[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ >> COMING UP, THE COST OF BUILDING THE SOCCER STADIUM HAS GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE.

THIS WEEK'S LATEST DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> HI.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM IN RHODE ISLAND PBS.

>> JOINING US, I REPORTER.

AN OFF AND FOUNDER OF WATCHDOG ARE HIGH.

AND HARRISON TOTAL, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER RHODE ISLAND COMMITTEE.

WELCOME.

I AM JIM.

JIM: WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION ON THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE LATER BUT FIRST OFF THERE ARE MANY OTHER ISSUES WE HAVE SET ASIDE THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AS THE BRIDGE HAS DOMINATED THE NEW CYCLE.

AFTER WE FINISHED TAPING LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM, NEWS BROKE THAT THE COST OF BORROWING FOR THE SOCCER STADIUM AT TIDEWATER LANDING HAS INCREASED.

DRAMATICALLY.

KEN, YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING TIDEWATER LANDING.

I THINK THE FRUSTRATING THING IS THIS IS A DONE DEAL AND WE CAN'T GO BACK AND REWIND THE CLOCK.

IT IS BAD NEWS, SWALLOW IT.

KEN: YEAH, MY BIG PROBABLY TIDEWATER, 38 STUDIOS, IS WE HAVE OUR GOVERNMENT COMMITTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON HAIL MARY IDEAS TO EITHER RESCUE DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE, LIKE 38 STUDIOS WAS, OR IN THE CASE OF PAWTUCKET, REPLACE WHAT IT LOST WHEN THE PAWSOX THESE ARE BAD IDEAS TO BEGIN WITH.

THIS BORROWING IS NOT SOMETHING TAXPAYERS ARE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE ON THE BALLOT, BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING ISSUED WITH MORAL OBLIGATION BONDS.

I THINK THAT IS WRONG.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED WITH 38 STUDIOS IN TIDEWATER IS THERE CAN BE MASSIVE PAINFUL ECONOMIC FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES TO TAXPAYERS.

THEY SHOULD BE ASKED TO APPROVE DEALS LIKE THIS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SEEING OUR GOVERNMENT ACTING RESPONSIBLY IN TERMS OF RISKING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE NOT ASKED TO APPROVE MORAL OBLIGATION BONDS THE SAME WAY WE APPROVE REGULAR BONDS.

JIM: BONDS ALMOST ALWAYS PASS BUT YOU WONDER IN THIS CASE IF THIS WAS PU TO THE VOTERS AND IT WOULD'VE PASSED.

>> YOU HAVE TO WONDER.

MY COLLEAGUE HAD SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN HIS STORY ABOUT THIS, THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD HAVE APPROPRIATED THE 27 MILLION DOLLARS BUT WAS NOT LIKELY TO SO THEY DID THIS AND RUN TO GET THE 27 MAIN DOLLARS, BARRING 54 MAIN DOLLARS AND WHEN YOU GET ALL THE INTEREST BECAUSE THAT IS IS GOING TO BALLOON.

JIM: SO THEY JUST TAKE IT OUT OF THE MONEY OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

JUST MAKE THE INVESTMENT.

>> YEAH, IF THEY JUST AS THE GENERAL IS SOME WAY THEY COULD'VE SAVED US ALL POTENTIALLY A LOT OF MONEY BUT THE GENERAL SIBLEY WAS GOING TO SAY NO SO NOT DO IT.

KEN: IT IS INTERESTING CONSIDERING WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED WHICH WAS NOT ONLY THE SOCCER STADIUM BUT THE HOUSING UNITS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE CENTERED AROUND HIS DEAL TO, YOU KNOW, REVITALIZE PAWTUCKET.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE EFFECT THAT HOUSING IS NOT A PART OF THIS PLAN, AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO THE RISING COSTS, THIS PROJECT IS COMBINED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER GRANTS IN TERMS OF FUNNELING TOGETHER PACKAGES OF MONEY TO ENSURE WE CAN FULLY FUND THIS ON THE PRICE HAS ONLY GONE UP DUE TO INFLATION SO IT IS A CASE IN WHICH OBVIOUSLY THIS PROJECT STARTED WITH THE FORMER GOVERNOR RAIMONDO AND WITH THE TIE-BREAKING VOTE THAT GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE HAD, HE HAS KIND OF TAKEN ON THIS PROJECT TAKING ON RESPONSIBILITY BUT I REMEMBER A LOT OF OPPOSITION BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING CRISIS WE HAVE AND THE NEED FOR AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF UNITS TO BE BUILT PARTICULAR IN PAWTUCKET.

