• About those empty stores: Merchants long seeking to rent open Main Street locations have been receiving an explanation for delay from RIOC’s real-estate consultant, Paul Mas, consisting of the RIOC President’s column from the August 26 issue of The WIRE. In it, Herb Berman reported that RIOC lawyers and Mas are trying to figure out the implications of the State’s Public Authorities Accountability Act, which was passed last year and became effective early this year. Meanwhile, rentals continue in Southtown, where commercial properties are not controlled by RIOC in Southtown. In a September 6 covering letter, Mas wrote, "We hope to have direction from RIOC shortly on the process and procedure for the leasing of retail space."