Speaker Shekarchi statement on the resignation of Housing Secretary Josh Saal

Below is a statement from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi on the resignation of Rhode Island Housing Secretary Josh Saal:

“I am disappointed by the lack of progress that was made under Secretary Saal’s leadership and the inadequate reports he recently submitted to the legislature. The General Assembly committed unprecedented resources to address affordable housing and homelessness in the last two budgets, and there has been very little funding spent so far. 

“We need immediate production and I look forward to working with Governor McKee and a new secretary. The time to act is now! The position of housing secretary was created through legislation that I sponsored, and it is vital to have one point of contact responsible for heading our state’s efforts to address the critical housing shortage. I hope the new secretary will be a person of action with a record of getting things done in Rhode Island.”