More fake reasons for fighting affordable housing
Jim Hummel, an independent journalist who lives in Barrington, took a very different tack than me on the issue of affordable housing in Rhode Island’s favorite suburban utopia. Last fall, he reported Barrington actually has a lot of housing that meets the state’s definition of affordable housing, but that not much of it fits what [...]
Why Barrington doesn’t want affordable housing
When it comes to community, Barrington is by many measures Rhode Island’s standard for success. It boasts the best schools and the highest household median income. Crime is low, taxes are reasonable, real estate is valuable and amenities abound. Then how is it that this upper middle class suburban utopia epitomizes the state’s biggest economic [...]
Don’t Be Afraid Of Diversity, Barrington
Dear affordable housing-hating Barrington, This is some friendly advice for you from your cross-Bay rival for best public education community in the state, East Greenwich. You might have higher NECAP scores but we have something you don’t: diversity. A lot of people know us as a snobby suburb where affluent executives sleep and send their [...]
Community Inequality Is Biggest Economic Obstacle in RI
The biggest problem affecting Rhode Island’s economy is not high taxes, pension benefits or special interests. Not even close. It’s the income inequality that exists between the affluent suburbs and the depressed urban areas. An extremely important post in Pacific Standard today highlights this, in part, by pointing out that while Providence is closing schools [...]
Progress Report: Plastic Bags in Barrington; Offshore Wind Farm off Block Island, Cub Scouts in Cranston; Patch, SRIN
Congratulations to Barrington for becoming the first town in Rhode Island to ban plastic grocery bags, and here’s hoping many more municipalities follow suit; such restrictions serve as a great aid in cleaning up Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island’s greatest natural asset. Speaking of firsts, the first offshore wind farm in the United States, which should [...]
Progress Report: McCaffrey vs. Pisaturo; Good Times, Bad Times; Recycling Rising; Happy Birthday HP Lovecraft
The WPRI General Assembly debates have been fantastic, and Sunday’s between Sen. Michael McCaffrey and challenger Laura Pisaturo was no exception. The two candidates offer a stark choice for Warwick, especially on marriage equality. McCaffrey is against gay marriage and Pisaturo is in a committed gay relationship and is a vehement supporter of marriage equality. [...]
Progress Report: Plastic Bag Ban in Barrington; Projo on Gemma, Social Networking, GoLocal Goes for Local Sports
When the American autopsy is finalized, it could turn out that the little things finally nail our culture’s coffin shut. Mr. Coffee machines, ATM cards, electric can openers and plastic grocery bags are potentially far more nefarious than factory farming, too big too fail banks, food-borne illness and the mountains of non-biodegradable garbage we’ve created. [...]
Progress Report: RI Takes Lead on Homelessness, Paper vs. Plastic Bags, the ‘Income Mendoza Line’
How is Rhode Island viewed by others? Lately, like a state that takes care of its least fortunate residents – which is something we should be proud of and other states should mimic. This Al Jazeera video is a few days old now, but it focuses on RI’s first-in-the-nation Homeless Bill of Rights, and how [...]
Progress Report: Celebrate Homeless Rights, NK Janitors Fired, Govt by Fear in Woonsocket, Public Records
Come celebrate today at the State House an area of public policy in which Rhode Island is leading the nation: protecting the rights of homeless people. That’s right, as the rest of the nation moves toward outlawing homelessness and sleeping in public places, the Ocean State is the first in the country to pass a [...]
Citing Legality, Town Might Scrap Tuition Plan
Barrington will likely not move forward with its controversial idea to let a limited number of students from outside the community pay tuition to attend its high-achieving local public schools, said Barrington School Committee President Patrick Guida, who is also a member of the state Board of Regents. “There’s a good chance we won’t move [...]
ACLU Questions Legality of Barrington Tuition Idea
The Barrington School Committee finally has a legal opinion on its idea to allow a small number of out-of-town students to to pay tuition to attend its high-performing public schools. It’s from the RI ACLU. “The Barrington School Department has no obligation to establish a special program to accept students from out-of-town, but once it [...]
RI Progress Report: Tobin Corners ‘Creepy’ Market; More on Marriage Equality, Barrington’s Tuition Proposal
It won’t happen this session, but we’d be real surprised if opposition to marriage equality in the Rhode Island Senate can fend off the legislation for another year. Ted Nesi reports that the Senate’s opposition to gay marriage is “softening.” Meanwhile, Ian Donnis reports that Rev. Gene Dyszlewski is running for the Senate seat being [...]
Barrington Tuition Idea Might Be Discriminatory
Not so fast, the state Department of Education tells a member of the Barrington School Committee after learning this morning that the district is considering allowing a limited number of students to attend the town’s high-performing schools if they can pay tuition to the public school system. “They’d be smart to get a legal opinion [...]
RI Progress Report: Chafee and Political Principles, Paying for Public Education, Gemma on Marriage Equality
In a surprising move that really shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows him, Gov Chafee has decided to take the Jason Pleau case all the way to the US Supreme Court, if they will hear it. While talk radio, and even the Pleau family, may not agree with this decision, taking a case to the SCOTUS [...]
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