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Posted by NewportAlliance - March 10, 2012 at 6:39 pm
http://www.newportri.com/newportdailynews/news/newport-s-civic-groups-seeking-a-larger-role/article_da94f827-1289-5b06-becb-d180e815c354.html Posted: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 12:08 am | Updated: 1:56 pm, Wed May 8, 2013. By Sean Flynn l Newport Daily News | 0 comments Leaders of seven active neighborhood associations in Newport said Tuesday night they feel ignored by city and elected officials and will be seeking acknowledgement that they represent the interests of local residents. “My big goal is building cooperation and a sense of trust with the city,” said Beth Cullen, president of the Point Association. Among the changes she would like to see is an “Office of Neighborhoods” in city government, as found in many cities across the country, including Charleston, S.C. Cullen also would like the city’s website to provide links to the web pages of the various neighborhood associations. Besides the Point Association, representatives of the Off-Broadway, the Historic Hill, the Bellevue Avenue-Ochre Point, the Castle Hill and the Top of the Hill neighborhood associations, as well as the new North End Neighborhood Association, met at the St. John the Evangelist Parish House on Poplar Street. Representatives of the citywide Alliance for a Livable Newport, which has had more success getting attention from city officials, also were present. Almost everyone among the two dozen people at [...]
Categories: GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY, SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION Tags: Alliance for a Livable Newport, Brenton Point State Park, City Manager, Neighborhood association, Newport, Newport Rhode Island, Preservation Society of Newport County, Public safety, Quality of life, Salve Regina University
http://www.newport-now.com/news/open-house-sheds-light%2C-reveals-rifts/ By Tom Shevlin, April 19, 2013 Newport This Week (Newport-Now.com) NEWPORT – School lunches, budgets, the search for a new superintendent, what to do about excess elementary schools, a push for a new parking garage, the redevelopment of the North End, a proposal to require Newport residents to pay as they throw, and the seemingly ever present issue of trust between the city’s top two elected bodies. They were all topics of conversation on Tuesday when the Alliance for a Livable Newport hosted what it called an open house to discuss citywide issues with members of the School Committee and City Council. The roughly hour-long session, which drew about two dozen members of the public to the downstairs meeting room of the Newport Public Library, began with a series of questions related to the city’s public schools. Taking primacy were two lines of questioning: the first seeking clarification regarding the search for a new superintendent, and a second addressing the continued struggles of Rogers High School students on the New England Common Assessment Program, or NECAP, test. Representing the School Committee were Chairman Dr. Charles Shoemaker and Vice Chair Jo Eva Gaines. According to Gaines, in finding the city’s next [...]
Categories: GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Tags: Alliance for a Livable Newport, Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, City council, city of newport, High school, NECAP, New England Common Assessment Program, Newport, Newport City Council, Newport Public Library, Newport School District, North End Redevelopment commission, school committee, Tom Shevlin
Open Town Hall Meeting April 16, 2013 6:30-8pm YOU ARE INVITED! All Newport Residents are encouraged to attend this issue packed event! This is your opportunity to ask important questions about the City of Newport and Newport Public Schools. Please join us and “bring a friend”! Sponsored by The Alliance for a Livable Newport Where: Newport Public Library – Program Room 300 Spring Street, Newport, RI When: Tuesday, April 16th – 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Panelists for the Forum Harry Winthrop Naomi Neville Dr. Charles Shoemaker Jo Eva Gaines Mayor & Chairman Newport City Council Vice Chairman Newport City Council Chairman Newport School Committee Vice Chairman Newport School Committee What questions do you have? After brief opening remarks be each of the panelists, Newport residents will have the opportunity to ask any and all questions about issues you may have regarding our city and schools. Please send your questions in advance for the panel to info@newportalliance.org Public Access This forum will be videotaped for viewing on Public Access TV and on our website. To view other recent [...]
Newport residents can volunteer at one of 12 cleanup events in Newport this Earth Day. Newport Mayor Harry F. Winthrop and the Newport Public Services Department’s Clean City Program would like to invite Newport area residents to volunteer for one of the 12 litter cleanup events happening for Newport’s 2013 Earth Day celebration, which is also part of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup. The Clean City Program will be providing gloves, bags and a thank you gift for volunteers. City staff will also pick up the bags of litter for the Earth Day cleanups in Newport. Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is waiving all disposal fees associated with litter collected during Earth Day cleanups and Waste Management Newport will also assist in the pickup of the litter. “We are fortunate that Newport has such dedicated volunteers,” said Mayor Harry F. Winthrop. “The City of Newport is appreciative of any assistance you can provide in keeping our city clean.” Earth Day is Monday, April 22. A majority of the City of Newport’s Earth Day events will take place on Saturday, April 13 and, with such, invites all residents to participate in any of the scheduled cleanups when they might be [...]
