April 27, 2014 – RI Future

April 27, 2014April 29, 2014

It’s time for Historian Laureate Scott Molloy

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Historian Laureate Patrick T. Conley’s view of Rhode Island history is one where great men built greater factories and amassed the greatest of fortunes, as he gushingly describes in his op-ed in Saturday’s ProJo:

With the once-wealthy Southern states diminished economically by the destruction of slavery, the federal census of 1890 revealed that Rhode Island had ridden the crest of the Industrial Revolution to become the American state with the highest per capita wealth. Jobs were so plentiful (despite low pay and long hours) that immigrants flocked to Rhode Island from Canada and nearly every European nation.

URI labor historian Scott Molloy, on the other hand, sees history as the struggle of labor against low pay and long hours, what Conley might note as one of the “myriad causes of Rhode Island’s decline over the last century an a quarter.”

The choices we make, whether as individuals or as a collective, define us. When the General Assembly invented the unpaid ceremonial position of “historian laureate” and Secretary of State Mollis formed a search committee to find the person to fill this post, Patrick Conley “was the committee’s unanimous recommendation.” In reality, the position was most likely created with Conley in mind, and the other two nominees, Roberta Mudge Humble and John G. Shaw III, were probably never given serious consideration.

In choosing Conley, who briefly served as Buddy Cianci’s chief of staff, we have defined Rhode Island as beholden to inside politics. In choosing Conley, who constantly advocates for less environmental oversight on the property he wishes to develop, we have defined Rhode Island as unconcerned with environmental issues. In choosing Conley, who dismisses one of the key concepts upon which Rhode Island was founded, the separation of church and state, we have defined Rhode Island as ignorant of its own history.

Imagine now, had Rhode Island chosen URI’s 2004 Professor of the Year, Scott Molloy, as Historian Laureate. Had we chosen Molloy, who has been a teacher at URI for nearly 30 years, we would have defined Rhode Island as committed to publicly funded education. Had we chosen Molloy, who is an expert in Rhode Island labor history and who understands the importance of unions in protecting workers rights and creating the middle class, we would have defined Rhode Island as valuing the well being of the 99% over the enrichment of special interest millionaires. Had we chosen Molloy, we would have defined Rhode Island as a place where dedication to study and craft counted for more than currying special favors via insider politics.

Finally, had we chosen Molloy, we would not now be suffering the embarrassment of Rhode Island’s first Historian Laureate abusing his position and writing a self-interested screed in favor of dismantling regulations that limit his ability to make a buck.

If, as John McDaid suggests, it’s time to terminate Patrick Conley from his honorary post, might it be time to find a new Historian Laureate? I’ve got a nominee in mind.

April 27, 2014April 28, 2014

Judge says Board of Education should discuss NECAP policy in public

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With high school graduation imminently approaching, legislators, mayoral candidates, students, teachers, parents and community organizations have been discussing with frequency the Board of Education’s high stakes testing requirement for seniors. Remarkably, about the only entity that hasn’t publicly discussed the merits of the requirement is the Board itself.

Thanks to a court decision on Friday, that will soon change. But the Board’s refusal for so long to publicly defend their controversial policy – one that has the futures of literally hundreds of students hanging in the balance – demonstrates why it is critical for the General Assembly to step in and halt the NECAP testing requirement.

On three separate occasions in the past nine months, courts have found that the Board violated open government laws in avoiding publicly discussing the NECAP issue. In this most recent ruling, Superior Court Judge Luis Matos ordered the Board to finally come out of hiding.

Specifically, in response to a lawsuit we filed some months ago, the judge has required the Board to publicly discuss and vote on a petition submitted last June that asks the Board to hold a hearing on eliminating high stakes testing.

Last September, in a private meeting – that the judge held was a clear violation of the open meetings law – the Board rejected the petition by a 6-5 vote. Minutes of the secret meeting show that those who voted it down objected to reconsidering the mandate without having fall’s NECAP test results. Well, that excuse no longer exists. We know the results, and we know the harm that the NECAP requirement is wreaking on too many Rhode Island’s seniors, especially students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and those in the inner cities.

The court’s ruling is important for accountability: it is long past due for the Board to have a full and fair airing – in public – about why they think students’ futures should be ruined on the basis of an arbitrary standardized test. But the Board has dawdled long enough. It is difficult to put much faith in an agency that has violated the law three times to avoid the issue.

Whatever the Board ends up doing, let’s hope that legislators will take Friday’s ruling to heart, say “enough is enough,” and pass a bill that, at a minimum, puts a moratorium on high stakes testing. The stakes for hundreds of seniors are too high to wait any longer.

April 27, 2014April 28, 2014

Lobby for the environment at State House Wednesday

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On Wednesday, April 30th – to cap off Earth Month, and as state lawmakers begin the last leg of the 2014 legislative session – the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) is holding its annual “Earth Day at the State House” from 2:30 – 4:30.

With the Rhode Island General Assembly considering legislation to cap global warming pollution, expand renewable energy, ban plastic bags, implement statewide composting, and more, this event couldn’t come at a better time. Join environmental advocates, activists, organizations, and concerned citizens to lobby for Rhode Island’s environment and move key policies forward. All are invited, and RSVPs are encouraged.

We’ll have informational tables to educate lawmakers about environmental issues, a speaking program including the House and Senate environment committee chairs and the DEM director, and a group lobbying effort on ECRI’s 2014 legislative agenda, with a focus on six priority bills:

The Resilient Rhode Island Act (H7904) to cap global warming pollution and establish infrastructure for climate change adaptation.
Food Residuals Recycling (H7033, S2315) to create a statewide organics diversion program to compost food scrap.
The Plastic Waste Reduction Act (H7178, S2314) to ban single-use plastic bags from being distributed at point-of-sale in retail establishments.
Restoring the state’s Renewable Energy Tax Credit (H7083, S2213), which provides a tax credit for 25% of the cost of residential renewable energy projects.
The Distributed Generation Growth Program (H7727, S2690) to extend, expand, and improve Rhode Island’s key program to develop new in-state renewable energy production.
The Clean Water, Open Space, and Healthy Communities Bond (Article 5, Question 4 of the Governor’s budget), which would create a November ballot question to authorize the issuance of nearly $100 million in bonds for clean water, green infrastructure, and other environmentally important projects.

To RSVP to lobby and/or request table space at the event, contact Channing atcjones@environmentrhodeisland.org or 684-1668. You can also RSVP and share the event on Facebook.

Wednesday, April 30th; 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Rhode Island State House (82 Smith St. in Providence), main rotunda

Timeline:
– 2:30: participants begin to arrive, tablers set up tables
– 3:00: Lobbying 101 orientation and issue overview
– 3:30: speaking program including State Rep. Art Handy, State Sen. Sue Sosnowski, and DEM Director Janet Coit
– 3:45: group lobbying effort on above bills and/or other environmental issues
~ 4:15: environmental leaders honored on House and Senate floor

As the coalition representing Rhode Island’s environmental community, with over 60 member organizations and individuals, ECRI’s mission is to serve as an effective voice for developing and advocating policies and laws that protect and enhance Rhode Island’s environment.

State lawmakers have a chance this spring to distinguish Rhode Island as an environmental leader. As a dense coastal state, Rhode Island faces a unique set of environmental challenges and opportunities. Protecting Rhode Island’s environment––our air, water, and special places––will improve our quality of life and provide new chances for growth and innovation.