Opinion
Editorial pieces from contributors and staff
Yes, some people are businesses. But very few are in the top 1%
As it turns out, only a small number of pass-through owners are at the very top. In 2018, the most recent year with available data, 76,529 tax filers in Rhode Island received profit from ownership of a non-farm sole proprietorship, according to the IRS. Just 1,572 had incomes high enough to put them in the richest 1% of all Rhode Island filers. 26,687 filers received profit from a partnership or S-corp; of them, only 2,993 had incomes in the top 1%
CDC Eviction Moratorium extended to June 30, but landlords are exploiting loopholes
The newly launched rental assistance program Rent Relief RI can be a powerful cure for what ails Rhode Island landlords and tenants, but only when coupled with a state eviction moratorium that fills the gaps in the federal protection.
Zackary Alvarado, ID #562543: My life at the ACI
"During 2020, it was no surprise that the coronavirus would make it into this facility. From the very beginning the correctional officers ignored social distancing amongst themselves as well as the inmates. Staff did not always keep their masks and would cough and sneeze in the air and in inmates’ cells when being searched - which was every single day. I saw correctional staff that obviously appeared to be sick still be allowed to work. However, there were increased penalties against the prisoners if they did not socially distance or properly wear their mask or passed an item to another person. These harsh penalties resulted in good time being taken away, longer segregation time, and quarantine being used as a punishment tool."
Health Insurance 101: Why health insurance cannot work like other insurance and Medicare for All is required
"All taxpayers pay for our national defense against foreign attacks, and this is how we should think about defense against attack by disease. The only way to mount an effective defense against sickness is to remember that every one of us is at risk of sickness, and we should all share the burden of paying for this defense."
Jim Mullowney: MedRecycler RI will expose our families to extremely hazardous chemicals that cause birth defects and cancer
Jim Mullowney: "The medical waste collected and incinerated by MedRecycler will release chemotherapy-infused medical waste, identified by the DEM as 'extremely hazardous waste' right into the Rhode Island air. More cancer and birth defects will be a direct result of this action."
No More Status Quo: How Rhode Island Guarantees Healthcare as a Human Right
From Samy Amkieh: No one should be refused the right to live a dignified and healthy life just because they don’t have enough dollars in their bank account. Unfortunately, millions have been fired during the pandemic and lockdowns, losing their health insurance, struggling to survive in a system that was not designed to preserve their mental and physical health let alone their financial well-being."
A bad bargain then, a bad bargain now
"Let's talk about education. The Governor is proposing to spend $911 million on local public school aid. This is about a 3% bump up from last year, which is certainly not awful. Charter schools get a 9% bump, though."
Housing is the answer to Governor McKee’s billion dollar question
Here’s one worthy infrastructure endeavor: Unleashing a money cannon to solve Rhode Island’s housing shortage.
Monica Huertas and Joshua Kestin: Senator Dawn Euer is blocking environmental justice
The community of South Providence, which has some of the highest asthma rates in the entire country, cannot continue choking on pollution while waiting for politicians like Senator Euer to start caring about them.
How does the public hold unelected boards, councils, commissions and departments accountable?
Quick answer: We don't.