Letter To the Editor: McKee and officials failed Narragansett.
Governor Mckee gave his State of the State address on January 16.
Regarding Galilee, our Governor stated “We’re making the biggest investment in the Port of Galilee in decades. Galilee isn’t just the home of George’s and Champlin’s — the port is one of Rhode Island’s economic and jobs powerhouses. He added, Director Terry Gray is here tonight.”
Regarding Windfarms he noted, “With the first working offshore wind farm in the United States, we know that Rhode Island is an industry leader. But we’re not stopping there – our second offshore wind project, Revolution Wind, is set to commence construction this year.”
Throughout his speech he states we must work as a winning team. If anyone has ever visited Galilee, it will show our Governor and his team have failed. In my first correspondence with RIDEM Director Terry Gray in 2021, he noted that he would be transparent about trying to find the best development for Galilee. Sadly, the RIDEM has allowed James Procaccianti and Joseph Paolino of Procaccianti Developers (PRIX) to create the worse health, safety, and environmental hazard on State leased land in the history of Rhode Island. Our Town’s Building Inspector condemned the Lighthouse Inn. Our Town issued an order for PRIX to demolish the building as PRIX intentionally abandoned it, and Procaccianti Developers were the owners.
Now ironically, PRIX has opened frivolous litigation in the hope of reaching a compromise with the State of Rhode Island. I read the litigation, and it is deeply troubling the Superior Court is even hearing this case.
The RIDEM announced the State will be paying for the demolition of the building. In addition, as far as I know, PRIX will be allowed to keep their street level parking. Why is the State paying for the demolition? Why is PRIX not ordered off the property? People I speak to state this is another example of more corruption in Rhode Island. Some have noted that Plutocracy is alive and well in the Ocean State as James Procaccianti and Joseph Paolino have $10 billion in real estate investments.
Contractors have told me good luck fighting Joe and James as they own Capital Hill, our Governor, and they have deep pockets. It is called Pay to Play or Quid Pro Quo. If this was you or I who acted so recklessly by intentionally abandoning a building to create a fire, health, and an environmental hazard we would be charged with reckless endangerment. When I called the RIDEM to report that live seagulls are trapped in the Lighthouse Inn and they need to rescue them with their team, I was told the RIDEM will notify the owners.
In addition, our Governor is supporting offshore windfarms. The developer, Orsted supposedly pulled out of New Jersey due to the logistics and costs to put up the windfarms. Is our wind and ocean different than New Jersey’s? If they pulled out of New Jersey, why do they feel their offshore windfarms will be profitable in our Ocean waters? In New Jersey, the developer was brought into court by those opposed to the windfarms as they have the very high potential to harm the fishing industry and increase electrical costs. In fact, in States who have offshore windfarms the electricity bills went up significantly. The fishermen in Galilee and other concerned residents hired out a lawyer to fight the offshore windfarm development.
Most recently, a poll came out that showed RI is in last place for being business friendly. This poll must exclude Procaccianti and Paolino as they can create the most hazardous conditions that ever-hit Galilee, yet they appear to be bringing the State and the Town to court, and not one politician is crying foul.
Our town leaders have also failed us as we should be filing suit against Procaccianti and Paolino for creating such a health, safety, and environmental hazard in Narragansett. In addition, the town leaders have failed to speak out against the proposed windfarms off our coast. The town encouraged many to go to an alternative energy provider to save less than 1 cent per kilowatt-hour, yet our elected officials have not fought back against offshore windfarms that will cause harm to our marine life, increase our electricity rates significantly, hurt our fishing industry, and pollute our majestic water views with massive wind turbines.
Governor McKee, your team is failing us in Narragansett.
At the time of this writing, an online poll on the Our Town Narragansett Facebook page shows 93 percent of the respondents feel our Governor has failed us in Galilee with respect to not telling the RIDEM they need to act against PRIX’s reckless actions and for our Governor’s support for offshore windfarms.
Dr. Albert Alba