Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - Oct. 30
Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - Oct. 30
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - Oct. 30
HOT
Christopher Maxwell
The President of the RI Trucker's Association has released a plan that wouldn't require the state to create a new tolling mechanism for truckers. The plan would rely on increasing registrations for truckers, increasing the diesel tax, and refinancing bonds. The plan is less than ideal, but it's much better than instituting new tolls that will discourage business, increase traffic, and let's face it, eventually be expanded to include passenger cars.
HOT
Sherry Roberts
The Republican state representative from Coventry announced the development of a jobs guarantee program between Electric Boat and Coventry High School’s Regional Career and Technical Center earlier this week. Roberts had previously envisioned a program that would allow students from Coventry High School’s Regional Career and Technical Center to partner with Electric Boat, which would give them a leg up in seeking employment at the company. This week, the dream became a reality.
HOT
Volvo Ocean Race
It's looking like the highly successful Volvo Ocean Race, which stopped in Newport earlier this year, is planning on returning to the City by the Sea once again in 2018. That's welcome news for Rhode Island, as the event drove tens of millions into the economy.
HOT
Brandon Bell
The Chairman of the state Republican Party deserves some credit for calling out Democrat House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello for his refusal to consider passing good government ethics bills that would strengthen oversight over the state legislature. Now Bell needs to do more to encourage House Republicans to take a more adversarial role against House Leadership, and do more to fight for ethics and good government.
HOT
Providence Police
It was a good week for the Providence Police Department after they identified the suspect in the What Cheer Record store theft, making it only a matter of time before the suspected thief is brought to justice, as well as the suspect in the hit and run of a Providence Fire Fighter. The Providence Police are much better off doing what they do best, bringing criminals to justice and keeping us safe, (instead of over-reacting to a teenage Dunkin Donuts employee writing a slogan on a cup.)
HOT
URI Men's Basketball
It's a make or break season for coach Dan Hurley's Rams Men's basketball team this season, but there's plenty of reason to believe it will be more make than break for Rhode Island. The Rams return of standout Junior guard E. C. Matthews, and forward Hassan Martin were both picked pre-season Atlantic 10 conference First Team by the Coaches and select media. In that same poll, the Rams were picked to finish second in the conference, which would all but guarantee and end to their NCAA Tournament drought.
HOT
GOP Policy Group
The small opposition faction continues to be out front on the tolling issue, refusing to take the Governor's bond proposal at face value. On Wednesday, the group, spearheaded by Rep. Patricia Morgan, held a press conference picking apart the due diligence of the Raimondo Administration on such points as the Governor's analysis only looks at the economic impact for ten years, when the new bond proposal is for 30 -- and the GOP group says that $12 million in annual toll revenue in Governor's plan is "unaccounted for." Let's hope that the more they ask questions, the more answers RI taxpayers will get with a $500 million bond -- seven times that of 38 Studios -- on the line.
NOT
Rhode Island Men
And you thought the sputtering economy, government corruption, and long winters were the only things putting a damper on our state, ladies? Think again. According to a survey done by the dating app Clover, Rhode Island is home to the the ugliest men in the nation. Sorry ladies! (At least we have excellent restaurants, right?)
NOT
Gina Raimondo
One of the bright spots of the gubernatorial campaign was the fact that all the Democratic candidates promised to commission a special investigation into the demise of 38 studios during one of the debates. During a recent WPRI Channel 12 interview, however, Raimondo flip flopped on her position, saying she doesn't think paying for an investigation is a worthwhile expenditure of state resources. That's so not hot.
NOT
Harold Metts and Juan Pichardo
The two senators from Providence voted for the state budget, and now they're complaining about it! Both have written letters to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority asking it to cancel a plan that will force residents who are elderly or disabled and whose income is no higher than 200 percent of the poverty level to pay a half fare for their bus rides (they currently ride free). Yes, the rate hike for the poor was one of many things to hate about the budget. But if these two were as adamantly opposed as they claim they are, they would have voted against the budget.
NOT
Nicholas Mattiello
Give the House Speaker some credit, he's not shy. In fact, he's been anything but bashful about making saying, loud and clear, that he doesn't care about strengthening our Ethics laws. Mattiello recently told a Providence Journal Republican, that he is not considering a bill that would make the state legislature subject to the Rhode Island State Ethics Commission--an absolute no-brainer of the bill that the state desperately needs.
NOT
Vanessa Toledo-Vickers
The owner of Manchester 65, a nightclub in West Warwick that features rock bands, gangster rappers, and a bi-weekly "fetish night", was on the receiving end of more bad press this week. GoLocal reported that her establishment is currently the defendant in a lawsuit filed by property owner Evolution Mill — and is facing an eviction hearing in November.
NOT
Horse Racing
As the nation gets ready for one of the most anticipated horse races in decades this Saturday, the Breeders Cup Classic, featuring a once in a generation horse in triple crown winner American Pharoah, there is very little buzz around the race in the Ocean State. It's a sad fact for the Ocean State, which once hosted Sea Biscuit at Narragansett Park, the introduction of night time racing at Lincoln Downs, and promotions at what later became Lincoln Greyhound Park (now Twin River). Maybe Twin River will find it in itself to hold horse racing promotions, including merchandise giveaways, for horse racing fans once again someday?
