Opinion: Coogan's ARPA decisions show lack of vision for what Fall River truly needs
Mayor Paul Coogan has exercised his exclusive right to share some of the free federal ARPA dollars with a few of his pet projects that are, apparently, near and dear to his heart, as well as those of his closest political contributors.
Though there are a few actual worthwhile expenditures suggested, like spending a few bucks on the FRPD/FRFD communications and a few new cruisers, it really doesn’t address the base problems so many city departments are experiencing on a daily basis.
I doubt that $4 million for the Quequechan Rail Trail should be considered critical, but investment in the future? More like accommodating the few trusted investors buying large properties for pennies on the dollar and turning them into “market rate housing,” in which a nice publicly funded rail trail enhancement certainly couldn’t hurt.
The $3.26 million going to Ken Fiola-run BCEDC, with limits of $2,500 and $5,000 depending on employee numbers, is somewhat confusing. That would average somewhere in the vicinity of 650 companies eligible for the maximum $5,000, or 1,300 companies eligible for the $2,500.
Now, I realize that this is a rather simplistic accounting for these funds to be shared, and can assume that those figures would be adjusted proportionally to larger companies. Are there really this many small businesses in Fall River that were seriously impacted by the pandemic? After all, this is the primary purpose of the Fed's printing trillions of fake dollars, to be paid back by our grandchildren’s grandchildren.
Infrastructure! Fall River has been held hostage by the one local cable company for a lifetime. Does Coogan address this issue? Why not invest in our own broadband infrastructure?
Another glaring issue is a looming problem with trash and a non-existent recycling program, as well as the DCM home base on Lewiston Street, an area whose general condition could rival some Third World countries. When can we, the taxpayers, expect to see tax and fee relief and possibly some improvements in basic services?
There is about a half-mile of sidewalk with damage on 50% of the ADA-required wheelchair ramps on one section of County Street, that one person alone in a wheelchair could never negotiate. Ironically, the utility company responsible to repair those sidewalks that were affected with their recent upgrades, in many cases, renewed areas right up to many of these damaged areas. Why were these damaged areas not addressed at the same time?
Though I’m cognizant that there are various ordinances and regulations addressing these issues, not to mention the grip that organized unions have, it might just be time to overhaul the good ol’ boy Planning Department and install someone with a 21st century vision. We are, after all, spitting out hundreds of newly minted “urban renewal” graduates from many of our best colleges from that socialist sewer we call our state capital.
These are but a small sample of the many issues facing our fair city. The behavior from Coogan and his minions is insulting, not only to our collective intelligence, but also to the integrity of those of us who continue to pay increasingly higher taxes and fees, on time, year in and year out.
Michael Napert
Fall River
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Opinion: Coogan shows lack of vision for what Fall River truly needs
