Opinion
Editorial pieces from contributors and staff
Jonathan Jacobs: It is time for Cynthia Mendes
For the people of Rhode Island Senate District 18, Cynthia Mendes listens to us. She offers a fresh perspective in a time when the old way of doing “the business of politics” is proven ineffective, especially in a crisis. I believe in po...
Dylan Conley: It's time to legalize cannabis
"As a member of Congress, I would champion the legalization of cannabis for adult use. This change would remove the threat of criminal prosecution for the millions of people living in communities where cannabis is now legal." Our nation’...
Megan Carnaroli: Maintaining healthy relationships is critical to weathering the pandemic
Every individual or household unit has made choices about their levels of exposure, but families and friend groups all over the country are splintering because once we’ve made those choices, we don’t have a simple, objective way to categ...
Community Statement on Equitably Reopening RI Schools
"As the leaders in our state are working hard to develop school reopening plans, we strongly believe that one approach to reopening schools will not serve ALL students equitably. Parents and district staff should not be judged or shamed...
Parents and educators have questions for Dr Fauci and Governor Raimondo
Rhode Island is recommending distancing of 3-6 feet where possible. In a full return, classrooms will not be able to adequately distance students. How important is physical distancing between people in a confined space? Are classrooms sa...
An Open Letter to America from the Black Leadership Initiative
"We have witnessed our brothers and sisters slayed on the streets. We are exhausted. Disgusted. Livid. Open your eyes and your hearts to see the pain and suffering of our people..." This summer, 28 Black students from Blackstone Academy...
Mattiello's plan to increase rainy day funding is austerity economics... and Rhode Islanders will suffer
"This rainy day is going to last more than a year and trying to pay it back next year is really, really, really dumb..." Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has introduced an amendment to the Rhode Island State Constitution tha...
David Casey: Science does not say what the governor would like it to say
"In point of fact, the science does not say what the governor would like it to say. There is no scientific consensus on how coronavirus interfaces with children and thus no authoritative guidance on reopening schools. Put simply, we don’...
Casey Fredette: The lives of students and educators should not be gambled on
"Until the safe return to school can be achieved, my kids and my wife are a risk to every Rhode Islander. Until we have a safe return plan, we cannot guarantee that my comprised family members will not spread COVID-19 to your compromised...
Cynthia Mendes: Resume distance learning until the spread of COVID-19 has been stopped in all communities
"You know a good leader not by the decisions they make that affect the powerful, but by the decisions they make that affect the most vulnerable. I shouldn’t have to demand safety from our leadership. I shouldn’t have to demand that all c...