Government
Public services and government action
Speaker Shekarchi addresses Rhode Island's housing and homelessness crisis in opening speech
K. Joseph Shekarchi spoke plainly on Tuesday after he was re-elected to the position of Rhode Island Speaker of the House on Tuesday afternoon. Addressing his fellow Representatives, Speaker Shekarchi spent more time talking about the issue of housing than any other subject during his Inauguration Address.
Governor McKee avoids constituents, sneaks into inauguration via back entrance
Ahead of Governor Daniel McKee's inauguration, held at the Rhode Island Convention Center on Tuesday at noon, a half dozen volunteers with the Rhode Island Poor People's Campaign and DARE, including some people currently experiencing homelessness, gathered outside the entrance as a silent indictment of the Governor’s inaction on homelessness.
On first day of session, advocates steer focus to equal abortion rights
Reproductive rights volunteers and allies from The Womxn Project urged the members of the Rhode Island General Assembly to take quick action and pass the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA) yesterday as the House and Senate began their 2023 legislative session.
Mayor Smiley lays out plans for Providence at inaugural events
It was an event that allowed Mayor Smiley to talk about his ideas, in general terms, for the future of the city which he declared "will be the best-run city in the United States of America" by the end of his administration.
McKee administration blocks release of public information with $930 price tag
How the McKee administration violated APRA and continues to abuse the spirit of public records law to shield his administration and himself from accountability in the disastrous handling of the homeless crisis here in Rhode Island.
Governor implored to take action on homeless crisis before deaths occur
Last week, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee forcibly evicted an encampment of unhoused people from the State House plaza after a Superior Court Judge ruled in his favor. As a result, the newly formed Emergency Housing Coalition held a protest last night, the eve of Solstice, the longest night of the year, on the south lawn of the Rhode Island State House.
Charter schools barely outperforming public schools in Providence
Are Charter Schools actually outperforming Providence Public Schools? The numbers say they are not, says Tom Hoffman, looking at the data.
State House plaza homeless encampment cleared by Governor McKee
The State House homeless encampment was cleared by Governor McKee less than a day after a Superior Court Judge ruled he could. Workers from a disaster recovery service, Single Source, were ransacking the tents and belongings of unhoused people to throw into a truck for delivery to a landfill.
RI Housing Secretary Saal letter fails to grasp the reality of homeless encampments
As reported by Bill Bartholowmew, Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Josh Saal sent a letter to the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness (Coalition) requesting "real time" information about the those experiencing homelessness in the state. "It's so complex," said Jennifer Barrera, Chief Strategy Officer at the RI Coalition to End Homelessness. "I think one of the reasons people may doubt the number is because they don't understand the complexity of what we're dealing with."
State House eviction hearing delayed as Judge reviews "mountain of paperwork"
Rhode Island Superior Court Judge David Cruise spoke for all of two minutes in court on Wednesday as he explained his reasons for continuing the case until Friday at 11:30am. "After reviewing the new filings from last night, after court closed," said Judge David Cruise, "I'm going to review and work on them and we're going to come back here on Friday for a decision."