JIM: THEY FRONTLOADED THE MONEY AND SAID LET'S SHIFTED OVER TO THE STADIA.

HAVE YOU HEARD LET'S GET THE HOUSING BACK ON TRACK OR DO YOU THINK THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT?

KEN: I DON'T THINK THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT.

I'M NOT CERTAIN THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO PUT MUCH OF ANY OF HIS ON MONEY INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

I HAVE READ A REPORT SOMEWHERE THAT IF HOUSING WERE TO HAPPEN, MORE PUBLIC DOLLARS WOULD HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO THE PROJECT.

THE WHOLE THING SEEMS POORLY CONSIDERED, AND PREMISED ON THIS IDEA THAT SOMEHOW A MINOR LEAGUE STADIUM CAN LEAD TO MASSIVE ECONOMIC POSITIVE ECONOMIC OUTCOMES, AND ALL OF THE EVIDENCE NATIONAL EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT TYPICALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE MINOR LEAGUE STADIUM IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE TO EXAMINE WHAT WAS WRONG.

WE ARE IT IS SAFE TO SAY IN A DIFFERENT AGE BRACKET THAT YOU TWO HERE.

IS SOCCER SOMETHING YOU THINK WILL CATCH ON?

>> MAYBE THERE IS A HUGE RISK WHERE IF THE TEAM FOLDS WHICH DOES HAPPEN THEN WE HAVE AN EMPTY STADIUM AND NO HOUSING.

>> AND LAND THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN UP.

>> RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF DEAD.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> SOCCER IS AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR SPORT IN AMERICA WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE WORLD CUP COMING TO AMERICA IN THE NEXT YEAR.

BUT ALSO WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPIC MAKEUP OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, OF THE SURRUNDING AREAS LIKE CENTRAL FALLS, IT IS SOMETHING ATTRACTIVE BUT THE IDEA THAT THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS TEAM IS GOING TO USE KNOW BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO GO AND WATCH SOCCER IS REALLY, THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE TEAM ITSELF TO SUCCEED BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CONTROVERSY UNTROUBLED IN TERMS OF FUNDING THIS THAT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED.

>> YOU MENTIONED 38 STUDIOS AND I WAS THINKING THAT VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS EXCEPT FOR ONE PERSON.

THIS WAS THE VOTE THAT GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE NEEDED TO JUMP IN SO THERE WERE CONCERNS THERE.

>> OH -- >> IT WASN'T LIKE ANYBODY SAID THIS IS GREAT AND WILL FLY THROUGH.

>> I THINK THEY CERTAINLY HAVE TO BE DONE SHY ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE THIS GIVEN THE DISASTER 38 STUDIOS WAS.

I THINK THAT GOVERNOR MCKEE'S EXERCISE OF HIS TIE-BREAKING VOTE IS TELLING, INTERESTING AND PUTS OWNERSHIP OF THIS THING WHOLLY ON HIM.

PRETTY RISKY AND ULTIMATELY AGAIN I HAVE TO REPEAT THIS.

I THINK IT IS WRONG WE ARE COMMITTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT WE ARE GOING TO OF THE MONEY ON THIS WITHOUT BEING ASKED ABOUT OR IT.

>> EVERYBODY WHO IS VOTING ON IT NOW AND THE GOVERNOR PARTICULAR SAY THEY CAN REFINANCE INTO AN YEARS.

HE WILL BE IN HIS 80'S AND PROBABLY OFF SOMEWHERE.

