Construction crews will begin work tomorrow on Ocean Road in Narragansett

Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that the first repair contract for road damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Saturday, November 3, 2012 – just five days after the storm hit Rhode Island.

Workers from J.H. Lynch and Sons of Cumberland are expected to mobilize for repairs on a portion of Ocean Road in Narragansett damaged by the storm. The $1.2 million contract includes replacement of 3,800 feet of sidewalk from State Pier No. 5 near South Pier Road to the area of Narragansett Town Beach. The contract also includes replacement of more than 200 feet of seawall, repair of any undermined areas, inspection and repair of drainage systems, and other minor repairs as needed.

Eighty percent of the project costs are funded from $3 million of quick release emergency relief funds provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday.

“It was exciting to learn that Rhode Island had received a quick response to its request for funds for initial repairs to our roads, and even more so to learn that actual repairs could begin less than a week after the storm,” Governor Lincoln D. Chafee said. “This is a credit to all involved in helping Rhode Island get back on its feet as quickly as possible.”

“Our team at RIDOT has been working long and hard to evaluate the damage caused by this storm and put a plan in place to fix it,” RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. “We are especially appreciative of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s rapid response to our funding request so we could make this happen.”

RIDOT is putting together design plans for repairs to damaged roadway segments along Rhode Island’s coastline, including severely undermined roads on Block Island. The goal is to have repairs begin in the next few weeks and conclude the projects by the end of 2012.

Where to start for filing a federal claim for home or business

The very first thing to do to get your claim started is to call your local EMA Director:

Narragansett EMA              Judy Christofaro, Assistant                      789-1000
npdfire2000@yahoo.com
       
South Kingstown  EMA       Stephen Alfred, Director                          789-9331  ext.1201

salfred@southkingstownri.com

The second is to call the United Way at  211 (like 411, or 911, but for RI assistance information). They will help offer services and track total numbers of claims to provide to FEMA, which ultimately helps the state get adequate federal funds released.

Don't forget, you will also need to file with your own private insurance company. Document all the lost and damaged items. Be as precise as possible, better to have more information than find out you did not have enough. 

All questions should be directed to 211. 

2-1-1 Call Center

United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island is working closely with federal, state and local individuals and organizations to help Rhode Islanders affected by Hurricane Sandy.

2-1-1 is the fastest and easiest way to get information when you need it, especially during a natural disaster such as Hurricane Sandy. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This service will give you access to resources across your community, whether you need to get help - for you, for a family member or for a friend - or want to help and you will be connected to the services or information you need.  This service is confidential, free, and available in multiple languages.  Information is also available online at www.211ri.org.

For individuals needing food, shelter, transportation, or other human service needs, Rhode Islanders are encouraged to call 2-1-1.  For businesses, it is important to call 2-1-1 to report any damage to your business to assist in the process of applying for federal relief funds.

If you are able to volunteer to assist others or offer resources, you are also encouraged to dial 2-1-1.  For situations involving any immediate threat to the health and welfare of residents, individuals should immediately call 9-1-1.

5 PM update from National Grid:

South Kingstown has 27% of households (3,942 out of 14,413 customers) without power, down from nearly 6,000 this AM, and 10,000 at the height of the storm. Main problem areas are Tuckertown Road and Ministerial Road.

Narragansett has 7% of households (775 out of 10,486 customers) without power.

FEMA Update

As of 11 am this morning, there are 2 teams of FEMA officials in South Kingstown assessing the damage, with one team focusing on public assets and the other on private property. The town will then file it's application for declaration to be joined with others from the state and a decision will be provided by the federal government for the state as a whole. There will likely be several offices opening throughout the state (concentrated where the most damage has occurred) in the coming week or two where businesses and individuals can file their own application for assistance. The first step will be for the claimant to apply to their private insurance and keep close documentation on the damage. This is an important step to facilitate the federal assistance.
As I get more information, I will continue to share it and update often. I will also continue to visit businesses in the district to help answer any questions as best as I can, and direct people to the resources necessary to recover. I understand people are losing patience, and I will continue to fight for the resources South County needs to recover from this storm.

Information for those affected by storm

 STATE HOUSE – While the power outages, damage and other problems caused by Hurricane Sandy have been difficult on the whole area, they are especially devastating on those who were already food-insecure, said Rep. Teresa Tanzi.

