james diossa – RI Future

October 17, 2016October 21, 2016

First Neighborhood Health Station breaks ground in Central Falls

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Think of it as the “Deepwater Wind” of health care: Innovation, starting in Rhode Island, that could be a model for the world. That’s how revolutionary the concept of the Neighborhood Health Station could be, and the first one is being rolled out in Central Falls.

Perhaps overshadowed by a visit from actress Viola Davis, the groundbreaking for the new Neighborhood Health Station in Central Falls heralds the beginning of a new paradigm in health care, one meant to serve the needs of the community, not the convenience of the provider. The Blackstone Valley Community Health Care (BVCHC) Neighborhood Health Station will be located at 1000 Broad St in Central Falls, and will offer primary care, walk-in primary care, dental care, a pharmacy, physical therapy, pediatric care, occupational therapy, mental health services, Ob/Gyn services, radiology and more; serving over 14,000 patients and 50,000 visits a year.

Upon completion in 2018, the city of Central Falls will benefit from having “comprehensive services offered under one roof, where clinical professionals can collaborate face-to-face for improved care coordination” and “same-day sick appointments with convenient hours (8 am to 8 pm) on week days and additional weekend hours, enabling individuals and families to access health and medical services close to home, when it is most convenient for them.”

BVCHC hopes to cover 90 percent of Central Falls residents. “Using medical records to identify at-risk patients, we will continue to collaborate using community resources and with the new health building, we are confident that we can improve public outcomes,” said BVCHC Senior Clinical and Population Health Officer Michael Fine, M.D., who now also serves as Health Policy Advisor to the City of Central Falls.

Based on public meetings with residents, three public health priorities were identified: the community wanted their kids to be safe in school, they needed access to a gymnasium and they wanted better access to primary care.

Based on this input, the team designing the center identified five short term goals. Pregnancy prevention: BVCHC partnered with the school system and Brown University’s Residency Program in Family Medicine to create a school-based health clinic at Central Falls High School to bring prevention and same-day clinical care to the adolescents of Central Falls and to reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancy through education and prevention programs. (Central Falls’ high school pregnancy is 4X the state average).
Multidisciplinary management of individual cases: participants in this collaboration come from all facets of the community, including doctors, dentists, substance abuse, mental health, home care, housing, legal, needle exchange, immigration, transportation, social service, insurers and hospitals. Together, they meet bi-weekly to create customized plans to organize care for the people in Central Falls who are at the highest medical and social risk.
Mitigation of EMS use: people who use the Central Falls EMS more than four times a year have been identified, outreach has been made and they have been introduced to BVCHC where they can get help with medical, mental health and substance abuse issues and where referrals can be made for housing that they might need.
Access to exercise opportunities: The mayor now leads city walks to get people moving every two weeks (organized by Parks and Rec, publicized by BVCHC and housing authority and staffed by both parks and rec and BVCHC). A regular schedule of free busing from Central Falls (three pickup sites at Notre Dame and the housing authority) to the Pawtucket YMCA and to the Lincoln YMCA (for access to swimming pools) was introduced.
Identification of needs within public housing: the city’s community health worker in public housing now brings individual situations and stories to the multi-disciplinary team about tenants, primarily the elderly who are most at risk, to the team to find solutions to their needs.

Innovation is desperately needed in health care. When we as a nation inevitably pass some form of “Medicare for All” single payer health care system it will be vitally important to keep costs down and people healthy. Neighborhood Health Stations point the way.

“None of us,” said Dr. Michael Fine, former head of the Rhode Island Department of Health, “have ever lived in a place where it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, black or white, whether you speak English or Spanish or another language, whether you walk, take the bus or drive a car, where it doesn’t matter if you have papers or not, whether you can read or not, whether you walk on two feet, or walk with assistance… we’ve never seen a place in which everyone matters, in which we look out for everyone. Whether they came to the health center this year or not, whether they do what doctors recommend or not, whether they choose to live differently or not, we stand here today with a different vision: A vision of a place in which everyone matters. It’s a vision of what Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. called ‘a beloved community.’”

Below, watch Dr. Fine, former head of the RI Department of Health, explain the importance of Neighborhood Health Stations.

September 26, 2016September 27, 2016

March for licenses for undocumented workers covers three cities

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A march of over 50 people from Jenks Park in Central Falls to the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church near the Rhode Island Mall was held Sunday to demand driver’s licenses for all, regardless of immigration status. Marchers carried signs, sang and chanted as the wound their way through Central Falls, along East Ave in Pawtucket and Hope St in Providence, pausing briefly near the fountain in Lippitt Park and at the State House.

The march briefly detoured through the East Side, to pass by the home of Governor Gina Raimondo, who broke a campaign promise to grant licenses through executive action. Instead, the governor threw the issue to the General Assembly, where House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello declined to advance the legislation.

The march was organized by the Safer Rhodes Coalition and Comité en Acción. Organizer Claire Pimental, writing for RI Future, said that passing this legislation will improve the quality of life and overall safety of our communities, from higher rates of insured and licensed drivers, to greater cooperation between police and the immigrant communities they serve.

Before the march Mayor James Diossa of Central Falls was joined by state Senators Donna Nesselbush and Frank Ciccone, Senator elect Ana Quezada, and Representatives Aaron Regunberg and Shelby Maldonado.

Below find pictures and video from the event.

2016-09-25 Safer Rhodes 025 Yaruska Ordinola — photo (c)2016 **Yaruska Ordinola**

2016-09-25 Safer Rhodes 024 Yaruska Ordinola — photo (c)2016 Yaruska Ordinola

March 22, 2016March 22, 2016

RI profits from Greek tragedy

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2016-03-22 Goldman Sachs 004 — Jack Reed and Gary Cohn

In 2009 a change in government forced Greece to admit the truth about its troubled economy: Greece had joined the European Union under false pretenses. It’s economic condition was artificially made to look better than it was due to help from the American investment house Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs had helped Greece to hide hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, and in the process netted itself a “premium fee” of $300 million. “The deal also made up 12 percent of Goldman’s $6.35 billion in trading and investment revenue for 2001,” writes Garry Levine for Al Jazeera.

