Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - January 1, 2021
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - January 1, 2021
This week's list features new mayors, vaccination hopes, and a growing marijuana mess.
Now, we are expanding the list, the political perspectives, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
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Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - January 1, 2021
HOT
United Kingdom's Vaccination Program
United Kingdom health officials have authorized the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca for the coronavirus.
The decision greenlights the rollout of millions of doses for usage in a country where infections have surged.
Britain is also linked to the new more highly infectious strain of the virus.
Matt Hancock, the Minister of Health, said Wednesday that with AstraZeneca supply the UK will have enough vaccine to immunize all citizens.
In September, the company halted coronavirus vaccine trials after a “serious suspected adverse reaction in a participant.”
HOT
$50 Million
It wasn't always pretty, but on Thursday, Rhode Island Commerce announced that more than 4,100 Rhode Island small businesses have received Restore Rhode Island grants totaling more than $51 million in awards.
Total payments by the program are therefore exceeding the $50 million goal laid out when the program was announced.
HOT
New Mayors
Let's hope for the success of the new Mayors coming into office in January:
Ken Hopkins in Cranston
Maria Rivera in Central Falls
Frank Picozzi in Warwick
New ideas are never a bad thing.
HOT
Innovation
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and the Festival Ballet Providence have announced that on Saturday, January 9, Pinchas Zukerman and Amanda Forsyth return to The VETS to usher in the New Year with "effervescent arrangements of Strauss waltzes, plus selections of Schubert, violin virtuosity by Kreisler, and plenty of surprises."
“Patrons will remember Maestro Zukerman and Ms. Forsyth from our 75th Anniversary Gala concert. The Phil is thrilled to welcome back these two great artists to kick off 2021," said Executive Director David Beauchesne.
Please call 401.248-7000 or visit StreamRIPhil.org to explore purchase options.
NOT
RI's Marijuana Industry
More questions about who is regulating - and who is profiting from - the supposed "non-profit" structure which appears to be working to circumvent the regulatory structure - and many appear to be benefitting.
GoLocal unveiled this week that a worker at a Rhode Island medical marijuana dispensary who reportedly drew a gun on a patient had previous multiple warrants out for his arrest.
GoLocal talked to multiple Rhode Island law enforcement agencies who had involvement with the worker, the Slater Compassion Center's valet Julio Davila.
In just the past year plus, he has been involved with alleged crimes being pursued by Providence, Pawtucket and the Rhode Island State Police.
All of these incidents, some of them violent, raise questions about who is working at these facilities and if any background checks are being conducted.
As Davila works for a contracted valet company, owned by a prominent Rhode Island businesswoman, he is not required to get a compassion center background check.
NOT
The Patriots
We all knew it would end.
The dynasty, which lasted a record two decades and was arguably one of the most dominant runs in sports history, has ended.
Does Bill Belichick have it in him to rebuild this franchise?
NOT
Restaurants Closing and in Turmoil
First, one of Rhode Island’s top chefs, Eli Dunn, owner of Eli’s Kitchen in Warren, announced Saturday that he is closing the restaurant.
Dunn, who won the Food Network show “Chopped” in 2018, said that one of his top chefs is going to be taking over the restaurant space on Market Street under a new name in the new year.
As for Dunn, who grew up in the kitchen with his mother at Phoebe’s in Seekonk, he says he plans to keep cooking — and to stay tuned.
Then, GoLocal unveiled the legal battle over at the popular Providence restaurant — recognized by Yelp as one of 2020’s “Top 100 Places to Eat” in the United States. The owners are now embroiled in a bitter and public fight over the future of the business.
Becca Brady and Tiffany Ting of Hometown Cafe & Poké Bar in Providence are currently in both a legal battle -- and war of words.
The duo had originally started as a food truck before finding a brick-and-mortar location on Camp Street in 2018, and earning national accolades.
NOT
Rhode Island's Ability to Manage the Coronavirus
Rhode Island now has the third highest number of cases per 100,000.
The state experienced more than 400 deaths in December -- a heart breaking record.
