washington. Repeat in Rhode Island." -- Kyle Fitzsimons
"We continue to see viable manufacturing and mill space turned into apartments and lofts. This temporarily stimulates the economy with construction but does nothing for long term growth. More people and housing does not equate to more jobs. Our states current unemployment and jobless numbers can easily provide evidence of this. We need to work with our cities and towns to reinvest in areas that can be viable for commercial and industrial use. Apartments are fine and dandy, but they shouldn't be the first choice of a vacant building with the utility structure of a 24hr production facility for 800 skilled workers. We are squandering our industrial resources. Work with national grid, water authority, transit and others to determine what sites are suitable to even handle bringing jobs back to RI." -- Adam Scott
"Get that riverfront built...have Buddy at the meetings...use his ideas!!!! It is about tourism and families....we don't need manufacturing on the waterfront....we need a soccer field, restaurants, the nursing college, let's use the water....clean that area up!!!! Buddy has the ideas!!" -- Shirley Richard Grande
"As a retired hospital administrator and current foster parent a through review of DCYF and the foster care system is urgently needed." -- Mary Dowd Stuck
"Can't stand the term "thought leader" - this term gets thrown around like it really means something - hoping one or two of these "thought leaders" might also be a real leader with bright/practical ideas." -- Chuck Taylor
"Legalize MJ. It's a win/win. Save money, collect taxes and most importantly, stop criminalizing people for choosing a substance safer than what the [government] allows." -- Mike Parent
"Infrastructure and schools! Both need fixing. I would support raising taxes on people who make $125k and up for this. I am in that bracket so I don't need haters." -- Carl MacNeal
"Remember 60% of Rhode Island voted against you." -- Joseph D'Amico
"Tax all the property Brown University owns. Abolish all the "sweetheart" deals." -- Robert Lawrence
"I would recommend that rather than trying to 'build stuff up', she should concentrate on breaking down some of the obstacles that stand in the way of business startups... The government is not supposed to create the jobs. The government is supposed to set the policy to attract free market jobs." -- Timothy Falardo
"Focus on what we can do to maintain gambling and gaming in RI once the casinos in Mass go live. A large percentage of people come from Mass to play at Twin River. Check out revising the law about only serving free alcohol with food, so patrons at Twin River don't need to pay for drinks while gambling. It sounds silly but most casinos are allowed to comp alcoholic beverages. The lottery and gambling is the 3rd biggest revenue producer in RI, like it or not we need to try to maintain the income from this." -- Bretty Curry
"Ken Block can save our state 1 billion. He should be involved!" -- Dennis Lurgio
"Open the rest areas. Look at quasi public agencies and run them the same as other agencies. Tax structure, fees, streamline processes to make it easier for businesses. Don't need 39 superintendents, school committees etc. Statewide curriculum, regionalize." -- Clair Newall
"Go supervise what your friend Anastasia Williams is doing to the John Hope Settlement House and stop turning a blind eye because she's your friend!!!!!" -- Sandra Sanchez
"Increase compassion with funding for our mentally ill. For the children in South County there are very few, child psychiatrists. Families cannot work if they do not have affordable child care...Yet the plan is to cut another 10 million." -- Laura Lehrman
"I could not help be struck recently driving though Warwick at all the "For Sale" signs on the homes. Meanwhile, I keep hearing about silicon valley/San Francisco's housing shortage. We need business as well as population here in Rhode Island. Maybe Gina could make a pitch to some of the West Coast tech giants to start an East Coast campus? We're costal, we have so much potential, affordable housing, and top notch universities. Maybe then we could retain some of the graduates once they are done with their schooling, if they have an industry to go into." -- Lyndsay Drew
"In other states they have rest areas that provide fuel, food ( McDonalds,Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts and convenience stores. We have the land ( closed rest stops on 95 and 295) . This would provide jobs in the construction industry and service industry also. The taxes gleaned from this would be a benefit to the state. We should also look into using prisoners from the ACI to do road maintenance and clean up." -- Ed Bates
"She and the state definitely should be thinking about what the presence Rhode Island's first National Historical Park in the Blackstone Valley will bring to the economy in tourism dollars." -- Comfort Inn Providence / Pawtucket
