Update: A year after I wrote this story, I am glad to see that the question of whether to remove "plantations" from the official state name has passed the General Assembly and will be going to the voters. I am voting to remove it. For those who associate the word with slavery and racism, it contributes towards needed healing. For those who think the word means a "farm" and nothing more, then they should have no problem letting plantations go since there are no longer 'farms' in Providence. Either way, people should vote YES.
Original Post: I have a short article in this week's Phoenix about "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" and whether it's time to move off the "plantation" and its implications of white supremacy, racism and slavery:
Eight years after an effort began to remove the word “plantations” from Rhode Island’s official state name, a related bill has not made it out of committee. Yet during a House Fi-nance Committee hearing last week, the current legislation — sponsored by state Representative Joseph Almeida (D-Providence) and state Senator Harold Metts (D-Providence) — generated widespread support in the African-American community and among social justice groups.
Health Care for America Now will gather tomorrow at 10am outside the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner in the Pastore Center in Cranston to "Declare Our Independence" from private insurance right before the 4th of July holiday.
The upcoming rate hearing with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of RI, which has refused the Commissioner's request that it withdraw its proposed 16 percent rate hike, is important in the short term to ratepayers here (a hearing on United HealthCare's 13 percent rate hike proposal is likely to follow as well.) But in the medium and long-term, this whole episode makes clear that we need another option, a different option, an accountable option, an affordable option -- that is, a public option for health care.
I received a strange email request from the Chafee campaign yesterday:
We have moved into our new office space located at 180 Weeden Street, Pawtucket. As a result, we have several “wish list” items that we would appreciate your help in obtaining. If you are able to assist us by providing these items or by passing the word along to anyone who may be able to donate one or more of these much-needed essentials, we would sincerely appreciate it:
Vacuum cleaner
Folding chairs and folding tables
Shredder
Chairs (swivel and otherwise)
Bookshelves
Coffee maker
Microwave
Large whiteboard
Decoration for our walls (posters, flags, any RI-themed memorabilia)
We appreciate your continued support as we outfit what will become our campaign headquarters.
Your enthusiasm and encouragement are part of what it takes to build a winning team in seeking Rhode Island’s highest office.
I didn’t realize that Chafee would be running a grassroots insurgent kind of campaign that didn’t have the resources for luxuries like a coffee maker.I am surprised they didn’t have a “beer fridge” on the list, but they probably didn’t want to sound presumptuous.
Does anyone have any good ideas for wall decorations? I think I will drop off this one:
Every now and then the filters get weak and decent things get into the local paper of record. This is one of the best:
CONGRESS is considering legislation called the Employee Free Choice Act. If passed, the act would make it easier for people to join labor unions and bargain for higher wages and better benefits. This, in turn, would provide some much-needed stimulus for rural economies.
It’s no secret that rural economies are in tough shape. During the 1990s, a University of Minnesota study found shocking similarities between the state’s rural economy and that of a developing country. The current economic tailspin has only made things worse.
For as long as I can remember, rural residents have tried to entice businesses into their communities by offering them a cheaper workforce: “Bring your factory to our town. People will work for less here, and we’ll throw in tax cuts for good measure.” But these efforts have done nothing to halt the decline of most of our rural communities.
On the other hand, Paul Krugman, our most recent Nobel Prize winner in economics, wrote that “falling wages are a symptom of a sick economy.” He went even further and said that falling wages “can make the economy even sicker.” (New York Times, May 4) Krugman argues that a healthy, middle-class economy needs middle-class wages.
This is why labor unions are so important: More than any other force, they work to keep wages at levels that will support stability.
This is a follow up from yesterday's post on the continued struggle for civil rights of minorities in the military. Today KO calls out Obama on his continued failure to act to right the wrongs of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.<!--Session data-->
In surprising news one year out from the declaration deadline for 2010 statewide candidates, Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts sent out an email today asserting that she will be running for re-election in 2010 and, as a consequence, not running for Governor. As Pat previously reported here, she had hired a high-powered team for a likely gubernatorial bid. This is good news for the camps of Lincoln Chafee, Patrick Lynch and Frank Caprio. Here's the full email.
Dear _____,
I want to share with you the news of my 2010 campaign plans (below), which I'm announcing today. I appreciate your support, and I look forward to working with you not only on my re-election campaign, but most importantly, on the critical issues facing Rhode Islanders.
