Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Friday, October 28, 2011
Who’s Hot
Mayor Taveras and Commissioner Steven Pare -> No matter how you feel about the Occupy Providence movement, Mayor Taveras and Commissioner Pare deserve credit for handling the situation in Providence much better than other cities across the country. Let’s hope it stays that way. Because nobody wants Burnside Park to become Oakland.
Helio Melo and Dan DaPonte -> The two General Assembly Finance chairmen did an excellent job this week overseeing the public comments on the pension reform package. Both are in unenviable positions, having to decide between the justifiable anger of teachers and state workers and the threat of what could happen to the state if the system isn’t fixed.
Terry Hassett -> It’s been one year since the Providence Councilman was struck by a car and nearly died on Federal Hill. It’s nice to see that he has made a recovery and is back to doing important work on the Council after that scary night. Now the question is whether he’ll run for higher office in three years.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRI Center for Freedom and Prosperity -> The right wing think tank has launched its open government Web site that lists everyone receiving a pension in the state of Rhode Island. It’s an excellent tool that will help you learn a little bit more about what the state’s pension system looks like. Also, you can check to see what your neighbors make.
Jack Reed -> Kudos to Senator Reed for pushing for the rehab-to-rent program for foreclosed homes to be rapidly implemented. This is a no-brainer move that will put families back in boarded up homes and raise property values in communities across the state.
Don Grebien -> Nice to see the Pawtucket Mayor joining to the list of Chief Executives that are calling for municipal pensions to be addressed. If local pensions are a major part of the problem, why aren’t they being treated as such?
Gina Raimondo -> From a purely political standpoint, the Treasurer continues to shine. Following a New York Times puff piece last Sunday, it was reported that she raised around $200k during the third quarter and will likely have a larger war chest than any politician in the state. At this point, the question isn’t whether she’ll run for higher officer in the future, it’s which office she’ll run for.
Carmen Castillo -> Congrats to the winner of the Ward 9 special Democratic primary in Providence. Castillo is an organizer who will add a refreshing voice to the City Council, assuming she can get past the Republican candidate next month.
Who’s Not
Gio Cicione -> Reports of the former GOP chairman trying to convince Frank Caprio to run as a Republican in last year’s Congressional race probably don’t do much to help Brendan Doherty’s street cred within the party.
Rob Levine -> The heavy hitter’s sweet pension deal is coming under scrutiny and while he should be entitled to his disability pension if he is truly injured, it’s a public relations disaster for a guy who appears to be doing pretty well for himself to be benefiting from a city as broke as Central Falls.
Kristen Catanzaro -> Corruption in North Providence is nothing new, but you’d think these people would lay low for at least a little while. Not this Town Council President, who is facing an ethics complaint after allegedly attempting to pull strings to get her son hired by the fire department.
Terri Serra -> It’s nice to see the social host laws actually being enforced in Rhode Island, but it’s unfortunate that it takes a tragedy to make it happen.
Judicial Pensions -> Teachers and state workers won’t get COLAs for 19 years, but $100k-plus judges won’t have t wait nearly as long. And don’t expect the General Assembly, which is filled with lawyers, to ever go after these guys.
East Providence -> Things aren’t looking great for East Providence, which may fall under state oversight if the finances can’t be turned around.
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