GROW SMART RI and the South Providence Neighborhood Association have filed a complaint that argues that the downtown transit plan violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The complaint was co-signed by John Flaherty, deputy director of Grow Smart RI, pictured above leading a protest march against the plan. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
PROVIDENCE – Two community groups have filed a complaint alleging that the state’s downtown transit plan violates federal anti-discrimination protections and are calling for the project to be stopped. In two separate letters sent on Monday to the R.I. Public Transit Authority and R.I. Department of Transportation – the agencies overseeing the Providence Multi-Hub Bus…
This is just another example of the small-mindedness shown by some legislators, community groups and in fact, much of the electorate. When you allocate resources based on emotion and lack of factual evidence or knowledge, then you are wasteful when what is needed is thinking big in terms of scope and relevance.
Kennedy Plaza is one of the most beautiful public spaces in any American city and instead of encouraging widespread and diverse use, we have turned it into a large outdoor waiting room for a narrow group of people And people waiting for anything is not a pleasant experience, not to mention the associated problems of loitering, drug dealing, littering, and the attraction of predators. Such an experience is better diffused throughout the area rather than concentrated in one place. Or do what more progressive cities have done and put the facility below grade where riders are provided better comfort, protected from the elements, and area more easily policed.
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This is just another example of the small-mindedness shown by some legislators, community groups and in fact, much of the electorate. When you allocate resources based on emotion and lack of factual evidence or knowledge, then you are wasteful when what is needed is thinking big in terms of scope and relevance.
Kennedy Plaza is one of the most beautiful public spaces in any American city and instead of encouraging widespread and diverse use, we have turned it into a large outdoor waiting room for a narrow group of people And people waiting for anything is not a pleasant experience, not to mention the associated problems of loitering, drug dealing, littering, and the attraction of predators. Such an experience is better diffused throughout the area rather than concentrated in one place. Or do what more progressive cities have done and put the facility below grade where riders are provided better comfort, protected from the elements, and area more easily policed.