Beach goers mixed on nixed beach fees

By Theresa Brown
Posted 5/31/18

By THERESA BROWN -- Some non-Warwick residents were singing the praises of Acting Mayor Joseph Solomon after hearing he has suspended the implementation of beach fees this summer, others had different thoughts.

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Beach goers mixed on nixed beach fees

Posted

Many non-Warwick residents were singing the praises of Acting Mayor Joseph Solomon after hearing he has suspended the implementation of beach fees this summer.

Reaching up to $14 for non-residents to attend on the weekends, the fees that the City Council unanimously approved last year would have been about the same as Narragansett beach fees. As City Council President Solomon voted for the fees, as did the rest of the council.

In an informal survey taken last week at Oakland Beach – one of three city beaches that would have had fees - those favoring no fees far outweighed those who believe the fees would help pay for beach cleanups and upkeep.

Sisters Doreen Calise of Cranston and Raeanne Hayes of Warwick said that they prefer going to Oakland Beach over the Narragansett beaches due to its closeness to home and not having to pay to get in. They said that Oakland Beach is great for those who only want to spend about an hour there and worth it since they don’t have to pay.

“I don’t like driving down to the [Narragansett] beaches, it’s so expensive,” Hayes said.

Calise explained that the attraction to Warwick beaches is that there are no fees, which is important to many Warwick residents who are on fixed incomes and can’t afford the steep prices found at other beaches.

“If there were fees I think it would deter me to not come down here,” she said.

Coventry residents, Joanne and Russell Tandy also opposed a fee.

“Would I pay to park to go to this beach? Absolutely not,” Tandy said. “And, it will impact the restaurants down here.”

Many beach-goers also shared their opinion on whether implementing beach fees would decrease the amount of littering there is on and around the beach and restaurants.

“If the people want to be slobs they are going to be no matter what, even if you charge them,” said Barbara Pollock, a North Providence resident.

Another beach-goer who grew up near Oakland Beach and had been spending time there since he was a kid, Clifford Macomber, suggested creating jobs instead of implementing beach fees. He proposed that instead of charging people to park at the beach and hoping that they clean up their trash after having done so, “Pay someone to go around and pick up the trash for the weekend, create a job.”

Some Warwick residents, however, would like to have a beach fee. The implementation of the fee was hoped to lessen the amount of trash left on the ground at the beach.

“I think that it would help,” one Warwick resident said. “The fee that would be collected will help offset the cost it will be for the city for anyone that goes to Oakland Beach and doesn’t know how to use a trash can.”

Another resident thought that having to pay the fee would make beach-goers more aware and apt to pick up their trash and clean up after themselves before they leave.

“I think that we should keep [the beach] clean, and by paying, people will pay more attention,” she said. “I like to go down to the beach with my husband and look at the water. We don’t mind paying, it’s not a lot, and there are places where it costs a lot more just to even get near the water.”

The trash is among many other issues that Warwick residents are concerned about. According to an Oakland Beach resident who asked not to be identified, there is often racing through the parking lot of Oakland Beach, as the gate is usually not closed at sundown as it is supposed to be. She thought beach fees would ensure that there is more supervision over the parking lot, as the gate would need to be locked to ensure no one would park without paying.

“During the summer especially, they don’t close the gate, so there’s car racing. And there’s only so many police, so by the time they’re called the cars have left,” she said. “If they closed the gate at the right time like they are supposed to, it wouldn’t be as big of a problem.”

The lack of gates is also something that is concerning to some Warwick residents as many have seen motorcycles riding on the bike path. One Oakland Beach resident explained that when she voiced these concerns she was told by the city, that the bike path would no longer be handicap accessible is a gate was put in place so motorcycles are unable to get through.

Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis and Acting Mayor Joseph Solomon did not return calls.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    Someone has to pay to keep our beaches clean. Either the users of the beach, or the entire number of taxpayers. I have always believed that the users should pay. So did the entire City Council, in December of 2017. Nothing has changed in 5 months, has it? I don't understand why acting Mayor Solomon has changed his mind. Do you?

    Happy Summer everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Thursday, May 31, 2018 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    i still stink that master trashpayers mayer should clean all the beachs and the sons of beaches

    Thursday, May 31, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Rick Corrente can't wait to raise beach fees on every driving resident. If he is so passionate about raising taxes now, just wait until he gets his hands on the budget...

    Thursday, May 31, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Scal, we can rest assured that the make-believe mayor will never have a say in the city budget. That he is the last person to understand this fact is one of many defect in his character that honest, taxpaying voters will recognize when they reject his candidacy again this year.

    Thursday, May 31, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Justanidiot,

    I DID go there and cleaned the beach with the Friends of Warwick Ponds. We collected over 20 huge industrial strength trash bags of trash. AND I DID bring my son Richard who helped me and the other volunteers plant about 30 trees. I guess that makes us both "sons of beaches" as you stated.

