Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - November 8, 2024

HOT

Gabe Amo

Gabe Amo won a full term in Congress on Tuesday.

He beat Republican Allen Waters 62.5% to 32.5%.

Amo was elected in a special election in 2023, which was caused after former Congressman David Cicilline quit his seat to take over the position as the head of the Rhode Island Foundation and collect a salary of $650,000 for the group dedicated to supporting those in need.

Amo, a Pawtucket native and former White House staffer, had previously won the Democratic primary in the special congressional election when he turned back a field of a dozen opponents, including Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, State Senator Sandra Cano, former State Representative and candidate for Lt. Governor Aaron Regunberg, and more.

This time, running for a full two-year term, Amo faced little opposition.

He is the first person of color elected to Congress in Rhode Island.

During his first year, Amo appears to have been everywhere promoting Rhode Island and attending community events, such as birthday parties for 100-year-olds and community meetings.

In 2023, GoLocal named him Rhode Island’s Man of the Year.

HOT

Donald J. Trump

It would have seemed impossible for the former President to have won reelection after the events of January 6th, but President Biden's age, coupled with blunders in managing inflation, immigration, and crime, opened the door for a Trump revival.

He kicked the door down.

HOT

Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi

Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi beat a Democrat and an independent and garnered 72.5% of the vote.

Is he a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2026?

HOT

Good Job Going Green

On Friday, the Rhode Island School Recycling Project and Principal Brent Kermen will hold an award assembly at William D’Abate Elementary School in Providence.

Over 100 students have volunteered as Food Waste Rangers during their lunch period.  As a result, since November 14th, 2023, when the Get Food Smart program was launched at the school, the students have diverted 9.7 tons of food waste from going to the Johnston Landfill and instead are being composted, and 3,080 pounds of healthy, edible food was recovered and redirected to hungry students and their families. 

This recovered healthy, edible food would have gone to the landfill had the school’s leadership not elected to join with the RI School recycling Project to become a “Food Smart” school.

And even more importantly, the students at D’Abate have reduced the food they waste by almost 20%.

This has reduced the school’s carbon footprint by 20.5 metric tons of C02 (MTC02) which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of five gasoline powered cars driven for one year and the carbon sequestered by 24 acres of forest.

3080 lbs. of recovered food is the equivalent of more than 2500 meals.

“This is the sixth award ceremony for “food smart” schools in Providence and it highlights the important work the students, staff, faculty, parents and school principals do to address climate change and hunger in our community,’ stated Jim Corwin, Co-Director of the RI School Recycling Project.  “We are looking forward to expanding this program this school year to at least 10  additional schools with funding from the USDA and 11th Hour Racing’s Grant Program. Together we are taking real steps to change attitudes and behaviors about food waste, food insecurity”, concluded Mr. Corwin.

HOT

Special Counsel Robert Hur - Vindicated

Special Counsel Robert Hur released his long-awaited report in February on President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents.

The report concludes that no criminal charges against Biden will be filled.

However, it also stated that there was evidence that Biden “willfully” retained and disclosed highly classified materials when he was a private citizen. It highlighted his confusion and “significantly limited” recall of events related to the documents.

Hur, in his report, found “Mr. Biden’s memory was significantly limited” in interviews with the special counsel office.

In his interview with the special counsel’s office, Hur writes that Biden twice appeared confused about when his term as vice president ended. The report notes that Biden, who speaks frequently about his son Beau’s death, could not remember “even within several years” when he died.

If the Democrats had listened to Hur when he raised the issue - this election could have been much different. 

HOT

URI Football

The University of Rhode Island (URI) football team has reached its highest ranking since the 2021 season.

According to the new polls released on Monday, the Rams are ranked No. 10 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the Stats Perform poll.

The Rams (8-1, 5-0 CAA Football) were previously tabbed No. 12 in the Stats Perform poll in 2021, which was its highest ranking in any national poll since a spot at No. 9 in the Sports Network Top 25 for the week of Oct. 30 back in 2001.

That year, URI reached a peak ranking as number four in the country for three straight weeks.

The highest Rhode Island has ever been ranked was No. 3 in the season-ending NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll of 1984.

That team was led by All-American quarterback Tom Ehrhardt.

PHOTO: URI

NOT

State Senator Ryan Pearson of Siberia

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio promoted Pearson to be Finance Committee Chairman a few years ago.

Then, Ruggerio helped to promote Pearson to serve as Majority Leader.

How did Pearson repay Ruggerio?

Well, when Ruggerio got sick, Pearson moved to knock Ruggerio out of the Senate Presidency.

On Thursday night, Senate colleagues reject Pearson's move. 

Pearson formerly represented Cumberland.

He now represents Siberia.

Persona non grata. 

NOT

Washington Post - Bezos Control

The fallout continues. The latest reported numbers are that the number of Washington Post subscribers who dropped the paper after owner Jeff Bezos at the last minute pulled the Post's endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris is 250,000 and climbing.

If a subscription generates $100 annually, then the hit is $25 million. And, if a reporter for the Post costs $200,000 on average with benefits, then be ready to look at 125 fewer in the newsroom.

PHOTO: Library of Congress, Creator: Trikosko, Marion S., photographer, Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-55246

NOT

Providence's Crime Problem

A woman was shot in Providence on Sunday.

In addition, the city suffered a brawl, a stabbing, and a serious beating over the weekend.

NOT

More Local Media Bites the Dust

Local station Hot 106 (WWKX) is no more. The station has been revamped to an oldies rock format.

Previously, the format was hip-hop and young.

And a number of staffers are off the air at the station. The hosts are gone.

Just a few months ago, the station featured a lineup that included "The Hot Morning Show" with Mike D and Alexus Lee; Nick; Big Stress; DJ Half Pint; and Fly Rye.

The station is owned by Cumulus, the radio giant whose stock has plummeted this year. Cumulus claimed that Hot 106 delivered for advertisers.

NOT

Rhode Island Democratic Party Turnout

Tuesday night, Democrats turned out to celebrate election night at The Graduate Hotel (formerly the Biltmore).

In the past, win, lose, or draw, the Democrats would fill the Grand Ballroom.

This election night, there were fewer than 100 in a function room. 

Hmmm.