Government
Public services and government action
Mt Hope Student Union calls out Bristol Warren School Committee for racism
"You as a committee are not acting in the best interest of the students, teachers, and administrators of this district," said Edda Petrillo, a member of the Mt Hope Student Union. "You are failing our students majorly."
ICE is building a new detention center in Warwick
UpriseRI reached out to John Mohan, Public Affairs Officer for the New England Region for ICE. He replied, "Thanks for the inquiry. I’m going to decline to comment since we don’t talk publicly about any alleged internal decisions or plans of facilities that the agency works with."
Homeless in RI: If we leave 600 people out there, people will die...
"We need a solution today and we've been asking the Governor's office for months. We need him to declare a state of emergency," said Sara Melucci, Director of Rhode Island’s PATH street outreach program.
Governor McKee confronted by activists on his failure to act on homelessness crisis
"In regards to unsheltered homelessness, why isn't the Governor declaring a state of emergency?" asked Barbara Freitas, who heads the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project. "[Massachusetts Governor] Charlie Baker just did it. We have over 600 people living in places not meant for human habitation. That means they'r living in abandoned buildings. That means they're living in tents in the woods. They're living in doorways, and we're including children. Families. Individuals with mental problems, with substance abuse issues."
Direct Action for Rights and Equality rallies against evictions and for housing
"We really need to create more housing," said Terri Hodge, an organizer with DARE. "It's not about having the money to do it, but the will to get it done."
Fox Point Manor tenants speak out against years of abuse
Interwoven with these long histories of gentrification and displacement, Canning Management, the building’s management company, continues to deny Fox Point Manor tenants adequate housing and neglects to address their specific concerns. Their noticeably sparse website boasts that Canning Management, based in Cranston, Rhode Island, is a “fully integrated multifamily real estate company that excels in the management of affordable and conventional housing.” CM claims to create a “culture of respect, understanding, and reciprocity,” but tenants disagree, with one writing, “I can say without reservation [that] the management have created a fear-culture.”
Hiring committee member breaks silence on Michael Stephens as PVD Police Major
"The number one person was a unanimous vote of everyone in the room, an active Providence police officer - and numbers two and three were tied," said hiring committee members Kira Wills and Lisa Scorpio. "One was an active Latino police officer and one was a retired Providence police officer. And then number four - the lowest - who wasn't even supposed to go before the Mayor, was added at the very last minute - Michael Stephens."
City officials surprised as unhoused encampment on Wilson St is half bulldozed by developer Knight & Swan
"Should the city be dealing with a developer that bulldozes homeless encampments?"
Race, politics and Covid collide at Barrington Zoning Board of Review
"To be honest with you, and we've had discussions about this - I'm not happy about going back to in person meetings anyway, right? … And the idea that someone shows up who's been in a house with somebody who has Covid … it's just bothering me."
2021 Housing Fact Book looks at the relationship of housing and health
"In Rhode Island, the primary driver of the health risks posed by the state’s housing is the age of our housing stock, with nearly three-quarters predating safety regulations for contaminants like lead and asbestos. Older homes also pose hazards related to accessibility and cost more to heat and cool. Housing of any age can lead to health risks if not maintained or kept clean. Untended safety repairs can lead to burns, trips, and falls, posing risks especially to the youngest and oldest members of any household. While Rhode Island continues to make gains related to healthy homes, thousands of households remain at risk."