Is Rhode Island a Plutocracy?

Sadly, in 2024 We Have a Governor Who Caters to the Pay To Play, Quid Pro Quo, Plutocracy form of Government in Rhode Island.

The Days of Reckoning In Rhode Island

In Rhode Island we had a State of the State address by Governor McKee. He discussed being on a winning team with respect to HIS perceived beliefs in helping Rhode Island. He discussed Galilee, and his investments in Galilee. He also discussed his support for Windfarms. In addition, he noted he wanted to help Rhode Islanders keep more of their income.
Sadly, in Galilee, Rhode Island, the people of Rhode Island have had to witness the worse eyesore and an environmental hazard in the history of the State of Rhode Island where the former Lighthouse Inn has been abandoned by James Procaccianti and Joseph Paolino of Procaccianti Developers. The Town of Narragansett’s Building Inspector condemned the building and noted it is a fire, health, and safety, hazard. What is deeply troubling is the land the building is on is leased out by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), and the RIDEM has a satellite office within walking distance from the leased land. Procaccninti Developers had a previous multi-year lease on the 5-acre parcel of land. The RIDEM lease noted Procaccianti Developers needed to maintain its hotel and restaurant. As the lawyer from the RIDEM noted in his rebuttal to Procaccianti Developers legal briefs, the original lease was terminated in 2023 because of Procaccianti Developers’ failure to maintain its property. Procaccianit Developers have 10 billion in real estate investments, yet it intentionally abandoned its hotel, so now it must be demolished.
A local news station in RI showed there are live seagulls that are trapped in the building until their death. When I called the RIDEM to report about the live seagulls trapped in the building, and I noted they needed to send someone to release the seagulls, I was told, we will inform the owners.
Joe Paolino denied ownership of the building, but the property record card in Narragansett clearly shows Procaccianti Developers are owners of the building. Now, Procaccianti Developers have opened litigation in the hope it will pressure the State of Rhode Island to pay for the demolition. In review of the litigation, its legal briefs are groundless, yet the litigation has not been thrown out by the Superior Court. If this were you or I we would be summoned into court, fined, and possibly arrested. Governor McKee has been contacted numerous times about the lack of oversight the RIDEM has had in enforcement of its laws against Procaccianti Developers, but Governor McKee has ignored all pleas to intervene. The RIDEM previously announced the RIDEM will be paying for the demolition of the Lighthouse Inn that is supposed to be scheduled for this year. Why would the State (RIDEM) pay for the demolition of the hotel as Procaccianti Developers recklessly abandoned its hotel? Ironically during the State of the State address, Governor McKee gave Director Gray praise for his leadership.
We also have our Governor supporting Wind Farms off the Coast of Galilee. The fishermen and residents have provided evidence a Wind Farm off our coast will cause irreparable harm to the marine life, and it will adversely affect the livelihood of fishermen. In addition, many states have found it very costly to harness the energy from the offshore wind farms by using the existing grids. Therefore, the cost to build up the infrastructure to harness the energy from the wind farms has resulted in a significant increase in costs that is passed along to the consumers. A private lawyer has been hired to fight the proposed windfarms. Orsted has bailed out of its planned development in New Jersey. If Orsted could not find it profitable to build in New Jersey, why is our Governor welcoming the company with open arms? Orsted has a market capitalization of 23 billion Dollars.
We have our Governor supporting Tidewater Landing. Governor McKee led by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation approved 60 million in public financing. Why is our State supporting such a risky business venture? If the Pawtucket Red Sox could not be viable and profitable, how does our Governor feel a soccer stadium will be profitable? Fortuitous Partners is another multibillion-dollar company, so why is the state giving them millions of dollars for their business venture?
In a most recent study that came out on January 18thranking states with respect to the ease of starting a business, Rhode Island ranked last. I guess if you are a multi-billionaire corporation that is either allowed to break the laws with no accountability in the State and / or is provided with multimillions of dollars for starting your business, you may argue that Rhode Island is number 1 for business friendliness. Some feel Rhode Island is functioning more like a plutocracy than a democracy.
Our Governor is supporting multi-billion-dollar companies at the expense of our residents of Rhode Island. Rhode Island is one of 11 states that tax our social security. Our Governor said in his speech that he wants to help its residents keep more of their income. We have state retired workers that were stripped of their COLA that was promised to them. State workers had their pensions significantly reduced. Yet, our State has more than enough money to support billion-dollar corporations. Governor McKee while you stated in your speech you are winning for the state, based on your actions, you are a winner for the multibillionaires, but the sad reality is that you are failing in helping the average hard-working citizens and business owners of your state.
Dr. Albert Alba
Academic Teacher,
Rhode Island Department of Corrections.