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Border War: Rhode Island vs. Connecticut
Aired June 12, 2003 - 13:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The smallest state in the union could shrink even more if one of its neighbors has its way. After all these years, Rhode Island and Connecticut cannot quite agree on their border.
As Anthony Everett of WCVB reports, this big dispute involves two tiny towns.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTHONY EVERETT, WCVB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For more than 160 years the neighboring towns of Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and North Stonington, Connecticut, have lived quietly within the jagged state borders established in an 1840 survey.
Now, quaint little North Stonington is waging a revolution over parts of Rhode Island they say are rightfully theirs.
According to a recent high-tech North Stonington survey, the borders ratified in 1840 have not been adhered to and 22 acres in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, are actually in Connecticut.
REP. DIANA URBAN, CONNECTICUT: It's the old Yankee stubbornness. When they put out those borders, they decided to put them where they wanted to. And now we're looking back and saying, no, that boundary simply isn't right, according to new technology GIS standards.
EVERETT: More land means more property taxes. This map, drawn by the Hopkinton assessor, shows the contested acreage, marked in red.
The back porch of this house used to be in Connecticut. Now according to North Stonington, the whole property is.
The family who lives here sends their kids to Rhode Island schools. Now they're told they should be schooled in Connecticut. The tax bill's already arrived, even though a 1990 marker just across the street puts them in Rhode Island.
ROBERT CORRIGAN, HOPKINTON TOWN COUNCIL SPOKESMAN: People who have actually grown up, lived here, been residents of the town of Hopkinton for many, many years, all of a sudden find themselves in the stroke of a map or a challenge from a neighboring town that they're now living in another state. I mean, it's very disruptive.
EVERETT: That's certainly how proud Rhode Islander Iva Crider feels, now that the Nutmeg State says she lives in Connecticut. Iva has lived in the house her husband built since 1954. They've raised chickens, and children there.
IVA CRIDER, RHODE ISLAND RESIDENT: I think it's a crock of baloney! I just wish they would leave it alone.
EVERETT: The 78-year-old grandmother just wants to stay close to what's familiar, the post office, health care services, and the police who put their flashers on when they drive by her house.
To Iva, all the border bombast is nothing more than politicking.
CRIDER: So I'll do this and that and stir it up and they'll remember me because I made a name for myself. Just leave us alone.
EVERETT: Anthony Everett, News Center 5.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 12, 2003 - 13:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The smallest state in the union could shrink even more if one of its neighbors has its way. After all these years, Rhode Island and Connecticut cannot quite agree on their border.
As Anthony Everett of WCVB reports, this big dispute involves two tiny towns.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTHONY EVERETT, WCVB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For more than 160 years the neighboring towns of Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and North Stonington, Connecticut, have lived quietly within the jagged state borders established in an 1840 survey.
Now, quaint little North Stonington is waging a revolution over parts of Rhode Island they say are rightfully theirs.
According to a recent high-tech North Stonington survey, the borders ratified in 1840 have not been adhered to and 22 acres in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, are actually in Connecticut.
REP. DIANA URBAN, CONNECTICUT: It's the old Yankee stubbornness. When they put out those borders, they decided to put them where they wanted to. And now we're looking back and saying, no, that boundary simply isn't right, according to new technology GIS standards.
EVERETT: More land means more property taxes. This map, drawn by the Hopkinton assessor, shows the contested acreage, marked in red.
The back porch of this house used to be in Connecticut. Now according to North Stonington, the whole property is.
The family who lives here sends their kids to Rhode Island schools. Now they're told they should be schooled in Connecticut. The tax bill's already arrived, even though a 1990 marker just across the street puts them in Rhode Island.
ROBERT CORRIGAN, HOPKINTON TOWN COUNCIL SPOKESMAN: People who have actually grown up, lived here, been residents of the town of Hopkinton for many, many years, all of a sudden find themselves in the stroke of a map or a challenge from a neighboring town that they're now living in another state. I mean, it's very disruptive.
EVERETT: That's certainly how proud Rhode Islander Iva Crider feels, now that the Nutmeg State says she lives in Connecticut. Iva has lived in the house her husband built since 1954. They've raised chickens, and children there.
IVA CRIDER, RHODE ISLAND RESIDENT: I think it's a crock of baloney! I just wish they would leave it alone.
EVERETT: The 78-year-old grandmother just wants to stay close to what's familiar, the post office, health care services, and the police who put their flashers on when they drive by her house.
To Iva, all the border bombast is nothing more than politicking.
CRIDER: So I'll do this and that and stir it up and they'll remember me because I made a name for myself. Just leave us alone.
EVERETT: Anthony Everett, News Center 5.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
