August 14, 2012 – RI Future

August 14, 2012August 15, 2012

Progressives Help Providence Economy

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“Providence seems to be bucking the bad economy,” according to a recent editorial in the Providence Journal. The Projo bases this finding on the fact that June hotel occupancy in the Capital City was the highest its been since October of 2004.

“An important barometer of economic activity, hotel-occupancy rates, topped 80 percent in the capital city for the first time since 2004, a very encouraging bit of news,” according to the Journal.

And who does Rhode Island have to thank for this economic shot in the arm that was lauded by the anti-progressive Providence Journal editorial page and the business-friendly Providence Business News: progressives, of course!

The big draw to Providence in June, of course, was none other than Netroots Nation, the annual conference of progressive activists and journalists that descended on the city early in the month and the event brought thousands from across the nation right to downtown Providence for a weekend that not only packed the hotels but also the bars, restaurants and other downtown amenities.

“Netroots Nation certainly played a role in Providence having its highest hotel occupancy since 2004 but its economic impact is only part of its importance,” said Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In addition to boosting the local economy, it shined a national media spotlight on Providence and gave the city a prominent role in the political discourse that was taking place.”

I know many of the Netroots attendees were just as happy with Providence as the city was to have them here spending their money, so maybe we should make this a bigger part of the solution to Rhode Island’s economic woes: invite progressive people here to spend their money. Really, it’ll work. Progressives love Providence. The mix of old and new architecture, its hip restaurant and nightlife scene and all the other great things going on in and around the city make for the perfect progressive playground.

In fact, maybe we’ve been going about this economic development thing entirely wrong … maybe instead of cow towing to those who want the state to slash taxes, we should start catering more to those who know the value of the public sector and all the good it grants on society.

Special thanks to Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who worked hard to bring Netroots to Providence. If not for their efforts, not only would I probably not have gone but, more importantly, the city wouldn’t have got this nice summertime economic boost.

August 14, 2012

Gus Uht: Why I Am Running for Office

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gusuht — Gus Uht, of Cumberland, is challenging Rep. Karen MacBeth, known for her opposition to abortion, in a Democratic primary for a seat in the House of Representatives.

I have decided to run for State Representative in District 52 (Cumberland) because our community deserves real representation at the State House. I will be an effective member of the General Assembly, and will spend time talking to my constituents in order to ensure that their concerns and ideas are heard.

My wife Laurette and I fell in love with Cumberland and Rhode Island when we first moved here 20 years ago. Being a computer engineering professor at URI, I am committed to seeing higher education thrive throughout the state, as well as the growth of the high-tech community in Providence and elsewhere.

It has been less than thrilling to see the state go through its seemingly never-ending fiscal crises. There are many difficulties in the state related to jobs, education and taxes – I call it a JET-focus. While taxes are cut for the wealthy, state aid to higher education has dropped, forcing the state colleges to raise tuition and eliminate qualified faculty positions. Even in-state students have difficulty making ends meet. The $75 million cost of the 38 Studios dilemma is now a burden for taxpayers, and small businesses and other high-tech start-ups wonder where the capital went and why some of it didn’t come to them. Marriage equality is still up in the air, women’s rights are under constant threat, and the DEM struggles to keep the environment safe from over-development.

While we all want to encourage entrepreneurship, start-ups could take years to generate a significant number of new jobs in a fiscally-sound way. I will work to encourage and expand existing targeted skills training in order to fill jobs now. We must also protect those who are currently employed. State/worker contracts have been unilaterally broken without need, without negotiations in good faith, and without justice.

Rhode Island’s tax structure desperately needs revisiting, and many of the taxes are unfairly distributed. The lost tax revenue due to specialized tax breaks is astonishing. Our seniors are caught between rising real estate taxes and their fixed incomes. I will work toward a more equitable tax code for our citizens.

Every year ill-informed legislation threatens women’s rights and their health. Government and politicians must not be involved in the private medical decisions of any citizen. Instead of putting people into one category or another, we need to respect the real-life decisions all of us face everyday. Civil liberties are fundamental, and should not be compromised.

While we need more jobs in this state and thus want new businesses to grow, it must not be at the expense of the environment. For example, the water quality in the Pawtucket Reservoir system is constantly threatened with nearby unsuitable land development. I will work for statewide zoning ordinances to protect our drinking water and other precious resources.

With problem-solving abilities I have honed over several decades, I will bring a different approach to the General Assembly. I will base decisions on solid data and analysis, while making sure people are helped, not hurt.

