Dear Citizens of Ward 6 in Warwick: In case you haven't noticed, it's election time! Since this is probably the craziest presidential election year any of us can remember, I wouldn't be surprised if the local election in Ward 6 is not at the top of your
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
|
Dear Citizens of Ward 6 in Warwick:
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s election time! Since this is probably the craziest presidential election year any of us can remember, I wouldn’t be surprised if the local election in Ward 6 is not at the top of your mind. Even so, as your Councilwoman, I want to say a few words about the issues facing us, the need for experienced leadership to address them, and the reasons why I’m asking for your vote on November 8.
First, I must make a brief apology. Many of you know me as an approachable candidate who takes the time during and between elections to knock on doors and speak to you face-to-face to better understand the issues you’re experiencing. I have long believed that interacting directly with my constituents is the best way to communicate with and understand how I can best serve you. This year, however, my knee has not been so cooperative! So please, if I didn’t make it to your house, call me at home (738-9774) or cell (286-8595) if you want to talk about an important matter in your neighborhood. As always, I look forward to hearing your stories and working hard to resolve matters as quickly as possible.
Now, I want to say a few things about Ward 6 and why we need to think hard about what’s happening on a local scale. Even with this controversial national election in front of us, we can never lose sight of urgent local matters that need to be addressed. As most of you know, school consolidations have brought on unexpected challenges to our students and teachers at Vets and Pilgrim; I am especially worried about the state of the special education programs, which are in disarray. In addition, improvement to our local infrastructure needs to be implemented more rapidly to ensure the safety of our streets. Finally, we must be attentive to our environmental needs; our beautiful beaches and coastline must be maintained and protected. These matters require thoughtful, strong leadership you can depend on. As a public servant of the city of Warwick for many years, I assure you that I will continue to bring my integrity and commitment to the citizens of Warwick and Ward 6 in particular to these issues and others that may arise.
I have greatly enjoyed and worked very hard for Ward 6, and for Warwick in general, as Councilwoman of Ward 6. I am especially proud and honored to serve the wonderful people and beautiful areas of Ward 6, which has been my home for 60 years. I plan to stay here, too, as I work with my friends and neighbors to build a better and brighter future for our children. I hope you continue to support me, as I ask for your vote on November 8. Together, we can make Ward 6 even better.
Councilwoman Donna Travis
Warwick
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Bob_Cushman
If Councilwoman Donna Travis is going to examine who is accountable for the current state of affairs in the Warwick School system she also needs to also examine her actions as Council President over the past four years and her record over two decades on the council that have contributed to these problems.
Councilwoman Travis as President welds great power to determine the allocation of new property tax dollars between the city and school budget.
Over the last four years, not once did Travis attempt to work with school leaders to examine school related issues and infrastructure conditions in the schools. Rather she injected herself into the school consolidation process to grandstand, all to enhance her political capital on this emotional issue. Instead of demonizing school leaders, she should have been using her authority to work with administrators, the teachers union and the WISE union leaders to craft a long term educational plan as a foundation in which school special education and infrastructure needs would be met and the required funding could be provided.
We all know when it comes to education, Councilwoman Travis talks the talk but her actions demonstrate that she doesn’t care about Warwick children’s educational needs.
How else can Ward 6 voters reconcile the fact that over the last 4 years Travis as Council President raised your property taxes every year and allocated $14,583,733 million to the city budget while she gave only, $837,832 to the schools? That amounts to 95 cents of every new tax dollar to the city and only 5 cents to schools.
How else can Ward 6 voters reconcile Travis giving practically every new tax dollars to the city to pay for increased benefits to active and retired city employees? Much of school cost savings over the last years has resulted in the reduction of personnel costs. Under Travis’s leadership city personnel expenses continue to explode to unsustainable levels requiring more and more new tax dollars each year. Where are the proposed reforms from Council President Travis to control these costs so saving can be re-allocated to educational priorities?
Why did she ratify a new contract with Warwick firefighters increasing sick time buy back benefits by 50% resulting in the cost increasing from the budgeted $345,000 to almost a million dollars? Where did she find the $600,000 in extra tax dollars to pay for this benefit? What kind of additional repairs could have been made to schools with $600,000 more dollars?
How can Ward 6 voters reconcile the fact that Travis led the charge to borrow millions of dollars in bond money a few years ago to build a new fire station in Potowomut, that wasn’t needed while our children, teachers and administrators were left in crumbling school buildings because she didn’t support the same kind of bond borrowing to fix the schools? And now she has the gall to go to school committee meetings complaining about the condition of these school buildings.
By the way, when was the last time a school was built in Warwick and Travis supported doing that?
How can anyone in Ward 6 support Donna Travis with a track record like this?
If Ward 6 voters are truly interested in accountable, I suggest they ask Councilwoman Travis to answer to these charges before they step into the voter booth on Tuesday and give her another two more years to continue to destroy the city and the school system.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 Report this
johnsimoneau
Ms. Travis. Since the Warwick Beacon, and none of the other local media outlets will report this, I was wondering if you had a comment about this matter for your constituents, and all City taxpayers, since you are Council President;
Your FAILURE TO DECLARE in this years filing, and therefore can justly assume all past years filings, on your RI Ethics Commission Disclosure Statement, that you are currently, and also in the past are an OFFICER OF NON-PROFITS (3 active and 2 Inactive) and your husband is active in 1, like JONAH, etc., when you are asked and required to?
Thursday, November 3, 2016 Report this
johnsimoneau
Also Ms. Travis, please explain to the City voters why you submitted a Council approval request to extend the City lease of the property known as JONAH, INC., when you were also its President? You then signed this lease as BOTH President of City Council, and as President of JONAH, INC.? The fact that NOTHING seems wrong with this to you, or Mayor Avedisian, who also signed the 10 year extension of lease, is very alarming to me.
Thursday, November 3, 2016 Report this