To the residents of the City of Newport: It has been a pleasure and a privilege for me to serve as a volunteer on the Historic District Commission (HDC) these past 7 years, 5 of which I served as Chairwoman and the last 2 as Vice-Chair. I have had the honor of volunteering with the […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: A letter to MLK Community Center volunteers
We say it time and time again: volunteers are the heart of the MLK Community Center. Just how essential you are became strikingly apparent last March, when we had to suspend our volunteer program due to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. Probably the most telling thing about our incredible team of volunteers? During a time of […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: FEMA – You are welcome at Rhode Island Vaccination Centers
By Federal Emergency Management Agency “I’m so grateful I will now be able to hug my grandchildren” is among the common phrases of hope from the guests of the Rhode Island Community Vaccine Centers. In more than a year, the Ocean State has gone from the uncertainty of how and when the pandemic would end, […]
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Op-Ed: U.S. has pivotal opportunity to reclaim leadership on climate
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) to push for American leadership on climate change, repairing the international agreements and commitments severed by the Trump administration over the past four years. Their op-ed outlines a plan to restore U.S. credibility on climate issues and get the country […]
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Opinion: Sugary beverages lead to diabetes, poor health outcomes
Sugar-sweetened beverages are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, particularly among people living in poverty and racial/ethnic minority groups. Fifty percent (50 %) of excess calories consumed by Americans comes from sugary drinks. Among all states and Washington DC, Rhode Island ranks […]
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Opinion: To slow climate change, teach climate literacy
In 2019, inspired by teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, youth around the world took action to demand governments address climate change. While 2020 brought a pandemic that dominated the world’s attention, the urgency of our climate crisis has not abated at all. That this movement was led by students is significant. The majority of today’s […]
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Opinion: Rhode Island needs a dedicated source of funding for affordable housing
There is a housing crisis in Rhode Island. More than 35% of households in our state spend upwards of 30% of their income on housing, leaving too little money for food, clothing, transportation and other essential needs, and no money for savings for their children’s future. Among households that are renters, the number rises to […]
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Opinion: The City of Newport should take advantage of the Equitable Development Plan
I write to you today to provide some follow‐up to the recent workshop on Equitable Development presented by Smart Growth America, at which I provided introductory remarks. The workshop was open to the public and in attendance were members of the City Council, Planning Board, City Staff, and Newport residents. Towards the end of the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Opinion: Sean Spicer, You Cannot Gaslight Us
Rhode Island has the distinction of being home to the first street in the United States lit by gaslight. Rhode Island now also has the distinction of being the home state of Sean Spicer, the new White House Press Secretary who attempted to gaslight the American people on his first day on the job. As evidenced […]