Langevin goes face-to-face with 150 constituents

Healthcare, jobs and President Trump were all highlighted topics during Congressman Jim Langevin’s town hall meeting last Tuesday, but the planned extension of Warwick sewers known as the Bayside project grabbed the most passionate responses.

At the beginning of the evening at City Council Chambers, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian introduced the Congressman to the 150 attendees.

Before the start of Q&A, Langevin read from prepared notes regarding the Warwick sewers. In the statement, he talked about the difficulties faced due to cuts of federal funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as complications such as the location of Native American burial grounds.

The topic of sewers would not be brought up again until over halfway through the evening. One woman was extremely concerned about the financial burden to taxpayers without federal funding.

“Without funding, are you still going to bulldoze through,” the woman asked. “Most people can’t afford it.” The projected homeowner assessment for the Bayside project is $25,000.

Langevin reiterated that Congress is not supportive of projects like this, but that it was something he wanted everyone to work together on.

“I love Warwick, I want to see it grow,” Langevin said. “I want the residents to have a good quality of life.”

Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur followed up in support of the woman and talked about the costs being saddled on his constituents.

“The federal government, back in the ’80s, recognized that this was a problem for the environment and health and safety,” he said. “Now the federal money has dried up.”

When it became clear that discussion on the sewers was dying down, the woman left with others.

Ward 7 Councilman Steve McAllister, senior manager of the Eastern Region for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has visited town halls across New England in order to get a sense of the public’s concerns.

“You see the same issues pop up over and over at these town halls, which gives me a good sense of what I should bring back to the Chamber,” said McAllister “It’s critical that people participate. They need to know where the priorities are.”

In his travels, McAllister noted that the reoccurring topics included health care, immigration reform, comprehensive tax reform, as well as things that are prominent in that news cycle, like North Korea.

Besides the sewers, healthcare was the source of many concerns. Kathleen Carty, PhD of Vantage Point in West Warwick was concerned that a health care reform would lower the cap on the number of sessions that would be covered for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Langevin pledged to look for ways to support veteran’s health, considers health care to be a right for all, and will “continue to robustly look for ways to support mental health services.”

A major theme in Langevin’s answers, regardless of the question, drew back to the current climate in Washington. Speaking on Charlottesville, Langevin said that President Trump’s rhetoric has emboldened these hate groups and that he condemns hate speech.

“There is no place for that,” he said.

President Trump’s recent remarks on Afghanistan sparked some concerns amongst attendees.

“When can we say we can go home?” asked a constituent.

“This war weighs on me every day,” said Langevin. “I want our troops to come home as soon they possibly can, but when the job is done.”

Langevin has placed an importance on meeting with the people that he represents. “It has been the honor and privilege of my life to represent the 2nd District in Congress,” he said.

Tuesday’s town hall was the second of two he’s held this month. Last year, the Congressman started a program called “Lunch with Langevin.” Each quarter, he holds the open event at a restaurant in the state to get feedback from Rhode Islanders.