Rhode Island took another big step forward when Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi announced a package of bills to continue to address our state’s housing needs.

For the Speaker, it’s a continuation of a multifaceted, comprehensive, systematic approach to solving a complex problem.  In short, when it comes to building more of anything in construction there are four basic and important components that intertwine and effect outcomes, and the Speaker is making strides and subsequently producing results that will soon be noticeable.

Let’s take the overall progress in context.  A few sessions ago the Speaker recognized that to produce more, you need more trade workers, better trained contractors, and a reliable and modern permitting/inspection system.  In response to that issue, and the obvious labor shortages, Shekarchi advanced and supported the recruitment and training programs needed within the industry.  Subsequently, RI’s modern online permitting system, which is soon to be in all 39 cities and towns and soon to envelope a multifaceted approach that will include planning and zoning approvals, is all due to the keen, focused problem-solving abilities of Joe Shekarchi.

That takes us to the current session and the third step in building more housing – process reform.  In the Speaker’s 14-bill agenda are reforms that significantly reduce time, redundancy and bureaucracy from the building process. In tandem, these bills create some new and innovative uses like accessory dwelling units, transit development and smart redevelopment of old outdated uses for the purpose of housing.  So yes, all of this will certainly make a big difference in the production of more units

And, as I stood in a crowd at the Speaker’s State House announcement a few weeks ago, I became profoundly aware and grew rather hopeful of, how the last major step -- land use reform – the most complicated and most difficult part of the four steps, could become real.  Ernie Almonte, the new director of the League of Cities and Towns, stood up and stated that they were ready and willing to work with the Speaker and other state leaders to find the means to produce more housing.  Frankly, I have never seen this occur involving the housing issue before. I’m willing to conclude that the collaboration, respect, communication, and willingness to solve this problem comes directly from the trust and atmosphere that Joe Shekarchi has created.

To the Speaker, taking control of an issue doesn’t mean taking control away, and that solving our housing needs do not have to mean confrontation.  As the next major steps to building more housing are studied and proposed, and as the Special State Commissions on Land Use and Low and Moderate Income Housing continue their work, we should all know and appreciate that the leadership we have in Speaker Joe Shekarchi has what it takes to live up to his promise of the production, production, and production of more housing.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker for all you do, and most importantly, how you do it!

John Marcantoniois the  CEO of the  RI Builders Association and Carol O’Donnell is  President / Board Chair.