HOT

Edward Siedle

Make no mistake about it: the Rhode Island State Investment Commission’s decision—at General Treasurer Seth Magaziner’s behest—to divest more than half of the state’s investments in hedge funds is (finally) a de facto acknowledgement that the critics of alternative investments, particularly hedge funds, have been right all along.

The chief critic was obviously Siedle, and he led the fight against this form of irresponsible investing, so the bulk of the credit goes to him. But some credit should also go to the other vocal critics as well, which include union leaders like Marcia Reback, the late Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, and Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi.

HOT

Donna Nesslebush

The state senator from Pawtucket, who was instrumental in helping make gay marriage legal in Rhode Island, spoke out against the firing of Michael Templeton, the Music Director at the Church of St. Mary in Providence, for partaking in gay marriage. Nesslebush is right to point out that the true mission of Catholicism is to love all, not exclude others based on what the church believes to be sins.

HOT

Providence Chapter of the NAACP

The local NAACP Chapter, will host Symone Sanders, a Democratic strategist and former Communications Director for Senator Bernie Sanders, as its keynote speaker at the organization’s 104th Annual Freedom Fund Awards Gala. The event takes place on Friday, October 28, at the Marriott on Orms Street.

HOT

John Igliozzi

The Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Providence City Council, poured cold water over the contract agreement between Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Providence Firefighters Union when he stated that he believes the agreement should include structural changes that include long and short reforms to the city’s pension plans. As chairman of finance, he knows that serious changes are going to need to take place if the city is going to have any chance of avoiding bankruptcy.

HOT

Kim Ahern

Special Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Ahern received the 2016 Women of Achievement award by the Rhode Island YWCA. Ahern was selected as a result of her“professional work and public service, as well as her skills as leader, role model, mentor, and as an agent for positive change”, according to the YWCA. Ahern prosecutes cases in the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit of the AG’s office.

HOT

The Boston Red Sox

The boys of summer have captured the American League East title, and enter the playoffs with an excellent chance to reach the World Series based on their stellar play over the last month. This is a feat few thought possible at the beginning of the year and is a credit to the development of the team’s young players, and the leadership of the veterans, including David Ortiz—the greatest Red Sox player of all-time. 

NOT

Gina Raimondo

It was a terrible week in the news for the Governor. News reports broke that her preferred hedge fund, Och-Ziff, is about to admit to federal graft and corruption charges. GoLocal reported that the men who work in her office make roughly 25 percent more money than the women employed there. And then the Commerce Corporation voted to award Urban Smart Growth — which is run by controversial developer Lance Robbins — up to a maximum of $3,569,657 in Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credits. One of the nation’s top advocacy lawyers, Lauren Saunders, said the company is run by one of the “most dishonest and unscrupulous people I have come across in my career working for vulnerable tenants and consumers.”

NOT

Teresa Paiva-Weed

The Senate President has come under fire for accepting $5,550 in campaign contributions from shareholders and employees of Adler, Pollock & Sheehan,the firm that handled legal work for the bond offering of the 38 Studios moral obligation bonds, during the time that the state was suing the firm. Meanwhile, Paiva-Weed has refused to take on position on whether the state police should be directed to release the records from the 4-year criminal investigation over the issue.

NOT

Donald Trump

The Republican Presidential candidate let a monumental opportunity to take on Hillary Clinton for her various flip flops and the mistakes of the Clinton-era years on Monday night. Instead, he ranted and raved about inconsequential topics and threw a borderline temper tantrum when things weren’t going his way. Trump apparently thought he could treat his debate prep the way a Sophomore college student may treat his midterms (by winging it). He was sadly mistaken.

NOT

 Body Cameras

The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union made some astute points in a statement regarding the Providence Police Department’s plans to begin using body cameras. The department’s current policy allows too much subjectivity in when an officer can turn on and off the cameras and it’s also unclear when and if the footage will be released. Both issues should be resolved before moving forward.

NOT

 Providence Finances

In a way only he can, Steve Laffey, the charismatic former Mayor of Cranston, points out that the city of Providence is only delaying the inevitable every year that it doesn’t declare bankruptcy. The Providence pension system alone, due to its massive unfunded liabilities (every house in Providence owes roughly $30,000 in pension debt) will eventually sink the city into financial oblivion—and that doesn’t even take into account the unfunded health care liabilities.

NOT

3rd Worst

The City of Providence ranks the 3rd worst city in the nation for persons with disabilities, according to WalletHub.com, ranking 148 out of 150 cities surveyed. The city ranks especially low for the cost of doctor visits for persons with disabilities and for its high number of disabled folks living below the poverty level.