Listen, Rhode Islanders, Imma let you finish, but Taylor Swift is one of the best neighbors of all time.
There's been some misguided anger towards the 24-year-old country-pop singer for rebuilding a sea wall outside of her beachfront Westerly, R.I., home. One opinion column claimed the construction was being done on a "public" beach without "one single permit from the town," but Laura Dwyer, a spokeswoman for the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, told The Westerly Sun Swift's "riprap revetment repair" is A-OK--and yes, proper permits were obtained.
"It all started during [Hurricane] Sandy," Dwyer told the paper. "The wall sustained damage during Sandy." She confirmed that on Nov. 6 permits were issued to Swift for repairs on the stone wall (replacing unsafe rocks and resettling existing rocks), adding that the construction being done is "a permitted activity."
And locals needn't worry, because Swift's sea wall won't be preventing them from accessing their beloved East Beach. "There must be access at all times [during construction]," Dwyer said. "We made sure of that."
Westerly's director of planning, code enforcement and grant administration, Amy Grzybowski, confirmed that town officials are aware of Swift's construction.
Let's hope Swift's Northern neighbors come around. Swift's Southern neighbors have nothing but love for the Nashville-based beauty. In fact, she was just named 2013 Tennessean of the Year.
Rhode Island, just remember, it's never too late to be brand new!
-Reporting by Marc Malkin