Fenway – RI Future

: Rescue (lower right) is trained to assist people with disabilities.

Today I got a call from a friend in prison, asking if I saw his old cellmate in Fenway Park during the 7th Inning Stretch. You might have missed it, during the World Series tribute to the Boston Marathon bombing victims. There were plenty of people, smiling and waving, and James Taylor singing “God Bless America.” A standing ovation. I didn’t see his cellie.

If you look closely, there is “Rescue,” a black lab alongside a person who was wounded in the bombing. Rescue is a NEADS dog, specially trained for months to assist people with disabilities. He was trained by Steven Parkhurst, a man incarcerated in Rhode Island’s medium security facility. He has trained several dogs like Rescue and taken solace in them going out to help people. Steven is also pursuing a M.B.A. through correspondence with Adams State University, having been aided by scholarships from Transcending Through Education Foundation and the Davis Putter Scholarship Fund.

Steve told me that “The Joint went off,” when Rescue walked onto the lush green of Fenway Park. This means the place went wild like fans watching a Big Papi grand slam. It isn’t every day when you can turn on the TV and say, ‘Hey, I know that dude- he lived on my tier,’ or ‘that’s my old cellie!’ But there they were: a few hundred guys, mostly Sox fans, checking out Rescue’s major league debut. It is a rare and precious feeling to be part of something so momentous, particularly for people in prison getting an opportunity to help others.

Its a little over an hour to drive from the prison in Cranston, Rhode Island to Fenway Park. And during the 7th inning of Game 2, it got a whole lot shorter than that.

With regards to the 38 Studios debacle, Gov. Chafee is just about the only Rhode Island politician who has respected the public’s right to know what happened. Former Gov. Don Carcieri and House Speaker Gordon Fox – who shepherded the failed deal – ought to follow his lead. It may not be in either of their best interest, but public servants aren’t supposed to act in their own best interest but in the best interest of the people.

Projo columnist Ed Fiztpatrick writes this morning, “Fox needs to stop hiding in plain sight, and former Gov. Donald L. Carcieri needs to emerge from the bunker. After putting $100 million at risk, elected leaders better be ready to defend what they did — or apologize to the taxpayers.”

Speaking of Projo columnists, union-basher Ed Achorn writes about today’s Wisconsin recall election and, in doing so, gives a clue as to why he so often-confuses his anti-labor crusade with the public interest. He cites a poll that he says indicates “90 percent of employers believe the state is on the right path” and concludes that “All this seems to have been in the public’s interest, though not perhaps in the unions’ special interest.” Ed, just so you know, employers are a special interest, too.

For a more intellectually honest look at the Wisconsin recall vote today, the Associated Press runs an informative Q&A.

The AP, by the way, has an interesting paragraph about how Central Falls is able to balance its budget this year: “The plan … balances the budget for this fiscal year and the next five fiscal years but does not factor in the millions the state wants the city to pay for the costs of the receivership.” If this were a pension cost, conservatives would call this kicking the can down the road and there would likely be a bi-partisan effort to retroactively reduce these costs … not when the recipients are wealthy and connected lawyers though…

The state GOP’s local legislative caucus got a little smaller with Rep. John Savage of East Providence announcing he will leave the party … but remember, this won’t make the General Assembly any less conservative. It simply waters down the difference of local party affiliation.

While we’re on the topic of the State House … this Red Sox banner really shouldn’t be hanging above the entrance:

Tag: Fenway

Formerly incarcerated ACI dog part of World Series honor

RI Progress Report: Carcieri, Fox Should Face Public, Anti-Union Manipulation, How Central Falls Made Budget