I applaud Rep. Roger Picard's efforts to protect small businesses

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Dear Editor,

On April 07, 2005, state Rep. Roger A. Picard, introduced a bill in the General Assembly to eliminate the tax incentives of the proposed Municipal Economic Development zone -- a measure the Mayor of Woonsocket says is a potential deathblow to the proposed Dowling Village retail center. The Woonsocket Call called the bill "controversial". If everyone actually understood the 'true' meaning of the Municipal Economic Development (MED) zone, then 'controversial' would certainly not be the operative word.

For those of you who don't know yet, the MED zone would allow retailers in the 'zone' to charge half the normal sales tax (3.5%) with the community keeping the tax collected and the state getting zero for ten (10) years. Not a bad deal if you're located in the MED zone, but a backbreaker if you're a small business outside the zone. Why go to another city business when you can save a nice sum in the zone? And, Rep. Picard was quite succinct in his observation that this will create a lopsided playing field tilted in favor of competitors who locate there.

But let's look at the Mayor's observation that his legislation will be a potential 'deathblow' to the proposed retail center (aka - Dowling Village). In fact, the MED zone was not created for developments like Dowling Village in the first place. The original MED zone legislation was written for communities like West Warwick and specifically to address their "blighted" areas. An incentive to get folks to shop in areas of the community where old, dilapidated mills and abandoned businesses were located. This was the intent of the law; to rebuild and revitalize run down areas in struggling communities. But, don't take my word for it. Go to the state's web site and read the law. (http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE44/44-18/44-18-30.C.HTM)

But Mayor Menard and the Woonsocket City Council have decided to side step the true 'spirit and intent' of this law. Instead they propose to put a huge development in very pristine, undeveloped woodland behind Landmark Rehabilitation Hospital on the Woonsocket/North Smithfield line. Again, don't take my word for it, drive by yourself and see just how "blighted" and "run-down" the area is. Rep. Picard and his colleagues are quite right in their efforts to point out to the General Assembly that their law has been taken miles away from it's true intent. Dowling Village is not even remotely close to being a blighted area in need of revitalization. It is a pristine wooded area over the Crook Fall Brook aquifer, abutting suburban homes on the North Smithfield line. Why should the developers and the wealthy big box stores benefit from the MED zone relief plan when neither they nor the site qualify under this bill?

I applaud Rep. Picard's efforts to protect the small businesses in Woonsocket and for alerting the General Assembly to this blatant abuse of the spirit and intent of the MED zone law.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Parker
Cumberland, RI