Sincerely, Elizabeth
Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts Announces Re-Election Campaign
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts announced today that she will seek re-election, pledging to use her position to make health care affordable for every Rhode Islander.
“National health care reform is happening now and will not wait for Rhode Island to be ready to respond. As President Obama and Congress develop national health care reform, I will work all day, every day, to ensure that federal policies reflect the reality of the struggles of everyday Rhode Islanders,” Roberts said. “Given the urgency of the national health care reforms coming to Rhode Island at a time when our economy is so seriously distressed, Rhode Islanders need leadership on this issue now.”
“As Lieutenant Governor, I have visited every Rhode Island city and town,” Roberts continued. “What I have heard time and again from small businesses, working families and seniors is the desperate need for high quality, affordable health care that is accessible to everyone. My career, both in private life and as a public servant, has been focused on improving health care. It is clear that this fight must continue, and I am committed as Lieutenant Governor to making affordable health care a reality for all Rhode Islanders.”
From 1997 to 2007, Roberts served as a State Senator, where she worked to reform Blue Cross and create the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner. Most recently, Lieutenant Governor Roberts’ leadership was crucial to saving the Health Insurance Commissioner’s position and the critical protections for affordability and fairness that the office provides. The Commissioner is credited with saving over $150 million dollars in health insurance premiums for Rhode Islanders, but was slated for elimination in the General Assembly’s budget. Her leadership also proved pivotal in stopping the state’s health insurers’ request for double-digit rate increases last month.
“These rate increases would have come at a time when Rhode Island’s small businesses and families simply could not afford them,” Roberts explained. “They had to be stopped.”
“I’ve spent the past few months exploring a run for governor, and I want to thank all of my supporters and let them know that I will continue to work to turn the page on politics as usual in Rhode Island,” Roberts said. “I will continue to fight for quality health care for all; a stronger, more diverse Rhode Island economy; and honest, open and effective government. These have been, and will continue to be, the focus of my public service.”
The BeloJo Editorial page and I are in complete agreement (imagine that!) about Mr. Conley's proposals on Allens Ave:
One thing seems clear: The property, in the middle of a working industrial port, is absurdly ill-suited for Mr. Conley’s proposed uses. A carnival for children along a busy street on an environmentally questionable lot in the midst of a heavily industrialized port makes little sense, when there are many safer sites throughout the city and state. It makes even less sense, at least considering the big picture, to use that valuable port land for a parking lot, something Mr. Conley has won permission to do.
The dispute is yet more evidence that the state needs to better preserve its working waterfronts to protect high-paying jobs and generate economic activity. Instead of letting developers try to turn the Port of Providence into yet another playground with marinas, festivals and hotels, the state should make sure Rhode Island preserves its ports for industrial activities that take place there. Such ports, with high-paying jobs, are important economic engines for the entire state, and they cannot be moved anywhere else.
And here is what I previously wrote:
...The bottom line is that Conley was unable to provide proof that the fill material he used to cover the site in 2006 was safe and effective in protecting the public from the environmental hazards on his property.
...Incredibly, these toxic concerns didn’t seem to bother Providence Planning Director Thom Deller - Conley's biggest cheerleader - who recommended granting Conley’s variance requests. It is disturbing how far the Providence Planning Department is willing to go to support a favored developer who has a terrible project that it completely out of character with the neighborhood and may even pose a health risk to Providence residents. Wouldn't it be a better use of the Planning Director's time if he addressed the major development problems in the city at 110 Westminster and the former Police Station and the Fogarty building and the Talk of the Town project and the old fruit market behind the Mall and all of the SBER projects now facing an uncertain future? I’m left to ask once again, "What Exactly is Providence Planning?"
Once again, major props to John at Hard Deadlines for filing in the gap in local reporting in Rhode Island, including things like below: a simple update on an incredibly important local issue (full disclosure: I am the union rep for the Portsmouth teachers though he may not have know that since we haven't spoken about teacher matters) . If the MSM were smart they would partner with local bloggers like Hard Deadlines, RI's Twelfth, Cranston Style, Grace P., and Kmareka, to provide local "person on the street" news.
From Hard Deadlines:
The Portsmouth School Committee tonight voted to recall all the teachers who had been sent layoff notices, according to chair Dick Carpender, who said that budget numbers received today from the state made the difference. "We don't know what will happen in the future," said Carpender, "But for now, it's enough." This will be good news for parents (and friends of the schools) who had been concerned about art and music.
