Opinion/Muñoz and Noka: Coastal management council lacking accountability

Luis Daniel Muñoz and Bella Noka, Guest columnists

Published 5:45 pm, Nov. 11, 2021 

Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz is a Democrat running for governor of Rhode Island. Bella Noka is a Narragansett Tribal Elder and chairwoman of Red Wind. John Manock, a journalist who covers environmental and ocean issues, contributed to this commentary.

Rhode Island’s oceans are our greatest gift. They drive our economy, provide recreation for tourists and locals alike, and tether our relationship to nature. An important role of Rhode Island’s state government is to ensure that our precious oceanic resources are managed in a way that protects Rhode Islanders’ health, safety, and their access to the sea.

That stewardship falls to the Coastal Resources Management Council, a group designed to have 10 members appointed by the governor. But chronic mismanagement, lack of dedicated resources to protect public coastal access, and disregard of the legal requirements for council appointments has contributed to concerns that the CRMC is placing the needs of a few well-connected individuals above the well-being of most Rhode Islanders.