1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: Another story brewing in Warwick. I want to get to 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: Rob Cody, who's very much a watchdog, particularly in Warwick. 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: He's got his eyes on a lot of different things 4 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:10,159 Speaker 1: and he is certainly not shy. He shows up to 5 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: all of the taxpayer related meetings in Warwick. And we 6 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: mentioned there's, you know, a lot of development going on 7 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: in different cities, in towns to upgrade school. So let 8 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: me bring on Rob Cody on the Seahawk Supply hotline. 9 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 2: Good morning Rob, Good morning Tarra, Thanks for giving me 10 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 2: some time. 11 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely absolutely. You know, I think a lot of 12 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: snow coverage is top of mind, obviously preparing, but you 13 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: also have to watch the money, you know, follow the money. 14 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: So Rob Cody, what is going on this week and 15 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: into February. 16 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: So, as most people know, Warwick is engaged in the 17 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 2: building of two new high schools which fit on the sales. 18 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 2: They were not without controversy because in twenty twenty two, 19 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: from twenty twenty one to twenty twenty two, there was 20 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 2: an election where the voters passed a three hundred and 21 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: fifty million dollar bond to build these two schools. I 22 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 2: have been very outspoken since early twenty twenty one telling 23 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: everybody that there's no way you're going to build the 24 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: schools for three hundred fifty million dollars. And the only 25 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: reason I say that is because I've been involved in 26 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: school construction for thirty years on the project management team 27 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: and as the inspector of record. But they put this 28 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: bond referendum out with specific language that said not to 29 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: exceed three hundred and fifty million. Despite screaming and yelling 30 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: and telling them factually why they weren't going to be 31 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,559 Speaker 2: able to do this, the School Committee and the School 32 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 2: Department pushed through. And come to find out, now after 33 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 2: they chop the schools up by one hundred thousand square feet, 34 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: shrinked them, they shrunk them down, they eliminated all kinds 35 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 2: of amenities that you know, they sold the general public. 36 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: Now they need another fifty million dollars. So they're having 37 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: a special election on February third, which there has been 38 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 2: little to no advertisement letting the general public know that hey, 39 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 2: we're about to you know, hit you with another fifty million. 40 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 2: And what they're doing is they're stating that, well, we 41 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: need another eighteen to twenty million to finish the schools. 42 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: And then the remainder. We'd like to rehab the sports 43 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: facilities all throughout Walwik that have never been maintained. So 44 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 2: that's a whole nother story. But the fact of the 45 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: matter is Tara that this is going to have a 46 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: major increase in property taxes. The general public doesn't even 47 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: know that this early voting that started last Wednesday, that 48 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 2: you can vote at city Hall during regular business hours 49 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: from eight to four thirty. The election will be held 50 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: February third. But another caveat to all this, which in 51 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 2: my opinion is by design, they changed all of the 52 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 2: polling stations, so where you would normally if you were 53 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: in Ward seven and you voted at the Robinson School, 54 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: it's all been changed. So people are completely confused about Okay, 55 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 2: if I find out where to vote, I'm just going 56 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: to go to my local polling places. But that's not 57 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: where they have to vote. So you have to call 58 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: city Hall to find out where your polling place is, 59 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: or you can vote early at city Hall. The reason 60 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: that I'm concerned about this is because I've been very 61 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 2: outspoken saying, look, you know, we understand that you want 62 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 2: to build these beautiful schools, and now you want to 63 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: build these states of the art sports facilities, which I 64 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: agree with and I've been screaming for ten years about it. 65 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: But you have to have some type of symbiotic relationship 66 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: between the senior citizens that are on fixed incomes, you know, 67 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: and the needs of quote unquote the children. We always 68 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: hear that from the school committee, you know, it's all 69 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: about the children. Well it really isn't. It's about the unions, 70 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: it's about raises, and it's the children are always last. 71 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 2: And they hold that, as you know, hold that as 72 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: a carrot over a head that okay, we're going to 73 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: eliminate