HE WILL NOT BE AROUND TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> SELDOM SEE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DECISIONS MADE BY THE PEOPLE LEAVING OUR STATE AND IT DRIVES ME CRAZY.

>> FINAL QUESTION ON THIS.

I DON'T RUN THE TEAM BUT THEY WILL BE PLAYING THE FIRST YEAR BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE STADIUM DONE BRYANT.

I HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING BRAND COLLEGE SOMETIMES, WONDER IF IT'S FIELD SOMETIMES IN PROVIDENCE OR WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> IT IS NOT IDEAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WANT FOLKS TO COME OUT AND BE EXCITED ABOUT A NEW TEAM IN RHODE ISLAND.

IT'S NOT LIKE RHODE ISLAND IS A PLACE WE AUTOMATICALLY THINK IS THIS HUB OF MULTI SPORTS.

WE HAD URI, PC, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT, SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW MARKET OF FANS TO COME IN AND JOIN, BUT SWITCHING LOCATIONS, CONTROVERSIES, IS IT AT PAWTUCKET, IS IT AT BRYANT?

IT WILL CONFUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU JUST HOPE ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, MARKET IT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE EXCITED BECAUSE THERE IS EXCITEMENT ON THE TEAM.

>> OK.

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND ROLLED OUT A NEW TOURISM CAMPAIGN.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD CALL A SOFT OPENING.

THERE REALLY WAS NO PRESS CONFERENCE.

THERE IS A SERIES OF SIX VIDEOS.

WE PUT TOGETHER THREE OF THEM.

LET'S LOOK AT THEM AND TALK ABOUT IT.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> I REALLY LOVE IT HERE.

♪ [LAUGHTER] ♪ >> SO, YOU HAVE THE CHOICE ASSIGNMENT TO LOOK AT ALL OF THIS.

THIS IS TITLED "ALL THAT."

>> YOU TRIED TO GET A BIG BANG AND THERE WAS NO PRESS CONFERENCE.

THEY JUST KIND OF ROLLED IT OUT.

>> WE GOT A PRESS RELEASE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

I KNEW A NEW TOURISM SLOGAN WAS COMING BUT THEY REPORTED THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG LAUNCH AND APPARENTLY GOT CANCELED BECAUSE IT IS A SNOWSTORM SO THEY DECIDED OK WE WILL PUT OUT THIS VIDEO MESSAGE ON HER WEBSITE AND GO WITH THAT.

YEAH, MY REACTION WAS AT FIRST I KIND OF SAW ALL THAT AND WAS LIKE, HUH?

SEEING THE VIDEOS, THEY COVERED A LOT OF WHAT I LOVE ABOUT RHODE ISLAND AND MAKE SINCE PROMOTING THE STATE, SO I HAVE COME AROUND TO IT.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BE HAPPY KNOWING US RHODE ISLAND OR ABOUT A SLOGAN.

I THINK IT WAS BOUND TO HAVE CRITICISM.

I MEAN COOLER AND WARMER RUINED IT FOR EVERYBODY, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] >> IT WAS A CERTAINLY A SITUATION THAT BRINGS BACK PAST MEMORIES.

I THINK, LOOK, THE IDEA BEHIND THE SLOGAN, THE REASONING WHICH IS TO TALK ABOUT HOW RHODE ISLAND HAS SUCH A DIVERSE GROUP OF THINGS TO DO, WHETHER IT IS YOU KNOW USING OUR SHORELINE, OR GOING DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE.

I GET IT.

BUT I THINK IT IS CONCERNING AND I BELIEVE KEN WILL DIVE INTO THE COST ASSOCIATED.

>> BEFORE HE DOES THAT, WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE MUSIC?

[LAUGHTER] >> I DON'T KNOW.

NO COMMENT.

>> I WILL SAY THAT THE MUSIC CAN BE CHANGE FOR DIFFERENT AUDIENCES, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME COUNTRY MUSIC IN SOME SETTINGS.

>> THEY HAD TO GET MUSIC SPECIFIC.

YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY CREATE YOUR OWN SCORE FOR THAT.

I WANT TO KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE.

BUT GO AHEAD, KEN.

>> THAT MEANS I NEED ONE LESS CUP OF COFFEE IN THE MORNING.

[LAUGHTER] >> JUST PUT IT ON TWICE AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.

>> ALL THAT IS BETTER THAN THE STUFFING.

I THINK WE CAN ALL ADMIT THIS, BUT I KNOW A LOT ABOUT FREE MEDIA, EARNED MEDIA, AND RHODE ISLAND'S PROBLEM IS A LOT OF OUR EARNED MEDIA IS ATTACHED TO SOME PRETTY NEGATIVE THINGS.

I HAVE A FREE SUGGESTION I WANT TO MAKE TO RHODE ISLAND'S MARKETERS THAT I THINK IT REALLY WORK HERE.

YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A DIRECT POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMICS OF THE STATE, SO WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO IS WE OUGHT TO PLAY OFF THE BRIDGE PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING OUT TO CAPE COD, AND WE SHOULD BE MAKING THE CASE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET TO CAPE COD WHO WILL GET LOGJAMS AT THE BROKEN BRIDGE AND SAY YOU REALLY SHOULD GO TO SOUTH COUNTY.

IT HAS EVERYTHING THE CAKE DOESN'T WE DON'T HAVE THE BRIDGES TO CROSS.

THAT IS FREE.

I THINK HE WAS SEE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM THAT AND THAT WOULD BE MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS IN TERMS OF THE BRIDGE PROBLEM.

>> AND MAYBE NEWPORT, ALTHOUGH NEWPORT IS NOT SO WILD ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH.

PLEASE.

SEEING ALL THAT, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP.

>> I SENT THIS TO MY KIDS IN THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO LIVE OUT OF STATE, ONE IN NEW YORK CITY, WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND WE WERE SKEPTICAL, IT IS FUNNY, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT TIDEWATER, 38 STUDIOS, COOLER AND WARMER, SO WE HAVE LONG MEMORIES, BUT THIS IS AIMED AT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE RHODE ISLAND WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF OUR MYOPIC RHODE ISLAND LENS AND I WONDER IF YOU'RE IN MONTANA, FLORIDA, OHIO AND YOU'RE LIKE A THAT LOOKS LIKE AN INTERESTING PLACE TO GO.

CORRECT.

THIS WAS GEARED TOWARDS MILLENNIALS AS WELL AS WHEN THEY WERE CONDUCTING POLLING ON WHAT DIFFERENT OPTIONS, DIFFERENT SLOGANS TO USE, THAT THEY REACHED OUT TO FOLKS OUTSIDE OF RHODE ISLAND AND INSIDE RHODE ISLAND TO DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST OPTION WAS TO BUT THIS WAS GEARED TOWARDS OUTSIDE TOURISM COMING INTO RHODE ISLAND IN WHICH THEY POLLED PEOPLE AND FOUND THIS TO BE THE MOST EFFICIENT ONE.

>>, THERE IS A FLORIDA AGENCY THAT DIDN'T GIVEN THAT WE DO HAVE LOCAL AGENCIES BUT MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT HAVING AN OUT-OF-STATE PERSPECTIVE.

FOUR NOW BE HONEST, WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT ALL THESE YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOTHING FOR MY SON.

>> I PAUSED EVERY FRAME TO >> SEE IT.

IT TOOK YOU LONGER THAN TO WRITE THE STORY.

>> IT DID.

>> $500,000.

>> YES.

>> WHAT DID WE SPEND $5 MILLION OR 10 MAIN DOLLARS?

IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> IT IS REALLY HARD WITH ADVERTISING, HARD TO SEE WHAT YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS.

YEAH, I GUESS IT MAKES SENSE TO TRY TO PUSH UP THE MESSAGE THAT WE ARE A GOOD PLACE TO COME TO.

