To the Editor: I have been a lifelong Warwick resident, residing for the last 14 years on Nausauket Road. As the airport extension proceeds on, one thing is clear, at least to the people who live in my neighborhood: the quality of life is forever
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To the Editor:
I have been a lifelong Warwick resident, residing for the last 14 years on Nausauket Road.
As the airport extension proceeds on, one thing is clear, at least to the people who live in my neighborhood: the quality of life is forever changing along with the project, and not for the better.
The new flight pattern was to be over the Lockwood condo building, which I believe was recently very quickly soundproofed, but that is not the case.
I am not sure who was responsible for the cost of the condo improvement, but I sincerely hope that the city was not involved and left the rest of the neighbors to deal with the issues on our own.
As our taxes have just increased again, I would hope that further studies are being done concerning noise abatement. The city and airport corporation should stop avoiding the areas that are in need of soundproofing. Bite the bullet and do the right thing, take care of everyone that is affected by the forever growing airport. The number of flights that fly directly over my house have increased dramatically, making even a simple, indoor/outdoor conversation impossible, never mind the TV or music or sleep interruptions.
Throw in the fact that on weekend mornings you can hear the engines warming up and know that the noise will only get worse with the increase in the size of the jets that will soon be coming and going. At a recent outdoor gathering at my home, the conversation among friends and family was brought up concerning the noise and the number of times it happened within the few hours we were there.
Just asking for the affected citizens of Warwick to be treated fairly and that we not be compromised for the sake of corporations who have nothing to do with our city. I understand the need for growth and change, but our living environments should be upgraded as well.
Steve Martin
Warwick
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richardcorrente
Dear Steve Martin,
We have lost the tax revenue of over 100 Warwick homes in the last few years due to the airport expansion, and in total, it has been over 300 homes. The real estate tax losses can't be tabulated because taxes for future values "forever" can only be estimated. Suffice to say it is in the hundreds of millions of Warwick Tax Dollars. What we got in return is soil, water, noise and air pollution.
As Mayor I WILL renegotiate the Airport Expansion Agreement. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I have met with Peter Frazier, the new President and CEO of the RIAC. He has impressed me as a person of integrity that truly wants the Airport to be a better neighbor. I will do everything possible to help him accomplish that. The result will be a win-win for us all.
Stay tuned and feel free to hold me accountable for the promise.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
You cannot re-negotiate a federal construction project with the FAA which is already under construction and which the city long ago, released its litigation against the FAA. It is a done deal.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 Report this
HerbTokerman
Sure it stinks, but you knew you lived right next to an airport when you bought your house.
Property values are lower in warwick because it's next to the airport, which is the trade off.
If you want a peaceful backyard, move farther away from the airport which comes at a price for a similarly speced home.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 Report this
warwick10
Mr. Martin did not live 'next door' but close. My parents bought their home in the same area, off Nausauket Rd., over 30 years ago. At the time of their purchase, they never imagined the airport would expand in the city ...and noise was not an issue. Now, this is not the case. The noise level is unbearable whether they are inside or out. Sadly, the city of Warwick does not care.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 Report this
Interested2
Herb, Not sure where you live, but Nausauket Road is not next to the airport?
Second, your comment on Property values is incorrect as my home in that area has increased with every evaluation.
The situation has become a nuisance, because of the expansion and the changes in flight patterns, along with the size of the aircraft.
The City should make sure people affected by the changes are taken care of.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 Report this
wwkvoter
Im not sticking up for the airport, but jets are in fact much quieter than 30 years ago. Heck I remember 40 years ago and they were raspy, biting, and almost a hearing hazard. They are now up to Stage 3 noise reduction engines. Also, most jets will be the same as always, only a few will be heavier. Traffic is flat because airlines have consolidated routes to tier 1 airports (Logan). As to the "loss of 100 homes" we also "lost" the cost of educating the children at 12k per kid, the cost of trash pickup, street paving, plowing, and all the other services we no longer pay. So I think it's really a mixed bag, in my opinion.
