Sound Fair to You?
Cities and towns across Rhode Island have faced financial hardship over the last several years. Cities have been devastated by the economic crisis, which itself was caused by a complete lack of oversight on Wall Street, oversight that even today Republicans are fighting tooth and nail. They even oppose the idea of having an agency [...]
AG Kilmartin, Hold Wall Street Accountable for its Fraud
Dear Attorney General Kilmartin, Hold Wall Street Accountable for its Fraud The rule of law must be applied equally to all people. Yet, the most massive organized crime spree in history has not only gone unpunished, but has actually been rewarded with trillions of dollars of bailouts and interest free loans to the criminals responsible. [...]
See Garrahy Legacy in Photos & Letters
Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is honoring Joe Garrahy with an on-line tribute that includes photos of the late Governor with celebrities such as Jesse Jackson, Pope John Paul II and President Reagan as well as everyday Rhode Islanders like Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. “We could think of no better way to honor [...]
Fighting for Rhode Island
The last few years have been tough for our great Ocean State. Across Rhode Island, I’ve organized community dinners, main street tours, and coffee hours where I’ve heard firsthand from so many people struggling to find work, seniors worried about their Social Security and Medicare, families being crushed by unfair credit card rates, and students [...]
What Can’t Brown Do for You?
Was with Occupy Providence to the City Council meeting on Thursday night and the City Council distributed the following flier about how the wealthy Brown University refuses to pay their fair share in Providence — even after teachers, firefighters, police officers and city workers did their fair share, the taxpayers did theirs and even after [...]
Will Rep. Bob Watson’s 2nd Drug Arrest in 9 Months End His Political Career?
The Providence Journal (and everyone else) is reporting that Rep. Bob Watson was arrested again for possession of marijuana early Sunday morning. When the police arrived, they saw a white Volvo sedan in the lot, with its rubber tire missing from the rim on the front driver’s side. The driver’s side door was open and [...]
Racial Profiling Prevention Act
Have you or anyone you know ever been racially profiled? Sick and tired of police abusing their power? Well the Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) has been working very hard on the Racial Profiling Prevention Act since last fall. To gather support, the Racial Profiling Coalition is holding a press conference on this Wednesday, Jan. 25th at 3:00pm inside [...]
Help put President Obama on the ballot in Rhode Island!
UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the signature gathering canvass has been RESCHEDULED for Sunday, January 22nd from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Volunteers will meet at OFA-RI HQ — 151 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903 (Suite 310). You can RSVP here for the event. This morning Obama for America – Rhode Island volunteer Jeff P. filed President [...]
This Week at the General Assembly
A highlight and discussion of some of the notable pieces of legislation going through the General Assembly this week. Education aid advance bill passes Assembly, becomes law - The General Assembly approved and the governor signed legislation requested by the East Providence Budget Commission to allow the city to receive its state education aid early to prevent [...]
Rep. Lima to Introduce Voter ID Repeal Legislation
Watch for Rep. Charlene Lima to introduce legislation today to repeal the Voter ID bill that passed last session and was signed by Governor Chafee. She has been circulating the legislation in the House and has about 15 co-sponsors. It will likely be coming today in tandem with her press statement which was not completed [...]
Nominate YouthBuild Providence
There’s nothing better than a great cup of coffee, the weekend edition of the NY Times, a barista with a big personality, your weekend sweater, and the comfort of knowing that you did something worthwhile the week before. Here’s your chance to have it all this weekend … Stop by Blue State Coffee (300 Thayer [...]
US Expands Definition of Rape
The Justice Department recently announced that it had changed the federal definition of “rape.” Going forward rape will include male victims and female perpetrators, as well as, situations in which victims are unable to give consent, such as a disabled person or someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The new definition defines it [...]
Standing Together for Progressive Values
I want to extend my congratulations to Brian and the entire progressive community of Rhode Island on getting this site back up and running. There’s never been a more important time for all of us to stand together in support of the progressive values that we know are key to putting our country back on [...]
Fighting for Our Future
This is bound to be an exciting year for our state, and I know I speak for many when I say that the return of RI Future to the Ocean State’s blogosphere is a welcome one. From Netroots Nation coming to Providence – something Mayor Taveras and I worked particularly hard to ensure – to [...]
Republican Presidential Candidates’ Tax Policy Would Destroy the Economy (Even More)
There’s nothing quite like a political campaign to demonstrate just how extreme the national Republican Party and its primary voters are. The Center for Tax Justice has an analysis of the GOP Presidential Candidates’ Tax Plans which shows just how much they favor the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Some high(low)lights: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s [...]
Getting Kicked Out and Arrested at a Romney Event
My friend Matt from the Harvard Kennedy School has a blog post up about a disturbing situation at a Mitt Romney campaign event he was attending, which, in my opinion, is emblematic of a larger trend of slowly taking away the rights and freedoms of people to speak out in dissent. We see this occurring [...]
Save the Bay: “Grave Concerns” Over Polluting Waterfront Junkyard
EcoRI reported while we were gone that Save The Bay has delivered a letter to the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) about “persistent violations of the federal Clean Water Act by Rhode Island Recycled Metals.” “The scrap metals recycling industry is growing rapidly along the Providence waterfront — [...]
Attorney General Kilmartin Announces Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today announced the creation of the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame to honor outstanding professionals who have worked to improve and uphold the principles of the criminal justice system in Rhode Island. Kilmartin also announced the inaugural class of inductees to be honored at a reception on Thursday, [...]
George Wiley Center joins Chorus of Criticism versus PROCAP
ABC6 reports that the progressive community based organization – the George Wiley Center – has first-hand experience of the kind of “staggering mismanagement” that has led Mayor Angel Taveras and Council President Michael Solomon to call for the resignation of director Frank Corbishley and the State of Rhode Island to announce that its cutting off [...]
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