Newport this Week Questions

NTW sent Ward One primary candidates a set of questions for their 8-15-24 issue.

Below are my responses.

Question #1 What is your background (occupation, education, family, etc.)?

Response #1 My candidate profile below provides the best and most complete  

                        information for voters regarding my background

                       CANDIDATE PROFILE

Hugo J DeAscentis

Candidate – Newport City Council – Ward One

Lifelong Newport Resident

Attended Newport Public Schools K-12

Graduate University of Rhode Island 1976 – BA Biology

Career in the Sciences:

Laboratory Supervisor - Newport Water Department

Supervisor Water Plant Operations – Providence Water

Current – RI Level 2 Drinking Water System Assessor

Current – Water System Operations Instructor CCRI/Workforce partnerships 

Previous elected office -  Newport School Committee, serving 13 years ending 2010.

Personal – married to Sheila DeAscentis former Newport Public Schools

Elementary Special Education aid.

Raised 3 sons  all attending Newport Public School k-12.

Community - Former President Coggeshall Elementary School PTO

Former Newport Little league team manager (People’s Credit Union)

Former parent volunteer Newport recreation Department Youth Soccer Coach.

Parishioner St Joseph Church

The Newport Community - of the 39 cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island, Newport, I believe, is the most desirable.  It is a city. diverse, sophisticated, and complex, yet small and manageable.

However, Newport has many challenges.   

Newport needs a stronger program to help maintain rather than replace its building and infrastructure. (such as we are now seeing with the high school and Easton beach).

Housing, particularly work force housing, is needed to provide a local work force to allow workers to earn a living  wage and remain in the community in which they work.  Business will be attracted to a community with an available work force.

Elderly housing to provide affordable housing for our long term residents.

Traffic – always a problem but traffic issues must be minimized.

Continue to promote Newport’s pedestrian advantages with clean sidewalks as well as clean streets.

It is imperative that city operations respond to all residents.

Lean budgets ensure efficiency. 

Health and safety are always a top priority

I hope to bring some level of experience, talent, and certainly my persistence to elected office to address and resolve Newport’s many issues.

Please consider my candidacy.

All concerns are Important

All votes are important

Question #2 What are your thoughts on the mostly completed RIDOT Pell Bridge ramp realignment project and its resulting new traffic pattern? What traffic safety measures should be taken on Admiral Kalbfus Road, if any? 

Response to question 2  The word “traffic” implies motorized vehicles.  However, my overall philosophy is that Newport should be fully accessible whether by car or by bicycle or on foot (even with a stroller).  Recently, as a pedestrian, I was stopped at the end of Halsey Street by impassible fencing. More work is needed here.

Admiral Kalbfus remains legally classified as a “barrier” requiring all students to be bussed across to get to Pell Elementary school.  More work is needed here as well.

Question #3 If elected, how will you work to address flooding in the North End? 

Response to question 3.  Coincidently I have career level experience regarding water issues.  For Safe Drinking Water/public water I have experience and full Rhode Island certifications.  For Clean Water/Wastewater I have familiarity but not certifications.   Engineering, permitting and regulatory approvals will always be needed. However, what I can uniquely offer is a critical review of all phases of a proposed solution and the drive to walk the issue through to a final successful long term solution.

Question #4 Where do you stand on short-term rentals? Do you agree with recent action taken or considered by the City Council to increase housing stock, including a potential citywide ban on all new, non-owner-occupied short-term rentals?

Response to question 4  The negative issues associated with short term rentals may possibly be resolved in another way.  However, with the disproportionate rise in the cost of real estate, what is becoming critically important is the need to provide affordable workforce housing.  In particular, work force housing, is needed to provide a local work force to allow workers to earn a living wage and remain in the community in which they work.  Business will be attracted to a community with an available work force.