    Thanks for your comment. You always make me smile.

    Happy Summer everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Thursday, May 31, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Notice how Rick Corrente brushes aside his willingness to raise beach fees on every city resident. I believe the right thing to do is come up with a better plan thats fair to taxpayers. Rick Corrente wants to raise fees on every driver. I already shared MANY ways I would improve the beach cleanup, while not raising fees on residents. Rick Correntes only solution is to make every driving resident pay. I believe real leadership is sometimes saying "maybe we got it wrong". Rick Corrente believes the right thing to do is jam legislation through whether right or wrong.

    Again, this speaks to his eagnerness to raise YOUR taxes. Rather than come up with a fair, comprehensive plan that is fair to ALL RESIDENTS and looks to avoid raising beach fees on residents Corrente chooses the easily solution (raise fees). How many other "easy solutions" (raising taxes and fees) would he look for in the city budget? This is why when he says "cut taxes, cut spending" you know he's lying. The 1st issue of the campaign season and he is on the side of raising taxes. It is laughable the fake mayor continues to make assertions that he is on the side of taxpayers. On every issue (as in his own finances) he demonstrates a lack of fiscal responsibility and understanding. Warwick can't afford Rick Corrente.

    Thursday, May 31, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Scal,

    Damn it Scal! Stop lying. I do NOT want to raise taxes. I want to take the cost of the beach cleanup AWAY from the taxpayer and put it on the beach user as I stated above. You lied...again.

    You also lied when you said you "already shared MANY ways I would improve the beach cleanup while not raising fees on residents." Maybe you shared those ideas with Curley and Moe, but you didn't share them with me or any readers that I can see. Please tell us what you would do to clean up Oakland Beach and if it's better than beach fees I will support it.

    Otherwise it's Fake news. Fake sources. Fake people. Fake names.

    Happy Summer everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Friday, June 1, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Great job calling out the make-believe mayor again, Scal.

    "Damn it! Stop lying," he writes, despite being proven a liar on numerous occasions.

    "I do NOT want to raise taxes." As you have rightly pointed out, though, Scal, beach fees on every driver are effectively new taxes -- and, as you have also documented accurately, all of his tax giveaway schemes lack any explanation of where the revenue would come from to pay for them -- leaving tax increases as the logical conclusion.

    Honest, taxpaying voters will not be fooled by his double-speak, and will overwhelmingly reject his candidacy again at the earliest opportunity.

    Friday, June 1, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    I wonder why the fake mayor "MAYOR DUMBNESS" has been notably absent from the budget hearings and again, has failed to stand up take the mic, and offer solutions. Nothing but silence. ABSENT from the most important meetings of the year, and probably most important in a decade.

    He vilifies others stating we have no solutions. Really? Go here and just listen Richard.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae2VzIdcs_I

    Scroll to the 3:00:00 mark and watch and listen to the complete disassembling of this department, and the solutions that have been put forth as well.

    Friday, June 1, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Rick, "beach users" ARE TAXPAYERS "damn it Rick, stop lying". What we've seen from the fake mayor is a willingness to raise taxes rather than come up with a plan thats comprehensive and FAIR to taxpayers. My plan as I've shared ALREADY Rick, put the burden of cost on non residents using the beach. You want to raise taxes on EVERY DRIVING RESIDENT who uses the beach.

    With fees collected by non residents we could pay to increase our part time beach cleaning employees, while also devoting more current parks and rec employees to cleaning our beaches. I'm a regular taxpaying citizen, and I came up with a plan that doesn't raise fees on our residents AT ALL in about 20 minutes. Rick Corrente has been running for 4 years and he still has no plan to keep our beaches clean other than RAISING FEES ON DRIVING RESIDENTS.

    This is an important point because it gets into how he thinks and the core of his dishonest campaign. Rather than come up with a better solution that protects taxpayers Rick Corrente wants to RAISE FEES to pay for beach cleanup, but he has the audacity to tell voters he'd "cut taxes cut spending". This is the reason why it's so important that he answers how he will pay for his "plans". Without identifying where the money will come from there are ONLY 2 ways Rick Corrente can pay for his "plans"

    1. Increase spending

    OR

    2. RAISE TAXES

    Telling taxpayers anything else is a FLAT OUT LIE!!!

    He'll say creating "new taxpayers" will pay the tab but they aren't moving here day 1 or even year 1 Rick. The money will have to be spent UP FRONT. Why can't you tell voters where the money comes from Rick? This is why his position on beach fees is important. When faced with a tough decision Rick Corrente chooses the easy road of RAISING FEES. What other fees and taxes will he raise on residents once he gets in office. That is why this 1 issue says ALOT about his campaign. The man who says "cut taxes cut spending" when faced with his first campaign issue is openly admitting he wants to raise fees (tax). That is NOT an honest campaign and I and I'm sure MANY OTHERS will continue to call this FRAUD out for his dishonesty. If he can lie to taxpayers faces so easily, just imagine what he'll do behind closed doors.

