Rep. Bruce Long Purchases District Home.

Bruce Long & his wife, Jane (Westerly resident), purchased on Sept. 29 a home at 1 Winfield Ct. for $325,000. This is off Forest Ave. next to the airport in Middletown.

I suppose this means that he no longer claims his mother's house on Wood Ave. as his home. There's been questions about his actual residence for two years, especially after his remarriage.

It's always a good thing to actually live in your district. His wife's name is not on the voters' list, but I do not have the latest registrants. It's likely a good thing to actually live with your new wife. But absence does make the heart grow fonder, after all. Or it could also be out of sight, out of mine. But he's not my Representative.

E-Z Pass & Newport's Pell Bridge

e Newport Daily News has an editorial that will give you the lowdown on $ for bridge crossings. What they DON'T say is that this is all a come-on. You know the deal- low costs, no interest, no fees. And in little tiny print- good for 90 days.


We'll be lucky if the prices for bridges crossings even last that long.


From Newport's Mayor Waluk: “Our economy is based on big businesses with people who do travel here (to work), so we need a discounted commuter rate,” said Waluk, who is one of the five authority members.


Well, duh. You were the one who introduced the plan as a motion to the Bridge & Transit Authority back in the summer. Did you forget to read it? The "hold-on one a minute" seems a bit disingenous, to say the least. This also makes me less inclined to believe the comments he & others made recently regarding the enormous contract pay increases awarded to the current Town Admin. in Newport. It's this kind of - gee, we can't give you enough- that rouses many ires. Then we get the comment pablum amounting to: "Because we say so." And you wonder why city workers demand more? Prime example. But I don't vote in MNewport (although, my family does pay taxes there).


So who did speak-up about the bridge pass system & demand a mulligan? Oh, yes, that was Sen. Theresa Paiva-Weed, Deb. Ruggiero & Bruce Long. I think that Ruggiero may have been more instrumental than Long, but I'm not going to debate the point because- I don't care! They're not my reps & its results that count. In others words, both the latter are candidates & others are the deciders- not me.


Why this system anyway? Evidently the token system is becoming outdated with replacement parts becoming difficult to obtain (although this is on the Authority's say-so. I found no actual facts either way). It is also hoped that this system will "entice" more users, although I think this is a "Hail Mary" pass.


It would be interesting to ask state/local candidates on where they stand on these "user fees" which is what this is. I'm agin 'em. And this is a prime example of why. Newport is R.I.'s jewel. We bring them $- lots of it! The bridge should be a state cost- bottom line.


But that's a topic for another day. My friend over at http://whatcheer.net/ has a recent article up on this topic (roads, bridges, infrastructure & how its funded). Tom Sgouros writes statewide for a number of papers, but don't look for this column in the "Daily News." They have their handful of reporters & buy national columnists. They also already have their token liberal. No room (or $) for poor old Tom.

Legislators Not Voting

Perhaps they just can't make up their minds, perhaps they don't want to vote against their leadership or the Governor, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. We elect them to vote & make the hard decisions, even if we don't agree.


Thursday the State House of Reps voted on a bill to expunge some criminal records in which a deferred sentence was received. I'm not going to go over its merits, just the resulting vote. The guv, the state police, & the att'y gen'l were all against. The bill brought up some heated debate.

"I mean, as much as I like redemtion, Mr. Speaker, I also have a belief in the freedom of information and a knowledge of history, " argued House Minority Leader Robert A. Watson, R-East Greenwich... "My God, I am not going to do that today. I never will be that irresponsible with my vote. Ever."

So one would assume he voted against the bill. One would be wrong. He voted not at all (he was absent). Neither did Rep. Loughlin (R-Tiverton) nor Rep. Amaral (R-Tiverton & P'mouth). Local legislators voting against it were Rice, (P'mouth & Midd), Long (Jamestown & Midd.), & Coaty (Npt.). Rep. Amaral was also absent. Local supporters were Jackson (Npt. & Midd.) & Gallison (Bristol & P'mouth). Rep. Loughlin asked the lege journal to reflect that if he had voted, it would have been in the negative (closest thing to a mulligan the Lege offers).

The bill now heads to the Senate. BTW, I've said this before- tracking legislators votes is almost impossible. You have to head directly for the legislative journal for the day the bill was voted on. One also can't assume a legislator voted just because they were there. Each vote needs to be checked. Not apple pie easy. Many times the journals (esp. the Senate) can take awhile to post. The "Newport Daily News" no longer provides even weekly coverage of what our legislators are doing. I guess because it just doesn't matter.


Or does it?


Thanks to Projo reporter Katherine Gregg for the heads-up.

Driving Public Policy with Reps. Long & Loughlin

**UPDATE** Bill passed.

Recently the Daily News published an article entitled, "Republicans oppose prison release plan." What is intriguing is that some Republicans in House debate on the Guv's budget proposal put forth a bill aimed at allowing early release for prisoners and placing us more in-line with other states; thereby saving bucks (millions). This proposal awards good prison behavior with time-off their sentence (there are maxes). "... the proposal came from a study committee formed by the governor to look into the exploding prison population."

"Committee members agreed that it didn’t make sense to give more time off to the worst criminals, Neal said.“The worse your crime, the more good time you are eligible for,” Neal said. “On its face, that doesn’t make any sense.”Those who may be concerned about early release of prisoners should keep in mind that the prisoners being released would be getting out soon anyway, Neal said."