sports. So basically we're doing some simple math. We're 74 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 2: looking at probably with the three hundred and fifty million 75 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,839 Speaker 2: dollar bond, and if this bond goes through, you're looking 76 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: at most likely a dollars seventy two per thousand and 77 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 2: increases of your property taxes so on a four hundred 78 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: thousand dollars home, and that's another seven hundred dollars. But 79 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: if you look at it realistically right now, with the 80 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 2: indebtedness we're going to have with this three hundred and 81 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: fifty million dollar bonds, what they said was on the 82 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 2: twenty year bond, you're going to have in the best 83 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 2: case scenario of sixteen sixteen million dollars a year interest, 84 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: and on this fifty million dollar bond it's another three 85 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 2: point eight so nineteen point eight million dollars a year 86 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 2: in interest on these bonds. Right now, with a maximum 87 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 2: tax increase, the city wall can raise eight point six million, 88 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 2: call it nine. All at nine. Where's the other ten 89 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 2: point eight million coming from. It's going to be burdened 90 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: on the tax payer. And the math suggests the only 91 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 2: alternative is too completely raid the rain day funds and 92 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 2: then three years that'll be gone, or we go to 93 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: the General Assembly to have a supplemental tax increase, which 94 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 2: that's what members of the city council talking about now. 95 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 2: So the senior citizens, which you know, is my concern. 96 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 2: They and the mayor even stated this in the newspapers. 97 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 2: Several people stated that, you know, we have concerns that 98 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: this burden is going to push some seniors out of 99 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: their homes and really really burden them. And so that's 100 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 2: my concern. And for those people that are concerned about that, 101 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: you need to get out and vote. We know it 102 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: hasn't been advertised, that's by design. It's been disingenuous since 103 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 2: day one, with you know, projecting to the general public 104 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: that we're going to build you these two taj Mahal 105 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,799 Speaker 2: state of the art schools, and now they've been cut 106 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: down so dramatically that it's really embarrassing being a guy 107 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 2: that that's what I do for a living and have 108 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 2: been for thirty years. I've built schools. These schools are 109 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: like any school that I have ever worked on. They 110 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 2: have been cheapened up incredibly, So I have really a 111 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 2: lot of concerns about the way this has been handled 112 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 2: and how the tax payser in the dock. And to 113 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: give you an example, I've been going door to door 114 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: on the businesses on West show Road because I know 115 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: a lot of people. And each business that I went 116 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: to and I told, I would say the only Hey, 117 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 2: have you gone to vote? What do you mean going 118 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: to vote? I said, there's a special election February third 119 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: and early voting. No one knows about it. 120 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: I wouldn't, I listen. I have most of my family 121 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: lives in more work. I should say my husband's side, 122 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: I don't. I haven't heard anything about it. So the 123 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: special election is actually. 124 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 2: When rom It's February third, but you have early voting 125 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 2: now at City Hall. And I went and did the 126 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: early voting, which is the first time I've ever done that. 127 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: I was literally in and out of City Hall in 128 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 2: less than three minutes. 129 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: And what are the preeople looking at if they want 130 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: to go in and do it early, if they want 131 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: to do February third, what are they are they looking at? 132 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: A like a typical ballot that we're used to looking at. 133 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 2: Yes, it's just a typical ballot. There's four questions on 134 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 2: if the big one is about the schools, whether you 135 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: approve another fifty million dollars. And then there's some city 136 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 2: council things. You know, for example, right now, if the 137 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 2: City Department wants to spend more than twenty five hundred dollars, 138 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: it has to go before the council. They want to 139 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: increase that to five thousand. You know, I vote to 140 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: know against that. The simple reason there's no control over 141 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: the money is the City of Ward. It's terrible. But 142 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: whether you are four voting for the extra fifty million 143 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: or you're against it, that's not my position here. My 144 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: position is notified people that they have the opportunity now 145 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 2: to vote because the vast majority of residents in Ward 146 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 2: are unaware that there's a special election that has the 147 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: propensity to boot a major increase in their property taxes. 