Government
Public services and government action
Speaker Shekarchi on the 2022 budget: Tax cuts, affordable housing and more
Speaker Shekarchi said he is careful about the tax structure because "I don't want to drive businesses out of Rhode Island." He then told an anecdotal story. "I talked to a business in northern Rhode Island, and they were very very concerned with the so-called Tax the Rich. It was a big, large insurance company and he's like, two-three miles from the Massachusetts border. He made it very clear to me…" The Speaker did not complete the thought, but the indication is that the business owner threatened to leave the state if he is subjected to higher taxes on earnings over $475k.
Governor McKee suggests affordable housing crisis bigger than federal funds can handle
"The problem is large, right?" answered Governor Daniel McKee. "I don't know whether there is enough money in the ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] funds if you spend every dollar of it, to actually satisfy that problem."
State leaders all-in on police body-worn cameras
Of the two big questions, how the program will be funded, and what the statewide policies regarding body-cameras will be, only the funding question was answered adequately. The question of what exactly the statewide policies governing the use of police body-cameras will look like has been left to a rule making process that promises public input, but will ultimately be decided by law-enforcement.
Advocates press Speaker Shekarchi to increase taxes on the one percent
“In 2006, Governor Carcieri cut taxes on the wealthiest Rhode Islanders," noted Martinez Youngs. "Because of these cuts, Rhode Island has lost over $1 billion in tax revenue. At the same time, property taxes have increased in order to account for the lost funds. We need to tax the rich in order to make the system work for everyone.”
There is still no plan that matches the scale of the unhoused problem in Rhode Island - and the problem is getting worse
"One of the problems… is that there is insufficient housing for these people," said Senator Jack Reed. "Even with vouchers… people can't get housing."
E-bikes return to Providence
"While Jump certainly had a troubled end, the hard facts is that it opened up th city for thousands of people who simply didn't have access to their own working bicycle or a place to put it," said Liza Burkin, Organizer of the Providence Streets Coalition. "Over the course of 11 months of Jump's operation - people in Providence took 300,000 rides, biking a combined almost 580,000 miles, making Providence the highest usage city outside of California. People in Providence like to ride bikes."
Mayor Elorza meets with unhoused encampment leaders
"So the main organizer, actually, we've known each other for years and years and years," said Mayor Elorza. "I know her family. I know her parents. And so part of it is just connecting at a human level. Remember, they're human beings and we have got to be compassionate when we do this work..."
Given 48 hours to vacate, unhoused encampment in PVD holds press conference
"I don't understand how we're being evicted when no criminal charges [have been made] by the owner," said Diumila Almonte, the leader and spokesperson for the encampment. "The owner doesn't even exist right now. He's been MIA since, I believe, 2019. These people have been subject to illegal questioning, illegal search of their property, cops trying to tear down tents and it's just not appreciated. Everybody deserves to be respected, no matter what background, no matter what color."
RI elected leaders favor AG's package of gun safety legislation
"Policy is just one piece of the puzzle, but a crucial one nonetheless," said Nwando Ofokansi, a public health organizer. "These pieces of legislation that we are here to discuss today are an important step in making our communities safer. These are not anti-gun or anti-second amendment legislations. They are about responsible gun ownership, safe gun access, and harm reduction."
RI Poor People’s Campaign supports federal resolution to end poverty
Third Reconstruction Resolution is "a historic omnibus vision to summon the moral and political resolve of the nation to center the needs of the 140 million people who are poor, low-wealth and/or living one emergency away from economic ruin – and millions more since the pandemic – with moral laws and policies."