The vote on the bill was put off at the request of House Republicans, oddly enough. It is their Party's Guv who is putting forth the budget.

“I get concerned when monetary policy drives public policy,” said Rep. Bruce J. Long, R-Middletown [& Jamestown].

“Are we making corrections policy for budgetary reasons or correction reasons?” asked Rep. John J. Loughlin II, R-Tiverton [and Little Compton]. “Would this have even come up if not for the deficit?”

These are intriguing, even mildly provocative statements. It drives the question then, what should drive public policy? What part should budgetary concerns play in deciding public policy? How do you jive the Governor's recent budgets which seek severe cuts in public services, et al, and freezes state/school aid? How do you explain the Republican caucus' decision to call for even more severe cuts; e.g., cancelling school unfunded mandates, cutting dept. budgets even more stringently than the Governor put forth?

Sure sounds like the budget driving public policy to me. Cut the budget, please, we don't care where. Oddly enough, I saw neither Rep. at the recent budget hearings over proposed cuts to mental health & Medicare. Talk about the budget driving public policy! Sure would like to have heard them post these questions to the Finance Committee.

Local Lege Speaks on Funding Education

The annual Newport Co. breakfast for Lege members where the public is encouraged to ask questions was held recently. Generally, mostly non-profits attend (it is co-sponsored by the Newport Fund of the R.I. Foundation & the "Daily News"). The major topic seems to have been education funding.

When Sen. Paiva-Weed speaks, everyone listens. "There are ways we are going to do it," Weed said of an increased state responsibility for education funding. "But it's not going to be the way everybody's used to. We need to give additional money but we're not going to be giving out a blank check." Ah, there NEVER has been a blank check.

The topic of regionalization was discussed with none of the lege in attendance very excited (Loughlin, Levesque, P-W, Gibbs, & Jackson). Two notable quotes were right on the money: "My biggest concern is being complacent that regionalization is going to be the answer," Middletown Town Administrator Gerald S. Kempen said. "I can guarantee you absolutely it is not," and "we need to be careful not to operate on the assumption that bigger is better," said Rep. J. Russell Jackson, D-Newport."

Sen. Levesque also hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that it is time we all decided exactly what we want our schools to accomplish & what we are willing to pay for it: "We have to determine what we want our schools to be doing," he said. "We have to honestly appraise where we are and what we want government to be doing."

Senator Gibbs spouted the Guv's line of merit-pay (reminds me of a stuck record if you remember what that sounds like). Where it has been instituted (can you name where?), the earth hasn't exactly moved. June, have you actually got any new ideas? And how exactly would this help education? How would you do it? Would it save money or cost? In my career I've seen so many avaluation instruments that I've lost count. And each of them was lousy. That's because ONE SIZE DOES NOT FILL ALL. Kids do NOT at learn in the same way at the same time. This ain't the old assembly line.

"One fundamental change could be changing the way teachers contracts are structured," Sen. June N. Gibbs, R-Middletown, said. Teachers now get automatic longevity raises simply for staying on the job" (yes, just like your daughter does in Newport). The raises have nothing to do with how well teachers teach," -it does to a certain extent - they could be fired instead. "'There has to be a better way of rewarding good teachers,' Gibbs said."

And, June, that would be ---? And you would determine this ---? Your suggestion is...

How about: funding teacher training which, by the way, the School Committee wants to eliminate in Tiverton; giving teachers time of to visit other schools; encouraging further education; have plans in place for mentoring of new staff, etc., etc. (I've got a million of them) These things actually work to make better teachers.

I can't ignore the editorial title of the article: "Who will pay for education in the future? State aid not the answer, legislators say." Yet the article did not cover the latter and I doubt if most lege members, let alone school committee & council members, would agree (except for June, I guess).

State aid IS the answer. Ah, but the devil is in the details. Perhaps you can come up with statewide contracts or regionalized school systems. But there is no guarantee that this will lower costs; they may, in fact raise costs. State aid AND Federal aid IS the answer to school funding. They came up with the mandates which schools revolve around; therefore, they need to cough up the money. Isn't that their job? Promoting the general welfare? If they can't support education, what the heck is their purpose?


Thanks to "News" reporter Joe Baker.

"Poverty Pimps"

The R.I. Republican Chair Giovanni Cicione’s in his radio rant also referred to "poverty pimps" - those who advocate for - the poor. Uh, what does he call the lobbyists of groups who belong to various business, religious, or other group interests & are well-paid for it, unlike the pp.'s? Just pimps?

So where is the outrage from Party members? Hello June, Bruce. What say you? Hello Republican Council members & school committees? Cat got your tongues?

Thanks to Projo & staff writers for pointing out the pp. term which I had missed.

R.I. Republicans Love Workers - Not!

“... [Democrats] whose primary base of support is unions…the last vestige of institutional racism in this country.” This from the recently elected Chair of the R.I. Republicans.


I hope every Dem. or Independent will remember this quote & others come the next round of elections - like in Newport. This is what this political party thinks of working people who join together. Institutional racists? Finally, the truth outs.


What are unionists looking for - good pay, fair working conditions, help and support when they can no longer work, medical care, a home, and better lives for their kids. Don't we all want those things? Wouldn't we all belong to a union if we could?