In 2005 Goldman Sachs intervened in a Greek economic crisis a second time, restructuring the original bad deal by increasing debt, stretching out payments, and increasing Goldman’s cut to “something like $500 million.”

2016-03-22 Goldman Sachs 014 — Gina Raimondo

Now in 2009 the new government in Greece was facing yet another crisis, and a team from Goldman Sachs, lead by Gary Cohn, now Chief Operation Officer for Goldman Sachs, flew in to offer yet another restructuring.

“Cohn offered to finance the country’s health care system debt, pushing it far into the future,” writes Levine, “After all, argued Goldman’s team, it had worked before.”

Levine goes on to write, “The Wall Street house not only earned large transaction fees and rights to future Greek revenue, it also hedged its investments, essentially placing a bet on the economy of Greece to fail. Looking at the deals in the rearview mirror, analysts said Goldman’s exposure on Greece was, for all intents and purposes, zero.”

Greece turned down Cohn’s offer, and was forced to accept decades of grueling austerity to work its way out from under mountains of debt. A Greek generation or two will be lost, even as political fascism predictably rises in response to economic privation. Preventable political disaster looms, because Goldman Sachs wanted more money.

Now, in an East Side bike shop with Governor Gina Raimondo, Senator Jack Reed, Mayors Elorza, Diossa, Grebien, Badelli-Hunt and more press than I’ve seen gathered in weeks, Gary Cohn was offering the state $10 million in small business training and funding, and everyone seemed to think this was a great idea.

I couldn’t have been the only person who thought there was irony in Cohn’s statement that, “We at Goldman Sachs… like to be accountable for what we do.”

Goldman Sachs is giving away free money, perhaps to salve their consciences or to buy some positive press after nearly destroying the world economy, or perhaps to inspire a new generation of rich suckers to fleece in the next market bubble. It doesn’t really matter why they are doing it.

When Rhode Island takes the money, they should know that the money comes, in part, at the expense of the Greek people, who suffer because a vampire-like Wall St. bank has consigned the country to half a century of brutal, soul-destroying austerity.

As Levine says so eloquently in his Al Jazeera piece, “The consequences are born by ordinary Greek people that now find themselves in the the economic equivalent of debtors’ prison.”

We should understand the moral consequences of accepting money stained with the blood, sweat and tears of a nation’s future.

2016-03-22 Goldman Sachs 003 — Matt Bodziony, President of NBX Bikes

2016-03-22 Goldman Sachs 007 — Elorza, Reed and Cohn

March 18, 2016May 19, 2016

Community speaks out to defend Memorial Hospital Birthing Center from closing

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Ana Novais, Nicole Alexander-Scott, Kenny Alston

At the third and probably last community meeting being held by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to discuss the potential closing of the Memorial Hospital Birthing Center, well over a hundred people turned out to speak. Since the massive protest outside Care New England’s offices last week the movement to keep the birthing center seems to have grown. One speaker at this community meeting drove over an hour to speak her piece about the closing, because the birth of her child at Memorial four years ago was such a positive experience and so important to her.

Care New England announced the closing on March 2, RIDOH Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott scheduled three hearings because under the law, RIDOH must approve any such closing. The process is called a Reverse Certificate of Need and there are procedures connected to the process that Care New England seems to have skipped when announcing the closing of the birthing center. The process is “intended to ensure access to quality health services and healthcare throughout Rhode Island.” Dr. Alexander-Scott has ruled that she must approve or deny the facility’s proposal within 90 days.

Chris Callaci, an attorney representing the nurses who will lose their jobs if the facility closes, pointed out that Care New England has not actually filed a plan for closing the birthing center, as required by law. The public, he says, is being forced to comment on a plan without any of the details of the plan. Further, he says that scheduling the hearings with barely a week’s notice may be a violation of the law. Calico claims that the first meetings must be scheduled no earlier than thirty days after Care New England has submitted a complete plan.

Because of the vagaries of RI public hearing law, the officials in attendance do not comment or answer questions from the public. So Dr. Alexander-Scott, Executive Director Ana Novais and Chief Legal Council Kenny Alston sat silently as patients, medical professionals and community members spoke out against the birthing center’s closure.

Many who live in Pawtucket and surrounding areas object to having their inpatient obstetrics services moved at the 11th hour to Women & Infants or Kent County Memorial Hospital. To interrupt pregnancy care for women who plan to deliver in April and May is a terrible physical and emotional inconvenience for mothers and families, never mind the increased travel time and the last minute loss of a doula.

One woman who is due in early May said that the only information she has received on the closing of the Memorial Hospital Birthing Center has been from those advocating against the closing. Official communication from Care New England has been scant.

Central Falls Mayor James Diossa said he is very concerned about the interruption of services at the birthing center. But he stopped short of calling on Care New England to change their plan. He simply wishes to be involved as a community partner to make the transition as safe as possible for the residents of Central Falls and Pawtucket. This is similar to the position staked out by Governor Gina Raimondo, who has announced no plan to intervene in the closing but who says she understands the pain being caused “as a mother.”

A doula testified that despite Care New England’s promise that all providers would be credentialed at Women & Infants or Kent, there is no process in place for her to be credentialed. In fact, Women & Infants requires an OB/GYN be present during the process. Since Memorial functions as a community service provider, there is no way most people who use Memorial Birthing Center can afford to have two providers present during the birth of their child.

This has the effect of medicalizing birth, something many women who wish to deliver their children object to.

“If Memorial closes,” said a mother planning to deliver in June, “my choices will be to have a home birth, which I do not want, or go to Cambridge. There is no other place offering the options I want.”

