Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

Fixing Downtown: Now The Hard Part, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Nov. 7, 1991, will not necessarily be labeled a local day of infamy just because Prime Time Live chose to highlight Rhode Island, which some have called the most corrupt state in the country. But if one attended the final presentation of the Providence "charrette" earlier that evening--a summary of ideas and actions designed to revitalize the capital city's downtown--and later watched ABC's depiction of our state--one could certainly call it a day of incongruity."

Pawtucket Puts Planning On Tv, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act was passed by the General Assembly in 1988, the state became one of a handful of states that sought to bring order out of the chaos of development. The results of that legislation are slowly starting to emerge.

The original law stipulated that by the end of 1990, each city and town would file with the state a comprehensive plan which addressed nine elements. Subject to state approval to ensure compatibility with state goals and policies, the plans will allow communities to better deal with problems related to growth."

Attacking Geographic Illiteracy, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It has been clearly demonstrated through numerous surveys that US residents are among the most geographically illiterate people in the world. Whether trying to locate our own country or the Soviet Union on a world map, we score among the lowest of the major industrial nations of the world in such a simple exercise. But the future looks brighter, both in the nation and in Rhode Island, thanks to the efforts of the National Geographic Society.

Some Thoughts On Regionalization, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"New Englanders pride themselves on their self-reliance, their fortitude, their independance and, some would say, their obstinacy. Generally good qualities, but they come at a price: not cooperating with others around you. And this has been a tradition in this part of the country since its founding.

But now the 39 cities and towns are faced with severe cutbacks in funding from federal and state sources, and major questions are being raised by taxpayers who are expressing their anger by voting to reduce all types of programs, especially the biggest expense in most communities--the schools."

Skewed Distance Perception Is Rhody Tradition, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"We all joke about the size of this state and the attitude that its residents have regarding traveling any distance: Packing a lunch if you are going to Westerly from Providence, staying overnight if you go to Burrillville from Bristol and driving from Pawtucket all the way to Exeter to visit a friend. We hear it enough to start believing it."

Love The City? Live In It, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"In a recent editorial lauding retired Providence Police Chief Walter Clark, the Journal stated that in choosing a new police chief the most important single quality should be professionalism. The Journal might have added that the new chief should also reside in teh city, because of the 24-hour on-call and hands-on nature of the work expected of such an important position. It should not take a long distance telephone call to reach that person at home, as is so often necessary in times of trouble."