Organizations Defending Public Access?

[GoFish]

Anyone know of any organizations involved in defending/preserving public access to the waterfront in RI? A homeowner's trying to eliminate a centuries-old access (Cooneymus Rd.) to the southwest side here on BI. Sounds like both sides are lawyering up. Law's probably on our side, but they've got unlimited $. Wondering if there's anyone out there that can help.

[DZ]

Gofish,
That access is close to my heart - been using it for over 25 years. Contact RISAA's Public Access committee chairman, Bob Moeller, his email: rihome1@aol.com

RISAA has an attorney that specializes in ROW/Public Access issues.

Keep me up to date - anything in the BI Times about this?

DZ

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by DZ

Gofish,
That access is close to my heart

Why?



Try Kevin Cute at the RI CRMC
(401) 783-3370
kcute@crmc.ri.gov

[JohnR]

Definitely keep us in the loop please.

Thank you.

[GoFish]

Thanks guys. Town Council hearing it Wednesday night. Heard it back in April and decided resoundingly in favor of preserving access. Unfortunately, small town backroom politics is rearing its ugly head and the waters are getting muddy. Homeowner has been granted another hearing. This being Rhode Island (Block Island no less) anything can happen, particularly when there's lots of money on one side...

I'll keep you posted.

[crisco]

Let us know if there's anything we can do to help...
letter writing campain?

Access is a huge issue for me- anywhere really. There's so many great spots I wanna fish- but can't get to!

We pay for a license now- can't we use that as a reason!

[luds]

Yeah, I'm sure there are alot of us here that are interested in this one.

[OnTheRocks]

Was the Council meeting last night? This is the first I've heard of this, not surprising on Block Island. Would be a shame to loose that access point as we have already lost additional access to the SW Point area.

[Soaker]

All, this is and email I got from Bob Moeller - Chair of RISAA Public Access Committee. Please keep him posted about any hearings or updates. His email is listed in the prior posting. Thanks

"Kevin,
Please post for me that Conneymus Road is a CRMC designated Public Right of Way, E4. The Town cannot close the public access without a CRMC hearing and ruling to do so. The Town can control public parking on any of its roads however. We have learned in the past that the Town's residents have more impact than any single organization or outside individual when it comes to things like this. It is important for every Town resident that supports public access to show up at town hearings and voice their opinion to keep the public access open with available parking area. Of course any other citizen, whether a resident or tourist can also voice an opinion. Please keep me posted on this. Thanks.

Bob Moeller"

[GoFish]

Just got an update on the Town Council meeting Wednesday night. (I was working and couldn't be there.) Not good.

By way of background:

In 1987 CRMC deeded a 15' wide public right of way to ensure public access to the water at the end of Cooneymus Road. In past years the access was sufficient for a truck to drive to the beach.

Several years ago Jimmy Lee (CEO of JPMorgan/Chase and one of the 100 wealthiest men in the US) bought and renovated the lifesaving station abutting the right of way. Before the renovations were complete there was a suspicious fire. The renovations were then completed.

The Lees have since "landscaped away" all of the parking at the end of Cooneymus. They have now planted privet in the right of way further blocking access to the water, and preventing an abutting homeowner from accessing a portion of their property from the road. These are the folks that brought the issue to the Town Council. There is still public access to the water but it's shrinking rapidly.

In April the Council heard the case and ruled unanimously that the encroachments must be removed from the right of way. The Lee's lawyered up and asked for and were granted another hearing Wednesday night. (Mr. Lee actually couldn't make it because his helicopter wasn't able to get in.) Their lawyer claimed that the privet hedge was necessary to ensure the Lee's privacy. They offered no legal justification for placing it in a right of way, but promised a continuing legal fight if they didn't get their way. They refused to move the privet back out of the right of way. To my great disappointment all but one member of the Council, #^&#^&#^&#^& Martin, voted to allow the plantings to remain.

My understanding is that Kevin Cute at CRMC is in the loop, and CRMC is the only entity with the legal standing to preserve what's left of or restore the public access. I believe they are reviewing the specifics and considering their options. Anyone who feels strongly about this should probably address their concerns to Kevin. Pursuing the Town is apparently pointless.

Sorry for the bad news, but any help getting CRMC to defend the access would be appreciated.

