Pat Crowley
Remember Seth Luther
UPDATE April 29, 2013: Today is the 150th anniversary of Seth Luther’s death. Since last year’s post, records have been found locating Luther possible final resting place in Brattleboro, Vermont. A WIKI page is in formation, and other plans to follow. Here is a great link to a 1974 essay by on Luther by Carl [...]
Some Year-End Reading for Progressive Policy Geeks
This time of year folks compile their year-end reading lists; so as we head into the holiday week, with pension debates and fiscal cliffs waiting for us on the other side of the calendar, I wanted to offer some suggestions: The first is a just released paper from Steven M. Teles, Associate Professor of Political [...]
Register for ‘Leadership For A Future’ Class of 2013
The 2013 Leadership for a Future class is now accepting applications. The premier organizer training program in the Rhode Island, Leadership for a Future is a great opportunity for people to learn how Rhode Island REALLY works and but also how to make it work better. You can register for the program ONLINE or download [...]
Carcieri Is Still Selling Rhode Island Snake Oil
Former Governor Don Carcieri, finally came back to Rhode Island to answer questions about 38 studios. Unfortunately, Carcieri is still selling snake oil to Rhode Islanders, this time about his role in this fiasco and how the state should try to recover from it. For those folks that don’t remember the way Disaster Don used [...]
RIP, NEA-RI’s Jerry Egan: Working Class Hero
The Rhode Island Labor movement lost a legend early Wednesday morning with the passing of Jerome “Jerry” Egan. Brother Egan was a teacher at Cumberland High School, a past President of the Cumberland Teachers Association, former State Representative for the Edgewood and Pawtuxtet neighborhoods in Cranston, and for the last 23 years a staff organizer [...]
Remember the Battle of the Gravestones in Saylesville
In 1934, during the height of the Depression and one of the largest national strikes in history, 4 unarmed Rhode Island workers were killed by State Police and Militia Men called out by Governor TF Green to protect the Saylesville Bleachery in Lincoln, Rhode Island. It wasn’t a “strike,” he declared, but a “communist insurrection.” [...]
Labor History Society to Honor URI’s Molloy Tonight
If you believe singer Utah Phillips, the long memory is the most radical notion in this country today. It is in that vein some of us gather tonight in Providence at the Roger Williams Park Casino to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rhode Island Labor History Society. For a quarter century Rhode Island’s organizers, [...]
‘They Bought It’: How RI Is Like Ferris Bueller Parents
If you are of a certain age “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is an iconic movie. Reading about the fretting going on in the media about the latest edition of CNBC “Business Rankings” I can’t help but think about the movies’ opening sequence when Ferris’ parents, thoroughly convinced he is sick (once again) let him stay [...]
Tuesday Rally to Support NK School Custodians
A rally in support of the North Kingstown custodians has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 10 at 6 p.m. at the North Kingstown School Administration Building, 100 Fairway, Drive North Kingstown. GCA Services, is the national privately owned company from Knoxville, Tennessee. The North Kingston School Committee voted privatize custodial services and turn over operations to GCA. [...]
EP To SK: Law Firm Earns Big Money Creating Chaos
Now that the House Finance Committee has released its proposed budget, it’s worth noting that most of Governor Chafee’s municipal relief package is not contained in the document. Readers familiar with my opinions will know what I think of that; so I wanted to use that fact to highlight another set of facts: that things [...]
Tax Debate: Back to Future for Business Community
Back in June 2009, there was a strong push for the state to make changes to the tax structure. Organizing from the grassroots was highlighting the inequity of what was then called the “flat tax.” Boring you with all the details now isn’t the point, but reminding you of the rhetoric from the business community [...]
‘Unions Buy Local’ Campaign Set to Launch
Two of Rhode Island’s largest unions, NEARI and the RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, are launching a new Unions Buy Local campaign just prior to this Mother’s Day weekend. Shopping locally makes sense as we try to work with our neighbors to help grow our local – and state – economies. Rhode Island union [...]
Remember Saylesville: The Long Memory is the most radical idea in America
“The long memory is the memory radical idea in the country.” — Utah Phillips On Monday, September 5 there will be a Labor Day rally at the Saylesville Massacre Monument at 11:00 AM. Jim Riley, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 328, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the RI AFL-CIO’s largest organization, will speak about our [...]
Achievement First Secret #4 – Nothing Says 21st Century Education Like Segregation
Do charter schools have to teach all kids in the community equally? As they find them, as they are? This blog post from Wait, What in Connecticut, looking at the enrollment data of several charter schools, including Achievement First schools, argues no. Perhaps most disturbing of all is the fact that despite Connecticut’s urban areas [...]
Achievement First Secret # 3 – Treat kids like scholars?
According to the Achievement First website, this person is part of their leadership team: Chi Tschang - Regional Superintendent Mr. Tschang is responsible for driving high student achievement by overseeing a portfolio of schools and supporting Achievement First principals in developing and implementing rigorous academic programs and positive school cultures. Previously, Mr. Tschang founded KIPP Academy [...]
Why do Big Banks care about Charter Schools?
Why Does JP MORGAN CHASE want to create a $325 million fund to invest in charter schools? Because they can make money off of them silly. JPMorgan Chase Creates $325 Million Funding Initiative For High-Performing Charter Schools$50 Million in Grants Crucial Amidst Challenging Credit Markets New York, May 4, 2010 – JPMorgan Chase announced today [...]
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