Yesterday the Senate passed a bill that was already approved by the House called the Rhode Island Public School Employee Uniform Benefit Act.You can read the text of the bill HERE, but the best way to describe what the act does is from the Assembly press release:
Under the legislation, a labor-management board will be created to review the more than 100 versions of health plan designs that are currently used by municipal workers. These many different plans detail which services are covered, what networks are used, how much of each benefit is available and how services may be accessed.
Because these different plans vary only slightly, the new board will be expected to design a limited number of standardized benefit plans (at least six). Each local school district will then be able to negotiate with their unions to select the appropriate plan for them. Because there will be more unions choosing from a limited number of standardized plans, the resulting larger group purchases should result in cost-savings for the insured teachers.
This is a major step forward in making health care more uniform, both in terms of services provided and costs, across the state, and with the buy in of labor, the governor’s office, the insurance companies, the cities and towns, it hopefully will have enough juice behind it to work inOne of the most interesting things is the breadth of options that will be included:
(ii) Benefit plan designs shall include at least one managed care option, at least four preferred provider organization (PPO) options, and at least one health savings account (HSA) compatible high deductible health plan (HDHP) option.
The HSA option is a curious chance for left wingers like me and free marketers to actually agree on one approach to private health care.I am glad to see it included in the language.
Today, July 1, is the start of something special: it is the official birth of the PCL, the Providence Community Library.After years of struggle with the Providence Public Library, the private organization funded by the public to run the libraries, the community based PCL takes over the operation of the branch library system.
To celebrate the return of the branches o the community, there will be celebrations at each branch.Here is the schedule of events:
Fox Point: Food, live music by Annikki Dawn and Orion Rigel Dommisse, crafts for kids, and storytelling. 5-7pm.
Knight Memorial: Potluck. 6pm.
Mount Pleasant: Refreshments and kids' crafts. 4-6pm.
Rochambeau: Musicians, origami, and storyteller Mark Binder. 3-5:30pm.
Olneyville: Karaoke and refreshments. 5-7:30
Smith Hill: A cookout in the back garden, with kids' activities inside. 4-7pm.
South Providence: Cookout in front of the library. Raffles and a commemorative poster to sign. 3-6pm.
Wanskuck: A ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by flower-planting and refreshments. 1pm.
Washington Park: A Bigfoot film festival, including a debate and snacks. 2pm.
I am not a fan of everything Deval Patrick does, but I got to hand it to the guy, he is very good at getting out and talking to people and using new media to broad cast it. I got this video first from his FACEBOOK page and then from his government web site. The contrast with what we have locally is striking.
Sorry, governor. You signed the beast's release papers; the blood of its victims will be on your hands as much as the legislature's.
Let me ask you, dear reader: do you think there will be bloody victims because this budget was signed into law?And if so, why, because it spends too much or too little? And who is the beast?
(since the back and forth is still going on (and since it is a conversation , gosh, about policy) I figured it would be good to promote this again. - promoted by Pat Crowley)
A report uncovered by your intrepid blogger today once again disproves the “Flight of the Earls” theory, AKA, the rich are leaving Rhode Island. In a report dated March 11, 2009, the Division of Taxation reports the following:
Number of Tax Filers
Total Returns501,531
Under $30k238,697
$30k-$50k86,995
$50k-$75k68,642
$75-$100k43,072
$100-$200k50,518
Above $200k13,607
Change from 2006
Total Returns9781
Under $30k4089
$30k-$50k(452)
$50k-$75k425
$75-$100k977
$100-$200k4035
Above $200k707
That’s right folks.Not only did we add tax payers, tax payers in the two higher brackets grew at a higher percentage rate than the middle and lower groups. The only group to lose people was the $30-$50,000 range (hopefully by upward mobility, but does anyone really buy that?)
Also when we look at adjusted gross incomes, AGI, we notice that middle and working class folks took a hit while the upper two brackets improved their standing. People earning under $30,000 a year saw their collective adjusted gross income drop by $22,406,141 while the above $200,000 group saw their comes rise by a collective $64,710,732.
hours before the HELP committee released its new proposal that reduces cost and includes the public plan. Thanks much to Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse for their work on this! (More at 
