PASSED: Question 4, $125M bond for College of Engineering

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 10 years ago

Election Day, November 4th will be a critical day for URI, as a bond issue will go up before voters to approve a $125 million bond that will create a new 195,000 square foot College of Engineering building and renovate existing facilities. It's going to be critical for us, as friends URI, to be passionate and informative when it comes to this issue to make sure it's passed.

http://engineering4ri.com/

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

OMG, if this has any problem passing, Rhode Islanders truly are some of the dumbest in the nation when it comes to appreciating the positive effect a strong university can have on local economy. Look at all the local companies who endorse this. No Brainer!

Puck Frovidence · Unread post by **Puck Frovidence** » 10 years ago

YES ON 4!

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 10 years ago

Has to be yes.

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 10 years ago

We win for having misinformed and uneducated voters in this state. These people put Governor Moonbeam in office.

Having this pass will be crucial for the state's economy. I just hope the folks in the northern part of the state get it.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaki ... cility.ece

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 10 years ago

I think this is going to be much closer than it should be. I posted something about this on Facebook today and one of my friends who graduated from URI and lives in Newport absolutely trashed the idea. "URI doesn't need another $125 million. Another waste." "Don't dump MORE money into that sinkhole called URI."

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 10 years ago

RhowdyRam02 wrote:I think this is going to be much closer than it should be. I posted something about this on Facebook today and one of my friends who graduated from URI and lives in Newport absolutely trashed the idea. "URI doesn't need another $125 million. Another waste." "Don't dump MORE money into that sinkhole called URI."

We have, by far, the most ignorant residents of any state in the country. When people think ignorance, most of think Mississippi or Arkansas. But nope, Little Rhody sets the standard for American ignorance.

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 10 years ago

Taylor Swift wrote:We win for having misinformed and uneducated voters in this state. These people put Governor Moonbeam in office.

Having this pass will be crucial for the state's economy. I just hope the folks in the northern part of the state get it.

It isn't really a region thing, both the Chemistry and Pharmacy building bonds had much higher approval percentages in Providence than South Kingstown. I think the suburban and rural communities have more voters concerned with the state's debt (and rightly so) but unfortunately many of those voters look at Higher Ed bonds as just more wasteful spending.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 10 years ago

BFC wrote:
Taylor Swift wrote:We win for having misinformed and uneducated voters in this state. These people put Governor Moonbeam in office.

Having this pass will be crucial for the state's economy. I just hope the folks in the northern part of the state get it.
It isn't really a region thing, both the Chemistry and Pharmacy building bonds had much higher approval percentages in Providence than South Kingstown. I think the suburban and rural communities have more voters concerned with the state's debt (and rightly so) but unfortunately many of those voters look at Higher Ed bonds as just more wasteful spending.

Voters should be concerned about the state's debt, but investing in education - particularly higher education - is a longterm solution to the state's fiscal woes. There are a lot of things Rhode Island wastes money on, but higher ed isn't one of them. We drastically underspend. It is simply shortsightedness; the same shortsightedness that creates an unwelcoming environment for business.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Frightening ignorance in the Projo comments for that piece. No surprise.

Mother in law was questioning whether we should have $125/150M but she has NO idea that the existing facilities are from the 50s and 60s, before she was even old enough to attend college!

"And they want to have a privately run hotel too?!? All the pimps and drug dealers will operate from there!!"

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

It wasn't necessarily a northern vs southern split nor Democrat vs Republican or even rural/suburban vs urban. To me it seemed that the educational level of the resident played a big part. The last big bond for URI in 2010 for the chem building passed in most communities (won statewide with 55%). The exceptions were towns such as Woonsocket, North Smithfield, Burrillville, Glocester, Foster, West Warwick, Coventry, Hopkinton, West Greenwich, and Tiverton.
Link:
http://www.ri.gov/election/results/2010 ... s/502.html

November 9, 2006 — Thirty-eight of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns approved the higher education bond issue that will provide $65 million for a new College of Pharmacy building at the University of Rhode Island.
Link:
http://web.uri.edu/pharmacy/2006/11/09/ ... -building/

Fiascos like 38 Studios may unfortunately make voters very wary of anything put forth by the politicians.

OBRAM · Unread post by **OBRAM** » 10 years ago

Amazing, URI needs a bond issue for any of these project, but the Dunk, which was owned by the corrupt City of Providence gets bought and fixed over by the state and there is no bond issue for about the same as the new Engineering Bond 4. Well, hopefully this will win, but I think the 6 digit price tag might turn people away. But voters would have not reluctance approving the same money for Bike Paths. Why have engineering jobs, when you can get a job selling hot dogs at the Dunk?

