In a recent New England Diary post author / blogger Robert Whitcomb praises Mayor Angel Taveras for adopting strong industrial zoning to protect Providence’s working waterfront from incompatible mixed uses.

Laud Taveras for helping to protect Providence’s working waterfront

All hail Providence Mayor Angel Taveras for signing an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance to protect Providence’s working waterfront and port from being ruined by developers’ plans for condos and restaurants.

The port and industrial uses of the waterfront are what actually increase the region’s wealth, not speculative, property-flipping condo and other real-estate developers and low-paying “hospitality industry” jobs, many of which are highly seasonal. The area desperately needs the steady and well-paying “blue-collar elite” jobs provided by a working waterfront and port.

We have enough restaurants. We need a real economy.