Political Profile: Kinverly Dicupe, Candidate for State Rep. in District 62
GoLocalProv Political Team
Political Profile: Kinverly Dicupe, Candidate for State Rep. in District 62
1. What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island?
a. Housing is critical. Rents have skyrocketed (up 18% from 2021) and have left many housing insecure. Our current housing stock, on top of being overpriced, is also stagnant. Many folks will tell you they simply cannot find housing, yet their tax dollars are being used to build luxury apartments that remain empty long after they’re built. Implement rent control and stop luxury development!
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTb. We need a massive investment in low-income and public housing to keep the housing market affordable. Building quality apartments that are capped at 30% of a household’s monthly income will ensure landlords cant charge $1,500 with no utilities included for an apartment that doesn’t even meet CODE standards. The state must be more proactive with addressing CODE violations as well.
c. At the rate housing prices are going, our young folks will never be able to afford a home in Rhode Island. We should expand our first-buyer home programs and pass legislation to halt the acquisition of our housing stock by private equity. The state should build and acquire homes to sell at a low price to help our residents build wealth. Owning a house is still the most efficient way to build wealth in America.
2. What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?
a. We need to raise our minimum wage to a living wage. We can’t have a vibrant economy with significant portions of our population under financial duress. Small businesses can only thrive if there is a population surrounding it that has cash to spend. A Rhode Islander needs to earn about $25/hr to even afford an apartment in our state. Let's raise our minimum wage to $25.
b. Rhode Island needs a Green New Deal. Our public infrastructure is decaying and requires major renovation. Let’s invest in our roads, bridges, pipes, and public buildings. Our public works should be the shining star of our state as it represents the collective workings of our people. Our public infrastructure especially fails in this regard. We need electric buses that come with more frequency and have additional routes. Our train routes and bike lanes should also be expanded so folks have options when traveling across the state. While transforming our infrastructure, we should invest in green technology and pave a path to a full green economy with dignified jobs. Union labor should be prioritized, guaranteeing jobs for our building unions for years to come, and setting new industry standards (high wages, good benefits, etc).
3. What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as a state?
a. Climate change is the greatest challenge facing our country and state. If you’ve lived in this state long enough, you’d have noticed how erratic our climate has become. Our shores are crawling inland and some of our marine life has started immigrating to Canada for colder waters. If left alone the state could become uninhabitable. We have 1 million plus people living on this piece of land. It is our duty to confront this crisis head on and do whatever it takes to preserve our environment and the life it sustains. Only a full transformation of our society as outlined in the Green New Deal, will be enough to abate the worst consequences of a climate that is becoming inhospitable to organized life. Polluters must finally start facing consequences and their extinction corporations must be fully divested from.
4. Why are you running for office? What makes you uniquely qualified?
a. I’m running for office to prove working people can govern ourselves. Truth is the kind of economic misery working people endure doesn't deserve to exist. It is an affront to the human condition. That is why I've organized for M4A at the state level, a Green New Deal, a fair criminal justice system, among many other priorities for working people. I'd serve my community with courage, and empathy because I understand intimately the struggles folks face. I've lived in Pawtucket for 10+ years and had family settled here even before then. I know how low the wages are because I've worked here. I know our water quality needs improvement because brown water has streamed from my faucet on more than one occasion. I know how expensive housing is because I've been housing insecure and unable to find housing. Those are struggles everyday people face navigating our society and they inform my politics, and allow me to speak on issues organically, because the pain and sense of hopelessness they arise cannot be manufactured. I don't just wish to be mere representation. I wish to serve as an extension of my community, which is one of the most diverse in R.I.
5. Who is your inspiration?
a. I’ve been incredibly inspired by Rep. David Morales and Senators Sam Bell, Tiara Mack and Cynthia Mendes. All four have aggressively championed the priorities of working families in the halls of power. Despite massive opposition and a party leadership with cozy ties to special interests, they’ve remained honest public servants. They don’t trade their values for campaign contributions from wealthy individuals and corporations. They’re grassroots candidates who go directly to the people because they truly represent the people. There is no triangulation between what the people want and how far the donors will allow them to go. They are 100% people funded and people backed. It is in their model that I run my campaign.
b. I’d also like to give a special mention to Camilo Viveiros from the George Wiley Center. He’s been fighting for utility justice since before I was alive and has mentored countless activists over the years. He’s fought tirelessly and his consistency has inspired me to keep going in the most difficult of times.
For more information on Kinverly Dicupe, go here.