Libby Kimzey
We Need Diversity in Rhode Island’s General Assembly
On my last post I was called out for having previously said somewhere at some time that the General Assembly, and the House in particular, has too many white, male lawyers. Here I’m going to lay out some of the facts I found about the over-representation of that specific type of person. 95% of our [...]
Old vs. New in Campaign for State House Seat
There’s no other way to say this: The old ways aren’t working, our state is moving in the wrong direction, and I need your help to fix it. Today, John Lombardi announces his candidacy for State Representative of District 8. Mr. Lombardi has served on the City Council for almost three decades, and I thank [...]
Decriminalizing Marijuana Rally Today at State House
I’m writing to follow up on Becky’s post. When you watch the video you’ll learn that Rhode Island currently spends 40.5 million dollars annually policing, and adjudicating and incarcerating the users of marijuana. We could save 11 million of that through decriminalizing possession of marijuana under 1 oz, and instead treat addiction while preserving families [...]
Big Turnout Last Night For Trayvon Martin March
Last night’s ‘ReBoot approved’ event started with a rally at the Harry Kizirian Elementary School with three or four speakers, marched over to Chad Brown, and then directed attendees to Kobi Dennis’ regular Tuesday night community meeting. Turnout was awesome, probably about 250 folks there: lots of kids, lots of teenagers, lots of parents. This [...]
Providence Responds to the Murder of Trayvon Martin
Saturday night. Impromptu march. I got this report in: “there was a march in memory of treyvon martin of about 40+ people on friday which started on thayer street and made its way down to as220. it was pretty darn good for something that got thrown together in 2 hours. some chants for future marches [...]
RI Tea Party: Anti-Monsanto and Anti-Sustainable Development
The latest in ‘why the RI Tea Party confuses me:’ This extensive list was included in a blast-email today from Marina Peterson of the East Bay Patriots. In the same breath where she urges consumers to organize against Monsanto to “put them out of business or at least try,” she announces the upcoming meeting on [...]
A Different Tax Exemption for Brown
It was Saturday night, I was reading through Providence’s 2012 fiscal year budget, and I came across an expenditure that caught my attention. We’re all pretty familiar by now with the gist of this table, even if the numbers are dizzying: Between the variations of public property, the “meds and eds,” and other tax-exempt properties, [...]
RI’s DISCLOSE bill introduced!
Before leadership of RI’s legislative and executive branches jumped on board, there were the hardworking activists of Democracy Matters and Common Cause of Rhode Island working all fall to put together this legislation, designed to pull best practices from other states who have introduced similar reforms. Congratulations on putting everything in place for an exciting [...]
The Dirty Dozen Tax Scams of 2012
Today the IRS released its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams, reminding taxpayers to protect themselves against a wide range of schemes, from identity theft to return preparer fraud. IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman advises, “Scam artists will tempt people in-person, on-line and by e-mail with misleading promises about lost refunds and free money. Don’t [...]
New Providence Subcommittee on Women & Healthy Communities
At the February 2nd meeting of the Providence City Council, Council President Michael Solomon (Ward Five) announced the creation of a new Women and Healthy Communities subcommittee of the Committee on Ordinances. Councilmembers Sabina Matos (Ward Fifteen), Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), David Salvatore (Ward 14), Seth Yurdin (Ward 1), and Samuel Zurier (Ward 2) were [...]
Providence Public Schools Forum TOMORROW at Asa Messer
Original text: You’re invited to a Community Meeting about the Providence Public Schools Councilman Bryan Principe and Councilwoman Sabina Matos join Providence Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan F. Lusi in welcoming you to learn more about what’s new in the Providence Schools. Families and community members from Wards 13 & 15, as well as other city [...]
Is Rhode Island Afraid of Young People?
Not in the slightest – we keep electing them into office! In the weeks since I’ve announced my candidacy for Providence’s State Representative District 8 (Federal Hill, Olneyville), I have fielded a lot of questions from friends, family and neighbors. One that keeps popping up, along with “are you nuts?” and “what do state reps [...]
Testimony in Opposition to RIPTA Cuts: Or, Sometimes You’ve Got To Hustle
Last night I listened to nearly three hours of testimony against RIPTA cuts. Listening for so long about something I care so much about was hard. By the time my turn came I’d drafted three different pieces of testimony. Since going through all of them would just have been rude to the dozens still sitting [...]
Redistricting: The Most Fun You’ll Have All Decade
Draw your own House, Senate and Congressional districts today! Thanks to the New Organizing Institute newsletter for sending this one out. During the College Democrats of RI convention in early May, I spoke to how this redistricting season is going to be really exciting. For the first time ever, anyone with an internet connection will [...]
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