Many people confuse spending for Higher Ed in RI, which ranks almost the lowest in the country, with spending on Primary and Secondary Ed, which is among the highest.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

OBRAM wrote:Amazing, URI needs a bond issue for any of these project, but the Dunk, which was owned by the corrupt City of Providence gets bought and fixed over by the state and there is no bond issue for about the same as the new Engineering Bond 4. Well, hopefully this will win, but I think the 6 digit price tag might turn people away. But voters would have not reluctance approving the same money for Bike Paths. Why have engineering jobs, when you can get a job selling hot dogs at the Dunk?

Many people confuse spending for Higher Ed in RI, which ranks almost the lowest in the country, with spending on Primary and Secondary Ed, which is among the highest.

I don't get the whole bond issue for URI. The Ryan Center was not built with a voter approved bond question. The pharmacy and chem buildings were. The SADC and improvements to Meade was put to a vote and rejected. As you alluded to, the DDC project was purchased and renovated without a bond. Why is it that bonds seem to be needed for most every project at URI while it isn't for other things in RI. I don't think UConn and UMass-Amherst projects have to go the voters in their states. Can someone please explain the rationale in RI.

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 10 years ago

I believe Gereral Obligation Bonds have to be voted on by the public, General Obligation Bonds are guaranteed to be paid back with tax revenue. The other bonds are revenue bonds, which are supposed to be paid back with the revenue generated by the particular state agency (ex.: Transportation Authority, Water Authority, Conv. Center Authority, EDC, etc.)

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 10 years ago

TruePoint wrote:
RhowdyRam02 wrote:I think this is going to be much closer than it should be. I posted something about this on Facebook today and one of my friends who graduated from URI and lives in Newport absolutely trashed the idea. "URI doesn't need another $125 million. Another waste." "Don't dump MORE money into that sinkhole called URI."
We have, by far, the most ignorant residents of any state in the country. When people think ignorance, most of think Mississippi or Arkansas. But nope, Little Rhody sets the standard for American ignorance.

Totally. It's disgusting. We have enough pizza places, nail salons, barber shops, and ice cream places per capita. I guess engineering and education aren't important.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaki ... school.ece

Maineiac66 · Unread post by **Maineiac66** » 10 years ago

Taylor Swift:

I must respectively disagree with your comment about Rhode Island having the most misinformed and uneducated voters. Most corrupt, maybe but the voters of Maine would give Rhode Island a good run for the money in the those two catagories. Maine citizens are generally honest but have a high stupidity factor.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 10 years ago

Maine may have less formal education than Rhode Island (stress may; I don't know that to be true), but there is no way Maine is as backwards and self-loathing and dead set on doing every possible thing to make sure they stay that way as Rhode Islanders are. I am sure Mainers, if given the opportunity, would see the value in investing in higher education and their state's economy whether they are themselves college graduates or not. Rhode Islanders are so logic defyingly stupid on just about every matter that they ever get to vote on you'd almost think they were doing it on purpose to prove a point. (Which point? Nobody knows.....)

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Fortunately, most higher ed bond issues pass. I hope this one does.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 10 years ago

Wow, I was angry this morning!

I hope you're right, Rod. I asked my father which way he felt the wind was blowing on it, and he expects it to pass. It just shouldn't even be a question. It definitely aggravates me.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 10 years ago

The deadline to register to vote passed already. Today at 4 pm is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot. Here is the link to follow for the application:

http://sos.ri.gov/documents/elections/E-1.pdf

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

The Projo comes out in support:

http://www.providencejournal.com/opinio ... tion-4.ece

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

Heard a radio commercial today in support on 103.7.

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 10 years ago

The South County Independent's editorial this week was in favor of the bond, and pretty much all of the candidates running for election down here are supporting it as well. I'm not sure if Brown or another polling place has done anything on it, but it seems like it'll be approved.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

The General Assembly leaders came out today in support of the bond via an editorial piece in the Projo:

http://www.providencejournal.com/opinio ... conomy.ece

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Oh man... anyone see the typical ignorant comment at the bottom of the Projo story above? I had to set them straight.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

ATPTourFan wrote:Oh man... anyone see the typical ignorant comment at the bottom of the Projo story above? I had to set them straight.

It sure would be news to the basketball and football coaches that they get paid MILLIONS.

Besides, as mentioned many times before, the state contributes only about 9% of the operating budget at URI. Very little taxpayer money goes to operating expenses. URI funds over 90%.

Ignorant poster on Projo. There is something he doesn't like so his inclination is to be against a totally unrelated issue which would help spur the local economy. Classic cutting off the nose to spite the face syndrome. Rhode Islanders are a strange breed. They don't seem to want to take action to make things better or in many cases want things better. They seem to be a defeatist pessismistic self loathing bunch that is generally accepting of low standards.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 10 years ago

It seems to have support on the right from business owners and chambers of commerce and now support on the left from the members of the General Assembly. It also seems to be universally approved by editorial boards on papers throughout the state. You'd like to think that's enough to push it through, but I won't feel good about it until late Election night.

