On this past week's Coalition Radio Show, Show Host Pat Ford expressed concern regarding Grow Smart RI's overt support of RIPTA fare hikes, which, in the opinion of many, (The Show's Host Included) unfairly target the poor & physically challenged by disproportionately raising fares on the same. (RIPTA, in referring to rate discounts, as "Unfunded Mandates" has lost sight of a mission created in its original charter.) The Show Host expressed continued surprise that an organization dedicated to defeating suburban sprawl would ever countenance, never mind promote said enabling legislation. In fact, GrowSmartRI, by appearing at RIPTA Board Meetings to testify in favor of said fare hikes, seemed to go out of its way, to encourage this support.

RIPTA Board Meeting Minutes June 2015 GrowSmart RI In Attendance  .

Coalition Radio Show - RIPTA Riders Alliance - Show Podcast

Mr. John Flaherty, Deputy Director - Grow Smart RI, responded to our concerns in the following letter ...

Pat,

​Good talking with you briefly just now.  
Here's some background on Grow Smart's position regard to the proposed changes to RIPTA fares for senior and disabled passengers.

Grow Smart evaluated H-6108 which proposed amending the state-mandated RIPTA fare structure providing for free travel to seniors and disabled passengers, allowing RIPTA management to charge ½ fare during peak travel periods.  This was being pursued in part to help address an estimated operating deficit of approximately $5M and to align RIPTA’s fare structure with the majority of other transit agencies across the country.  

Grow Smart reluctantly supported the measure – reluctantly because we realize the hardship it would create for those least able to afford it, but we concluded that the potential for loss of service may pose a greater hardship for those who rely on RIPTA to get to/from work, doctors office, grocery stores, etc.  

The proposal was eventually folded into the State Budget as Article 22 Sub A and expanded to allow RIPTA management to completely eliminate free fares during peak and off-peak travel periods.  This measure passed as part of the State Budget.  

Grow Smart testified at the Board of Directors meeting of RIPTA on June 22, urging the board to not eliminate free fares for elderly or disabled passengers who meet the income means test and who travel during off-peak periods.  The decision now rests with the RIPTA Board of Directors but must first be subject to a public hearing process.  

​Best regards,

John
​John Flaherty
Deputy Director
Grow Smart Rhode Island
235 Promenade Street, Suite 550
Providence, RI  02908
401.273.5711, Ext. 5
401.309.8707 (mobile)​

So folks ... it's silly season again ... No, not election time ... but those magic moments when politicians raise their heads up from whatever "Happy Place" they've been hidden ...sensing that their "publicity whore" moment is upon them, to voice Outrage! Outrage! I say! to the legislative swill that is bubbling up from the very bowels of "Halitosis Hall" they can usually be found in ....

Last year? The sum of their moral courage was aimed at a local activists, who dared breach the walls of I-95 to vent their collective outrage at the state sanctioned terrorism aimed squarely at their communities ... ie Stop & Frisk ... The heavens were called down upon these folks, and the usual pablum that passes for legislation in Lil Rhody was written than none other than today's special guest: Senator Lou Raptakis (BTW, the collective outrage dissipated somewhat when this wannabee-Reporter pointed out that the last time someone pulled that stunt, they were white, middle class RISDICked citizens who were egged on by the very same media outlets now prone to a collective nervous breakdown ..)

So, Senator Lou .. the "Man of the People" ... who supported none other than Rhode Island's own Dick Cheney, Richard Licht, (After a lifetime of legal scholarship ... not.)  for a well earned Judgeship, deemed it time to get his fair share of camera and radio time by calling for "Felony" level punishment for what most would deem ordinary civil disobience .... And after the Sturm & Drang died down .... and the magic red light of the camera was turned off ... Senator Lou went back to what he does best ... Pizza and Pandering ...

Now, it would appear, that the Good Senator has sensed (Do we call this a political spidey sense?) an opportunity, again, to appear like a man of da people ... Stop The Tolls! Government Transparency! The People Must Be Heard!

Witness his Op Ed piece in today's GoLocalProv ... As always, it's worth a complete read .. but this passage struck me as, well, rather odd ...

"This time, we’re not being asked to blindly approve a deal to throw millions at a company run by a business newcomer in an industry with a high failure rate. Instead, we’re being asked to trust a Governor who already isn’t being forthcoming on releasing public records. Instead, we’re being asked to approve $600 million in revenue bonds—sight unseen—and then hope that the administration will put together a plan to start tolling trucks in a manner that will generate enough revenue to support the bonds. We don’t basic details on the amount of the tolls or where the tolling gantries will be located before approving the bonds. 
While the Governor is selling this “truck toll two step” as a reasonable effort to pass some simple enabling legislation (handing over the money) and then work out the details in what she calls a “separate public process” down the line, there’s another way to look at this. She’s giving the legislature plausible deniability, setting it up so they can take an easy vote to approve the $600 million in bonds without having to take responsibility for the details of the final program. It is an attack on good government, essentially turning the General Assembly into an accountability-free zone, when it should be the place where tough questions are asked and all the details are provided before new bond obligations are created."

Except ... there's one leetle problem ... You see, before Senator Raptakis was against the bill, he actually voted for the bill! Transparency? We knew less then, then we do now!

So Lou, take your false populism ... your media savvy ... your cynical misuse of the public trust ...... and ...

​The Voting Record ....

WPRI Channel 12 Reporting

For the record, Senator Raptakis has been invited on the Coalition to discuss his voting history. He has declined our requests.