March 16, 2016

Full video: House hears testimony over driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants

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Two competing bills were heard in the House Judiciary Committee meeting Tuesday evening in a hearing that lasted well over 6 hours and had over 4 dozen people testifying. House bill 7610, submitted by Representative Anastasia Williams, would grant driving privilege license to undocumented immigrants. House Bill 7859, introduced by Representative Arthur Corvese, would make issuing such licenses illegal. Over 200 advocates for licenses filled the main rotunda with reverberating chants during the hearing, which was often emotional and contentious.

2016-03-15 Driver's Licences Undocumented 007 — Gorman and Nardolillo

This became evident immediately as Reps Williams and Corvese verbally sparred even before presenting their bills, which were heard simultaneously. Committee Chair Cale Keable worked hard to keep the peace, and surprisingly did not put a cap on speaking times, allowing people to speak until they were done.

Both bills have been held for further study, and the ultimate fate of the bills is in doubt. Governor Gina Raimondo has indicated that she wants a bill allowing driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants to be passed and that she is ready to sign such a bill. She made a campaign promise to issue an executive order granting such licenses within her first year in office, a promise she has broken in favor of a legislative solution.

Below is all the testimony presented during the hearing last night, each speaker given a separate video. For the purposes of time it is impossible for me to do justice to all the wonderful testimony given in support of allowing undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses, just as it is impossible for me to get into some of the racism and xenophobia presented by the other side. Hopefully, the occasional notes I’ve provided below can point people towards some of the testimony I found the most interesting.

Rep Doreen Costa, vice-chair of the House Judiciary Committee, told Corvese that he had presented a “great bill.”

Rep Joseph Almeida took Corvese to task for using the term “sanctuary city” in reference to Providence. Corvese responded that, “I do not countenance political correctness,” said Corvese, “and I never have.”

Mayors Jorge Elorza of Providence and James Diossa of Central Falls both spoke in favor of licenses for undocumented immigrants.

Rep Robert Nardolillo, who quoted FAIR, (Federation for American Immigration Reform) in his Providence Journal op-ed, did not exactly do himself any favors by testifying. FAIR has been identified by the Southern Poverty Law Foundation as a hate group. At one point Nardolillo seemed to imply that immigrants were more likely to drive without insurance that non-immigrants. Here’s a quote from the founder of FAIR for Nardolillo and others to ponder:

“As Whites see their power and control over their lives declining, will they simply go quietly into the night? Or will there be an explosion?”
— John Tanton, founder of FAIR

Terry Gorman, of RIILE, lists FAIR on its links page. They also list the Minuteman Project and American Border Patrol, also listed as “extremist nativist groups” by the SPLC. I don’t know how RIILE avoids being on the SPLC hate group list.

February 10, 2016February 10, 2016

Fast tracking RhodeWorks: Passing unpopular legislation in an election year

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Ahead of yesterday’s finance committee votes in both houses of the General Assembly approving RhodeWorks, the truck toll plan, a press conference was held at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) featuring some of Rhode Island’s most powerful political, business and labor leaders. They were there to present a unified message in support of the tolls, despite vocal opposition.

One prominent Rhode Island business owner, whose business has “been a member of the Chamber for almost as long as there’s been a Chamber” told me that contrary to GPCC President Laurie White‘s claims that this issue has been discussed with membership, he was never consulted about the plan, despite his business’s dependence on trucks for shipping. In fact, he said, “I didn’t even hear about this meeting until I heard about it on the radio this morning!”

As I said before, RhodeWorks is inevitable. The legislation has been fast tracked not because there is a sudden, urgent need to fix our roads and bridges; the need for this repair is decades old. The legislation is being fast tracked because the necessary arrangements between the various parties involved have been carefully worked out, but in an election year, meaning that the sooner elected officials put this issue in their rear view mirror the better. Several legislators are going to be challenged for their seats because of their votes on this.

Not that Republican challengers are offering anything better. As Sam Bell pointed out yesterday, the Republican plan seems to be privatization, which means private businesses will take over our roads and bridges and charge whatever tolls they want to for profit, or their plan is cutting the budget, denying important social services to families in need. (Not to worry, though: Senate President Paiva-Weed promises that she and Speaker Mattiello will continue to cut the budget, cut taxes and cut services. More on this in a future article.)

The cost of RhodeWorks will be passed onto consumers. Ocean State Job Lot raised a stink over the weekend when they put their expansion plans on hold, threatening as yet unrealized jobs, but after this all pans out, Job Lot will not lose out on any profits: They will simply raise the price of their goods. This means that we are not imposing a user fee on businesses as much as we are coming up with yet another regressive tax that will affect the poor and middle class more than the rich, which is just the way our political leaders like it.

The General Assembly is expected to pass RhodeWorks today, and Governor Raimondo will sign the legislation asap. In the meantime, you can watch the full press conference below.

Laurie White, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) President

RI Governor Gina Raimondo

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza

Peter Andruszkiewicz, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island CEO and President

Scott Wolf, Grow Smart Rhode Island Executive Director

Lloyd Albert, AAA of Southern New England Senior Vice President

Michael F. Sabitoni, Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council President

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello

Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed

Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt,
Central Falls Mayor James Diossa and
Lt. Governor Dan McKee were in attendance but did not speak.

January 21, 2016January 21, 2016

Follow the money on Raimondo pension scheme: the local sponsors

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Remember back when all the important people were lining up in droves to support then-Treasurer Raimondo’s pension policies under the false advertising of a crisis? Wouldn’t it be great if we could go back in time to look at who played along, willingly or unwillingly, in what is turning out to have been a complete and utter fraud so to perpetuate a massive heist at the expense of both the retired state workers and the taxpayers?

There is.

The webpage Internet Archive has a fantastic device called the Wayback Machine that captures snapshots of pages every few days across the internet. With absolute ease, one can look at the campaign pages of candidates, movie websites that have gone extinct, or even the frontpage of a newspaper or magazine on a historic date, say, the Times on 9/12/01.

