Providence, Central Falls sue Jeff Sessions and Justice Department
The cities of Providence and Central Falls—and in a separate suit, the state of Rhode Island—are taking the Department of Justice and US Attorney General Jeff Sessions to court over its manipulation of federal grant funds to support the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration agenda. The grant in dispute is the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice […]
Deya Garcia runs to advocate for a neglected neighborhood
Sitting in The Lunch Box, a Dominican restaurant on Park Avenue in Cranston, Democratic candidate for Providence city council Deya Garcia (Ward 8, Reservoir and West End) shows me pictures of flowers. Her neighbors have dug in chayote, a kind of squash plant usually reserved for humid climates, and gave Garcia tips on how to […]
Providence students tell their stories with their public art
A new piece of public art on the side of Empire Loan, at the corner of Broad and Somerset streets in Providence, is a bit of an optical illusion. Incorporating sculptural elements on a chain-link fence, spray-painted designs on the asphalt, and a mural on the building’s side, the piece comes together only when one […]
Hundreds march as UNAP begins 3-day strike
The sound outside of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence was deafening on Monday afternoon as hundreds of nurses and other members of Local 5098 of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP) began their three-day strike for a fairer contract. The union’s previous contract with the hospital ended on June 30. Both […]
Providence DSA co-chair on electoral strategy and the movement’s rising star
After what might be considered a 35-year slow burn for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the past year—and especially the last month—has seen the DSA’s flame burn fast and bright. The group gained almost 17,000 dues-paying members in the first 10 months of the Trump presidency. In New York City, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken […]
Hotel workers to picket Omni hotel for affordable health care
Organizers and workers from Local 26 are picketing the Omni Providence hotel on Friday afternoon to call for fairer access to affordable health care for hotel workers. Omni’s contract with the union expired at the end of this January, and the hotel has been in negotiations for a renewed deal since this May. Jonah Zinn, […]
Council Ordinance Committee rejects Fane Tower zoning change
After an extensive public hearing Wednesday night, the Providence Council Ordinance Committee voted three to one, with one member abstaining, to recommend the full council deny the zoning amendment necessary for the 600-foot Fane Tower proposed for Route 195 redevelopment land located in the Jewelry District. The proposal had been previously shot down by the […]
Jewelry District garage gets public funding for private parking spaces
Construction is underway on a new parking garage in downtown Providence, Providence Business News reports, and while the project is publicly-funded most of the parking spaces will be for private use. 900 of the structure’s proposed 1250 spaces will be dedicated to tenants at Wexford Science & Technology’s innovation center under construction in the neighborhood. […]
Candidates for Ward 1 and Ward 12 square off
In one of the first opportunities for both city council incumbents and their challengers to be grilled by the public this campaign season, candidates from Ward 1 and Ward 12 (encompassing Downtown, Smith Hill, and Fox Point, among other neighborhoods) met at the Pavilion at Grace Episcopal Church in Providence this Tuesday during a Q&A […]
Progressive activists seek Providence City Council seats
The uproar in Rhode Island’s Democratic Party might also be seen in Providence City Council campaigns this summer as several new, progressive candidates are running races far to the left of longtime incumbents—often with the claim that the establishment has been largely absent from their constituents’ neighborhoods. Kat Kerwin Few are more pointed with this […]
Justice Gaines announces her run for Providence City Council
At one of the coziest campaign kickoffs in recent memory, Justice Ameer Gaines announced her bid for Providence City Council for Ward 1, encompassing the Fox Point, Wayland, and Downtown neighborhoods. A well-regarded local activist, Gaines promises to be one of the most progressive candidates running for a municipal seat in the city. She has […]
Two cheers for speed cameras, but not three
There has been a well publicized backlash against Providence speed cameras placed in school zones ticketing those going at least 11 mph over the speed limit. But the anger is not because there is so much speeding in school zones, it is because their were so many tickets! The apparent sense of entitlement that some motorists feel to speed […]
Sam Bell declares for Paul Jabour’s Senate seat
Sam Bell is running for state Senate. The occasional RI Future contributor (and supporter) filed papers to run for the seat currently held by Sen Paul Jabour. The Providence Journal reports there could be a three-way Democratic primary for the seat. “We need to take on the fight to resist the Trump agenda right here […]
Marcia Ranglin-Vassell on her first year in office
Marcia Ranglin-Vassell is the representative for House District 5 in the Rhode Island General Assembly. She has often been the target of attacks from establishment Democrats. During the campaigns in 2016 she was referred to as “some woman from Jamaica” and as Providence Rules pointed out subject to a nasty dog-whistle attack by the former […]
No LNG in PVD brings their opposition directly to DEM and Raimondo
“When we point out our concerns, the answer is ‘we have a very limited interpretation of the regulations’ but when National Grid fails to participate, the response is that you have a wide interpretation of the regulations.”
Survey illustrates challenges for transgender and gender non-conforming Rhode Islanders
“The findings reveal disturbing patterns of mistreatment and discrimination and startling disparities between transgender people in the survey and the US population…”
Providence FOP elections sparks concerns over implementation of the CSA
We hope they will engage productively in the implementation of the [Community Safety Act] and not waste time trying to undo an ordinance that has had several years of vetting by all parties involved.
Columbus statue splattered with red paint
The statue of Columbus located near the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Reservoir Avenue in Providence, was vandalized sometime before noon on the Monday holiday that bears his name.
Muslims, many recent refugees, serve the homeless in Providence
Rhode Island Muslims and recent refugees came gathered in Cathedral Square in Providence to feed the homeless.
Moms Demand host vigil for Las Vegas in Providence
“I’ve never understood the argument as to why we don’t ban high capacity magazine and assault weapons,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. “And it makes even less sense today.”
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