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4/26/2022 Rebuilding ‘Superman’ won’t rescue R.I.’s rural communities
Money should be directed to road repair, not corporate welfare
 
STATE HOUSE, Providence—Senator Gordon E. Rogers, (R-Dist. 21, Coventry, Foster, Scituate, West Greenwich) today denounced the proposal to spend $26.2 million in state taxpayer money for a corporate bailout to redevelop the “Superman” building in downtown Providence.

“As it stands, the proposal depends on a total of $65 million in public financing,” Senator Rogers said.  Like all Rhode Islanders, Rogers is eager to see the Industrial National Bank building repurposed.  But the senator said has deep concerns about the type and amount of taxpayer dollars that could be used for the project when there are more pressing concerns that effect all Rhode Islanders, particularly in rural communities.

“It’s nice to talk about fixing up a deteriorating skyscraper in Providence but not when this massive bailout is subsidized by all Rhode Island residents, including those who live far from the city,” Senator Rogers said.

“Our constituents pay taxes on their property, their income, their cars their fuel and yet one of my communities doesn’t even get RIPTA bus service, the municipal roads are unrepaired and the schools are disproportionately funded,” Rogers added. “Where is the equity to the rural communities who subsidize these bailouts?  This kind of taxpayer money should benefit the actual taxpayers, not a single developer.”

Foster, like every community in the state, pays for RIPTA and RIDOT’s budget through gas tax, tolls and revenue from our income taxes.  

“The state has enough money to give a single developer $26.2 million to build 285 apartments.  And yet they still don’t have a solution to help the municipalities, unless it involves a state road,” said Rogers.

“This is yet another example of public money being lavished on Providence, while suburban and rural communities are left in the cold.”



For more information, contact:
Katie Haughey Cardoza, Senate Minority Office
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2708