We present now a little jaunt down memory lane, the EngageRI webpage that foisted this scheme on an unsuspecting public.

OCTOBER 2, 2011
 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111002015933/http://engageri.org/"> Fallback link for browsers that, unlikely, don’t support frames </a>

DECEMBER 9, 2011
 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111209015408/http://engageri.org/"> Fallback link for browsers that, unlikely, don’t support frames </a>

JANUARY 22, 2012
 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120122012519/http://engageri.org/"></a>

MARCH 26, 2013
 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130326175202/http://www.engageri.org/"> </a>

And lest we forget, here’s the people who were in charge!

Board of Directors

–President & Co-Chairperson 
Ed Cooney
Senior Vice President, Nortek, Inc.
–Vice President
Constance Pemmerl
Retired Financial Executive
–Secretary
Ted Long
Partner, Holland & Knight LLP
–Treasurer 
John Galvin
Chief Financial Officer, Collette Vacations
-Paul J. Choquette, Jr.
Vice Chairman, Gilbane Inc.
-Susan Arnold
CEO and General Counsel, Rhode Island Association of REALTORS, Inc.
-Kas DeCarvalho
Partner, Fontaine, DeCarvalho & Bell LLP
-Bradford S. Dimeo
Dimeo Construction Company
-James Diossa
Councilman – Ward 4, Central Falls City Council
-Michael McMahon
Founding Partner, Pine Brook Road Partners
-Dan Sullivan
 CEO and President, Collette Vacations

When the FBI, SEC, and US Attorney’s Office come looking to ask questions, they might do well to check in with these folks also.

September 28, 2015September 29, 2015

Diossa to Obama: Central Falls will take in Syrian refugees

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Central Falls Mayor James Diossa co-signed a letter with 18 mayors from around the United States telling President Obama their cities are willing to take in Syrian refugees.

“We will welcome the Syrian families to make homes and new lives in our cities,” reads the letter, a copy of which was sent to RI Future from Diossa.

“Indeed, we are writing to say that we stand ready to work with your Administration to do much more and to urge you to increase still further the number of Syrian refugees the United States will accept for resettlement,” it reads. “The surge of humanity fleeing war and famine is the largest refugee crisis since World War II. The United States is in a position to lead a global narrative of inclusion and support. This is a challenge we can meet, and the undersigned mayors stand ready to help you meet it.”

There are at least 4 million Syrian refugees fleeing civil war and the oppressive ruling regime, and many million more fleeing similar strife in other Middle Eastern and African nations. The exodus has been called the greatest refuge crisis since World War II and the sheer volume of refugees has overwhelmed Europe. The United States, which has accepted only 1,500 Syrian refugees in four years of civil war, has been criticized for not doing more.

Diossa joins the mayors of Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hartford, Conn., Santa Fe, NM, Syracuse, NY, Clarkston Georgia, Paterson, NJ and others in signing the letter. No other Rhode Island mayors signed the letter.

Central Falls has several connections to Syria already. In the early part of the 20th century, many of the Syrian refugees fleeing the Turks settled in Central Falls, according to this official history of migration into Rhode Island. There’s even a Catholic church in Central Falls that was founded by Syrian immigrants in 1907, according to this article in the Rhode Island Catholic. And former CF Mayor Tom Lazieh is of Syrian decent, according to this 2013 Providence Journal article.

Tara Granahan, of WPRO, tweeted about the letter earlier today.

This is the letter in its entirety, as well as the signers:

Dear President Obama:

We commend your decision to open America’s doors to at least 10,000 Syrian refugees displaced by civil war, and applaud your commitment to increase the overall number of refugees the U.S. will resettle over the course of the next two years. This announcement is a vital initial step to honoring America’s commitment to support those fleeing oppression.

As the mayors of cities across the country, we see first-hand the myriad ways in which immigrants and refugees make our communities stronger economically, socially and culturally. We will welcome the Syrian families to make homes and new lives in our cities. Indeed, we are writing to say that we stand ready to work with your Administration to do much more and to urge you to increase still further the number of Syrian refugees the United States will accept for resettlement. The surge of humanity fleeing war and famine is the largest refugee crisis since World War II. The United States is in a position to lead a global narrative of inclusion and support. This is a challenge we can meet, and the undersigned mayors stand ready to help you meet it.

Our cities have been transformed by the skills and the spirit of those who come to us from around the world. The drive and enterprise of immigrants and refugees have helped build our economies, enliven our arts and culture, and enrich our neighborhoods.

We have taken in refugees, and will help make room for thousands more. This is because the United States has developed a robust screening and background check that assures us that we know who we are welcoming into this country. With national security systems in place, we stand ready to support the Administration in increasing the numbers of refugees we can accept.

With Pope Francis’ visit, we are mindful of his call for greater compassion in the face of this ongoing crisis and stand with you in supporting those “journeying towards the hope of life.”

Sincerely,

Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, PA

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor of Baltimore, MD

Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of Boston, MA

James Diossa, Mayor of Central Falls, RI

Mark Kleinschmidt, Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, IL

Edward Terry, Mayor of Clarkston, GA

Nan Whaley, Mayor of Dayton, OH

Domenick Stampone, Mayor of Haledon, NJ

Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor of Hartford, CT

Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, CA

Betsy Hodges, Mayor of Minneapolis, MN

Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, NY

Jose Torres, Mayor of Paterson, NJ

William Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA

Javier Gonzales, Mayor of Santa Fe, NM

Francis G. Slay, Mayor of St. Louis, MO

Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor of Syracuse, NY

September 8, 2015September 8, 2015

Rhode Island Labor History Society’s Annual Labor Day Address

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The Rhode Island Labor History Society held their Annual Labor Day Address in Moshassuck Cemetery in Central Falls yesterday. Ryan McIntyre, the society board member who lead the effort to erect a monument in the cemetery to commemorate the Saylesville Massacre, where workers were killed by the National Guard during the General Textile Strike in September of 1934, gave an address entitled, “1915 – A Tumultuous Year That Shaped the American Family.”

