Russ Moore: Sorry Raimondo, Summits Won't Fix Our Economy
Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Russ Moore: Sorry Raimondo, Summits Won't Fix Our Economy
If the Governor-elect was looking for another quick and easy public relations victory plus an opportunity to backslap with some of the state’s big shot business leaders, government higher-ups, and uber connected public relations specialists—than the meeting was a rousing success. But if the meeting was actually created in order to achieve its intended purpose—improving the state’s economy and putting people back to work—than the meeting really didn’t accomplish what she was setting out to do. That’s because, at some point, improvement requires actual action, not just endless pontificating.
Scores of Summits
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThat’s because Rhode Island has a long history of economic summits that do little other than create complacency from the feeling of ‘having a plan’ to address the state’s economic woes. Sometimes one has to wonder whether the members of the Rhode Island media have some type of short term memory loss or attention deficit disorder or something.
Recall back in 2009, when the state was first reeling from the nationwide economic crisis, then Governor Donald Carcieri headlined an economic summit hosted by the Rhode Island Small Business Administration. All of the state’s so-thought of intelligentsia were present. The big buzzword that year was “working again”. And lo and behold, many of the same buzzwords that are constantly thrown around, and were thrown around at Raimondo’s economic summit, were kicked around then as well. We heard about “green economy”, “access to capital”, an educated workforce, etc.
In fact, an economic report that was drafted in part based on what was discussed at that meeting, cites the development of the 195 land as a major economic opportunity for the state. Fast forward almost 6 years later, and there’s been still almost no development at the route 195 land (unless you count hours and hours of billable hours for connected lawyers economic development).
“Make it Happen”
Three years later, a new summit was convened to solve the state’s economic problems, but with a new governor, Lincoln Chafee, in charge. This time, the state rebranded the name of its efforts, calling it “make it happen”, and the event was hosted by The Rhode Island Foundation. There, we had about 300 participants congregating at the Rhode Island Convention Center talking about what to do and not to do for economic development. Once again, all the meaningless and vague buzzwords were tossed around and a report was issued.
One-year later, another conference was amassed, this time with 200 participants, put together to measure the progress of the first conference. This was called “Make it Happen 2.0”. Yet the labor force continued to shrink.
Now, a year later, we have Raimondo’s economic summit to advise the Governor on what to do to improve the economy despite the fact that during the gubernatorial campaign this year, Raimondo constantly assured us that she already had a plan to fix the state’s ailing economy.
Simple problem, Tough Solutions
The fact of the matter is that what ails the Rhode Island economy is a high tax and cost structure coupled with crippling regulations and high energy costs. The problem, at its core, is simple. But that doesn’t make it easy to fix.
For if the state of Rhode Island wanted to cease to be “tax hell”, as Forbes so infamously labeled the state about a decade ago, it would need to lower its spending. But to lower spending, the state leaders would have to take on some very strong and entrenched special interest groups in the process.
Consolidation is the perfect example. It’s no secret that a state as small as RI doesn’t need 39 cities and towns, with 39 fire chiefs, police chiefs, or 36 school districts. Yet none of the entrenched powers that be will let go of their own fiefdoms.
It takes courage
The good news is that if there’s anyone who can do it, it’s Raimondo. To her credit, Raimondo has shown courage by taking on the state’s teachers unions and state workers already by spearheading pension reform in 2011. There’s nothing stopping her from taking the bull by the horns again to cut spending which would correspondingly allow the state to lower its taxes significantly. That would put more money in the average person’s pocket, allowing them to spend more, which would provide an economic boom.
As Raimondo learned with pension reform, if we’re going to actually reform the state in a meaningful way, it’s going to take courage and aggressive action. Does she have it in her again? Let’s hope so.
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
