ferri – RI Future

September 8, 2014September 9, 2014

Progressive left unified only in support of Frank Ferri for lt. gov

The lt. governor’s race is the only Democratic primary for statewide office this year that didn’t split the progressive left. When it comes to that race, longtime Warwick Rep. and local bowling alley owner Frank Ferri is the obvious progressive choice.

Ferri is best known for championing marriage equality. He re-married his longtime spouse Tony Caparco after leading the legislature to approve gay marriage. He’s also led on the fight to reform payday loans and and rebuilding Rhode Island’s economy from the bottom up. He’s a stalwart supporter of our healthcare exchange, and maintaining it as a model for the rest of the nation.

But don’t take my word for it. Here are some of the endorsement emails for Ferri that landed in my inbox lately.

He has the endorsement of current Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts:

Thank you so much for the support that you have given me over the eight years I have served as Lieutenant Governor, and before that as State Senator. As I prepare to leave office, I am pleased to share that I am supporting Frank Ferri for Lieutenant Governor.

Frank is the best candidate in this race to carry on my commitment to innovative health care reforms. I know that he will use his small business experience to support smart economic development. He is our best hope to use the power of the office to help enact serious ethics reforms. I ask you to vote for Frank in the Democratic Primary on September 9th.

Frank has worked all his life. He started when he was ten years old at Modern Ice Cream, the ice cream store owned by his grandparents on Federal Hill. Today, his family and he own and operate a Rhode Island small business that they have run for 30 years.

As a small business owner, Frank is the right person to take over as chair of the Lieutenant Governor’s Small Business Advocacy Council. As Frank says, he speaks the language of business and the language of government – and he can build bridges between them.

When Frank was first elected as State Representative, he made a commitment to focus on achieving the kinds of health care reforms that I held in preparation for Affordable Care Act preparation. Even before he was sworn in, he started attending a series of health care forums that I held in preparation for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Thanks to the hard work of so many in our community, Rhode Island has created one of the best health care exchanges in the country. I trust that Frank will keep the office’s focus on ensuring that HealthSource RI continues to thrive.

Finally, we know that too often, Rhode Island sees our elected officials charged with abusing their offices. Frank shares my concern about what this does to our economic prospects — because people only want to do business where they have trust in government.

Frank has released a significant ethics plan, including a proposal to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to give our Ethics Commission the power it needs to hold legislators accountable.

Former progressive Providence mayoral candidate Brett Smiley:

I have been busy campaigning alongside Jorge Elorza to make sure Providence can move forward, but there is also another candidate I hope you will support. I’m voting for Frank Ferri for Lieutenant Governor, and I encourage you to vote for him as well in the Democratic primary on Tuesday.

Frank is a friend and a colleague. He is a true progressive leader, endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island, RI NOW PAC, the Victory Fund, Clean Water Action, and the Sierra Club, among others. We know that Frank is 100% committed to our progressive values and that he will never waver.

Frank and his family have owned a small business for 30 years, and he brings this critical experience to his role in government. His business knowledge — not to mention his seven years in the General Assembly and his community activism for decades before that — makes him a great lawmaker and will make him a great Lieutenant Governor.

I’m voting Frank because of his top three issues:

Frank has a vision for going back to the basics of economic development by supporting the small businesses already here in Rhode Island with access to capital and creating an easier and more transparent state contracting system.

Frank is the only candidate in this race with the stated commitment to continue Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts’ important health care advocacy and to support new health care reforms that increase quality while holding the line on costs. He’ll make sure that HealthSource RI — one of the most successful health exchange in the country — grows and is able to negotiate even more significant changes in our healthcare system.

And like me, Frank is angry when the small number of unethical politicians harm Rhode Island’s standing in the country and affect our ability to attract business. Frank’s strong ethics plan will take on the insiders who won’t play by the rules. And when he says he’ll spearhead an effort to put a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot to give the Ethics Commission back its ability to hold unethical politicians accountable — without a Constitutional Convention — I know he’ll do it.

