Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - June 16, 2023

HOT

Providence's Porchfest

This past weekend Peter Evangelista and others organized the first Porchfest in Providence.

The event was a series of miniconcerts hosted on porches and in backyards across the city.

It was a wonderful success.

HOT

The Official Launch of Live Music at The Bally's Lounge at GoLocal 

Mark Cutler, one of Rhode Island’s greatest musicians and songwriters, launched the live music venue — The Bally’s Lounge at GoLocal.

The Lounge was developed to feature Rhode Island musicians with a platform for exposure, live on GoLocal and across seven different social media platforms.

“Having Mark Cutler perform was the perfect way to launch — he is brilliantly talented and a wonderful leader in the creative community,” said Josh Fenton, CEO and co-founder of GoLocal.

HOT

Joe Paolino

Add another trophy to the wall. This time it is the reinvention of the Studley Building on Weybossett Street. 

It has been transformed from tired office space into cool new apartments.

Paolino got some strong support from Rhode Island taxpayers. 

The revamped building is a win for downtown and the city of Providence.

HOT

Joe Bruce and DJ Shurelive

The Bally's Lounge kickoff week continued when Joe Bruce appeared LIVE at GoLocal on Thursday. 

Bruce, AKA “The Waterbearer” was joined by DJ Shurelive to perform “Life You Up,” Dwayne Johnson,” and “For Life.” 

“We’re excited to have Joe Bruce join us in The Bally’s Lounge as we kick off the very first week of live music at our new studios in downtown Providence,” said GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle. “We had featured Joe as one of our ’22 to Watch in 2022’ and it looks like he’s having an even bigger 2023.” 

Bruce, who had teamed up with French artist “Bloom Bat” (Baba Le Singe) on an international single in 2022, joined Le Singe and DJ Shurelive on a European tour in 2023. 

HOT

Bruce Cassidy, Too Tough for Boston

Boston Bruins players complained about Bruce Cassidy when he was the head coach. 

He was fired.

The Las Vegas Knights then hired Cassidy.

Cassidy won the Stanley Cup. The Bruins lost in the first round. 

PHOTO: Josh Appel, Unsplash

NOT

RI’s Surprising Number: RI Budget Spending v. MA

GoLocal regularly features a piece of data that we found surprising.

A number that provides an insight into a trend or gives an insight to Rhode Island’s economy, behavior, competitiveness, or is just quirky.

Today’s number is tied to the size of Rhode Island’s budget. As we have previously reported, the size of the state’s budget.

In the past five years, the size of the budget has grown by 48% and when the 2024 Fiscal Year budget is finalized in the next week, the approved budget will be in excess of $14 billion.

Just across the stateliness in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — a state that has a population of about seven million — 6.3 times larger.

Thus, Massachusetts’s budget should be about seven times larger and total $88 billion, but it is not — it is “only” $56 billion for FY24.

Per resident spending in Massachusetts is about $8,000.

And, wait for it, in Rhode Island the per-resident spending is more than $12,700 or more than 50% higher.

NOT

Providence Violence - Can't Be the Best Run City With Crime Like This

Last weekend, violent crimes swept across the city from Olneyville to the East Side to Federal Hill and hit nearly every neighborhood in Providence. 

Through just Sunday morning, Providence suffered more than a half dozen violent episodes, including a murder, multiple knife incidents, the deployment of the Providence Police rifle team in search of a shooter, and more.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said in an email to GoLocal on Sunday, "I’m thankful for the Providence Police officers who responded quickly and efficiently to the incidents this weekend."

"I’m working closely with the City Council to increase public safety funding so our police department has the officers and resources they need to elevate public safety and keep our neighborhoods safe," he added.

The weekend of crime is at a time when the Providence Police Department staffing is at a near-record low — just 419.

Full staffing is considered 505 for the department.

Olneyville: 19-Year-Old Murdered

A man was shot and killed in Providence overnight. 

Police responded to Donigan Park on Valley Street in Olneyville for a report of a shooting shortly before 9 PM Saturday night.

