Foulkes Calls for Elimination of “Political Appointees” at CRMC, Creation of Sec. of Climate Action
GoLocalProv Political Team
Foulkes Calls for Elimination of “Political Appointees” at CRMC, Creation of Sec. of Climate Action
CRMC is the Coastal Resources Management Council -- the agency that regulates RI's coastline.
She is also calling for the creation of a Secretary of Climate Action position. But, she gives no specifics as to the responsibility or authority for the position. Nor does she give specifics as to how it would interact with the Department of Environmental Management, the agency with responsibility for state and federal environmental regulations.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"The CRMC’s mission is too important to Rhode Islanders for it to be siloed from other agencies and influenced by politics," said Foulkes. "Rhode Islanders' constitutional right to shoreline access must be protected by professionals and the critical work the CRMC does must be appropriately funded."
This past General Assembly session, there was an effort to reform CRMC, but it failed at the State House.
According to Foulkes, Rhode Island and California are the only two states in which a politically appointed Council makes final determinations regarding regulatory approvals for coastal development. "In addition to restructuring the organization, Helena will call for a vast increase in the resources and staff allocated to CRMC and other agencies tasked with implementing climate resiliency policy," said her announcement.
Foulkes lives in the coastal community of Narragansett.
The change proposed by Foulkes would eliminate public participation of local representation.
Foulkes’ campaign said, “Helena is committed to ensuring that the agency has representation from both coastal and urban communities. Her concern with the existing structure is that it allows politically-appointed individuals--who are not required to have relevant expertise--to make final determinations regarding regulatory approvals for coastal development. Rhode Island is one of only two states in the country with this set up,” said Audrey Lucas, Foulkes’ spokesperson
“Save the Bay has a smart proposal on this, which Helena will use as a model,” added Lucas.
Foulkes praises and criticizes the sitting governor. "Governor McKee took the admirable step of signing a law, 'Act on Climate' to make climate commitments legally enforceable. Yet, the governor is sorely lacking a plan to actually meet these goals, and the state is already showing signs of falling behind on its promises," said Foulkes in her plan.