7/3/2024: Newport's Mayor Xay; RIDOT Director Alviti

·23 min·2 clips

Newport's population quadruples to 100,000 each summer, straining housing while one in four homes sits vacant most of the year.

The episode begins by highlighting Newport's summer tourism boom, where the population quadruples to 100,000, straining housing while one in four homes sits vacant most of the year. Mayor Zai Komsivorovong explains the city's aggressive crackdown on illegal short-term rentals and notes a plateau in that market. He reveals that Newport added just one net housing unit per year for 20 years but has put 300 units in the pipeline over the past 18 months. The mayor discusses a proposed luxury hotel on Bellevue Avenue, emphasizing it replaces a surface parking lot and includes underground parking. He details Newport's complex tourism recovery post-pandemic, with tax receipts up 2-3% this year. The conversation shifts to the Rogers High School project, which is 50% over budget at $144 million, with costs expected to keep rising. The mayor criticizes the state's school building committee model for lacking construction expertise. He addresses climate resilience, noting Easton's Beach loses a foot per year and protects Newport's drinking water supply, leading the city to appoint a chief resiliency officer. When asked about running for higher office, the mayor focuses on his current role but doesn't rule it out. The second segment features Kim Kalunian's interview with Rhode Island DOT Director Peter Alviti. He explains the Washington Bridge demolition contract came in 57% higher than expected due to contractor risk, an unstable structure, and regional competition from federal infrastructure funding. Alviti states no companies are debarred from bidding except Barletta, and Aetna was unanimously selected. He hopes the forensic analysis on the bridge failure will be made public. Traffic updates show reduced accidents and improved westbound flow, with eastbound congestion easing in summer. Demolition mobilization is expected mid-month, with deconstruction starting later in summer. The episode concludes with a mention of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's comments on President Biden.

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