Representative Tanzi said those who receive SNAP benefits (food stamps) are eligible for assistance to help replace food that is lost as a result of power outage or other storm-related problems, but they have to act quickly. Those in such a situation need to fill out a form called “SNAP 55,” available from the Department of Human Services, within 10 days of the loss. For help or the form, call the local DHS office at (401) 782-4300, or the SNAP emergency help line, 866-306-0270.

Additionally, the Johnnycake Center’s emergency food pantry will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily until power is restored to the area. (The agency’s administrative offices, client services and store will be closed until power returns). The agency also has water available for anyone who needs drinking water, regardless of whether they are clients.

Representative Tanzi encouraged anyone who is having trouble finding the help they need to call 211 to connect with available emergency assistance or social services. (As always, 911 remains the number to call for emergency medical assistance.) She encouraged those who have Internet access to check the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) website, http://www.riema.ri.gov/, for a host of statewide and local emergency resources, including phone numbers for help, maps of outages and closed roads, and information about food and water safety, cleanup, unemployment and other benefits, and much more.

“It has been very difficult to access information without power in our area, and I hate to think of all the people who are going without because they don’t know where to turn or are afraid to ask for help. If you don’t know and you don’t know how to find out, start by checking the website if you can, or by calling 211 for information,” she said.

Tanzi Demands Oversight and Transparency of Tax Preferences

More than $1.73 billion of state revenue was given up through tax expenditures in 2009, according to the 2012 Tax Expenditures Report published this summer by the Office of Revenue Analysis, all without regular review to determine the benefit to the state. 

Each year, lawmakers agonize over state spending on programs and administration within our limited means to balance the budget, but because tax expenditures represent money that we never actually receive, we don’t get to consider whether those nearly $2 billion in expenditures are actually benefiting Rhode Islanders. 

The term “tax expenditure” encompasses many forms of tax breaks, including credits, deductions, exemptions, preferential rates and others. While some have obvious value (like the sales tax exemptions for food and most clothing, which help make those necessities more affordable) most are never evaluated by the state to see whether the investment is paying dividends for the state's economy or its citizens. 

A report issued by the Department of Revenue’s Office of Revenue Analysis in August attempted to estimate the cost of each of the 235 tax expenditure programs in Rhode Island, although in 80 cases, the state could not calculate any cost, stating “no reliable data exists from which to derive an estimate.” That information and lack thereof should be of great concern to citizens and state leaders because it represents a huge sum of money that the state is spending through the tax code without the appropriate level of scrutiny. 

This week I attended a conference held in Providence by the Federation of Tax Administrators, which reinforced my sense of urgency as I learned more states are moving toward better oversight of tax expenditure programs in today’s tough financial times. Some are using spending caps on certain segments, and sunsets to prevent never-ending subsidies; but the movement overall is towards adding sunlight and transparency to silent spending through the tax code. 

For the past two years I have introduced legislation with strong bipartisan support requiring any new tax preference to include a statement about what it is supposed to accomplish, ways to measure outcomes, and expiration dates that would provide the General Assembly with an opportunity to positively reaffirm its effectiveness on a systematic basis. 

I have also submitted and will continue to introduce legislation creating a finance sub-committee to review all existing tax expenditures and make recommendations over time as to whether to maintain, strengthen or repeal the 235 preferences that currently exist. 

My goal isn’t to eliminate tax credits and exemptions, but to refine them to perform as effectively as possible for the benefit of Rhode Islanders and the state’s economy. 

Many of these expenditures were written decades ago and are in desperate need of review. No company would write a business plan and not change it for a decade and expect to stay competitive in today’s marketplace. Why would we expect our tax code to be any less nimble in times of rapid changes in the business landscape? It’s actually a disservice to businesses that we do not respond more systematically and comprehensively to the changing markets by updating our tax incentives more thoroughly. 

Rhode Islanders are rightfully upset about a poorly vetted $75 million loan guarantee for 38 Studios, but let that be the impetus to help us create an economic development plan that is transparent, accountable and data-driven. When we’re deep in a public debate about how Rhode Island should pursue economic development, shouldn’t we be carefully evaluating each program that is supposed to be an incentive for business growth to ensure it is up-to date and primed to help create jobs and rebuild our economy?  

When the state is constantly cutting programs to balance the budget, it’s senseless to ignore one-third of our budget. If we are able to find efficiencies on tax expenditures, we might be able to fund other priorities, such as making significant investments in higher education, improving our crumbling infrastructure, or expanding public transit. Tax expenditures do important work in strengthening our economy, but Rhode Island needs to keep ours current to ensure that they provide the best return for our $1.7 billion investment.

