From 1980-97, Rhode Island s core cities had a net loss of nearly 5,000 private sector jobs while the rest of the state registered a net gain of approximately 48,000 private sector jobs. And as of 1990, urban core communities had only 30 percent of the state s families but 61 percent of all R.I. families have income levels falling below the poverty line. Furthermore, infrastructure is being wasted. Aquidneck Island is a classic case study of these trends, said Wolf. Newport is losing its population while Middletown and Portsmouth are gaining residents.
People nowadays are too auto-dependent.
In the past two and a half years alone, the number of automobiles owned has increased by 17 percent. We have more polluted run-offs than ever. This is due to the increase in parking lots, septic systems and highways. There is a loss in the community character, a trait Wolf believes to be our greatest marketing asset. 138 flashed on the slide projector above.