Carol Anne Costa: RI’s Naughty and Nice
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Carol Anne Costa, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
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Who got coal in their stockings this Christmas, and who got treats? Carol Anne Costa's got the scoop!
This past Saturday I was amongst the hustle and bustle of grocery shopping, last minute pick-ups, and surrounded by people with that “holiday” look. Many in the stores were obviously on a mission, walking with purpose, and yet so many others wandering seemingly aimlessly, clearly weighed down by chores or memories that are bittersweet. What happened next was simply terrific! I emerged from the store with a stream of other shoppers to be greeted by a young man no older than 10 who possessed an infectious smile and a real twinkle in his eyes; he was passing out candy and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. It was so simple yet so refreshing and caused quite a ripple effect. People paused, shared a word or two, marveled at his enthusiasm and realized that his simple act was truly in the spirit of the season. I bring this up because this young man has a bright future and is definitely on the nice list. Who is with him and who is on the naughty list? I have some thoughts.
As folks reached their hands deep into those Christmas stockings yesterday, did they pull out coal or candy? It seems Santa hoisted quite a load of anthracite around this Christmas. He also lugged a plentiful pouch of treats. The man in red, I am certain, made his stops in Rome and Washington DC before heading to the Ocean State. For sure, he dropped plenty of treats at the Vatican, as Pope Francis is #1 on the nice list. I hear the Holy Father shared them all except one (even the Pope like a piece of candy now and again) with all the people who really needed a treat, a kind word, and a prayer. But, the backbreaking work was in DC. It seems Santa needed a semi to fill the stockings of the ne'er-do-well politicians and special interest groups who shut down the government, made unfulfilled promises, filibustered, plagiarized, closed the unemployment extension, and all the while raised the ire of the people. His sack was lighter as he headed to RI.
The naughty
Then I caught up with the Jolly one in good ole RI. First stop: Cranston Police HQ. You see, Santa heard about the parking ticket scandal that is brewing as seen in the RIPR story, and he was none too happy with the boys in blue. On Dasher, on Dancer; “where to next Santa?” It seems Cox Communications made the naughty list as chronicled by GoLocal’s Russell Moore. Santa relies on many organizations to spread cheer and cutting the TV time for Toys for Tots Telethon did not make the Jolly Old Elf happy at all.
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Then I overheard him say, “there is not enough coal in the mine for this one.” You see, in a story reported by WJAR, a really naughty person earned their fate. So he dashed to Pawtucket to check in on the little furry friend who was dumped in a dumpster. Santa has confirmed that once the culprit is discovered, they will accumulate a lifetime worth of coal. Santa also had plenty of treats for the staff of the city animal shelter who took care of the pup and a plethora of love for all the good folks who are lining up to adopt the feisty Jack Russell.
Then he stopped by the State House to rid his weighty sack of the sooty stuff. His scroll unfurled and practically hit the floor. “HO HO HO, this is quite the stop on the naughty list,” he bellowed. “38 Studios, payday lending, the Superman building debacle, calamari, Sakonnet Bridge tolls...and you all have to get moving on fixing unemployment and jumpstarting this economy. There is much for the legislature to do in the upcoming session and I cannot continue carry around this much coal!”
The nice
A smile came to his face as he thought about the nice list. So many Rhode Islanders are the best and brightest. They are giving, humble, activist, courageous and community oriented. They live the spirit of the season. Santa had much praise and treats for them. First stop: Newport, to pay a visit to Heather Abbott, Boston Marathon bombing survivor and inspirational heroine and beacon of hope to the world. She is Boston Strong, RI Strong, and has shown what inner strength, determination, and faith can achieve. Santa left a note with his present. It said simply, 'Thank you, Heather. You are my hero.'
Next stop on the nice list: Woonsocket, to deliver a sack filled with candy canes and ribbon candy for the philanthropic work done by the CVS Caremark Charity Classic. $1.3 million to local charities and co-hosted by 2 guys definitely on the nice list, RI’s own PGA Tour pro’s Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon. I hear Santa had chocolate tees made especially for them.
