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Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine on the need for change in the food stamp program in the state of Rhode Island.
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Speaking of food stamps in the town of Woonsocket wrong Rhode Island the 13 of the residents are on food stamps and joining us now is the matter of Woonsocket DO Fontaine -- mr.
you're on -- welcome to the program would be happy with a the more historic quality good morning that's a very high number -- 13 of the people I believe that's acted out of -- -- -- that was in the Washington Post this and to reportedly went out with some of the people the recipients that.
It -- to -- that with that kind of -- -- in your town.
-- you can't possibly be in favor of any kind of trimming of the food stamp program.
Well you know -- -- -- it's unfortunate that this story focused on and socket as a as a city as the focal point to that story because he really could have.
They could have picked any urban center in in Rhode Island for the state of -- Rhode -- numbers one and five people are on food stamps.
And nationwide this is a debate that's going on and I think if anything this is a positive thing that -- keeps the controversy.
And -- discussion over the food stamp program.
The whole going you see what amazes us is you know it is is this America.
Is this what America's really all of bounce.
-- a quarter million immigrants getting food stamps 13 of the people in your town a similar towns similar numbers all over the country.
It it seems that that's not quite the America that we want to see what would be -- comment on that.
No I agree this comes down to a point as to whether or not we're serving in need or we're creating -- And when -- comfort output here in Rhode Island we just had to study that was done showing massive abuses of these programs.
Food stamps being given to two individuals that are deceased food -- going to people that are in prisons.
And and I know you've spoken about this before but I I ended up pulling up this is the applications that you can get on the state of -- website for food stamps.
And it's no surprise that -- like it has such a high number because if you look right in the very top of the application it lists one -- it's addressed we are to go where to go.
And that the thing that I find most interest I think you'll appreciate this the very back page of the applications.
Has a voter registration form attached to it.
And I think that this gets to the very root of the problem that are we serving a problem or are we creating a -- Whip our our -- -- -- on I am surprised to hear you saying this on I thought I was gonna be talking to a man who was a vigorous defender of the food stamp program because your town is so reliant upon it.
But you should be critical office.
While -- Iran there is say I think a real need out here and I think that we all have their responsibility to try to serve those and help those people that have a real need.
But when you look at some of the the priorities and then you -- through the story in the in the Washington Post and they talked to some of these individuals on these programs and that they they talk about how they have to decide how to spend their money whether it's on their cell phone bill.
Whether or not it's -- pay their rent or to pay that did -- bill to the tattoo parlor.
And I think that these are the sorts of things that make the working people that are trying to pay these bills says there's a scratch your head and say what's this all about.
You got it right Leo Fontaine in the matter of when socket Rhonda Rhode Island.
Thanks so much for being so honest and forthcoming so we do appreciate that it's -- now I appreciate very much is a great discussion to have.
Thank you so coming -- -- thank -- and.
