On Tuesday, June 28th, Common Cause released a report looking at a decade of "Access" to the General Assembly. The report is a follow-up to the groundbreaking 1998 report by then Secretary of State James Langevin and Brown University, "Access Denied." While compliance with the Open Meetings Act by the legislature has improved, the percentage of violations that occur at the end of the session has increased dramatically. You can find the study here.

Community forum on proposed I-195 Redevelopment District Commission

BetterProvidence & Common Cause RI

present

A COMMUNITY FORUM

on the

Proposed creation of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission

MONDAY, JUNE 13

6:00 – 7:30 PM

Doors open at 5:00 pm

The Spot Underground

15 Elbow St., Providence, RI 02903

With the surprising announcement of a proposed I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, uncertainty hangs over the state-owned land in Providence’s Jewelry District. With legislation to create the commission moving through the General Assembly this forum provides an opportunity to bring public officials, and other key stakeholders together so the public can ask questions about the rapidly evolving proposal. Some key areas to be discussed include:

• Does the proposed Commission best serve the public interest, including the people of the City of Providence, as well as the State of Rhode Island?
• Has there been sufficient public input in the legislative process?
• Is the proposed commission an effective way to ensure efficient economic development of this large State-owned land parcel in Providence -- or is it “the next secure feed bag for the well-connected,” as described by the Providence Journal editors?

Moderator: Mike Ritz, Executive Director of Leadership Rhode Island and I Heart Providence

Invitations to speak have been extended to:

· The sponsors of the legislation and General Assembly leadership

· The Mayor of Providence

· The Governor of Rhode Island

· The Rhode Island Attorney General

· The Jewelry District Association

Forum co-sponsors:

The Jewelry District Association

Greater City: Providence

American Institute of Architects Rhode Island

This event is free and open to the public.

Media coverage is invited.