    Friday, June 1, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    One more note....****Rick, let the record show on May 22nd, 2018 on this website under the article headline:

    "Solomon hopeful of means other than fees, to address beach litter"

    I left a comment with my idea of how to get our beaches cleaner WITHOUT raising fees on residents. Rick it's not my fault you are unable to read OR retain anything. So when you say "maybe you shared them with Curley and Moe, but you didn't share them with me and the readers" you ONCE AGAIN SPEAK WITHOUT FACTS.

    I'm not surprised as you've done NOTHING but make up LIES AND DISTORT FACTS for almost 4 years now.

    Once again, we find this lazy, bum, tax delinquent speaking without the facts. I'd await his apology but as we've seen before this classless fraud has no shame in what he says, no matter how baseless and untrue.

    Irresponsible and reckless are just a couple words to describe a candidate who'd rather jam legislation through without studying how much the beach fees would cost to implement, OR how much revenue they would provide. That means NOBODY knew how much this program will cost. If NOBODY is sure how much revenue will be collected, how can ANYONE say for certain it will pay for beach cleanup? Once again, we see a candidate in Rick Corrente who'd rather create programs first, figure out how to pay for them second. That is NOT responsible government...and just another reason why the fake mayor can't be trusted.

    PS: I put my (just a regular taxpayer) SPECIFIC PLAN on this website for ANYONE to read. When will you do that with your plans Rick? So that voters can see the cost, and how you will pay for them? Or maybe Curley and Moe could share them??? They seem to be the ONLY 2 supporters you have, dummy!

    Friday, June 1, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    I wonder, Scal, whether you've seen the make-believe mayor's new website. [I won't link it here because, frankly, he doesn't deserve any help in getting clicks.]

    A brief look at the site shows exactly what you point out: His "plan" is a series of vague ideas with no recognition of what they would actually cost the city. This points to what I think has been the core defect in his candidacy from the beginning: He simply will not answer the most basic questions about his statements.

    What will his plans cost? That is a reasonable and logical thing to ask if you're one of the taxpayers who he claims to represent -- and it's something that a competent candidate should be able to answer.

    Of course, a competent candidate would also avoid using someone else's website for free political advertising, being proven wrong nearly every time he makes a comment, and slinking away to new articles to rewrite false statements over and over again.

    Friday, June 1, 2018 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Rick Corrente says he's NEVER OWED TAXES (he claims 1 penny 1 time, what a joke!!!)

    February, 6th 2018 (Warwick Post)

    "In a review of earlier campaign finance reports, Warwick Post found that Richard Corrente paid $4,000 to Clayton Shackelton for the campaign office on February 17th, 2016. Clay Shackelton listed on state business filings as the President of G W Realty, which owns Gateway Plaza. The check was made out to Shackelton personally, and not G W Realty.

    Clayton Shackelton is also listed as paying the tax bills on 177 Grand Ave in 2014 and 2015 totaling nearly $13,700.

    (story continues...)

    City tax records show that Clayton Shackelton paid the delinquent tax bills on Richard Correntes residence in 2014 and 2015. Corrente gave Shackelton $4,000 for his campaign office in 2016. (Screen shots from Warwick Tax Assesor Website).

    City tax records show payments of $6,910.33 in 2014 by Clayton Shackelton FOR RICHARD CORRENTES RESIDENCE.

    City tax records show payments of $6,762.19 in 2015 by Clayton Shackelton FOR RICHARD CORRENTES RESIDENCE."

    1. When Rick Corrente tells you he always pays his taxes on time HE IS A LIAR!!!

    2. When he tells you no one has EVER paid his taxes for him HE IS A LIAR!!!

    3. When Rick Corrente tells you he's looking out for "the taxpayer" HOW WOULD HE KNOW???

    This doesn't even address his car taxes and the late payments he's made in the past.

    Bottom line when Rick Corrente says you can "trust him" just look at his track record...

    Monday, June 4, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    You know, Scal, if the make-believe mayor wanted to have a private deal with someone to return the favor for paying his property taxes, there would not be any problem with it.

    The problem arises when he decides to run for office and use campaign money to pay that person back. Now it becomes [at least] an ethically questionable use of campaign funds.

    And as you correctly point out, his only response has been to lie about his tax delinquency. As we know, he's also changed the office to a business location instead of his campaign HQ, meaning he's been able to move the rent payments off the campaign's books and essentially hide them from scrutiny.

    He is not, as you note, someone who voters should trust. I have no doubt that honest, taxpaying Warwick voters will understand this -- primarily due to his own documented behavior -- when they reject his candidacy again.

    Monday, June 4, 2018 Report this