Statement from Homes RI on State Leaders’ Decision to Delay Vote on Housing & Infrastructure Bond
Last week, Governor Raimondo, House Speaker Mattiello and Senate President Ruggerio announced plans to hold a special election for voters to decide on state investments in critical housing and infrastructure.
The special election would occur “sometime after” the General Election on November 3, in which (we) voters will decide who will represent us in the White House, Congress, and in our state and municipal governments for the next several years.
Action was needed last week to get these critical bond investments on the ballot for November. That did not happen. The delay in approving the bonds to be on the November ballot and the delay in taking up the state’s FY21 budget is attributed to gridlock in Congress on the next COVID relief package. We continue to call on our Congressional delegation to press Congressional House and Senate leadership to reconvene and approve additional relief funds that states and communities very desperately need. However, the Rhode Island General Treasurer has very clearly stated that Rhode Island has the capacity to borrow funds, even in the current budget environment. State bonds are a vital mechanism to finance significant infrastructure and development projects and an important tool to stimulate the economy. Voters should have the opportunity to say yes to invest in November, when most Rhode Islanders are already prepared to vote and there are clear procedures in place for how to do so.
The General Assembly’s decision to not convene until after November has consequences not only for these critical bond measures, but also for important pieces of legislation that have languished in the absence of legislative action. This includes legislation that would prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants based on their source of income. The Senate passed this bill on the floor in February, with the House poised to take it up in the Judiciary Committee just prior to COVID related closure. It has not been revisited since and is stalled.
Now, important legislation necessary to supplement the current national eviction moratorium is also stalled. The legislation would extend protection to homeowners against foreclosure in addition to tenants during a declared state of emergency, and would establish an eviction diversion mediation program in District Court. We are very grateful for the strong support of the Governor and members of the legislature, including the bill sponsors, on this measure. But Rhode Islanders should not have to wait another two months for action to help them stay in their home during a pandemic.
Homes RI believes that Rhode Island can and should be a state where all residents live in safe, healthy, and affordable homes in thriving communities. We are falling far short of this, and without further investment, we will fall even further behind. We are disappointed that action was not taken sooner to ensure that we invest in critical housing and infrastructure our residents, communities, and state need.
We are committed to continuing strong advocacy to make these proposed investments a reality for Rhode Islanders. We call on our leaders in the General Assembly to ensure that the bond measures that will support these investments are put on the ballot (in November or a special election called in a timely manner) and that additional protections are put in place for tenants and homeowners. And we call on you, our fellow Rhode Islanders — the voters — to make homes a priority and say yes to invest with your support for these ballot measures.
Tell State Legislators to Say Yes to Invest in the FY21 budget!
