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From: New Legislation Would Raise Taxes On Some Low-Income Housing in RI

in Politics

@DB - would you rather that the retired firefighters and police officers of the state lose their pension because municipalities (ie: Woonsocket) are on the cusp of bankruptcy?

Only a fraction of the residents in Woonsocket are actually paying taxes... and they can only carry this burden for so long. This seems fair to me. And I'm mildly impressed with Lisa Baldelli Hunt, something that happens very seldomly, if ever.

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

in Politics

I don't understand Dan's point about Ripta. Yes, buses do need to go to K Plaza because that is in the center of the city, and provides easy access to transfers, an indoor waiting room, bathrooms, shelters, schedules, information, tickets, and security. Scattering the buses puts all of that at risk.

I think Ripta is to be commended for working with the city and other Plaza stakeholders with diverse interests while trying to maintain amenities for their passengers.

From: New Legislation Would Raise Taxes On Some Low-Income Housing in RI

in Politics

@DB - I don't really see what unions have to do with this at all. Where does the author even mention them in the article? It seems, Mr. Beagle, that you could take the Ghiorse weather report and turn it into an anti-union rant. There are valid arguments on both sides of this issue; from Representative Baldelli Hunt who needs to generate revenue from LLC's to bolster sinking municipalities and from the struggling families who may suffer from a subsequent lack of affordable housing. How does that translate into "union goons start overturning cars?" There have, in fact, been major spending cuts across the board on a city, state and national level. All the cars I've seen seem to still have the painted side up.

From: Gist by the Numbers: Achievement Gap Failing to Improve

in News

I hear it all the time "Government should be run like a profitable business runs where everyone is held to their results which is the true value of any employee".

So let's get off the comments that she's trying, she got 75M from the Fed, etc. The true measure is what she has accomplished in three years to solve the problems with the RI educational system. So with an overall improvement of 1% in the measures she chooses to use i.e. test scores and after 3 years of trying to do better she has failed miserably. She prefers to blame the teachers for her lack of leadership....a popular move since she plays into the propensity for the general public to bash teachers rather than taking the more difficult road of understanding exactly what the problems are. In other words she is a good politician who knows how to muddy the waters in her favor and play the public for fools who are so easily sucked in.

One teacher here on this thread said they would love it if cameras were installed in classrooms. That would be a real eye opener since it is disgusting just how much a teacher has to take from students who know the principal (A final authority) will do nothing to support the proper punishment. Basically, in some instances the principal will fail to have the teacher's back....quite the opposite in fact. You should make yourself aware of some of the problems Gist's rules have caused. For example, principals are evaluated by overall attendance and on it's face it might appear to be a valid assessment. However it strongly encourages the principal to not expell or suspend students because the attendance would then drop and negatively impact them. So unless the student physically attacks a teacher they won't see any meaningful punishment whatsoever....and they know all about that. I could go on listing many similar issues directly attributable to RIDOE and Gist's mishandlings. It might enlighten some of the less cerebral who simply think it's all the teacher's fault but call me jaded because I think too many are happy to wrap it all up in a neat little package they can put their small minds around. Ironically those same people would also agree with my firat premise that government should be run like a good business..... : )

From: Gist by the Numbers: Achievement Gap Failing to Improve

in News

What total nonsense. Passing the NECAP, or any test, prepares kids to do what? Most won’t go to college of finish because they can’t afford it, or because they don’t see any value in it.
You give them the NECAP to prepare them for service jobs, CNAs or as paper pushers at Third World wages?
Where are all these high-tech jobs they talk about? And how do these tests prepare kids for these jobs, anyway? They don’t.
We have so many college graduates that are unemployed or underemployed, and employers say they can’t find qualified workers.
The question is what are these “reforms” really about?

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

in Politics

thomas murray.... we are way past that point these days

From: Lisa Blais: Providence Goes After Water, Homeowners To Fix Budget

in Politics

This is an important story that has gotten little press. These quasi-public corporations, like the Central Landfill, are just a way of avoiding oversight. It is not only another source of patronage, it adds another layer of costs to the water supply system. And as what happened at the Central Landfill, but was quickly hushed up, all kinds of thievery.
When I first read about it, I also wondered whether or not this is the first step toward a back door privatization of the water supply. A very lucrative proposition for the political class.

From: Gist by the Numbers: Achievement Gap Failing to Improve

in News

Education for all to get equal results is not feasible.
If the majority of students perform better, that has to be the real goal.
To hold back this group to try to do the impossible of bringing the gap between white students and those who are minorities, have disabilities, or are not native English speakers has been the whole problem in RI education.
Rather than dilute our complete educational system to teach everyone the same and test them the same there should be testing by grouping. There are special classes and support for English language, disability and minorities that don't have the basics; test them for their grouping. Stop this one education for all mentality.

From: New Legislation Would Raise Taxes On Some Low-Income Housing in RI

in Politics

Tax Tax Tax it the Democrat way....
K

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

in Politics

Our country was built on Cheap Labor and Unions were formed because of it!We are at a point where entitlements are more beneficial than Jobs in the labor force.

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

in Politics

A late edition to the "who's hot", Ron St. Pierre, subbing for Helen Glover this morning. The radio version of a Red Sox player signing with the Yankees.

From: NEW: Taveras Issues Letter Opposing RI NECAP Requirements

in News

This guy is the mayor of a city where the student's grades are the lowest in the state. Shocking that he doesn't agree with the testing.
Why isn't the emphasis ever on expecting MORE from our children, instead of lowering the standards. This is the way the adults think now. Can you imagine how much worse it will be when these students become the adults???