Santa was getting weary but he rubbed his eyes and spurred the reindeer; he needed to get a little something to Jason and Amy, winners of the Amazing Race. Look, this is guy who knows what its like to be in a race with time. Thought he, “I know they won a million dollars, but they gave Rhode Island something to cheer about.” Santa came through with small and confidential trinket. Perhaps Jason and Amy will divulge Santa’s treat, but chances are slim; we all know how well they keep a secret!
I wish everyone a very healthy, prosperous and fulfilling 2014. We all get on each list at anytime. I will do my best to be that kid in front of the store—bag of candy, a smile, and a kind word make the season special and if we only could channel that year round. Think of the possibilities.
Carol Costa is a public relations and community outreach specialist; she has experience in both the public and private sectors. She is the Chairwoman of the Scituate Democratic Town Committee and has extensive community affairs and public relations experience. She previously served in the Rhode Island Judiciary for nearly 17 years. Carol also enjoyed a successful development stint at the Diocese of Providence as Associate Director for Catholic Education and is currently a public housing manager. Her work has been published in several local outlets including GoLocal, Valley Breeze, The Rhode Island Catholic, and Currents Magazine.
Related Slideshow: The Best and Worst of Providence: How we Rank
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#2 Most Attractive
Here is what Travel + Leisure writes about the beautiful people in Providence:
Here’s proof that the nerd factor can translate into sex appeal. The locals in this college and arts town—which readers loved for both its fine dining and pizza—also scored well this year for being sophisticated. You can get a glimpse of some attractive locals at Providence’s highly ranked coffee bars like New Harvest Coffee Roasters downtown.
Providence is really hip. It is now deemed the 4th best hipster city in the U.S.
The Grange, the new Dean Hotel and other Providence spots get called out by the New York-based travel publication Travel + Leisure which has ranked Providence #4 on its list of cities with "America's Best Cities for Hipsters."
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#4 Hipster
4th most Hip in the nation
Providence gets points for its ranging collection of college students, great shopping and attitude. They might have included the great new emerging media too - may be next time.
Who does Providence beat?
Providence scored ahead of cities like NYC, Denver and Portland, ME. Boston was way back at #14 rank.
Here’s the top five:
1. San Francisco, CA
2. New Orleans, LA
3. Portland, OR
4. Providence, RI
5. New York, NY
Travel + Leisure says:
With its high per-capita of nerdy students and artists, this Rhode Island city climbed two spots in the hipster rankings this year—but also scored well for having sophisticated locals. Downtown has an emerging hipster culture (consider the soon-to-open Dean Hotel, housed in a former brothel). On the west side, you can order vegan cuisine at The Grange, hear concerts at the Columbus Theatre (with a clever 1492 seats), or browse the vintage fashions, ceramic poodles, and kitschy kitchenware at Rocket to Mars.
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#9 Most Strange
Providence's strange, unusual and weird residents have cause for celebration, because Travel + Leisure has ranked Providence #9 on its list of cities with "America's Strangest People."
According to the travel publication, Providence's strangeness shines due to its unique theater scene, nontraditional grilled pizza, its flea markets, and its unconventional display at the Big Nazo puppet theater.
Here's how Travel + Leisure ranks Providence's top unusual attractions nationally:
Flea Markets: 19
Theater/Performance Art: 4
Pizza: 2
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#11 Worst For Babies
It looks like Providence may not be the ideal city to raise a child in. A new report by the Daily Beast entitled The 15 Worst Cities to Have a Baby, From New York to Miami has ranked Providence as the #11 worst city to have a baby.
Here’s the data:
Cost of baby’s first year: $26,700
Cost as percentage of household income: 50%
Ob/Gyns per 100,000 residents: 13.3
Population under 5 years old: 5.3%
Avg. commuting time: 24.5 minutes
Playgrounds per 10,000 residents: n/a
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Top Under The Radar Spot
Providence deserves the world's attention, according to a BBC list that placed Providence among the top 21 under-the-radar destinations of the world. The capital city earned a place alongside such exotic locations as the Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Park in California and Kiso Valley in Japan.
The BBC listed Providence’s prestigious univerisities and art galleries, its 18th Century architecture, and its luscious tree-lined streets as major attractions. The food and art offered by Federal Hill and Fox Point’s Italian and Portuguese communities were also highlighted. The listing recommended visits between May and October when flickering flames light up Providence’s waterways during WaterFire.
