Lauren Carson – RI Future

Rep. Lauren Carson today announced she will seek re-election to the House of Representatives. Ms. Carson represents District 75, Newport. Representative Carson was first elected in 2014 and is completing her first term.

“District 75 wants a state representative that puts Newport first,” said Representative Carson. “Newport wants a responsive and accessible state government and I will continue to champion sensible policies to make sure that our voices are heard in state government and that there is fairness and transparency in Rhode Island.”

“I have promised transparency and availability to the voters. During my 18 months in office, I have held 10 constituent meetings designed to engage voters in the process of state government and to keep my ear to the ground on the issues that Newport cares about most,” said Carson. Carson supported reform legislation that fixed Rhode Island’s broken lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics laws which passed in the Assembly, recess for grammar school children and income tax exemptions for veterans, military and private pensions.

Representative Carson is a member of the House Oversight Committee, which has been investigating 38 Studios and the House Small Business Committee. Representative Carson currently chairs a special House Study Commission on Tourism.

“Building and investing in a smart and sustainable Rhode Island tourism campaign is good for Newport. Following the failed “Cooler and Warmer’ campaign, my special Commission redirected our efforts to understand how other states manage their marketing programs and how Rhode Island can make sound marketing investments in the future,” said Representative Carson. “We have successfully redirected tourism and hotel tax dollars back to the local regions in the 2017 budget and will continue to examine and propose strategies on how our state tourism dollars are best spent in the future.” Carson plans to hold her next Study Commission meeting in Newport. It is now scheduled for Friday July 15 at the old Colony House. Representative Carson also chaired a Special House Study on the Economic Impact of Flooding and Sea Rise.

“Newport is at ground zero for flooding and sea rise. Both the Point and Fifth ward neighborhoods must be preparing now for the economic impact that will accompany flooding. Businesses along the waterfront are at great risk and I have committed my first term to getting a better understanding of the scope of this risk.” Carson succeeded in achieving $100,000 in the 2017 state budget for the University of Rhode Island to develop a mandatory training program for municipal planning and zoning boards to increase their knowledge of flooding and encourage better decision making for flood prone and waterfront properties.

Representative Carson graduated the University of Rhode Island and holds a graduate degree in History and a Masters Degree in Business. She works part time for Clean Water Action and has one adult son, Andrew, 27, who lives in New York.

[From a press release]

Rep Lauren Carson’s Special House Commission to Study Economic Risk Due to Flooding and Sea Level Rise issued its final report today, and has made several recommendations as to how Rhode Island can mitigate the effects of climate change.

These recommendations include:

Updates to local comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, and building codes
Additional support for academic and scientific research on sea level rise
Increased communication concerning the financial impact of natural disasters and flooding; and
The development of a statewide property preparedness program for property owners.

Recommendation 1 calls for the “creation of a flood audit program for property owners and businesses to incentivize property fortification and adaptation.” Funding of this program could come from “through public or private investment.”

Recommendation 2 acknowledges the lack of awareness among government policy makers regarding climate change and sea level rise. “As such, several proposals should be developed to increase awareness: mandatory climate, flooding and sea level rise training for local planning commission, zoning boards, and realtors; a flood insurance incentive program for property owners in the floodplain; and, the dissemination of the Coastal Resources Center’s adaptation catalogue to property owners in the flood plain.”

Recommendation 3 came as a surprise to the commission, according to Rep Carson. The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, completed in 1966, has only one small generator as back up in the event the grid goes offline during a hurricane or flooding disaster. “In light of the barrier’s age and scientific research projecting more hurricanes along the eastern seaboard, the Commission requests that municipal, state, and federal officials work with the Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies to review the Hurricane Barrier’s structural sufficiency.”

Recommendation 4 concerns getting businesses back on line as soon as possible after an emergency. This point was of particular concern to the commission, which states in their report that, “Assisting business continuity is critical to maintaining the economic fabric of the affected community.” The commission recommends that state policy makers “assess a potential business continuity toolkit that could include sales tax deferments during rehabilitation and reconstruction, trauma and mental health counseling for affected business owners and employees, unemployment benefits for displaced workers, bridge loan programs for businesses waiting for flood insurance payments and FEMA financial support, and concentrated marketing programs to highlight restored communities.”

Finally, having determined that “Rhode Island needs to more fully understand the economic implications of sea level rise,” the commission recommends “a community by community analysis resulting in aggregate data that determines Rhode Island’s total economic exposure due to sea level rise. State agencies should review all vulnerable assets and prioritize resiliency adaptation based upon the rate of return on their investment.”

You can access the full report here.

Tag: Lauren Carson

Lauren Carson seeking re-election in Newport

Carson’s Sea Level Rise Commission issues final report and recommendations