Candidates for Lieutenant Governor

Question: Given these facts, would you as Lieutenant Governor ensure permanent state funding for affordable housing and homelessness prevention?  As governor what would you do to address the current emergency winter shelter crisis?

Healey:     Rhode Island’s increasing number of homeless is an indication of the dire situation of our people.  Without adequate economic development and with a declining economy, more and more people faced housing concerns.

The Lt. Governor of Rhode Island is literally powerless to enact any program.

Under law, however, the Lt. Governor has been given a statutory power to appoint 2 members to the Commission on the Homeless (RI General Law 40-17-1 et seq.).

It appears from public records of the Secretary of State, the Lt. Governor has failed to make these appointments (and, apparently, has not encouraged the committee to meet).  According to the Secretary of State’s office that keeps appointment records, the last appointment to the Commission on the Homeless was made by Lt. Governor Licht.

While we can all “talk” about the needs of the people, action is required.

As Lt. Governor, I would not take compensation or hire a staff.  This would free up $1 million in the budget each and every year.  This money could be used for programs that are more active in benefiting the real needs of Rhode Islanders.

I support the use of money to provide actual help to Rhode Islanders instead of paying for a Lt. Governor to talk about the need to “get people together” to “talk and advise” and to “devise real solutions”.  Use the money where it is needed.  Action, not talk, would go farther to reduce the homeless problem.

If, for example, we use the numbers in your background statement, the $1 million saved from not having a Lt. Governor’s office for affordable housing, could produce about $16 million of economic activity for the state.  Or, we could spend a million a year to just talk about it.

People are in need and yet we waste $1million.  Is this good government?  I think not.

While it is clear that the housing problem relates to the lack of economic activity, the misuse of public funds instead of addressing the needs of the people should be considered intolerable.

As Lt. Governor, I would not take a pay or hire a staff to provide “talk”.  I would return my budgeted funds to be reallocated.  I can advocate for the homeless without taking a pay.

Roberts: One of the great things about the holding the office of Lt. Governor is the ability it gives me to bring attention to issues that others brush under the rug. I have worked tirelessly to be sure that all Rhode Island families have access to affordable health care, that small businesses are able to get the support they need to continue to operate, and grow.

Similarly we must do what we can to bring attention to the fact that too many families are left out in the harsh New England winters.  This is why last Saturday I spoke at the start of the Shelter Walk a 3-mile walk in which proceeds are donated to the Woonsocket Homeless Shelter, one of the state’s largest homeless and transitional housing programs.

I have visited many of the affordable housing units for seniors, and families, throughout the state like D’Evan Manor in Cranston and Carroll Tower in Providence.  I know that without those units, too many seniors would be out on the street – a fact that is unacceptable. As Lt. Governor, I will continue to do all I can to make sure all Rhode Islanders have access to the right information about these great programs to be sure that none are left out on the cold.
Venturini: No response.