Tell President Trump to End HUD's AFFH Destruction of Private Property Rights

PRARI has not given up the fight against the federal law that removes local zoning authority. The liberals and the state planning department in RI continue to move RhodeMapRI forward by providing tax credits to their cronies and forcing you to pay for your neighbor’s property taxes.
However, there is some hope with U.S. Senator Mike Lee. Lee is going to work with a Republican majority in the House and Senate, a Republican Executive branch, and with any luck, Dr. Ben Carson as HUD secretary, to attack the outrageous power HUD has given to local elected officials and administrators who accept federal money - the power to ignore your local zoning laws and the power to force you to subsidize others in your neighborhood.
Included here is a link to sign a petition supporting his efforts to stop the social engineering of our neighborhoods by halting both the implementation and funding of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. Please pass it along to your family and friends to sign!
In the past we explained how AFFH would impact our RI neighborhoods, how it would come to fruition in RI through RhodeMapRI. Speaker Mattiello told you RhodeMapRI would be ‘shelved’. Take a look at the projects and giveaways below. Speaker Mattiello knows full well that RhodeMapRI and its destructive forces were not shelved.
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley RI: Mixed-Use Developments
Heritage Place, Woonsocket
Clocktower Apartments, Burrillville
ArTech Hub, Woonsocket
Greenridge, Burrillville
3 projects seeking Rebuild R.I. tax credits
Prospect Heights, 560 Prospect St., Pawtucket
Union Trust Company Building, 170 Westminster St., Providence
78 Fountain St., Providence
Rhode Island Housing Awards LIHTCs to 3 Projects
"Rhode Island Housing has awarded more than $2.5 million in low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs) to three developments as part of its 2015 round: Greenridge Apartments development by NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley in Burrillville, the Revitalize SouthSide development by SWAP, Inc., in Providence, and Amherst Gardens by Olneyville Housing Corp. in Olneyville."
Raimondo Announces New Construction Projects
"Governor Gina M. Raimondo and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Board of Directors last evening approved incentive agreements for over $9 million in tax credits and grant funding [YOUR MONEY] to spur new construction and support research and development."
Why would a developer want to build mixed-use, high density affordable housing? If it is affordable, how can they profit??
ANSWER:
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX CREDITS that can be used to offset ANY tax bill.
Millions of YOUR TAX DOLLARS given to developers to subsidized housing you have NO RIGHT to question.
And not only will developers profit from this scheme, they will be able to determine where they might profit the most, without concern for local zoning.
Page 123 of the RhodeMap "Economic Development Plan"
"Adopt mixed-use development zoning which incorporates village-like amenities, services, and housing options for a mixed-age, mixed-income residential population, and includes by-right multi-family or other denser housing models for rural and suburban centers."
The phrase "by-right development" not only implies statewide "on-demand" approvals in favor of developers, but such developments may soon contain forced local property tax breaks subsidized by local residents, not the State of RI. Such property tax breaks paid for by local residents was already attempted in 2015 under House Bill H6107A, and is expected to be pushed again in the future.
In other words, without ANY say from you and your neighbors, Gina Raimondo and the rest of the Establishment in Rhode Island want construction development companies to build and expand mixed-use, high density housing anywhere they want without your approval.
Do you think you'll have a choice?
From RI Planning, April 28 2015:
"The decision to make a local inclusionary housing ordinance mandatory or voluntary is an important one. Based on discussions with planners and developers, it seems clear that voluntary programs are FAR LESS LIKELY TO BE USED. Therefore, the policy recommendation is for mandatory provisions that are triggered by a certain threshold."
Attend Today's Anti-RhodeMap Hearing
It has been called the most dangerous policy agenda in Rhode Island. Now is your chance to fight back against the unelected bureaucrats. Today, at the Rhode Island State House, there will be a hearing on special legislation to exempt certain towns from the RhodeMap RI agenda. This legislation is an important first step to untangling our state from the RhodeMap RI web. Our elected official will listen when you speak out.
Read moreWhat the RI Division of Planning HAS NOT TOLD YOU about RhodeMap RI

RhodeMap RI & Transfer of Development Rights Analysis Videos
RhodeMap RI and the Transfer of Development Rights documents are long and complicated, yet everyone in Rhode Island must make every effort to understand them due to the huge impact both have on the future of our state.
The video above will help RI citizens understand these plans by citing key quotes throughout both documents and then explaining their relevance and effect on our lives. The citizens of PRARI urge all Rhode Islanders to watch this video as soon as possible due to the urgent nature of taking action against these plans.
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Sal Carceller's analysis of Rhode Map RI where he answers the questions, is this plan is a economic recovery plan? Who's plan is it? Was it planned by RI citizens and businesses?
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Local expert on RhodeMap RI Gary Morse's presentation on Rhodemap RI for members of PRARI [Property Rights Alliance of Rhode Island]:
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Mike Stenhouse spoke at the RhodeMap RI public forum in North Kingstown, RI.
RhodeMap RI Analysis
RhodeMap RI:
1. Pg. 2:
" This Economic Development Plan was prepared as part of RhodeMap RI, a coordinated, long range planning effort led by the RI Division of Planning. The project was funded under a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Conclusion: If HUD is funding the study, it is clear they have goals in mind when it comes to its conclusions. Obviously, this plan is not a home-grown attempt at economic development.
2. Pg. 17:
" The Consortium was the decision-making body of RhodeMap RI."
Conclusion: Not a single member of the Consortium has a degree in economics, yet they are the decision makers for this "economic plan." There must be an ulterior motive well beyond a better economy in RI.