Frank and I worked closely together on Rhode Island’s successful Marriage Equality campaign. Time and again, I watched as people told us we couldn’t make it happen, and I was proud to see Frank help prove them wrong.

When Frank says he’ll do something, I know he will. So I know that he’ll stand up for small business owners, continue to tackle the high cost of insurance, take on unethical political insiders, and be a strong, progressive Lieutenant Governor.

Marti Rosenberg, founder of the famed-but-now-defunct Ocean State Action:

I’m sitting in Frank’s campaign office right now as people are making phone calls. His neighbor, Trish, is talking to voters about how she’s known him for over 9 years, and she’d never considered doing this for anyone else. She knows how important these calls are, and she’s willing to do what it takes to get Frank elected.

Besides Trish, we’ve got Terri, Joan, Ann, and Cait here too – and none of them have ever helped on a campaign either.

Trish and the rest of our team would like you to join them any day between now and Tuesday at 8:00 pm, when the polls close – to help Frank win.

As you can see, you don’t need any special experience – you just need to admire Frank and have a commitment to electing him because he’ll make the change we need in Rhode Island. We’re looking for people to make phone calls, or to be a presence for Frank at the polls on Tuesday.

Our volunteer Cait has known Frank for 20 years. She just said it best: “Frank’s a fresh new face in statewide politics, and a real hard worker. When he says he’ll do something, he’ll get it done.”

Of course Ferri has the public support of progressive legislators from Sen. Josh Miller to Rep. Art Handy. My favorite, though, was the endorsement from his niece Margaux Morrisseau, who herself is running to replace Nick Kettle in the state Senate:

Some of you know that Frank and his husband Tony are my uncles. Yes, they are technically my “uncles-in-law” but I could not choose a better family to be a part of! We are as close as can be and I am so proud of all Uncle Frank and Uncle Tony have accomplished.

But even if Uncle Frank weren’t related to me, I’d still be supporting him:

As a small business owner, Frank understands business and he understands government. We need someone with both of those insights to be able to carry out the kinds of economic development that will actually work to support the small businesses that are already here and to attract new businesses.

Frank is the only candidate in this race with the plans to carry out Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts’ commitment to significant health care reforms to increase quality, but hold the line on costs. He’ll make sure that the very successful HealthSource RI continues to thrive.

Frank gets angry when a few unethical politicians take the focus away from the majority who work hard for their constituents. He has released a strong ethics plan that includes reducing the influence of former elected officials on the legislative process and putting a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot to give the Ethics Commission back its ability to hold unethical politicians accountable.

I am sure you can see Uncle Frank has had a significant influence on me and my decision to run for State Senate. I would be honored to serve with him and work hand in hand to make RI a better place for all.

Please, join me this coming Tuesday to vote for Frank Ferri for Lieutenant Governor in the Democratic Primary. Feel free to email me for more information on my Uncle Frank or to find your polling place.

August 29, 2014August 29, 2014

Ralph Mollis: ‘personally pro-life’ but ‘governmentally pro-choice’

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

Secretary of State Ralph Mollis said he’s “personally pro-life” but “governmentally pro-choice.”

Mollis is running for lt governor and his stance on a women’s right to choose came up when Democratic primary rival Rep. Frank Ferri, as well as Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, publicly questioned his endorsement from Rhode Island Right to Life.

“My personal and governmental beliefs conflict,” Mollis told me. “Personally, I’m pro-life but the government should not prohibit a women’s right to choose. I don’t think they should inhibit or prohibit a women’s right to choose.”

He stood by the answer he gave during a WPRI debate. “I think I actually answered [the question] more accurately than anyone. For it to be safe it has to be legal and being that I’m pro-life I’d love for it to be rare.”

Mollis said he had a change-of-heart on his public policy view of abortion six years ago, when someone close with him was considering an abortion.

“Six years ago someone very close to me was faced with that decision,” he said. “I encouraged that person to have the baby. I told that person why they should, all the different reasons. And when hat discussion was done i told that person that no matter what she chose i would support it, I would respect it because it’s her choice and at that moment I realized I was governmentally pro-choice.”

