My Recent letter to the Governor, the RI AG Office, and the Properties Committee

Dear Honorable Governor, RI Attorney General's Office, and State Properties Committee,

The RIDEM has continued to allow Procaccianti Developers to violate the Town of Narragansett's Zoning Ordinances with respect to allowing Procaccianti Developers to operate its paid parking lot in land zoned GB - Galilee Business in the Galilee Business District. A paid parking lot is not allowed in a zoned GB-Galilee Business Zoning. In addition, the RIDEM has allowed Procaccianti Developers to break the terms of its original lease by failing to maintain the operation of its hotel. Now the hotel is a health, safety, and an environmental hazard.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has recently ruled the expansion of Champlin's Marina was illegally approved. The expansion of Champlin's Marina would have caused great harm to the fragile environment of The Great Salt Pond. Yet, the RIDEM failed to step in and attempt to block the expansion. Champlin's Marina was purchased recently by Procaccianti Developers. Sadly, the RIDEM is failing to stop gross negligence in the State of RI by insiders and high-stake businessmen and developers. Thank God, the RI Attorney General's Office stepped in to rule that the Coastal Resource Management Council overstepped its authority by arranging for the illegal expansion, and the State Supreme Court ruled the expansion was illegal. Ironically, if I went saltwater fishing without a license I would be fined and brought into court. If I was a fisherman, and I caught too many fish, I would be fined and brought into court by the RIDEM, yet we have others in this State who create blatant harm to our State by their actions, and the RIDEM looks blindly in disregard.

The RIDEM has allowed Procaccianti Developers to continue to break the law in Galilee, RI by condoning its actions by intentionally abandoning the Lighthouse Inn and as a result has created an economic and an environmental burden for the State of RI. The RIDEM put forth an RFP for the 5 acre parcel and stated the proposals should help the State, the Town, and the Commercial Fishermen. How is allowing Procaccianti to operate illegal paid parking lots on the leased land in Galilee helping the State, the Town, and the Commercial Fishermen? In addition, the RIDEM even stated if the Lighthouse Inn needed to be demolished the State of RI would have to pay for the demolition. Why should the State tax payers have to pay for the demolition of a hotel that was intentionally abandoned by the Lighthouse Inn? The RIDEM has continued to allow Procaccianti Developers to operate its illegal parking lots. The State Supremacy Clause does not allow a State Agency to violate the Town's Ordinances if such violation will hurt the State, the Town, and the environment. There are case precedents in the State of Rhode Island I will gladly share with you that shows the RIDEM cannot violate a city and town's ordinances and get away with its reckless disregard to the city or town's ordinances. Other cities and towns in the State of RI have brought the RIDEM to court, and the RIDEM has lost as its reckless actions showed it would hurt the cities and towns.

The RIDEM Director has also failed to respond back to my appeal with regards to how it is allowing YOPLANT, LLC to operate a parking lot on its leased land with the RIDEM. The land is zoned GFI (Galilee Fishing Industry), and a paid parking lot is not allowed on GFI land. It appears the RIDEM feels it can do whatever it wants in Galilee without consequence or liability.

Below is the email I have sent to our newly elected Narragansett Town Council. It is my hope our Town Council will take legal action to stop the RIDEM from continuing to violate the Town's Ordinances. It is also my hope the State Properties Committee takes action to stop the RIDEM from allowing Procaccianti to continue to operate paid parking lots as there is no lease for Procaccianti to stay on the leased land, and the State Properties Committee was never asked to approve of a parking lot lease between the RIDEM and Procaccianti Developers. The parking lot operations by Procaccianti Developers (PRIX) are clearly in violation of the Town of Narragansett Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinances in Galilee, RI. In addition, as Paolino is tied into Procaccianti Developers, Paolino should also be cited for any violations and also be culpable for their gross defiance of the Town's ordinances. If any person in Narragansett purposely abandoned its property to create a health, safety, and an environmental hazard, the individual would be fined, summoned into court, and possibly face criminal prosecution. As the RIDEM has failed to enforce the State and Town's laws and ordinances for the 5-acre parcel of leased property in Galilee, and it has failed in its fiduciary capacity for the State of Rhode Island, then the State should consider taking the land away from the RIDEM and either have the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation that operates the Quonset Business District ABOUT QDC (quonset.com) or the Town of Narragansett should be allowed to take control of the land.
We had Mayor Buddy Cianci arrested for corruption in RI. We had former Edward DiPrete arrested for corruption in RI. We had Gordan Fox arrested for corruption in RI.  Everyone who has been following the Galilee - 5-acre land lease in Galilee has told me this involvement between the RIDEM and Procaccianti Developers stinks of corruption.

