- 4/17/2010
Newport Daily News on April 17, 2010
Town Center proposal raises concerns
Most people have become familiar with the term “congressional earmarks.” This is a much-abused system in which non-elected people apply for grants for projects they say will be great for their state or community. Of course, the people in the affected area never get a chance to vote on whether they think the plan is great; however, it is a way for members of Congress to garner favor with a segment of their voting districts.
For year now, a small group has been applying for grants to establish a Portsmouth Town Center.
Earlier grant money has been used to hire a politically connected lobbying firm to lobby Washington for more grant money. This goes back to 2003. But now, with the latest $950,000 earmark received through the graces of Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., they are ready to move forward if our Town Council releases this money.
The plan calls for three roundabouts to be installed from Town Hall to Turnpike Avenue. The state Department of Transportation says this will make the area safer, yet they have to perform a traffic study to determine just how safe it will be if traffic backs up on East Main Road or diverts to West Main Road as people look for a faster route.
Then the plan calls for a series of stores to be built with space for lowto moderate-income families on the second floor.
Of greatest concern is the plan to collect sewage from all these stores and residences and pump the effluent to a sewage treatment plant at the Turnpike Avenue Playground (the old Newtown School site).
This idea is widely supported in Town Hall by Town Planner Robert Gilstein, Business Development Director William Clark and, of course, the originator of the plan, Carol Dietz, chairwoman of the Town Center Committee.
The Town Council will take up the possible release of the $950,000 to this group on May 3 at 7 p.m. in Portsmouth Town Hall. Citizens should come and make their own evaluation.
Roseanne Martin, Portsmouth
