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I've done it. I've seen it with my own eyes. I have attempted to count the buckeyes at Warwick Ave on several occasions in the last few years. So has my friend Bob. All totaled we counted one buckeye. Just one fish. That is a horrible count for a species of fish that needs to feed the entire striped bass population that comes into Narragansett Bay. Phragmites appear to be the biggest obstacle. As a proud member of the Friends of Warwick Ponds for the last two years I can report that we have done all the research, recorded all the stats that you can imagine and here we are, two years later with a growing number of phragmites and were aren't any closer to a solution in my opinion. At the City Council Finance Committee meeting on Monday night there were a dozen speakers, with a dozen "related issues" they felt needed to be raised. It only succeeded in making a small mountain of red tape into a larger mountain of red tape. Meanwhile the homeowners around Warwick Pond have 20 year old trees under 20 inches of water in their backyards and the bay isn't receiving one percent of the buckeyes needed to feed the striped bass population.

I spoke to a now-retired member of the Dept. of Public Works (DPW). He confirmed that Warwick used to just go in and clear out the phragmites. Now he says "it takes an act of Congress". He said "It would be better to just pay the fine than to go through all this "stuff"" (he didn't say "stuff"). I asked him if the DPW still had the machinery. He said "Yes!" I asked if the DPW had the manpower. He said "Yes!" I asked, do they still know how to do it?" He said Yes!" Then I asked "Isn't there some emergency-clause that allows the DPW to just declare the situation an emergency and go in and clear the weeds out?" He stared at me, silently. I asked again. He was silent...again. That answered my question. There HAS TO BE A LEGAL WAY WARWICK CAN JUST GO IN AND CLEAR OUT THESE DAMN PHRAGMITES! No fines, no "act of Congress". No added cost to the taxpayers. There has to be. I am making it my business to find out. Stay tuned fellow taxpayers. Anyone who wants to help, please contact me at 401-338-9900.

Thanks.

Rick Corrente

The Taxpayers Mayor