Taveras bikes to work
Thanks Mayor Taveras for celebrating Bike to Work Day showing us how easy it is to bike to work! Did you bike to work today? If so, tweet us your pictures to @RIFuture or share them with us on Facebook.
Cutting The Gas Tax Throws RIPTA Under The Bus
Last week, Senator Walter Felag, Jr. (D-Dist.10) introduced legislation that would reduce Rhode Island’s gasoline tax by 5 cents per gallon. The legislation, he said, would allow gas stations near the Massachusetts border to be more competitive with their neighbors to the north and east. While Rhode Island’s motorists and gas station owners may rejoice, this [...]
Peace Through Progressive Poetry on Chomsky
here is greatness
born of the simple ability to discern truth
with courage to speak unvarnished
simple yet rarely ever easy
egoless measured surety
and look at me agonize over the polish of these words
under the diction beyond all rhythm
2012 Politico of the Year: David Cicilline
When 2012 began, U.S. Representative David Cicilline looked finished. Polls had shown his favorability ratings in the pits, and it seemed like all that Republicans needed to do to take the seat was nominate a somewhat moderate candidate. The threat of a Providence bankruptcy weighed heavily, and Mr. Cicilline’s fate seemed tied to the fate [...]
New Providence Bike Plan Looks for Safer Routes
Those who had cycled to the Bike Providence Public Workshop at Exchange Terrace downtown arrived to find there was no bike rack. Instead, they made do by hitching their rides to lampposts and parking signs.
The Public Education / Transportation Challenge
I’ve found a way for the Providence Public School System to save more than $400,000 annually in transportation costs. Every month, the School Department buys thousands of RIPTA bus passes, which it distributes to high school students from low income families or who live more than three miles from their school. In May of 2012, [...]
Taveras Bikes to City Hall, Creates Velo Comission
As part of Bike to Work Week, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras pedaled from his home in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood to City Hall this morning. More importantly, he announced that he’s creating a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission for the Capital City. “Cities that make a commitment to walkable and bikeable living are healthier cities, [...]
Tassoni: Kennedy Plaza a Mess, RIPTA Chief Should Go
Outgoing Senator John Tassoni, always quick to pick on bullies, has set his sights on RIPTA director Charles Odimgbe, saying recent staff cuts have left Kennedy Plaza in shambles and that Odimgbe should be replaced. Full press release after the photo. Kennedy Plaza in Providence is a mess, said Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr., and it’s [...]
Trucks Back in Pawtucket, Get Ready For Rumble
In the next few days, I-95 North in Pawtucket will reopen to large tractor trailer trucks. I am not looking forward to it. They’ve been gone so long, and it’s been so nice taking those S curves (especially with the new Grand Theft Auto signage) that it’s going to be hard to get used to sharing [...]
RI DMV: ‘Puters…yer doin’ it wrong!
In general, I’m not much for complaining about government services. Yes, pretty much everything could be a lot more efficient, but the more you know about how things work, the more you realize that budgets often determine what gets cut and what survives. But even I have my limits. To be sure, I’ll let you [...]
Dr. King’s Legacy: RIPTA Called Out by Community to Re-hire Fired Workers
Next Thursday, on January 19th, at 6:30pm, members of the RIPTA board will be at Direct Actions for Rights & Equality (DARE), answering calls to reinstate two employees who were unjustly fired last month. The fundamental question is: are people with criminal histories are sentenced to a life of unemployment? Even the New York Times [...]
My RIPTA conversation with Gordon Fox
Yesterday I wrote to Gordon Fox, asking him to help defend, not defund RIPTA. This is what I wrote: I am writing to you because now is not the time to cut funds to RIPTA, now is the time to increase them. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but a functioning public transportation system is a [...]
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 [...]
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