Teresa Tanzi

State Representative, District 34

Narragansett, Wakefield and Peace Dale

I ask for your vote on November 6th

Dear Neighbors:

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your State Representative in Narragansett, Peace Dale, and Wakefield.

I hope you will take a few moments to read about some of my accomplishments in my first term. I believe I have proven myself to be a collaborative worker, putting in the hours to study the issues and work closely with all stakeholders.

I am proud to be a strong liaison between my constituents and government agencies. As just one example, I worked with fellow South Kingstown Rep. Donna Walsh to change a DEM regulation to provide coastal property owners and builders greater flexibility by reaching agreements with the RI Builders association, DEM, and town officials when it was clear that the General Assembly alone could not come to consensus on the issue of regulating on-site wastewater treatment systems for homeowners. It is this kind of creative thinking that I will continue to bring to my work, and create real solutions for the residents in our communities.


Please feel free to contact me when you have any state-related issues. Whether it is getting an answer regarding a tax refund, finding support for family members with medical transportation issues, or helping with unemployment benefits, I can help address your constituent concerns. Call me on my cell phone, 527-9468. I am always happy to help.

With warm regards,
Teresa.

Tanzi is Strongly Advocating on Behalf of the Fishing Industry

Representative Teresa Tanzi has been a leading advocate in the General Assembly on behalf of the fishing industry, which is so critical in South County.

Rep. Tanzi speaks at the Port of Galilee
in support of the fishing industry

She acted quickly in the 2012 session to make sure the House passed her bill calling for a one-year ban on pair trawling in Rhode Island waters to protect the jobs for fishermen in Point Judith.

The practice of pair trawling involves two fishing vessels dragging a single enormous net between them has been attracting out-of-state vessels that use up the region’s herring quota.

“There was very little benefit to our state last year with this type of fishing,” Tanzi told her colleagues on the House floor. “It has not been the local fishing fleet that is doing the majority of it, and the state isn’t collecting any taxes or other revenue because the fish are generally landed here but then processed in other states.”

This one-year ban was intended to allow DEM adequate time to create new regulations to simultaneously prevent the raiding of the resource by out of state boats while not cutting off future opportunities for the Rhode Island fleet.

Tanzi has taken numerous actions to assist the fishing industry. In one of her first weeks as a Representative, she met with the new DEM director, Janet Coit, to ask for online permitting for out-of-state fishermen vessels to offload their catch in Rhode Island’s processing plants. The Port of Galilee was essentially hanging a “Closed for Business” sign up on our processing plants because out-of-state boat captains had to find a way to get to Providence during business hours to apply for the necessary permits.

She also Chairs the Port of Galilee Task Force and participated in a recent meeting with the newly appointed top regional official from the National Marine Fisheries Service about the challenges facing the industry. 

Tanzi Supports Green Energy

As one of the leading environmental advocates in the General Assembly, Representative Teresa Tanzi practices what she preaches. Her home in Wakefield is heated by 100% Rhode Island produced biodiesel and the car she drives is also powered by the fuel from Newport Biodiesel.

Rep. Tanzi stands beside the wind turbine before it is
erected at Fishermen's Memorial Campground

“These are real jobs for Rhode Islanders,” said Tanzi. “I am a strong believer in a green economy. Taking what was once discarded, used fryer oil from restaurants in this case, and turning it into biodiesel, has created jobs, reduced the carbon footprint of our household, and provided a brighter future for our state.”

She was a co-sponsor of a legislative package signed into law last year which encourages the generation and use of renewable energy in Rhode Island.
The bills facilitate and promote the installation of grid-connected and distributed-generation renewable energy, diversify the state’s energy- generation sources, stimulate economic development and reduce delays in renewable energy projects. 

Tanzi Bill Leads to Government Transparency

Representative Teresa Tanzi has been a leading advocate for government transparency. She introduced legislation in 2011 to require the General Assembly to put its voting records on the legislative website. Her bill prompted the leadership to upgrade the General Assembly website, where the public can now find all floor and committee votes.

“This was a great improvement, but I would like to see even more transparency in the future,” said Tanzi. “I will continue to advocate for the online database to be searchable by key words and by each individual legislator so that constituents will know exactly how their elected officials have voted.”
Tanzi also voted this year to expand public access in the open records law, the first change to the law made in 14 years.