Taylor Swift wrongly accused of being bad neighbor - San Jose Mercury News

By Ann Tatko-Peterson

Contra Costa Times

It looks as if Taylor Swift won't be invited anytime soon to the neighborhood block party.

The 24-year-old pop singer has rankled neighbors in Westerly, Rhode Island, by moving tons of coastline rocks while building a massive wall around her mansion. But perhaps it's the neighbors who are acting the part of divas.

One neighbor told TMZ, "It was bad enough when she moved in, but to ruin a part of the town for all of us ... this is a whole new level of hate."

Hate -- such strong emotions and all because Swift's landscaping is allegedly blocking public access to the beach.

This is what passes for drama in a small Rhode Island community. Fortunately, the spokeswoman for the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council rode to Swift's rescue.

Taylor Swift arrives at the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss)

Laura Dwyer told the Westerly Sun that Swift was issued permits on Nov. 6 to repair a stone wall already on the property, while replacing unsafe rocks and resettling existing rocks. "It all started during (Hurricane) Sandy," Dwyer told the newspaper. "The wall sustained damage during Sandy."

And fears are unfounded that the repaired sea wall will deny neighbors beach access. "There must be access at all times (during construction)," Dwyer said. "We made sure of that."