Tell that to Narragansett residents, who pays lower property taxes b/c of town beach revenue, both parking AND pay per person to get on...

For years the state beach lots have been filled up by 9:30 a.m. by people from CT with moths in their wallets.

you guys are right, RI is on track financially. What do I know. The state is in good hands.
As someone from CT who was raised on RI beaches, camped at Burlingame every weekend and went to Charlestown breachway FOR FREE and then went to RI for college and lived there - I think no beach fees paid $$$$ in dividends, myself as an example. Enjoy the shathole your state is becoming.

God forbid the people who actually live there get some type of break for having to suffer the tourists!

Without tourists Narragansett is central falls with a view.

I'm going to take my Element and run a shuttle service from PJ Light to Roger Wheeler. $5 one way.

But its not, so the locals have to suffer the tourists.
And they get tax breaks for being a tourist town due to the tourist revenue!

Tourism is the #1 industry and the beaches are the biggest incentive to visit. It does not make sense to have your primary product serve as a loss-leader in the hope that people will buy things they did not visit for. What hasn't worked is giving it away, clearly.

I forget where, but I once heard someone say "man, one day I hope to be wealthy enough that I could actually afford to be a Democrat... not that I'd actually want to be one though."

and the average RI joes suffer beacuse they cant afford to visit their own beaches.

Except the less populated ones on Block Island, I have not gone to a beach during the day in fifteen years.
**My wife has had several malignant melanoma recurrences - from gettin' wicked tan back in the 80's

ehh, they'd all be better off playing video games and eating junk food.......

The Beatles....Nice :kewl:

That whole video game thing didn't work out to well for RI either:rotf2::rotf2:

It would also be very short-sighted to factor in Texas growth without recognizing the impact the oil industry has had, it really kept Texas afloat during the recession and high prices helped drive growth during the recovery.

It also has a low cost of living as many southern states do which has led people to migrate to Texas resulting in low wages...business loves cheap labor.

Higher population at lower incomes still consume a lot which benefits the state through sales taxes which aren't especially low. Augmenting this are numerous fees (state licenses, fees, permits, fines and penalties) to help offset the state income tax.

Also, from what I've read recently most of the job growth has actually been in education, healthcare and government sectors fueled by 17 Billion in Federal stimulus spending.

So the overall economy has benefited from economic growth, but it's not necessarily healthy organic growth. If other states would adopt the same model they'd end up with more government jobs, depressed wages and a fight to the bottom to attract cheap labor.

-spence

I have stuff in some tourist shops down in Narragansett. The last two years have not been good - not just my stuff, but overall. There's no way the retail revenue streams, and the fact that we don't tax clothing, is going to equal the revenue generated from the beach lots.
People are trying to save money - they are bringing a cooler instead of eating out. They go to the beach, and then straight home to beat the traffic as best as they can. The wallet opens for the fee, then stays shut the rest of the day. The people who shop are the people who rent houses for a week and it rains once or twice. My sister's store in Wickford, right on the way to Narragansett, has never done well on good beach days - and she's selling skin care products, beach bags, flip flops, cover-ups, etc.
Even at $28 - people are still going to go. Last year, the digital information signs highway signs on 95 south were reading "state beach lots full" before noon on good beach days and people were exiting to turn around.
Compared to other forms of recreation, it's not that much and you can stay for four, six, seven hours.

http://fishhardlivelong.com/_0020.MOV
I do take my son to the beach on Block Island and his aunts take him just about weekly in the summer. Some people would take exception to the inference that they were a bad parent. But I'm not, so I don't.

It's not always about you Joe. I think Jimmy was using sarcasm to make a general statement,and using a photo to demonstrate his view.

Jimmy,you seem to genuinely enjoy the region. Best of luck chasing a better life in Texas.

I'd be curious to know if towns have been subsidizing beach expenses for years and what's going on now is a correction. They need the tourist dollars but don't have the budget to maintain.

Texas is an interesting state, I think I've been there at least a dozen times. Not a huge fan do Dallas. Huston would be ok if it wasn't so freakin humid, on second thought don't have good memories of Houston.

San Antonio isn't bad.

Austin is great. Good nightlife, attractive ladies and two Neiman Marcus Last Call outlets :

I could definitely live in Austin.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Don't forget BBQ Jeff,and live music.
Austin seems the frontrunner given the alternatives.
I could live without Needless Markup.

Those were covered under "nightlife".

Another neat place nearby is the Gristmill, just south on the Guadalupe river...neat area, lots of history.

-spence

thanks Dangles. I had to read your post a few times since i wasnt sure if you were being sarcastic, but I think you're sincere

Spence, the surrounding towns in the Dallas/Ft Worth area are extremely affluent and it aint oil. Its yuppie heaven. Take a quick look - thsi is 10 mins from my house. You cant find areas like this in new england. Not that you can enjoy 10 months out of the year outside. From fantastic food, to outside music festivals to tons of parks and lakes. The only f'in burritos I can get around here are at Qdoba, there are 20 places minutes from me, add in asian (tons), bbq and steak. Its food heaven there.

Southlake, Texas City Overview Video - YouTube


Check out this place - makes whole foods look like a dump and the prices are great - Central Market - Central Market | Stores | Southlake

I didnt mean to make this about texas, I only refernced Ft Worth as they have a thriving downtown and offer free parking. I dont think its a coincidence.
My heart and soul have been in RI since I was a kid and I think its a shame to drive people away from the only thing RI has to offer. I was able to grow up on the beach because it was free. It sucks other kids wont be able to.

Sorry, I had the impression department store bargains were your nightlife.
Jimmy, the decisions we make are done for the good of the family and not ourselves. I believe you are making a sacrifice with this intention and I hope it works out.New England will be here if you have regrets.

traveled the usa, lived in all 4 corners
some central and i always came back

Texas would be great if it weren't full of people from Texas. Actually, that is what I was told when I moved to MA. Same is true of CT. :)

I would be all over this kind of stuff if I was ever to move to texas...

Llano Chuck Wagon Cook Off, Llano Texas Heritage Days

I was in San Antonio about a month ago, one of the woman at dinner got Salmonella poisoning from the tuna.

one of the best thread evolutions in history - Mothers Day Beach fees to salmomela poisoning.

You'd have been stomped about thirty times by now if you lived in Texas.

It makes perfect sense. If you can't afford the beach parking you'll stay inland...if you stay inland you won't get as good of fish.

-spence