PUC politics
While it comes as no surprise, it is disappointing that the powers that be at the State House have chosen to politicize the makeup of the Public Utilities Commission. In what appears to be a political chess match, Gov. Lincoln Almond and Senate Majority Leader Paul S. Kelly are at odds over how to round out the PUC, which has been without a chairman for several months.
First, the governor nominated Elia Germani to fill out the term of former PUC Chairman James J. Malachowski. Then he withdrew that nomination, ostensibly to give the Senate more time to complete its review of Germani.
Meanwhile, Kelly has suggested that Kate Racine, a current PUC commissioner whose term expired a year ago should be re-appointed to the commission. Racine apparently would like to continue to serve.
Kelly also would like to see both PUC vacancies filled at the same time.
It appears that Almond and Kelly need to meet immediately to work out the answers to some very basic questions. For example, does Kelly have a legitimate problem with Almond’s appointment of Germani? Does Almond have a problem with extending Racine’s tenure at PUC? She, after all, has a proven track record he can easily study.
If this is in fact a political power struggle, both Almond and Kelly ought to settle it quickly.
The PUC is charged with oversight of a changing public utilities landscape, one that is being shaped by competition, rate changes, mergers and acquisitions. Its chairman holds one of the most powerful positions in state government and the commission itself is a vital component of the state’s overall economic landscape.
It is already an embarrassment that the PUC chairmanship has remained vacant for so long. It is an embarrassment – but not a surprise.
A success story
Nearly a year ago we first introduced you to the Urban Ventures story. The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation – using money approved by the General Assembly – was planting the seeds of a business incubator.
The program would be located in an old brick building on Colfax Street in the heart of South Providence.
This week we re-visit Urban Ventures and find an even better story.
Urban Ventures – though still in its infancy – is showing the early signs of real success.
The old brick building is now home to six businesses and about 20 employees. They are sharing space and resources — and planting some solid roots in the process.
One of the businesses, Legacy Cleaning Services Limited, has seen sales grow by 40 percent in the last six months. It is just the kind of growth the state legislature was looking for when it committed state funds to the business incubator program in 1998.
Perhaps Justin Aina, executive director of Urban Ventures, said it best; “We’re looking to help businesses pull themselves up by their bootstraps.”
That extra pull seems to be working. The dreams of the entrepreneurs who live in the inner city are no different than the dreams of those who are fortunate enough to come from more financially secure backgrounds. But when you start with less, a helping hand becomes critical.
We should all be rooting for the success of programs like Urban Ventures. In fact, if we want our capital city – our entire state – to experience a true renaissance, than job growth and development must stretch into our urban neighborhoods.
We are pleased to see that the state legislature, EDC, the Providence office of the Small Business Administration and others have gotten behind a program like Urban Ventures. We are also pleased to hear talk of establishing business incubators similar to Urban Ventures in other cities and towns.
And we suspect that Keith Oliveira, chairman of the Urban Ventures Board of Directors, may have been right, when he said, “The best is yet to come.”