It is my hope the RI Attorney General's Office opens up an investigation on behalf of the Town of Narragansett. I also feel the State Properties Committee needs to testify that the RIDEM has purposely circumvented the State Properties Committee's authority by allowing Procaccianti Developers to continue the operation of a paid parking lot on leased land without a valid lease since no parking lot lease has been approved by the State Properties Committee.
The University of Rhode Island is presently conducting research on a most viable solution for the 5 acre parcel of leased land in Galilee. The research is being completed by Dr. Will Green and Landscape Architect Charles Carberry. It is my hope the results of the latest research study will not go on deaf ears, and the RIDEM will listen to the Town of Narragansett and the Researchers of the University of Rhode Island, so the 5 acre parcel can be used to benefit the State, the Town of Narragansett, and the Commercial Fishermen.
Respectfully Submitted, Dr. Albert Alba
 
My latest letter to the Narragansett Town Council Members.
 
Dear Narragansett Town Council Members,
 
We have reached 3394 Signatures that support a Viable Mixed-Use Development for Galilee. Thank you to everyone who signed the online petition. I know it's been a while since I posted an update, but I wanted to keep everyone posted. The Lighthouse Inn is still abandoned and neglected. The RIDEM noted it will be having the property inspected to see if any of it is salvageable. Let us see if and when that will be scheduled. I feel the Town should hire out its own inspector. Let us not forget the RIDEM previously recommended the State pay for the demolition of the building even though Procaccianti and Paolino intentionally abandoned the property. If it was you or I who did this to our property, we would be cited, fined, and possibly arrested. Also, as far as we know, Procaccianti and Paolino are still operating parking lots illegally as they are being operated in total disregard and violation to our Town's Zoning Ordinances, and there is no parking lot lease that has been authorized by the RIDEM or approved by the State Properties Committee. The former lease between Procaccianti and Paolino has expired, and a new lease has not been signed or approved. Our new Town Council President, Dr. Ewa Dzwierzynski to her credit, has been the most proactive Town Council member fighting against this GROSS abuse of power by a State Agency and a Billion Dollar Developer. Dr. Ewa Dzwierzynski and former Council member, Patrick Murray were proactive by putting forth a motion and getting it approved that the University of Rhode Island conduct an updated research study for Galilee. The research study that is being led by Dr. Will Green and Professional Landscape Architect Charles Carberry will be completed by December. Let us hope this needed research study will not fall on deaf ears. I will continue to stay on top of this issue. Ironically, some politicians have made excuses for the RIDEM Director, Procaccianti, and Paolino for their gross negligence and total disregard to our Town's Ordinances, let us hope our new Town Council will fight for Galilee. I am hoping to see some type of Motion at the next Town Council meeting agenda that orders the Town Solicitor to take action against any parking lot operator who has failed to apply for a Special Use Permit. If our Town Council fails to motion to our Town Council to take action against any parking lot operator that is in violation to our Town's Ordinances, then we cannot blame our Town Solicitors, but the blame would fall on our newly elected Town Council Members. I would also recommend our Town Council Members reach out to our newly elected Senators and Representatives and have them advocate for our fight for Galilee. I had a Senator tell me she would take no action to fight for Galilee unless the Narragansett Town Council reaches out to her to take action. If I was on the Narragansett Town Council, I would write to each of our Senators and Representatives, to tell them to do everything in their power to reach out to the Governor and direct him to take action for the RIDEM to reconsider the Town of Narragansett's mixed use development proposal with modifications as needed based on the forthcoming University of Rhode Island Research Study that will be released in the near future. Sadly, the RIDEM threw out in its entirety the mixed-use proposal proposed by the Town of Narragansett without asking the town to make modifications as needed, so it would be in the best interest of the State, the Town, and the Commercial Fishermen. Best Regards, Dr. Albert Alba