Local preference a good idea, but it should start with commodity contracts

To the Editor:
I applaud the efforts of Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, D-Little Compton, and Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, D-Jamestown (“Bill OK’d to award contracts to R.I. firms,” PBN.com, June 21, 2010), and only hope it paves the way for more legislation like it. For many years I have believed Rhode Island businesses should be granted an advantage on all municipal contracts, whether state or local. This should extend to commodities as well as service agreements and probably be in the area of 2 or 3 percent above the low bid. Of course, particular care must be taken in making sure the companies are actually housed in Rhode Island and have employees, pay taxes, etc., not to companies that just have post office boxes, for example.
That being said, I am not sure architecture is the best place to start. Architecture, after all, is an art. As such, it is not quantitative. You cannot put a number on creativity. You cannot say one architect has more artistic ability than another because they live in Rhode Island. Instead, I would start with commodities like custodial supplies or uniforms, or items of that nature. But it is important that we capture whatever monies we have here and put them to work for the betterment of Rhode Islanders.
David J. LaPorte
ATR/Treehouse, owner