Government
Public services and government action
At a raucous meeting, Providence City Council approves the Hive Hotel TSA
"I don't know the intentions of this developer," said Councilmember Rachel Miller, "But I would say that when we give public money out to a private project, we have an opportunity to raise the floor and we can get something back for our...
State leaders announce largest economic development project in Pawtucket’s history
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello today announced the largest economic development project in Pawtucket’s history. The estimated $...
ACLU court brief supports challenge to extradition of man likely to be tortured if returned to his country
In 2016, the Board of Immigration Appeals concluded that it was “more likely than not” that Aguasvivas would be tortured if sent back to the Dominican Republic. The American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants’ Rights Project and the ACLU o...
Low-income Rhode Island families and seniors are missing over 11 million meals annually says Food Bank
"Right now, 148,000 Rhode Islanders are enrolled in SNAP. One proposal by the Trump Administration, aimed primarily, believe it or not, at families with children, would take SNAP away from 11,000 Rhode Islanders, including 5,000 children...
New rule seeks to prevent companies from profiting off ratepayers without producing electricity
Invenergy made millions in New England without building a power plant or producing any power. Now ISO New England, the entity responsible for maintaining our grid, has changed the rules to prevent that from happening again. ISO New Engla...
Under Attorney General Peter Neronha, are those carrying badges entitled to a different tier of justice?
"I would say that there is not [a two-tiered system] because I can point you to cases where we have made the same charging decision when the person is not a police officer," said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. Brian Amaral...
The History of Sex Work Law in Rhode Island
Policing and Sex Workers’ Rights In the United States, sex work was not explicitly outlawed in many areas for the first few centuries of its existence. Most states criminalized prostitution around the time of the First World War, largely...
Let’s get Kennedy Plaza right at last
Bus riders are in danger of being cast out of Kennedy Plaza, with most of our bus lines scattered throughout the entire downtown area. Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) proposes establishing several bus hubs in central Pr...
Central Falls passes Community Policing and Immigration ordinance to codify protections from ICE
"No one should feel that they can't call the police because they fear that they might be deported," said the sponsor, City Councilmember Jessica Vega. On Wednesday evening the Central Falls City Council unanimously passed the “Community...
Advocates call on Citizens Bank to stop financing private prisons and detention centers
“The access to capital that Citizens is providing companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group allows them to expand their networks across the country,” said Aaron Regunberg, a member of Never Again Action. “This kind of investment is what mak...