Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?

Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?

Every Friday, Dan Lawlor breaks down who's rising and who's falling in the world of Rhode Island politics. Check out who made the lists this week.

Who's Hot

Susan Farmer: The late Susan Farmer did right by Rhode Island. A lifelong trailblazer, Farmer remarked in John Friedah's documentary for the YWCA, "What we need is younger women to understand that it was a long fight to get women recognized as equals, and the things that women are able to do now are there because somebody else fought that battle, and fought really hard for that. If I played the game the way everybody else played the game, I would be at home taking care of children, and I would not be Secretary of State. It was pushing another boundary."

Angel Taveras: Around 21% of potential voters in a recent survey sample are undecided, but the Mayor's own poll numbers show him besting Raimondo 49% to 30% in a potential gubernatorial primary (+/- 5% margin of error). ¿Todos con Angel?

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Mia Ackerman and Josh Miller: Governor Chafee signed into law the Assembly members' bill calling for divestment of the state's retirement funds from companies that do business with Iran. Ackerman told Go Local, "It is imperative that as legislators, we not only keep a close eye on state business, but international issues that could affect us in the future as well." On a side note, the Iranian government just released 11 high profile political prisoners. 

Saul Kaplan: The 9th Business Innovation Factory (BIF#9) has seen hundreds attend a series of talks, networking events and experiences to find and design "new models" to problem solve in business, education and society. This gathering is a great way to share information and good buzz in the capital city.

St. Patrick Academy: The inner city Catholic High School will graduate its first senior class this year, and is focused on providing an affordable private school, college prep education to its students (82% qualify for free or reduced lunch, 62% come from single parent households).

Doug Victor: Victor and all the dedicated neighbors involved with the beautiful Peace and Plenty Park in the South Side deserve a round of applause! The park's 5th anniversary party is this Sunday, 2-4pm, and promises "chalk art, mini-mural painting, birthday cake & ice cream!"

Who's Not

Kate Coyne-McCoy: Rhode Island doesn't need a funnel for "unlimited contributions" wasted on political campaigning. Raimondo has already raised millions on her own- she doesn't need a SuperPAC, and donors in a state this poor shouldn't be wasting money on it either.

First Student Bus Co.: Last week, a First Student Bus driver was lost on the East Side for a while, stopped and let all of the students off the bus. The bus company was a glaring no-show at this past week's neighborhood meeting at the Jewish Community Center. We're not paying First Student to be unresponsive. How often have the buses been late or lost in other neighborhoods?

Angel Taveras: This is your school district. What are the next steps with First Student? (Let alone Mt. Pleasant High School.)

The Committee on the Fund for the Education of the Children of Providence: Ebony and Ivy, a new book by Craig Steven Wilder of MIT, examines the connection between slave- trade money and the growth of schools like Brown, Harvard, Columbia, and Yale. In 2007, Brown University promised to create a $10 million endowment to support a fund for Providence school children in response to the university's relationship with slavery. So far only $1.5 million has been collected.

Allens Ave, Inc.: A few people make a lot of money off the strip clubs on Allens Ave (the going price for Cheater's is $8 million dollars!). Troubling research from a RI Hospital team led by Esther Choo, MD, found that club employees lack regular health care and are at high risk for smoking, HIV, and unhealthy levels of drinking. Out of sight, out of mind doesn't mean people aren't paying a price.

Jim Langevin: In the 2012 election cycle, Congressman Langevin accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from defense contractors, companies he should be a watchdog over. It is chilling that the Congressman accepts money from the very groups that would benefit financially from expanded citizen surveillance programs.