Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - November 4, 2022

HOT

Italian Hot

This week, the Italo American Club of Rhode Island honored Dale J. Venturini, President/CEO R.I. Hospitality Association, as the Person of the Year for 2022.

A well-deserved award for the woman who has worked tirelessly to keep one of Rhode Island's largest industries moving forward.

HOT

Justice Hot

Providence native Abdur-Rahman Muhammad’s research led to the exoneration of two of the men found guilty of the assassination of Malcolm X.

Now, the story has another chapter -- a multi-million dollar settlement with the State of New York. 

“Muhammad A Aziz and Khalil Islam have settled with the City and State of New York for $36 Million Dollars (26 M city, 10 M state) for serving over 20 years in prison for their wrongful conviction in the assassination of Malcolm X! This is such good news for the families, God is truly Great!” wrote Muhammad of the news on Sunday. 

Islam was exonerated posthumously for the killing.

“The case was not reopened until interest in the case was renewed in 2020 following the release of ‘Who Killed Malcolm X?’ – a Netflix documentary that follows the work of independent historian Abdur-Rahman Muhammad who spent decades investigating the killing,” wrote ABC News on Monday. 

In April 2020, GoLocalProv interviewed Muhammad — a Hope High School graduate — about his research and Netflix documentary on GoLocal LIVE. 

See that video here. 

HOT

Grocery Hot

Trader Joe’s has officially opened in Providence. 

The grand opening at 425 South Main Street took place on Thursday at 8 AM

Prior to the doors opening, there was a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Store Captain Linda Iannitti and Trader Joe’s Crew Members were on hand to welcome customers to their new neighborhood store.

About Store 

The 9,408 sq. ft. store is the second Trader Joe’s in Rhode Island. 

According to the company, its interior murals feature a journey through the city. "Customers can delight in images from Federal Hill, Brown University, Johnson and Wales University, as well as highlights from India Point to Rogers Williams Park," says Trader Joe's.

NOT

Rhode Island’s Largest Companies Funnel Hundreds of Thousands to GOP Election Deniers

Anything to get that bill passed.

Six companies, either headquartered in Rhode Island or with substantial facilities located in the state, have funneled more than $862,000 in campaign funds to Republican candidates who are election deniers.

Combined, the six companies are some of the biggest corporate names and employ an estimated 15,300 Rhode Island residents.

Citizens Bank and Textron are both globally headquartered in Providence and are among the companies.

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NOT

"Dangerous Hospitals"

Charges are flying by patients and staff at Rhode Island's hospitals that the facilities are in crisis.

The state is dominated by three hospital groups — CharterCare, Care New England and Lifespan.  Combined the three control about 90% of the market.

The first two — CharterCare and Care New England — are facing labor actions by unions. One of the leading unions says the situation is "dangerous."

Lifespan, the largest of the three groups, is under fire for waiting times of 9 hours or more at Hasbro Children’s, The Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals.

The waiting times and the frustration being experienced by parents seeking care for their children at Hasbro was highlighted by GoLocal on Wednesday.

After the publication of the story, GoLocal was bombarded with calls and social media posts about stories of being forced to wait at Lifespan hospitals for as long as 12 hours.

But, Lifespan is refusing to answer questions about the mounting problems.

Lifespan spokesperson Kathleen Hart did not respond to requests for comment about the crisis.

Lifespan’s problems go beyond waiting times. It lost nearly $50 million last quarter and has been without a permanent CEO for months.

"They need to do something. They called in the [National Guard] with COVID," Melissa DaRosa told GoLocal of her story of a nine hour wait time. "They need to call someone in for help with the Children's Hospital." 

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NOT

Kyrie Irving and Hate

The anti-Semitic NBA star is a destructor.

He has argued that the world is flat. He refused to get vaccinated.

Now, he is promoting an anti-Semitic documentary. 

After days of delay, his team, the Brooklyn Nets, suspended him for five games. 

If it had been a white player promoting a racist documentary, the punishment would have been severely harsher.

NOT

Alviti's Bullying Legacy

At a public hearing on April 11, 2016, at the beginning of the planning of the 6/10 Connector project, Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Peter Alviti screamed at an elderly man.

The elderly man said to Alviti, “You hardly listen to anyone."

Alviti berated that man, saying, "Let me tell you something, pal.”

For Alviti, that was just the beginning. During the course of the project, Alviti has repeatedly made statements about the 6/10 project that are simply not true. 

The project is budgeted at $410 million — the most expensive road project in Rhode Island history.

And, under Alviti's leadership, one family impacted by the contamination was pressured by one of Alviti's top lieutenants and the top supervisor for the lead contractor on the 6/10 project — supervisor Dennis Ferreira of Barletta Heavy Division.

Last week, Ferreira agreed to plead guilty to three counts in an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office relating to false statements. Ferriera will be arraigned on Monday in federal court in Providence.

And, it is expected that Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha will be announcing enforcement actions in the near future.

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