Dear Director Gray,

The entire Town of Narragansett is waiting on the status of the leased land in Galilee.   We as a town are very upset with respect to the mismanagement the RIDEM has had on the land leased in Galilee.  The RIDEM has allowed Procaccianti Developers (James Procaccianti, Elizabeth Procaccianti, and Joseph Paolino) to breach their lease by intentionally abandoning the Lighthouse Inn.  Procaccianti Developers has created an environmental hazard and an economic burden to Galilee.   The RIDEM has failed grossly in allowing Procaccianti Developers to abandon its hotel.   If this was anyone else in the State who was an ordinary citizen the RIDEM would have imposed fines, sanctions, and possibly imprisonment.    If a fisherman's catch was over the limit, or if his or her lobsters were too small, and he or she was cited by the RIDEM, he or she would face punitive consequences.   Yet, instead of terminating all business dealings with Procaccianti Developers, the RIDEM has continued to allow Procaccianti Developers to operate street level parking lots that are in violation of the Town of Narragansett's ordinances.    In addition, there are other street level parking lots that are in violation of the Town's Ordinances.    People ask me, Why is the RIDEM allowing this gross abuse of mismanagement in Galilee?   Some state the RIDEM - Procaccianti Connection Stinks of Corruption.   Can you reply back to me why you and your agency continue to lease out the land to Procaccianti Developers?    Procaccianti's lease should be terminated immediately.   The State and the Town should temporarily take over the street level parking, so that hundreds of thousands of dollars will go back to the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Narragansett.    Why are we giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars to Procaccianti Developers after they breached the terms of their lease with the RIDEM by creating the worst eyesore on State leased land out by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management in the history of the United States?   

We have had many people speak out about the gross mismanagement of the RIDEM.   Our Narragansett Town Council President and her husband Thomas Mann created a YouTube Video:  Drone footage of the Lighthouse Inn. Town Council President Narrated the Video

We have had our Town Council blindsided by your actions when you called our Town Manager and our Council President to speak to them, and then almost overnight you announced you wanted to give a 19-year parking lot lease to Procaccianti Developers :  Our Town Council Was Blindsided by the RIDEM Director

Here is additional testimony by concerned residents in Narragansett about the gross mismanagement of the RIDEM:  Testimony from Concerned Residents

Here is testimony that was created by our Council President and her husband and it was supported by our former Town Council President, our Town Planner Mike DeLuca, and local residents some of which are leaders of groups that consist of hundred of members such as the Pier Residents' Group and the Friends of Galilee in support of a mixed-use development for Galilee.    https://youtube.com/watch?v=OtPSlVytw-8&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

Here is a link to the URI's First Mixed Use Resiliency Study.  In the study it notes viable options for Galilee.    One great idea is to build a parking garage that will take a small footprint of the overall land.   A Maritime Museum / Biome Center is also a wonderful suggestion.  In addition a boutique hotel would complement the area.  Water filtration, flood management, and bike paths are some of the highlights:  Galilee: A Vision for a Resilient Port – Department of Landscape Architecture (uri.edu)

Here is a link to the video recording of the second URI Resiliency Study for Galilee that was held at the Narragansett Town Hall on December 20th, 2022.  Several RIDEM workers were present including Dan Costa.   The second report also has many wonderful ideas for Galilee.  
   https://youtube.com/watch?v=DRMcMKFeaB8&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

The Town is asking you to DIVORCE yourself from Procaccianti Developers.  It is a Bad Marriage.   If you continue to stay in this marriage, you and your entire Department will be forever remembered as FAILING Galilee on this Once In A Lifetime Opportunity for us to save Galilee.    

I attended the Zoom meetings that were held with your legal counsel Mary Kay, representatives from the RIDEM, and our Narragansett Town Council.   After Procaccianti Developers FAILED to put forth a viable plan for Galilee, the RIDEM and Procaccianti Developers put forth an RFP to generate proposals for the entire 5 acre parcel of Galilee.  Please see attached.   The objective of the RFP was to request proposals that will help the State, the Town, the Commercial Fishermen, and all those who work, live, and visit Galilee.   By the RIDEM continuing to lease out parking lots to Procaccianti Developers and private business, the RIDEM is hurting the State, the Town, the Commercial Fishermen, and all those who work, live, and visit Galilee.

Here are the latest objections voiced at our most recent Narragansett Town Council Meeting:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=RJxp6ChZoSw&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

Director Gray and Legal Counsel Mary Kay, have you did a tour to the abandoned Lighthouse Inn?   Here are some links you should find disturbing.  If you are both committed to helping our Environment, after seeing these videos, it should make you immediately break the lease with Procaccianti and Paolino.   If you fail to break the lease, it would make everyone believe you condone their actions and you and your department that you both represent have failed in your fiduciary responsibilities to create a viable mixed use development for Galilee that will help the State, the Town, the Commercial Fishermen, and all those who work, live, and visit Galilee.    

