Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Friday, April 05, 2013
Who’s Hot
Lincoln Chafee and RIDE -> Kudos to the Governor and the Department of Education for taking a serious look at the quality of school building in the state - 1 out 4 schools in Rhode Island were found in need of improvement. Now we need to do something.
Allan Fung-> Fung is the GOP’s best hope going forward. Kudos to the Mayor for a job well done, and city budget without a tax increase. Fung declared, “Our residents had to bear the burden of a history of mismanagement for far too many years, and because of our continued down economy, they need and deserve another break.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSenator Josh Miller and Representative Jay Edwards –> Thanks to the efforts of advocates like Protect Families First and Students for Sensible Drug Policy, these officials won the support of leadership and helped push Rhode Island to join the states which have decriminalized small scale marijuana possession.
Holly Ewald-> With a great team to support the mission, this community-oriented Rhode Island artist is revving up for the annual Urban Pond Procession, which uses the arts and humanities to celebrate and support the clean-up of Providence and Cranston ponds. Despite its focus on our local Pawtuxet River Watershed, the UPP model has begun attracting attention from as far away as Ohio.
Providence Emergency Responders-> Kudos to the response team who talked down a man from suicide at the Providence Place Mall. In these tense times, it’s inspiring to hear stories with a happy ending.
Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless-> Some excellent research demands a call to action. The number of homeless people in Rhode Island increased from 4,410 individuals in 2011, to 4,868 in 2012. Matching House and Senate bills propose to allot $3.25 million for rental vouchers and emergency winter shelter costs to help tackle this problem.
Ken Block -> Block has been a strong advocate for eliminating the confusing Master Lever. Making ballots more clear and easy to understand is not a liberal or conservative issue – it’s a good government issue. Let’s hope the reform bill is not killed by further study.
Angel Taveras-> As Stockton and Detroit teeter into bankruptcy and receivership, Mayor Taveras and his team deserve the attention from the Washington Post for their work on keeping democratically elected government alive in Providence.
Who’s Not
Mike Riley-> Unfortunately, this GOP candidate for Congress appears to have studied at the Frank Ciccone School of Government.
Bill Murphy-> The former Speaker of the House is making $50,000 per session to advocate for companies charging annualized interest rates of up to 260 percent. You would think someone who also lobbies for the Correction Officer's union would stay away from loan sharks.
Steve Archambault-> The State Senator, and former candidate for AG, recently said efforts to eliminate the confusing Master Lever were, "a minority push to try to even the playing field, to be frank with you." Rhode Island – Unequal, and damn proud of it.
Gordon Fox -> Ethics reform is still held hostage.
City of Providence-> Over 400,000 capital city parking tickets are unpaid and outstanding. The city needs to either more efficiently collect fines and fees, or reconsider how and why it is giving out so many parking tickets.
Our Small Business Climate-> A new study from Thumbtack.com and the Kaufman Foundation notes, “Rhode Island was rated the most challenging state in which to start a new business.” Next steps?
Teresa Paiva Weed -> Any talk of raising revenue through changes in the income tax has been cold-shouldered. Massachusetts is debating a hike in income tax and a cut in sales tax. We’re floating in a murky status quo that leaves public services stretched… those school buildings won’t fix themselves!
Renaissance Hotel -> This isn't a small business struggling for cash flow - this is a big business, existing in part because of tax credits, overworking and underpaying its staff. Several members of the City Council, including Luis Aponte and Council President Michael Solomon, supported organizers in asking for a fair deal.
Related Articles
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