When asked about late-term abortions, Mollis said there should be “some restrictions” on abortions. He said he wasn’t familiar enough with mandatory ultrasound legislation to give an opinion.

Mollis said his views on abortion have nothing to do with how he will handle the lt. governor’s office. “I don’t think that’s the litmus test for lt. governor.”

August 28, 2014

Is Ralph Mollis a pro-life liar or a pro-choice fool?

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

When WPRI hosted a debate between the three Democratic lt. governor candidates, Ralph Mollis said he thinks abortion should be “safe and rare.” But he didn’t say he thinks they should be legal.

That question is now being raised by his competitor progressive Democrat Frank Ferri after Mollis was endorsed by Rhode Island Right to Life Political Action Committee. Ferri sent Mollis a letter today asking him to clarify his position on abortion.

“This is a matter of trust, honesty, and understanding – making sure that Rhode Island voters know who is really committed to protecting women’s reproductive freedom,” Ferri wrote.

His campaign manager Dawn Euer said, “Either Rhode Island Right to Life State PAC made a serious mistake with their endorsement by backing someone who is really pro-choice, or Ralph Mollis hasn’t told the truth and can’t be trusted.”

Here’s Ferri’s letter to Mollis:

August 28, 2014

The Honorable A. Ralph Mollis
PO Box 9524
Providence, RI 02940

Dear Secretary Mollis,

As you know, a woman’s right to make reproductive health decisions on her own is of crucial concern to many voters in Rhode Island. You may know that Planned Parenthood Votes! RI recently commissioned a poll by a leading national firm, Lake Research Associates. The poll showed that 93 percent of Rhode Island voters say it is important for women in Rhode Island to have access to all of the reproductive health care options available to them – and an overwhelming majority – 85 percent – express support for all available options, including abortion.

During the Lt. Governor debate hosted by WPRI, you were asked whether you are “pro-choice” or “pro-life.” You answered that abortion should be “safe and rare.” Just a few weeks later, Rhode Island Right to Life State PAC endorsed you and Republican anti-choice activist Kara Young. As you know, the RI Right to Life State PAC is fiercely anti-abortion.

Because a woman cannot have a ‘safe’ abortion without it being legal, Dan McGowan, the Channel 12 reporter who wrote the accompanying story, stated that all three candidates were pro-choice. We can find no evidence of you contradicting that assertion.

This is a matter of trust, honesty, and understanding – making sure that Rhode Island voters know who is really committed to protecting women’s reproductive freedom. Are you pro-choice, as you answered in the debate, or are you anti-choice, as the Rhode Island State Right to Life PAC asserts?

Therefore, I am calling upon you today to release your Rhode Island Right to Life State PAC questionnaire, so that we know where you really stand, and this issue can be resolved once and for all.

We look forward to receiving your questionnaire and your answer today.

Sincerely,

Frank Ferri

August 19, 2014

Ferri camp says poll shows promise

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

While the new WPRI/Providence Journal poll was great news for general treasurer candidate Seth Magaziner, the numbers show Frank Ferri, Democrat for lt. gov, still has some work to do.

In a three-way race again, he pulled just 10 percent while his opponents Ralph Mollis pulled 25 percent and Dan McKee pulled 15 percent. The good news for Ferri would be that 47 percent of respondents are still undecided.

“This poll confirms what we already knew: voters are still getting to know Frank Ferri but remain unimpressed with the far-better-known Ralph Mollis,” said Ferri campaign manager Dawn Euer. “With nearly 50 percent of the electorate undecided – and ample resources to be competitive – we remain confident that voters will gravitate towards Frank Ferri as they begin to examine the clear differences between the candidates.”

The Democratic primary for lt governor is the only statewide campaign between all incumbents: Ferri is a Warwick legislator; McKee is the mayor of Cumberland; and Mollis is the secretary of state.

