Government
Public services and government action
OpEd: The Diversity Think Tank at URI calls for an end to racist hiring practices
We reject a worldview of white supremacy that has reigned unchallenged for 128 years at the University of Rhode Island and with ONE voice speak this Declaration of Diversity to embrace racial equity and to renounce the evils of racism and renounce the evils of white supremacy deeply embedded in our systemically racist university.
Housing advocates name and shame the top ten evictors in Rhode Island, and their lawyers
"Governor Raimondo should stop being a coward and use her executive power to protect renters from being evicted in the middle of winter and in a global pandemic," said Terri Wright of DARE.
Coalition rallies for taxes on rich to fund essential services
"While it is not well known, in 2006 the State of Rhode Island cut taxes for the wealthiest Rhode Island residents, allowing them to go from paying a ten percent income tax rate to a six percent income tax rate," said State Representative-elect David Morales. "The same rate that most of you are paying. That has created a regressive tax code that is putting the burden on working people."
Civil rights groups decry downplaying of racial disparities in police traffic stops
“It is time for the state to grapple with, rather than find excuses for, the presence of racial profiling on our streets and highways," said Steven Brown, Executive Director of the ACLU of RI. "Until state laws are strengthened, we fear the excuses will continue and people of color will continue to bear the brunt of discriminatory police practices.”
Is the Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights about accountability?
At the most recent meeting of the Senate Task Force to suggest changes to the Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights, it was suggested that LEOBoR "has nothing to do with accountability..."
American Planning Association of RI says RIDOT/Raimondo multi-hub bus plan is harmful to people of color and people of lesser means
In a letter to the Governor, APA-RI writes that the multi-hub redesign was developed in a way that violates the professional planner’s ethical code and violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
PERA implodes
"It's no secret," continued Chair Figueroa, "that we have yet to resolve one complaint that's come into PERA - and I know that Jose [Batista] and our investigator Eugene Montiero have been working hard to try to resolve the cases that this board has forwarded to the [Providence Police] Department - although, as of today... we have not resolved one single complaint that's been issued to us largely because of roadblocks that we've run into at the [Providence Police] Department."
Teacher unions call for a statewide pause to K-12 in-person learning
The Ocean State is amid an alarming rise in community spread of COVID-19. Viral caseloads coupled with a lag in contact tracing, staffing shortages due to quarantines, and the arrival of colder weather negatively impact health, safety, and instruction. The organizations agree a temporary move to statewide distance learning is a common-sense critical step in driving down incidence rates.
PERA holding special meeting to discuss release of Sgt Hanley videos
On Monday, November 16 at 5pm the Providence External Review Authority (PERA), the only civilian police oversight board in Rhode Island, will be holding a meeting to discuss and vote "relative to potential disciplinary action(s) to be ta...
PERA needs teeth: How law-enforcement officials have undermined the Community Safety Act
Commissioner Paré's interpretation of the law regarding PERA ignores the "history, context and legislative goal" of the Community Safety Act.