YOU JUST HAVE TO REALLY WONDER IF IT CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT OR NOT, AND AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION TO ASK AND ANSWER BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE $3 MILLION SPENT IN ANOTHER WAY ULTIMATELY.

>> I WILL PERSONALLY ASK THE TOURISM PEOPLE ON YOUR BEHALF IF THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER A SOUNDTRACK THAT YOU CAN PLAY IN YOUR CAR WHENEVER YOU NEED TO GET HYPED UP.

>> OR AFTER 9:00 AT NIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT DEPENDS ON WHICH ONE YOU ARE GOING TO PUT IN.

[LAUGHTER] >> OK, THE STORY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR WEEKS, THERE WAS NEWS THIS WEEK ON THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT EARLIER IN THE WEEK WAS THEY WOULD TRY TO RECONFIGURE THE LANES TO ADD EXTRA LANES, THREE EACH WAY.

WE WILL SEE HOW THAT WORKS THAT WOULD TAKE TWO MONTHS.

ON WEDNESDAY, DRAFT REPORT FROM EVERYBODY GOT IT, THE MEDIA, AND BASICALLY I THINK WHAT WE KNEW ALL ALONG, THIS BRIDGE IS IN ROUGH SHAPE AND IT LOOKS POSSIBLY THAT WE WILL NEED A TOTAL REBUILD.

ANY SURPRISE TO YOU?

>> NOT A LOT OF SURPRISE ON THE FACT THE BRIDGE NEEDS WORK.

MORE OF THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW WE HAVE YOU KNOW DOCUMENTS THAT SUGGEST THAT INSPECTIONS, THEY KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE DATING BACK ALL THE WAY TO 2020, SO YOU HAVE TO REALLY WONDER WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS TO MOVE FORWARD THAT HAVE PUT US IN THIS POSITION.

UP UNTIL THIS MOMENT WHERE IT FELT LIKE YOU KNOW EVERYBODY FOUND OUT, YOU KNOW, THIS RANDOM WEEK IN DECEMBER, AND WE HAD KNOWLEDGE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT IT SO THERE NEEDS TO BE REAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

OBVIOUSLY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS HAVING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES AND THEY HAD THE FIRST ONE AND WE ARE EXPECTING MORE BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE IS NO WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE COMPLETELY FINE WITH FINANCING YOU KNOW, REFINANCING A BRIDGE, IF PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS BRIDGE HAVING TO ULTIMATE COME DOWN IT LOOKS LIKE ART NOT AT YOU KNOW HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> YEAH, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR ME, AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE AND OUTSIDE OF RHODE ISLAND, PROBABLY THE FEDS, IS THAT THE BRIDGE, THE, THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS BRIDGE WAS NOT ANTICIPATED AND THAT LIVES WERE PUT AT RISK.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF MAINTENANCE NEGLIGENCE ATTACHED TO KEEPING THIS BRIDGE SOUND, AND WORSE BECAUSE WE ARE BEING TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY, UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED, TELLING US HOW THIS WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE GOTTEN US TO THE POINT NOT SPECIFICALLY WHAT FAILED BUT IN TERMS OF THE BRIDGE IN THE ENGINEERING, BUT WHAT FAILED ADMINISTRATION-WISE.

WHAT FAILED FROM A BUREAUCRATIC PERSPECTIVE, FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS CAUGHT US BY SURPRISE.

HOW CAN WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THERE ARE NOT MORE BRIDGES ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER, AND HOW CAN WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CAN EFFECTIVELY SPEND THE MONEY AND ENSURE OUR SAFETY ON ALL THE OTHER BRIDGES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MOST RHODE ISLANDERS REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO THEIR JOB CORRECTLY AND OFFER US NO MORE SURPRISES.

>> YEAH I MEAN MY TAKE AWAY FROM THE REPORT AT LEAST I MEAN I THINK WE ALL KNEW THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE BRIDGE.

THAT WAS NOT A SURPRISE.

WHEN YOU SEE TERMS LIKE PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE IN THE TALKING ABOUT CHUNKS OF THE BRIDGE FALLING INTO THE RIVER, THAT IS NOT GREAT.