In this part of the graveyard one can see the bullet holes that penetrated a tombstone, evidence of the violence that can erupt when working people challenge the capitalist class over the proper allocation of profit.

Rhode Island was first industrialized and the first organized state in the nation, said McIntyre in his presentation (see video below). Both the industrial revolution and the organized labor movement had a genesis here.

The rich history of Rhode Island labor and the important wins of the labor movement that we all take for granted today, such as the forty hour work week, the eight hour day, the abolition of child labor, even Labor Day itself, mark the Labor Movement as deserving of our respect, yet too often, the opposite is true.

The assault on labor over the last three decades has been nonstop and withering. As union participation falls, economic inequality skyrockets to levels never before recorded in history. Today in Rhode Island UNAP, SEIU, Unite Here and the Providence Firefighters, to name just four, are all fighting for fair contracts and fair negotiations. The battle between Verizon and its workers is escalating. Other local labor battles are brewing.

The Labor Movement is not without its problems, like any human institution, it is vulnerable to human foibles and has an ignoble history in regards to issues of race and gender, but the ultimate goal of Labor is liberation and empowerment, and that is a goal always to be embraced and nurtured.

2015-09-07 RI Labor History Society Annual Labor Day Address 005 — Central Falls Mayor James Diossa

2015-09-07 RI Labor History Society Annual Labor Day Address 006 — **Scott Molloy**

2015-09-07 RI Labor History Society Annual Labor Day Address 008 — Mike Araujo

2015-09-07 RI Labor History Society Annual Labor Day Address 009 — James Parisi

2015-09-07 RI Labor History Society Annual Labor Day Address 011 — **Ryan McIntyre**

June 29, 2015June 29, 2015

Rainbow flag in CF: This never would’ve happened if Chuck Moreau was still mayor

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Well, it’s hard to say for sure since we can neither read nor change the past. The disgraced former Mayor of Central Falls, who plead guilty to corruption charges in 2012, and one of the key factors in Central Falls declaring bankruptcy in 2011, might be in favor of having the rainbow flag fly over city hall.

But few residents really care what he thinks these days. The same is true for former Mayor Lazieh, who also “helped” the city along on its path to bankruptcy back in the 1990s, and who has tried to return to the post only to be defeated by James Diossa in 2012, and to the City Council in 2014 – again, defeated by voters presumably unwilling to make the same mistakes made in the past.

What does matter is that three years into his administration Diossa is continuing to bring his home town into the 21st century by celebrating Central Falls’ diversity across the board. And that includes recognizing the place that Central Falls’ gay residents have in this city that still defiantly calls itself “the city with a bright future.”

This is the second year that Diossa has raised the rainbow flag, the symbol of the LGBTQ community since the 1970s. He joins Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza who raised the flag on June 5 to kick off Rhode Island Pride season.

The group that gathered at this flag raising ceremony was small but inclusive – Hispanic, Anglo, African American, current and former residents – and all were openly delighted. There were also representatives from Senator Whitehouse’s office, as well as city officials and employees, and a representative from Governor Raimondo’s office.

This ceremony seemed particularly significant, held on the day before the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of marriage equality across the United States. In his remarks, Diossa talked about the importance of recognizing ALL residents of the city.

“Our LGBTQ community deserves to be recognized with a symbol that is known and flown proudly all over the world,” he said. In speaking to me after the ceremony, he said “I really don’t understand what the big deal is.” For him, the “big deal” is the importance of people loving each other and that it be recognized socially and legally.

There are no statistics on how large the Central Falls gay population is. Doesn’t matter.

What’s important is that, in an age where marriage equality is law across the United States, and more and more Americans now support it, the small city of Central Falls is striking a solid blow that firmly asserts that diversity comes in all forms.

This is almost revolutionary in a city that was once a densely Catholic bastion of conservative social values and dominated by Anglo ethnic groups (French Canadian, Middle Eastern, Polish, and the like) that didn’t even welcome the “invasion” of Hispanics into “their” town.

Mayor Diossa is no stranger to embracing gay rights. In 2013 he joined several other Rhode Island mayors in supporting the legalization of gay marriage here. That support undoubtedly helped the bill pass and become law. Quoted in an article posted on the gay rights organization Human Rights Campaign website , he said “Marriage tells our communities that two people are uniquely committed to one another – that they are a family.”

What is interesting is that Central Falls is now predominantly Hispanic at 65.7%, an ethnic group not historically noted for its support of gay rights. That appears to be changing. A recent Pew Center study found that Hispanics have joined the ranks of supporters of marriage equality at 56%.

This is possibly the result of millennials (age 18-34) now being counted as a force to be reckoned with, likely undercutting traditional social conservative values of their elders. Or it’s possible that Hispanics, who are experiencing ethnic backlash in several states such as Arizona and Texas, even as their political clout has grown, realize it’s time to join with other minorities and support their battles.

An article on the Pew Center website discusses how Hispanic values are changing, thanks to fluctuating religious identities and experiences.

However, that doesn’t mean that Central Falls Hispanics would look kindly upon gay rights. Well aware that raising the flag might offend this predominantly Hispanic city, Diossa, who is of Colombian heritage, cares only that the city recognizes diversity, saying that Central Falls has always been a “gateway city,” where immigrants and minorities can create new lives, and that celebrating gay rights is simply one more way to celebrate the city’s residents.

He made a point of referencing opponents – “Despite the open and loving arms of Central Falls residents, there are still some who whose acceptance of our neighbors is limited.”

Some former and current residents are delighted. Central Falls native and current Riverside resident Ricky Gagnon was glad to hear about the flag raising, saying in a Facebook post “Very cool that my old hood is catching up to being trendy like me.” Central Falls resident Kelly F, declining to give her full name, was at the ceremony and thrilled to see it happen. She said, “This means that maybe my wife and I will finally be fully accepted in my hometown.”

