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

Friday, June 27, 2014

Dan Lawlor, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

 

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.

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Buddy Cianci is the biggest news in town...but is he HOT or NOT?

Hot

Allan Fung - Last weekend, the RI House of Representatives adjourned just after 4:00AM. Yes, AM. As Gubernatorial candidate Allan Fung told GoLocal, "Last minute committee hearings, without sufficient notice and votes cast in the dead of night leave legislators claiming that they did not know or understand what was being enacted. We have seen the cost to Rhode Island taxpayers and these practices must stop." Fung supports a Constitutional Convention to support good government reforms. 

Nicole Lagace/Housing Works RI - A call to action from Housing Works RI! Following up on joint projects done with the Latino Policy Institute, Housing Works RI released a new infographic with some sobering numbers - among Rhode Islanders 45-64 in age, 24% spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Housing costs are even worse among 18-24 year olds, where 37% spend more than 50 percent of income on housing. We need solutions! 

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Nicole Mathis and Gloria Jackson/PPSD - As summer begins, a tip of the hat to Nicole Mathis, Principal of Nathanael Greene Middle School, and Gloria Jackson, Principal of Esek Hopkins in the North End. While many city middle schools (not to mention the District itself) have been plagued by near constant turnover at the top, Jackson and Mathis have been long time, active, consistent leaders. Thank you! 

Tony Jones/Libertarian Party RI - Jones, running under the Libertarian label, hopes to make it on the ballot to carry forward the Cool Moose vision of eliminating the Lt. Governor's Office. Jones told North Kingston Patch, "If elected, I would 'serve' alone, hire no staff, take no budget, and refuse to accept a salary...I would advocate for the elimination of the office of Lieutenant Governor, for a cost saving of $1,000,000/year." 

Interfaith Rally for Fair Wages: Faith Leaders from across the country and state offered a public witness for decent wages for hotel workers at properties owned by The Proccacianti Group, the lowest paying hotel company in the city. As Rev. James Ford announced to TPG workers back in December, "Sadly these otherwise good people have fallen short by refusing to engage in dialogue with the union… and refusing to provide a living wage. We will stand with you until justice is achieved.” The event was jointly sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association and Service Committee (who are in town for their international General Assembly), the RI State Council of Churches, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, UNITE HERE 217, RI Jobs with Justice, and other community groups. 

#KindnessforKate: Katie Goldstein, a positive, problem solving young scholar from Providence, tragically passed away while working with the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh in India. Her childhood friend, Sarah Schetman, has started a new meme, #KindnessforKate, remarking,"This morning, I woke up with an overwhelming sense to do great things in the world.. I want to encourage small acts or even big acts of kindness. That's what she would have wanted and that's what I want to give her. She gave everyone she knew so much just by being kind and going above and beyond to help people."

Not

Vincent A Cianci, Jr: We can't go backwards. Under Cianci's second tenure, childhood poverty in the city increased between 1989-1999, from 35% to 40%.  Urbano Prignano was police chief, criticized by both the City Council and the Police Union, ultimately stepping down.  The city's reported graduation rates declined from  68.4% in 1998 to 63.7% in 2001. If you want to have a party, vote Cianci. If you want to move the city forward, vote for someone else.

Angel Taveras- Unfortunately, Taveras seems to be pulling a page out of Joe Paolino's 1990 playbook: Young, popular, eager Mayor seeks higher office, enters divisive statewide primary, leaves wide open seat for Mayor during a time of disparity, and... 

Ron Reacts: A Cianci Run For Mayor

Adrain Goes from Dem to Independent for Providence Mayoral Run

Nick Mattiello and Teresa Paiva Weed -"After decades of use and, at times, neglect, many of Rhode Island’s school facilities are costly to maintain and fail to provide students an optimal learning environment," announced RI-CAN in their recent report "Great Schoolhouses for All."  Unfortunately, while staying up late, House and Senate leadership ignored the glaring need for funds for school building rehab. Apparently, some Rhode Island children deserve modern school buildings, while others deserve leaks, broken faucets, broken bathrooms, and sporadic asbestos removal. As GoLocal's Carol Ann Costa's notes, "the devil really is in the details."

Deborah Gist: The State Commissioner of Education essentially watched many of her initiatives implode: For at least the next several years, NECAP will no longer be a graduation requirement, teachers will not undergo yearly evaluations, and West Warwick is opting out of Mayoral Academies and Charter Schools. For Gist to be effective, she needs to do some real listening, build bridges, and work with teachers and families to move the state's schools forward. Her new hires should also have more experience in the community.

Parking Garage Pharoahs: "...to have the state pay for the parking of private individuals when it can barely keep a functional school system going or offer a good tax climate for local businesses is ridiculous," argues transit guru James Kennedy. Nonetheless, the state is asking voters to authorize $43 million for a state run parking garage behind the Garrahy Courthouse. Patrick Anderson of Providence Business News has an in depth article on the Garrahy Proposal here. 

8.2%: As GoLocal reported, the jobless rate in Rhode Island has been over 8% since August 2008, nearly six years ago. Despite our progress (in 2010, we were officially at 11.9%), we still rank above the national average (6.3%). 

Vintage Restaurant Closing: Woonsocket is taking a big hit with the closing of its main fine dining establishments, Vintage. As one person said, "Normally you have to go to Providence to eat like this." With a great chef, great staff and great food, Woonsocket is losing a gem.

 

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