>> YEAH, THEY ALSO CLOSE ANOTHER BRIDGE.

IT'S NOT ONE A LOT OF PEOPLE USED, AND WELL, WE HAVE SEEN THIS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, AND LOOK, THE ADMINISTRATION INHERITED A LOT OF THIS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN IN AN OFFICE FOR EIGHT MONTHS NOW AND I THINK THAT IT, I KNOW HE SAID WE HAVE DONE ALL THIS GREAT WORK ACROSS THE STATE.

IF YOU ARE NOT KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE BIG BRIDGE, IT SUMS LIKE BEING A REPORTER YOU CAN WORK FOR 10, 20, 30 YEARS OF ONE BAD STORY CAN RUIN YOUR CAREER.

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYONE IN THE STATE WILL REMEMBER FOR MANY MANY YEARS.

>> IF IT DOES HAVE TO BE A TOTAL REBUILD, LET US GET BACK TO THE RECONFIGURATION OF THE LANES.

I TOLD THIS TO MY WIFE TO MY WIFE YOU USES THE BRIDGE EVERY DAY OVER AND BACK AND SHE SAID, ARE YOU CRAZY?

I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOWER THE SPEEDS, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT I DON'T GET IS YOU ARE GOING 20, 30 MILES PER HOUR AND YOU WILL SEE A CAR ROLLED OVER AND I AM LIKE, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> YEAH, THEY WILL GO WITH 10-FOOT WIDE LANES.

THAT IS NARROW, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A TRUCK IN ONE OF THOSE LANES AT THE SAME TIME.

I GET IT.

IT IS A CHOKEPOINT, SO MORE LANES SHOULD GIVE YOU MORE CARDS THROUGH ULTIMATELY, WHICH MAKES SENSE.

THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU'RE MAKING IT MORE LIKELY YOU WILL SEE ACCIDENTS THERE, YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT, USE WHAT NET NOT SEE A REAL DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WHILE IT'S MOVING FINE, IT IS MOVING FINE, BUT WHEN IT DOESN'T, THE TIEUPS GET TO BE MONUMENTAL AND IT CAN GET TO BE TWO HOURS TO CROSS THE BRIDGE BECAUSE OF ACCIDENTS ON THE BRIDGE.

ARE WE INVITING MORE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE WE ARE ADDING A AND NARROWING THE LANES?

>> I HAD SOMEONE ASK ME NOW YOU'RE PUTTING SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC IN EFFECT ON THE NEWBRIDGE, IS THAT STRUCTURALLY OK?

EASTBOUND, WHAT ABOUT THE WEAR AND TEAR THERE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A NEWER BRIDGE?

>> I THINK THIS IS FORCING THE ENGINEERS AT DOT TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT I'M SURE THEY KNOW COME WITH THE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES THAT WE ARE KIND OF SEEING, AND I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO ALLEVIATE NOT ONLY FOR THE RIDERS BUT POLITICAL REASONS TO SAY, HEY, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING, BECAUSE I THINK THE SITUATION REGARDING THE BRIDGES OF DYER IF THEY CAME OUT AND SAID HEY, LOOK, YOU ARE JUST AND I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.

THIS BRIDGE WILL HAVE TO COME DOWN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD GIVE MANY RHODE ISLANDERS AND OUTSIDE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING BECAUSE OF OUR GREAT SLOGAN AND ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, EXCITEMENT TO COME TO THE STATE.

>> OK. WE COULD PROBABLY DO A WHOLE HALF-HOUR SHOW ON THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

YOU HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT THIS.

THE LATEST IS SERVICE CUTS.

IT SEEMS LIKE A DEATH SPIRAL.

YOU'RE TRYING TO GET MORE RIDERS BUT THEY'RE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING MORE DRIVERS.

