Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - August 14, 2020

HOT

Kamala Harris is Red Hot

No one is hotter this week.

The U.S. Senator from California is Joe Biden's running mate.

She is the first, the first, the first of so many categories. 

Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin deserve credit for coming before her and helping to create new opportunities.

HOT

Big Money to Empower Hispanic Women

YWCA Rhode Island has received a $105,000 grant to offer YWeb Career Academy at its Central Falls location. The Rhode Island program is specially designed to benefit Hispanic women. 

“YWCA views this as an opportunity for underemployed and unemployed women to become skilled technology specialists who have the capacity to earn a living wage, and contribute to and invigorate the Rhode Island economy in sectors that demonstrate advancement opportunities,” said Deborah L. Perry, President/CEO YWCA Rhode Island.

“Opportunities for Central Falls residents to gain the skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency through web design, web development and IT careers acknowledges the untapped talent of Latinas in our community, ” said James Diossa, Mayor of Central Falls. “We are happy to support our long-term partner, YWCA Rhode Island, in this effort.”

“YWCA is thrilled to partner with Google.org as we work to create innovative approaches to workforce development and forge new ways to bring the future of work and skills development to women and communities of color across the country," said Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA. “The greater goal of the partnership surpasses well beyond the scope of the grant. We are breaking down barriers and creating a path to success for women and people of color that may not have been available without these new programs and initiatives.”

HOT

Rare Indeed

It is rare that a Rhode Island bureaucrat gets tagged as an innovator, especially someone at the Department of Business Regulation.

Liz Tanner has been recognized for her work as she won the 2020 StateScoop Top 50 Award.

STATE LEADERSHIP

The public sector principal helping government implement new technologies, strategies and IT programs

Elizabeth Tanner is passionate about making it easier to do business in government. Having come from the private sector, she was familiar with the problems facing business owners. Tanner has worked to introduce new technologies that create a more transparent, accessible and pleasant experience for citizens.

Tanner implemented the country's first and only electronic permitting system where local and state government are connected together to facilitate building and fire permits in one seamless flow. She also introduced the first blockchain RFP in the United States, allowing for the introduction of blockchain distributed ledger technology to make government more efficient.

In addition, Bijay Kumar, CIO of Rhode Island also was recognized.

HOT

Can't Say It Better

Providence Police Patrolwoman Mica Waters wrote one of the most poignant columns this year.

Today, it marks the three years that I have been a Providence Police Officer. Not many can understand the mental struggle it has been to be a Black Female Officer today.

Not many would understand what it is like to prove your blackness to your community that you grew up and still live in.

Or what it’s like to prove to the people you work with that your a black female that can do this job! I shouldn’t have to choose a side.

Why can’t I be Blue and support BLM? Why can’t I be Black & support the Blue?

I swore an oath to protect & serve the community. I have chosen to be part of a bigger solution that not everyone can be a part of. This calling is not for everyone. Yes, it comes with difficult decisions & not many will understand or like the decision I may have to make for them.

Just know if I show up you will be handled with the best intentions whether you like it or not. I go to bed every night saying I made the right decision. I will break the cycle.

To all the other Officers that are on this journey with me with the right intentions, I pray for us. And to my community be patient. Change is coming.

I hear you. I am you. We need your support!

Lastly, I will say this, 3 years has been challenging for me, but I wouldn’t change a thing! I am Black wearing Blue! The journey continues.

Happy Anniversary to me!

HOT

Rhode Island First

Physicians at Roger Williams Medical Center recently performed a first-in-Rhode Island surgical procedure that corrects a blockage of the digestive system that can occur in patients with advanced duodenal cancer.

Dr. Nabil Toubia, a gastroenterologist, Dr. Vince Armenio, a medical oncologist, and Dr. Abdul Saied Calvino, a surgical oncologist, worked together on this procedure using endoscopic ultrasound guidance to create a path between the blocked portion of the bowel and the stomach, using the new Lumen opposing stent technology that recently became available in the United States. 

The procedure had no complications and improved the patient’s bowel obstruction symptoms and allow him to continue his chemotherapy which he needs to treat his extensive disease. 

"In anything we do, we get better as we do more," Calvino told GoLocalProv. "In doing this procedure successfully, this patient had duodenal pancreatic cancer, so the procedure was palliative — to have less pain, nausea and vomiting — and the procedure worked very well."

Read more here. 

NOT

Scummy

Cranston Police are looking for information about two suspects they say stole an 83-year-old woman's wallet -- and proceeded to spend $1,000 on her credit cards. 

The department posted the following photos along with a detailed description of what took place. 

Cranston Police announced the following: 

"Cranston Police are looking for assistance in identifying the people in these photographs. The incident occurred on 7/17/20 at the Stop & Shop on Atwood Ave. 

The two suspects stole a wallet from an 83-year-old female who was shopping in the store. The female suspect distracted the victim by asking her some questions on an item, while the male suspect grabbed her wallet from the purse. 

The suspects left the store immediately and then proceeded to use her credit cards at Bob's Store, CVS (Oaklawn Av) and Kataan's market on Oaklawn Ave; totaling close to $1,000. 

If you have information regarding these individuals, please contact Det. Nelson at [email protected], 401-942-2211, or you can send an anonymous tip through tip soft-https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous @ Cranston, Rhode Island"

NOT

Insufferable

The insufferable opinion piece published by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in the NYTimes should only be read with an airplane "discomfort bag" nearby.

"I Am the C.E.O. of Uber. Gig Workers Deserve Better. Gig workers want both flexibility and benefits — we support laws that could make that possible," writes Khosrowshahi, the Brown alum, in maybe the most disingenuous business commentary of 2020.

And that's saying a lot. 

NOT

Ugly Boston Red Sox

This team is awful.

Do we need to say anything else?

NOT

Tax and Water Auctions

GoLocal has highlighted two terrible cases of Pawtucket families losing their homes via the city's water and tax sales.

Despite being hard-working and by all account good folks chasing the American Dream, they lost their homes over $1,500 and approximately $3,000 in non-payment.

Broken Dream: Pawtucket Man Lost Home to Tax Sale Weeks Before His Death From Cancer, Wife on Chemo

Government Hell: Pawtucket Woman Loses Her Home Over $1,500 Water Bill - Now Being Forced Out

NOT

Decay and Destruction

A massive public art sculpture was burned to the ground on early Monday morning. A demonstration of Providence at its worst.

The announcement of the arson was made by one of the tenants at Wexford's Innovation Center -- the $88 million initiative supported by more than $40 million in taxpayer funding.

This project was funded by The Avenue Concept and Wexford.