I went to Las Vegas a few years ago & saw a thriving economy. Much of this is built on most workers being unionized.

I've read on "Anchor Rising" a reference to the cancerous blight of teachers' unions in Tiverton (among others). How insulting to any working person, let alone a union of working people to refer to them in this way. I know cancer. To connect anyone with this devastating disease is unconscionable.


At some point the strike in Tiverton schools will be over. Teachers are no saintlier than the rest of us and harsh words are not quickly forgotten. To portray teachers as dupes of union officials is at best naive, more properly idiotic.


So Sen. Gibbs, Rep. Long, what say you? Council persons of the Republican ilke, what say you? We certainly know what Sen. Chafee said, "Adios."


So we finally get down to what Republicans always said their party was not about - economic status & class warfare. Gone are the days of Republican moderates, even liberals, being welcome in this state. Can it be any clearer that this state Party is now the home of the neo-cons, the "compassionate conservatives" a la Bush.

Racist? I have a reprint sign in my house- "Irish Need Not Apply." I remember my grandmother who was born in Worcester & lived there much of her life, telling me how hard it was for her as a young woman to find a job. "No Irish or Dogs Allowed" read the signs. Now that is racism. And the "Whites" & "Colored" signs I remember in the South for restrooms & drinking fountains - racism pure & simple. To associate this with being a Democrat is just plain stupid & ignorant. Words do matter.

Democrats' Blog on Rep. Long

I wish to publicly thank the State Dems for their support recently. If you wish to see Rep. Long's handwritten homework note (no, his mommy didn't sign it), check out their blog & then check out their new site.

Rep. Long's Personal Contributors

Thanks Joe Baker of the "Newport Daily News" for the article.

Yeah, the Rep. found the paperwork just after Meaghan Wims from Projo called! What luck! Donations - One Middletowner, the second for a year (the other one was his mom).

1. $3,900 in cash contributions of less than $100. Don't believe it. Who???

2. $1,000 John Petrarca of Lincoln - Prov. Auto Body

3. $500 Thomas Casale of Scituate = Casale Auto Body

4. $500 Gregory Gobel of Glocester - Auto Body Concepts
5. $300 Nicholas Rampone of Lincoln - Prov. Auto Body
6. $250 Thomas Hardiman of Foster - Hillview Auto Body
7. $250 David Darlington of North Kingstown - formerly worked in the Guv's office, Chair of Turnpike Authority ($800 since 11/05) Lobbyist for Beacon Mutual receiving $1,000/mo. in compensation ;
8. $200 David Miller of Cumberland - Miller's Auto Body
9. $150 Saverio A. DeRuggiero of Middletown; Yeah, someone in his district. Sal is Chair of the Middletown Republicans
10. $150 Christopher Gasbarro of East Providence - Gasbarro's Fine Wine & Liquor
11. $150 Daniel DiPrete of Narragansett - radiologist; son of former convicted Guv
12. $150 Marguerite Reynolds of North Scituate - New Century Auto Body
13. $150 Joe Tutalo of Cranston - lobbyist for Amer. Express - a bit time lobbyist for Amer. Express
14. $150 Anthony Victoria of North Kingstown - Auto Service Auto Body
15. $933 in-kind contribution from Randy Bottella - Reliable Collision in Cranston, for food he provided for a Long fundraiser almost ($4000 in the past 3 yrs.)
16. $1884 David Reynolds of North Scituate - New Century Auto- for tickets and stationery he provided Long's campaign.

Picking up a pattern here? Why bother with PAC's when you've got auto body owners & sponsor legislation for them. Boo-hoo, the Guv vetoed most. Bruce rec'd appx $1000 in PAC funds, half of that not specified & the largest from the NRA.

Let's see - he beats his wife, cheated on her, has his family living on the dole, is addicted to alcohol & cocaine, recently took his new third wife on a cruise, neglected to file/pay some federal income taxes, and does not live here. Boy, if he ever kills a dog - he's history!

Rep Long Concerned About Nuts!

Rep. Bruce Long has an opinion piece in today's Journal on - nuts! No, I don't make these things up. It's all too apropros. I'll not delve into the topic other than to paint the broad strokes. Legislation passed last year prohibits nut products in school cafeterias (elem. & middle) if any students have allergies to them. School cafeterias (according to their article) must also provide a nut-free table along with a table for students eating nut products . He along with Rep. Joe Amaral (represents some of P'mouth & Tiverton - he's the principal of the P'mouth Middle School).

Sorry, the choice of topic, rather than the content, struck my funny bone. And the fact that Rep. Amaral wants his name assosciated with Rep. Long.

Alternative titles; Long: Ah, nuts! Long Loco Over Nuts! Long Anti-Nuts, More??

Rep. Long : Home is a Moveable Place

Meaghan Wims did an article on Rep. Long in Projo today. She spoke with Long & the Board of Elections regarding his recent campaign financial filing wherein he neglected to list recent contributors of his fundraising efforts for over $30,000 this quater.

Meaghan actually asked some hard questions of Long which have too long (no pun intended) been waiting to be asked. In return, she was served some slushy answers, much like Del's lemonade (Long owns the local franchise).

