Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - May 27, 2022
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - May 27, 2022
This week's list includes the love of guns and money, Brown's love of money over things that matter, and a decade of the Flea.
Now, we are expanding the list, the political perspectives, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
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Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - May 27, 2022
HOT
The Flea Turns 10
The Providence Flea celebrates its 10th outdoor season beginning with Opening Day on Sunday, June 5, 2022, from 10 am – 3 pm, and every Sunday through September, rain or shine, on the Providence River Greenway across from 345 South Water Street in downtown Providence.
The Flea also announced a series of Friday Night Markets on June 24, July 22, August 19, September 16 and October 21 from 5 pm - 9 pm at FarmFresh RI Market Hall, 10 Sims Ave, Providence.
Ranked #28 of over 150 "Things To Do in Providence" with a 4.5 star review and a "Certificate of Excellence" on TripAdvisor, the Providence Flea has attracted thousands of patrons and tourists to its indoor and outdoor markets, featuring over 2,000 artisans, artists, independent makers, vintage vendors, community nonprofits, food purveyors and food trucks across its nine years in existence.
HOT
Good News for RI -- PPL Takes Over and National Grid Goes Back to the UK
PPL Corporation on Wednesday announced it has completed its acquisition of The Narragansett Electric Company from National Grid for approximately $3.8 billion and approximately $1.5 billion in debt.
The total value of the deal is $5.3 billion.
The Narragansett Electric Company, Rhode Island’s primary electric and gas utility, will be rebranded as “Rhode Island Energy,” reflecting both the company’s "commitment to Rhode Island and its pursuit of a cleaner energy future in line with the state’s renewable energy and net-zero goals."
“We are pleased to welcome the Rhode Island Energy team into the PPL family of companies, and we consider it an absolute privilege to serve the energy needs of Rhode Islanders,” said Vincent Sorgi, PPL president and chief executive officer.
“Since announcing the acquisition in March 2021, we have been working closely with key stakeholders and National Grid in an effort to facilitate a smooth transition of services and to strengthen our understanding of the needs of customers in these communities,” continued Sorgi. “We are excited to bring to Rhode Island our proven operating model, which emphasizes innovation, customer service and reliability.”
Rhode Island Energy says it will "continue to deliver the safe and reliable service that customers expect," and the acquisition includes a two-year transition services agreement with National Grid to provide continuity of operations as Rhode Island Energy transitions to PPL systems and processes.
The company will be led by a Rhode Island-based president and a strong local leadership team, with more than 1,100 Rhode Island employees. PPL will be establishing a control center in Rhode Island for the state’s electric and gas operations, as well as a new customer call center.
“No job we do will be more important than delivering for our Rhode Island customers, and we’re pleased to have an experienced team comprised of PPL and former National Grid employees that is committed to providing exceptional service,” said Dave Bonenberger, president of Rhode Island Energy.
HOT
Stefan Pryor
Stefan Pryor — the Commerce Corporation Secretary, is ending the waiting and jumping into the Democratic primary for the General Treasurer.
Pryor may be one of the most interesting candidates for any office this election cycle.
He is a graduate of Yale and Yale Law School, and has held top positions in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut before coming to Rhode Island to assume the top economic development position. And in building that resume, he has developed a top-tier network of government and business leaders.
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Besides serving as the top economic development officer for Governors Gina Raimondo and Dan McKee, he worked in a key economic development job for Republicans George Pataki and New York City Mayors Rudy Guiliani and Michael Bloomberg (the billionaire Bloomberg who later became an independent and ran for President as a Democrat).
Pryor served as head of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation — the agency rebuilding the area of the World Trade Center attack.
The only other announced candidate for General Treasurer is former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa.
Diossa announced last December, but has struggled to raise money. He has just $155,788 cash on hand.
HOT
A Different Meaning for the Great Resignation
Gary Furtado, the CEO of Navigant Credit Union, announced he is stepping down at the end of the year after 35 years as CEO and 44 years with the company.
He never worked anywhere else.
HOT
Kudos to McKee and Foulkes
Immediately after the Texas massacre of a group of small children, the two immediately called legislative leaders. They reiterated the need to pass a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines.
NOT
Joe Shekarchi and Dominick Ruggerio
Really?
No opinion on mass killings of children other than thoughts and prayers. really?
NOT
CVS Pulling the Plug
The CVS Charity Golf Classic was a first-class sporting event that raised millions for local charities - now it is over.
NOT
Brown to Name Performing Arts Center After Energy Billionaire Tied to Major RI Environmental Spill
Late on Tuesday afternoon, Brown University announced that the nearly completed massive performing arts center will be named to honor the late George Lindemann and his wife Frayda.
“The name for the center, set to open in 2023, honors Brown Corporation member Frayda Lindemann and her late husband, George Lindemann Sr., a longtime University supporter, business executive and art collector,” said the Ivy League school in its release.
What the release makes no mention of, however, is Lindemann's career in the energy industry and his company's role in one of the most controversial environmental crimes in Rhode Island history.
His company was fined $18 million by a Rhode Island jury for a mercury spill in Pawtucket and that penalty was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lindemann amassed a massive fortune owning, selling and merging a number of companies, including Southern Union Group — a company he ultimately sold off in 2011.
That is not the only controversy -- George and Frayda's son made global news for his contract hit on his show horse.
