Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 1, 2019

HOT

Speaker Nick Mattiello

Talk about being a populist. On Thursday, Speaker Nick Mattiello announced that he would block Governor Gina Raimondo's plan to increase beach fees.

People live in the “Ocean State” because they love Narragansett Bay and going to the beach.

Governor Raimondo’s plan to jack-up beach fees by as much as 33% was more of her "fee budgeting." If improving the beaches and parks is a priority it should be in the budget just like other important priorities are like the Governor's 24-hour security detail.

HOT

Narragansett Beer

Jamie Buscher of Narragansett Beer joined GoLocal LIVE this week to discuss “Buy RI” a beer -- the company's initiative buying every Rhode Islander a beer.

All thirty-nine Rhode Island cities and towns will have an opportunity to grab their complimentary beer, “We are going down the list alphabetically through all thirty Rhode Island cities and towns starting in Barrington and ending in Woonsocket. We host a happy hour, we hand out a free pint glass that you can take home with you, along with a wooden nickel that is good for one beer and the bartender puts it on our tab," says Buscher.

Over the thirty-nine weeks, “Providence being ‘P’ should be in the warmer months,”  said Buscher of when Narragansett should stop in the city, which Buscher is excited about.

HOT

Minnie Luong

In just three years, Chi Kitchen has grown from a test kitchen in Hope and Main -- the food innovation lab in Warren -- to an ever-expanding facility in Pawtucket and distribution to over 100 retailers in New England.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW 

Chi Kitchen was founded by chef and culinary educator Minnie Luong and she joined GoLocal LIVE’s Small Biz Monday to discuss the company’s growth and next steps.

Luong was born in Vietnam, grew up in Rhode Island and then lived in California, but came back home to Rhode Island with her husband to develop the vision for her company.

Today, the company has two versions of Korean-style Kimchi in distribution and is developing new products for retail and for the food service industry.

HOT

Arthur Robbins

Most people say he is just a "good guy."

Providence business leader Arthur Robbins will receive the 2019 New England Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s (NEAHP) Distinguished Service to Philanthropy Award.

Robbins was nominated by the President and CEO of HopeHealth, Diana Franchitto.

“Arthur Robbins embodies the core values of hospice. These are: to offer comfort, compassion, and dignity to patients at the end of life and hope and healing to their families. Dignity at end of life means recognizing the person, their rich history, their lifetime of relationships and their desire for autonomy, even when physically compromised. Arthur Robbins has worked tirelessly for many years to ensure that dignity at end of life is respected and honored—and has inspired others to give by his example,” said Franchitto.

HOT

Hasbro

Rhode Island-based Hasbro has been named as one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere Institute.

“At Hasbro, we take pride in doing the right thing, simply because it’s the right thing to do. We are honored to once again be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, and believe it speaks to our unwavering commitment to conducting our business responsibly and acting with integrity,” said Brian Goldner, Chairman, and CEO, Hasbro, Inc.

This marks the eighth straight year in which Hasbro has been recognized.

HOT

Recycling

Ocean State Job Lot in conjunction with the Carpionato Group announced Wednesday that they have entered into a multi-store agreement for Ocean State Job Lot to occupy three former Benny’s locations at 1109 Warwick Avenue in Warwick, 148 Atwood Avenue in Cranston and at 688 Kingstown Road in Wakefield. 

The announcement marks the latest since the Carpionato Group announced their plans in 2017 to invest more than $100 million to redevelop 29 former Benny's stores across southern New England.

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello, and other elected officials were on hand at the former Benny’s on Atwood Avenue in Cranston for the announcement. 

“We are pleased to announce our deal with the Carpionato Group, and to be able to reopen three former Benny’s locations in Cranston, Warwick and Wakefield,” said Marc Perlman, Principal Owner and CEO, Ocean State Job Lot. “We recently acquired seven former Toys ‘R’ Us locations throughout the northeast, including in Pennsylvania, a new market for us."

HOT

HOT

John Gregory is retiring from the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce after leading the pro-business organization for more than a quarter of a century. He has helped to grow CVS in the region and develop Twin River.

Gregory has been an advocate for small businesses and improving RI’s education system.

In 2013, Gregory told GoLocal, “I have been a chamber executive for 28 years, but in the past among other jobs I had I was a DJ. In fact for those with "long ago" memories, at one time I used to DJ at ‘Cahoots’ at the Providence Marriott.”

