Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?

Friday, August 23, 2013

Dan Lawlor, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

 

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Kudos to Deborah Gist and Charlie Fogarty–the state will see a hefty grant to improve the quality of adult education programs.

Every Friday, Dan Lawlor breaks down who's rising and who's falling in the world of Rhode Island politics. Check out who made the lists this week.

Who’s Hot

Antoinette Tuff:This remarkable person, not a Rhode Islander, but an American, talked down a person bent on committing a mass school shooting in Atlanta. Once again, like the street vendors a few years back who spotted the potential Times Square bomb, an everyday person stepped up to change events.

Deborah Gist and Charlie Fogarty: The state will receive over half a million dollar grant to support technology and oversight of our adult education programs at the Department of Education and Department of Labor and Training. Eva-Marie Mancuso, Chair of the dubious Super Board of Education, noted, "I want to congratulate the teachers, staff members, leaders of our adult education programs, and all of our adult learners for meeting their goals and earning our state eligibility for this important incentive award." Ditto.

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Giovanni Feroce: It's honor enough to place your company on Inc. magazine's annual list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America... but how about two of your companies? Yes, Feroce is CEO of Alex and Ani and Seven Swords advertising agency, both of which made Inc.'s list of the top 500. Plus, the biggest revenue company on the list from Rhode Island was Alex and Ani - reporting revenue of $79.8 million.

Jorge Elorza: Classical alum, URI and Harvard Law gradElorza has resigned from his position as a Municipal Housing Court judge, where he took on the poor oversight of foreclosed properties practiced by big banks. From his recent appearance on the back page of Providence Monthly to his networking with concerned and active folks across the city, it seems Elorza is poised to make a big splash in the Mayor's race (pending Taveras' run for Governor). Elorza joins, among others, GOP candidate Dr. Dan Harrop, and potential Democratic candidates Brett Smiley, Victor Capellan, and Sabina Matos (any Greens out there?).

RNC: Last week, the Republican National Committee held its summer meeting just an hour North, in Boston. As the Globe reported, National GOP chair Reince Priebus positively acknowledged the GOP's challenge with outreach beyond its base. “Part of our problem as a party is that we haven't shown up. I think if you're going to get the sale, you've got to ask for the order." Or listen to a neighbor and see what she's concerned about. Is this a new GOP strategy or window dressing? Let's see what happens.

Davian Sanchez: Each city councilor receives several tens of thousands of dollars from federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to distribute to causes in their wards (we really should split this cash by participatory budgeting, not buddy buddy budgeting). However, in the meantime, tip of the hat to Sanchez for working with other councilors to pull together parts of their individual CDBG grants to offerthe city funds to bring the swimming pool back to the Davey Lopes Recreation Center. Will the city take it? 

Jonny Skye, Lizzie Kravatz, and Kaitlin Fiorenzano/RISE: Children of incarcerated adults are 6 times more likely to have challenges with the law and in school. The hard-working staff and volunteers of Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education connect families, mentors, tutors, scholarships, and caring adults to interrupt that cold number with new paths. Kudos to RISE as they celebrate the Back to School kick off. Check them out.

Jim Vincent:This year is the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, a nation-changing event. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, said, "1963 is a beginning...we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Jim Vincent, president of the local NAACP chapter, is working with the New England NAACP chapter to organize bus rides to Washington DC to participate in the anniversary march and to call for the restoration of all provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and to repeal Stand Your Ground laws.

Who’s Not

Jim Langevin: Our Congressman continues to support the massive NSA spy program that violates the civil rights of Americans. Sam Bell, State Coordinator of the Progressive Democrats of RI, has said, "Langevin is a key swing vote, and he needs to hear from his constituents on this issue." Langevin's next Town Hall meeting is Tuesday, August 29 at 6pm at Kingston Library, 2605 Kingstown Rd, Kingstown. Let him know what you think! 

Gordon Fox:Late night shuffles and broken promises have resulted in ten-cent tolls on the Sakonnet Bridge... which are soon to be how much?

Angel Taveras:The Mayor's parks and arts improvements are a key part of our quality of life, but vacant storefronts in the neighborhoods and a continued increase in crime are the everyday drag that makes it hard for folks to feel the creativity in the capital. Just as an example, the former Tim Horton's at Chalkstone and Douglas is vacant, Bomes Theater on Broad St has been empty for years, and among the latest victims of crime was City Councilor Carmen Castillo, robbed outside a yard sale.

Number Three: We have the #3 highest unemployment rate in the country at 8.9%. Don't get me wrong - it's better than our 11.9% unemployed of 2010, but, up and away, we still have the highest unemployment rate in New England and one of the worst in the country. Nevada and Illinois are respectively first and second worse across the US.

Depressing Lists: In addition to our poor job situation, as GoLocal reported, little Rhody is the most expensive state to take out a car loan. That should be a reason to take RIPTA, but, as Dave Binder has said in the past, "We have a public transportation system that founders when oil prices go up because it is funded by a gasoline tax. People use less gas, ridership increases, and services are cut." We need a vision! 

 

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