I KNOW THEY ARE BOOSTING THE PAY BUT IF YOU GET SERVICE CUTS, THEN YOU CAN'T RELY ON RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE PROBLEM WOULD BE IN THAT SPACE TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CARS BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S NOT A VIABLE OPTION TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO SO WERE LOOKING AT PRETTY UM SEVERE CUTS AT THIS POINT AND OTHER ROUTES WOULD BECOME MORE FREQUENT BUT ROUTES WOULD GO AWAY AND WE WOULD LOSE HIM WE CAN SERVICE.

>> YOUR ARTICLE, THIS ROUTE, THIS ROUTE, AND I KEPT GOING.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> THAT IS A LOT OF ROUTES.

>> IT IS A LOT.

THEY CALCULATE THE SPOUSAL WHICH ONES HAVE THE LEAST RIDERSHIP, WHICH ONCE IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO CUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM.

ALL THOSE CUTS ADD UP, AND IT IS IRONIC ALSO, THIS IS THE SAME TIME WERE WORKING ON PUTTING IN A NEW RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY STATION DOWNTOWN.

WHO WILL USE THAT?

>> THIS DIRE FOR FOLKS WHO NEED TO GET TO WORK AND TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE.

WE LOOK AT LOW RIDERSHIP, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITING IT AND PEOPLE WHOSE PUBLIC TRANSIT, THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO USE IT AND DON'T HAVE ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET AROUND.

CUTS TO THIS WILL BE DRASTIC NOT ONLY TO PEOPLE'S LIVES, BUT TOWARDS THE OVERALL MOBILITY FOR FOLKS MOVING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET AROUND THE STATE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION.

THE WAY WE HAVE HANDLED PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE STATE, ESPECIALLY THE CUTS AND THE MOVE TO RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND TRANSIT AS ESTATE AND HOW TO IMPROVE IT COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> YOU KNOW ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH RIDERSHIP IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND DON'T WORK IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE, AND FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO LIVES IN THE EAST BAY, WHO FOR DECADES HAS COMMUTED FOR MY JOB OR FOR THE FOLKS WHO WORK IN MANUFACTURING WHO HAVE TO GET TO LINCOLN OR PLACES LIKE THAT WHERE THERE ARE MANUFACTURING JOBS THERE IS NO WAY OTHER THAN DRIVING THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

>> IT WOULD DOUBLE THE TIME.

>> IT WOULD TRIPLE THE TIME.

[CROSSTALK] >> I COULD RIDE MY BICYCLE FROM MY HOUSE IN THE EAST BAY FASTER THAN I COULD TAKE A BUS, RIGHT?

YOU RISK YOUR LIFE TRYING TO RIDE YOUR BICYCLE OVER THERE.

>> THERE HE IS ON 99.

[LAUGHTER] >> I KNOW.

SO, I DON'T KNOW THAT BUSES CAN BE THE ANSWER GIVEN WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO GET IS SCATTERED ALL OVER THE STATE AND TO HAVE THE COVERAGE THAT YOU NEED AND THE TIMELINESS YOU WOULD NEED WOULD REQUIRE SUCH A MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO PLACES WHERE WE DON'T EVEN CONSIDER IT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK IT IS FEASIBLE.

THE PROBLEM IS WE WERE BUILT WHEN CARS WAS THE WAY TO GET AROUND EVERYWHERE AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WALK IT BACK.

I DON'T KNOW LIGHT RAIL, IF WE COULD AFFORD THE COST OF DOING IT, COULD GIVE US THE SOLUTION WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY ULTIMATELY NEED TO GET TO.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE REASONING AS TO WHY INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT CUTS, I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING CONSIDERING THE ISSUE AROUND TRANSIT IS THAT WHICH IS WHY WOULD SOMEONE TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT LIKE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO WORK IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM LONGER ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE DIFFERENT DELAYS.

WE SEEM TO BE A MODEL THAT WORKS FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCREASING THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH WE HAVE DIFFERENT BUSES BEING ABLE TO GO THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT CITIES AND TOWNS IN WHICH RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY HAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONE SINGULAR PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY TO ACTUALLY REALLY SPAN ACROSS STATEWIDE AND MAKE IT CONGRUENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET TO OUTRAGEOUS AND/OR KUDOS.

