Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - April 1

Warmer

Allan Fung

The Mayor of Cranston had a good week in the news. First GoLocal reported that taxes have increased just 6 percent over Fung's tenure for the city's median taxpayer--less than 1 percent per year. Further, Cranston City Councilman Michael Farina switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican this week, which gives Fung the ability to veto any ordinance or resolution that the Democrat controlled council passes without concern of an override. 

Warmer

Rhode Island GOP

It's hard to imagine this past week going much better for the state Republican Party than it did. The party picked up a seat in the state legislature when Karen MacBeth left the Democratic Party, a seat on the city council when Michael Farina left the Democratic Party, and basked in the embarrassment from the Governor's state marketing campaign roll out. Can the GOP build on this momentum as we enter campaign season?

Warmer

Karen MacBeth

The state representative from Cumberland switched parties, leaving the state Democratic Party and becoming a Republican. MacBeth also said that she is considering challenging Congressman David Cicilline in this year's election. That's a tall order indeed, but MacBeth saw her name recognition get a boost earlier this week. The GOP, however, would be better off if MacBeth runs for reelection and keeps the seat in the Republican column. 

Warmer

U.S. BANANAGRAMS challenge

Four students from Rhode Island have qualified to compete in the live grand finale of the inaugural U.S. BANANAGRAMS challenge in Rhode Island on April 9. Twelve students in total, out of 10,000 other students who competed in the challenge, will be taking part in the final competition. BANANAGRAMS, developed in Rhode Island by the late Abraham Nathanson, challenges players to create connected words with tiles. The game is educational in that it helps students with spelling and vocabulary.

Warmer

Aaron Regunberg and Gayle Golden

Regunberg, a state representative from Providence and Goldin, a state senator from Providence have sponsored a bill that passed the state legislature this week that allows for online voter registration and update their voter information online. It's a good, common sense idea that helps make Rhode Island government more accessible and helps bring us into the 21st century.

Warmer

Coast Guard House

The iconic Rhode Island restaurant located right by the ocean in Narragansett was named one of the best beach bars in America by thrillist.com. Somehow, the Coast Guard became well known all over the country even before the state began its $5 million marketing campaign! 

Cooler

Gina Raimondo

It's hard to imagine the Governor's new state marketing campaign roll out going any worse. First the administration unveiled a new state logo that was confusing and underwhelming--featuring the words "cooler" and "warmer", which lacks any obvious context. Then the state's new tourism video featured a building that's located in Iceland, a chef that died 6 months ago, and a restaurant that's located in Massachusetts. It was a humbling week for Raimondo, who told us about the importance of hiring the best and brightest people when she was elected in 2014.

Cooler

Tony Simon

The Chief of Staff for Mayor Elorza refused to allow the press into a meeting that the city held on Wednesday to discuss the city's panhandling issue. It's hard to understand the rationale behind the decision since downtown developer Joseph Paolino, who despite being a former mayor is really just a member of the public, was allowed into the meeting. Why shouldn't the public be allowed to gather information about this issue that was shared at the meeting?

Cooler

Jorge Elorza

The Mayor of Providence promised to provide the financials from last year's International Arts Festival -- as well as minority business participation -- when GoLocal went to the kickoff of PVDFest 2016 last week to ask the Mayor about a no-bid contract awarded for catering at last year's event.

The Mayor had promised GoLocal the information -- recorded on videotape -- but not one but two requests by GoLocal since being told the information would be forthcoming have not been responded to by City Hall.  It's definitely not cool to not make good on your word; if the documents don't in fact exist, that's straight out not hot -- at the very least.

Cooler

Recall Raimondo

An online petition has been circulating that would attempt to recall Governor Gina Raimondo over some of her controversial appointments to cabinet positions and the hiring of a former legislator for a job in state government. The petition was signed by Republican State Representative Robert Nardollilo (Coventry). But the state constitution only allows for recalls if the Governor has committed a crime or violated the state code of ethics--and Raimondo has done neither. Elections have consequences. When your side loses, you have to live with them--not just call for a new one since you didn't like the results. 

Cooler

Robert Driscoll

Yes, Providence College athletics has had a very good past few years. But it was disappointing that the school, when announcing the signing of Men's Basketball Head Coach Ed Cooley to a long term extension, didn't release the details of the contract. Friars basketball fans pay good money for their season tickets, and therefore they should have a right to know how much the college is paying the head coach. Driscoll and Cooley should make that information public immediately. 

Cooler

Panhandling

The City of Providence has decided against enforcing an ordinance that discourages panhandling in the capital city. I understand the argument that the ordinance encumbers the free speech of the poor to ask for money, but Providence really cannot afford to allow anything that discourages tourists from coming to the city and makes them uncomfortable. There are too many people who are avoiding Providence these days out of concern for crime, lack of parking, or having to stave off panhandlers.