Follow up on 38 Studios Post

One of our regular contributors, Greg Gerritt, from the Environment Council, sent us, in response to our blog, a letter to the editor he had just sent to the Providence Journal.

We thought this was a good follow up to our posting.  Again, we are non-political, we are not here to slam Keith  Stokes or anyone at EDC, but feel it is important, as part of our coverage of the "business side of green" to cover this major story and its fall out:

"To the editor,  I have seen a number of people praise Keith Stokes on his way out of the door at the RI Economic Development Corporation, but I think it bears remembering that 38 Studios is the second major blunder of this sort in his economic development career.  Mr. Stokes was completely taken in by the con men who convinced most of the economic development establishment of Rhode Island that they could be a successful gigantic container port.  Eventually the public won out and the con men were unmasked, but right until the end Mr Stokes was a proponent of their port.

38 Studios shows Mr. Stokes in the same light.  Completely taken in by the celebrity of Curt Schilling even though he also had no track record of success and wanted someone else's money to build his fantasy scam.

I will note that that the problem in the economic development game that is Rhode Island is not just Keith Stokes, it is that the establishment in Rhode Island is still convinced that give aways to the 1% is economic development, while the reality is that only ecological healing, reducing inequality in income, and more democracy and transparency is the road forward economically.  I hope Governor Chafee takes this opportunity to rethink what he wants from the EDC, but it appears that he will find another economic development guy with their head in the sand about where the economy is really going."

We concur that ecological healing is critical to economic growth.  Too long we've misused natural resources and stripped our earth of much of its beauty and resilience.  We can do much better.  

In the coming days, you'll hear about a brand new renewable energy fund we helped start that will focus first on RI, then New England, then grow nationally.  We are committed to putting our money into smart growth and help lead the path to a cleaner, brighter, more sustainable future.

We sincerely hope 38 Studios rights its wrongs and is a bright part of that future as well.  We need lots of great companies to help carry the load.  

Tell us your story on how you will help.