Westerly Town Solicitor William Conley Monday night defended himself against criticism from the public and some members of the Westerly Town Council over his office’s failure to submit legal research and analysis to the federal government prior to the transfer of the Watch Hill Lighthouse to a private non-profit earlier this year. Conley also denied […]
Alex Nunes
Alex oversees the three local bureaus at The Public’s Radio, and staffs the desk for our South County Bureau. Alex was previously the co-host and co executive producer of The Public's Radio podcast, Mosaic. The show explored the history of immigration in Southern New England through the stories of individual immigrants and their descendants and received an Edward R. Murrow Award for best podcast in the New England region. Alex previously worked as an editor at The Westerly Sun and The New London Day.
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Property owner suing RI over beach access law faces vandalism charges
A Westerly property owner making a legal challenge against Rhode Island’s new shoreline access law has been charged with repeatedly vandalizing a beach right-of-way sign near his home. Police say David M. Roth, who owns a $10.8 million property in Watch Hill with his wife but resides in West Hartford, Conn., spray-painted a beach access […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Is Westerly’s solicitor botching legal work on shoreline access? Town councilors want answers.
Some members of the Westerly Town Council are questioning whether the town misspent taxpayer money on legal research into a closely-watched public access matter involving the Watch Hill Lighthouse that wasn’t submitted before a critical deadline and still hasn’t been released to the public. The matter is expected to come up at a special town […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
CRMC approves incomplete yacht club dredging application over public protest
On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council unanimously approved an incomplete dredging application for Watch Hill Cove, despite public opposition from shoreline access advocates who faulted the proposal for failing to disclose a town-designated right-of-way that will be obstructed while the work is being done. State regulations say dredging applications must disclose all […]
Posted inHousing, Local, South County Bureau
How large-lot zoning contributes to Rhode Island’s big housing shortfall
The corner of Gardiner and Ten Rod Roads in Exeter looks a lot like a place to take a hike. It’s wooded, quiet, and abuts 26 acres of densely grown trees. “It certainly would make a great nature preserve,” Colin Penney, executive director of South County Habitat for Humanity, said on a recent visit to […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Judge sides with property owners in blow to new shoreline access law
A Rhode Island Superior Court judge says the state’s new shoreline access law has resulted in the unconstitutional taking of private beachfront property without just compensation to landowners. In two decisions filed Friday, Associate Justice Sarah Taft-Carter denied Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s motion to throw out cases brought by property owners in South […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Charlestown police accused of empowering ‘vigilantes’ to help patrol local beach
Shoreline access and civil liberties advocates are crying foul over a new policy in Charlestown welcoming private individuals to collect surveillance evidence for police to use in enforcing a vehicle ordinance on a barrier beach at the center of multiple beach access legal fights. Under the new policy rolled out by the Charlestown Police Department […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local, South County Bureau
Contested beach parking restrictions in Narragansett aren’t going up anytime soon
The Rhode Island State Traffic Commission has put off a decision on Narragansett’s plans to place parking restrictions along two state roads used by many visitors to Narragansett Town Beach in the summer months. Commissioners said Wednesday they want more time to investigate potential safety hazards posed by timed parking restrictions. In June, the town […]
Posted inLocal, South County Bureau
Westerly councilor flips off audience, makes ‘obscene’ gesture at public meeting
Members of the public are calling on the Westerly Town Council to take action against a councilor who repeatedly gave the audience the middle finger at a council meeting Monday night and made what several witnesses interpreted as an “obscene gesture.” Video of Monday night’s council meeting shows Councilor Robert Lombardo sticking up his middle […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
A push to further restrict driving on a local barrier beach has shoreline advocates crying ‘ruse’
The Charlestown Town Council voted Tuesday night to reject a proposed ordinance change that would have extended the period each summer season when people are prohibited from driving vehicles on the beach in the town. The 3-2 vote followed about two-and-half hours of public comment replete with historical references, impassioned calls for conservation as well […]
