2020 Election Profile: Jose Batista, House District 12
GoLocalProv Political Team
2020 Election Profile: Jose Batista, House District 12
Read what he has to say about why he is running for office.
This is part of an ongoing series by GoLocal featuring each of the candidates for House and Senate.
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1. What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island?
The biggest political issue facing Rhode Islanders in 2020 social inequality in that it is the common thread that exists throughout all of the challenges we face:
If we’re talking about public health and economic crisis created by COVID, that crisis is felt disproportionately in low-income communities.
If we’re talking about the state of public education (especially in Providence), that crisis is felt disproportionately in low-income communities.
If we’re talking about the state of our criminal justice system and the cumulative effect of the decades-long war on drugs – that impact is felt disproportionately in low-income communities.
All Rhode Islanders are worse off when we have a system that leans so heavily in favor of the few at the expense of the many.
2. What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?
The “economy” is made of many different sectors and communities of people. One way to improve the economy is to pass legislation that will give working families the relief they needed even before COVID struck. This means (a) raising the minimum wage to a living wage and tie it to inflation so that we never lag this far behind again and (b) reduce the cost of attending local universities like CCRI, RIC and URI so that Rhode Islanders can receive the education and training they need to become employed. On a broader scale, we can have an even larger impact on our economy if we reform our criminal justice system. Our state government could save (or collect) substantial amounts of money if we embraced the following measures:
Legalize and tax marijuana,
Eliminate cash bail and excessive probation,
Decriminalize the mere possession of all drugs,
Reform our court system (include jury trials at misdemeanor level, not just for felony cases).
Ultimately, a lot of the money we use to incarcerate and punish people can more effectively solve the problem if we invest that money in preventative services and opportunity.
3. What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as a state?
The greatest challenge to Rhode Island right as a state is COVID -- not only because of the public health crisis that exists right now, but also the economic crisis that is going to reveal itself if and when the federal government ends the weekly stimulus checks. Dozens of Rhode Island businesses have already closed permanently; thousands of Rhode Islanders have already missed multiple mortgage and rent payments and the number of COVID cases is on the rise after we successfully bent the curve in May and June. Helping to secure a safety net for the unemployed and uninsured will be critical in preventing a recession from turning into a depression. On the other side of the coin, every challenge presents a new opportunity and COVID has also forced our society to adjust and create new solutions to tackle new problems. Adjustments like “Zoom” and virtual meetings have increased public access and participation in government in ways we never thought possible. Similarly, Providence has developed new opportunities for outdoor seating at restaurants that can and will help our businesses bounce back and our neighborhoods thrive. The recovery from COVID is possible but it will not be easy and it will require shared sacrifice, compassion and innovations from and toward all Rhode Islanders.
4. Why are you running for office? What makes you uniquely qualified?
I am someone who is born, raised and continue to live in South Providence. I spent all 13 years of my K-12 education in Providence Public Schools and became an attorney who rooted my practice in the same community I grew up. As an attorney, unfortunately, I have seen far more of my friends, family and neighbors sitting next to me in handcuffs rather than sitting across from me at the opposing counsel table. I am running for office because my story should be the rule and not the exception for people who grew up in South Providence. I am uniquely qualified to represent the people of South Providence because that is what I have done my entire life and professional career – represent the people of South Providence. I understand the challenges that exist in my community because I have lived them, survived them and fought to help others do the same thing.
5. Who is your inspiration?
My parents are my inspiration.
They were immigrants who came to this country with little more than the clothes on their back and, over 40+ years in the U.S., managed to work hard and achieve the cornerstones of the American dream: buying a home, owning a business and sending their children to college. The two lessons that I take from observing my parent's story first hand is: First – they never gave up. No matter what challenges life threw at them. Second – they were never afraid to lead. Even when they didn’t know the language, even when they didn’t know the customs or norms, they were relentless in their pursuit of progress in this country and that is what motivates me to work hard to help so many families like my own achieve the same successes my family has enjoyed in this country.