Long insists he "lives" in Middletown,. Yet he told Joe Baker that he was NOT living here & was actually looking for a home here with a real estate agent. '"Daily early-morning checks of Long's Middletown home this week showed he was not staying at the house. When The Daily News went to his home in Westerly Friday morning, the young girl who answered the door said he "had just left."Long acknowledged Friday that he was staying in Westerly and that he and his wife were working with a real estate agent to find a new home in Middletown."I'm in Middletown every day," he said. "I attend meetings and I am legally domiciled in Middletown, even though my wife lives in Westerly." Long's wife owns a Westerly house. The Middletown domicile Long says he resides in is his mother's house.

Legally domiciled. Ah, here's the crux of the matter. Again, from Joe Baker, ""State law requires a candidate "be qualified to vote in the election within the district for the office which that person seeks." State law defines a person's residence as "his or her fixed and established domicile. The determinant of one's domicile is that person's factual physical presence in the voting district on a regular basis, incorporating an intention to reside for an indefinite period."


Long also says that statements his ex-wife were inaccurate, and the he wants to fundraise now so that he can "... focus my campaign on delivering a message and not spending all of my time literally begging for money.” As opposed to what he's doing now.

'"He said last week, 'I have no dispute with my ex-wife. I wish my ex-wife well. All of the [financial] issues are being dealt with.”' Meaning? I've settled with the IRS & am making payments on former taxes owed so that I don't go to jail?

'"I have nothing to hide. I’ve had some issues. I’ve made some mistakes and that’s all I can say,”' said Long, who has acknowledged being in recovery for seven years after a battle with “substance addiction.” I'm in treatment because I say so. I hid nothing (??) and I bought/buy my cocaine through legal sources. Yep. How about treatment for spousal abuse?

"'We see each other as much as we can," he said, noting that eventually, the couple will decide whether he’ll run again in ’08 and where they will live together."' Hmm, no wonder Rep. Long spends over $400/yr. in bridge tokens & has a large Verizon phone bill both of which he writes off as campaign expenses. BTW, he still hasn't filed where the campaign donations came from while insisting that his report was filed on time. It was due July 31, but he lost his records of individual donations. Probably due to so much moving around. Maybe his bank just can't find him to furnish the records he needs.

Ethics carges, tick tock, tick tock. We all have the right to know where our legislators on any level are getting their $ from and how they are spending it. We also have a right to expect them to reside in their district. Yeah, it makes a difference.

Spin, spin, spin. It's positively dizzying!

BTW: WADK's Open Forum today (Donato D'Andrea) filed this whole thing under "Funny Farm" noting that Rep. Rice has not yet filed her report. When your report is late you AUTOMATICALLY receive a letter and a $25 from the Board of Elections. In this case NOTHING would have been automatic as he did the report with the correct $. He just neglected the last page & they may not have spotted that. His records have been lacking for a month & he knew about it. It doesn't matter, Donato? Funny, you always seem to be big on Democrats having ethics, doesn't it work the other way? You also neglected to mention Bruce's other "little" problems. Who belongs on the funny farm??? Anyway, I've been living there a long time - AND - loving it!

Rep. Bruce Long's Campaign Monies

I blogged earlier about the Rep.'s failure to file where over $10,000 in contributions came from WAY beyond the deadline for such. In his filing he gave himself an extension by saying he had lost his records & would reconstruct them. Now is the time, brother.
Rep. Long has one of the healthiest campaign funds of anyone at the Statehouse, if not the largest (almost $50,000). Most of his contributions come from autobody shops, and a healthy amount from liquor stores. Few dollars actually come from his district, although he does list over $8,000 in donations under $100 (no names). Puh-lease. Even Sen. Reed would have trouble raising that with no local fundraisers (and even with).
He had no election this year, and last time around had only a small campaign (George Levesque, Dem. from Jamestown) opposition.
His largest (and oddest) campaign expenses:
1.stamps: over $200 the past year plus use of a mail manager (which includes postage). Everytime a report is filed, there is a stamps expense. No one else locally does this.
2.Verizon - almost $550. Again, no other local legislators have this expense.
3.bridge tokens (Pell Bridge) - $400 (that's 400 trips).

One might ask what his personal/business expenses are for these items, or is everything he does political? BTW, Sen. Paiva-Weed from Newport who shares this district, lists no phone expenses, no tokens, and specifies what her stamps are used for (invitations). She had no opposition either this yr. & only token opposition previously.
He's admitted to being a coke addict, alcoholic, wife abuser, and paying no federal business taxes on his Longade business. No info has been furnished on treatments or tax payments. His former wife also filed charges intimating that he was illegally tapping into her medical records. Oh, and he no longer lives in his district. All plum committee memberships were stripped from him & the "Newport Daily News" is on record asking for his resignation. He makes frequent appearances in Jamestown (not so common here)& as he has publicized his e-mail there, residents here may enjoy having it:

repbruce74@aol.com

Recently an East Bay PAC was formed by area Republicans to raise money for legislative candidates, including Rep. Long. It should be the other way around. This also doesn't say much for local Republicans. Aren't they allowed to asked questions or is it just okay so long as he is a Republican? Of course, I haven't heard much (well, nothing, actually) from the local Democratic committee either. His district covers half of Middletown & all of Jamestown.
An irony is that his mom with whom he used to live & is one of his few district contributors works at Newport Grand. Bruce is with the anti-casino forces.
Voter don't need to look to statewide officials or "other" legislators to find out what is wrong with out gov't.

