A new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) by Richard Rothstein titled The Making of Ferguson: Public Policies at the Root of its Troubles puts some of the recent brouhaha over RhodeMap RI into keen perspective. We all know the story of the police murder of Mike Brown in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, MO, the high profile demonstrations from the black community in response, and the heavy handed, militarized police reaction. The US Department of Justice released a shocking report of systemic racism and economic exploitation of the black citizens of Ferguson, but the report from the EPI provides insight into how a racially segregated, predominantly low income African-American community like Ferguson can develop in the first place.
Rothstein begins by blaming racial prejudice and racist public policy. “No doubt, private prejudice and suburbanites’ desire for homogenous affluent environments contributed to segregation in St. Louis and other metropolitan areas. But these explanations are too partial, and too conveniently excuse public policy from responsibility. A more powerful cause of metropolitan segregation in St. Louis and nationwide has been the explicit intents of federal, state, and local governments to create racially segregated metropolises.”
It’s important to understand that the policies Rothstein exposes in his report are not located only in the immediate area of St. Louis, these policies existed across the nation, and even where such policies no longer officially exist, their effects can still be felt today. These policies, according to Rothstein, include:
RhodeMap RI was developed with an understanding of many of the problems Rothstein cites. The public review draft of RhodeMap has a section at the end concentrating on social equity that explicitly called on the plan to “implement a new economic model based on equity, fairness, and opportunity.” It is this part of the plan, the part that seeks to undo the kind of problems that plague communities of color like Ferguson, that seems to most bother RhodeMap opponents.
Rothstein takes a shot at offering possible solutions towards the end of his report, writing, “Many practical programs and regulatory strategies can address problems of Ferguson and similar communities nationwide.” For instance, governments might “require even outer-ring suburbs to repeal zoning ordinances that prohibit construction of housing that lower- or moderate-income residents – white or black – can afford. Going further, we could require every community to permit development of housing to accommodate a ‘fair share’ of its region’s low-income and minority populations…”
Rhode Island has something of a fair share law (as part of the Rhode Island Comprehensive Housing Production and Rehabilitation Act of 2004 and Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act (Rhode Island General Laws 45-53)) which sets a 10% goal for each of the state’s cities and town to meet—the goal being that 10% of the units in a town are “affordable.”
Most of the pushback against RhodeMap comes from communities that have very little affordable rental housing and are predominantly White. Legislation to undermine existing laws requiring cities and towns to plan for affordable housing is part of that pushback , such as House Bill 5643, which would “eliminate the mandate requiring cities and towns to include an affordable housing program in their comprehensive plans” or House Bill 5644 which “would remove the mandate requiring cities and towns to include an affordable housing program in their comprehensive plans and would provide an opt-out provision regarding any provision in the state guide plan regarding affordable housing and any related land use provisions” are naked attempts to keep affordable housing, and those who need it, out of their communities.
The legislators who are introducing and supporting the bills are all Republicans, or in one case an “Independent” representing primarily suburban and rural communities like Richmond (Note: part of Rep. Justin Price’s district), West Greenwich (part of Rep. Sherry Robert’s district) Coventry, Hopkinton, Charlestown, Portsmouth, Exeter and East Greenwich. Note that Richmond and West Greenwich have made “no progress” and East Greenwich has made “no significant progress” in meeting the 10% goal.
Undoing the damage of decades of racist housing policy and preventing future Fergusons requires a plan. RhodeMap RI isn’t quite that plan, it’s more a collection of guidelines to help communities develop a plan, but it’s a good step in the right direction. Those opposed to RhodeMap like to put on their “free market” hats and declare that any government intervention into housing is some sort of fascist violation of property rights. However, racially segregated housing is the product of just the kind of government sponsored social engineering that RhodeMap opponents complain of, and many of those opponents have also waged fights to prevent construction of affordable rental units in places such as Barrington and East Greenwich.
To be consistent these defenders of the free market should be calling for a repeal of all zoning restrictions in their communities, but of course they will not. Instead, they will zealously guard the status quo by defending zoning laws that the prevent construction of low income housing too close to their safe suburban enclaves. Opponents of RhodeMap object to being called racists, but when their claims of defending property rights are not equally applied to property owners who want to build affordable housing on their land, what else are we to think?
]]>Earlier this month, the good people at the Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Team did the unusual, releasing three seals – two harps and one gray seal – at the same time at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown.
The three seals, Pluto, Pandora and Curie, plopped out of their carriers and waddled down to the water to begin their normal lives in the wild.
The Mystic folks warn people to be careful when they find an injured marine mammal and to contact local police or the Mystic Center first on their 24-hour hotline, 860-527-5955, extension 107.
Rescued marine mammals come to Mystic from all over New England to be treated for illnesses or injuries before they are set free from one of Charlestown’s beaches.
They also run educational programs and also try to inform the public on the right thing to do when encountering a stranded or injuries marine mammal. If you read on, you’ll see how one guy who would like to be Rhode Island’s next governor obviously didn’t get the memo.
What not to do if you see an injured seal
Giroux is a construction contractor not a veterinarian.
Of course, he took the obligatory photo for his Facebook page, perhaps thinking this will somehow boost his chances with the voters.
Giroux is not the sharpest pencil in the pencil box.
Neighbors called the police who went to Giroux’s house to tell him to put the seal back, and contacted DEM.
By the time DEM arrived, the seal was gone. They did not find a body. DEM told WPRO that the feds are investigating since Giroux’s action was a violation of federal law.
Giroux is one of several candidates running for state office this year who have no business doing so. I regret to say that Giroux is running as a Democrat, although he is picking up some right-wing Republican support.
In this age of shrinking news coverage of real news, Giroux has been treated as if he’s a real candidate with real ideas, rather than a crank. I’ll be writing more about Giroux soon to back up my assessment of his qualifications. There’s a lot more wrong with him than just acting like an idiot with that injured seal.
This article originally ran in Progressive Charlestown, where you can see even more pictures of the seals Mystic Aquarium released in Charlestown.
With less than 8,000 people, beautiful beaches and forests and relative affluence, you’d think Charlestown would be a tranquil place. But don’t believe it. Politics is almost always a blood sport, and it seems that the smaller the setting, the bloodier it gets.
The dominant political group in Charlestown is called the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, or CCA. They are closely related to the RI Statewide Coalition (which is headquartered in Charlestown). The CCA has taken over from the GOP as the voice of the elite, with a little dash of Tea Party flavoring.
To give you a taste of Charlestown politics, come visit Progressive Charlestown.
Our hot topic in town is a move by our CCA-controlled Town Council to begin purging town staff who hold politically incorrect thoughts.
Here’s the story from Rhode Island’s Down Under:
Town Hall morale has always been a problem, but it seems to be at an all-time low, as the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) appears poised to try to clean house.
Boss Gentz – trying to figure out which way the wind blows |
Councilor Lisa DiBello – pay-back time |
Federal overseer Charlie Vandemoer |