Here is a good informative web site on jet noise stages:
https://www.broward.org/Airport/Community/Documents/Stage3and4presentation.pdf
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 Report this
davebarry109
Mr. Corrente...please explain how you could renegotiate the airport agreement. Doesn't seem possible to me.
Thursday, August 18, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
davebarry109, you'll be waiting quite awhile if you expect a response from Dick Corrente. This whole "renegotiate the airport agreement" is a fantasy of his — that only he, after 85 years of the airport being in Warwick [it started as "Hillsgrove State Airport" in 1931, for you history buffs] and expanding over the objections of residents and officials, could somehow get RIAC to change its mind and back off on any further growth.
He won't have an answer for you, except for possibly "AVEDISIAN BAD CORRENTE GOOD BUSINESS MAN."
This is just like the imaginary "favor" that Scott Avedisian got in a lower tax assessment on his home, when in fact he also got an increase on another property he owns.
Dick also claims that an assessment on his vacant lot in Potowomut tripled [it went up $5,000 from the original $3,700, which is NOT triple], fails to mention that his other investment property got a $5,000 reduction in assessment, and has yet to answer for the fact that the property he calls home is owned by an out-of-state LLC, meaning he doesn't pay taxes on it.
But don't take my word on it -- these guys dug right into Dick's claims and found them, shall we say, lacking: http://warwickpost.com/correntes-attacks-fail-on-the-facts/
Though I agree, davebarry, anytime Dick wants to actually answer for any of this, he's welcome to it.
Saturday, August 20, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Davebarry109,
Please don't believe the comments of "CrickeeRaven". He or she claims that I don't respond to questions asked and, as you know from personal experience, I do. (CR won't even identify him or herself.)
As to your question, it is one that I have heard quite often and the truth is I don't know the details because I haven't tried yet. I feel that I need to become Mayor first. I have, however, met several times with the Airport people and I have learned a lot that will prepare me for the eventual Q&A. At one point I asked Kelly Fredericks, the previous CEO, "Kelly, if we can prove that your airport is polluting Warwick Pond, would you agree to have the Airport pay for the clean-up?" He looked me right in the eye and said "We can't! It's illegal!" I never said another word to him.
10 minutes later in the same meeting I had an attorney sitting next to me say "Rick. If you schedule a clean-up day at Warwick Pond I will get my feet as muddy as you get yours". I decided that I liked that kind of teamwork and a few weeks later when I found out that the attorney that said that, Peter Frazier, became the new acting CEO I was delighted. I feel he is a man of integrity. I believe he truly wants the airport to be a better neighbor. I don't know what we will discuss. I don't know what will come out of it. The only thing I have promised everyone is that I will renegotiate. Let's face it. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Airport has made many promises that they have failed to keep. I will encourage them to keep their promises of show me why they should not or can not.
Avedisian gave them the tax revenue of over a hundred Warwick homes and all we got in return is water, air, soil, and noise pollution. I can't believe he thought that was a fair agreement. Maybe they offered him a job. I wish I knew. It would be like someone offering to buy your car but he wouldn't give you a penny. Would you go for a one-sided agreement like that? I wouldn't, but Avedisian did. I keep meeting people who tell me of the broken promises of the Airport. For now, I am just gathering information. After the election I will act upon it. Stay tuned Dave.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Aw, Dick, what's the matter? Can't stand to be challenged? And again, enough with the whining about my use of a pseudonym. That's deflecting for your failure to answer the questions I've raised. You seem to think the Beacon comment boards are your own personal forum that you can moderate to your standards -- when, in fact, I don't see your name on the masthead or in the list of owners of the paper. And whether I post under an assumed name or not, the fact is that I've presented information that shows you to be a tax cheat and a liar -- so it's yet another sign of your thin skin that you'd rather complain about how people ID themselves than actually respond to their questions.
Here, I'll give you another shot at answering for this: http://warwickpost.com/correntes-attacks-fail-on-the-facts/
I've posted that link in reply to various comments of yours, and you have yet to say anything about it. So I'm just going to assume that you admit to getting no tax increase this year and sold your home to dodge the responsibility of paying property taxes in Warwick.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Report this