Thanks BBC, but you’ve only scratched the surface of Providence!
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#22 Fit City
Providence may have mastered pizza and burgers, but it seems we have a way to go when it comes to health and fitness. The city placed #22 in this year’s American Fitness Index, released in May 2013 by the American College of Sports Medicine, which ranked the 50 largest metropolitan areas in America.
Placing Providence well behind Boston and Hartford, the report indicated that Providence has high levels of obesity, diabetes, and smoking. On a more positive note, the report praised Providence’s extensive farmer’s markets, parks and playgrounds, and percentage of people cycling or walking to work.
The top ranked city in the U.S. was Minneapolis, with few listed areas for improvement.
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#28 in Feeling Safe
How safe does the Greater Providence area feel at night? As safe as Detroit, according to April 2013 Wellbeing Poll results from Gallup.
When asked by Gallup pollsters whether they felt safe walking alone at night in the city or area where they lived, 70% of residents in the Providence/New Bedford/Fall River MSA said yes. That percentage put Providence at the #28 spot among the US's 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas, and tied with Detroit and Richmond, VA.
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#47 in Growth
Providence maintained its unenviable #47 ranking among the Fastest Growing Cities in the US from Forbes Magazine, released in March 2013.
The capital city's barely positive growth in population is behind the ranking. With a 2012 population of 1,601,374, Providence has experienced only 0.9% growth since 2000, and only 0.1% growth since 2011.
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#2 Best Pizza City
Providence maintained its spot for another year as the #2 Best Pizza City in America in February 2013 results from Travel + Leisure Magazine's Favorite Cities poll.
Providence held onto its silver medal, according to T+L's Katrina Brown Hunt, "perhaps because, like Chicago, it offers an only-in-Providence pie: grilled pizza, where the dough is cooked on one side, then flipped before the toppings are added."
T+ L recommended Bacaro, "whose chef is from Al Forno, home of the original grilled pizza." To go a layer deeper into the city’s pizza culture, sample the pizza strips—topped with just sauce—found at LaSalle Bakery.
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#56 Best Small Biz City
Providence ranked a mediocre #56 among 102 of the largest metropolitan areas for small business, according to a February 2013 ranking from The Business Journals of Best Cities For Small Business.
In New England, Providence's ranking put it at #5 among the region's major metropolitan areas. Boston took top honors in New England at #1 (#14 nationally), followed by Portland, ME (#18 nationally), Bridgeport-Stanford, CT (#39 nationally), and Hartford, CT (#55 nationally). Behind Providence's #56 ranking were New Haven, CT (#84 nationally), Worcester, MA (#87 nationally) and Springfield, MA (#95 nationally). Photo: Adam Jones, Ph.D. - Global Photo Archive/flickr
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#10 Drunkest City
It's sobering news in the capital city, according to the January, 2013 assessment of America's Drunkest Cities by The Daily Beast.
Providence, which ranked #10, had the following to say for itself:
Avg. alcoholic drinks consumed by adults per month: 14.1
Percentage of population classified as binge drinkers: 17.6%
Percentage of population classified as heavy drinkers: 5.7%
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#39 For Women's Health
If you're female, Providence is far from the healthiest place to be, according to Self Magazine's latest ranking of the Healthiest Cities for Women.
"This city has an above-average rate of high blood pressure, and the smoking rate here was nearly 3 percent more than the average of the metro areas covered," according to Self.
Providence was able to claim the #10 spot nationwide in number of Farmer's Markets in the overall assessment.
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#6 For Strangeness
Providence repeats its 2011 performance in the Travel + Leisure Reader's Poll as the #6 most freaky city in America.
"The Rhode Island capital gets its flair from loads of college students and artists," according to T+L's Katrina Brown Hunt, who advises visitors to head to the West End for a concentration of underground galleries and avant-garde performance spaces. "After all," she says, "Providence ranked No. 3 for its theater scene. Even its No. 2–ranked pizza—often grilled—is quirky."
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#13 For Attractiveness
Providence manages to squeak out a middling performance when it comes to attractiveness, based on the latest ranking from Travel+ Leisure's America's Favorite Cities poll.