August 14, 2014August 17, 2014

YDRI endorse Magaziner, Ferri, no one for governor

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

The Young Democrats of Rhode Island have endorsed 19 legislative candidates, three congressional candidates, two municipal candidates, two statewide office-seekers but no one for governor, according to a press release from the group.

Here’s their list of legislative candidates, in graphic format (Or read their press release here):

“YDRI PAC’s endorsed candidates are of various ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds,” the group said in an email. “Nine are first-time candidates. Some are running for open seats, some are defending incumbents, and a few are challengers in primary races. Yet no matter the context, the YDRI PAC Board has agreed that the below candidates best represent the principles of the Democratic Party and will vigorously defend the concerns of young people across our state.”

The group also endorsed all three congressional incumbents: Jack Reed for Senate and David Cicilline and Jim Langevin in the House. In statewide races, YDRI endorsed Frank Ferri for lt. governor and Seth Magaziner for general treasurer.

Zack Mazera, YDRI member, said “For statewide races, we sought supermajority agreement.”

He added, “More importantly, however, statewide endorsements are not our organizational focus; Ferri and Magaziner may draw attention, but YDRI PAC this cycle is really a General Assembly-focused organization. That’s where we believe the decisions are made that most affect young people, and that’s where we firmly believe we as an organization can have the most impact on improving quality of life for young Rhode Islanders.”

In the press statement the group noted: “YDRI PAC noted it may issue further endorsements as Rhode Island progresses through the election season. Candidates in races where YDRI PAC has not yet endorsed are invited to email contact@youngdemsri.org.”

August 8, 2014August 10, 2014

Lt Gov. hopeful Ferri has a plan to reform lobbying

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

Frank Ferri, who bills himself as a “progressive Democrat for Lt. Governor,” released a plan today that would distance legislators from lobbyists during the session, and double the time retired legislators have to wait to become paid lobbyists.

“No business wants to come to a place where the government can’t be trusted,” according to his plan, which you can read here.

Ferri, a state representative from Warwick running for lt. governor against Ralph Mollis and Dan McKee, said:

“The system is broken, and to make matters worse, those tasked with oversight and compliance responsibility have not done their jobs. It’s no wonder Rhode Islanders have lost trust in government. Public service should be about advancing and protecting the interests of a legislator’s constituents, not building relationships that the legislator can use later to pad his or her wallet.”

Ferri’s proposal would double the amount of time – from one year to two – that a former legislator would have to wait to become a lobbyist. A committee chair would have to wait for years under the proposal and the House speaker and Senate president would have to wait six years. It would also ban lobbyists from loaning legislators money.

It would also prohibit lobbyists and political action committees from donating to legislators during the session. In explaining why, he lifts the veil a bit on how the sausage is actually made on Smith Hill.

“In a practice that has become so ingrained within our state’s political culture, legislators typically hold fundraisers every week during the legislative session,” according to the proposal. “It is so commonplace, that committee hearings are often scheduled around these events.

These social hours are, on the surface, harmless opportunities for legislators to mingle with constituents and each other. However, for professional lobbyists, they provide unmatched hours of special access to Assembly leadership and committee chairs – access that the average constituent can’t afford. These fundraisers have replaced the smoke-filled back rooms of years past to become the modern day place where legislation is really won and lost.”

The plan would also make available online the names of lobbyists who testify on legislation.

“The committees already collect this information in the form of sign-in sheets. Instead of these sheets being quietly filed away, they should be posted online so that the public can see for themselves who is speaking for or against a particular bill. The House and Senate could adopt this policy immediately, and Ferri has written to the House Speaker and the Senate President to ask them to adopt the policy in their respective 2015 rules.”

June 30, 2014June 30, 2014

Angel Taveras, Frank Ferri: Hobby Lobby decision was wrong

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

Rhode Island’s elected officials are outraged by the United States Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision handed down today.

First Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline critiqued the high court’s reasoning. Now Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and Lt. Gov. hopeful Warwick Rep. Frank Ferri have also weighed in.

