Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - Feb. 5

HOT

Sgt. Steve Courville

The Providence Police Sergeant showed incredible poise and compassion last Saturday (January 30th) when he was called to the Henderson Bridge amidst reports that a man was standing on the ledge and threatening to jump off. Courville calmly assured the man that he was there to help and that whatever problems the man was facing could eventually be overcome. In doing so, Courville saved the man's life. That's a shining example of the great work done by the men and women of the Providence Police Department on a daily basis.

HOT

John Pagliarini

The new state senator who represents portions of Portsmouth and Bristol has wasted no time sponsoring a bill that would amend the Rhode Island constitution to make certain that cars and small trucks are never tolled in the Ocean State, which was heard this week. Rhode Islanders already pay among the highest taxes and fees in the nation, and Pagliarini deserves credit for trying to make sure just one more tax isn't placed upon us.

HOT

Gary Sasse

The former Department of Administration Director, long-time Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council Executive Director, and well-respected Rhode Island pundit must be breathing easy right now after Florida Senator Marco Rubio's expectation defying third place finish in the Iowa Caucus. Sasse serves as Rubio's Rhode Island campaign manager. If the Republican establishment continues to coalesce around Rubio and he secures the nomination, Sasse soon may be sought after for advice on the national level as he is here in Rhode Island.

HOT

Paul DiSilvestro, MD

The head of research with the Women's Oncology Program at Women & Infants Hospital is part of a team affiliated with the Gynecologic Oncology Group that uncovered more inherited genetic mutations linked to ovarian cancer. The new information will allow for patients to be screened for the at risk genetic mutations and allow for women to make better informed decisions about their health care in the future.

HOT

CharterCARE Health Partners

The organization announced the opening of a new outpatient program designed to offer a new structured support system to help folks recover from opiate addiction. Their Integrated Behavioral Center will be located on the Roger Williams Medical Center Campus and will feature a multi-disciplinary treatment team including physicians, nurses, and therapists. Anything that can help folks struggling in the throes of addiction is a positive development.

HOT

XO Cafe

According to Town & Country, an upscale lifestyle magazine, the North Main Street eatery is the state's most romantic restaurant, thanks to its location (the historic John Updike House), trendy dishes, and it's name. Fortunately for Rhode Islanders, we're blessed with so many cool and romantic restaurants to choose from when Valentines Day rolls around (too many to name). But Town & Country has a point, you really cannot go wrong with XO.

NOT

Providence College

GoLocal reported on Wednesday that a group of Providence College students refused to allow a group of fellow students into a party they were hosting solely on the basis of their skin color. The students who were turned away were black and the students hosting the party were white. To make matters even worse, beer bottles were reportedly thrown at the the black students and racist comments were directed at them. The students who did this inexcusably racist act should be punished severely. Anything less isn't fair to the victims, as well as the rest of the Providence College community.

NOT

David Coughlin

The state representative from Pawtucket (District 60) sent out a flyer to district residents stating that he is "pleased that the plan by the Pawtucket Red Sox to build a stadium in Providence is now dead" and that he'd continue to fight to keep the Pawsox in Pawtucket. That sounds nice. The problem is nobody has heard Coughlin say anything like this until now. That's because last summer, when a dedicated group of activists were fighting the Providence proposal, Coughlin remained silent so as not to offend House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, who was a proponent of subsidizing a move to Providence.  Sorry Representative, but you cannot have it both ways.

Gina Raimondo

The Governor's new budget proposal calls for an additional $500 million in bonding. That's a half billion dollars in additional state borrowing to fund some of her pet programs and other initiatives that she believes will help grow the economy. But what happens when the money, and the interest on the money, needs to be paid back to the Wall Street Tycoons that lent it to us? The effect of this borrowing will hamstring future governors and legislatures. The legislature would be wise to eliminate, or vastly scale back the size and scope of borrowing proposed by the Raimondo administration.

NOT

Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce, which is supposed to be a pro-business organization, has come out in favor of the truck toll. The plan will levy a brand new tax on our economy, and the effects will be felt by all Rhode Island businesses, as the truckers will be forced to pass on the costs by way of higher prices. The Chamber should be encouraging the state government to spend the money it already collects more effectively instead of endorsing a new tax and borrowing scheme.

NOT

Donald Trump

Sorry Donald supporters, but if politics were football, than "get out the vote" efforts would be the equivalent of blocking and tackling. And what happens to teams that don't block or tackle well? They lose. And that's precisely what Trump did in Iowa when he eschewed the prevailing wisdom of political campaigns by not failing to focus on his field operation. Don't be surprised if Trump continues to under perform, unless he can quickly change his priorities.

NOT

Friars Men's Basketball

The Friars went into Chicago on Tuesday as the 11th ranked team in the nation, and by all accounts should have easily handled the DePaul Blue Demons, who had only one win in conference play. But after superstar center Ben Bentil went out with an ankle injury, the Friars struggled on defense and had trouble rebounding the basketball. The loss puts them in a tough spot when they take on 3rd ranked Villanova this Saturday, who will be looking for revenge after PC beat them on the road a few weeks ago. Let's hope the Friars can win and make up for Tuesday's loss.