Rhody74 · Unread post by **Rhody74** » 10 years ago

Unfortunately, many voters just give a knee-jerk reaction such as the Projo posters. Let's hope the near universal support from business, political and media leaders outnumbers the knowledge-impaired.

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 10 years ago

ATPTourFan wrote:Oh man... anyone see the typical ignorant comment at the bottom of the Projo story above? I had to set them straight.

I am so sick of the uneducated and misinformed idiots who make stupid comments like that. Obviously this guy doesn't know ANYTHING. I can just imagine the idiots showing up to vote that day and selecting "no". I guess they'd rather have RI filled with people who work as Walmart cashiers.

I really hope that #4 passes.

I "liked" your comment, ATP. haha

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 10 years ago

ATP, I don't see your reply, I only see the one from clownshoes and one from a Gladys Dixon

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 10 years ago

So when is the spaghetti and meatball dinner for this? In Rhode Island, we only vote for whoever has the best free meal.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Grrr....typical ignorant comments.
I nailed them, and so did ATP and Scott Breault.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

rod, I am Scott

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

I know. I've met you a few times.
Didn't want to give away someone's identity, unless
I knew it was OK.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

I don't mind

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 10 years ago

I appreciate the general assembly's support here, but many of the points they make about why URI needs a new engineering building could be made about everything at URI. It's time the state's flagship university is treated as such.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

Tomorrow is election day.

Remember to get out to vote and make certain you check YES on 4 on your ballot. Do not skip the referendum questions as many do.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 10 years ago

I live out of state but have tried to do my part by calling friends and family reminding them to vote. I also posted a plea on Facebook for people to do their part and support their state university and the economic future of Rhode Island. If you have a few minutes to do the same it can't hurt.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

The sick part of putting this to a vote is that I read over 400k was spent to promote passage. That is 400k that could have actually been better spent on the building itself. The way RI operates is just wrong. The state is its own worst enemy.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Yep... it should have just been "naturally" passed via the General Assembly. Obnoxious to even put something as obviously necessary to a referendum vote. As if it's even an option?!?!?

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 10 years ago

I think general obligation bonds should have to get voter approval.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

BFC wrote:I think general obligation bonds should have to get voter approval.

So you are perfectly ok with 400K being thrown away (paid to printers and media outlets) to promote passage?

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 10 years ago

RF1 wrote:
BFC wrote:I think general obligation bonds should have to get voter approval.

So you are perfectly ok with 400K being thrown away (paid to printers and media outlets) to promote passage?

Obviously I wish Dooley and the supporters didn't feel the need to spend that money because public support for this item was a given, but they didn't feel confident and chose to spend it. I don't think giving the General Assembly the power to borrow money against future tax revenue anytime they want is a better option and I don't think the Office of Higher Ed. having to issue a revenue bond which would have to be paid back with future URI revenue is a better option either. Yes it would be nice if URI was so flush with cash that they could take care of these things themselves without it significantly impacting future budgets but that's not happening in any of our lifetimes. Given the current state of things, a general obigation bond is the best option.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

There has to be a better way. I don't believe this process is used in neighboring MA and CT for new buildings at UMass and UConn.

I find it absolutely ridiculous that hundreds of thousands of dollars is used for ballot promotion rather than bricks and mortar. This is an ass backwards way of operating.

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 10 years ago

RF1 wrote:There has to be a better way. I don't believe this process is used in neighboring MA and CT for new buildings at UMass and UConn.

I find it absolutely ridiculous that hundreds of thousands of dollars is used for ballot promotion rather than bricks and mortar. This is an ass backwards way of operating.

Both use revenue bonds. I think Conn. then allocates money to the university system to make the bond payments or something like that. UMass has to pay their own bonds or the majority of it anyway. RI isn't the only state that issues general obligation bonds for university construction but it does seem to be becoming less common. I think URI is better off keeping the debt out of their budget until the public university support mindset in this state changes but that's just my opinion.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 10 years ago

My guess is that the cost of the campaign to push passage may have been built into the total amount to be bonded.....

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

Ramulous wrote:My guess is that the cost of the campaign to push passage may have been built into the total amount to be bonded.....

I would not think that is the case. What would happen if it went down to defeat?

My thinking is that this money was raised by friends of URI (alumni foundation, business, etc..). It likely would have gone directly to construction costs had it not been for this foolish process. This money has to be spent because it is no sure bet that this bond will pass. It is the first state election since the 38 Studios fiasco and voters trust RI politicians even less these days.