Others of an older, predominantly Anglo, generation mourn the loss of morals in a city slipping out of their control. A woman who lives in one of the two public senior and disabled housing complexes was heard to say that this definitely would not have happened if Moreau or the former City Council was still around. Or any of the other perennial Central Falls politicos. Another called the whole affair “sick.”

It can’t be easy to be on the losing side of social progress, of course, or the wrong side of history. The sky is certainly falling for those who dig in their heels and cry for ‘the good old days’ when men were men, women knew their place, and gays were considered morally corrupt.

Those days are disappearing in the rear view mirror, and rainbows are the order of the day in Central Falls. And as a resident of this small but fierce urban survivor, I couldn’t be more proud.

Lin Collette is a Central Falls resident and a Progressive Charlestown contributor. Her original article appears HERE.

April 17, 2015April 28, 2016

Record numbers at State House ‘Rally Against Gun Violence’

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There were more than 350 people in support of the Rally Against Gun Violence at the State house Thursday afternoon, by far the largest gun control rally in Rhode island’s history. The event was organized by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV), made up of over 60 groups representing 100,000 Rhode Islanders.

This year the RICAGV is advocating for three pieces of common sense legislation that seek to make our state safer. The coalition wants to pass legislation to deny guns to domestic abusers, keep guns out of schools, and limit magazine capacity to ten bullets.

Rally Against Gun Violence 050 — Mayor Jorge Elorza

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza was at the rally and in support of the bills. Noting the presence of Teny Gross, executive director of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, Elorza said, “I can’t think of a better slogan than the institute’s ‘Everybody, let’s choose peace.’” Elorza advocated for non-violence training in schools, and asked that people join him in committing “to being preventive rather than reactive to gun violence.”

The rally was emotional at times, with a gripping account by Carmen Cruz, founding member of SOAR, Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships. She came to Rhode Island in 1999 to escape an abusive relationship, but her ex-husband found her and shot her in front of her eight-year-old son and her granddaughter. “Domestic abuse and firearms are a terrible combination,” said Cruz.

Rally Against Gun Violence 007 — Extraordinary Rendition Band

There was also lighter entertainment, starting with music from the Extraordinary Rendition Band, then Sheryl Albright sang a rousing version of “If I Had a Hammer.”

Myra Latimer-Nichols took to the podium to talk about losing her son, Steven, to senseless gun violence four years ago. Two days short of his 23rd birthday, Latimer-Nichols’ son was outside a club and accidentally leaned on the wrong car. The car’s owner tracked him and his friends down later in the night, and shot them in a drive by. Steven died, leaving his daughter, Nevea, behind.

Rally Against Gun Violence 054 — Myra Latimer-Nichols

“The last time I saw him and his daughter together he was telling her about the importance of education,” said his mother, “She was robbed of a life with her father.”

Said Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré, “Every year we come here to ask for the tools to keep us safe. This is common sense legislation.”

Commenting on the need to limit the number of rounds in guns, Pare said, “If you need a banana clip, you should be hunting, not on the streets of Providence. We won’t give up until we’re there.”

Rally Against Gun Violence 062 — Wendy Bowen

Retired school teacher Wendy Bowen spoke next. Bowen was a teacher in Newtown, CT the day a gunman shot and killed six teachers and twenty elementary school children. When her school went into lock down, Bowen and her students, “huddled together in fear, with absolutely no idea what had happened.”

Students have a “right to learn in a safe environment, free of fear. Guns do not belong in school,” said Bowen, “Supporting gun sense laws would save so many lives.”

Episcopal Bishop Knisely led the crowd in prayer (but included a nice shout-out for random Humanists in the crowd) as Representative Doreen Costa skirted the edge of the crowd taking photos with her phone. Costa has an A+ voting record with the NRA, and is a keen opponent of most legislation that might even slightly inconvenience gun owners.

Sheryl Albright then led a collection of schoolchildren from six different schools in Central Falls in a rendition of “Give Kids a Chance” before the crowd was asked to move inside the State House for a direct appeal to the legislators.

In the main rotunda of the State House, Julia Wyman, legislative director of the RICAGV, made a valiant effort to be heard over the clanging of the bell that calls the legislators to session. She introduced Teny Gross who said that the law should clearly state that guns are not allowed in schools. “When my kids go to school,” said Gross, “I don’t want someone with a license to carry to be in charge of protecting my children.”

Rally Against Gun Violence 084 — Mayor James Diossa

The last speaker was Central Falls Mayor James Diossa. Diossa is a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The mayor introduced the Central Falls schoolchildren a final time, and they sang a moving song about Sandy Hook Elementary, a song that mentioned the names of all twenty children who died that day, a tragedy many in our state are trying to prevent from happening again.

Rally Against Gun Violence 034 — Sheryl Albright

Rally Against Gun Violence 043 — Carmen Cruz

Rally Against Gun Violence 061 — Commissioner Steven Paré

Rally Against Gun Violence 064 — Bishop Knisely

Rally Against Gun Violence 078 — Harold Metts

Rally Against Gun Violence 082 — Teny Gross

January 14, 2014

Celebrate Dr. King’s birthday in Central Falls tomorrow night

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Central Falls Mayor James Diossa has invited you to celebrate what would be Dr. Martin Luther King’s 85th birthday tomorrow night with him, Jim Vincent of the Providence NAACP and others tomorrow night starting at 5pm.

“Dr. King inspired us all with his words, his deeds and his committment to non-violence and social justice,” Diossa said in an email. “He fought for people of color, the poor and to make freedom real for all people. He stated that “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.”

Here’s the agenda for the celebration in CF:

5:00 Welcoming Speech: Mayor James A. Diossa
5:05 NAACP President: Jim Vincent
5:15 Performances by TALL University and CFHS
5:30 “The Drum Major’s Instinct” Rendition: Joe Wilson Jr.
5:50 Winter Food Drive: Progreso Latino
6:00 Closing: Mayor James A. Diossa

Progreso Latino’s annual winter food drive begins tomorrow night too, so please consider bringing an extra can of something non-perishable.

