EDITORIAL: Central Falls - Let’s Merge It
Monday, May 24, 2010
It is time to end the pain and start the first step in regionalization in Rhode Island – merge Central Falls into another community.
Central Falls is now broke, under federal investigation for corruption, and nationally known for being called out by President Obama for its failed schools. Sadly, those troubles are only some of the issues.
Central Falls
Google Central Falls and you’ll find that its consistent claims to fame are that it is the answer to a Ripley’s Believe It or Not trivia question. We don’t mean to minimize that the town was part of the Industrial Revolution, and that it was an important part of Rhode Island manufacturing history or that it was a springboard community to many Rhode Island families immigrating to America and to a better life. But keeping it as its own little financial hell only works to stigmatize homeowners, students and the future.
With less than 5,000 families living in the “city,” Central Falls is now in a catastrophic situation – hundreds of houses are boarded up, while many more houses in the town are “underwater,” where the value of the home is less than the amount owed on the property.
There is nothing wrong with the people of Central Falls and there is nothing wrong with its history – a history that can endure as a section of Lincoln or Pawtucket. Today, the city is in financial decay. Residents are hard pressed to make an investment in their homes as it will be decades (if ever) for the town to rebound and homeowners to recoup their investments. Even the rosiest future would allow the city to recover to what? Rhode Island’s poorest town, with no land, and with no resources for future development.
High School
Let’s get some of the facts out to try and combat any perceptions. Central Falls has less than 20,000 residents and they are shoehorned into a space of 1.3 square miles.
Central Falls was once anchored by a range of manufacturing companies – but now only a fraction remain.
By every measure the city is one of the poorest, or the poorest. Median household income is approximately half that of the average RI family. The poverty rate for children in Central Falls is 40.9%, or nearly three times the RI average of 16.9%, according to Kids Count. Other cities and towns in Rhode Island have opportunity – they can attract new companies, potentially expand their tax base, and stabilize their economic condition. Central Falls realistically cannot.
The merging of Central Falls does not need to be a negative.
It can become a section of another city or town just like Rumford is to East Providence or Slatersville is to North Smithfield. The schools can keep their names and the residents would benefit from a broader tax base that protects them and creates a future. For Rhode Island, for Central Falls – lets merge the city and create a better opportunity.
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Comments:
John Ghiorse
7:32am on Monday, May 24, 2010
This all sounds good and rational but, realistically, what other city or town is going to want to take on the "burden" of Central Falls' economic and social problems especially in these near disastrous economic times for the state?
TOM LETOURNEAU
8:10am on Monday, May 24, 2010
I am writing in reference to this Commentary and also the one that has been sent out to subscribers and posted on the website http://www.golocalprov.com - "Is it Time to Abolish Central Falls""
What one has to realize here and was also pointed out, recently, in an editorial of another publication: "New England, with ancient (by U.S. standards) town and city boundaries, many established in the 17th Century, famously has many towns and cities whose acreage is so small as to seem preposterous to residents in other, newer parts of America!"
Now, taking the above fact into consideration, may I further point out that Rogue's Island IS THE ONLY STATE in the entire USA with absolutely no form of 'County Government' - rather we have 39-little empires that really are too big for their own good!
And, within those 39-little empires we also have an additional 36-empires... that being our money-grubbing school districts.
That also means that we have 36-Superintendents, at least 36-Assistant Superintendents, 36-Personnel Managers, 36-Business/Finance Directors (these on top of the City/Town also having its Finance Director)...and we also 36-Special Ed Directors, 36-Asst. Special Ed Directors, staffs of thousands, etc., etc., etc.
Now...get this!
There are, around the country, at least 100-County School Districts that have a total student population greater the the entire student population then exists within the entire State of Rogue's Island!!!
Think about that for a moment, my fellow Rhode Islanders.....and also think about the excessive costs - especially 'Personnel Costs' - 'Costs for Salary" - 'Costs for Benefits' - 'Health Care Costs' - 'Pension Costs' - (Ah, yes...Especially Pension Costs) - all of which could be very easily eliminated, as easily as flicking off a light switch (Estimated $50-Million Dollar Saving) if we would just wake-up some day and realize what is is that we have, what it is costing us....vs. what it is we could have!!!
And, may I also point out that within these 36-Educational Statewide Empires, from within them we have approximately 26-Teachers, Principals, School Administrators, Union Goons and Thugs that are elected officials serving (if the word serving is correct? - Stealing would be more like it) as Representatives and Senators, within the Legislature, wherein they keep this monster and their little empires thriving!
And, then they tell us "We need to spend more money - because it's all for the kids!"
If you believe that...I have a Bridge in Brooklyn For Sale I'd like to talk to you about!
Natalie Bassett
2:39pm on Monday, May 24, 2010
This is such an interesting idea... I've been following these stories about Central Falls and trying to see past the short-term into some kind of solution. Maybe this is it.
Is there any precedent for this in Rhode Island?