Complaint Filed Against Rep. Long

August 21, 2007

Rhode Island Board of Elections
Robert Kando, Executive Director
Thomas V. Iannitti, Acting Chairman
50 Branch Ave.
Prov., RI. 02904-2790

Dear Sirs:

We, the undersigned, officially protest the failure of Rep. Bruce Long to complete his second quarter Financial Statement due July 31, 2007 by neglecting to publicly list his contributors for $10,350.00 in contributions.

We complain that Rep. Long is in violation of: Recordkeeping Requirement, R.I.G.L 17-25-7 by failing to supply pertinent campaign records and R.I.G.L 17-25-11 for failure to observe the deadline for such filing.

We do appreciate your prompt attention in dealing with this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Eileen Rice Spillane
Richard P. Adams

Rep. Bruce Long - Oops!

The 2nd quarter political filings are out. Rep. Long had a very productive quarter reporting raising over $10,000 - a very hefty amount, esp. in a non-election year. He shows over $37,000 in his campaign account. You'd be hard-pressed to find ANY State Rep./Sen. with anything aproaching this amount. Unfortunately he lost the records of who gave him that money. - 000ps! The dog ate my homework.

Puh-leae. Maybe he should check the Middleltown location he still lists as his home - NOT!

Middletown Library Brouhaha Over!

**UPDATE**Here is the "Daily News" article link. Here is the Projo link. Meaghan Wims at Projo writes, "John W. Grisham, chairman of the board of trustees, said in an e-mail to The Journal this week, 'We are very pleased with the AG’s findings and to be able to move forward from this. In the end, reason, common sense and the rule of law prevailed, for which we are thankful.'”

There was actually only one complaint filed with two issues. Again, I was told that the person spreading the rumor that I was set up to take over the Director's job as a reward for running for State Senate was - the Director.

The question was also put to me how people could buy into this rumor (though actually knowing who originated it & its content, the rumor becomes a LIE). You take a kernel of truth - I was a librarian & didn't have a job (retired) - then add in a person telling you this that you trust. And that's how that story went.

I wish someone had actually just asked me. I'm a straight shooter - what you see is what you get. I think the fact that I burst into laughter the first time I heard it pretty much sums up my thoughts on this. No, I'm not expecting any apologies and I doubt that the Library Trustees (or their former Council rep) are either. Still, it would be nice.

Attorney General throws out all charges

Definition of brouhaha: a confused disturbance far greater than its cause merits.

This brouhaha centered around the Library Trustees insisting on improved job performance with specific guidelines for the library Director. The Director then refused this requirement & ended up with a job buyout & resigning. These events were played up in gossip mode during the past election & with the reports of "Projo" and most esp. the "Daily News." In the burgeoning media circus, the Trustees themselves were handicapped by personnel confidentiality regs in releasing information. The Council then added even more fuel to the fire by calling for the resignation of all the Trustees.

Two complaints were filed against the Trustees by residents. One concerned the wording of postings & the other e-mails sent by Trustees. Both were debunked. Both were dismissed with "no merit." Notice of the second charge being thrown out was rec'd Mon. Wonder if the newspapers will print this?

The Middletown Democratic Town Committee was held responsible for all kinds of skullduggery when in fact the Committee never even discussed the topic. In fact, if you were to ask the former Chair about this episode, I reckon (he is a former Southerner) he'd pretty much give you a blank stare with a question mark above his head. But still, if you repeat an untruth often enough...

"No merit." That's what the Att'ny Gen'l said - TWICE. One might ask who was responsible for spreading all the rumors & WHY. The former Director who seemingly would have the most to lose, hoped to gain exactly what? And this was the only/best way to do it?

Recently a new Director was appointed - with a written contract & job specs. In the end all the verbiage about federal & state laws being flouted were all so much air in a now-deflated balloon.

But a Representative who no longer lives in his district is of little/no concern (ironically, the library is IN his district).

One might continue to ask the who's and why's for all of this. The truth is often buried in quips, repeated charges & phrases, and short sound/print bites. Sound familiar?

Once again, I applaud the Library Trustees & the former Council rep, Councilman Ed "The White Knight" Silveira, who did their job. That's it. They just did their job.

Now maybe we can attempt to solve problems of pollution, funding problems, & affordable housing, etc.

Middletown Tax Increase

I didn't blog immediately after the last Council meeting which approved the new budget because there really was nothing new to report. It played out as a repeat of the previous meeting wherein Councillor Ed "The White Knight" Silveira intro'd his resolutions to apply funds which are now sitting & collecting interest and reduce our tax increase this year to zilch.

No use in repeating the discussion which was essentially the same, although somewhat briefer. It should be noted when there is a SMALL crowd (?under 15) with a rather short agenda, Councillors should KISS (Keep it Short, Stupid). We've all heard it before. What reporters (& the public) really want is SHORT (get to the point). We've heard it all & gratefully, most did remember this.

Both sides now use "fiscally responsive" which renders that phrase meaningless. If I hear it one more time I may scream.

What did happen since they last met was the Council voted to spend $300,000 of these "extra" funds to fix street drains. What this translated to was less of these unused funds which could be returned to the taxpayer, rending some of this discussion moot. Planned? I think that I may actually miss some of the drains, such as those on Green End, which seem to defy gravity in their placement.

