Rhode Island has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years to produce more housing. But relatively little new construction has happened so far, and some cities and towns resist attempts to get them to welcome more residents. The median price of a single-family home in Rhode Island was $440,000 in February, an almost 15 percent increase from a year earlier. The high cost of housing leaves many people on the outside of home ownership, looking in, squeezing out those with less money. So what will it take for the state to make more progress, and how long? I’m Ian Donnis, and this week I’m going in-depth with Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor.
Politics
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Politics
Highlights from Smiley’s balanced budget
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley unveiled his proposed budget for 2025 on Wednesday evening, proposing a 3% increase from last year’s budget of $598.6 million. Although the budget, which the mayor says is balanced, will look fairly similar to last year’s, the mayor is proposing several notable changes, including funding the Providence Public School District at […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
RIPTA board approves $67K severance for ex-CEO Scott Avedisian
Scott Avedisian’s exit as CEO of RIPTA became official Tuesday when the public transit agency’s board unanimously approved a severance agreement that includes a payment of $67,800. The payment consists of $45,500 for 13 weeks of wages and $22,400 for accrued vacation time. Avedisian, who did not attend the meeting, has been RIPTA’s CEO since […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, The Weekly Catch
What’s behind the push to reform Rhode Island’s powerful Coastal Resources Management Council
Environmental advocates are pushing for changes to Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Management Council. We hear from State Sen. Victoria Gu, who is sponsoring legislation to reform the agency. Also, a manager of a Market Basket in New Bedford is facing numerous charges of sexual harassment. The four alleged victims are women facing challenges with their immigration status. And as COVID-19 relief money dries up, Rhode Island is in danger of losing shelter beds for the state’s growing number of homeless residents. Finally, we hear about O&G Studio in Warren, known for their modern approach to making furniture inspired by New England historical craft. That and more on this episode of The Weekly Catch.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 12, 2024
If someone was selling kits to build your own ark, they could clean up (before we all float away). You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. […]
Posted inHousing, Political Roundtable, Politics
United Way’s Cortney Nicolato on what it takes to make progress on housing, racial equity and more
Cortney Nicolato became president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island in 2018. It was a homecoming for the Pawtucket native and URI grad who had worked in the nonprofit sector in Texas for the previous 13 years. Nicolato took the helm of one of Rhode Island’s top nonprofits in the run-up to the pandemic. She helped introduce 401Gives, now Rhode Island’s largest philanthropic effort, which this year raised more than $3.7 million for almost 600 different organizations. Nicolato has also emerged as a leading advocate for confronting the state’s housing crisis. But what will it take to build a stronger economy in Rhode Island and to make more progress on other key issues? This week, political reporter Ian Donnis goes in-depth with United Way of Rhode Island President/CEO Cortney Nicolato.
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
Avedisian resigns while facing charge in Warwick crash
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority CEO Scott Avedisian submitted his resignation Thursday, about two weeks after being involved in a chain-reaction car crash at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Warwick. In a letter to Gov. Dan McKee, Avedisian claimed credit for a series of improvements at RIPTA, including a downtown transit connector, funding the transit agency’s […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 5, 2024
The state launches a legal probe of what went wrong with the bridge and suddenly the ground shakes. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
State Rep. Jennifer Stewart on housing, improving schools, Washington Bridge & more
Jennifer Stewart won election as a state representative from Pawtucket in 2022. She ran on the idea that lawmakers should do more to help everyday Rhode Islanders with key needs like healthcare and housing. But these are complex issues that defy easy solutions. Stewart is one of a number of progressive lawmakers who have joined the legislature over the last decade, moving the General Assembly a bit more to the left. But Rhode Island still faces familiar challenges in building a stronger economy and improving public schools. What will it take to make more progress? And do progressive lawmakers have the vision to make it happen? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in-depth with state Representative Jennifer Stewart.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, Politics
Avedisian pleads not guilty to charge of leaving the scene
RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, and he declined to comment on the episode that led to the charge. Avedisian arrived at the Kent County Courthouse with his lawyer, former House Speaker John Harwood, and didn’t respond to questions from reporters before and […]