148 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: And they should know, and they should have the opportunity 149 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: to make their decision as tax payers whether or not 150 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 2: they're in favor for it or they're not before either way, 151 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 2: I just want people to go and vote. I understand 152 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 2: the way they feel and know that, hey, we have 153 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 2: this special election, and as of this date, the vast 154 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: majority of the people in the dock that they're that 155 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: they're holding a special election. 156 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: So Rob Rob Cody is on the Seconk supply hotline. 157 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: Is state money involved in any of this? Somebody texted 158 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: me something like and I didn't, wouldn't get on the 159 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: three hundred fifty million dollar bond. Half of the project 160 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: is reimbursed by the state upon conclusion of the project. 161 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: That sounds that's not That's not necessarily true at all. 162 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: So the reality of it is the RD Island Department 163 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 2: of Education does have a reimbursement program, so it's at 164 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: fifty percent, but that reimbursement program it caps out at 165 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 2: three hundred and fourteen million, so at over and above 166 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 2: three hundred and fourteen million. The tax pay is one 167 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 2: hundred percent responsible for that, and that ride does not 168 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 2: reimburse for anything over the five hundred and fifty one dollar. 169 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: I was a square foot. They do not reiverse for 170 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 2: athletic fields, for tech, and for furnishings. So I had predicted. 171 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 2: I did a two minute calculation, and I predicted four 172 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 2: years ago that no matter what you did cutting down 173 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 2: these schools, you'll be at three hundred and eighty two 174 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: million dollars. The city didn't believe me, because you know, man, 175 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 2: I'm a bad guy, and so they spent eighty five 176 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: thousand dollars and five months they hired a company to 177 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 2: come in and do a third party evaluation, and after 178 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 2: five months, in eighty five thousand, they came up with 179 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 2: three hundred and eighty three million in two minutes with 180 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 2: one calculation. Four years ago, I told them three hundred 181 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: and eighty two million. No matter what you do, you 182 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: will not come in less than that. And guess what, 183 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 2: that's where they are right about now, at three hundred 184 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: and eighty two million. Now bear in mind what the 185 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: taxpays need to know. The school committees, you know, the 186 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 2: language states, Oh what we have a guaranteed max price 187 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 2: from the contract, except that GMP as it's called, does 188 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: not cover change order US and commodities escalation. So, for example, 189 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 2: on the last school that I was on, after all 190 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 2: the steel was up, the architect came in and I'm 191 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 2: going to change this, this, and this in the cafeteria 192 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: was a six hundred thousand dollars change that went right 193 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 2: back to the taxpayer because the construction manager is not 194 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 2: responsible for change orders and commodities escalations. Well does anybody 195 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 2: can anybody tell me any commodity that's going down. Everything 196 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 2: has gone up. Everything with school construction has gone up. 197 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 2: So it's you know, walk presently. Now with these schools, 198 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 2: we've got a one billion dollars of debt. Recently, our 199 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 2: bond rating was downgraded, which means on these bonds, when 200 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: we exercised these bonds, S and P downgraded us. That 201 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 2: means when we take these bonds, we're going to pay 202 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: a higher interest rate. And just as a sidebar, when 203 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: the school committee and the school department put forth all 204 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: the financials, you know, to the to the city council 205 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 2: and to the mayor, they made this little error. They 206 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 2: only amateurized the three hundred and fifty million dollar bond 207 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: out to three hundred. They left fifty million dollars of 208 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 2: principle on the table and twenty four million dollars worth 209 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 2: of interest in their own stage two documents to the state, 210 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 2: they had a seventy four million dollar mathematical error, and 211 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 2: that's something that people like me dive into and look 212 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 2: to find out where the inconsistence. 213 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: So doesn't it Okay? So I'm getting a lot of 214 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: feedback from what you're saying, and some of it is 215 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: not driving with other people, but does RIDE. Being the 216 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: Department of Education, they have to approve all of these expenses. 217 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: No, RIDE said, okay, we've approved your Stage two document. 