So the plan seems to be to pay for the proposed police station out of these funds sooner than was planned & then build a fire station containing other municipal offices too. The latter will not need a bond issue, I believe. You get the drift here. We voted for a bonded police station, but by overtaxing us & holding onto the monies from the GMAC housing, we will also get the fire station.

Is this a good thing? In the long run it is cheaper, but it also evades the voting process. A compromise could have been worked out, but it evidently wasn't worth the trouble with only one Councillor proposing a zero tax increase. Hey, maybe it's just me, but this would seem to be an awfully difficult position to cling to come the next election. But maybe the tax decrease will show up then. The White Knight unexectedly took some wind out of that sail, however.

The new trash plan was already discussed. I agree with Councillor Bob "The Inspector" Sylvia that there may be some seniors who will have difficulty with these new fees. However, he had no alternative proposal. Where was "Mother" Theresa Santos here who usually shows so much concern for seniors? And it's not just seniors who have $ difficulties here. Many owners/renters who aren't seniors are having difficulties making it.

Perhaps some funds from the Council or public donations could be set up for those not having the funds to set aside for trash. It's sad to see that our tax monies now give us even less. When the taxpayer sees little everyday results from their monies, it becomes more & more difficult to put up with ever increasing property taxes. And it's going to get much worse with declining State funds from the lege. Expect to see many more fees & other hidden charges.

One might also at least discuss the possibilities of making local gov't leaner & more efficient. Our Sr. Ctr. spends much more than Newport or Portsmouth with little monies received from actual membership therein.

Other communities seperate their Senior Centers from government. They give them an annual allotment & their governing bodies (non-profits) decide how best to spend them. Same thing with the public libraries. I'll bet most don't even realize that Newport public library is not a gov't dept. in these cities. I'd refer to them as quasi-government. How about a committee (or two) to explore this possibility? Also pulls politics out of these groups.

So a tax increase this yr. The lege seems unable/unwilling to make a definitive stand about their funding of localities. While their committee report calls for MORE school funding, they freeze it. With declining state revenues, the rubber is going to hit the road soon. Newport's slot site is going to play a major role next yr., I think.

The good news here is that at least the Council is being civil to each other. I have yet to see, however, indications that they are "playing together nicely." We're all in this together. Politics is all about compromise & knowing when not to. It's not about winner take all (except on the national evel, of course).

Middletown Council Mon. at 7 p.m.

Afraid of losing your home to taxes? You should be. Budget issues are on the agenda. That's what the last Council election was all about (I think). Councilman Silveira, the White Knight, wants to take those MANY extra unreserved funds & use them to LOWER your taxes this yr. (now here's an unusual idea)


Middletown has the highest Moody bond rating of any town in the state. This is a good thing if we want to borrow as we get lower rates. However, this is EXTRA monies, yours, being held for emergency reserve use. Towns usually hold 8 % percent of their budget for these funds. 10 - 12 % is considered excellent. Middletown has substanstilly MORE than this needed percentage, far more than most towns/cities. So what do you want done with them? It's YOUR money after all.


Middletown also has been collecting seperate, extra funds from the Landings (the old Anchorage Housing) which was supposed to be used for the extra police/fire coverage needed. It hasn't been used for that & is quite a substantial ongoing fund. So the question is, do you want these monies returned to you to lower your tax rate or do you want them held in reserve for ?? a new fire station, whatever, for which you will have No SAY (but a bond issue wouldn't be needed). What do you think?


Remember, there are OTHER reserve funds - inc. the schools. The White Knights' resolution also gives money to the Gaudet School for sports, although the Council cannot actually tell the schools HOW to spend their monies. In one budget hearing the School Committee seemed to say that any extra funding would go towards staffings, etc. with sports at the end of the list. Parents were angry. But the second hearing they seemed to say that sports would be #1. So, ya takes yer pick.


The Knight also wants to examine the new town policy wherein anytime anyone asks for public records regarding the Council or ANYTHING ELSE, it gets copied to the Council Prez & he decides what to do with it. Privacy? This is exactly what I heard the Town Admin. say & the Town Solicitor never contradicted this. Is this a good thing or of little importance? What do you think?


Councilman Lou, "Avis" ("He tries harder"), DiPalma wants to discuss why the towns/cities can't yank some control back from the State. Hey, he couldn't even get the Council to back him on more monies from the State raised by the local community being returned from whence it came. Talk about being marginalized!

He wants our State Lege officials to lead on this task of control? Good luck. Has Rep. Long even re-located back to his own district yet? He's been relegated to the fringes of the Rep. Party. Sen. "Sometimes I just can't make up my mind" Gibbs certainly doesn't have much clout either. The most important bill she got passed this term was to make any offense on the Pell Bridge a traffic offense requiring a fine, rather than a Bridge Authority responsibility. Good luck, Lou, forever the optimist.


The State Lege nixed Middletown's request to lower what the acceptable arsenic levels are (read increased Police Station costs) . Frankly, with the some of the Lege representation we have, Middletown doesn't count for much. God bless Rep. Rice (my rep). She stood up to the Lege against her own party & voted to get school funding increased. But no go. Good thing she's on our side. Rep. Jackson also represents our district, but only a small portion. He was the one chairing the arsenic committee on this topic and it's still ongoing. They may yet come up with a helpful solution.

