Here is a letter that was submitted by a friend regarding the RIDEM - Procaccianti 19- Year Insider Deal Land Lease.    The letter was printed in the Providence Journal

 Good old boy politics in Galilee? It has all the appearances of Rhode Island politics at its worst — the 'I know a guy' deal, where a decision is made in favor of a highly wealthy business corporation at the expense of state taxpayers. I am referring to the lease of valuable property in Galilee by the RIDEM to the multi-billion-dollar Procaccianti Companies, which plans to use the land as a parking lot. If they wish to validate and substantiate their highly questionable decision, the DEM owes an explanation to Rhode Island’s taxpayers. The question is why? Why did the lease not go out for bids as state law mandates? Why were the highly researched proposals made by the Town of Narragansett completely ignored? Why was no consideration given to the use of the land to promote revitalization, tourism, economic growth and employment opportunities? Why were the needs of the commercial fisherman who are responsible for the establishment of Galilee unheeded? Why would the land be released to a corporation that allowed the area to fall into total disrepair? Why are Rhode Island taxpayers responsible to pay the demolition costs of an abandoned hotel which was built by the Procaccianti group on their leased land? Sadly, why are the interests of Rhode Island citizens once again appearing to be sacrificed at the altar of greed?

Leo Jude Paquette, Narragansett

I recently wrote to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office regarding when the State Properties Committee will be having a meeting to discuss the legitimacy of the RIDEM - Procaccianti 19 Year Parking Lot Lease.  Assistant Director Schultz noted if the lease can be proved to harm the State of Rhode Island and its taxpayers, then the lease award may be revoked by the State Properties Committee.  The Assistant to the Rhode Island Attorney General sent me the following email. 

FROM: GREGORY SCHULTZ, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL

Dr. Alba – DEM has not yet asked for a meeting date. I will let you know when that occurs. The RIAG is committed to a full, open, and fair hearing on this matter. I will inquire as to whether a hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting can occur. Greg Gregory S. Schultz | Environmental and Energy-Regulatory Unit, Civil Division Special Assistant Attorney General The State of Rhode Island | Office of the Attorney General 150 South Main Street | Providence, RI - 02903 Office: (401) 274 4400 | Ext: 2400 Cell: (401) 480-0812 gschultz@riag.ri.gov| www.riag.ri.gov |

Today in the Narragansett Times the RIDEM Director wrote an editorial stating the State of Rhode Island is getting millions to improve Galilee, and he adds as the area needs parking, the RIDEM awarded out a parking lot lease.    He did not state the parking lot lease was a 19-year lease awarded to Procaccianti Developers who abandoned the hotel its company was supposed to maintain.   He failed to say that Procaccianti was supposed to demolish the building, but now the RIDEM wants the taxpayers for the State of Rhode Island to pay for the demolition.  And he failed to mention the parking lot lease did not go out for bid, but it was awarded to a multi-billionaire that will make the billionaire millions, and the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Narragansett will now lose millions.   Does Mr. Terry Gray think the people in Rhode Island are idiots?  

I feel as a result of such gross mismanagement of the RIDEM that resulted in a nefarious and detrimental deal for the State of RI and the Town of Narragansett that the RIDEM Director Terry Gray should be removed from his position for gross mismanagement of the RIDEM and Assistant Director / Legal Counsel Mary Kay should also be removed for aiding and abetting the awarding of a lease to a developer who should have been thrown off the property and should have been summoned to court and find for gross neglect of the hotel on the leased land and for engaging in a behind the scenes deal that stinks more than any fish at our fishing port.