The victim — a 19-year-old male — was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

It is the city’s 6th homicide of the year. 

East Side: Fake Injury Coaxes Victim — a Brown University Professor — to Get Out of Car to Give Aid

A man was reportedly robbed — at knifepoint — by a group of individuals on the East Side early Sunday morning. 

Police said they responded to the 200 block of Thayer Street shortly after 1 AM for a report of a robbery. 

According to police, they met with the victim, a male in his early 50s, who said he had been driving down Fones Alley when he saw a group of individuals walk in front of his vehicle. 

The victim told police he observed a man in a hoodie fall to the ground, at which time the victim got out of his car to see if he was hurt.

According to the victim, the man then jumped up and walked toward him, brandishing a knife. 

The victim said a second male suspect then approached him, jumped on his back, and began punching him, before the assailants fled with his cell phone and credit cards.

Providence Police Detectives Major David Lapatin confirmed with GoLocal that the victim is a professor at Brown University. 

Mount Pleasant: Robbery by Knifepoint at Pharmacy

Providence police are investigating a robbery — at knifepoint — in the city. 

Shortly before 10 PM on Friday night, police were called to the Walgreens at 295 Academy Avenue for a report of a robbery. 

According to police, roughly one hundred dollars was taken from the store.

A large knife was reportedly displayed at the time of the robbery; the suspect is still at large. 

Federal Hill: Shooting, Rifle Team Deployed

A shooting occurred on America Street just off of Atwellls Avenue on Federal Hill shortly after midnight Sunday morning. 

Police say bullet holes were found in multiple vehicles, and numerous shell casings were found.

The Providence Police rifle team was deployed to set a perimeter to try and capture the shooter; no suspect was found or apprehended at the time. 

West End: Two stabbed

Two men were transported to Rhode Island Hospital after a brawl with two other men.

Bottles were thrown, and at least one baseball bat as used in the fight.

The incident took place on Saturday outside Fabian Liquors on Cranston Street.

NOT

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

The federal government is suing a Rhode Island city over the “illegal sale” of an apartment building that has flipped repeatedly. 

In the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) alleges that in 2019, Woonsocket illegally sold a residential property belonging to HUD -- on a city tax sale. 

The lawsuit involves players in Rhode Island and from around the country — including individuals who had previously led the defunct Domestic Bank. 

The sale took place under Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt’s leadership. And, her administration is not answering questions about the federal lawsuit.

Read more here. 

NOT

How Is This a Good Idea?

Previously, North Kingstown and East Providence blocked a proposal by the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) to move an estimated 50,000 tons of what has been described as "hazardous" material to their communities.

Now, the NBC plan is to move the material to Providence and locate it on the site of the Rhode Island Recycled Metals facility and four other adjacent lots.  The Rhode Island Recycled Metals facility has been the subject of ongoing legal fights between the owners and regulators.

The proposal, however, is drawing strong criticism.

The material that is being proposed to be moved to the Washington Park neighborhood in Providence comes from the construction of the third phase of the combined sewer overflow project now being constructed in Pawtucket.

“The residents here have had enough of the disrespectful and hazardous practices of all city agencies and private companies. The thought that anyone would remotely consider dumping the toxic unwanted ‘sludge’ here on Allens Avenue on the water's edge is beyond comprehension in 2023,” said Linda Perry of the Washington Park Neighborhood Association.

READ MORE

NOT

Epstein's Reach

Jeffrey Epstein continues to have an impact on business and political leaders even years after his death.

The New York Times reported:

JPMorgan Chase reached a tentative settlement with sexual abuse victims of Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier, after weeks of embarrassing disclosures about the bank’s longstanding relationship with him, the bank and lawyers for the victims said in a statement on Monday.

David Boies, one of the lead lawyers for the victims, said the bank was prepared to pay $290 million to resolve the lawsuit. The parties initially had agreed not to disclose the settlement amount in their joint statement, as it was set to be included in a court filing within the next week.