Schoolyard Dust Up – John J. “Jack” Partridge

by John J. “Jack” Partridge, contributing writer, commentary

I read the account in the Providence Journal as to the Governor’s press conference announcing the finalists for the Washington Bridge construction and felt compelled to find and llisten to it in full  . It seems the relationship of the Governor and Attorney general has deteriorated  into a schoolyard fight that is harmful to the state. The AG doesn’t trust the Governor and has forgotten that his client is the state and all of our varied interests, and that the people elected the Governor to lead us, for better or worse. The Governor doesn’t trust the RI State Police for an interview because the Governor believes that the AG controls that department and wants his job.

We are at the  point when their mutual antagonism is interfering with the administration of the bridge project. Like two kids in a sandbox fight, they prefer to throw sand into the other’s face to score political points and fail in their duties to the public to cooperate and keep each other informed of where they are in the issues that concern the public, and communicate with us and appropriate state and local officials.  Did the governor really refuse to meet with the the State Police, as reported, because he thinks it is run by the AG, who wants his job? That’s what he said. And do they both admit that they don’t confer on the lawsuit run by the AG against bridge contractors when the Governor is counting on damages to be paid by defendants to be part of the funding for the bridge’s rising reconstruction costs?

We don’t need political claptrap from either.

 For shame, gentlemen. The public deserves better.

The situation is not helped by the miserable job they are both doing in communications as to all aspects of the demolition, reconstruction, litigation and financing. Your political brawl doesn’t gain either of you any points with the voters.  it just gives rise only to more distrust and “only in Rhode Island” comments that hurt our public and self image.

There is traffic on the recently damaged Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and Rhode Island remains in turmoil. And what happened to the forensic audit we were promised? Fuhgeddaboudit!  Instead we sue 13 companies, and hope for an answer?

And we ask, is the East Side of the bridge really safe, as traffic doubles over the span? Who do we trust to tell us, the RI DOT? Or, one of the consultants that the state is suing?

No wonder Hasbro is seeking to find another locale. Who would they trust in state government when the leadership in our state government is so fragmented, and seemingly has turned on itself in a blame game. Get the sand out of your eyes, and please get to work.

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