Side of the Rhode: Who's Hot and Who's Not
GoLocalProv
Side of the Rhode: Who's Hot and Who's Not
Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, both for newspapers and on political campaigns. Send him email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @russmoore713.
Side of the Rhode: Who's Hot and Who's Not - March 27, 2015
HOT
Jeff Britt
As usual, Britt gets the last laugh. When the longtime political operative managed Mark Binder's David vs. Goliath challenge against former House Speaker Gordon Fox in 2012, he warned everyone that the Speaker was involved in pay-to-play schemes that put special interests above his constituents. Fox's guilty plea for taking a bribe from an East Side restaurant proves that Britt was right.
HOT
Patricia Morgan
The hard working state representative from West Warwick has introduced a bill that would allow ask voters to approve any state taxpayer money that was used to help finance a new stadium in Providence for the Pawtucket Red Sox via referendum, should the new owners seek such an arrangement (according to an RINPR report). It's an excellent idea that would protect taxpayers by giving them the final say over such an expenditure.
HOT
Garden City Center
One of the state's retail bright spots has announced the addition of a New Balance outlet, one of the most iconic brands of running shoes in the world, which will open later this autumn. It will be the first New Balance outlet in Rhode Island, and it makes Garden city even more of a destination that it is already.
HOT
Brown University
GoLocalProv reported that the state's Ivy League school is in the running to land President Obama's oldest daughter Malia Obama as a student. Malia visited the school one day this week as part of her college tour. Should Obama's daughter attend the university, it would be the second daughter of a President to do so, as Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy attended in the 80s.
HOT
RI Radio Hall of Fame
Radio is a big deal in RI, and the RI Radio Hall of Fame, created in 2008 to "celebrate the storied history of the industry in Rhode Island, and to honor the men and women who have played a part in its growth," will host its annual induction banquet at Twin River in Lincoln, RI on Thursday, May 7th at 7:00 pm. The proceeds from the banquet will go to benefit the Special Olympics of RI.
HOT
Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass was in town earlier this week for the unveiling of the Alex and Ani Arts Studio at Roger Williams Middle School, much to the delight of the students. Meanwhile, don't look now - but the Celtics are right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
NOT
$2
Can someone please explain the logic behind the Providence Journal's business model? They're constantly cutting back their staff, which means they're putting out a smaller, less valuable paper, yet they now expect their customers to pay double for it. It's frustrating for news consumers, but the good news is that it will only expedite the growth of alternative media at the expense of legacy media.
NOT
Providence Retirement Board
The board decided (in secret, of course) to allow a former firefighter John Sauro, who claims he is disabled, but has no problem pumping iron like Arnold Schwarzenegger (which was revealed in a wpri.com undercover report two years ago), to recieve his $3,900 per month pension once again. The decision rescinded their move two years ago to revoke the pension. The decision was a slap in the face to everyone who works hard for a living and Providence should be ashamed.
NOT
Judge Sarah Taft Carter
The media in our state is scrambling around like chickens without heads trying to find out what's going on with the potential pension settlement between the state and its unions because Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft Carter issued a gag order on the proceedings. A judge like Taft Carter should understand the importance of sunlight and the fact that the people of Rhode Island, who have a huge stake in this situation, have a right to know what's going on.
NOT
Dave Florio
The Vice Chairman of the Coventry School Committee shared an offensive Facebook post that unfairly and negatively compared Islam's Muhammed to Christianity's Jesus by pointing out negative things in the Koran while leaving out some of the negative things permitted in the Bible. Let's not forget that our state was founded on the ideal of religious tolerance, so let's do our best to foster that ideal, not diminish it.
NOT
RI Car Insurance
GoLocalProv reported earlier this week that Rhode Islanders pay the highest car insurance rates in America, according to information provided by The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. That's unacceptable, and state government needs to play a role in finding ways to protect Rhode Islanders from such high costs. Wasn't mandatory car insurance supposed to lower car insurance rates for our state?
NOT
20th Most Overpriced
The hits for Providence just keep on coming. Forbes Magazine ranks Providence the 20th most overpriced city in America. The state needs to find ways to cut costs and make not only Providence, but Rhode Island itself more affordable for the state's residents.