NOT

Jack Reed

U.S. Senator Jack Reed has had close ties to the embattled Corvias CEO John Picerne and has taken tens of thousands of campaign donations from the multi-millionaire —  and the Rhode Island-based housing company is tied to thousands of substandard military housing units.

Picerne’s Corvias has secured contracts with the United States Army that will generate $1 billion in fees.

Thousands of military families have complained about the conditions in Picerne’s housing citing mold, electrical issues, and air quality.

In an interview with GoLocal's News Editor Kate Nagle, Reed said he is concerned about the quality of housing provided to military families, but is not returning -- or donating to military families -- the political donations from Picerne. 

NOT

RI Education System

How do you spell chaos?

RI Education Commissioner Ken Wagner is on his way out.

Providence Schools Superintendent Chris Maher is on his way out.

Test scores are embarrassing.

Half the students who receive free college education could not continue in the program — many because they simply do not have basic skills.

NOT

Victoria's Secret and JCPenney

More retail store closings were announced this week.

Victoria's Secret will be closing 53 stores across the country this year.

The Swansea Mall is closing.

Stores are being shuttered.

Layoffs are continuing.

NOT

Diocese of Providence

The Diocese of Providence’s RI Catholic Conference in written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee this week disclosed that the church has made tens of millions in payments to sexual abuse victims over the past few decades.

The testimony was offered Tuesday in opposition to legislation being considered that would extend the statute of limitation of those who are sexually abused from the existing seven years to up to 35 years.

The disclosure of the payments may, in part, be an indicator as to the Diocese financial issues and why the church failed to make proper contributions to the pension fund of the now collapsed St. Joseph Health Services retirement fund -- the largest pension fund failure in Rhode Island history.

“Reflecting [on] our commitment to justice, the Diocese of Providence has resolved over 130 claims and paid out over $21 million in legal settlements. Additionally, a pastoral outreach program has provided victims with nearly $2.3 million for the cost of counseling in order to facilitate healing and wholeness. There have been many long-standing and effective efforts towards prevention here,” said the Church in written testimony to the committee.

NOT

Raimondo's "Nickle and Dime" Budgeting

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal is coming under increased scrutiny — and not just from Rhode Islanders.

After Raimondo’s proposed beach and campground increase was called a “regressive tax on the poor” by politicians and economists in Rhode Island, the Wall Street Journal called out Raimondo in its recent editorial, “Nickel and Diming Democrats,” after Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont introduced truck tolls to address the state’s fiscal issues. 

“From coast to coast, they’re taxing anything that moves,” wrote the WSJ Editorial Board.

The WSJ went on to write:

Mr. Lamont drew his toll inspiration from Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, who has lately been scrounging for cash to finance “free college,” universal preschool and Medicaid. Last month she proposed extending the state 7% sales tax to Netflix ,e-books, iTunes, interior decorating, landscaping, shooting ranges, beach parking and more.

She also wants to reimpose the ObamaCare penalty for individuals without health insurance. And she’d create a new $1,500 penalty on large “for-profit” employers for each employee who enrolls in Medicaid. This new tax is loosely based on legislation proposed by Bernie Sanders and would essentially punish businesses for hiring low-income workers.

Ms. Raimondo did yeoman work eight years ago fixing the state’s public pensions, so it’s a shame she’s now driving off businesses like Democrats in Connecticut and Illinois. 

NOT

Billionaire Bob Kraft, Owner of the New England Patriots

Yuk.

NOT

Edge College Hill

The out-of-state developer who owes at least a million dollars to Rhode Island subcontractors has received approval for $4 million in Rhode Island state subsidies from Rhode Island Commerce board chaired by Governor Gina Raimondo.

Now, the State is poised to give the same developer — Vision Properties of Pennsylvania — an additional $6 million. The total in state subsidies is now $10 million.

The Commerce Board approved Vision’s request this past fall for phase two of the development on Canal Street in Providence. “The Sponsor [Vision] estimates the total cost of the project to be $59.2 million. The Sponsor is requesting Rebuild Rhode Island tax credits totaling $6.0 million gross (approximately $5.4 million net), and an exemption from sales and use taxes on construction with an estimated value of $1.295 million."