Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 22, 2024

HOT

A Random Act of Kindness in Providence Has a Rhode Island Family Searching for a Stranger

A Rhode Island family is looking to thank a stranger they met at the Providence Performing Arts Center this past weekend.

Jessica Chaffee and her husband Peter, who live in Barrington, took their two young children to see “Frozen” at PPAC — and left with a life-changing story. 

They say they chatted with a man and his friend in seats next to theirs and discovered they had quite a few things in common. 

And at the at the end of the show, the stranger gave their young son a gift, and quietly walked away with his friend. 

“I don’t know if he wants to be anonymous or not, but our hope is to pay it forward somehow,” Jessica Chaffee told GoLocal in an interview. “We plan on doing something for others.”

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HOT

John Lombardi

Municipal Court Chief Judge and Rhode Island State Representative John J. Lombardi was honored at this year's St. Joseph's Day celebration at Providence City Hall, where he gave the keynote address

Lombardi has served the City as a Councilman, Mayor, State Representative, and Judge.

HOT

Top Realtor Sees Improving Inventory This Spring in Rhode Island

Robert Rutley, a top realtor with Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International, sees an improvement coming this spring to the inventory levels of homes available for buyers.

Appearing on GoLocal LIVE, Rutley said, “It looks like there's some hope out there in real estate; we have got a little bit of a nudge up on new listings. We expected this for March. You know, as soon as the daffodils start popping up, for some reason, buyers go rabid, and people are listing properties left and right."

Rhode Island’s housing market has been suffering through near record low levels of homes on the market.

HOT

Paolino Buys Iconic Downtown Building

As GoLocal first reported, Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., CEO & managing partner of Paolino Properties, jointly announced with Gary Bliss Garabedian, President & CEO, and Lisa Garabedian Regan, President & CFO of Bliss Properties the sale of 10 Weybosset Street, commonly known as the "Amica Building," with Paolino Properties acquiring the property.

This is the latest in a string of strategic acquisitions by Paolino Properties.

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HOT

Devin Carter - Thank You

For anyone who got to watch Devin Carter play for the Providence College Friars this season, it was a treat.

Odds are that he goes in the NBA draft.

HOT

Palumbo Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

RI Monthly's John Palumbo was awarded the prestigious Milton W. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from the City and Regional Magazine Association.

Well done.
 

HOT

Rhode Island Nonprofit Receives $1 Million From One of World’s Richest Women

A Rhode Island nonprofit has received $1 million from MacKenzie Scott's philanthropy "Yield Giving" in 2024.  

As announced this week, Project Weber/RENEW -- which "provides peer-led harm reduction and recovery support services, builds relationships with the people we serve, and fights for systemic change" and "empower[s] people who engage in drug use and/or sex work to make healthier and safer choices in their own lives" -- was among this year's grant recipients. 

Yield Giving was established by Scott -- the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos -- to "share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people."

"Yield is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, our network of staff and advisors has yielded over $17,300,000,000 to 2,300+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others," according to the organization. 

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index has Scott listed as the 40th richest person in the world with a net worth of $36.5 billion.

As GoLocal has reported, Scott has given millions to Rhode Island nonprofits in the past, including $10 million to United Way in 2020.

In 2018, when Bezos and Scott were still married, they gave $5 million to Crossroads.

NOT

Allan Fung Received an Illegal Donation From a Chinese Billionaire - He Is Apparently Keeping It

On Tuesday, GoLocal reported that Chinese billionaire Hui Qin has pleaded guilty to federal election crimes, admitting that he made thousands of dollars in illegal contributions to New York and Rhode Island political candidates.

“As the Department of Justice made crystal clear, we had no knowledge of this individual’s donor scheme, nor do we know him.  Mayor Fung applauds the prosecution of bad actors in our election process,” said Chris Pack, a spokesman for Allan Fung. 

Fung and his spokesperson refused to answer if the campaign donation would be returned or donated.

NOT

This Is Not Going Well in Kingston

Last year, the majority of the URI men's basketball team transferred away. 

Now, this week, five of this year's team announced their intention of leaving. 

The Rams are 21-42 under coach Archie Miller. And, Miller got a big raise.

NOT

Why Didn't RI Participate?

The Justice Department, joined by 16 other state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, but Rhode Island was not one of those 16 states.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers. Apple undermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers. Apple exercises its monopoly power to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others. Through this monopolization lawsuit, the Justice Department and state Attorneys General are seeking relief to restore competition to these vital markets on behalf of the American public.

“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate the antitrust laws,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law. If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly. The Justice Department will vigorously enforce antitrust laws that protect consumers from higher prices and fewer choices. That is the Justice Department’s legal obligation and what the American people expect and deserve.”

“No matter how powerful, no matter how prominent, no matter how popular — no company is above the law,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Through today’s action, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to that principle.”