January 23, 2013January 23, 2013

NLC’s 40 Under 40: Central Falls Mayor James Diossa

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James Diossa was elected Mayor of Central Falls on December 11, 2012, and has accepted responsibility for navigating his city out of bankruptcy and restoring his community’s belief in political leadership.

He was elected councilman of Ward 4 in November 2009 at the age of 24, defeating a longtime incumbent. He was also an New Leaders Council Fellow in the inaugural class of NLC Rhode Island last year.

He’ll be honored as one of the New Leaders Council’s Class of 2013 40 Under 40 at an event on Saturday night.

After his family migrated from Colombia to Central Falls, James was born and raised in the small city and attended Central Falls High School, where he led his soccer team to their first state championship. Upon graduation, James attended Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. His love for Central Falls brought him back to the city, where he combined his passion for sports and community service by coaching youth soccer at the Ralph J. Holden Community Center. He began working as a Crusade Advisor for the College Crusade of Rhode Island, an early intervention program designed to encourage low-income students to stay in school and prepare for higher education.

As a member of the City Council, James demanded that meetings be held in the evening so that the public could attend, assisted small businesses in navigating City Hall, and made sure that his constituents were being heard throughout an unprecedented bankruptcy of the city. He was a vocal advocate to keep open a shuttered library, traveled to Washington DC to lobby his congressional delegation and postal officials to keep their only post office open, and brought Governor Lincoln Chafee, Senator Jack Reed, and other state leaders to Central Falls to learn first-hand about his city in the face of attacks in the media.

He has garnered support from many elected officials in Rhode Island as he assumes the top leadership position in Central Falls.

The New Leaders Council is holding its 40 Under 40 event this Saturday night. You can read about it here.

January 22, 2013January 22, 2013

New Leaders Council ’40 Under 40′ Event Saturday

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The New Leaders Council Rhode Island will kick off their 2013 Institute this Saturday, January 26, and at 6:00pm, and invites the public to celebrate and support Rhode Island’s nominees for the national “40 Under 40” Awards. This year’s event will be held at Asian Palace, 1184 N. Main St., Providence.

Rhode Island’s 2013 “40 Under 40” nominees are (bios follow):

James Diossa – Mayor, City of Central Falls
Andy Posner – Capital Good Fund
Brett Smiley – Campaign Finance Officers, LLC

New Leaders Council (NLC) works to train and promote the progressive political entrepreneurs of tomorrow — trendsetters, elected officials and civically-engaged leaders who will shape the future landscape. NLC recruits young men and women from outside traditional power structures and equips them with the skills necessary to be leaders in their communities and workplaces.

Each year, the “40 Under 40” Award is presented as a way to honor the work of young, professional leaders who have exemplified the organization’s ideal of political entrepreneurship.

The citizens of Rhode Island are invited to meet these nominees, as well as our newly selected 2013 Fellows at our 40 Under 40 Awards Event. The ceremony features a thought-provoking and inspiring presentation by keynote speaker Charles Cole, III, 2011 NLC San Francisco alum and Bay Area Program Director of Juma Ventures. Admission is $25 with RSVP through Facebook (search for “New Leaders Council Rhode Island”) or $35 at the door without RSVP.

I’ll be profiling the honorees this week on RIFuture, so check back to learn more about each of them.

November 4, 2012November 4, 2012

10 Reasons to Support James Diossa for CF Mayor

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I am a big fan of City Councilman James Diossa – 1 of 5 candidates running in the November6th non-partisan primary for Mayor of Central Falls.

Here are 10 reasons that you should vote for him, volunteer for him and donate to him between now and Tuesday.

1. Honesty matters. As we have seen with Mayor Angel Taveras in Providence, it is critical for elected officials to be honest with the people. When you are honest, you are able to bring people to the table and accomplish tough things. James is that kind of elected official. He his honest, humble and in politics for the right reasons. He wants to improve his community; not pad his wallet or get jobs for his friends or contracts for his buddies.

2. He is Young, Progressive and Latino. Diossa has the right stands on the right issues and he is not shy about stating it. I have spent my political career trying to level the playing field for candidates who do not look like me – women and people of color – and James represents the best of his generation.

3. He brings people together. A cadre of unusual suspects from Sen. Betty Crowley to Rep. Gus Silva to United States Senator Jack Reed have endorsed Diossa. They see the promise and hope in a new leader. And with the new leader relatively hamstrung by a 5 year budget plan with little discretion, the next Mayor is going to need to rally support from all corners of city, state and federal circles. Diossa is well-situated to do that.

4. Cracking down on Corruption matters. Diossa recently announced that on Day One of his administration he would submit a comprehensive ethics package to the City Council for their approval – banning pay to play and instituting tough new regulations for lobbyists. Former Common Cause director Phil West issued a statement of support and said that these kind of tough positions on corruption are a bold step in the right direction. For those who want to see Rhode Island city governments ‘disinfected’ by the ‘sunlight’ of ‘transparency’ then Diossa is your candidate.

5. A Role Model. The young people of Central Falls need role models in positions of power that they can emulate. James will inspire young people to do their homework, to stay in school and to shoot for the stars. He sat in the same seat that they did. Young people will see that they too can be Mayor one day if they work hard.

6. The Power of the People. James ran an upstart and grassroots campaign for City Council against an entrenched incumbent and won. Then, he worked with community leaders and the people and organized against the closing of the post office, the closing of the public library and a proposed ban on overnight parking. He knows that the power of government sits in the hands of the people and he’s eager to engage the people in the work of government. That’s refreshing.