Popular 1960s Lighthouse Inn Of Galilee’s Explore-Everything Left Behind/Nature Reclaiming-Must See!

Tour of Abandoned Light House Inn Nature Reclaimed

Exploring The Abandoned Lighthouse Inn Of Galilee, RI-Dead Seagulls Everywhere, Reclaimed By Nature

Exploring the Lighthouse Inn Reclaimed by Nature and Dead Seagulls

Director Gray and Legal Counsel Mary Kay,  Jim Hummel did a video on the people of Block Island being Blocked Out as a result of their fight in trying to stop the illegal expansion of The Great Salt Pond.    I was really surprised the RIDEM did not step in to try to stop the illegal expansion as the expansion would have hurt the fragile ecosystem of The Great Salt Pond,    Thank God, the Town of New Shoreham and the People of Block Island fought back, and the Supreme Court recently ruled against the illegal expansion that was being approved by some members of the Coastal Resource Management Council.  The RI Attorney General's Office also became involved.
Here is a link to the video :  Blocked Out Video-Video of People Who Were Blocked Out Regarding Expansion of Champlin's Marina

Here is a newspaper report on the article of the Supreme Court Ruling:  R.I. Supreme Court upholds denial of an expansion for Champlin’s Marina | Block Island Times

Director Gray, I would gladly sit down with you and your team to create a viable and sustainable plan for Galilee.    I have my doctorate, and I excelled in my research classes.   I recently had a My_Turn Article printed in the Providence Journal, and I had numerous articles printed on Galilee with respect to my fight to do what is right. 

I created an online petition at the Change.Org website that has over 4000 signatures that support a viable mixed use development for Galilee:  

Change.org Petition for a Viable Mixed-Use Development In Galilee

If you could please reply back to me regarding your future plans for Galilee.     I would add, the RIDEM should not charge the State of RI for the demolition of the Lighthouse Inn.   Since Procaccianti and Paolino created this wasteland, they should be required to clean up their mess.    In my opinion, they should be hit with a hefty fine too.   I would add, if someone enters that building and gets hurt or even gets killed, would your department be liable for gross negligence.   

I will pray that we can come to some type of resolution that will be best for the State, the Town, our Village of Galilee, and all those who visit, work, and fish in Galilee.    All the people in our State, our Town, and the University of Rhode Island cannot be wrong in our fight to create a viable mixed use development in Galilee,   and only the RIDEM and Procaccianti - and Paolino have it right.    In one of the Zoom meetings,   Mr. Michael Vocolla called Galilee noisy and smelly.   Galilee is not noisy and smelly.    I do think the inside of their abandoned Lighthouse Inn could be pretty smelly.  Michael Vocccola Linked In Profile 

Last but not least, I strongly recommend you watch this Zoom meeting in its entirety as it notes our Town Council members' frustrations with the harm Procaccianti Developers has created in Galilee.   Procaccianti Developers is a multi-billion dollar corporation.    They do not need Galilee.   The loss in 300,000 dollars in revenue per year will not break their bank account, but continued street level parking does cripple our Village of Galilee.   I recommend for the time being, break the lease with Procaccianti Developers, and let the State and the Town take over the lots, and also work collectively with the Town to create a viable development plan for Galilee.  

My consultation fee would be free.     If you still plan on playing ball and staying in a lease relationship with Procaccianti and Paolino please let me know, and I will proceed and try to obtain legal representation.    One of the movies I admired most was Erin Brockovich.      We had one rally in Galilee.   When we were planning the rally, we saw the landscaping crew called in to clean up the overgrowth and pick up the litter a day before the rally.   Sadly, you cannot put lipstick on a pig to change its looks, as now everyone can see the true colors of the harm created in Galilee.   Here is a video of the rally: Demonstration Rally in Galilee

The Director of the State Properties Committee showed up.    I sent him a letter regarding the situation at Galilee and a timeline on what has occurred.  He thanked me and noted if a future lease by the RIDEM shows up on the agenda, he will keep in mind everything I wrote.   Senator Blake Filippi was present too as well as town council members such as the Narragansett Town Council President and other town council members.    

While I do not want to have and fight the RIDEM and Procaccianti-Paolino, I am committed to Saving Galilee for the State, the Town, and all who work, live, and visit Galilee.    Continued street level parking is not the solution for Galilee, but is part of the problem.

                                                                                                               Respectfully Submitted,  Dr. Albert Alba