[DZ]

Thanks for the update Gofish. While the ROW isn't 15 feet wide anymore (I can't ever remember that much room and I've used that ROW since 1987) it is still passable. That's the important part as we still have foot access. Hopefully CRMC will take them to court. First step will be to have CRMC remove the hedges which should be in their right because the ROW is in fact legal. I'll shoot a letter to Kevin Cute and volunteer my services for the hedge removal crew. Keep us up to date.

DZ

[Swimmer]

The audacity people have who steal public land (the ROW), and then try an end run after the fact, in essence attempting to get the town to legally give them control of it. Someone should force the town to make it 15' wide again.

That would be a fitting end to this. Getting to drive a 4 x 4 onto the beacj in front of the CEO's house and plant some rods in the sand.

[piemma]

Thought you guys would like to know whom you are dealing with. I have met him as JPMC has been one of my clients. He is a very powerful man and not just because of his money. More because of the circles he travels in and the people he knows.

Lee joined Chemical Bank in 1975 and worked in a variety of lending businesses until 1980, when he founded and ran Chemical’s merchant bank in Australia. In 1982, he returned to the US and started the bank’s syndicated leverage finance group, which constituted the origins of the investment banking business at Chemical and later Chase Manhattan Bank. Lee ran the investment bank until the merger with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2001.[1]

History of private equity
and venture capital

Early History
(Origins of modern private equity)
•
The 1980s
(LBO boom)
•
The 1990s
(LBO bust and the VC bubble)
•
The 2000s
(Dot-com bubble to the Credit crunch)

v • d • e
Following Chemical’s merger with Manufacturers Hanover in 1994, Lee founded the bank’s high yield (or junk bond) business, which was the bank's first public securities operation. At the same time, he built the bank’s financial sponsor coverage business focused on private equity firms as well as the bank's mergers and acquisitions business.[1]

In 2000, Lee was effectively demoted in favor Geoffrey Boisi[2] but within two years Biosi was out and Lee was again leading investment banking at JP Morgan.[3] By 2007, Lee was placed at the center of a New York Times illustration title "Masters of the New Universe" where he was connected with some of the largest leveraged buyout transactions of the past decade.[4]

[striperswiper75]

Originally Posted by DZ

Thanks for the update Gofish. While the ROW isn't 15 feet wide anymore (I can't ever remember that much room and I've used that ROW since 1987) it is still passable. That's the important part as we still have foot access. Hopefully CRMC will take them to court. First step will be to have CRMC remove the hedges which should be in their right because the ROW is in fact legal. I'll shoot a letter to Kevin Cute and volunteer my services for the hedge removal crew. Keep us up to date.

DZ

I would be more then happy to join you in the hedge removal project. I would say the width of the access is currently about 2 feet, it's the parking at the end of Cooneymus road that is an issue.

[GoFish]

Well it appears that there is finally a groundswell of public outrage building regarding homeowners, unopposed by the Town, restricting or eliminating public access to the water on Block Island. Town Council is re-re-hearing the Cooneymus Road issue next Tuesday night the 15th after about 20 angry citizens insisted at the last meeting that it be put on the agenda.

Sounds like CRMC is being very responsive and is serious about protecting their deeded rights. They may even be reviewing all seven of their deeded accesses on the Island, many of which are (were) cherished by fishermen. Those trying to block access have some large money, so I expect they'll ultimately sue us all into submission. But at least the good guys have a shot.

Stay tuned.

[Green Light]

The British had money. The Americans under GW at Valley Forge had heart. Guess who won? We now have YouTube, Facebook, and other channels to expose such injustices. If I go back to school, I am getting a law degree!

[MakoMike]

What we need is a law deputizing any citizen as an agent of the state to remove obstructions to a public ROW.

[OLD GOAT]

Sounds to me with your saltwater licence money coming up next year that you might have a politicians ear ready to listen.
Just think if you rhody guys held your licence money in escrow until a few things got done

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by GoFish

Those trying to block access have some large money, so I expect they'll ultimately sue us all into submission.

It shouldn't be about who has the deepest pockets, what a shame. I really hope it does not come down to that.

[timmah]

The Nature Conservancy owns about 9% of Block and would probably have something to contribute.