7. Past v. Future. The special interests in Central Falls who have seen their favored Mayor go down on federal corruption charges are uniting to stop James Diossa’s candidacy. They have sent out false and illegal flyers. They are doing everything they can to keep their grip on City Hall. These figures of the past need to go the way of the past. James is the candidate best situated to bring new ideas and a fresh vision to a city moving out of bankruptcy

8. Lazieh used to be Mayor. As the Providence Journal has pointed out, Lazieh’s track record as Mayor is filled with decisions which put Central Falls on a path to bankruptcy. He underfunded the Central Falls pension system by millions of dollars. In fact, in 1991 the City’s pension Annual Required Contribution (ARC) to the Police and Fire Fund was 54% of the recommended amount. By 1995, Lazieh made only 22% of the ARC payment and the auditors noted that there was a history of underpayment and that “failure to make adequate funding results in a shifting of plan costs to later years.” By comparison, Buddy Cianci’s lowest ARC payment ever was around 60% of the recommended amount. But, that’s not all. Lazieh was fined by the state ethics board for unethical management practices, including using the City’s purchasing process for personal gain. (Source: Cooper, Helene. Providence Journal 10/11/1991, Lazieh admits ethics violation Panel fines mayor for billing goods to city.) Finally, after he lost reelection, Lazieh created a new city policy that allowed him to pay himself more than $17,000 in “back vacation pay.” (Source: Sabar, Ariel. Providence Journal 3/28/1998, Ethics panel: ex-mayor’s vacation pay is OK.) You get the point. Not a model of fiscal responsibility or ethical government

8. Joe Moran used to be Police Chief. Moran “retired” at age 47 from city service with a taxpayer funded pension worth more than $61,000 (second highest pension in the city) – and then was rehired the very next day by corrupt Mayor Charles Moreau (Source: Hummel, Jim. Hummel Report 4/15/2010, Cashing in.) On top of his pension, Moran negotiated a backroom deal that left him with taxpayer benefits like health care with no co-pays, a city matched 401(k), a clothing allowance and bonuses all worth nearly $160,000 a year. (Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 11-13105-FJB and Central Falls Personnel Records.) After his contract was voided, Joe Moran sued Central Falls taxpayers for over $550,000 and won a settlement over $75,000 – all while the City was declaring bankruptcy! (Source: Welch, Catherine. WRNI 08/16/2012). Aren’t you sick and tired of public servants who care more about their own personal wealth than the welfare of all of the people?

9. Bruce Corrigan and Tia Ristaino-Siegel. These other two candidates on the ballot will get some votes, but will not compete for the December run-off. Of these two, I actually like Tia quite a bit and hope that she does not give up and perhaps seeks another run at office -maybe City Council. She is smart, eloquent and has some interesting ideas. Corrigan is another voice from the past seeking to maintain hold on the strings of power.

10. “A City with a Bright Future.” This is the city’s motto. It seems sad considering everything that has happened. And who better to become mayor of a city emerging from bankruptcy than a hometown hero – scoring the winning goal for a soccer championship, leaving for college and returning home to serve his hometown with energy and passion? James represents a bright future and will be the force to bring one to Rhode Island’s city of one square mile.

As Tip O’Neill said, “all politics is local.” That means that changing Rhode Island means that you start at the local level. And, if you are a progressive or you believe in reform, then you need to get involved, get local and support James Diossa for Mayor of Central Falls!

September 25, 2012

Progress Report: Economic Development Void in RI; GOP Fans Father-Daughter Dance Flames; James Diossa

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downtown from providence river — Downtown Providence from the Providence River. (Photo by Bob Plain)

It seems RI Future and RIPEC agree on at least one thing. “Rhode Island does not have a clear vision of how to expand its economy or a governmental structure that helps create jobs, encourage companies to expand, attract businesses and develop workers’ skills,” reports the Providence Journal about RIPEC’s report on the EDC this morning. We may not agree what to do about it, though. We think the state should invest more heavily into this sector.

The Cranston School Committee last night agreed to petition the state legislature to lift the state ban on father daughter dances. The reality is few people are actually worked up about this and the name isn’t a longstanding tradition in Cranston. It’s just about local Republicans trying to drum up animosity using the ACLU as their boogieman.

Good luck to Central Falls City Councilor James Diossa, who launches his campaign for mayor today.

Here’s Gina Raimondo on NPR’s Talk of the Nation yesterday talking about Rhode Island’s early effort to reform public sector pension benefits.

URI professors, who are teaching without a contract right now, are among the lowest paid college professors in the region, according to the ProJo this morning … yet political pressure from the Chafee Administration prevented them from getting an already-agreed upon pay raise. Stay tuned.

Here’s why Romney is losing.

Hilarious Saturday Night Live skit on some of the questions undecided voters are still asking.

On this day in 1957: “Under escort from the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, nine black students enter all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.”

And on this day in 1690, the first newspaper was published in the new world. It was called Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick.

Tag: james diossa

March for licenses for undocumented workers covers three cities

RI profits from Greek tragedy

Community speaks out to defend Memorial Hospital Birthing Center from closing

Full video: House hears testimony over driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants

Fast tracking RhodeWorks: Passing unpopular legislation in an election year

Follow the money on Raimondo pension scheme: the local sponsors

OCTOBER 2, 2011
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DECEMBER 9, 2011
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And lest we forget, here’s the people who were in charge!

Board of Directors

Diossa to Obama: Central Falls will take in Syrian refugees

Rhode Island Labor History Society’s Annual Labor Day Address

Rainbow flag in CF: This never would’ve happened if Chuck Moreau was still mayor

Record numbers at State House ‘Rally Against Gun Violence’

Celebrate Dr. King’s birthday in Central Falls tomorrow night

NLC’s 40 Under 40: Central Falls Mayor James Diossa

New Leaders Council ’40 Under 40′ Event Saturday

10 Reasons to Support James Diossa for CF Mayor

Progress Report: Economic Development Void in RI; GOP Fans Father-Daughter Dance Flames; James Diossa

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And lest we forget, here’s the people who were in charge!

Board of Directors

OCTOBER 2, 2011
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