Residents held hostage by Ironman street closings

I am writing regarding the Ironman race that took place in Providence on Sunday. I am a resident of Providence and was not granted access to my home during the race. I was told by several police officers that the race was noted in the paper. We do not subscribe to the paper and there was not a single sign posted before or during the event.

My husband and I were driving home and our baby daughter, who had a 103-degree temperature, had become lethargic in the car. We tried getting through the race (we live on the grotto side of Blackstone Boulevard) and were rerouted by police officers several times. Luckily, I knew many of the streets but there was not a single sign directing traffic and many people were lost. When we drove back to the boulevard, we were told to go to certain streets, all of which were also closed off. It was virtually impossible for residents to gain access to their homes.

After driving around for 30 minutes and being rerouted by many officers and watching our daughter get sicker by the minute needing the medicine we had at home, we eventually found one policeman who took one look at our daughter and granted us access to cross Blackstone Boulevard. This race put my baby daughter at serious risk.

I am extremely disappointed in the City of Providence. This is the second time recently that Blackstone Boulevard has been closed off, not allowing residents to come and leave. While I encourage marathons and Ironman competitions, etc., the residents of the East Side pay high taxes and should not be held hostage on either side of the boulevard. If there is a race or event, signs should be posted well in advance and there should be one cut through at each end as well as the middle of the boulevard so that residents are not completely put out.

By not posting signs in advance to warn the neighborhood, nor posting signs the day of an event, the Ironman organization, City of Providence and Eident Sports (the company I was told by the mayor’s office organized the competition) were not fair to residents. There needs to be some way to gain access to your house.

I hope that enough residents, as well as the Police Department, are able to see this letter so that this issue is avoided in the future.

SHIRA RAVERA

Providence

Residents have taken back the boulevard

Remembering Blackstone Boulevard when I was a child, I recall a park-like atmosphere where people gathered from all over to enjoy walking, running and riding bicycles. When I moved here several years ago, I was excited to have the opportunity to walk out my front door and be right in the midst of things. Only this park-like area had become a version of Route 95 with cars speeding way beyond the 25 mph limit, disturbing the intended use of the boulevard. It suddenly became a short-cut for those looking to drive [from] East Bay to Pawtucket and back.

Yesterday marked the first step to “Take Back the Boulevard” as the mayor performed a ribbon-cutting of the new Blackstone Boulevard bike lane. It is a great accomplishment for myself and my neighbors who have worked together over the years toward making the area safer for all to enjoy.

For those of you who are unhappy with the change, I suggest you take an alternate route intended for speeding vehicles.

For those of you who have enjoyed one of the most beautiful areas in Providence, the Boulevard is back!

CINDY LAUGHLIN

Providence

Budget balanced at expense of most vulnerable

The $6.9-billion state budget for FY2009 has been passed by the General Assembly, including cuts that will not only undercut Governor Carcieri’s plan to broaden long-term care options for seniors in anticipated Medicaid reforms, but will have a deep impact on the quality of nursing home care for the most acute residents.

The budget has significantly cut the reimbursement rates the state pays nursing facilities for labor costs. Medicaid already pays nursing homes less than the actual cost to care for an individual. The impact of this further cut will result in staff reductions which will increase patient to staff ratios and negatively impact the quality of care delivered to residents. Nonprofit nursing homes would be hardest hit because of their higher ratio of staff to residents which dramatically improves the overall quality of care delivered.

For example, Steere House here in Providence will lose $516,000 in reimbursements. This money comes directly out of labor costs. Nursing homes across the state will now have to make some tough choices with regard to staffing levels and program reductions.

It is disappointing that both the General Assembly and the governor have balanced the budget at the expense of our most vulnerable community members.

JULIE RICHARD

Richard is administrator of Steere House. .

‘Let’s face the true problems . . . not use scapegoating’

I want to commend Mayor David Cicilline for his Op-Ed on Wednesday (Governor, stop blaming illegal aliens).

It is heartening to hear a major political leader call for taking on the real issues that are destroying the lives of Rhode Islanders — mortgage and foreclosure crisis, growing unemployment, wage stagnation, rising cost of utilities, exorbitant property taxes while the rich get tax cuts every year — instead of deflecting attention onto defenseless people who are easily marginalized and abused.

Those 31 janitors arrested in the immigration raids (and yes, Mr. Doherty, they were state police raids sanctioned by the governor) are not causing the very real pain that too many Rhode Island families are going through.

These men and women were trying to make ends meet in order to give their families a decent life. I think we all can appreciate and identify with that. Let’s face the true problems in our society, not use scapegoating and xenophobia to mask our collective failures to create a sound economy and community.

CRAIG O’CONNOR

Providence