Progress Report: Gemmapalooza


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Anthony Gemma

Anthony GemmaOne way or another, today’s Gemmapalooza press event will indeed be “game-changing.” While it remains to be seen how it will affect the CD1 Democratic primary, it will certainly have enduring effects on Anthony Gemma’s political career and public persona.

Here’s what we know about what will happen: The Projo reports that Gemma has indeed hired private investigators to look into voter fraud. John DePetro tells us there is video that it makes him “nauseous.” (who knows what it is that makes John DePetro sick to his stomach; it could be something honorable!) And Dan McGowan claims Gemma will call on Cicilline to resign. He also reminds us that he called on Cicilline to resign in 2010 too. WPRO will broadcast the presser live.

My guess is Gemma has some dirt on David Cicilline that won’t even come close to living up to the hype he has created about his announcement. My fear is that we have witnessing Anthony Gemma’s mental breakdown.

Narragansett Chief Sachem Mathew Thomas met with Gov. Chafee yesterday to talk about the possibility of a native American casino in Rhode Island.  According to the Projo: “Chafee said he had nothing to announce, but continued to view the gambling discussion as a jigsaw puzzle in which ‘fairness to the tribe was one piece,’ and ‘protection of revenue’ was another.”

Meanwhile, Ted Nesi reports that Twin River has spent some $700,000 to make sure they get to run a casino.

We wish Deborah Gist a speedy recovery. The state education commissioner has a small brain tumor that she is expected to recover fully from. All best, Deborah Gist.

Good for Jamestown Town Councilor Bob Bowen for casting the lone vote to locate a wind turbine on Conanicut Island. I’m really sorry this council didn’t approve the plan.

Mark Bittman: “We need real farmers who grow real food, and the will to reform a broken food system.”

Happy birthday, Yaz!

Narragansett Indian Tribe Gets Raw Deal on Casino


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When the Narragansett Indians wanted to open a gaming casino in Rhode Island, the state told the tribe the Constitution would need to be amended in order for that to happen. For some reason, the state hasn’t asked the same of Twin River as they look to develop a full-fledged casino. Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas explained the inequity on WPRI’s Newsmakers this weekend.

Thomas told Ian Donnis that the tribe is being unfairly singled out. “I’d like to ask them why the state is so hellbent on fighting my tribe. I think it’s a discriminatory practice, and I think to single out a tribe by statute, it’s insane. I want to know how this can happen, and I also want to know from [Attorney General Peter] Kilmartin how it can happen.”

The dichotomy speaks to the raw deal the Narragansetts get here in the Ocean State. Remember how Governor Carcieri treated them when they didn’t pay taxes on cigarettes they were selling? You think he would have sent to State Troopers into CVS if they weren’t paying their tax bill?

“I’m still angry about it,” Thomas said when asked about the infamous smoke shop raid on Newsmakers. “We’ll forgive but we can’t forget. It was just totally unnecessary to come in and throw us around for untaxed cigarettes. It doesn’t happen anywhere and it gets back to how we feel that the state has such scant regard for our tribe.”

Later on in the show, retiring state Senator Rhody Perry said, “I think the tribe could have been treated in a more fair manner.” I’m not sure how one couldn’t agree.