Bret's Blog

For anyone who lives in Rhode Island or pays attention to what goes on in this state, they will surely know and agree that an extremely important opportunity for economic development lies on the near horizon. The Quonset Business Park is a 3000+ acre site run by the Quonset Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the state run Economic Development Corporation. The park was once home to a major U.S. Navy Station (and Soviet Missile Target)and is now home to the smallish Quonset Air Base and Air National Guard, both most famous for the Air Show featuring the Blue Angels. After the high-speed Martha's Vineyard Ferry, Electric Boat, Lowe's, and mostly empty/undeveloped retail park, there is little else going on. Proposed uses have been as varied as a Liquid Natural Gas Terminal, a wind-power manufacturing site, and a cargo and shipping port.

Where the state has succeeded in advancing Quonset, one of the largest undeveloped ports on the East Coast, is in providing the necessary infrastructure to allow the port to flourish and attract industry. The port has a small airstrip, railway infrastructure, several deepwater slips, and is planning on installing a large cargo crane.

Let's keep the pressure on.

As I was sitting at our Narragansett office on Boston Neck Road, watching all of the people jogging by (32 in one hour), I started thinking about the future. It was a beautiful day. The Red Sox just opened up spring training. There were more Connecticut cars on the roads then usual. Clearly spring was coming.

First of all, they might as well put up a running/biking path in on Boston Neck Road/Ocean Road. It is like the official place to exercise in South County, and for good reason. It is flat, straight, long, and beautiful. It takes you past the Jamestown and Newport Bridges, past cows and farmlands, through Narragansett and Scarborough Beaches, past stately Narragansett mansions, and out to picturesque Point Judith Lighthouse.

Also, there is something slightly insane about the people that live around here, because, there is almost the same amount to exercisers in the winter as in the summer. There are also some regular characters that you come to see and appreciate if you spend as much time traveling these roads as I do. There is the one adorable elderly gentleman jogging in sweats who I swear only comes out when it is below 30 degrees. There is a group of young men who every morning break out their tight, weather-proof shorts and jackets and fly up and down the street. A a cute little lady spends her time ambling on around. Then of course there is "Colossus" who literally walks all day and might be the most gigantic man in the world.

These are the people that you come to really look forward to seeing everyday. There is a certain character to New England where what people do doesn't really make a lot of sense, in the most wonderful way. The roads could be packed, traffic backed up for miles, not a spot for a blanket on any of the beaches, and still my stranger friends will be out, jogging or walking or biking as if no one else is around, at least no one worth noting.

So next time you are on Boston Neck Road, or Ocean Road, or any of our beautiful country roads, wave to our joggers, our yearlong spring trainers, and wave to them. But for the love of God don't beep your horn, you might scare one of them to death!

There is little doubt of what one of the biggest topics in Rhode Island will be (or at least ought to be)this summer: the possible return of The America's Cup to Newport.

As has been widely reported, The America's Cup, the premier sailing race in world, has a chance of coming back to the city where it all began, Newport, RI. The way the Cup essentially works is that the winning team gets to decide where the race will be hosted. A Swiss team won the 2008 Cup, and decided to hold the event in Valencia, Spain. The 2009 race was won by Larry Ellison's American BMW Oracle Racing team. Ellison, along with being one of the wealthiest people in the world, has recently purchased a notable piece of Rhode Island Real Estate for $10.5 million. Newport's famous Astor's Beechwood Mansion to be precise. Ellison has suggested Newport as a possible destination for the event, as well as San Francisco and San Diego.
Having the America's Cup here would certainly bring national attention, as well as millions of dollars to our wonderful little state. Though San Francisco and San Diego are viable locations and tough competition, we may have a leg up in this fight.

1.) We want it. Really, Really, Badly. From Governor Carcieri, Providence Mayor Cicciline, and new Economic Development Corporation Chairman Keith Stokes all the way down down we want it. Proposals are being developed as we speak.

2.) We need it. Really, Really, Badly. The America's Cup will bring countless jobs and even more tourist dollars to Rhode Island.

3.) We have friends on the inside. Ellison seems to be open to holding the race here, his new summer home. Also, Newport native and world renowned yachtsman Halsey Herreshoff is very close to Ellison. In fact Herreshoff was present when the BMW Oracle team clinched the race. He was invited by Ellison to attend an awards ceremony in San Francisco and apparently plans on hand delivering a letter from Governor Carcieri in favor our state, as well as issuing a proposal of his own. However Herreshoff and our other delegates will have to compete with California's Rock Star, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who reportedly dearly wants the event also.

The trickle down effect of hosting the America's Cup again could be astonishing. Foremost would be the revitalizing effect it will have on Rhode Island's tourist economy. The hospitality businesses of coastal Rhode Island would be buzzing for weeks. It would be in a boon for Real Estate, for rentals and property sales. Many jobs would be created at boatyards, marinas, workshops, and hauling and freighting businesses, many of them permanent. It could also have ancillary benefits for Rhode Island's single most important undeveloped economic commodity, North Kingstown's deep-water port at Quonset Point.

To learn more about RI's race for the America's Cup, please visit 1 and 2 at www.providencejournal.com

To show support please visit the Facebook page