Councilman, "The Inspector," Sylvia has two resolutions for consideration- to spend ?half a mil on renewing storm drains and talk about the dump. I'm interested in hearing more info on the former. Let's finally solve the latter problem and then discuss other topics - say beach pollution, the new police station, controlling health insurance costs, affordable housing, problems with the current methods of property assessment, decreasing pension costs by changing the State's amortization schedule (you should be screaming for this bill to pass resulting in lowered costs $ for the town) etc., etc.

There will be an appointment for the Library Board good only until this Sept. Vergil Blaschke has applied 3-4 ? times for openings. He's a decent, hard-working guy, who keeps an open-mind, and has been Chair of the Friends of the Library for awhile. He's attended most library board meetings for at least 3 years. He's familiar with contracts & that would be good since a new Director will hopefully be hired soon (I'm rooting for Ass't Dir. & Childrens' Librarian Barbara Camedeco if she applied). He's a registered Republican.

I also know the other applicant, Paul Lamond. He helps do all the beautiful gardening around town & the library. Good guy, too. Retired phone co. exec, I think. I served with him years ago on a school bond issue board for which he was Chair. I had some of his beautiful 4 ? daughters in school, too. Good candidate. Also is on the Tree Commission. He's a registered Democrat. I believe he even ran against Sen. June "sometimes I can't make up my mind" Gibbs.


So who will get it? What are these board requirements? This is NOT a partisan board. The White Knight brought up a good point recently. How do you decide? Who would you appoint? Why?

Another appointment is to the Personnel Review Board. This is a partisan board (only a few of these). The Republican Chair DeRuggiero has no name to place in consideration for the appointment (both local party chairs are asked to submit names). The likely fact is that his Party name would not win a vote anyway, but you never know. The Democratic Chair, Indian Ave. resident Don Lavine, "nominates Barbara Sylvia." This is the wife of Councilman "Detective" Sylvia. I also think she is the daughter of former Councilwoman Nunes and former State Rep Larry Nunes (R). Good people.

ANYONE could apply for this opening, though, but no one did. The odd thing is that the local Dem. Chair "nominates" her. Oops, mistake in wording. Only a Councilperson can do this. Local political parties DO NOT control board memberships or agendas! Wasn't this a bone of contention in the last election?

I like Mrs. Sylvia (I think that she forgot to also submit an application, too). Should a close relative of an elected official be appointed to a board? These boards often control personnel, funds, agendas, etc. What do you think? This certainly isn't unusual & I don't wish to imply that it is. Should a person not be allowed to serve because of their birth/marriage?

The letterhead from the Dem. Chair also lists Arlene Kaull as the V. Chair. She is also the Dir. of the Senior Center & her bro. is the Council Chair. Unfortunately this makes it seems as if she is also partly responsible for nominating board/committee members. Again, what do you think? How much do blood/marriage relationships count?


Antone Viveros is also addressing the Council. I like him. We don't always agree, but you have to give the guy credit for trying, speaking up, & never quitting. He's a Republican, but as I've said before, I don't pull the Party lever (or draw the connecting line).

It promises to be a lively session. Too bad the Council never take up a resolution/discussion on Rep. Long who no longer lives here, among other problems.

Be there or be square. Democracy in action. Say hello!

Rep. Bruce Long - It Just Never Stops

Oh, Brucie, Brucie, the news just never stops. It almost is too easy to use him as a topic. My State House sources tell me that his presence is as scarce as the truth there. It seems he shows up for votes and then skedaddles. The scuttlebutt is that he's being investigated for a number of things (inc. witholding taxes). I suppose this might explain why he may have hacked into his wife's medical records (trying to discredit his wife's complaints of illnesses). Of course, proving any of this is a whole different matter, despite what he stated in his own court depositions.


I've had suggestions that I start an online pool on the date that he'll resign. Or how about a daily report, "Where's Bruce?"

WJAR-TV
Last fall, the I-Team first reported that Rep. Bruce Long admitted under oath in a deposition that he didn't pay the Internal Revenue Service any taxes on his Del's Lemonade business for up to 7 years.
Long's ex-wife, Valerie said Long, who represents parts of Aquidneck Island, made a six-figure income from the popular Del's stands.
Long had the exclusive franchise for Aquidneck Island.
After the I-Team's first report, the IRS in Boston opened an investigation. But now, Valerie Long told the I-Team that two IRS agents from the Warwick IRS Criminal Division visited her last week.
"They said they were still looking into it and that they couldn't seem to find a way to find out how much money he had made," she said.
She said she told the agents to check with the manager of the Del's Lemonade business at the company's headquarters in Cranston.
Valerie Long, who lives in Middletown, said her ex-husband is still not paying her enough child support for their teenage daughter and wonders if the IRS investigation might make things worse.
Valerie Long: I asked them if Bruce would be going to jail.
Jim Taricani: And you are concerned about that obviously.
Long: Well, yes, of course because that means I wouldn't get my child support.
Taricani: And what was their response when you asked them if Bruce would be going to jail?
Long: They said that they would call me before they settled with him so I could get my money.
On Thursday afternoon, Taricani talked with Long and said he's had no contact with IRS agents and continues to deal with his tax problems through his accountant.
Taricani said Long declined further comment.
A spokesman for the IRS had no comment on the investigation and repeated calls to the president of the Del's Lemonade Company were not returned."