Here’s Mayor Taveras’ statement:

I am deeply disappointed in today’s Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case. Giving employers the right to decide what type of contraception a woman should have access to is outrageous and sets a dangerous precedent that allows for discrimination. Corporations are not people, and their rights should not trump a woman’s right to receive contraceptive health care coverage.

Ferri, a Warwick state representative running for lt. governor has an interesting take. He’s a small business owner who owns and runs a bowling alley. In a fundraising email Ferri said:

Today’s decisions by a conservative majority of the US Supreme Court to impede women’s access to healthcare and curtail the rights of unions to represent their members should serve as an important reminder of what’s really at stake in this election.

As a small business owner, I would never presume to influence my employees’ health care decisions. That is just wrong.

I’m angry about the Court’s rulings, but being angry isn’t enough. We need to organize and work to make sure a conservative court and right-wing politicians don’t turn back the clock on all the progress we’ve made over the last two decades.

I’m proud to be the only candidate in this race to put his name on the line to defend a woman’s right to choose. When I’m Lt. Governor, our office will unabashedly fight to support women and working families, and stand up to the right wing politicians who will surely look to capitalize on today’s rulings.

June 6, 2014June 9, 2014

Lt. Gov. candidate Frank Ferri: ‘I would support $15’ for hotel workers

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

Candidate for Lt. Governor, Representative Frank Ferri, in conversation with Ian Donnis and Scott McKay on RIPR this morning, became the first candidate for statewide office to publicly declare his support for the workers presently engaged with the Providence City Council to pass a $15 minimum wage for all hotel employees in the city.

First asked sked if the minimum wage should be raised, Ferri said, “I believe the minimum wage should be raised. I’m a small business person, I pay more than the minimum wage. We’re in such income inequity right now that I have no problem with raising it.”

McKay then asked Ferri where the minimum wage should be set, and Donnis asked if he supported the $15 minimum wage proposed by Providence hotel workers. Ferri replied, “I support raising the minimum wage. Where that should be right now? There’s a proposal at the Senate for $9, I’ll support that. I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve seen hotel workers. I know how hard they work and to say that they’re not making $15 an hour… I don’t like that. I think that it should be higher.”

When Donnis asked Ferri to clarify, Ferri said, “I would support $15” for hotel workers in Providence.

This is a game changer. No other candidate for statewide office has made such a bold and progressive declaration in support of these workers. Outside of some members of the Providence City Council, I don’t believe there has been any support from elected officials.

Ferri should find his support of the hotel workers a boost to his campaign. In Providence, an “overwhelming 64% support the $15 minimum wage for hotel workers,” according to a recent poll. In this time of rising economic inequality, measures that bring relief and decent living wages to working families are going to become increasingly popular. Let’s face it, restructuring the estate tax isn’t doing many of us any good, and in truth, merely increases the tax burden on all of us.

The advocacy and work of Frank Ferri was critical in passing marriage equality in Rhode Island last year, and his solid stand on progressive issues has set him apart from his rather dull and predictable opponents, Cumberland Mayor Dan McKee and Secretary of State Ralph Mollis. It should be an interesting primary, as both Mollis and McKee have been in the race for a while and have a fundraising advantage, but Frank Ferri has the support of Rhode Islanders statewide eager to support this progressive champion.

You know what? I’m just going to come right out and say it: Frank Ferri should be our next Lt. Governor. I’m voting for him, you should too. Donate time and money to his campaign. Tell your friends to vote for him. This is our chance to advocate for a real, tried and true progressive for statewide office. Let’s make this happen.

January 8, 2014January 8, 2014

Chafee, Ferri, Miller: Three lawmakers talk marijuana legalization

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

Marijuana policy experts from afar have suggested Rhode Island could become the third state in the nation, after Colorado and Washington, to tax and regulate cannabis. But local political policy experts have suggested it won’t happen this year because it’s an election year.