The country's #1 most attractive city this year was Miami, FL, followed by #2 San Diego and #3 San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rounding out the Top 5 were Charleston, SC and Los Angeles, CA. Boston, MA was the next-highest performing New England city after Providence, at a less-attractive #20.
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#5 City for Working Moms
Providence moved boldly into the Forbes Top 5 Best Cities for Working Mothers for 2012, combining earning power, access to healthcare, reasonable commutes, investments in education, and child care cost. In 2011, Providence came in at #11.
Here's the latest numbers, used by Forbes:
Women’s Annual Earnings: $32,187
Physicians Per 100K: 285
Average Commute: 27 minutes
Expenditure Per Pupil: $15,375
Cost of Childcare: $1,140
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Top 10 City For Romance
Yahoo Travel credits Providence with having "small-city New England flavor," granting it Top 10 status as an Unexpectedly Romantic US City.
"Its lovely neighborhoods and compact downtown offer a delightful New England flavor, with just enough urban buzz to keep it interesting," says Yahoo Travel.
And what better way to light your love fire than at WaterFire? Yahoo's Melissa Burdick Harmon recommends booking a gondola, of course.
Local restaurants also get love for romance, including Hemenway’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar; New Rivers, and Cook & Brown Public House. Photo: maplessinseattle/flickr
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#1 Eye-Healthy City
Clearly, the eyes have it, locally. Providence was named the the #1 eye-healthy city in the country in June 2012 by VSP Vision Care, the nation's largest not-for-profit vision benefits and service provider.
In its first-ever Eye Health City Index, VSP calibrated its ranking based on the percentage of people who received an eye exam in 2011 among those who have Vision Care vision benefits in markets where VSP covers 100,000 people or more.
Read more about Providence and eyes, here.
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#8 Best Dining Out City
A new August 2012 ranking by Trulia and Forbes.com ranked Providence as #8 best place to live in America for eating out.
The capital city can brag that it has 24.3 restaurants per 10,000 households, according to Trulia's analysis. And on the list of Trulia's Top 10, Providence provides the best bang for the buck, posting a median price per square foot of homes listed for sale at $146--the lowest among the top 10.
Read more about Providence and dining out, here. em>
Photo: Skazama/flickr.
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Top 10 Hockey City
As puckheads go, Providence is among the best, according to bleacherreport.com. The sports blog named Providence one of the top ten non-NHL cities in the entire country in July 2012.
While no specific criteria was given for the blog's choice of top ten non-NHL hockey cities, it did mention that support for minor pro, collegiate and junior teams are generally the most indicative aspects of a community's hockey loyalty.
Read more about Providence's hockey status, here.
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#24 Manliest City
In one the most fantastically unscientific rankings of the year (and one of GoLocal's favorites), Providence jumped three spots in the June 2012 COMBO's "America's Manliest Cities," ranking #24 this year.
Even better, Rhode Island's capital is the manliest city in all of New England, dominating Boston in the snack-food-sponsored ranking, which finished at a very unmanly #47.
To read more about manly Providence, go here.
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#66 Best City for Seniors
Providence has just been named the #66 city in the US for seniors, according to the latest Best Cities for Successful Aging Index from the Milken Institute. The index assesses 78 indicators in 8 subcategories to derive its rankings, which were released just last week.
Among the 8 subcategories in the ranking, Providence posted its best performance by far in Community Engagement, ranking #8 overall, with a score of 91.91, 21 points above the national average for large metros.
For more on seniors in Providence, read here.
Photo: Mood Board Photography
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#95 Best Drivers
In March 2012, Men's Health magazine crunched all the numbers and came up with the worst drivers in the United States. They ranked the cities from 1 to 100 and guess where the Capital City came in? At nearly the bottom of the barrel, at #95. Only 4 other major metropolitan areas were worse than Providence.
Go here for more on Providence's drivers.
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#178 City For Business
For businesses looking for the best city to locate, Forbes Magazine released an annual ranking of which cities and metro areas are strongest – a comprehensive measure ranging from education and job growth to the overall business environment.
The news was bad for Providence, which ran a discouraging #178 out of 200.
For more on Providence's business ranking, check here.
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