218 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 2: Here's what we're going to do. You've got up to 219 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 2: three hundred and fourteen million dollars and this will be 220 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 2: the percentage of reinbursement. That's it. The rest is on 221 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 2: the City of war. They hire the construction management team, 222 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 2: they hire the owner's project management team, the independent inspectors, 223 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 2: the architects. It all goes back to them. So no 224 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: matter what cost overruns there are, whether you have a 225 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: guaranteed maximum price or whatever, RIDE only reiverses that percentage 226 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 2: up to three hundred and fourteen million dollars. 227 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: Okay, but this is very complicated, you know, I mean 228 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: the math. There's a lot here, I know, you get it. 229 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,319 Speaker 1: Is there anywhere that the Warwick taxpayers can look up 230 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: what the actual plan is before they go in to 231 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: vote yay or nay? Is there anything? You know how 232 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: some people they'll they'll write out, you know, if it's 233 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 1: a bond question on the ballot, like a fake you know, 234 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: you know, a sample ballot. 235 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 2: Well, if you look at if you look at like 236 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 2: the school Department's website and the OPM's website, it's kind 237 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 2: of skewed in their in their position, right, you know, 238 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 2: I mean as recently as last night, the the Secotio, 239 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 2: which is the architect they have on their website. They 240 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 2: have this big thing about the Tollgate School that they're 241 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 2: building this state of the art Tollgate School of four 242 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 2: hundred and six thousand square feet. Well that's kind of 243 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 2: a little mistake because the Tollgate School is two hundred 244 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 2: and five thousand square feet, not four hundred and six thousand. 245 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 2: The two schools combined are four hundred and ten thousand, 246 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 2: seven hundred square feet. So there's been a lot of 247 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 2: misinformation that's been put forth by the School Committee, by 248 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 2: the School Department that the taxpayers were sold these beautiful 249 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 2: buildings that have now been cut down. Regardless of that, 250 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 2: the fact of the matter is the initial bond, which 251 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 2: I still have a copy of it specifically said for 252 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 2: the building of two new high schools in Warwick not 253 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: to exceed three hundred and fifty million dollars, and the 254 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 2: School Department and the School Committee sold the taxpayers. To 255 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 2: quote Dave tests at the time, the chairman of the 256 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 2: School Committee, who said many many times in public in 257 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,719 Speaker 2: the work and not a penny more. We nicknamed him 258 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 2: Dave not anymore. But now he wants an extra fifty 259 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 2: million dollars. You know, a portion of that to go 260 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 2: to the schools. That's figuring eighteen to twenty million, which 261 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's right. And then what they're 262 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 2: saying is the rest they want to refurbish all the 263 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 2: playing fields throughout Walwick. However, they don't even have quotes 264 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: from contractors that what it would cost to go to 265 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 2: walk and refurbish all of the athletic fields. So, you know, 266 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 2: a guy like myself that's been in the construction industry 267 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 2: over thirty years. This is completely atypical. So my only 268 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 2: point is the taxpayers need to make their determination based 269 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: upon whatever theories that they believe, whatever talking points that 270 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 2: they believe. Please go to the ballot box and cast 271 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: your ballot, because when they passed the three hundred and 272 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 2: fifty million dollar bonds, only thirty seven percent of the 273 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 2: City of walk went out to vote. 274 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: All right, listen, Rob, it's it's there's a lot here. 275 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: We're gonna probably have to regroup next week on this. 276 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: There's a you know, I'm getting a lot of messages 277 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: from I'm just gonna put in little air quotes the 278 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: other side saying. 279 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 2: That there, yeah, there's a glowing. 280 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: There's a glowing article about the school as counting it 281 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: as a success story, and that ride the Department of 282 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: Education has to approve. So I can't get all into 283 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: it right now. You're on the record. I appreciate you. 284 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: At least, you know, the least we can do is 285 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: tell people, you know what is going to go go 286 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: and vote either, you know, and do a little homework. Right, 287 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: So thank you, Rob, I appreciate it. Good luck with 288 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: the snowstorm, and uh, we'll probably regroup next week. Or 289 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: so thank you, I appreciate it.