Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not? - July 29
Russ Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not? - July 29
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not? - July 29, 2016
HOT
Nicholas Mattiello
Let’s give the House Speaker some credit for very publicly distancing himself from the beleaguered Representative John Carnevale who is haunted by questions over his residency. It’s a risky move, believe it or not, by the Speaker, since rank-and-file representatives don’t like to see the Speaker back away from other representatives amidst controversy. In other words, it’s fair to say that this move wasn’t made solely out of political expediency.
HOT
Malia Kamalani Cruz
The Miss Teen Rhode Island winner has spent the last week participating in the national pageant located in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the beautiful Venetian hotel. Regardless of the outcome, there’s no doubt that Cruz—a 19-year-old sociology major who graduated from The Met School in Providence—will have represented our state well in the pageant.
HOT
James Langevin
It seems like the Rhode Island Congressman doesn’t get enough credit for his pioneering work in the area of cybersecurity, particularly during a time when there have been so many breaches and high profile leaks—most recently from the highly controversial Democratic National Committee. Langevin has consistently called for more funding for cybersecurity, and more centralization of cybersecurity’s efforts within the federal government, both of which have helped convince President Obama to move into that direction on the issue.
HOT
Rhode Island Blood Center
The extremely important organization is calling on the community to step up and give blood on a regular basis to make up for a decline in donations that it’s been experiencing since April. There are not too many chances for an average, ordinary citizen who isn’t a first responder or a medical professional, to be able to say that he or she literally saves lives. Yet giving blood does just that. Let’s step up Rhode Island!
HOT
Heat Wave
It’s been a scorcher out there for the better part of the last two weeks, with high temperatures routinely cracking the nineties—making this one of the hottest July’s in recent memory. That’s great beach weather. But let’s not forget to stay hydrated, and to also check on our elderly friends and family who may be without air conditioning, as the heat poses serious health risks.
HOT
Washington Park Little League
South Providence’s Washington Park Cal Ripken Little League team has won both the state and New England tournaments, and is therefore one of just 10 team across the country to qualify to play in the national tournament in Ocala Florida. First reported by rifuture.org, The team is comprised of predominately low-income parents who cannot afford to send the team (which needs to raise $12,000 to get there). But they’re the champions and they deserve to go. Please visit their Go Fund Me page and donate what you can.
NOT
Gina Raimondo
The folks who are enamored with the Governor always brag about all the great national press she gets and at one point, her name had been bandied about as a potential Vice Presidential candidate. Yet with all that being the case, doesn’t it beg the question as to why she wasn’t granted a speaking slot at the convention—even a non-prime time one? Although the Governor was named a co-chair of the convention, it would have been nice to see her deliver a speech to promote our state.
NOT
Michael Sepe
Yes, it’s still the dog days of summer, and there’s a long way to go until the November general election, but the Democratic challenger in for Mayor of Cranston has done little to engender much confidence that he’ll be able to topple Allan Fung in this year’s election. If Sepe wants to pose a serious threat to capture Cranston’s top job, he needs to start making some noise, and sooner rather than later.
NOT
Jorge Elorza
The Mayor has lost his third key staffer in as many weeks as the city’s Chief of Staff, Tony Simon, has announced that he will step down next month in order to start his own consulting business. The next year will be key for the mayor as he attempts to keep his priorities in order while promoting and bringing in new, top level staffers.
NOT
Dean Esserman
It’s obvious that many of the complaints from rank-and-file police officers about the former Providence Police Chief during the Cicilline years in Providence weren’t without merit. The latest incident follows other, high profile incidents (including threatening to shut down the Yale vs. Army football game over an usher asking to see his ticket), in which Esserman’s behavior appeared unprofessional and overbearing.
NOT
Brown Political Correctness
Brown University graduate Rob Montz has put out a scathing documentary about the Ivy League school’s penchant for “weaponizing victimhood to stifle debate”, according to Montz. Good for Montz for pointing out the folly of this behavior. Those who believe in the merits of their positions welcome debate, because they know the truth will manifest itself. Those who shout down those who disagree with them are just anti-intellectual, spoiled brats that have been coddled all their lives.
NOT
Endorsement Process
The candidate endorsement process, particularly for state representative and state senate, is flawed. Members of the public run for the committee, but normally the people who run are asked to run by the incumbent state representative. That’s how folks like embattled state representative John Carnevale, under siege over questions of his residency, can still get “endorsed”, gain a star next to their name, and an unfair advantage in the election. The system needs reform.