Representative Bruce Long in News Yet Again

**Update "Make sure to tune-in to NBC 10 news tonight for an investigative report by Jim Taricani on Rep. Bruce Long." From RI Future

Here is it:
It seems that Rep. Long's former wife had her health insurance records hacked into. She realized this when she got a notification from the insurer following up regarding hew new Internet access. She filed a complaint with the local police who say that they are treating the charges very seriously. She believes that Bruce did it as she had complained to him that one reason she wanted him to increase her montly child support was that she had been ill (cancer) & was having trouble paying for their insurance (they are on RITE care). The police are going to follow up by tracing out the IP address that was used for the Internet access. Taricani says that the Rep. did not return any phone calls.
Too bad Jim hasn't followed up on the federal business tax non-payment. This thing just goes on and on! You've got to wonder who else might be interested in her health records & would have the needed info to file for Internet access. Heck, I've tried to access my records online a number of times & never have any luck.

You gotta love Joe Baker! Just when I thought the story was dead along comes Joe! There has long been a story (and you read it here first awhile ago) that Rep. Bruce Long is alive & well & living in Westerly. As a matter-of-fact, you heard about the whole Long fiasco here first (picked it up from Channel 10's expose). Took more than a week for the print press to pick it up. Go bloggers!

Congrats are due to him & his new bride, Jane Corsetti Serra Long (#3? for Bruce). Jane owns a small house in Westerly (listed under another name). Bruce is also father to two wonderful girls. Bruce believe in that old adage, "If at first you don't suceed, try, TRY AGAIN.

Bruce was remarried the end of Feb. & lives with his wife in her digs. This is what got his former wife really angry as she found out that he was celebrating this new marriage with an expensive cruise while she was going into the hole with bills for herself & their teenager. She had originally requested $20/wk. more in support. He then threatened her. Shoulda paid her. She got mad (and even). Boy, can't blame her there.

His legal domicile is with his mom on Wood Rd. in Middletown (a VERY CLASSY lady, I might add). He told Joe that he's shopping for a home here. Gee, I'll bet this house search could go on for another, hmmm, 1 1/2 years. By gum, that's just when the next election takes place! Yes, his agent is the Easter bunny And you thought that he just was hopping around delivering eggs?

I suppose he will use his tax rebate for the downpayment. Oops, that' right. Bruce doesn't pay taxes - on his business at least. Joe, Joe, why didn't you ask him about that? Say it ain't so, Joe.

The Middletown Town Council last week awarded bids for the Third Beach concession. There was one bid - $1,ooo from Longade. There was some talk of re-advertising for other bids & blah-blah about the condition of his trucks. The most surprising part is that Brucie himself showed. I guess he was fairly certain that the Council majority & the Daily News wouldn't ask him any really hard questions about, like, if he'd paid any of his taxes yet. And he was right!

The Council was clearly upset with his appearance & Rep. Long was a bit nervous himself. It was darn hard ignoring that pesky elephant! But never fear. No one asked (some members did recuse themselves before). Duh, you MIGHT want to request a certificate of good standing from the Sec'y of State. You might want to JUST ASK. What happened to ethics in politics? Doesn't this appear to be a fix? Hey, the LITTLE PEOPLE pay taxes, not me. And my former wife is nuts anyway.

Rep. Long has been mighty scarce here & at the State House. He was demoted in his committee assignments & now serves on committees which never seem to meet. Surprise, surprise. That certainly services Jamestown & Middletown well.

Ever hear him apologize or just hear plenty of spin? Think he will run again? Even the Republicans are looking elsewhere for opposition to him. Show some class, Bruce. Apologize & retire (yes, Bruce is "grandfathered" in & is entitled to a state pension with benefits). Let your mother & daughters hold their heards up. Give your youngest child some financial support and get her off the public dole. Your family deserves better, not to mention your constituents. Show off those "family values" that Republicans always speak so highly of.

Stay tuned for more. BTW, for the gossip mongers out there (and I do know who you are), I do NOT live in this district. Middletown has divided representationl.

Thanks to the Newport Daily News & that excellent reporter, Joe Baker.

Rep. Long Wants New Taxes

Okay, here's a bill sponsored by Reps. Trillo & Long to impose a tax (they call it a fee) of 10% of the gross revenue on owners of billboards located on interstate highways or connectors. Now I don't actually object to this. But these same Reps. (and all the Republicans) voted against Newport changing the way it taxes timeshares which would have resulted in more Newport revenue. And the reason was that they were against any new taxes. This is the same reason that the Guv has twice vetoed the legislation. Sen. Gibbs didn't vote against this, she just didn't vote (although she had voted for it previously). Nice sidestepping. The Daily Snooze really slept though these local votes.


Rep. Bruce Long has another House Bill No.5923 which raises liquor taxes. So is there a difference between a tax and a fee? What? No new taxes except if you drink or use a billboard? There is some fundamental belief system which which is escaping me here. Why billboards? The liquor tax increase goes to help those with drinking problems (guess Long would be the beneficiary here).


The Middletown Council did hold it's session with local state legislators (despite my previous doubts), although the agenda disappeared from its site the week of the meeting. Rep. Long & the Snooze were there. Funny that no one asked him if he'd paid his business taxes yet. Hey, enquiring minds want to know. No, No. We wouldn't want to involve any controversy involving Republicans. When will the Snooze also get on the bandwagon for non-partisan State elections?
Then they can pretend to be truly non-partisan while making endorsements.