I spoke with three State House lawmakers yesterday about the prospect for Rhode Island to legalize marijuana this year: Governor Linc Chafee, Senator Josh Miller and Rep. Frank Ferri

Chafee said he doesn’t think it will happen this year, saying he would like to see what happens in Colorado and Washington and what revenue estimates look like before moving ahead.

Senator Josh Miller, a progressive Democrat from Cranston, didn’t sound overly optimistic. “I’m not sure there’s enough people who understand or take it seriously enough to totally embrace it but I think it will be a serious discussion.” But he did say the revenue projections “will be hard to ignore.”

And for those who think the politics of the election cycle will trump policy (there are very few legislators who actively oppose legalization) Rep. Frank Ferri likened its chances to marriage equality. (Ferri is gay and worked for many years to pass same sex marriage; it passed last year)

Here’s my takeaway: legalizing marijuana will create jobs, raise tax revenue and every lawmaker I spoke with yesterday said that should be the major priority of the General Assembly this year. If there is a non-reefer madness reason not to tax and regulate marijuana – beyond the reefer madness offered by the Providence Journal and the electoral concerns of those in power – I’d like to hear it.

For more on this debate, see this article from Reason (August, 2013): Marijuana’s Bright Future. And this one from the American Prospect (December 2013): Pot’s Uncertain Future.

Also please listen to this RI Future podcast featuring an informed conversation between pro-legalization advocates Jared Moffat and Rebecca McGoldrick with East Greenwich drug counselor Bob Houghtaling, who said he could support legalization if done right.

September 27, 2013

If Board of Ed doesn’t talk NECAP, the people will

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

Rhode Island is going to debate using the NECAP test as a graduation requirement with or without RIDE and the Board of Education. Not only are activists hosting a panel with a RIDE staffer on Wednesday, but three state legislators are holding a similar forum on Monday night.

Representatives Maria Cimini, Providence, Frank Ferri, Cranston and Teresa Tanzi, South Kingstown are hosting an event called: “Great Futures for ALL Rhode Island Students: Keeping the Conversation Going”

“Join us for a community discussion of your concerns about using the NECAP as a graduation requirement and how we can work together to build a better future for Rhode Island students,” says a Facebook event. And here’s a flyer:

On Wednesday, an event at Warwick City Hall pits one member of the Department of Education with five people generally opposed to the NECAPs or high stakes testing. It’s great that RIDE is sending someone but their role is actually to facilitate this kind of debate about their policies.

Other than that, this has pretty much been RIDE’s stock response to the NECAP debate:

July 29, 2013July 29, 2013

Reps, Save The Bay sound alarm over beach closures

Deprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /hermes/bosnacweb08/bosnacweb08bf/b1577/ipg.rifuturecom/RIFutureNew/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4387

State legislators from around the West Bay and Save The Bay are holding an event Wednesday to bring attention to the high number of beach closures this year and the potential of another devastating fish kill in Upper Narragansett Bay and Greenwich Bay this summer.

“Beach closures are running at a record-breaking pace this summer. Growing dead zones are setting up the Bay for a low-oxygen event as severe and widespread as the Greenwich Bay fishkill that occurred 10 years ago,” according to a press release from Save The Bay. ”

Tom Kutcher and Jonathan Stone of Save The Bay will be joined by progressive state Reps. Teresa Tanzi, of Narragansett, Frank Ferri, of Warwick and Art Handy of Cranston at Oakland Beach on Greenwich Bay in Warwick, not far from where similarly hypoxic conditions in 2003 killed more than million fish.

Hypoxia is the scientific term for low oxygen levels in water. In Narragansett Bay, it is caused when lawn fertilizer pet waste and other non-point sources of nitrogen leach into The Bay and cause rapid plant growth that starves fish and other sea creatures of oxygen.

“Rhode Island depends on Narragansett Bay for recreation and commerce,” said the release. “An unhealthy Bay limits economic and recreational opportunities.”

RI Future early last week that beach closures “have been alarmingly high this year.” We also reported last week that DEM officials were concerned about the potential for another fish kill, like the one that happened in 2003.