Progress Report: Hard Times for the Homeless in RI; Food Stamp Increase, Obama and Letterman Talk 47 Percent

Downtown Providence from the Providence River. (Photo by Bob Plain)

So bad have things gotten in Rhode Island that the state’s largest homeless shelter has failed a building inspection. Jim Ryczek, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, told the Providence Journal, “It was pretty much a foregone conclusion that the shelter would not pass inspection. Harrington Hall is clearly not an acceptable place to house people.”

Unrelated, Dan Lawlor reports that homelessness has increased by about 10 percent over the last five years.

And here’s a headline that shows another sign that things are getting tougher for the poor here in Rhode Island: Food-stamp rolls jump 136% in RI, double US increase.

Meanwhile, the state is spending almost $10 million to buy land in nearby Warwick for a public park.

When taken all together, it’s little surprise Mitt Romney’s 47 percent comment didn’t make a bigger splash here in the Ocean State. . Speaking of which, here’s President Obama talking about it with David Letterman last night.

Even Paul Ryan criticized Romney’s take on the 47 percent. The Republicans running for office here in Rhode Island had no comment. I’m a little surprised the local mainstream media didn’t press them more for a comment on the matter.

New York Times numbers-cruncher Nate Silver thinks popular progressive incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse might not have his re-election campaign completely locked down. He calls Barry Hinckley an “interesting and unorthodox candidate.” Indeed, he is. He’s already on record as saying he’ll represent out-of-state interests in exchange for campaign donations. That isn’t being “libertarian-leaning” as Silver describes him, that’s called being for sale to the highest bidder.

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