Mark Zaccaria delivers an homage to the late, great Prince of Providence. The occasion for this is the release of a particularly kitschy offer by the Buddy Cianci Foundation. Zaccaria riffs on the Great Once but comes around to admiring the man as a character, if not always admiring his character.
Medical professional Diana Lozowski dissects some of the missed opportunities that delivered the Ocean State to its current position in the cage match between Rhode Island and the pandemic. Fear not, though, there is light at the end of this tunnel.
The Rhody Reporter is flabbergasted at the scope of a wildly progressive bill just passed by the RI legislature. It would cede all legislative and executive prerogative on RI carbon emissions to an unelected state commission. Mark Zaccaria explains en route to asking everyone to call the governor and beg for a veto!
Are Rhode Island’s most vulnerable citizens being used as the rope in a tug-o-war between the administration and the U.S. District Court? Many in the Department of Developmental Disabilities think so just now. The Rhody Reporter explains that what appears to be an internal budget battle is actually part of a compliance question with a consent decree agreed to by the state seven years ago. Confused? You can get the details in just three minutes by watching this segment of the Rhody Reporter.
Mark Zaccaria sketches out the opportunity that stands before newly elevated Governor Dan McKee. The commentary urges listeners to remember that McKee’s success is a win for all Rhode Islanders. The Rhody Reporter wishes the new administration well, even as it keeps a weather eye on the proceedings.
Diana Lozowski points out where the former governor took her eye off the vaccination plan, thus condemning her constituents to one more “last in the nation” standing. Ms. Raimondo has a Secretarial job now, down south, but where does that leave the rest of us?
URI Professor Len Lardaro lectures on about how to improve Rhode Island’s Economy. But is anyone listening? Your Rhody Reporter says NO! and explains why the administration and the legislature ignore the professor’s good advise. Here’s a hint: because it isn’t their job to do so. Sound crazy? Welcome to the Ocean State. Check out this segment of the Rhody Reporter and all will become clear in three minutes.
Down with charter schools! Is the Rhode Island state legislature waging war on the growing number of charter schools here in the Ocean State? If it is, could the reason be to aid their friends in the state teachers’ unions, even if at the expense of the constituents who elected all its members? You be the judge. Mark Zaccaria lays out the case and makes a summation.
Mark Zaccaria examines the current conundrum in our public schools: Teachers don’t want to Teach, but they don’t want anyone else to, either. Too bad the RI Senate is aiding and abetting that stance.
Diana Lozowski offers the opinion that RI General Treasurer Seth Magaziner is already running his 2022 campaign. Her only question is, “Running for What?”
What’s so special about March 2nd? That’s the date of a Special Election in Rhode Island. Its only questions – seven of them – are for the approval of a wide spectrum of bond authority so more than six hundred million dollars worth of deficit spending can be undertaken. Mark Zaccaria says NO! You should, too.
Mark Zaccaria analyzes the recent race for Speaker of the RI House of Representatives. Outwardly it appeared to be a tranquil coronation of Rep Joe Shekarchi, the Guy everyone suddenly wants to Know. Below the placid surface of this Made-for-Capitol-TV love fest, however, there was a lot more going on. As you’ll see in this segment, the jury is still out on the final results.
Rhody Reporter Diana Lozowski takes a look at how the State’s Bureaucracy has morphed what could have been a simple licensing process using existing procedures into yet another feast for connected insiders. In short, You Gotta Know a Guy. Too bad that kind of overhead drives up the price. Too bad that those in the most need have to overpay because of cost structures designed to feed insiders. The surprising conclusion: At least it’s available now to those in need.
Mark Zaccaria scoffs at the RI Administration’s boast that it managed to distribute less than One Percent of the Federal Funds allocated for small business relief in the Ocean State last year. He points out that the tiny fraction was largely necessitated by the fact that almost One Billion Dollars worth of that federal stimulus money was diverted, instead, to the state’s operating budget. Zaccaria also notes that despite that usurpation of federal intent, Rhode Islanders will also be asked to authorize Four Hundred Million Dollars worth of Additional Deficit Spending – All so that the bureaucracy that brought businesses to their knees can be assured of every one of their paychecks. Huh?
Rhody Reporter Diana Lozowski examines some of the exploitation that occurred last November as political operatives descended on Nursing Homes and other Congregant Care facilities around the Ocean State. Their aim was to enter mail ballot applications for as many Seniors as they could, whether or not the voter really understood what was going on. Diana lays out the problem and then offers practical solutions to insure fairness in upcoming elections.
Mark Zaccaria gives a short primer on Progressive vs. Conservative approaches to government.
Mark Zaccaria takes time out to examine one of the notable good things of our otherwise ugly Year 2020, a Vets-Helping-Vets nonprofit doing God’s work right here in the Ocean State.
Diana Lozowski compares the style and substance of two very different, but successful, legislative campaign styles from the 2020 election, noting that either could become the template for all future RI campaigns.
Diana Lozowski notes all the extra-legislative authority Governor Raimondo is exercising in the service of enforcing her lockdown orders and muses (along with two prominent legislators) that her excellency is skating on thin legal ice.
Mark Zaccaria analyzes the role of unsolicited Mail Ballots in the 2020 Election and asks the question: “Do we want an Election Day or an entire Election Season?”
Mark Zaccaria shows that Gov Raimondo and other public officials have provided little help to their constituents by trying to micromanage everyone’s behavior. Instead, they should start trusting us to make good decisions about COVID safety on our own.
The research Mark cites may be found here: https://globaljournals.org/GJSFR_Volume20/1-SARS-Cov-2.pdf
Mark Zaccaria says the Secretary of State’s organization had no respect for either the laws or the voters of Rhode Island as they managed the recent election.
Mark Zaccaria insists that Rhode Island can bounce back, but we have to be willing to adapt to a changing world.
Mark Zaccaria runs through some of the things that need changing in RI and points out the only way to do so.
Mark Zaccaria takes a break from the mire of politics to cast viewers’ eyes a little higher, to a somewhat bigger neighborhood.
Mark Zaccaria ponders the motivation of Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza for pursuing a potentially illegal gun buyback program at this time.
Mark Zaccaria compares the ways in which RI government has managed the state, up to the possibility of a special election for debt while awaiting a federal bailout, and calls it what it is.
Mark Zaccaria provides five steps you should consider as you figure out when (and how) to cast your vote in the Ocean State.
Mark Zaccaria summarizes the threat to our rights and democracy as the state government’s rules slide of the table.
Mark Zaccaria considers the tea leaves visible after the Ocean State’s Democrat primary.