I love Rhode Island, and I want to see it and its people thrive. I respectfully ask for your vote on September 11th in the Democratic primary. The District 52 House race will be decided in the Primary; only Democrats are in the race.

To learn more about my thoughts on the issues or to volunteer on the campaign, please visit www.votegusuht.org. You can also take a look at my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter. Feel free to contact me at info@votegusuht.org or call (401) 787-1313.

August 14, 2012August 14, 2012

Progress Report: Doherty the ‘Blank Slate’; Pension Vote Fallout; Junk Food Subsidies; Happy B-day, Social Security

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Dutch Island cove — A cove on Dutch Island. (Photo by Bob Plain)

First Brendan Doherty supported Paul Ryan’s draconian budget proposal; then he didn’t. First he wanted to foist anti-organized labor laws on Rhode Island; but he changed his mind on that one too. The Bush tax cuts? He changed his mind on that one during a single interview, so who knows what he’ll think by the end of the campaign. Really, there is only one thing we know for certain about his positions, and Ted Nesi nails it down in a piece about how Paul Ryan will change the CD1 race: “Doherty is about as close to a policy blank slate as you can get.”

This headline from the dept. of no duh: Pension vote key to unions’ support

But the Projo’s Randy Edgar throws in a very interesting graph down near the end of his story: “Meanwhile, state General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo, the chief architect of last year’s pension overhaul, also plans to weigh in with “financial support” and “information for campaign material” for Assembly members who voted for the pension bill, a spokeswoman said last week.”

RIPR’s Kristen Gourlay reports on an interesting new compensation structure between Blue Cross and some RI hospitals: “The new arrangement moves away from paying the hospitals based on the volume of care it provides – like the number of procedures – toward paying them for better outcomes for patients.”

Speaking of health, did you know junk food subsidies costs Rhode Island taxpayers millions each year? Small government activists, we’re waiting to hear from you on this one … Or does government not need to be shrunk so much when its largess is going to corporate America?

Fellow kayakers, here’s a new map of some of the best waterways in the Ocean State to paddle. And here’s the existing one folks who like to get out on Narragansett Bay use. Me, if I can swing it, I’m going to pay Dyer Island a visit this weekend. And it seems like Tim Faulkner, over at EcoRI, recently paid a visit to Prudence Island.

Today in 1935, President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, one of the many ways America governed itself out of the Great Depression.

True that, Projo!

August 14, 2012December 18, 2013

WPRO: You Can Do Better than John DePetro

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John DePetro deserves his day in court before he is judged on the very serious accusations of workplace sexual harassment brought by his co-worker and sometimes producer Dee DeQuattro. That aside, WPRO and its advertisers would be better served without him. He should really leave the public spotlight before he does the station, his wife and children (most importantly) and even the causes he crusades for any more harm.

He lectures us about morals, but he sure doesn’t seem to live by them when he’s not behind a microphone. He’s the state’s loudest opponent of marriage equality, but he seems to have a very hard time respecting his own nuptials. He blames the governor for not being able to control his teenage son when he can’t even seem to control himself.

This is at the very least the second time he is being publicly accused of cheating on his wife. (DeQuattro, it should be pointed out, said she resisted his unwanted sexual advances, but she also said he bragged about bringing women to sex parties in her complaint.) The previous instance was via another woman’s divorce

And neither instance is even the biggest public slap in the face he has given his bride. That honor would be held by the time he let her take the heat for some faked Nielsen ratings forms that came from the DePetro house in East Greenwich.

It’s a wonder Bishop Tobin himself isn’t writing penning one of his famous press releases calling for DePetro to step down. In fact, the Christian values crowd really ought to be embarrassed by letting this guy be their public face.

But, let’s face it, hate radio is a business and DePetro will likely be poisoning our local airwaves until either us listeners or station advertisers have decided they’ve had enough.

Postscript: I took no pleasure in writing that it’s high time for WPRO to severe it’s long and rocky relationship with John DePetro. We worked well together when I was at the station, and consider him a friend when he isn’t being a lying jerk on the radio. But my job is to advocate, via the blogged word, for what is best for Rhode Island; and it’s hard to argue that DePetro isn’t a big time bad guy for Rhode Island’s best interest – and I’ll bet advertisers start to realize this as well.

And, full disclosure, Dee DeQuattro and Barbara Haynes are both friends and former coworkers of mine as well.