The town of Westerly has dismissed a criminal case against a beachfront property owner police say repeatedly spray-painted a shoreline right-of-way sign in Watch Hill. Last month, police charged David M. Roth, 76, with four counts of vandalism. Police believe Roth was responsible for vandalizing a sign that needed to be replaced multiple times over […]
shoreline access
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Sept. 20, 2024
On national pepperoni pizza day, you could do worse than the Roni Island at Pizza Marvin. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Westerly Town Council holds ‘infomercial’ for embattled solicitor, prevents public comment at meeting
Westerly Town Solicitor William Conley Monday night defended himself against criticism from the public and some members of the Westerly Town Council over his office’s failure to submit legal research and analysis to the federal government prior to the transfer of the Watch Hill Lighthouse to a private non-profit earlier this year. Conley also denied […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Property owner suing RI over beach access law faces vandalism charges
A Westerly property owner making a legal challenge against Rhode Island’s new shoreline access law has been charged with repeatedly vandalizing a beach right-of-way sign near his home. Police say David M. Roth, who owns a $10.8 million property in Watch Hill with his wife but resides in West Hartford, Conn., spray-painted a beach access […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Judge sides with property owners in blow to new shoreline access law
A Rhode Island Superior Court judge says the state’s new shoreline access law has resulted in the unconstitutional taking of private beachfront property without just compensation to landowners. In two decisions filed Friday, Associate Justice Sarah Taft-Carter denied Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s motion to throw out cases brought by property owners in South […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Charlestown police accused of empowering ‘vigilantes’ to help patrol local beach
Shoreline access and civil liberties advocates are crying foul over a new policy in Charlestown welcoming private individuals to collect surveillance evidence for police to use in enforcing a vehicle ordinance on a barrier beach at the center of multiple beach access legal fights. Under the new policy rolled out by the Charlestown Police Department […]
Posted inLocal, South County Bureau
Westerly councilor flips off audience, makes ‘obscene’ gesture at public meeting
Members of the public are calling on the Westerly Town Council to take action against a councilor who repeatedly gave the audience the middle finger at a council meeting Monday night and made what several witnesses interpreted as an “obscene gesture.” Video of Monday night’s council meeting shows Councilor Robert Lombardo sticking up his middle […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
A push to further restrict driving on a local barrier beach has shoreline advocates crying ‘ruse’
The Charlestown Town Council voted Tuesday night to reject a proposed ordinance change that would have extended the period each summer season when people are prohibited from driving vehicles on the beach in the town. The 3-2 vote followed about two-and-half hours of public comment replete with historical references, impassioned calls for conservation as well […]
Posted inLocal, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
Westerly beach parking bans are being called forms of ‘bigotry’
You could almost call this a tale of two towns, within the confines of one municipality. In downtown Westerly and nearby areas, drivers riding in two-way traffic pass between rows of vehicles parked on both sides of the street. Pedestrians stroll along sidewalks, and trucks make delivery stops in the middle of the road. But […]
Posted inArticle, Local, Shoreline Access, South County Bureau
ACLU represents beach access advocate sued by Weekapaug Fire District
The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union is defending a Westerly resident and beach access advocate being sued by the Weekapaug Fire District for advocating that the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council designate a public right-of-way to the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach. The ACLU is working with former Rhode Island Assistant Attorney […]