3. Pg. 82 & 115:
Under "Opportunity Mapping":
Pg. 82; "The opportunity index includes five broad categories: Education, Health and Environment, Economy, Transportation and Mobility, and Housing and Neighborhoods. Each of these broad categories of opportunity, in turn, is comprised of a series of individual indicators which are scored and aggregated by census tract. The resulting score for each individual category, as well as a composite of all categories, can be mapped in a color coded fashion to display a “gradient” of opportunity across census tracts . . . From a statewide perspective, those areas that show the highest access to opportunity are those generally thought of as the more affluent parts of the state. In some cases, these areas of high opportunity cover most or all of an individual municipality."
Coupled with:
Pg. 115; the widespread dominance of single family homes played an enormous role in creating an income and equity gradient across Rhode Island. Lower income populations, predominantly people of color, generally had no affordable housing options outside of the urban core communities, while more affluent households could choose from a wide range of more expensive choices. This pattern of segregation contributes significantly to many of the socioeconomic challenges examined more deeply under Goal 2 of this plan."
Cite: Goal 2; Foster an inclusive economy that targets opportunity to typically underserved populations.
Conclusion: RhodeMap RI planners decided that people who have earned enough wealth to purchase a single family home have played a role in segregating minorities in society. Does the plan cite any proof of this? No, it only expresses an opinion as if it is fact in order to justify its use of force against citizens who have done nothing wrong.
4. Pg. 116 & 117
Pg. 116; "The economic pressures on landowners, combined with the limited opportunities of traditional zoning, contribute to a haphazard, sprawling pattern of development. Interestingly, when reading many local Comprehensive Plans, this pattern of development is at odds with a town’s goals to protect rural character and quality of life while encouraging appropriate economic development. It also works against elements of the State Guide Plan, including Land Use 2025, and the desire for more concentrated growth center development."
Coupled with:
Pg. 117; "Challenges related to public transit and housing in these areas can be addressed, at least in part, by continuing to aggressively pursue a robust growth centers program."
Conclusion: The RhodeMap RI planners obviously see privacy by way of land ownership as a problem and wish to force people into concentrated living conditions. They also cite their own futuristic plan for citizen living conditions as being impeded by the "haphazard sprawling" of life in a single family home.
5. Pg. 120 & 121
120; " Consider exempting Growth Centers from the state’s tax levy cap to remove disincentives for public and private investment."
121; " The statute assumes growth would occur first and then necessitate infrastructure investment, when in fact substantial growth might not be able to take place without first making the public investment in infrastructure to accommodate desired growth.
"The recommendation from this economic development plan is to revisit this issue and add designated Growth Centers to the list of exemptions for the tax levy cap."
Conclusion: Removing tax caps that protect taxpayers with further expansion of corporatism in our society will not somehow generate economic growth in society. The obvious fact is that risks should be taken only by those willing to make them, not forced upon every taxpaying family in the state.
6. Pg. 122
"Adopt mixed-use development zoning which incorporates village-like amenities, services, and housing options for a mixed-age, mixed-income residential population, and includes by-right multi-family or other denser housing models for rural and suburban centers."
Clarification/Definition: By right development refers to projects that are permitted under their current zoning and do not require any legislative action by the Board of Supervisors or the Board of Zoning Appeals. They are approved administratively and do not require public hearings.
Conclusion: The drafters of this language believe people have a right to live where they wish regardless of zoning, laws, or any other impediment whether they have earned it or not.
7. Pg. 124
"The following performance measures will be tracked by the State to measure progress toward achieving Goal 4 of this Economic Development Plan. These performance measures will be tracked over time and presented in an annual “report card” by Statewide Planning.
- Vehicle miles traveled per capita (RI Department of Transportation)
- Percentage of housing within ¼ mile of transit stop (RI Statewide Planning Program)
- Increase in non-single-family housing units (percentage by municipality) (American Community Survey)
- Proportion of household income spent on housing and transportation cost (Housing + Transportation Affordability Index)"
Cite Goal 4: "Create great places by coordinating economic, housing and transportation investments."
Conclusion: It is safe to conclude that these report cards will come with consequences for poor grades. This is the stick to force citizens into these high density, mixed use living conditions.
8. Pg. 138
" b. Investigate the creation of a state-level Infrastructure Bank or other more innovative models (e.g. Investment Trusts) to fund projects that support critical economic activity."
Conclusion: A state run bank where our money can be manipulated? This particular clause must be taken into consideration with regard to the Transfer of Development Rights analysis below.
9. Pg. 148
Under " Local Regulatory Challenges"
" Another important aspect of local regulation that needs to be addressed in Rhode Island deals directly with what can and cannot be built. This issue is certainly not unique to Rhode Island municipalities, but there are far too many local ordinances that do not meet the needs of residents and business owners. Higher density housing, particularly in suburban and rural areas, should be allowed at different scales in every Rhode Island community."
Conclusion: RhodeMap RI planners feel that business owners needs should take priority over the needs of families and home owners. High density housing, they conclude, will make this happen.
10. Pg. 160
" d. Analyze and reform the property tax system
The State should consider the creation of a permanent commission on property taxation to establish a system of universal, understandable and fair standards for the municipal taxation of property throughout the state."
Conclusion: No more local control over property taxes . . . Less choice, less diversity, less control.
11. Pg. 163
" This proposal calls for creating a network of neighborhood health stations, where neighborhood residents could receive the majority of their health care services."
Conclusion: The destruction of private practice and choice in health care decisions for every family in Rhode Island.