2026 BIRA Town Council & Legislative Forum Oct. 25, 2026 SD 480p

The Block Island Residents Association (BIRA) hosted its 2026 Legislative and Town Council Candidate Forum, featuring State Senator Alana DiMario and candidates for the New Shoreham Town Council. The discussion covered the most significant issues facing Block Island, including housing, coastal resilience, senior services, deer management and tick-borne disease, school renovation, property taxes, tourism, transportation, and public safety. Use the chapter markers below to jump directly to topics of interest. 0:00 Welcome & Forum Format   13:51 Vision for Block Island's Future   26:23 Infrastructure, Climate Resilience & Growth Challenges 34:04 Coastal Resilience Planning & Funding   35:44 Supporting Block Island Seniors 40:42 Aging in Place & Elder Care Services 44:50 Senior Services, Recreation & Human Services   48:59 Deer Management, Tick-Borne Disease & Public Health 49:24 Candidate Positions on Deer Elimination 56:18 Strategies for Deer Reduction & Eradication 1:01:57 Working with DEM, DOH & State Government   1:08:38 School Renovation, Costs & State Funding 1:12:40 Cost of a New or Renovated School 1:21:35 Workforce Training, Trades & Student Internships   1:25:23 Second Home Property Tax ("Taylor Swift Tax") 1:35:54 Affordable Housing Funding & State Aid 1:43:54 Local Property Tax Structure   1:52:08 Tourism, Capacity & Economic Growth   1:55:01 Ferry Service, Transportation & Port Authority Discussion   1:58:20 Parking Lot G & Mainland Parking Challenges   2:04:24 Downtown Traffic & Roadway Safety 2:06:05 E-Bikes, Scooters & Safety Concerns   2:14:10 Closing Statements   2:21:42 Forum Adjournment Summary Topics discussed included: Affordable housing and workforce retention Coastal resilience and climate adaptation Services for seniors and aging in place Deer reduction, tick-borne disease, and public health The future of the Block Island School and education funding The Rhode Island second-home property tax Tourism management and infrastructure capacity Ferry service, parking, and transportation issues Downtown traffic, e-bikes, and roadway safety Hosted by the Block Island Residents Association (BIRA). For more information about BIRA and its work on issues affecting Block Island residents, visit BIRA's website www.BIRA02807.org and follow future community forums and public discussions.