DID YOU COME UP WITH ONE?

YOU HAD 20 MINUTES TO THINK ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH, I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT SINCE THIS MORNING.

>> WOW.

THAT IS PREPARATION.

>>>> I AM STRUGGLING WITH KUDOS.

I HAVE A BACKUP KUDO.

MY BACKUP KUDO IS THIS, I GOT A LICENSE PLATE AND I HAVE A BURNING BOAT ON MY CAR AND IT IS THE GREATEST THING EVER.

WHAT WE SHOULD GET, WE SHOULD LOSE THE WAVES ON OUR LICENSE PLATE, AND EVERY RHODE ISLANDERS SHOULD HAVE THE BURNING BOAT ON THEIR CAR.

THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE BETTER THINGS WE COULD DO.

[CROSSTALK] >> YOU COULD HAVE THE BURNING BOAT AND LISTEN TO THE "ALL THAT" ON TRACK IN THE MORNING AND IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN CAFFEINE.

THERE IS KEN BLOCK RIDING HIS BICYCLE GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR.

[LAUGHTER] WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

>> I WROTE ABOUT THIS RECENTLY AND IT HAS BEEN COVERED A LOT, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE BUILT IN THE 1800S BUILT IN PAWTUCKET, A VERY VISIBLE LANDMARK IN THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH HAS NEGLECTED IT AND LET IT DECAY FOR DECADES NOW.

IT IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND THEY'RE SAYING WE HAVE TO TEAR DOWN.

THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET OFFERED THEM $500,000 JUST TOWARDS THE COST, GRANT, NOT ALONE, TOWARDS FIXING IT UP.

THEY SAID NO WAY.

WE WANT TO TEAR IT DOWN.

THEY WERE ASKING CAN SOMEONE BIDE THIS AND BUILD HOUSING?

AGAIN, NO.

IT IS A VERY FRESHMAN SITUATION.

>> THAT IS WEIRD.

WHAT IS YOUR OUTRAGE?

>> THE ONGOING DEBATE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I THINK THE SENATE PASSING THE REFORM REALLY DOES NOT DO AN ACCURATE R REPRESENTATION OF THE TURMOIL GOING ON IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND LAWMAKERS DISCUSSING WHAT IS THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY AND I THINK PROPOSED REFORMS WITHIN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATORS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED.

>> SO THE SENATE PASSED IT LAST YEAR.

-- WAS IT NOT?

SO WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON THE GROUND.

I HEARD A COMMITMENT FROM BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, WE WILL GET THIS DONE EARLY.

WELL, BUT HERE WE ARE IN MID FEBRUARY AND ALL YOU HAVE HAD IS A SENATE HEARING.

>> YOU HAD A HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> YOU HAVE A HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> BUT FOR FOLKS WHO TUNED IN, FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS, THE COMMITTEE GRILLED THE REFORM BILLS IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY FELL SHORT, WHAT IS ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN IT, AND REALLY DID NOT HAVE ANY GOOD ANSWERS ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE UNIONS IN WHICH THEY GAVE.

I THINK THE TWO BIGGEST ISSUES ON ADDRESSING THESE REFORM BILLS ARE THE BACKPAY ISSUE IN WHICH WE SAW WITH OFFICER DOLAN, AND THEN THE COOLING-OFF PERIOD IN WHICH OFFICERS GET MULTIPLE MONTHS TO JUST SIT AT HOME WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEIR HEARING.

THOSE TWO ISSUES ARE THE BIGGER ISSUES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT HAVE YET TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH LEGISLATION.

>> TO BE CONTINUED.

THANK YOU, FOLKS.

IT WAS A PACKED WEEK THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

HEY, MAYBE THEY WILL HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE THIS TIME NEXT WEEK?

THAT IS WISHFUL THINKING.

EITHER WAY, WE WILL BE HERE FOR A FULL RECAP AND ANALYSIS.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE BACK NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪ ♪ ♪ >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> HI.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.