Statement: Center Applauds House for Taking 1st Step in Mitigating RhodeMap RI Mandates

STATEMENT
June 25, 2015

H6040A Seeks to Protect Localities from Mandated Zoning Changes
Senate and Administration Urged to Follow Suit

Providence, RI — The nonpartisan RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity applauds the RI House of Representatives for responding to the concerns of Rhode Islanders and taking action to preserve local governmental sovereignty from federal and state control over local housing issues, by undoing a portion of the most oppressive components of the controversial RhodeMap RI scheme.

House bill H6040A, which eliminates the requirement for any city or town to be forced to change its local zoning ordinances in order to comply with state guide plan mandates or federal dictates, passed last evening by a vote of 69-1 . It restores the decision making process to where it belongs, with local officials. In recent weeks, multiple national media outlets reported on this federal intrusion into local matters.

The Center, on behalf of the large grassroots movement that has spoken-out vociferously against this centralized-plan, urges Senate and the Administration officials to follow the lead of the House.

“RhodeMap RI, without any approval or direction from the elected representatives of the people of Rhode Island, was adopted into the state’s official guide plan by unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats in December of 2014,” said Mike Stenhouse, CEO for the Center. “This legislation is a first-step towards unraveling this ‘Trojan Horse’ for a federal takeover of local land-use and housing decisions.”

Media Contact:
Mike Stenhouse, CEO
401.429.6115 | info@rifreedom.org

About the Center
The nonpartisan RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity is Rhode Island’s premiere free-enterprise think tank. The mission of the 501c3 nonprofit organization is to return government to the people by opposing special-interest politics and advancing proven free-market solutions that can transform lives by restoring economic competitiveness, increasing educational opportunities, and protecting individual freedoms