Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - December 3, 2021

HOT

Women's Tennis Association

While the International Olympic Committee and the NBA cower to the Chinese government, the Women's Tennis Association is passing on upwards of $100M -- and boycotting tournaments in China -- in order to fight to ensure that one of its players is safe.

Star Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has functionally disappeared after she accused a high-ranking Chinese official of rape.

It is time for American viewers to consider boycotting watching the upcoming winter games in China.

HOT

House GOP

Members of the Rhode Island House Minority office issued this statement regarding the ratification of the Council 94 contract that includes a $3,000 bonus for vaccinated state workers:

“People should be paid for their work, not their private medical choices. The hundreds of thousands of vaccinated Rhode Islanders should not be forced to pay bonuses to state employees who have also chosen to be vaccinated. The union’s role is to negotiate the best deal for their members – and they clearly have.  On the other hand, it is up to the Governor to advance the best interest of all taxpayers – and he has failed.

The Council 94 bonuses are estimated to amount to over $11 Million. Undoubtedly, other state employees will soon seek parity, which will soon cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars more. At a COVID press update [this week], it was stated that RI is 94% vaccinated, one of the highest national vaccination rates. Clearly, this bonus provision is not geared to incentivize our unvaccinated population. Rather, it is an electoral gimmick cast on the backs of taxpayers. Rhode Island can and must do better.”

Editor's Note-- the state is not 94% vaccinated; that number is those 18 and up. It is "73%" for all eligible Rhode Islanders; that number is further significantly diminished for those people whose second vaccination shot was more than six months ago that have not received a booster.  

HOT

Leading Healthcare Experts

John Fulton, Ph.D., and Dr. Beata Nelken both won state public health awards at the most recent RI Public Health Association meeting. The two have been quiet leaders in battling the pandemic.

RIPHA is the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Public Health Association (APHA). APHA is the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world, working to improve public health since 1872.

Fulton this week shared with healthcare professionals his perspective as to what the state is facing in the latest surge in numbers -- in stark contrast to what state officials are saying. 

HOT

Helping Feed Those in Need One Potato at a Time

Mike McAteer didn’t always plan on opening a food truck — but then the pandemic hit. 

So, the Cranston resident envisioned the concept for extra-large, gourmet stuffed potatoes, and opened the now-popular “The Hot Potato.” 

With all his success, however, McAteer manages to give back to those less fortunate. 

On a cold November afternoon, McAteer’s truck was spotted outside of Crossroads homeless shelter in Providence, giving away extra hot potatoes.

“Basically I always cook more than I need,” said McAteer. “If I’m doing an event, I’ll usually make 50, maybe 70 more than I need. Some might say it’s a food cost ‘loss,’ but I don’t mind.”

Most days, says McAteer, with the extra potatoes he has, he’ll go to Crossroads, or Kennedy Plaza, and simply hand out what’s been cooked but he hasn’t sold. 

For McAteer, it’s part of a commitment to buying local — and making fresh food. 

Really, really good food. 

READ MORE HERE

HOT

The New Man at the Zoo

Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence has announced its new Executive Director. 

The Rhode Island Zoological Society Board of Trustees said Tuesday that Stacey Johnson has been tapped for the position following a national search.

“Stacey brings experience, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the Zoo.  He exemplifies all the qualities we were looking for; he is the right person to lead this institution into an exciting future as we begin our 150th anniversary in 2022,” said Patrick LeBeau, Chairman of the Zoo’s Board of Trustees.

“My vision for the 21st Century Zoo is that it is a treasured community asset that offers wholesome, fun experiences and guides public opinion toward active coexistence with nature and natural processes. I look forward to being part of the Roger Williams Park Zoo community, “said Johnson.

NOT

Chris Cuomo

The actions by CNN talk host Chris Cuomo regarding offering public relations advice and counsel to his brother Andrew Cuomo’s alleged inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment when Governor of New York has led to his suspension. 

Andrew Cuomo was previously forced to resign.

CNN said Tuesday that it has suspended Chris Cuomo "indefinitely" after new documents released this week indicated that the anchor was more intimately involved in his brother’s defense.

CNN reported, “The New York Attorney General's office released transcripts and exhibits Monday that shed new light on Chris Cuomo's involvement in his brother's defense.”

A CNN spokesperson said Tuesday evening. "The documents, which we were not privy to before their public release, raise serious questions."

"When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother's staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly," the spokesperson continued. "But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second."  

"However, these documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother's efforts than we previously knew," the spokesperson added. "As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation."

The New York Times reports, "Chris Cuomo had previously apologized for advising Andrew Cuomo’s senior political aides — a breach of traditional barriers between journalists and lawmakers — but thousands of pages of new evidence released on Monday by the New York attorney general, Letitia James, revealed that the anchor’s role had been more intimate and involved than previously known."

NOT

McKee's Big Insult to Small Business

Since the beginning of the pandemic, state workers have been held harmless -- they did not lose their jobs or their compensation.

In contrast, small businesses got hammered and hundreds of companies were forced to close. 

Now, McKee is going to pay state workers $1,500 per vaccine shot -- a slap in the face to every small business owner and worker.

His move? Not just not hot -- potentially a huge political misstep in his bid for reelection. 

NOT

Devastating COVID News for RI

GoLocal was provided a copy of a Zoom meeting in which a top Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) expert said that COVID is in an “epidemic free fall” in the state.

He made these comments to a group of nearly 200 physicians this week. 

John Fulton, Ph.D., who was the Chief Health Program Evaluator for the State of Rhode Island, warned that the state has functionally no strategy to stop the spread of the virus.

Fulton is now a consultant to RIDOH as an epidemiologist and is a researcher at Brown University.

"At this point, we're in a situation where we are in sort of epidemic free fall," said Fulton.

READ MORE HERE