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.

Hot

Nick Mattiello: Since the 1940s, Rhode Island's Master Lever (or Straight Party Voting) has been a tool to weaken the appeal of Independent candidates and has confused voters, especially in regards to non-partisan races. Finally, after years of struggle- it can be put to rest. Public pressure, alongside Speaker Mattiello's decision to vote down the ballot feature, helped move the Senate President to vote for reform. Good work! (Also, good call to keep the 10:30 curfew intact - no need to make laws at midnight.)

Clay Pell: "It is unacceptable that we have [domestic abuse] court advocates with a case load of more than 1,000 victims," declares Clay Pell's new report "Seizing the Future: Ensuring Safe Communities,"which suggests a series of new funding initiatives for better support of domestic violence victims and plans to tackle recidivism. The report notes, last year, 9,733 victims of domestic violence sought help in RI.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Dave Talan: Kudos to the Providence Republican for making one last appeal for General Assembly candidates, "But there are still several winnable Districts, where we do not yet have a candidate. And there are many Democrat incumbents, with major conflicts, who still need an opponent." If you're interested in running as Republican (or Independent, Libertarian, or Green for that matter), as Talan noted, "The official filing period is Monday June 23 to Wednesday June 25 (at 4 PM)."

Grace Lee Boggs: "Boggs is still living the kind of life that makes you wonder what you’ve been doing with your own," writes Alison Kitchens in the Washingtonian. Boggs is a witty 98 year old, Rhode Island born, Chinese American Civil Rights Activist who has spent the better part of her life rebuilding community after the 1967 riots in Detroit. Most of what was roughly Providence's Chinatown (near the current Regency Plaza and Cathedral Square developments) was eliminated during urban renewal in the 1960s. American Revolutionary, a new documentary on Boggs, will make its national television debut on PBS as part of the POV series on June 30th. 

On the bright side: "When I first started selling real estate 20 years ago the lines were more firmly drawn. There were larger gaps in the levels of quality education and the differences were much easier to point out than today. For the most part, Rhode Island Schools are very well received by buyers moving in from other parts of the country, particularly the south," said Allen Gammons, Broker/Owner of Prudential Gammons Real Estate in East Greenwich, RI.

San Miguel School: As GoLocal reported, "The students of San Miguel School of Providence have used their rapping skills to ask for a new school bus." San Miguel, located in the city's North End, is a dynamic independent school that solely serves low income families. They don't want to make a fuss- they just want a new bus. Support the "next generation of San Miguel students!"

PVD Lady Project: On June 18th, from 5:30-8pm at Downtown Marriot's AQUA lounge, PVD Lady Project, the networking brainchild of Sierra Barter and Julie Sygiel, celebrates its Second Annual Summer Guide, showcasing local talent and entrepreneurs.The Summer Celebration Kickoff includes a panel with Kristin Crane (Craftland) Kate Nagle (GoLocalProv), Mihaela Hinayon & Brittanny Taylor (Art Director & Photographer for the Summer Guide). 

Not

AH Belo: What a decline. As GoLocal reported, "Unless the deal collapses, GateHouse Media, which recently emerged from bankruptcy in late 2013 as a part of New Media Investment Group, will be the new owner of the Providence Journal in a transaction estimated between $50 million and $60 million. The Providence Journal and affiliated TV stations sold in 1997 to Belo for $1.5 billion."

Nick Mattiello: Should the state really be in the business of allowing and encouraging patrons a $50,000 line of credit at Twin River Casino? This past week, the House voted to do just that. Former House Speaker Bill Murphy is paid $10,000 a month by Twin River to lobby the legislature and governor.

Pipeline Pals: New England's governors, "are urging the construction of more gas pipelines and power lines to meet growing energy demand," reports Eco RI. The Green Party's Tony Affigne tells GoLocal,"Any extra gas provided by this expansion will soon not be needed in New England, because our alternative energy sector is growing faster than expected, as solar collectors and wind turbines are appearing everywhere, tidal development is ongoing, and geothermal is now backyard-scale."

7: There have been seven homicides this year in the capital city, down from eight this time last year. The 2014 victims are Nelson Sanchez, 24, Derreck Almanzar, 24, George Holland, 17, Satchell Bernard Ramos, 22, Francis Rodriguez, 20, Davon Taylor, 20, and David Simmons, 32. Homicide rates in the city peaked in 2000, with 30 deaths, and 2009, with 25. In 1997, the city had 12 homicides, and in 2007, 11. Still too many. 

Representative Patricia Serpa: Representative Serpa's bill, which passed the House, would exempt West Warwick from being a sending school district to any Mayoral Academy or Charter School for five years- the length of the town's funding improvement plan. It seems strange for a Representative to limit the public school choices available to her town's residents. In 2013, West Warwick had a 74% four year graduation rate, and a 14% drop out rate. For comparison, Providence had a 71% four year graduation level, and a 15% drop out rate. 

Four-Fifths on the Fringes:  "Nearly four-fifths of those who became long-term unemployed during the worst period of the downturn have since migrated to the fringes of the job market, a recent study shows, rarely seeking work, taking part-time posts or bouncing between unsteady jobs. Only one in five, according to the study, has returned to lasting full-time work since 2008," No Labels, the centrist problem solving outfit, announced- highlighting a Wall Street Journal column.