Western states have some of America’s lowest fertility rates. The rapidly rising cost of housing is playing a role.
housing
Posted inHousing, Local, Politics
R.I. House GOP says state housing finance agency spends too much on administrative costs
Rhode Island’s House GOP caucus asserted Wednesday that the state’s housing financing agency spends too much on administrative costs and not enough to create housing. An analysis unveiled by the caucus during a Statehouse news conference shows that RIHousing has 2.13 employees per 10,000 residents compared with 0.51 for its counterpart agency in Massachusetts. When […]
Posted inEconomy, Health, Housing, Local
Rising housing costs put older Rhode Islanders’ health at risk
At 82, Roberta Rabinovitz had no place to go. A widow, she had lost both her daughters to cancer. She’d lived with one and then the other, nursing them until their deaths. Then she moved in with her brother in Florida and helped care for him, until he also died. “My doctor said, ‘Roberta, you […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Aug. 8, 2025
If the ‘Taylor Swift tax’ is getting you down, you can snap up a Wyoming ranch bigger than Rhode Island for a cool $79.5 million. Welcome back to my Friday column. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for July 25, 2025
Bark at the moon, eh, Ozzy? I’ve heard worse ideas. Welcome back to my Friday column. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: With the lazy days […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
State Sen. Meghan Kallman on Pawtucket soccer, responding to Trump and top legislative issues
Pawtucket got a recent lift when the city’s newish soccer team, Rhode Island FC, played to a sold-out crowd during the home opener at the new stadium there. There are plans for new housing to be built near the Centerville Bank Stadium and boosters of the stadium hope it will catalyze more growth. But Pawtucket has also wrestled with challenges in recent years, including the loss of the PawSox and the closing of Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is causing uncertainty for the state budget outlook as lawmakers approach the end of the legislative session. And the state Senate is working to make up for lost time after a recent change in leadership. Big issues hang in the balance, including a proposed ban on new sales of assault style weapons and a potential tax hike on Rhode Island’s richest one percent. So how’s the outlook amid uncertainty in DC? And does the new soccer stadium signal brighter days for Pawtucket? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in depth with Pawtucket state Senator Meghan Kallman.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 25, 2025
Considering the torrents of news, is it time to measure the first 100 days of a new presidential administration in dog-years? You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for March 21, 2025
April 1 is approaching, so don’t let yourself get Rickrolled along the way. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: As we roll into the […]
Posted inHousing, Local
Survey shows housing woes are top of mind for Rhode Islanders
Rhode Islanders are collectively voicing their concerns about the high cost of housing. A new survey by the housing advocacy group Neighbors Welcome! RI shows that 57% of respondents think the ongoing housing crisis is the biggest issue facing the state. “We’ve got a pretty big hole to dig ourselves out of,” said Claudia Wack, […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Feb. 28, 2025
The Providence Newspaper Guild Follies are gone, but Rhode Island politics remains the gift that keeps giving. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: Despite […]
