Rhode Island Grapples with Luxury Property Tax, Invasive Species, and Global Trade Shifts

New Levy Targets Seasonal Homes Amidst Growing Environmental and Economic Concerns

Rhode Island is implementing a new tax on high-value, infrequently occupied homes. This measure aims to boost state revenue as federal funding diminishes and economic forecasts darken, despite a recent stock market rally.

Luxury Property Tax Explained

The new tax targets second homes, primarily those near the coast, valued above $1 million and vacant for over 183 days annually. Owners will face an additional $2.50 charge for every $500 of assessed value exceeding the $1 million threshold. For instance, a property assessed at $1.5 million would incur a $2,500 tax. Properties rented out for more than half the year are exempt, an attempt to encourage year-round residency and local spending.

While taxes are often unpopular, this levy is unlikely to significantly deter residents, though it may not drastically increase year-round occupancy. Historically, taxing seasonal residents has been a contentious issue in various locales.

Higher Education and Federal Influence

Elite private institutions, such as Brown University, are increasingly interacting with the federal government, particularly when substantial federal funding is involved. This relationship raises questions about the potential for federal intervention in institutional practices, including affirmative action policies.

Innovations in Traffic Management

Cities like Boston are leveraging artificial intelligence and real-time driving data to optimize traffic flow. A recent implementation involving a mere 10-second adjustment to street light timings reportedly eased congestion significantly.

Locally, encouraging drivers to signal turns and improving adherence to four-way stop sign rules remain challenges. While additional traffic lights could enhance safety, they represent a substantial cost to taxpayers. Simple measures, such as trimming obstructive vegetation around stop signs, could also boost safety without significant expense.

Invasive Species Threaten New England Ecosystems

Global warming is facilitating the spread of invasive plants and animals into southern New England. These invaders outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems, and can be toxic. Species like Barberry, Black Swallow-Wort, Glossy Buckthorn, and Oriental Bittersweet are spreading rapidly, with the potential for more aggressive species like Kudzu to become widespread.

Combating these plant invaders involves manual removal, introducing natural predators or diseases from their native habitats, or employing herbicides cautiously. Interestingly, some of these aggressive plants possess medicinal properties.

Meanwhile, invasive Green Crabs, originating from southern Europe, are proliferating along the New England coast due to rising seawater temperatures. They consume valuable shellfish and damage vital habitats like marshes and eelgrass beds. However, these crabs are finding new purpose as a food source, yielding excellent stock for soups and stews, and serving as effective bait. Entrepreneurs are capitalizing on this, with local businesses like Dune Brothers serving Green Crabs, potentially helping to control their populations.

Transatlantic Trade Relations Undergoing Change

The imposition of 15% tariffs by the Trump administration on goods from the European Community is expected to impact key EU economic sectors, American consumers, and some U.S. businesses. The long-term effects on reshoring manufacturing are uncertain, especially as automation and AI are projected to reduce factory job numbers.

Consumers may soon see higher prices for European vehicles and pharmaceuticals. The volatile nature of trade agreements under the current administration creates unpredictability, prompting European nations to seek more stable trading partnerships, including with China.

Concurrently, European nations are significantly increasing their defense spending and bolstering their defense industries. This strategic shift, partly driven by a perceived unreliability from the U.S., is likely to eventually impact American defense contractors. The long-held belief in an unbreakable bond between America and Europe, based on shared values and U.S. leadership in defense, has been challenged, pushing Europe towards greater self-reliance.

Renewable Energy Projects Advance

Wind power projects on Scotland’s Isle of Lewis have finally received approval after decades of delays caused by environmental concerns, community opposition, and grid expansion challenges. This development offers a potential model for similar projects in New England.

The burgeoning demand for electricity to power data centers supporting artificial intelligence presents a significant energy and environmental challenge. A proposed AI data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is projected to consume over five times the electricity currently used by all households in the state, with plans to power it using natural gas and wind energy.

The prevalence of tipping jars at checkout counters is on the rise across various businesses. While some view this as a convenience at smaller establishments, its appearance at large corporate chains, where executives earn substantial salaries, is seen by many as a mechanism to subsidize low wages.

Howard Gardiner Cushing Exhibition Captivates Newport

The Newport Art Museum is currently hosting a remarkable exhibition of paintings by **Howard Gardiner Cushing** (1869-1916). This exhibition is considered one of the finest art shows available this summer, offering a compelling look at an artist who bridged 19th-century realism with early 20th-century modernism.

Cushing’s diverse body of work includes striking portraiture, impressionistic scenes of daily life, imaginative compositions, and grand murals. Influenced by artists like **James McNeill Whistler**, French Impressionism, and European Symbolists, his unique style is characterized by masterful color usage, elegant lines, and emotional depth. His deep connection to Newport and the New England landscape is evident in his art.

“Why marvel over windows that flip at a touch from clear to opaque, or carpets that a lifetime of scuffs will never stain? This all was destined, down to the newest model ultrasound toothbrush. Only the stubborn, ordinary ratio of sadness to happiness seems immune to progress…’’

—Robert B. Shaw, Poet and Emeritus Professor

“Appearances are a glimpse of the obscure.’’

—Anaxagoras, Greek philosopher (circa 500-428 B.C.)

“Epitaph, n. An inscription on a tomb, showing that virtues acquired by death have a retroactive effect.’’

—Ambrose Bierce, American Writer (1842-circa 1914)