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF NEWPORT COUNTY, RHODE ISLAND FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SPONSORING NEWPORT COUNTY LEGISLATORS FORUM MARCH 23 from 9:30 AM – 11: 00 AM For the first time since the Assembly began its 2013 session, Newport County’s State House delegation will meet as a group with the citizens of Newport County. The meeting, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Newport County, will take place Saturday, March 23 from 9:30 – 11:00 am at the Potter League for Animals, 87 Oliphant Lane in Middletown. To date legislators attending are: Sen. Louis DiPalma, Sen. Christopher Ottiano, Sen. Teresa Paiva Weed,Rep. Marvin Abney, Rep.Canario, Rep. John Edwards, Rep. Linda Finn and Rep. Peter Martin. League member Patty MacLeish will moderate the forum. Legislators will open the program with a brief statement about their priorities for this legislative session. There will be questions prepared by the League on issues such as ethics, education, gun control, as well as questions from the audience. In the past, these events have offered lively conversation and a valuable exchange of ideas between legislators and their constituents. This event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Susan Wells, 846-9537.
Categories: GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Tags: ethics, gun control, League of Women Voters, Legislators, Newport County State House, Potter League, Rep. John Edwards, Rep. Linda Finn, Rep. Marvin Abney, Rep. Peter Martin., Rep.Canario, Sen. Christopher Ottiano, Sen. Louis DiPalma, Sen. Teresa Paiva Weed
Scroll down to see all survey responses… [Yes] Unless the $40-60,000 family is capable of putting a significant downpayment, their income will be stretched to the breaking point by mortgage, property tax, utilities and general maintenance. [No] If the average price for a home in Newport is $350,000 there should be plenty of homes for less than that…some even in the $150,000 range, affordable on an income of $50,000. True, a family would have to save up for the down payment. [Yes] I suspect this is true. It is a combination of market values, and tighter loan rules. At the higher end of this range it is possible to buy something for less than 300,000 but the available stock in that range is limited. [No] It is the american dream to own a home, there will be a way to purchase a home if someone is willing work and save. [No] They may not be able to choose any neighborhood, but there are affordable properties. Still less affordable than neighboring towns. [Yes] But there already is enough “affordable” and low income housing in Newport already…the highest proportion in the State…18%. The average wage owner with kids probably doesn’t look [...]
Scroll down to see all survey responses… [Yes] It is a financial necessity and experience of other cities show it adds efficiencies. [Yes] I’m in favor if it will save the city money. I don’t mind paying taxes!!! But, I want really good service for my bucks. [No] do not know how this works. but since my taxes now pay for this, why would i make a second payment for the same service? [No] Low income families will be unable to afford the program, which means taxpayers will absorb the cost. We will be paying more not less. [No] We pay high enough taxes. Trash pick up is a necessary municipal service. City doesn’t pick up trash in condos. Condo Associations have to pay for their own. That seems unfair and frankly discriminatory. Condo owners pay taxes to the City. [Yes] Only if it means a better recycling system [No] People who don’t or can’t pay will either dump their trash or abuse of the city trash barrels. Instead, why not limit households to a certain volume of trash, and pay for the removal of the extra load. [No] Unless a reduction in taxes resulted. [No] Our taxes should [...]
Scroll down to read all survey responses… [Satisfactory] Although clearance of main streets was done efficiently, some smaller neighborhood streets were not plowed adequately. [Satisfactory] Road plowing initially good but too much time and energy wasted later when plows come back and shove snow into driveways and onto sidewalks. STOP plowing earlier to save money and avoid homeowner anger. [Poor ] days following big storms the only streets in good shape are the most heavily traveled. neighborhood streets are typically either not plowed at all or just given one shot at the beginning of a storm and then forgotten. [Unacceptable] Plows don’t always plow all of Harrison Ave.; they stop at the school and don’t go farther east. What is logic to that? Downtown is sometimes hazardous to walk in because merchants don’t all clear their sidewalks. They lose customers that way. [Satisfactory] THe last storm was a difficult one to clear. The city did not do as good a job as they have for previous storms but they did what they could when they could. [Satisfactory] With the number of car and the size of most streets the city does it’s best. [Poor ] They do not enforce sidewalk [...]
Information Technology and Fiber Optic Broadband The City of Newport’s Information Technology Working Group would like to invite you to its first Information Technology Panel Discussion and Public Comment Where: Firehouse Theater - 4 Equality Park, Newport, RI When: Thursday, February 28th, 6 to 7:30 pm Learn about: What is a gigabit City? What is the economic benefit? How will this help Newport’s future? What initiatives are under way and what ideas should we pursue? Panel Participants: RI Dept of Admin, Office of Digital Excellence, CDO, Tom Guertin OSHEAN CEO, David Marble Middletown IT Director, Matt Wainwright The Preservation Society of Newport County, John Rodman Open Cape Project, CEO, Dan Vortherms Raphe A. Sciola Administrative Assistant Offices of the Mayor and City Manager NEWPORT CITY HALL 43 Broadway Newport, RI 02840 Phone: (401) 845-5437 Fax: (401) 845-2510
Categories: INFRASTRUCTURE Tags: Alliance for a Livable Newport, City Manager, city of newport, gigabit, information technology, internet, IT, Newport Rhode Island
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